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redmarsshit2020-02-21 07:33 pm
modblob) wrote in redmarsshit2020-02-21 07:33 pm
Entry tags:
test drive meme: february 2020
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. a more colloquial situation with a few robo-friends.
Something odd has happened overnight. A plant stalk, festooned with flowers and crowned with an enormous bud the size of a minivan, has grown up out of the center of the park and almost to the top of the dome. And down below, at its base and in the field around it, there's a whole lot of commotion.
The robots are at it again, and by at it again, we mean they're gathering in the park and adorning tables with... robo-treats. There are cups of lubricant, motor oil, a "massage" table for repairs. The terrible robo band has gathered again, and they seem to have been practicing, because they're rolling out some good tunes, some for waltzes and some fast-paced jams that are more along the "throw yourself around and pretend it's a dance" line.
The robots, in fact, are dancing. Sometimes in pairs, sometimes in trios, but they're trading partners and showing off their moves in what appears to be a bot-run robo-celebration.
Of course, Anchorites aren't excluded. Though it might be a Bring Your Own Food kind of event, the bots have left a table out for people to do just that. There's even water and a ton of orange juice available courtesy of the bar bot, who seems to be enjoying a day off at the repair table. Maybe it'll be good for him.
And if you seem to want to dance but can't find yourself a partner, a bot is likely to volunteer with a sympathetic, "Ah, meatsack, you cannot find a corresponding fleshbag. Allow me to partner with you."
The robots are at it again, and by at it again, we mean they're gathering in the park and adorning tables with... robo-treats. There are cups of lubricant, motor oil, a "massage" table for repairs. The terrible robo band has gathered again, and they seem to have been practicing, because they're rolling out some good tunes, some for waltzes and some fast-paced jams that are more along the "throw yourself around and pretend it's a dance" line.
The robots, in fact, are dancing. Sometimes in pairs, sometimes in trios, but they're trading partners and showing off their moves in what appears to be a bot-run robo-celebration.
Of course, Anchorites aren't excluded. Though it might be a Bring Your Own Food kind of event, the bots have left a table out for people to do just that. There's even water and a ton of orange juice available courtesy of the bar bot, who seems to be enjoying a day off at the repair table. Maybe it'll be good for him.
And if you seem to want to dance but can't find yourself a partner, a bot is likely to volunteer with a sympathetic, "Ah, meatsack, you cannot find a corresponding fleshbag. Allow me to partner with you."
b. weeds & flowers.
There are also cushions scattered around in loose circles, each one centered around a hookah. An inhale from some will make dancing look fun. From another, and affectionate kisses might be in your future. Some are packed with herbs to instill calm. Take a deep enough inhale and you might find yourself settling in for a nap on those cushions, looking up at the flower-covered stalk of the plant with its huge leaves. It's shedding petals gently and almost constantly, turning the clearing around it into a delicate flurry of shades from deepest blue to bright orange.
There are flowers almost everywhere, in fact, in bouquets, yes, but also in little pots meant for those who want to spruce up their personal space with something bright and beautiful. The petals come in every imaginable pattern and shade, from delicate white-edged purple flowers that look like roses to clusters of tie-dye daisies. Go one, take one - they all smell lovely, and are hardy enough to survive the brownest thumb.
There are flowers almost everywhere, in fact, in bouquets, yes, but also in little pots meant for those who want to spruce up their personal space with something bright and beautiful. The petals come in every imaginable pattern and shade, from delicate white-edged purple flowers that look like roses to clusters of tie-dye daisies. Go one, take one - they all smell lovely, and are hardy enough to survive the brownest thumb.
c. the city and the beanstalk.
For those uninterested in the party, there is another option: scaling the monstrously huge plant that sprang up like Jack's beanstalk overnight. It's possible to climb out on the enormous leaves where they protrude from the stalk, if you just feel like going up high to take a nap away from the noise. Of course, the more adventurous or curious might want to take the opportunity to get a closer look at the dome that protects and powers the city.
A better look at the dome, and a better look at what's outside on the horizon. There are normal outcroppings of rocks, the remains of the ship that crashed and threw Santa through the windshield, the slowly growing martian strip mall, and some bits of things left behind by the red shifts here and there. A part of a car. An old transistor radio. A pulsing green gooey thing that you might want to stay away from - even odds on whether it's acidic or poisonous or both.
Look farther, though, and there's a vast smudge on the horizon. Using telescopes, binoculars, or special abilities will give you a better look at what it is.
A city, seemingly dead, seemingly empty, stretching almost from horizon to horizon. It's too far to make it on foot, and if you took one of the vehicles out of the garage it would get you there--but not all the way back. Of course, you can try to get there anyway, but a sandstorm is bound to whip up somewhere between here and there, a precursor to a proper hallucinatory red shift. Wouldn’t want to be caught out in that, would you?
A better look at the dome, and a better look at what's outside on the horizon. There are normal outcroppings of rocks, the remains of the ship that crashed and threw Santa through the windshield, the slowly growing martian strip mall, and some bits of things left behind by the red shifts here and there. A part of a car. An old transistor radio. A pulsing green gooey thing that you might want to stay away from - even odds on whether it's acidic or poisonous or both.
Look farther, though, and there's a vast smudge on the horizon. Using telescopes, binoculars, or special abilities will give you a better look at what it is.
