test drive meme: january 2020

[modblob]

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.

a. nuclear fallout boy.

There is a mid-90s strip mall forming outside of Anchor.

Which is to say that there is now a Hot Topic next to the Blockbuster, and a little canopied sidewalk connecting the two. The difference between them is that the Hot Topic has an airlock entry and is safe from the radiation outside.

It's also not decked out for any Earth holidays, but it is fully stocked. Just not stocked with things that an Earth-based shopper would recognize as their "typical" fare. There are band t-shirts, with extreme fonts and symbols, but said fonts are almost cuneiform and the symbols are references that no one who wasn't living on Mars-15 in 1994 will get. The joke t-shirts are much the same, with cartoon characters, visual puns, memes, and designs that are, well, out of this world. There are bizarre earrings in standing cases, body decorations that might not quite fit a human, temporary tattoos, and random junk that cool fifteen-year-olds would snap up if it existed on Mars. (Use your imaginations, Anchorites.)

One thing you won't find in this store is advanced technology that serves any actual purpose. Sure, there are thumb-sized fart machines and little wall-mounted projectors that can decorate ceilings with preprogrammed holographic scenery (mostly starscapes). But none of it is any more useful than the keychain of that fat hipster cat with butterfly wings and bug eyes hanging from one of the displays. The cash register, which is the most futuristic thing in the place, is smashed to bits. Gotta get those Mars credits somewhere else.

b. looking kinda familiar.

There are little creatures scuttling through Anchor again, though these ones... well, they really are creatures more than they can be called animals. They're little blue-gray blobs of tissue, growing as they roll around until they finally split in two, both pieces then going their own way. Even though they don't have legs, the little blobs are fast, and many of them have no interest in interacting with the people of Anchor, and disappear into the ether never to be seen again.

Some of them, however, will single people out and start following them. The longer that little blob follows, the closer it gets, the more it takes the shape of an animal that represents the follow-ee's innermost soul or personality. The part of themselves that they hide away. As it begins to take shape, the person it follows will start to hear a tiny voice, at first just muffled sounds that could be coming from anywhere, but as the creature's form clarifies, the mumbling turns into actual speech. Clumsy, at first, almost like babytalk, but soon the little creature following its chosen Anchorite will be able to speak with its chosen person in full sentences. No one else can hear the little creature talk - only the one it decided to follow.

Keep the little bugger (or big bugger, if your innermost soul is an elephant or something) around for a week, and it will settle into its chosen shape, bonding to you for as long as you're alive. It can speak, listen, and understand, but you're the only one who can hear its voice. If this whole animal companion stalker situation isn't up your alley, though, and you're not feeling the connection, the little critter will slouch off to its own blobby existence.

c. creatures from the black locked room.

There's been a lot of exploration happening in that flooded area that Joe warned you all about. A lot of rooms opened, a lot of rooms explored and/or destroyed (thanks, Jacob et al. srsly). It's a lot of noise in a somewhat confined space. And something in one of the rooms is stirring...and done with being locked away.

Midday on the 20th of the month, the sounds of metal shrieking as it is twisted out of shape burble up out of the flooded halls. Thumping, rumbling, and eerie hooting noises are all muffled by the water at first.

There's only one at first, sloshing up out of the water and looking perfectly dry. Well... it looks like nothing, actually. A deep blackness that can hypnotize if it's stared at for too long. Long, dark claws that shine with a silvery edge. The vicious teeth in its shapeless head glow a pale blue-green.

Then another comes to the top of the stairs, and another.

They're perplexed at first by the webbing Peter Parker left to block off the hall, but a few experimental pokes with a claw shows that the stuff gives under their talons with only a little bit of effort. The three creatures slice their way free and move as a pack through the lower levels of Anchor, prepared to mob whoever they come across and tear them to shreds.

