acatamods: (Default)
acatamods. ([personal profile] acatamods) wrote in [community profile] acatalepsy_ooc2018-06-19 11:13 pm
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test drive # 2







test drive meme #2
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 dim, damp, with the trickling of what feels like rain. It takes a few moments for you to gain composure, to 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.

And, of course, because this is just your luck.

It's raining.



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.

For some, this place is home. For others, this strange land is new and dark, like a haze has settled in the air. The creatures in the forest seem to be stirring, and every now and then the sky will open up, and a storm will pass through, in varying degrees of intensity. Some will be easy spring showers, others will be angry, thunderous storms.

Not exactly the most welcoming place, but it's a start.

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. The rain makes everything feel a bit softer, but also eerie, like there is a secret being kept just on the outside of your vision.

Of course, this means you have free reign. This place seems easy enough to figure out on your own, with enough time to take a walk around! However- members who recognize this place may notice the lack of a certain figure, the grounds feeling a bit more empty, more abandoned, than they did before.



IT'S A FIELD OF . . . POPPIES?
The buildings of the Temple of Beginnings span out across a fair-sized field, intermixed with trees, open grassy planes, outside sitting areas, fire rings, and other oddly ancient but somehow structures. With the mist and the rain, everything feels a bit more ethereal, like there is life to every inch of what you see before you. Or like you've stumbled into some kind of alternate world. Around the temple is a ring of stones that do not seem to move no matter what characters may attempt, and beyond that is the forest.

The forest itself is more than just impressive - it is near-overwhelming. An impossibly ancient stretch of woods that crackle with magical energy. Within, there is all matter of fauna and flora, darting from tree trunk to tree trunk. The canopy is thick enough to shield from the worst of the rain, but still the water gets through, dripping down through the leaves and dampening the ground under your feet. While there is always a sense of wonder - and possible danger - in every stretch of this forest, nothing will come any closer than a brief glimpse out of the corner of your eyes.

No matter how you try, you can't quite seem to catch a full glimpse of what is moving about. Some of the creatures seem small, flittering through the air, while others dart through the trees, larger, more imposing. Everything here seems to be looking for some kind of shelter, so be wary of stumbling across something already taken.

There is a particular clearing not too far into the woods that opens up, a field encircled by trees. In the middle of the field there is an odd glow - luminescent even in the darkened sky. Upon investigation, you will find a bush - about the size of a small car - filled with glowing flowers, white, blue, gold, and purple. They all smell faintly sweet, but it's hard to tell with the scent of earth and rain all around you.

if you decide to pick one of these flowers, there will be no immediate recourse. However, the longer you decide to keep the flower on your person - or if, for whatever reason, you decide to eat said flower - the following will start to set in.
White: For whatever reason, you will have more energy than you know what to do with, and will be filled with the urge to shine. Ever needed a confidence booster? To a point that you need to get up on buildings and belt your favorite song at the top of your lungs? Well, now you do.
Blue: After some time of carrying around this flower, you will start to feel at peace. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, is it? Until that feeling of peace continues to grow, and continues, and continues. Soon you will feel so peaceful, it's almost as if nothing matters at all. I mean...it'll work out in the end, won't it? You're no longer missing home, missing people, worried about what happened and what you might fine. Everything is chill. Beyond chill. The most chill. But maybe out in the middle of the forest isn't the best place for a nap?
Gold: Congrats, you've officially become a hoarder! No, seriously, you will have this uncontrollable urge to grab things and collect them. It doesn't matter what they are, or where they are. You need to have them and you will find a way to make it happen. Hats? Rings? People with green hair? The world is your oyster, and that's the key word here - yours.
Purple: Suddenly, and without warning, you find yourself unable to...well. Go on alone, really. The first person you see, or that you come in contact with, will feel much like the savior of your world, and for the next five hours or so, you will be unable to be far from them. Even if you know the fear is irrational, you can't really help it, following friend or stranger alike, always needing to be just in arms reach.
Regarding further exploration of the wood, it will seem to go on forever. Getting lost seems almost imperative to existence within this forest, going on forever in all directions with no edge in sight. You could walk for days, weeks, possibly even more. However, the second that you find yourself thinking about wanting to return to the buildings from before, you find yourself cresting through the edge of the trees, back to your home.



