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Mods ([personal profile] modblob) wrote in [community profile] redmarsshit2020-04-27 08:43 pm
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test drive meme: april 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.

▶ SPECIAL NOTE: We're only a month off from the 1 year anniversary of the first TDM, and we received this request for a fancy dress ball, so we thought it would be funny fun to run with it! This TDM will only have one prompt/event, as the monthly log with a bit more plot-related stuff will be going up on Friday May 1st.

a. an invitation.

There are ears everywhere in Anchor. A maintenance bot here, a surveillance AI there. SINI, restlessly pacing the dark digital hallways as she watches over the things that still matter to her. It doesn't take long for word to get out about Starscream's expedition plans. It takes an even shorter time for that news to circulate amongst Anchor's robo-population.

They know when you're unhappy. They always know.

It's why residents will start waking up one fine day to find gorgeous clothes laid out for them to wear and an invitation to a formal dinner taking place down at the plaza at Anchor’s base. The clothes aren't particularly specific to a character's gender, species, or culture - it's all about what the bots think your character would like best. Even if they're wildly off the mark, the clothes are still made to fit and fashioned beautifully. The invitations are marked "TOMORROW, STARTING AT 6PM LOCAL TIME." A smaller note underneath instructs attendees to see the tailor bot adjacent to the spa if they are unsatisfied with their assigned clothing, and also that the spa bots are on high alert, prepared to beautify anyone who wants some extra pampering and a dash of makeup.

Just be careful. Some of the makeover bots are really fond of glitter.


b. quite the spread.

True to the word of the invitation, the plaza is closed off under large white tents and guarded by bots who encouragingly steer you elsewhere should you try to get inside. They're nice, polite, all the things they've been programmed to be whether they like it or not, but there will be no sneaking by them into the party area.

At 6pm on the dot the day after the clothes arrive, characters will find music playing on all levels of Anchor, broadcast from the musical robots who have been practicing ever since that first tiny party almost a year ago.

Invitations will be taken by a bot in an impeccably tailored suit, and characters will be welcomed onto the red carpet that curves around the edge of the park and into the area cordoned off for festivities. The flashbulbs and cheering of bots that line the carpet echo through Anchor, broadcast along with the music until it sounds like the entire place is full of faintly electronic cheering. Each arrival is greeted with a fresh wave of enthusiasm, their image projected larger than life against the interior of Anchor's dome.

The sides of the tents have been rolled up, revealing the absolutely decadent set-up within.

Rows upon rows of buffet tables laid out with the most extravagant and strange dishes for residents to try. All of it delicious, though not all of it will appeal to every palate. There are sweet dishes, savory, spicy, whatever you can imagine. Appetizers of a hundred different kinds. Fruit plates formed into works of art, showing places and events from around Anchor. There are spun sugar reindire. Tiny plates of hors d'oeuvres that depict the faces of residents, both current and former. One particularly large dish is sculpted in the shape of what looks like an explosion emanating from Anchor's base, near where the locked and flooded rooms were found.

There's a cake near the middle of it all, frosting painting an image of a young, smiling man. Anyone who's seen him will, after a moment, recognize the whole and handsome features of a much younger Creepy Joe - the words on the cake say LET'S CELEBRATE OUR OLDEST LIVING RESIDENT!

While most of the food is at least recognizably from the general stores and from the agricultural level, there are other plants and garnishes that look entirely foreign. If asked where they came from, the bots will simply insist they're part of Anchor’s available resources.

There is also a full-service bar, but...not manned by the usual bartender (for anyone who might ask, the other bots will kindly inform them that the usual bartender is on sabbatical for stress). Instead there's a freshly-built bot serving drinks of all kinds, taking requests for old favorites and mixing up new cocktails based on guests' stated tastes.

The only thing not on the menu is a tequila sunrise.

There's a table full of hookahs and little treats that have various light, pleasant effects. These range from simple mood lifts to treats that will leave characters blissed out and relaxed.


c. dance, our residents, dance!

After people have finished arriving, the band picks up and guests' attention is directed upward toward Anchor's dome, where there's a truly magnificent light show being projected with musical accompaniment. It's spectacular, haunting and beautiful...and it shows more than just lights. It also shows celestial bodies in motion across the planet's dusk-red sky, meteor showers, strange northern lights. The show itself is almost an hour long, and ends with words unfurling across the apex of the dome.


HAPPY +1 ANNIVERSARY ANCHOR #3, THE LONGEST RUNNING COLONY.

STAY HERE, STAY HAPPY!



The show fades away and the music picks up again, encouraging guests to dance.

Go on, dance.

It’s a party after all.


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.



towhatmatters: (→03)

[personal profile] towhatmatters 2020-05-19 02:52 pm (UTC)(link)
That's a very convoluted way of saying she might like something, and Arthur huffs softly in amusement, shaking his head.

