acatamods: (Default)
acatamods. ([personal profile] acatamods) wrote in [community profile] acatalepsy_ooc2018-06-19 11:13 pm
Entry tags:

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! ♥
unpatriarchal: (004.)

[Video]

[personal profile] unpatriarchal 2018-06-21 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
I have no idea where we are.

[ somewhat shrewdly, but it's an honest comment: lotor has explored, and he did find allura, but the rest of this is very much . . . new. he does have a sense of direction, though, and he can find the west wall easily enough. ]

But I'll meet you there; I'm not that far away. We can discuss who I am there.
lonered: (n8)

[personal profile] lonered 2018-06-21 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
No, Allura's from the same time. I think I am too... or about anyway. I don't know anything about this Oriande, but I haven't had time to check in with the Castle recently.

[So. Keith will call it about even anyway. It makes it easier in his head to keep it straight, with Shiro being from so far in the past.]

Actually, that about sums it up for me too.
coinflick: (Default)

two

[personal profile] coinflick 2018-06-21 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ The room is sparse, and no matter how many drawers 9S opens, there isn't a personal belonging in sight. The bed is very neatly made, to the point where it's impossible to tell if it's been slept in recently — it wouldn't be remiss of him to assume it's unoccupied. The only indication that it isn't an entirely untouched room is that a chair has been brought in from the dining area and placed at a perfect 90 degree angle in a corner of the room.

When Connor returns to see 9S rummaging through the drawers, he's mostly unconcerned. There's nothing for him to take; he doesn't have any possessions. Still, the unexpectedness of the situation has the LED on his temple turning yellow and blinking as he processes it. After a moment, it's back to a calm blue.

He tilts his head ever so slightly as he looks at 9S, expression impassive. Placidly, he says,
] Whatever you're looking for, it isn't here.
juniberries: (hi im trying to get the dick please)

[personal profile] juniberries 2018-06-21 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
[She is...so lost among this girl's ramblings. But she's just so enthusiastic that Allura isn't about to try to stop her.

But Allura kind of understands. She thinks she's seen Lance and Hunk take similar pictures in the past. She also somewhat understands what 'online' means because there are similar databases in space.
]

They sound incredibly important.

[That's all she can manage.]
bestaround: (Default)

[personal profile] bestaround 2018-06-21 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ There's a long moment in which 9S doesn't respond, unable to come up with the right words to say when it's clear he's telling the truth. But then—what's going on? While memory wipes certainly happen in androids easily enough, you couldn't exactly do that in humans, right?

But all the questions in the world wouldn't change that Akira is, essentially, staring down a total stranger. As much as it makes 9S' stomach drop—well, if he had one to drop, but the dread is nonetheless there—maybe... it's a bad idea to press it. Besides, hadn't he been on the other side of this scenario so many times in the past?

Eventually, all 9S can do is shake his head. ]


No, sorry—I guess we haven't. [ Wholly unconvincing, he isn't even going to deny that. Instead of acknowledging that, 9S decides to belatedly set back down the mug he had been inspecting just minutes before. ] Is this yours? I didn't realize there was anybody else around.
cargoed: (Default)

[personal profile] cargoed 2018-06-21 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
i don't talk any more weird than you!
and big
like
building big
bigger than a building?
juniberries: (wide eyed like what)

[personal profile] juniberries 2018-06-21 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
[The voice is that of a stranger's, but she feels him to be a savior of sorts as Noctis comes into view. The panic she feels dissipates a bit, the fear brought about by a doomed loneliness is soothed, and while there is very much a more logical part of her that knows she's being irrational, and should take caution approaching a stranger in a strange land, she moves towards him.

He seems a friendly face, and is after all the only one around.
]

Oh thank the ancients someone's here. [She continues to hold the flower in her hand, finding herself more soothed as she comes closer to him, expression wide and thankful.] I seem to have found myself lost.
cargoed: (Default)

[personal profile] cargoed 2018-06-21 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ they have clashed since before keith even realized they did - back in the days where that mullet haunted all of lance's dreams. but now it was different, because now they were paladins. they'd been through the near destruction of the universe, saving entire alien races, losing shiro...

above it all, lance trusted keith. sure, there's a lot built up in that feeling of being left behind while keith went off to play big bad hero, but there was only so much they could do about that.

for now, though, lance walks over to where keith is standing, very focused on this one fact and needing the time to get close enough and actually measure - his hand coming to move from the top of his head to keith's, before a huge grins spreads out across his face. ]


Oh heck yes! You did! Or- actually, nevermind. [ because while fighting would be fun, it would not be helpful. ] What did you mean about what you said before? About our lions 'not exactly' being here?
juniberries: (darth vader...is my father?)

idk maybe. :/

[personal profile] juniberries 2018-06-21 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
[She nods her head, still holding his hand in hers, completely unaware of how odd she must be acting and instead taking comfort in Lance's simply being here. She's no longer alone, and he's someone she'd be looking for if she knew to look for her fellow paladins in this world unknown. Her free hand continues to hold the flower, her thumb running over one of its petals absentmindedly.]

