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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! ♥
lancings: all by <user name="lancings"> | please do not take (Default)

[personal profile] lancings 2018-07-01 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
[ Is now really the best time to be so sleepy? In a way, Cordelia is envious the lady can be so calm at the moment being that far away from home while she's struggling to maintain a cool head even as a soldier. ]

I'm surprised you're taking this all rather well...

[ Unless she was enchanted in some way. Perhaps, put another some spell to sedate her. That would explain a bit, but what would have been the cause? She doesn't see anyone around nearby. ]

Stay with me a bit longer. Can you walk on your own?

[ Ideally, they can both travel fast were Cordelia to mount her back, but that might be inappropriate, so walking it is. Now, where were those ruins she passed on the way here? ]
bleps: (59)

[personal profile] bleps 2018-07-01 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
[The touch is allowed, and certainly easy enough to achieve, given that Connor doesn’t appear inclined to do much more than just stand there as she approaches. A small tilt of the head, really, is all that her curiosity garners from him.

He does, for all intents and purposes, appear human. The glowing LED on his temple betrays this illusion, however, as does his semi-formal jacket he’s wearing — emblazoned on the front with the letters RK800. And though it’s difficult to see, the larger typeface of ‘ANDROID’ on his back is even more telling.

Connor looks at her quizzically, but he can tell it’s a sincere question on her part. No intonation of something sarcastic.]


There are several differences. A robot is a more generalized label, to describe a machine meant to carry out complex tasks. I suppose that technically I could fit into this category, though I know that’s not what you’re really asking.

[And thus he continues.] An android is specifically created to resemble a human, for the sake of seamlessly interacting with them. They are purposefully designed to be as similar as possible.
spaceforged: (Black Lion: Jaw blade)

[personal profile] spaceforged 2018-07-01 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
[He rights himself to check the message. The voice to text had translated for him but in a show of solidarity, as he shakes with silent laughter, he tries to tap out a return message. It's supposed to be, 'this isn't paw friendly'.]

rrrrr ttthweeedrfyuer paegsww frwdbu8f

[He gives up on typing and growls into the voice to text option. It's one long Grrrrrrowwwlll. The program has a bit of a fit.]

You'll get the hang of it.
apocryphas: (007)

[personal profile] apocryphas 2018-07-01 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
Are you telling me not a single person knows why they're here? Huhhh?!

[ Well, she can appreciate the answer in some form... even if it doesn't really answer anything. In fact, learning this has only served to irritate Mordred a little more. ]

What kinda screwed up system is this?
runicking: <user name=celeschere site=tumblr.com> (pic#12048962)

[personal profile] runicking 2018-07-01 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ Celes watches him for a moment before finally lowering her weapon. She doesn't sheath it, but at the very least he seems to have talked her down at least somewhat.

The floor is his, she's listening. ]
runicking: <user name=celeschere site=tumblr.com> (pic#12048970)

bless u

[personal profile] runicking 2018-07-01 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ There's a small delay between messages. ]

Yes that would be easier

[ She assumes? At least that way she doesn't have to figure out what all of these different buttons do. Also it's difficult typing on something so small. ]
unmotivated: (pic#12383850)

[personal profile] unmotivated 2018-07-01 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ugh... why is she still here. Ignoring people is supposed to make them go away.

With narrowed eyes and a furrowed brow, he faces Mordred again. His expression isn't a scowl, but he definitely looks unhappy. ]


Everyone can cook meat. You just put it on a grill.

[ Fushimi can't cook much but he can at least heat stuff up. He certainly believes that everybody can do it, too. ]
spaceforged: (Feeling lost? Yeah he does that a lot.)

He tries to help

[personal profile] spaceforged 2018-07-01 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
At the top of the screen, on the right side there should be a little button that says 'mode'. Tap that and tap voice in the drop down menu.

