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redmarsshit2019-12-24 10:36 pm
modblob) wrote in redmarsshit2019-12-24 10:36 pm
test drive meme: december 2019
Redshift: Welcome to the v͖͕̺̲̘̱̜͎o̴̦̣̠̦̘̹͞i̯̖d̛̪̬͈̱̦̝͍̕.
▶ Click here to read what characters will experience when arriving in Anchor.
▶ All TDM threads can be considered game canon, and current players are welcome to either top-level on the TDM so prospective players can tag them, or use the prompts for logs or network posts on the communities. All threads on the TDM can be used for Activity Check.
▶ All TDM threads can be considered game canon, and current players are welcome to either top-level on the TDM so prospective players can tag them, or use the prompts for logs or network posts on the communities. All threads on the TDM can be used for Activity Check.
a. santapocalypse.
As the suns set over the unforgiving landscape around Anchor, a bright light flares in the sky, streaking low and fast across the horizon, throwing off flares of green, white, and red.
The impact...is not explosive. Just another flare of light, and then smoke to mark where the object went down. Whatever it was, it didn't come from the redshift. It came from within the planet's atmosphere, such as it is, and landed barely a few steps outside the city.
Characters who choose to investigate will find something strange at the bottom of the pillar of smoke. They'll find a small ship, one that seems to have been cobbled together with pieces of a dozen different ships from a dozen different universes. The cockpit is busted wide open, a red jacket caught on a piece of glass, with no other sign of the pilot. Except for, y'know, the red ringing the broken glass, but we'll just ignore that, shall we?
Scattered all around the vehicle, some of them scorched on the outside but otherwise unharmed, are boxes, boxes, boxes. None are bigger than a shoebox, and all wrapped beautifully with bows on top. Characters who start opening them will find box after box containing nonsense items that might be valuable to someone, but maybe not anyone here. But if they open enough, eventually they'll find something inside that could only be intended for them, it’s so specific, odd, or precious. Any other box they open after that will be empty.
Those that dare enter will find the ship appears larger on the inside. And it also seems to be mostly made of hallways. Hallways that lead nowhere, hallways that, from time to time, are filled with an ominous...jingling.
The source of that jingling is the reindire.
Twisted, monstrous creatures with talons in place of hooves, they will hunt whoever enters the ship through its halls and even back across the wasteland should characters attempt to run. Most of them can be calmed, even tamed. Eaten, if hunting for venison is your character's jam (have at, SSSSs).
Only one cannot be reasoned with, or easily defeated.
The largest of all the reindire, one with fangs and wings and a lust for blood. And a big red nose that shoots lasers. You wouldn't want it following you back to Anchor, would you? Best to defeat it out in the sands, where it can't do any real harm.
The impact...is not explosive. Just another flare of light, and then smoke to mark where the object went down. Whatever it was, it didn't come from the redshift. It came from within the planet's atmosphere, such as it is, and landed barely a few steps outside the city.
Characters who choose to investigate will find something strange at the bottom of the pillar of smoke. They'll find a small ship, one that seems to have been cobbled together with pieces of a dozen different ships from a dozen different universes. The cockpit is busted wide open, a red jacket caught on a piece of glass, with no other sign of the pilot. Except for, y'know, the red ringing the broken glass, but we'll just ignore that, shall we?
Scattered all around the vehicle, some of them scorched on the outside but otherwise unharmed, are boxes, boxes, boxes. None are bigger than a shoebox, and all wrapped beautifully with bows on top. Characters who start opening them will find box after box containing nonsense items that might be valuable to someone, but maybe not anyone here. But if they open enough, eventually they'll find something inside that could only be intended for them, it’s so specific, odd, or precious. Any other box they open after that will be empty.
Those that dare enter will find the ship appears larger on the inside. And it also seems to be mostly made of hallways. Hallways that lead nowhere, hallways that, from time to time, are filled with an ominous...jingling.
The source of that jingling is the reindire.
Twisted, monstrous creatures with talons in place of hooves, they will hunt whoever enters the ship through its halls and even back across the wasteland should characters attempt to run. Most of them can be calmed, even tamed. Eaten, if hunting for venison is your character's jam (have at, SSSSs).
Only one cannot be reasoned with, or easily defeated.
The largest of all the reindire, one with fangs and wings and a lust for blood. And a big red nose that shoots lasers. You wouldn't want it following you back to Anchor, would you? Best to defeat it out in the sands, where it can't do any real harm.
b. keep calm & carry on.