"Just some pretty lights. Don't think you need to worry too much."
towhatmatters: (→19)

[personal profile] towhatmatters 2020-05-19 04:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not that I know of, but plenty of people have been here longer than I been."

For all he knows, there might have been plenty of infighting. During his stay here, though, there hasn't been.
readytobe: (EMOTIONS)

asfj whoops time passed...hi....

[personal profile] readytobe 2020-05-20 03:34 am (UTC)(link)
Pokemon?

[Oh. Or...maybe this is a mysterious stranger that he does know. He had at least heard of all the trainers in Verens, hadn't he? Who would select "chief" as a username? There were a few candidates...

This is an extremely important question.
]

What is your name?
readytobe: (they will not come back.)

sorry this is super late!

[personal profile] readytobe 2020-05-20 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
[He supposes that response is fairly reasonable. It seems like there's just not that many creatures in the universe who look like him, no matter what world he gets stuck on. What he's not sure about is how he should respond. He really doesn't know how to make himself less weird or scary.

A little sigh escapes him, but he does his best to be amicable. (His best is not very good.)
]

Are you not trapped on an inhospitable alien planet? Surely I am not the strangest thing you have seen there. [He motions towards the face-cake again.] I am looking for information on this.
kaballin: (I woke up for this)

[personal profile] kaballin 2020-05-20 05:38 am (UTC)(link)
"You know. The ocean? Full of surfers and giant squid and turtles that have been strangled by six-pack rings." He's equally as confused by what they're joking about now. Is she saying she's related to mermaids? Kabal is very out of his element right now and maybe he needs a few more drinks to decipher this conversation.

"Extended family of mermaids and sea monsters huh? Sounds like your world is one hell of a place." He tilts his head, considering her offer. Mostly because he doesn't get what she means. At all.

"Sure. Show and tell time."
abheirrant: (♛ felt nothing but bitterness)

[personal profile] abheirrant 2020-05-20 06:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Though Carlisle stiffens reflexively, he doesn't draw his arm away, allowing her to rest her hand at the crook of his elbow. His gloved fingers curl as he rubs them against his palm, catering to old, nervous habits in any way possible.]

How is it you seem less nervous to be here than I am?
abheirrant: (❧ he weathered through his discontent)

[personal profile] abheirrant 2020-05-20 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
Carlisle snorts audibly behind the scarf covering his face, rolling his eyes at Kabal's smug attitude. He thought the man couldn't be more insufferable; he was clearly wrong.

"And tell me again how it is you know so much about these various types of forks?" Carlisle asks, still clearly doubting there is any real difference between them other than size. "I cannot imagine you sitting at the table of high society, nor can I see anyone else but a monarch making such a fuss over utensils."
nockturnal: (pic#13784363)

[personal profile] nockturnal 2020-05-20 01:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"These creatures appear to speak to us alone, shaping themselves as they see fit to 'match'."

Or perhaps his is an outlier. Hard to say. Even if it isn't talking now, it does seem to like Connor, and after a moment it sees fit to begin climbing its way down his arm.

Hanzo grunts, reaching to halt its progress. "My apologies."
borntohurt: (Default)

[personal profile] borntohurt 2020-05-20 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"Patience."

Something it was difficult at any point to convince Jacob of, but even more so in situations like these. Like a dog catching scent, he was now caught up in the idea, and Charles had admittedly known that would be the case the moment he uttered a word.

He isn't normally one for public displays, himself. Old instincts meant to shield him from hurt. But there are moments that a little boldness is allowed, perhaps meant for in fact, and instead of slipping off somewhere quiet he leans closer and catches the corner of Jacob's mouth in a brief kiss.

"We'll get there," he promises, and he means it. Jacob can look forward to that by evening's end, that's for damn sure.
mustact: (→41)

[personal profile] mustact 2020-05-20 06:27 pm (UTC)(link)
It's not unlike a gentle embrace, or the feeling of her fur when he buries his face in it. It makes him smile wider, with the laugh wanting to bubble up out of him. When he lets it go it's more of an exhale than anything else, as he nuzzles his faze against hers.

"Mm." He pauses for a moment. "I have never played that game."
circumspector: (xx » singing to be sold)

[personal profile] circumspector 2020-05-21 07:51 am (UTC)(link)
"I didn't either," she smiles with it. Though they know the real reason why she never did - she'd have to have flowers or anyone to play it about, it's not worth dwelling on, here and now where everything is comfortable. "I could simply work out the statistic average of petals for each flower kind and then work out the alternating pattern to get the answer I wanted."
lelalacula: (playful +2.)

why do all our characters meet while smoking up

[personal profile] lelalacula 2020-05-21 08:09 am (UTC)(link)
Believe me, you really don't want to be close to a llama's ass. Or that rank shit from San Myshuno.

[A shrug, and he takes another pull from the hookah, drawing the smoke in expertly and then exhaling it in a puff between pursed lips. It isn't bad, but unless whatever effects it has are the type that kick in nice and slow, it's not quite the same as his stuff. Doesn't quite hit the same spot.]