There's a problem when it comes to straight-up fighting these things, though: when physically attacked, they simply bounce back, when pieces are hacked off with a blade, each piece becomes a new, identical monster. The only way to beat them is with energy and other alternate fighting styles - magic, lasers, energy projectiles, etc.

Some people might be lucky enough not to run into them. Good luck to the rest.

d. 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 to take out the toothy voids? 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.

Navigation.

Comments

Ratonhnhaké:ton (Connor) // Assassin's Creed 3 + CoS CRAU // OTA

[mustact]

b. looking kinda familiar

Since the strange blob had left the room Ratonhnhaké:ton and the others opened, he hadn't entirely forgotten it once. The station is big, so he isn't surprised that he doesn't run into it quickly, but considering they don't really know what it is, he keeps an eye out in case it turns out to be a problem. Which is why, when he first sees it approach him, he's instantly on guard.

However, as soon as it turns out not to be a threat, he relaxes and goes about his day. Most of the time, he can either be found in the library, the park, or wandering around the Agricultural Level, while the blob slowly shifts into a red deer stag.

Even then, he doesn't pay it much attention beyond occasionally glancing at it, intrigued by the transformation. It's not until the voices he's heard clarify and he can actually tell where it comes from. He's in transit, having just left his room, knowing the stag is following him by the somewhat unsteady clip-clopping behind him.

"Floor is ..." it starts, as a finally fully formed hoof slips on the floor. "I slip."

Ratonhnhaké:ton stops abruptly, and turns towards the stag with wide eyes, staring in utter disbelief.

"What ...?"

It's not often that he finds himself at a loss for words, but he does now. Did it just speak?

c. creatures from the black locked room

If Ratonhnhaké:ton were to say the creatures looked like anything, he'd compare them to the demons of the City. Black shapes that don't show much in the way of other characteristics. Since Angel made him a gun - that she named Claw - that shoots lightning specifically because she was concerned about him having the tools to fight said demons, he opts to forego any other weapons he has in favour of bringing out Claw.

He's never been one to run from danger, so he can found all around Anchor trying to fight the creatures. Maybe you run into him in the middle of shooting at them. If there's only a few of them, perhaps there is nothing to be too concerned about, as he makes sure to keep his distance. It may be, however, that he finds himself nearly overwhelmed, and perhaps he could use your help.

If not, perhaps you could use his help. He will gladly leap in between you and the creatures, with the gun at the ready.

Perhaps his new stag friend isn't too far away either, but it's also unlikely to be much help beyond being yet another body shield.

Wildcard

((OOC: Write me something or contact me for plottings. c:))

c

[0thingsonmymind]

He could definitely use Connor's help. He'd been trying to run from the creatures but he doesn't know Anchor that well yet and has ended up cornered by two creatures on the lower levels. The only weapon he has is a steak knife and he knows how cutting these things ends.

The arctic fox following him is doing its very best ferocius but it doesn't seem to be doing much.

[mustact]

Considering how mindlessly the shadow-like creatures seem to be attacking everything that moves, Ratonhnhaké:ton highly doubts that any attempts by other animals to dissuade or scare them is going to do much. He wouldn't count on having much time, so as soon as he spots Brian, he takes aim and fires rapidly at both creatures.

The lightning surges through them, making them convulse for a moment as though they may actually have muscles before they collapse.

It may not be enough, however, which is why he immediately waves at Brian to come to him.

"You all right?"

[0thingsonmymind]

The fox flicks its ears forward as Connor shoots but the man doesn't notice until the beasts collapse. He quickly spots the other man.

!

He nods and darts out from between the creatures to Connor. He's alright. Not dead or injured, at least.

The fox sniffs at one of the downed creatures and takes an experimental bite out of it. It immediately regrets it and scurries away to between Brian's feet.

[mustact]

His lips twitch upwards, just slightly, at the fox's experiment, before he starts walking backwards down the corridor. In case they do get back up, he doesn't want his back turned towards them. All he does is listen closely and turn his head every now and then in case there are more of them.

