acatalepsy_ooc | test drive # 2

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test drive # 2

I ▫ main	IV ▫ premise			XI ▫ applications	XIV ▫ activity
II ▫ logs	V ▫ rules	VII ▫ bestiary	IX ▫ canon updates	XII ▫ taken	XV ▫ drop/hiatus
III ▫ ooc	VI ▫ faq	VIII ▫ setting	X ▫ mods	XIII ▫ reserves	XVI ▫ players

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! ♥

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Humans were curious, creative, and always willing to see what they could make just for the sake of it — for good or ill. But what opinion should he possess about any of that? Androids simply exist, he exists, and certainly has no lingering desire to question this. So he tells himself, at least. There’s more to worry about now, than the nagging questions regarding existence and more.

So he answers her question regarding his own function, not necessarily the necessity of androids as a whole.]

In a generalized sense? To aid in police work. [A slight pause, and then he describes this a bit more.]

Specifically, that is, to aid them in hunting that which we call deviants. Androids who have deviated from their initial programmed behavior.

[Okay on one hand, fuck the police.

On the other hand, that's a very specific situation that doesn't even remotely apply to anything she's ever been involved in, so it's not like it should concern her, right? Whatever.]

Maybe they should just do a better job programming them in the first place. [She replies a bit arrogantly, as if it's just that easy and obvious a solution.]

[And yet there’s nothing inherently wrong with that statement; yes, if they were manufactured without the strange propensity to skew towards deviancy, there would be no issue at all. And he wouldn’t even exist, because his mission would be an utterly moot point.

That, and Connor is notoriously hard to offend, at least so easily.]

Yes. Though the issue is not knowing what causes this tendency.

[An ongoing investigation that he’ll never finish at this rate. Not when displaced so... permanently from home.]

If it were that simple, there would be no need for me.

Could you be reprogrammed to do other things? Something actually useful? I'm not exactly seeing a lot of crazed androids roaming the forest, you know.

[She doesn't know jack shit about how to do computer-y stuff, but there's probably someone around here who does, Tefé figures.]

[And that much earns a hike of the brow, a skepticism when it comes to just how useless she seems so quick to perceive him as.]

Maybe you should define exactly what you think is useful in this particular situation. Just because my main mission isn’t something that can be fulfilled in this place, doesn’t mean that I lack any relevant skills that might aid me — or others — in the future.

Right. Cop skills. Like shooting and getting in the way of people actually trying to do things.

[It's not that she isn't taking it seriously per se, but look, robots, excuse her, androids, are still a weird idea. And Connor has been so placid that it's kind of easy to see him more as a computer-y thing than a person.]

So if I asked you to, say, stop anyone from cutting down any of the trees here, would you do it?

[Her assumption being that androids listen to humans. Of course she's already basically spilled that she isn't human, but probably close enough, right?]

[A beat, and as placid as Connor can indeed be, there’s a subtle lilt to his next statement. Certainly not enough to be sarcasm, but a hint of just how... conscious he is of the obviousness regarding what he says next:]

You seem to have a history with law enforcement that’s warping your first impressions of me. I hope you’re aware of that.

[But the question she presents is both difficult and straightforward. Would he do it? That depended upon a number of things, mostly pivoting around what exactly he was trying to accomplish. And yet Connor has an inkling that’s not what she’s really asking.]

Are you actually asking whether or not I’ll do whatever it is you request of me?

[The 'oops' is unspoken but completely obvious from Tefé's expression. Not a worried one exactly, but she's still figuring this shit out.]

I'm saying it's something useful you could do, since there aren't any craaaazy androids around.

[She kind-of explains, trying to run it back a little now. Totally reasonable, right? And not like she's trying to boss him around or anything at all. Totally...]

Maybe if I see someone cutting down trees, I’ll redirect them to speak to you. Since you seem to be very concerned for the state of them.

[Another obvious observation, an and opportunity to turn the subject away from himself, where it’s lingered long enough to be lopsided.]

Is there a reason for that? Mentions of communicating with them notwithstanding.

With Astoria providing everything we should need back at the temple, I don't see any reason anyone should go around killing life in the forest. That doesn't mean people aren't going to do it without even thinking about it, though.

[She replies matter-of-factly.

It might not be her planet, and maybe she doesn't have all her old powers here but... some things are just natural to try to protect, and humans... are probably going to do what they've always done. This might not be the kind of help the witch asked for, but it's the kind of help she's gonna get.]

[And Connor’s response is just as matter-of-fact.]

Not my meaning. I was asking if there was a reason behind your inclination to feel this strongly about the subject. I returned your own question to you, if you remember. About being a naturalist. And you said you’re an ‘or something’.

[The want to know, to keep asking questions, is so ingrained in him that he doesn’t see it as prying. Or rather, prying to gather information is at least excusable.]

What is that ‘something’?

An earth elemental.

[Since we're all being to the point here, that's what dad would have said... even if the details are a bit complicated. Tefé has no idea what Connor will think of that, but well, he's just gonna have to deal with it.]

Which means that I have work I can actually do here... I hope.

[Those last, slightly less confident, two words don't quite ameliorate the amount of casual self-importance in her tone. Even without her true powers, she's still at least not some kind of... robot cop for robots.]

[The issue is that, frankly, Connor has absolutely no experience with anything or anyone who would call themselves an earth elemental. He can vaguely reference what little he knows from mentions in literature, myths, or just various anecdotal tales of a time before his own. The definition is clear in his mind, though he doesn’t know how to truly apply it to someone who is actually flesh and blood, standing before him.

In other words, it’s information that he doesn’t know what to do with, a thread of not-quite-understanding that’s hard to quantify. So, he does what he always does.

Asks more questions.]

An earth elemental... is that like a spirit? What work are you expected to do?

[At least the initial wave of skepticism was discarded, courtesy of just... everything weird happening to him in a matter of 24 hours.]

Kind of... [Look, the whole circumstances of her existence and conception are confusing and definitely weird, and even she feels like she would have kinda been better off not knowing some of the details.] I'm trying to help plant and animal life learn to co-exist.

[Definitely not to exterminate humanity. Nope, no way. Definitely off the table these days. No matter what some plants might want.]

Which includes preventing senseless destruction.

[She points out. Telling off people picking flowers in a field is such a little thing, but honestly, bouquets of flowers are something that have always irritated her.]

[In this case, perhaps the simplest explanation is the best explanation. Easy for Connor to understand, at a base level, that she's trying to 'help plant and animal life co-exist'. The details are lacking, of course, but that can always come later.

If she would even be willing to share it, of course. He has an inkling that she's perhaps not the most open individual, based on body language and the path their conversation has taken so far.]

Then I take it I'm not really under your purview, am I?

[That is to say, he hardly qualifies as plant or animal life. Or life at all, really, if one really wanted to press the matter with him.]

[Tefé frowns. Obviously her powers, new and old wouldn't work on something like him, which means maybe, but....]

Machines are just another one of humanity's problems. Whatever you're made of, plastic and metal and whatever, had to come from digging up the earth. And just because you're not made of meat or vegetables doesn't mean your actions don't have consequences either.

[All things considered though, it's stated pretty mildly. Don't think she forgot that at least he wasn't trying to actually pull up the flowers.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

test drive # 2

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