As characters have worked on improving the city, they've knocked a few loose screws back into place and rewired a few polarities that needed reversing and now, a new area has opened up. It announces itself with a loud screech as the bulkheads that kept it blocked off open up. The new space is huge, at first seemingly empty.
This space does what the VR rooms can't. It reads minds.
It won't show scenes from home, no, but it will create a facsimile of a place that your character would find most relaxing. And this isn't the simple visual experience of the VR rooms. This is full-sensory immersion. Characters will see, yes, but also be able to touch, smell, even taste what's on the air in their surroundings. If there is fruit, they can pick and eat it - it won't satisfy them, but they'll be able to taste what's there. If there's water, they'll be able to swim it in, and will even feel wet until they climb back onto the shore or out of the pool.
Some lucky souls will even get Anchor's therapy AI chiming in to their scenes, with suggestions like, "Talk to your anxiety the way you would to a friend. Ask it where it comes from, see what it’s doing for you, and redirect it into healthy self-expression." Or, "Have you tried yoga?" or, occasionally, "I think you really really need a nap."
The focus of the room is to help characters relax. Those rolling blackouts that have been happening around Anchor ever since the room opened up? They’re probably nothing to worry about. Right?
This space does what the VR rooms can't. It reads minds.
It won't show scenes from home, no, but it will create a facsimile of a place that your character would find most relaxing. And this isn't the simple visual experience of the VR rooms. This is full-sensory immersion. Characters will see, yes, but also be able to touch, smell, even taste what's on the air in their surroundings. If there is fruit, they can pick and eat it - it won't satisfy them, but they'll be able to taste what's there. If there's water, they'll be able to swim it in, and will even feel wet until they climb back onto the shore or out of the pool.
Some lucky souls will even get Anchor's therapy AI chiming in to their scenes, with suggestions like, "Talk to your anxiety the way you would to a friend. Ask it where it comes from, see what it’s doing for you, and redirect it into healthy self-expression." Or, "Have you tried yoga?" or, occasionally, "I think you really really need a nap."
The focus of the room is to help characters relax. Those rolling blackouts that have been happening around Anchor ever since the room opened up? They’re probably nothing to worry about. Right?
c. the network.
Need to get hold of someone, call for help, ask the city at large a question? Need to ask a friend to back you up on the reindire hunt? Maybe you need to hold your sat phone up to whatever crazy thing you're seeing and send out a recording to double-check if your eyes are deceiving you and what you're looking at is real?
Whatever the reason, the network is going strong, so feel free to include a post to it in your top-levels.
Whatever the reason, the network is going strong, so feel free to include a post to it in your top-levels.
no subject
It can't have been any easier for Kieran. Especially given how anxious the man tended to be, even on a good day.
"The city? Mm. Not really." Charles huffs softly, tipping his head back until he can feel the scratch of bark against the back of his head. "Never liked cities, much."
The people, that had been another story entirely. But the city itself, all its politics and chaos, that he could happily do without. And truth be told he'd have happily traded the technology and luxurious living space for a chance at something like this.
A little scrap of home, and someone familiar.
no subject
If nothing else, t hat alone is a source of commiseration between the two en, despite their innate differences. Between Kieran's nervous jitters and Charles' calmness, they couldn't exude energy that contrasted more, but they could agree on avoiding the loud noises and claustrophobia of tightly-packed civilization.
That said, it's not all bad, right? Kieran's heard a couple of things that kind of soften that icky feeling. Maybe.
"Th-There's a boy here named Peter who, uh, he's from New York City i-in the future. He says that the buildings get even bigger than they are now!"
He also said that he likes to climb them and sit at the top, but that's a bit much.
"W-Was that the same over in the city you got sent to?"
no subject
There's a certain satisfaction in talking about all this strangeness with someone who understands. Someone who comes from the same point of reference. Jacob had had London, in all its majesty and corruption, and Angel had seen the stars themselves from close up, but for two men from the American wilderness? All of this is just inexcusably weird.
"There was a tower in the center that you couldn't see the top of, on a cloudy day. No cobblestones, just smooth black stone...asphalt, I think they called it. And even the worst places to live had lights that came on with the flick of a switch."
no subject
"No kiddin'..." Kieran breathes trying to imagine the sheer enormity and convenience of it all.
"And th-that was just a normal city? Nothin' fancy like this, uh, s-space station?"