RUN BY THE RIVER
While inside the buildings and in the main open spaces, the water doesn't seem to be building up all too terribly, un an unfortunate turn of events, it all seems to be rolling down a very slight hill, pulling just on the outside of the ring of stones.

The ground here is unstable, wet and muddy from the amount of moisture falling from the skies. So much that in some areas (the fighting area being one), it will start to collect into a dangerous combination of mud and moving water. It's possible to get stuck in it, possible to get lost in the flooding, but it's also possible to...you know. Have some fun?

Mud slides, mud wrestling, mud...castles? Whatever you want it to be, it's at your disposal! While the arena was originally a place to practice your powers, or any of the various weapons that are usually kept here, now you can do the same with a little added obstacle in your path. That, or it's possible you simply got stuck trying to make it back to your room. Hopefully someone will be by to help you!


CONNECTIONS AND COMMENTARY
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! ♥
paladorable: (006)

[personal profile] paladorable 2018-06-23 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's so hard to pick out people's features in all this damn rain and mist, but he had been hoping against hope that the small, white-haired form was indeed as familiar as it had seemed. When Alisaie answers him, he cannot help the way he breaks into a grin, his earlier startled confusion all but forgotten. ]

It really is you, Alisaie! Thank the gods, I thought I'd ended up here all by myself.
ghostdrives: (pic#11570462)

C

[personal profile] ghostdrives 2018-06-23 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[She's also heard some whispers of an arena on the grounds. The rain has been letting up a little bit, to the point of sprinkling, and that's enough for Aqua to want to head back outside to explore the area more carefully.

She's surprised that there's someone else out here, and Aqua stops for a moment to watch the blonde boy. The place is flooded and he's out here to train? What dedication.

At least until he slips up. The sword might be a crutch (and if that's his power, that's impressive), but Aqua trots up as carefully as she can before Link gets anymore stuck.]


Do you need a hand?
ghostdrives: (pic#11570452)

B

[personal profile] ghostdrives 2018-06-23 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Ignis wouldn't be the only one staring at their new accessory. Aqua spent a good amount of time staring at it herself after her initial worry over being somewhere new. Even with all the worlds she's been to, she's never seen anything like it. Well except for the technology in Stitch's world, but it's still nothing like it.

But the way this gentleman's looking at it makes her a bit curious and concerned.

"...Are you alright?"
ghostdrives: (pic#11570438)

2

[personal profile] ghostdrives 2018-06-23 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[Whoops. You're going to be caught in the act for sure, A2. Aqua's found her way through the forest as well and spotting the glowing flower bush, she stops to look at them as well.]

They're beautiful, aren't they?

[Hope you don't mind a little bit of company, A2.]
retorter: (what more do you want)

[personal profile] retorter 2018-06-23 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[ i mean is she wrong tho re: eyeballs. Souji IS lucky to have his safely in his head. Not that he can find it in himself to be grateful now. ]

And you couldn't before, I'm assuming.

[ That actually gets him to pay a little more attention, interested despite himself. ]

So what does that make you then? A demon ghost?
vielerfolg: (°06)

[personal profile] vielerfolg 2018-06-23 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Now she knows something is wrong!! Even if she loves Ayer very much, having been adapting to his personality and trying to better understand him at least makes her a bit more aware of the fact that him being this wanting is unlike him.

As much as she wishes it weren't so, but he's growing up, and a boy can't depend on his older sister that openly, right? It'd be too embarrassing for him, even if she can't help but want to dote on him.

But to get to the point, this is odd, and she stares at him in wonder. ]


Ayer...

[ She's almost worried whatever is happening may cause him to run off, so... she nods, slowly. ]

Alright, but— did you eat anything strange, by any chance? Or, perhaps, run into someone odd?

[ They have to figure this out.. ]
strategyguide: (quietly amused)

[personal profile] strategyguide 2018-06-23 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
It sounds like there's a lot I can learn from you, Sir. As a tactician, I can't just let it pass.
strategyguide: (quietly amused)

[personal profile] strategyguide 2018-06-23 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Nothing like it exists where I'm from.

[A chuckle. He's useless now, but give him time and he'll be pretty good at it.]

