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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.



numerouno: do not take (CXXIX)

[personal profile] numerouno 2020-05-26 06:13 am (UTC)(link)
Scaramouche moves through the crowd singing nonsense syllables to accompany the tunes that only seem to get warmer as the night gets older. He halts near one of the tent poles and turns to take things in.

He freezes.

A very familiar figure has his undivided attention. That vibrant head of hair and how it spills over her shoulders, the length of her dress and the way it falls around her. The sight of his honeydew in that number has him gawking in unabashed awe.

"My, my."

Closing his mouth, Scaramouche leans sideways against the pole with his hands in his pockets and his ankles crossed, simply fixing her with a soft stare. He could go over there and kiss her 'hello'; if he called her name right now for everybody to hear, she'd finally notice that he's looking at her.

Instead, he waits until she can feel his eyes on her. Come to think of it, isn't that how they met? Only that day, it was the other way around.
Edited 2020-05-26 06:20 (UTC)
circumspector: (xxv » damask and dark)

[personal profile] circumspector 2020-05-26 06:57 am (UTC)(link)
The inherited obsessive nature she had gotten from Jack begged him to never ask how much and how often she had thought about him, wanting something she couldn't fathom.

But at least she didn't have to wallow.

"Of course you are." It's a little out of breath. Only a little. "I don't know if you noticed, but you look very handsome tonight, and you've been kissing me everywhere you can but my lips." Honestly, she was suffering. Everyone could say she was a tease, and they'd be right. But it was nothing on Connor when he was being meticulous, she didn't stand a chance.
seaboard: (through another song)

[personal profile] seaboard 2020-05-26 02:49 pm (UTC)(link)
The notion of something being for our benefit makes her twist uncomfortably. She'd rather not be noticed much at all, especially when the consequences could be...

"I... I have no accompaniment. I know no one at all... and no one seems to introduce themselves so I do not know the way it is done and... I'd hate to insult someone because I was rude without knowing... "
seaboard: (you should have left me)

[personal profile] seaboard 2020-05-26 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
The sobbing still so quiet, at least doesn't require much more than that touch before she manages to pull herself together. Though she keeps her hands over her face, as she wipes at her eyes, still half-hidden against his shoulder.

"No, it is I that must ask your forgiveness. You are being very kind, I did not mean to impose upon you for any answers about what has happened. You just..." she isn't quite sure what to say. "You said something my brother might say."

She is a grown woman, leader of a country, even if it is an Isle, spokesperson for the people, and Daughter of the Father-Sea. She ought to be better than this.
seaboard: (but will not lift you)

[personal profile] seaboard 2020-05-26 02:56 pm (UTC)(link)
She busies herself sipping her wine as the conversation goes on around her for awhile, not sharing much else beyond that now that she isn't being directly spoken too.

But where she is - at least that she is happy to share about. "The spirit of the Great Sea, patron to our family who blesses us with many gifts and protects us from all that would bring us harm."
towhatmatters: (→13)

[personal profile] towhatmatters 2020-05-26 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"Who exactly is it that gives these hints then?"

No, he doesn't expect Poison to have the answer to that, but he can't help but feel rather annoyed. Anchor, she says, like it's an entity that can make its own choices. Is it? Maybe he shouldn't even discount that possibility.
theweakhavepurpose: (Not okay)

[personal profile] theweakhavepurpose 2020-05-26 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"UH.... probably?" Honestly he'd never thought about it before, is it short for carriage? He has no idea and now it's going to bother him forever.

"Yeah no one uses horses for transportation anymore, but a lot of people where I'm from still have them to ride occasionally. Not so much in cities where there's no land but I live in the middle of fucking nowhere so plenty of space. Her name is Shelby, and she's an asshole," said with all the love and adoration in the world because his horse is an jerk but she's also the best and he would murder anyone who spoke ill of her.
theweakhavepurpose: (Wolf's Den)

All good!

[personal profile] theweakhavepurpose 2020-05-26 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[The whole speaking in his head thing isn't helping the less weird/scary, no.]

Uh.. I guess not. Just.. wasn't expecting you be behind me, how long have you been there? Kinda thought I'd seen everyone who'd arrived here at some point.

[Maybe he shouldn't hide up at the farm so much.]