That last bit comes out unnaturally, as if they're words memorized from a script rather than words born from true understanding.
no subject
He huffs softly, reaching up to scratch slowly at the edge of his jaw.
"I try not to think about it too much. Just helps to focus on where I am, now. Deal with that first. Let the mysteries of the universe work themselves out."
Or leave it to people with more learning.
no subject
Whatever weird cosmic game that's going on is far too big and involved for them to start interfering in on a macro level--but they could help out on a smaller scale. That's the kind of thing that gets Kieran up in the morning even amidst all the crazy. Even if he can't help the same exact way he did before, there's joy to be found in the fact that people here can be fed thanks to his and others' efforts.
He can see why his father wanted to be a farmer.
"...But, uh, demons and monsters, huh? That's, uh, th-that's somethin' else."
no subject
No. Better to say nothing, for now.
"There are things in our own world we don't quite understand. It's not so different here." He shrugs, relaxing back into the tree once more. "We find a place for ourselves and...do what we can. Here, we're all trying to survive, right? Makes things a little simpler."
People tended to bond better under severe circumstances and pain of death. But telling Kieran seems...unnecessary.
no subject
"It's kinda like here. We're all just workin' together to help each other out. It's kinda nice compared to, you know..."
The outlaw life. Sure, they'd worked together towards a common goal (...although Kieran's not sure exactly what that goal was), but there'd been an underlying current of tension amongst some of the gang members. Here, as far as he could tell, whatever conflicts arose were quickly handled through words rather than bullets.
Not a good memory.
"...I-I can introduce you to some of 'em, if you want! Th-There's this feller that I was workin' with at the ran--Oh! Wait!" Kieran's eyes snap open with realization. His pupils don't focus, but they otherwise look intact.
"Is Taima here with ya?"
...Because that's the most important thing.
no subject
"No." The blade of grass snaps gently in his hand, and he lets it go, shifting to rest his forearm against his bent knee, frowning at the landscape beyond.
"Not sure how she'd take to living in a place like this, so. Maybe it's for the best."
no subject
Kieran doesn’t mean to sound disappointed. After all, even he understands that people are far more important than animals (even horses) in the grand scheme of things. That said, the prospect of having Taima around as a familiar friend for Branwen got his hopes up. Between the odd glowing mare he found, and lovingly named Eavan, the three of them could have marked the beginning of a nice little herd.
Charles’ reasoning, however, is sound, and it provides a wonderful segue.
“Th-There’s space for ‘em! The horses!”
Kieran readjusts himself and reframed his response.
“W-What I mean is that there’s a whole part of this place that’s just fer farmin’ and raisin’ animals. B-Branwen’s here—he got shrank, but that’s a whole other thing—but he’s pretty comfortable! He’s got a friend, too!”
no subject
There is almost a note of something hopeful in his voice. A farm? Land like this that isn't an illusion, animals to see to? It seems too good to be true, after being stuck in a city full of metal and grass and concrete.
Maybe there's more to recommend this place than he'd first thought upon arrival.
"...could you show me?"
no subject
With that, Kieran immediately climbs to his feet and reaches a hand out in the direction that he’s pretty sure Charles is sitting. He’s all smiles at the prospect of the two of them heading off on an adventure, even if there’s a slight caveat to their future meandering.
“Yer, uh, yer gonna have to tell me what the surroundings look like and all, b-but I can still get us there pretty easy!”
no subject
Smiling wryly to himself, Charles takes the offered hand, though using mostly his own strength to push up off the ground and finding his footing once again. "Think the way out is this way...do you need help finding the way out?"
He'd found his way in. But it left him to wonder why he was just sort of bumbling around on his own, like that strange old man he'd seen on the side of the road in the Heartlands. Long, long ago now.
no subject
"Kinda, yeah. I-If you don't mind."
Logically, he knows that it's not much to ask, but after being treated like a burden for pretty much his entire adult life, it's tough to petition for little favors (times of desperation aside). Proving yourself as useful doesn't tend to go well if you're also proving yourself as a pain in the ass.
"But I can bring us from there! Promise!"
no subject
It's the way of things, where they come from. You're not a real man unless you handle everything on your own, bottle up every emotion you have except for anger, and a hundred other rules that seems to hurt more than they help. Some things, it takes a while to unlearn.
But he's never minded helping. It's enough just to know that someone he knew is here, and for that? There's no trouble at all in helping him along if needed.