Still though, I wonder who wants me so bad?
rootbound: (saw you sheltered by the night.)

[personal profile] rootbound 2018-06-23 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[Vern...shrugs, a little. it's nice to see someone sharp; someone who keeps asking questions.]

I've been involved with it two months, like most everyone else you'll meet who didn't just arrive. Before that, I was in a similar situation for...five, six months, only with more requests for thievery involved. This is preferable to me, but it doesn't stop being strange.
smallprince: (- 03 -)

Arrival

[personal profile] smallprince 2018-06-23 10:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[The rain had caught him by surprise but after the heat of El Minha it was a nice change. Sure he was by now soaking wet but he didn't have the desire to return to his room as fast as he could. While he was walking through the temple Tyrion thought back to the events in El Minha. Suddenly he heard an unfamiliar voice. He searched for the speaker and saw a young girl who definitely wasn't a Circle member. It crossed his mind that not only the Circle had returned but at the same time new members had arrived. He looked around to see what this girl had seen.]

See what?
ryuji: (304)

[personal profile] ryuji 2018-06-23 10:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Because...

[This feels like a really complicated question, when in fact, it is most certainly not. Ryuji's never been totally great at expressing himself to begin with, so it just stews around in his head for a moment, feeling as if there's a block to his normal sense of reasoning.]

It's cool looking. And I gotta have it.
rootbound: (what's the use?)

[personal profile] rootbound 2018-06-23 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
She's awake and can talk, so that's already raising the bar...
ryuji: (045)

[personal profile] ryuji 2018-06-23 10:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[He tilts his head when she starts talking about her friend, and Ryuji suddenly feels really out of place being here, and even more out of place asking her to part with something that had meant so much to her.

What was he doing? He's never been the type of person to care about wanting material things. His lips part, and he doesn't really know what to say.]


Oh... shit, I'm sorry. I didn't know.

[And then, as if it's a thoughtful gesture, he digs around in his pocket, producing one gold flower for her. He looks pretty reluctant to part with something... anything, really. This curse is really messing with his own fears of abandonment, but he holds it out to her.]

Here, I picked this. I'll go collect more rocks or something, it's no biggie.

[He doesn't even know that accepting this flower is just passing on the spell to someone else, so there's that?

Sorry, Minako.]
ryuji: (301)

[personal profile] ryuji 2018-06-23 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[This feels like a trap.

This is definitely a trap.

Ryuji stands there, wondering if there's a way out of this situation with a non-answer. But he's never been good at being dodgy.]


I dunno, you don't look like you're lyin'? You have a nice face though.

[GOD DAMNIT, RYUJI, WHY.]
ryuji: (036)

[personal profile] ryuji 2018-06-23 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay...

So like

Why the hell are there people here to begin with
ryuji: (085)

[personal profile] ryuji 2018-06-23 10:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Good thing I never questioned your sense of direction, yo!

I'm sitting put.

I'm so put, it's practically like glue.

Just standing here. Stuck like a stick in mud.
ryuji: (361)

[personal profile] ryuji 2018-06-23 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[He turns to Akira, defeat so plainly written in his unbelieving eyes.]

You... you would lie to me like this!? I thought you were some sorta culty ringleader or somethin' like that!!! THE HELL, man.

[He's also slightly (slightly?) disappointed that there are no cool gang initiation tattoos that are going on. Let's face it, if Akira were Pope Akira The Snarky, Ryuji would be signing up to be his pope-hat bearer and high cardinal.]
smallprince: (- 05 -)

The Temple

[personal profile] smallprince 2018-06-23 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[It wasn't a weather to spend time outside but the weather wasn't asking if you have plans or not. Tyrion had been in the library, when he had realized that it was raining outside. Part of him wanted to stay in the library until the rain would stop but since it was looking like this wouldn't be the case anytime soon, he decided that the only option he had been to walk through the rain.

On his way back to the building where his room was, he crossed Leia's way just in the moment when she was talking to herself]


I can show you the way to the buildings. There you should find more than just a towel to make your stay more pleasant, Mylady.
abandonware: ([ 14. ])

[personal profile] abandonware 2018-06-23 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[A2 and Pod both follow in silence, but the longer they do so, the more A2 begins to wonder how whatever this Simon-thing was knew 2B. It was unusual — there is nothing in the memories she'd gleaned from 2B to indicate anyone by that name. But Emil had been similarily strange, and had known 2B too.