Yeah, I just got here. Like, yesterday, I think? All I know is they tried putting me in this awful yellow spangly suit and, nope. Noooo way. You been here a long time?

[For someone freshly arrived to this place, Skye looks surprisingly relaxed.]
nothinglikefather: made by peaked (040)

[personal profile] nothinglikefather 2020-05-21 01:00 pm (UTC)(link)
There's a soft sigh, muted by the unexpected but always welcome kiss. Patience is easy for Charles to say, and easy for him to display, but Jacob isn't good at cooling his heels and waiting for the right moment. He knows that he should, he knows that really, it's much better to sneak off later, or wait till they're back in the quad. It's enough to calm the spark in his blood from becoming an inferno.

He knows that it doesn't mean Charles doesn't want him. Charles doesn't demand his attention only when he wants him for something, he doesn't turn him on and off at will like Jacob is a tool, a machine. Charles cares for him, Charles looks after him. And that makes the prospect of waiting not just bearable, it makes his anticipate it far more.

"Well, I suppose you must have a few other names on your dance card. Can't monopolise you all night."
fishermansweater: (Default)

[personal profile] fishermansweater 2020-05-21 01:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Starscream was not the only one with quick reflexes; most of the victors were edgy, nervous, ready to react to something unexpected. But he didn't see the robot until he was nearly trodden on.

Trodden on, and not in the way that toes might get trodden under the heel of an incautious passerby.

Finnick darted to the side just after the very large robot saw him and stopped.

He wasn't expecting to be spoken to.

"Right. Try not to get trodden on."

macaire: (020)

[personal profile] macaire 2020-05-21 01:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Dear Sir,

I am not familiar with the term "video" however there was an intriguing ... moving portrait of a gentleman who proceeded to explain some aspects of this place.

However, the place I find myself is markedly different to what was portrayed. How did this discrepancy come to be?

Yours sincerely

Sir Magnus Macaire
nothinglikefather: not my art (hey baby)

[personal profile] nothinglikefather 2020-05-21 02:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Jacob shakes his head. "Alright old man, we'll wait for you."

And so he'll settle back down and drain another long swig of beer, relaxing in his seat next to Arthur.

"You settling in? Got yourself a place to stay? Been up to see the horses?"
nothinglikefather: made by peaked (066)

Food Glorious Food!

[personal profile] nothinglikefather 2020-05-21 02:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Jacob isn't sure about some of the dishes on offer. He's used to simple Victorian fare- meat and veg and gravy and beer are his comfort foods of choice, with bread and butter and maybe some jam if there's any going spare.

So all of this seems incredibly over-the-top. Even more so than the copious amounts of food and drink at Buckingham Palace or the Tower at those fancy royal parties. He's spoilt for choice, but he's also very much uncertain. He's already had a drink, or three, trusting that no one would put anything in alcohol. But food? God only knows what's in some of these dishes.

"Where do you start?" He asks, mostly to the universe itself, but also to anyone listening.
circumspector: (( huh? ) » just so I can sing)

[personal profile] circumspector 2020-05-21 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
With him already piling up the food, she is going to take that as an invitation to join him.

Because Angel's metabolism wasn't..... underactive. No, she begins to take plate after plate and pile up her own with all the food around her, eating and eating all that she can in more than enough to match him.

"You are not kidding." Happily said in between big swallows of food.
mislay: (pic#11773405)

text / un: L

[personal profile] mislay 2020-05-21 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
what kind of equipment? can you use them as weapons?

[ not that he needs any, but why not be prepared. ]
lelalacula: (tense +2.)

[personal profile] lelalacula 2020-05-21 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Mostly surgical stuff, there's this super cool automated surgical booth thing, and some kind of goo tube that I think helps with healing.

And I guess it could. But why?
mislay: (pic#11111917)

[personal profile] mislay 2020-05-21 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
what do you mean why? you should be prepared in case something happens.
this isn't a vacation.
lelalacula: (sad +1.)

[personal profile] lelalacula 2020-05-21 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, well I'm prepared for anything, believe me. But this is medical equipment. It'd be pretty messed up to use it as a weapon.
mislay: (pic#11773370)

[personal profile] mislay 2020-05-21 07:50 pm (UTC)(link)
it doesn't matter if it's medical equipment. you should know what's usable and what isn't. some situations don't care about that.
lelalacula: (uncomfortable +1.)

[personal profile] lelalacula 2020-05-21 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
It matters to me. I'm a doctor! Anyway, if I need a weapon that's what inferniate is for.
mislay: (pic#11111923)

[personal profile] mislay 2020-05-21 08:01 pm (UTC)(link)
being here isn't the same as it is wherever you're from.

[ not that he's asking a doctor to murder; he's just asking for some thought. besides, he's new too. there's not a lot he knows about this place yet. ]

is that a spell?

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