"I wonder what they taste like," he says, idly, much as he has absolutely no intention of tasting them.

[0thingsonmymind]

Brian and the fox follow. The later responds, but as only Brian can hear it and isn't aware no one else can he doesn't bother to relay it. He does communicate something, though.

tha nk

[mustact]

"You're welcome."

One of the shadow-like creatures starts to stir, but Ratonhnhaké:ton gives it no chance to get onto his feet as he shoots it again.

It seems the strange man had a point about not opening the doors. Even so, he's not certain the answer was to ignore them. What is the alternative? For them to wait until answers drop onto their laps?

"Do you have anywhere safe to go?"

[0thingsonmymind]

He glances up. He has a room that locks, but...

is any where
safe
?

or are mons ter anom alies
all where ?

[mustact]

Both good questions. Ratonhnhaké:ton frowns, considering it for a few moments, and then shakes his head.

"I do not know for certain. But so far I have not seen them open doors."

b.

[circumitus]

Whatever is going on, at least Rey knows it isn't just her being stalked by a weird blob-figure. Though now it's not so much a blob as it's become a disgruntled thorny lizard that looks like it's going to shank the first person it sees -- or, you know, shoot blood out of its eyes.

However, the tiny critter just hangs around, far enough not to be a hindrance to Rey, as it's small and quiet and seems to be on the prowl for... something. Of what she neither knows nor cares at this juncture.

The lizard hangs out somewhere low to the ground, deftly weaving between the staggering hooves of the not-so-graceful stag that looks as if it's taking its first steps... And for all Rey knows, it is.

Unlike the other fauna she's seen here, these look more like normal animals from Earth, untouched by radiation and mutation. As if their behaviors haven't been odd enough, that alone is enough to raise some brows.

So Rey just balks. The lizard takes advantage of the distraction by scooting up onto the leg of her cargo pants and hangs out for a bit, calculating after its close shave under a stag's hoof.

"Yeah, so... that's a thing," she remarks aloud, half in response to the man and to her own self as well. "Where the hell did that come from?"

[mustact]

There's someone else here. Someone else who also seems surprised, but ... not about the same thing. Ratonhnhaké:ton studies Rey quietly for a moment, gaze sweeping across her and lingering briefly on the lizard, before his gaze fastens on the wall beside her.

"You did not hear it?"

[circumitus]

Is she missing something here? Rey just regards him with a look and a raised brow.

"Heard the clippity-clop of the clumsy hooves of a grown ass deer, if that's what you mean."

Judging from his expression, however, that's definitely not what he means.

[mustact]

"No." He shakes his head, bewildered. "It spoke."

Perhaps that makes him sound mad, but the whole situation is rather mad, so he'd like to think this woman is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. If she's new to things like these, though, she might not.

[circumitus]

Any other time, Rey would undoubtedly think this guy is crazy. However, the horned lizard that had since been stalking her around the place had started developing some vague speech patterns much unlike anyone else here.

"Dumbass," mutters a voice below, and Rey looks down to find the lizard crawling up the back of her tanktop and onto her shoulder.

She looks back to the man, tight-lipped and uncomfortable. "Didn't hear it." Her head cants to the disgruntled reptile now perching on her. "Take it you didn't hear that, either."

Or at least, she hopes not, because wow that was rude.

[mustact]

"No."

Hm. That's interesting.

He looks over at the stag, and then to the lizard on Rey's shoulder. What is this creature? If it can change shape like this, and speak to only one specific person. Has someone created it? Or did it come into being like most others?

"You're mine," the stag says, staring at him with big eyes, like that will explain everything.

"I'm yours?"

"Yes."

[circumitus]

Rey's had similar questions herself, though at this point she's gotten used to not getting any answers from anyone. The lizard croaks words every now and then, often monosyllables and nothing complex.

She blinks at his response to the stag, able to parse what she can from the one side of that exchange, until the lizard speaks: "Mine, mine, mine."

