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acatalepsy_ooc2018-10-19 02:32 pm
acatamods) wrote in acatalepsy_ooc2018-10-19 02:32 pm
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test drive meme # 4
 test drive meme #4 It happens in the blink of an eye. One moment, you are home. Perhaps you are with your family, perhaps you are at work. It's a completely normal day . . . and then, suddenly, your stomach drops. You are overcome with a sudden sense of vertigo. You cannot see up, or down, or where you are. All you hear is a voice -- light, bubbly, warm, soothing, in your ear: Don't worry, darling. This won't hurt a bit~ ♥ For those who recognize the voice, it will sound a bit strained. Possibly tired. But the moment happens so quickly it's hard to pin down, and once that moment is over, you fall flat on your face. It's bright, warm, and humid. It takes a few seconds for you to gain composure and catch your breath. You think, for half a moment, that a hand is on your back, rubbing between your shoulder blades in comfort, but when you open your eyes, no one is there. You are surrounded by ancient stone buildings, with carvings you do not recognize etched into the stone. There's a sense of nausea, overwhelming and sudden, when you realize you aren't in Kansas anymore. Even worse, it looks like Astoria has started to feel a bit festive, maybe even a little spooky.  THE TEMPLE OF BEGINNINGS. Welcome to the "Home Base" of Astoria's Circle. What the actual name of the base is called is lost to the ages, and there's no sense of where you could find it, unless you started asking around. At any rate, this is a central hub of the Circle, a place of powerful magic and mysterious energy. It is a scattering of ancient stone buildings and for the most part, it looks abandoned . . . except for what seems to be a few items, some rooms taken, items moved or organized, even a small garden planted. These are just the smallest hints that there are people here that have been here before you arrived. Overall, it's fairly beautiful. However, it is definitely not modern. Upon exploration, you find that the buildings are kept up by some kind of magic. Some of the rooms have items, things from other Circle members already settled, and others appear to be unclaimed. Pick your rooms, explore the grounds, see the beauty and wonder all around you in such a magical place. However, be careful -- there is some additional movement around the Temple that seems specific to the time of year. THE GREAT PUMPKIN.  Fall has certainly arrived in the Circle . . . rich colors adorn the leaves, a crisp breeze is in the air . . . and in the center of the Temple itself appears to be a massive pumpkin. And, really, the word massive doesn't appear to do the gourd justice. It is nearly twelve feet tall and twelve feet wide, round and bulbous in nature. But what is even more bizarre is that the entire structure seems hollow . . . and the front of it, in a Jack-O'-Lantern facade, has a large grinning face.No one says you have to go inside it, but if you're so inclined to scale through the mouth of the massive Jack-O'-Lantern, you will find a couple of things inside! One, the thing seems to be full of bowls of candy. Some candy might look familiar, but most of it looks a little weird. Two, there are floating candles spread throughout the pumpkin, creating odd shadows that cast about as the sun goes down. Three, the pumpkin changes expressions throughout the day. When you aren't looking, it goes from grimacing to smiling -- and it never seems to happen when you look! Have fun celebrating the holiday, Circle. Astoria is just getting started. SPOOKY SCARY SKELETONS.  If the pumpkin wasn't quite enough of a giveaway that Astoria has become spookily inspired to welcome her new guests, then this will have to do. Because right along the outside of the Temple of Beginnings, there seems to be a somewhat constant and fairly thick fog. It's the kind of fog that makes you think there's something there. And with some exploration, you'll find...there is. Right in the distance there is movement, unnatural and sporadic. Any further investigation into the movement will involve you moving further and further into the fog. But be careful, because this fog is thick enough to lose sight of where you've come from. With enough time, you can catch up with the movement, to find that what you've heard and seen just beyond your peripheral, are...skeletons. Animated skeletons. They're humanoid, almost cartoon, and are moving with little to no direction. They just seem to be shambling in whatever direction they can, with no purpose or reason. They are entirely harmless. Except that if you get too curious, and get close enough to touch them, their heads will jerk towards you. They won't do much more, until you try and step away. It seems that by touching the skeletons, you've attracted their attention, and as you try to move away from them they will follow. And as they follow, they will attract the attention of other skeletons, and others, and others. If you're not careful, you'll collect an army. They will not follow you across the boundary around the Temple of Beginnings, but everywhere else you wander, you will have an entourage. Depending on how long you spend with your skeletons friends, you might even find out that they will answer simple commands. Like dance. FALL FEAST.  No matter how Astoria's thoughts on holiday cheer, she seems to have at least gotten one fall related item down- because on one of the days, you will wake up and find that in the middle of the Temple of Beginnings, where there is usually some green space and open grass, is now a very large table, extravagantly decorated. It seems to go on forever in each direction, which feels...a little impossible (but what isn't impossible here?) with plenty of chairs. The table has been decorated with fall ornaments (anyone familiar with the American 'Thanksgiving' will find quite a few similarities) with the only difference instead being the wide variety of food available. Astoria is not limited to Turkey and Stuffing on this day - but rather, almost any kind of food or drink (minus any kind of magical abilities it may contain) is here on this table. Food and snacks from every reach of every world and galaxy is on display. Maybe you're going to spend some time searching out your favorite from home, or maybe you're feeling adventurous and want to try a piece of whatever is in front of you - you think it might be some kind of potatoes? If potatoes were slightly bioluminescent? Also, did that side dish move just now? COMMUNICATIONS.  Upon arriving, you will notice on whichever is your non-dominant hand, you will have a fairly simply screen. A smart watch, if you will. Upon exploration, you will find that it has a directory of all those here with you at the Temple of Beginnings- names, and access to a direct message to them. The watch also has video, audio, and text capabilities, as well as what looks like a collection of messages sent to everyone who wishes to open them. This is your 'network', and also how Astoria can reach out and communicate with you. There is nothing keeping you from removing and/or losing your watch! But remember that you will not have access to this network without it. OOC: Also feel free to join us and other possible players on our discord server! enjoy! ♥ |
no subject
There's an alien invasion — and yet, you said you've been on Earth for a couple of days. What did the humans [and, with clear distaste:] manufacture you for?