It should switch right over.
runicking: (pic#12049042)

[personal profile] runicking 2018-07-01 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
[ Mordred, you're preaching to the choir. Unfortunately, Celes knows just about as much as she does, and with a sigh and a shrug, she looks to her side. ]

No one that I've talked to, at least. From what I understand, people have been brought here from other worlds, to act as Warriors of Light.
foundafamily: (Lurking)

[personal profile] foundafamily 2018-07-01 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
[Progress! Firo lowers his hands most of the way, though he doesn't relax entirely. He wouldn't be happy to receive some of the information he's about to tell her either, so he wants to be prepared to defend in case the weapon comes back into the mix.]

So, for starters, did you hear a lady's voice talking to you? That's Astoria, and she's the one who brought you here.

[Go after her if you've gotta get stabby; don't take it out on him!]
tranquilforest: (pic#12238900)

[personal profile] tranquilforest 2018-07-01 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
[The year and the carefully chosen words, the fraught expression on Nihuang's face, make her heart catch briefly in the back of her throat. Small wonder she'd come to this conclusion, when in later years she'd had time to mourn.]

Princess- [She cuts herself off, her voice a little shaky, and then shakes her head.] Huang-er. [She raises a hand to rest on her shoulder, tilting her head to gaze more steadily into her eyes.] Da Liang is as safe as she can be, due to the sacrifices of all her soldiers at the borders over the past few years. Prince Muqing [no longer young, even in the most abstract sense] is capably handling the affairs of Yunnan. Even in Jinling... [It's joy and sadness both that stay her voice now, that halt her words as she attempts to relay the news to someone still very much in her past, without the clarity of distance and in the throes of sorrows unmuted by time.]
foundafamily: (14.1)

[personal profile] foundafamily 2018-07-01 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
[Yeah, he has no idea how to answer any of that, and he can't see Astoria ponying up the information easily.]

Even if she would answer you, how's knowing that gonna get us out of here any faster?

[That is assuming that she has the same goals as he does--but Firo doesn't consider otherwise. Escape is really the only sensible long-term goal in his mind.]
lumberlady: (バイバイ)

[personal profile] lumberlady 2018-07-01 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
[Despite his strange looks, Konoha doesn't shirk away from the touch. It's comforting, and she's scared, and when you're alone... maybe anyone will do, really, but she's glad it's someone nice. Who ended up being able to tie a decent knot.

She reaches for his hand on her shoulder, holds it briefly. Someone's here. She's fine, she's fine-

And before she gets up,]


Thank you, Simon. For helping me.
lancings: all by <user name="lancings"> | please do not take (✪ 012)

[personal profile] lancings 2018-07-01 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ Cordelia continues to examine all the shards, hoping to find clues about what happened to the people who were here. There are no skeletons, so perhaps they simply left? But what would have caused them to abandon such a place quickly with none of their belongings? ]

It's almost as though they simply vanished in the same way we must have vanished from our world. Through magic probably.

[ She wonders what the others who were left behind must think. Are they looking for them now? Do they think they perished in battle? ]

There are some child's dolls here...

[ This place could have housed many families, making her even more worried for what fate may have befallen them. ]

I hope they were not harmed, but you and I know best that no battle is without casualties.
lumberlady: (バイバイ)

[personal profile] lumberlady 2018-07-01 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
[Konoha would agree that it really doesn't seem the time... if she weren't already far past caring for such things. Or noticing the sprig of flowers snagged on her harness.]

I'm very competent, you know...

[Which explains how good she's taking it, surely. She's so very strong-willed, and capable, and this place is... no trouble at all...]

Of course I can walk... but where are we going... ?

[Why didn't they just stay here? It was far more peaceful that way-]
runicking: <user name=celesjessa> (1525508 (41))

what a weirdo

[personal profile] runicking 2018-07-01 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ Of the things Celes expects to see, a field of brightly colored flowers, and a purple-skinned man lopping off the heads of said flowers with his swords surprisingly didn't make the list. The tall blond happens upon the clearing shortly after he does, and seeing him soundly slice through one, she frowns. No, it's not her business, but isn't that a little excessive? Also potentially dangerous?? She's not sure where he hales from, but back home flowers don't glow like that.

Taking a step closer, she cants her head slightly. Her sword stays sheathed at her side, but any trained soldier knows the somewhat wide stance she takes—cautious, prepared for the worst. ]


What are you doing?