"Well, that's weirdly possessive of you," Rey mutters flatly.

[mustact]

"I suppose they are ... bonded to us."

If they can only be heard by the person they seem to have chosen, and if they say that, then there must be some form of connection. A strong one. It's simultaneously familiar and entirely new to him, which is his experience with a lot of things ever since he found himself in the City.

Life is truly strange and fascinating, to use kinder words.

b

[circumspector]

Angel watches mostly just amused at the stag trying to work out how to walk, she wants to help it oh so badly, the poor thing. But it seemed, it wasn't hers to help. Her own strange bird is perched on her horns, it's long feathers hanging down, big as it is, but it doesn't seem to bother her.

No, as it stands, she smiles, arms loosely curled over her chest as she laughs. "Connor, is there something you need to tell me? I'm worried you might have replaced me."

She tilts her chin to his new friend.

[mustact]

He's temporarily distracted by the creature on Angel's horns, now that it's finally chosen its shape. It's unlike any kind of bird he's ever seen, even if it's clearly a bird. Which suits her, to be given something so otherworldly, that still has more freedom to move than many others.

Flying is quite wonderful.

When her words finally sink in properly, he raises an eyebrow, turning his head briefly to the stag.

"I suppose you have given me a taste for horns."

[circumspector]

She lifts her fingers, covering her smile from when it bubbles over into laughter. Her eyes crinkled in the corner.

"I see you've upgraded, then. Those are some impressive antlers. Do I need to prove who is better at cuddling to win you back?"

[mustact]

His lips twitch upwards, always happy to hear her laugh like that. Any sign of her being happy - laughter, wide smiles, flinging herself at him for a hug - always warms his heart.

"I suspect you do not need to try too hard to win that battle. It helps to have arms."

[circumspector]

"Mm. I think you're right." Which it's almost tempting to give a response that is invented and wrap him up in a hug. But for the time being, no, not when the Stag's struggle are a bit more important.

So she shakes her head, talking to her new feathery adornment. "Hey buddy, find somewhere else to settle for a second?"

The bird obviously understands, so far as it goes. Taking flight in a powerful beat of wings, huge and white.

... To land on the next best perch, naturally which is Connor's shoulders.

Go figure. "Do you think yours needs help? Hooves are kind of... Well, they are fucking annoying the first time you get them."

[mustact]

He follows the bird with his gaze, mesmerised by the wings, how they stir the air around it enough for him to feel it against his face. When it lands on him without hesitation, he smiles to himself, and reaches up to experimentally scratch its chin.

"Help?" the stag says, and Ratonhnhaké:ton nods.

"She might be able to help you walk.

"Help! Like help!"

"I think he is saying yes."

[circumspector]

Indulgent as Angel is, apparently, it's head lifts, inviting him to keep scritching further. 'More scritch-scratch!' is it's content sqwark, eyes half-closed immediately after. Enough to make Angel smile before she turns back to the matter at hand. Good for nothing feather ball, only in it for the scratches.

"Alright, big guy." It's soothing, as she reaches to the stag with a hand to its shoulder. "One foot in front of the other. But not straight."

Doesn't transform, even if it'd be easier, but she leans over bending from the waist to double over, pressing on the tip of her claws to hold her weight. It ought to be ungainly, but she was more comfortable on these legs this way than not, as it turned out, flexible for it. The tingle of transformation that beckons but she keeps back. "Then keep your back legs to support you. That's where you jump front. Front legs are for navigating."

[mustact]

Even if he can't hear the bird, the body language is obvious approval, and so he keeps going.

The stag stays still for a few seconds, blinking at Angel, and Ratonhnhaké:ton wonders if he's confused over the instructions. Before he can ask, however, the stag carefully lifts his front left hoof and moves it forward, putting it down very carefully. Once he's sure it won't slip, he lifts the back right hoof and puts it down with a little bit more certainty.