I am fine, I just...found myself lost. [and oh so terribly alone.] Did you come from the temple as well?
marionnettist: © ʟɪᴠᴇʙɪᴛᴇs (8)

[personal profile] marionnettist 2018-06-21 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
Act more apologetic, then. [ The normalcy is abundant and comforting on both sides, frankly. Shu had woken up alone, in a strange place, soon found himself covering in mud and soaking wet, and there was absolutely no sign of Mika anywhere. For all of his angry yelling, his scolding, his lectures and rants... Mika is just as familiar to him as Mademoiselle is, to the point that he can find enough clarity in his worst moments to tell him to leave.

There's codependency, there. Neither of them will speak of it directly, whether intentionally sweeping it under the rug or repressing that knowledge or being unaware of the position they're in. But the magic of the purple poppy is already taking effect, seeping into Shu as he winds up the bandages he's removed around a hand and scoffs at the cheekiness he receives.
]

What good is that going to do? [ hmph ] Come along, Kagehira, before we both wind up catching ill. Although it might fix that impertinence of yours, I have no interest in ruining our clothing more than we already have. Who knows what sort of cleaning we could get in such a place.
spaceforged: (More talking)

[Action]

[personal profile] spaceforged 2018-06-21 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
[The meeting spot will be obvious. Shiro set up a tarp and small area that's free of the rain. He'd set up when he returned to the temple, out of a desire to have some time to himself from time to time while he recovered.

He'd asked the ghosts for firework and thus when Lotor approaches, there's a fire to light the way. Shiro gets up from the log by the wall when he sees him. The moment he's close enough he doesn't have to raise his voice, he says.]


We're outside normal time and space, we're not even in our own reality. I'm not entirely sure 'where' this is those terms. But I guess just calling them Astoria's world works well enough.
teenanigans: ikimaru @ tumblr (janey be flippin her godspoon)

[personal profile] teenanigans 2018-06-21 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
[there are a couple of things here that suggest to Roxy that this isn’t the guy’s usual modus operandi. like, the things he just got done saying, for starters. and also, wouldn’t a weirdo rock collector come prepared with bigger pockets for more weirdo rocks?]

[nah, he’s probably just a regular ol’ weirdo. and you know what? she likes weirdos. and she is squishy as hell, so fuck it.]


All right, rock star, bring it in.

[here you go, Ryuji, one big old Lalonde hug.]
juniberries: (memories are like spores)

[personal profile] juniberries 2018-06-21 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
[She may protest that she doesn't need a knight in shining armour, but it's hard to quell her feelings of utmost gratitude of having been found. And as he holds his hand out, she at first thinks to take it in her own, a physical link to having him here and for her to not continue out in these woods alone.

But instead, she looks down at the flower he's gesturing to; even plucked it remains glowing in her hand.
]

This is my first time happening upon it, though I've not been traveling for long... [So she thinks. The mist makes it hard to make heads or tails of just how much time has past. She turns slightly, gesturing towards the bush full of the other similar flowers.] I found it over there in that bush. Why do you ask?
lonered: (s33)

[personal profile] lonered 2018-06-21 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
What the hell is wrong with you?

[Seriously, he's starting to be more than a little worried here. What was that, Lance? He's never been taller than the other boy. He's pretty close! Like, almost there. But, he's pretty sure definitely not.

Give him a second and he'll put together a reason why, even if it won't make sense (Lance looks the same; that much time can't have passed, right?)]


They're not here. But Shiro is. And the ability the Witch gave him--

[Well, okay, backing up.] You heard about the magic thing, right?
flyingsolos: (The girly equivalent of "yare yare")

[personal profile] flyingsolos 2018-06-21 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I know. It happened to me too, but that was like... a month and a half ago.
murderp: (YES YOU CAN)

[personal profile] murderp 2018-06-21 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, don't worry! I'll stay close to you!

[ BECAUSE. KOU IS IMPORTANT NOW. ]
unpatriarchal: (005.)