She doesn't want to ask, so she observes instead. Watches the light flick on. A second later, Pod follows suit, illuminating their path further.]


How long have you been here? [She's not the best at idle pleasantries.]
Edited 2018-06-23 22:57 (UTC)
partygeist: (WINK!)

[personal profile] partygeist 2018-06-23 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Woulda gone right through me!

[ She puts her hands on her hips, proudly showing off her newly solid chest and stomach. ]

Where's the demon part coming from? Not that demons can't be cool, but I don't exactly look like a demon, do I?
unrecovered: (Well...)

[personal profile] unrecovered 2018-06-23 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm guessing nobody's ever come back to confirm.

[I mean, if someone had, then someone around here would know it, right?]

[Honestly, the skepticism elevates Wash's estimation of this guy. He's got better reason to believe a skeptic who thinks the situation's okay so far than an optimist who thinks the same thing.]


First mission? [And a first mission that doesn't sound like it went well to boot.] How long has this been going on? And does she have a plan to free herself?

[Being a stopgap is one thing; being a solution to a long-running problem is something else entirely.]

[And that's a concerning question to come right the fuck out of nowhere. Wash pauses for a moment to take stock of himself, because there has to be a reason he's asking.]


Not really. Why?
partygeist: (HIGH FIVE)

[personal profile] partygeist 2018-06-23 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
This!

[ She excitedly slaps her own stomach with her hands, to prove that she is no longer ghost-like enough for it to go right through her. Polly, please. ]

Man! It's like I'm normal again or something!
thancredible: (HW you've come back)

D for DPS

[personal profile] thancredible 2018-06-23 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[The first time Thancred sees her, he assumes it's a mere trick of the eye - his mind seeing what it wishes to see in place of one of the ghosts that wander the place. This assumption is only reinforced by her vanishing again around a corner when he pauses to rub his eye and stare. Shaken and sure the surprise of being brought to an entirely new world has addled him more than he realized, Thancred leans against a wall and concentrates on just breathing for the moment. On calming down, finding his center. Even if Alphinaud has confirmed the world hopping, he ought not to get his hopes up about impossibilities.

He moves on.

Later in the day, he sees her again at a distance. This time she is splattered in mud so he doesn't recognize her quite instantly and laughing, and it's the laugh that gets to him. Clear and merry, it instantly brings back a wash of memories of happy days and not-so-happy days punctuated by moments of bright cheer. Gods, he must be going mad.

He is less successful in moving on this time, but he still stumbles away from what he is sure is just someone who bears an uncanny resemblance to her and leaves her to the mud slinging with other laughing companions.

The third time he sees her is not long after as - yet splattered in mud - she passes by the tree he has taken shelter under to breathe and brood in peace, and this time she is close enough that there is no mistaking it. The way she walks he would know anywhere, and three times is too many. If he's going mad, then so be it.]


Minfilia!

[Calling her name, Thancred clambers to his feet - less graceful than usual in his haste - and hurries to her side. If this isn't her, then it's the most convincing doppelganger he has ever seen, and uncaring of the mud, he gives her scant time for a response before he envelops her in a tight hug.]
unmotivated: (pic#12384860)

[personal profile] unmotivated 2018-06-23 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Is he being accused of being noisy? He looks around where there are others who are eating in groups and are far more loud than he is, then he looks back at Antigone with a fairly disapproving look.

Then she has to stab her fork at the plate which fails spectacularly. Fushimi witnesses it all and can even play it in his head in slo-mo if he wanted to. As funny as it is, Fushimi doesn't laugh. ]


I can't tell whether or not that was actually what you wanted to happen.

[ Now he's being a pain in the ass. ]
unmotivated: (pic#12383854)

[personal profile] unmotivated 2018-06-23 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He makes demands of his King all the time... it doesn't mean his King listens, though. It's annoying. ]

You're getting too worked up about vegetables. [ For once, he feels pretty annoyed with himself for trying to reason here. He doesn't want to get into a fight where he's not within the protection of a Sanctum. He also would like to use his Aura and his knives. ] It's not a big deal.