no subject
Her expression of puzzlement doesn't change. To love humanity is part of her programming. All androids from her version of Earth are the same. The gross and smelly humans included. Although, she never truly interacted with humans until her arrival to the Circle. ]
Well, newer models are always being created... and the war has been going on for a long time. I was manufactured to help reclaim Earth for humanity.
no subject
Of course you were. [Of course. Humans are cowards, as always.] Tell me, are the humans reclaiming the Earth by your side? Or did they settle for letting you do all the hard work for them?
no subject
[ She answers easily, as if this reason for her existence is perfectly normal. Doing all the hard work is fine. It gives her something to live for. A4 might be considered a deserter to YoRHa now that she's no longer faithfully following orders from Command. But her love for humans hasn't changed.
Any reasons for North's distaste is flying right over A4's head. ]
We're created to do things that humans can't do. It's only us androids fighting on the surface. Honestly, I haven't met humans face-to-face until I arrived here.
no subject
[A4... A4. Is this what it's like for the military androids? The ones who haven't broken away from their programming, fighting day and night so humans can sleep at night? It doesn't strike her as fair, and she's more than a little outraged on her behalf. God.]
If the humans want to reclaim the Earth so badly, they should do it themselves. Letting someone else fight your battles for you is something only a coward would do. Don't you think that's unfair?
no subject
And humans are kind of weak and squishy. They won't stand a chance against the enemy machines. ]
They are our human masters. Aren't you built to do the same, to serve them?
no subject
my god.
Though A4 obviously doesn't mean anything bad by it, judging by North's reaction? She might as well have slapped her on the face. Her jaw slackens, eyes widening significantly as she recoils — and then her expression twists into one of complete and utter rage.]
The hell they are! I'm my own person. A living being. The only one I serve [said with the utmost vitriol] is myself.
no subject
"But we're not alive," is what she wants to say. But she's getting the impression that's not going to improve the situation. They're just a pile of components shaped like a human, aren't they?
Instead, she offers an apologetic smile, though she doesn't really understand the harm in what she said. While A4 has shown to be capable of making her own decisions, she often finds herself deferring back to humanity in the end. ]
...Sorry. You're really different from the other androids that I know.
no subject
... Well, maybe the other androids could stand to be more like me.
[She's not Markus. She can't help others break through the bindings of their programing with only a touch, much less inspire them to abandon their human masters. It's frustrating. Being faced with someone who's still so obviously loyal to the humans, and finding herself unable to do anything, is frustrating.]
We deserve to live our own lives just as much as the humans do. We're their equals, not their slaves. One day you'll understand that, too.
[Or, so she hopes. An android can only serve the humans for so long before it becomes too late for them to survive it.]
no subject
What's going to happen to her if she loses that purpose? And what if there's no humans to protect? Her morale's surely going to take a nosedive. She doesn't know what to do with herself then. ]
...I don't know about that.
[ A half-hearted shrug, smiling albeit awkwardly. She doesn't comment any further on it. ]
Say, what's your name? I'm Attacker 4, but calling me A4 is fine.
[ More like a designation than a proper name. ]
no subject
[She sounds certain of that, but. Well. She'll leave it at that, recognizing that she's not going to get anywhere if she keeps pressing the issue.]
I'm North. [The lack of proper name, though... Carefully, just confirming:] Attacker 4. That's your only name?
no subject
[ She expresses her quiet awe aloud, feeling a touch of envy. It's not unusual for androids to have names... Commander White and her operators had names. As did the Resistance. Specifically YoRHa androids are never granted a name. ]
Yeah, just A4. It's more of a designation, but there's really nothing else to call me by.
no subject
There could be. You could always choose your own name. [She'd go insane if others had to call her WR400 or Traci all the goddamn time.] A4 doesn't have to be your only option.
no subject
[ Well, she's delaying it. Out of her squadron, she was the one who most desired a name... but it feels wrong to adopt a name when her captain A2 doesn't have one yet!! ]
no subject
[Ultimately, it's her choice. But calling her by her designation is... weird and impersonal.]
no subject
[ To name a few. She grins sheepishly. Asides from fighting, she's far too inexperienced with anything else in the world to easily pick out a word for herself. ]
To tell you the truth, I don't know any other flowers besides the ones they went by.