[personal profile] unpatriarchal 2018-06-21 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ indeed, the glowing is odd, but nothing extraordinarily bizarre. the universe is a diverse place, after all, and the flora and fauna differ greatly from place to place. but it's for this reason that lotor is always . . . careful. you can't be too sure of what you'll find in the dark. you have to watch where you step.

allura, though, is far too trusting and naive, but lotor (perhaps wisely) keeps that opinion to himself. ]


I doubt it amounts to nothing more than a hunch. [ he pauses before holding out his hand, palm up, almost beckoning her to drop the flower in his palm. ] But I would avoid picking flowers and plants in a world where we're not entirely sure what the effects might be. This isn't home.

[ a little imploringly; he'll get rid of it for her. ]
bestaround: (Default)

[personal profile] bestaround 2018-06-21 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ Truth be told, 9S isn't quite sure what exactly he's searching for, either. The criteria was mostly "an actually helpful clue regarding where he is and what's going on", but that's still awfully broad, and equally unhelpful in such a barren room. Of course, it never hurts to be thorough, but perhaps it was time to give up on this room.

He's caught before he could ever decide to leave, though. Not that he believes he's committing any sort of wrongdoing in the moment; up until now, 9S hadn't spotted any other signs of life, so when a voice interjects into the silence he circles around in place, an empty drawer left open and immediately forgotten. ]


Whoa, hey—so there is someone around! [ Because that's more important than trespassing, obviously. ] I've been looking all over for...

[ 9S trails off. The scrutinizing stare he gives Connor is hidden by the blindfold tied over his face, but he does notice those clothes. The faint ring of light settled right in his temple. But before he comments on any of that, he belatedly finishes off: ]

... Uh, for another person.
rootbound: (following the heartlines.)

two blue

[personal profile] rootbound 2018-06-21 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
[hm. Vern has no idea if the odd growth has to do with the forest's magic or not, but with how unpredictable this place it, it's always better safe than sorry.

Edgar's getting a very insistent poke in his shoulder. then another, and another, if the first one doesn't work.]

Up, before something more unpleasant than me eats you.
harunos: (oo2)

lmfaoo works for me!!

[personal profile] harunos 2018-06-21 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
[ That is VERY FAR from anything Sakura would do and she's almost exasperated by the suggestion. What??? ]

What?! No way! [ Waving her hands in front of her. ] I'd never do that!

[ Oh no, that sounds suspicious. That's exactly what someone who would do that would say!! ]

I'm just ... lonely! That's all!

[ PLEASE WORK? ]
harunos: (o48)

[personal profile] harunos 2018-06-21 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
Stranger danger?

[ She's never heard that particular set of words together but she can certainly figure out what it means.

But she looks a bit embarrassed. ]


Uh, well — I'm not actually sure.

[ Sounds ... promising ... ]
oneandmikleonly: (night is all we have.)

[personal profile] oneandmikleonly 2018-06-21 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
[he stops dead, in the pouring rain in the mud, pieces trying...and failing...to slot into place.

at last, very carefully, his brow knitted in a frown]

You just got back from your first...? But we were just there.
oneandmikleonly: (pockets full of stones.)

[personal profile] oneandmikleonly 2018-06-21 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
Yes! That's why you need to come over here.

['here' appears to be a relatively sheltered spot under the trees, if he follows Mikleo's pointing finger; there's still drips coming through the leaves, and the mist lingers, but it's not too bad.]

And then stay put. I can't get everyone dry if they keep wandering off again!
Edited (forgetting to remove subject lines will be the death of me) 2018-06-21 02:51 (UTC)
teratias: (04. Shoves at)

Temple

[personal profile] teratias 2018-06-21 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
--Saber? What the hell?

[Waver's head pokes out from around one of the corners of the temple. He knows that face, he's been dealing with it since Iskandar crashed the first fight between Saber and Lancer in Fuyuki.

So it's a small wonder seeing her here.]
purrtagonist: and a joint (In the bag you find 100 gold coins)

[personal profile] purrtagonist 2018-06-21 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
[yeah, that response is completely unconvincing, and Akira pauses while he debates how much he wants to push. he feels a small twist of guilt in his gut at the idea that this guy (9S, right?) recognized him when the recognition wasn't mutual, and he can't help but wonder how that might've happened. lost memories? . . . a different world? a different him?]

[that thought is a little too weird to entertain for too long. so Akira pushes away from the door frame and slips into his room, hands resting in his pockets]


There are a few of us here. Maybe forty? Looks like Astoria-san was busy recruiting again, though.

[a tilt of his head]

9S, right? [. . .] Where'd we first meet?

[ah. hm. not taking no for an answer, after all]