[ Landscaping, Celes. Obviously. ]
beyondthegreen: (Geranium)

[personal profile] beyondthegreen 2018-07-01 03:33 am (UTC)(link)
There's already billions of humans out there interacting with each other, and now someone decided they needed to make androids on top of that?

[Tefé replies rhetorically, maybe even a little dismissively with that initial awestruck moment fading the more she thinks about it. Machines and the natural world... aren't usually a good match.

Still, natural curiosity prompts a lot of questions.]


What did they make you for, then?
runicking: <user name=celesjessa> (pic#12049008)

[personal profile] runicking 2018-07-01 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ Because real men push responsibility off on other people. Although technically he's justified here, and that is enough to put her sword back in its scabbard. He isn't who she should be directing her ire toward and she knows it. ]

...It was the same for you, then?

[ He did say that he's been here for a few weeks. ]

Do you know why?
unrecovered: (Yeah and?)

I have zero idea what Shiro's first shift was like, so Wash isn't going to see this one

[personal profile] unrecovered 2018-07-01 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
[Wash just pauses and gives Shiro a flat, unamused stare. Literally anything could happen here, but it can't hurt to try it?]

[It's been a long time since he's dealt with a dyed-in-the-wool optimist. He's out of practice.]

[But they're here, and Shiro's offering, and he's going to need to know what his hypothetical power is eventually.]


Okay.

[He reaches out, takes Shiro's hand, thinks about using whatever power he might have, and waits. After a few seconds, there's...still a whole lot of nothing, and he pulls his hand back.]

Well, that was helpful.
runicking: <user name=celesjessa> (pic#12049016)

[personal profile] runicking 2018-07-01 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ There is an even longer pause, and as time goes by it becomes apparent that he might have overloaded her a little. Whoops.

After a moment, her voice starts to quietly come through. ]


—ear me? I don't think this is working.

[ Is she doing it right? ]
beyondthegreen: (Chestnut)

[personal profile] beyondthegreen 2018-07-01 03:42 am (UTC)(link)
I guess it doesn't.

[And while getting out is important, trying to decipher what's behind Astoria's intentions is already nagging a little at Tefé. It's easy to want to do something good, but hard to actually accomplish it -- as she knows from experience.]

What'd she have you do in the last place, anyway?
valuedstrength: (My church offers no absolution)

[personal profile] valuedstrength 2018-07-01 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, but I actually watched the movie in theaters. Only ever managed to read the first book after that. [Steve explains as he watches Firo. Honestly? Yes. He has nothing to back his opinion up, but an old movie. That's not proof anything is wrong.]

... Maybe. I tend to be cautious when I end up somewhere I don't belong. Could be nothing. Probably is.
spaceforged: (Black lion stop! Stop!)

whoops let me set up something (I was sleepy when I did the previous)

[personal profile] spaceforged 2018-07-01 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
Hold on. [He draws his hand back and turns to purple light. As the Black Lion he shifts, draping himself over the log and setting his paws by the fire itself. His thoughts are on Sam and how it took touching him while he was shifted to see what his magic was. Sam's hand had touched his nose and he'd been knocked back into human form.]

Try it now.

[He leans forward, yellow eyes glowing as he settles his metal body. His tail flicks from side to side.]
valuedstrength: (My church offers no absolution)

[personal profile] valuedstrength 2018-07-01 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah. It's a shame. I just started working with him a couple months back. I was enjoying having him around. Kind of seems quiet now.
fashionabot: (01)

[personal profile] fashionabot 2018-07-01 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ The reaction is understandable, especially after the stunt she pulled with her black box. Their entire squadron fell during their mission, leaving only No.2 alive in the end. Not even No.4 can answer how she's somehow functional. Back then she said her final farewell, as well as told No.2 to keep on living. ]

Careful, No.2!

[ Concern crosses No.4's face, stumbling forward in preparation to pull her captain up if she fell. When only a few flowers are trampled, she keeps a small distance between them. But her arm extends outward, reaching to place a hand on A2's shoulder.

Her smile is more strained, but she tries to be as reassuring as possible. ]


I— I don't understand what's happening either. How am I even here? But it's me. I'm right here, No.2.