test drive meme # 3

[acatamods]

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 #3 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 the tinier inhabitants of the Forest of the Fey are acting a little cheeky. 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 -- the sprites that reside within the Forest of the Fey seem to be exceptionally active, today, and tricks abound wherever you look. KINGS AND QUEENS. Typically, the sprites of the Forest of the Fey remain within the protective canopy of the surroundings. However, there seems to be something different in the air, and these little bastards are flitting about and giving out flower crowns to everyone. They are beautifully made, intricate and gloriously decorative, and most people would be happy to adorn one! There's just one problem, though -- they don't come off. No matter how hard you try, those damn flower crowns are stuck on your head, and you cannot remove them no matter how hard you try. Hope you enjoy being a fairy princess for a day. And, if you are alighted with a flower crown, your skin turns the same color as whatever flowers now sit upon your head. A wreath of blue roses? Congratulations, Violet Beauregard -- you're now as blue as a blueberry. The effect wears off in about an hour, and you can remove the flower crown then -- but have fun being every shade of the rainbow as the sprites take their time to torment the new arrivals. BALLOONS FOR EVERYONE. Normally, there are some animals that wander within the ancient stone buildings of the Temple. Tiny little white bats, sheep that grow on the vine . . . that sort of thing. However, the sprites have elected to add a little bit more flair the Temple, and balloon animals have invaded the living space. Where the sprites got the idea for balloon animals, no one can really be sure -- Astoria seems to think the sprites are waltzing through the spirit realm and seem to have garnered an idea there, whatever that's supposed to mean. So, no matter where you go, there are balloon animals. Little dogs, brightly colored fish, dinosaurs, giraffes . . . except they seem to move, and make noise, and act like their real counterparts. Tiny balloon dogs nip at your heels, balloon fish flicker about in the waters that sprinkle themselves throughout the Forest, and balloon birds float through the skies. Bonus? If you pop them, they explode into (biodegradable) glitter. DECAYED DECADENCE. Despite the shenanigans from the sprites, however, there seems to be something happening within the Temple that may be cause of concern. Flower crowns and balloon animals aside, there seem to be odd spots of the Temple that suddenly wilt . . . flowers that bend over and wither at a moment's notice, saplings that seem to creak as if suddenly dried from the inside out . . . and it seems, oddly enough, that it happens whenever you, an Arrival, get closer to the wild life. Astoria seems to think that something is wrong . . . perhaps something the Circle members brought back from their last trip. An illness, or something more? Care to poke about and see how far you're willing to take it? Or does your magical gift enable the protection of plant growth? Try out your green thumb and see if you can help. 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! ♥

Comments

[wagahaiwakyuketsukidearu]

[it's not an unfamiliar feeling, but it isn't a pleasant one, and rei hums thoughtfully.

then he pats eichi's head you might a child.]

Good boy, thinking of others. ♪ Even if it's in such a patronizing manner... Children should be praised for acting properly, shouldn't they? ♪ They won't learn otherwise.

[but he's aware that eichi's changed, somewhat, the beginnings of his attitude frayed and seeking new resolution. it's always pleasant to see reminders... even if it's in that way, with sharp eyes that delight more in the fact that everyone knows how eichi feels now, even the littlest bit. they've all been brought to the same level in this temple of beginnings -- how apt a name, now that he thinks of it, and his hand draws back to his person as he chuckles.]

But there isn't really a point to thinking "I'll outlive this person" or anything of the sort, is there? Shouldn't you simply say that you'll empathize with those who have no prior knowledge of this despair and encourage them, like the idol you are? With a brilliant smile, shining and pure, fine's Eichi Tenshouin bestows upon those suffering a sense of peace... isn't that so?

Regardless of this and that, however, don't neglect yourself, Tenshouin-kun. It would be a true shame to see you try so hard and fall due to your health.

[finethanks]

[Ahh, he'd rather act like a joint father, not a child! The headpat is too much, and he looks so startled, like he doesn't know how to handle it. Silently, he decides, he raises his hands to fix his hair. Wah.]

...If I die here, it won't be due to self-neglect. It's because of this frail body of mine that I'm more careful than anyone else, you know. I'm saying that I have a higher chance of living thanks to that.

[But it's true that he's not doing great at all. His body wants to give up, already, just from changing worlds.]

Don't misunderstand, Sakuma-kun. It's simply a chant to myself to motivate myself further. [He'll outlive, he'll outlive, and then he lives longer, right?] Anyway, speaking of all of that, could we find somewhere to sit?

[wagahaiwakyuketsukidearu]

[delightful. catching others off guard is truly a worthy pastime of those so very old, and rei's amusement is evident at eichi's look, at the act he decides on.

he has some debate on that first part -- wasn't their stuco president infamous for pushing himself just to see something through? to have some fun? -- but leaves it aside for now, peering worriedly upward at the sunlight that drifts through the canopy. rei decides at first to take the seal with them, but at the slightest of squeezes (and he'd thought he'd been gentle) it

pops

into a bunch of glitter, leaving rei to stare in utter shock at his hands. ah. hm. he's covered in it now. wonderful. hopefully it didn't kill eichi. rei will catch him if he slumps or falls any, but it isn't like he's going to last long in the day himself. there's only so long he can stay up... and he has used his energy to fulfill his curiosity.]

Since a change of clothes is necessary, [he loves the twins but he's had enough of glitter to last a lifetime from them,] shall we creak our pitiful bodies towards the Temple..? I believe there's space for us there.

[finethanks]

[Oh sweet jesus. The seal pops, and Eichi jumps a little in his shock, immediately bringing his hand over his heart. It makes his chest ache for how bad he's doing right now, but he's still standing, he's still conscious. Miserably. He's trying his best to hide any discomfort or pain with a smile.]

...It seems that Seal-kun has left this realm. Farewell... Sakuma-kun's grip wasn't so gentle, so I wonder what might happen if he touches me, too? Is it your nails that are dangerous, or something else?

[He's teasing, though, and he doesn't seem too torn apart by it.]

Putting that aside, I suppose you are right. If we continue to stay out here, you may melt, after all. For the sake of your delicate skin, and for my own weak body, let's move back inside.