A city, seemingly dead, seemingly empty, stretching almost from horizon to horizon. It's too far to make it on foot, and if you took one of the vehicles out of the garage it would get you there--but not all the way back. Of course, you can try to get there anyway, but a sandstorm is bound to whip up somewhere between here and there, a precursor to a proper hallucinatory red shift. Wouldn’t want to be caught out in that, would you?
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.
Whatever the reason, the network is going strong, so feel free to include a post to it in your top-levels.
no subject
This can't be good.
He follows too, because there is fire in Jacob's steps and he's not quite certain why. Angel's nowhere to be seen. Did she run? ]
no subject
It's at this moment that he turns, and sees a top hat.
And beneath the top hat is a man with murder in his eyes, barreling toward him at full tilt. ]
What the -
[ Now, Qubit's teleportals don't work in Anchor. He knows this. He's known this since the day he arrived. But old reflexes die hard. His hand flies to his wristwatch automatically, but of course that's not going to help this time, and he's just used up both of the seconds he had left to react. ]
no subject
He jumps to the conclusion that Angel has been hurt, frightened and his immediate reaction to hurt him in return.
So he punches. He punches hard in the man's face, once and then again, teeth gritted.]
You. Leave. Her. Alone!
no subject
Jacob.
[ He reaches out, arms wrapping around Jacob's torso to forcibly lift him off and, if need be, hold him off. ]
no subject
Gah! Who-
[ - and he's interrupted by a series of fists to the face. Luckily, his force field reduces the blows to an annoyance - from Jacob's end, it's probably like hitting a wall - and Qubit's not about to take this kind of treatment lying down, despite that being literally what he's doing right now. ]
Get off me, you lunatic!
[ He grabs the arm holding him down, trying to free himself, but it's pretty evident that melee combat's not his strong suit, either. Then again, it doesn't have to be.
In a place like Anchor, Qubit is never truly unarmed. He's constantly aware of the electrical systems buzzing behind the walls, beneath the floor, inside the eccentric robots. And for a second, as he reaches out, his eyes start to glow bright blue -
But then someone else intervenes, pulling his attacker off of him. Yeah, okay, that works too. He wastes no time scrambling back and to his feet, putting some distance between them. ]
no subject
He growls, fighting against the strong hold on him, trying to get at Angel's pursuer again before he can get away. He doesn't know where she's gone, but hopefully away, far away, where this arsehole can't follow her.]
He was after Angel! I don't know what he did to her, but I'm going to bloody well make him regret it!
[ That's the snarled explaination Connor gets as Jacob tries to pull free once more and then calms himself down. Connor is here. Connor will help him beat this guy into a pulp.
He takes a breath, no longer struggling to get out of Connor's grip. He won't manage,
so he just has to get Connor to release him. Best way to do that? Behave. ]
no subject
This is one of the people who talked to Angel about her ... monster problem. He'd seemed kind enough, willing to help, and listen. Did he say something that frightened her? ]
Why did she run?
no subject
That complicates things. His "rescuer" may be willing to ask questions before he shoots, at least, but he's not by any means impartial here, and Qubit's having trouble getting a read on his stony expression. He'll have to treat them both as threats, just with differing degrees of certainty.
... Though that doesn't prevent him from also treating Jacob like the unruly child he's so determined to be. He's addressing only Connor when he answers, pointedly talking around Jacob. ]
I was about to ask her the same thing. [ You know, before SOMEONE interrupted him. He's still mad about that, incidentally. ] I didn't hurt her, though, on the off chance it matters.
no subject
But he doesn't lunge for Qubit despite the urge to do so. He could just get another good smack in, break his nose, and that would be enough. It'll have to wait and he'll have to feign interest in the man's reply.]
If a girl runs off upset, you chase her?
no subject
If one is concerned, why would one not follow? I have. There is no reason to assume the worst.
[ There are many things that might frighten Angel, many of which are hard to predict even for someone who knows her well. With some, she might be able to fight the urge long enough, and if she's with someone she truly trusts, it's not impossible to talk her down from it.
However kind Qubit might be, she's only just met him. ]
no subject
[ All right, Connor's earned a downgrade in threat level (from "could attack at any time" to "probably won't though"). At the very least, Qubit decides he's safe enough to move in and pick up the comm he dropped in the scuffle, even if this technically does put him back within melee range of Jacob. ]
no subject
But Connor has cautioned him against further violence and as much as Jacob would love to ignore that request, he respects Connor. If he thinks they need to try something other than violence first, so be it. Jacob can easily beat the man into a pulp afterwards.]
Tell us why she ran off, and maybe we can all be reasonable and you can keep all your teeth.
no subject
If you tell me what happened, I may be able to figure out why she ran.
no subject
What happened is ...
[ He's going to have to watch his phrasing. He wants to defend himself, but if they think he's trying to paint Angel in a bad light, he's not going to get anywhere. The objective here is to get them off his back. ]
... she startled me. And my reaction to that may have startled her, I think. I was following to try and clear up any misunderstanding.
[ And then, you know, Jacob happened. Qubit checks the comm while he talks, but no reply just yet... ]
no subject
But maybe the difference is that with him, with Charles, with Connor, she's not scared. She knows them. Trusts them.
She's not had the time to really do that here.
Not that he's about to be logical about all this.]
What was said, exactly?
no subject
I fail to see how that's any of your business.
no subject
We should find Angel.
no subject
Jacob's money is on the later, truthfully. Those weird deer are like a second family.