The cake? It's creepy honestly, but it's apparently supposed to be Joe. It's his birthday I guess. Though I have no idea where he actually is right now.
macaire: (Default)

[personal profile] macaire 2020-05-27 08:51 am (UTC)(link)
Magnus merely nods. He doesn't need this man's confirmation, not for something so unimportant.

The way he speaks about his animal, the casual profanity, makes Magnus; eyebrow lift. Many things are different here, but apparently the coarseness of the lower classes remains undiminished.

"And here? What manner of transportation do you use?"
mustact: (→45)

[personal profile] mustact 2020-05-27 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
He could certainly be meticulous, even teasing, if he wanted to. This time, however, that's not what he's trying to do, and he raises an eyebrow innocently as he tilts back just enough to be able to look at her.

"I had not noticed."
numerouno: (LXXXVIII)

[personal profile] numerouno 2020-05-28 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
Scaramouche raises two fingers at the bartender, flashing the man another charming grin of his own.

"Make it two." His hand lays flat on the counter. "Well, it took three tries, but they finally did it, huh babe?"
theweakhavepurpose: (Sunlight)

[personal profile] theweakhavepurpose 2020-05-28 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
"There's jeeps and little four-wheelers to go out with. But you'll wanna suit up before you leave the dome." Which might not mean anything to someone who comes from a time where they still use horses for travel. "Don't take my horses outside."

Kieran's light up glow horse would probably be fine since it was native to the dome, but the level of radiation outside can't be good for any of them.

"Unless you mean inside, gonna have to walk then." The wolf who's been patiently waiting at his side starts leaning more and more against his legs to get him to walk towards the salami and deliver her some juicy morsels. "Yeah, I'm going I'm going. Pushy much."

numerouno: do not take (CXXXI)

[personal profile] numerouno 2020-05-28 06:09 am (UTC)(link)
Scaramouche leans in a little.

"Who's gonna serve them while the bar bot takes five?"
circumspector: (xi » how is it you sing anything)

[personal profile] circumspector 2020-05-28 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
She looks back, utterly set, it seems. With one eyebrow raised. A clear statement of: well?

"That you look good, or that you're teasing me?"

She wasn't going to let him squirm out of it that easily, with his half-directed answers.
circumspector: (( sitting ) » are you insane like me)

[personal profile] circumspector 2020-05-28 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
She looks over at each of the plates that - why would the plate size matter, and did it really have to do anything with the forks too? Another furtive glance about them, she investigates again as discreetly as possible.

Between them, they're going to clear this section of table, that was for sure. Maybe they could use that to their advantage and disguise themselves in their appetite?

So she reaches across to take what food he indicated for each plate, and she begins to pile it up, and then places it around them, between them, where they could both reach. Then put smaller plates together to join them like embellishment to the larger ones. Until there was a little scattered of every dish, big and small, for them both.

"Now no one can say we're using the wrong fork, if we're using all the forks."
circumspector: (( focus ) » i'm never complete)

[personal profile] circumspector 2020-05-28 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
She'd have to have a normal, to understand where this varied. Sadly for everyone listening, she is not, and she is enjoying this, this little dance of hers, where the gold glimmers and gleans and she is power in her own body, for once, for once. The dance of words, of definitions.

"For an inorganic, perhaps. Your bodies are replaceable but your minds immortal. Have you never considered the inseparable nature of flesh and bone beings?"
nothinglikefather: made by peaked (Default)

[personal profile] nothinglikefather 2020-05-28 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"Threw a decent party?" Jacob clarifies, glancing back to the milling residents dancing, or eating, or talking.

"I'll let you know tomorrow morning. It's only decent if you can't remember half of what happened once the hang over clears."
numerouno: (LXIII)

[personal profile] numerouno 2020-05-29 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Don't get too tight, baby. You might miss all the fun."

He starts to drum his metal fingers against the bar, his face taking on a playful expression.
nothinglikefather: made by peaked (Default)

[personal profile] nothinglikefather 2020-05-29 08:17 am (UTC)(link)
Jacob laughs, eyes bright as his attention comes back to the metal man.

"No one has ever accused me of that before."

Their drinks don't take too much longer and Jacob takes his up with interest, and takes a swallow. Not bad. And with a strong enough bite of alcohol that cuts through the sweet.

"You a cocktail connoisseur?"
itsnotaonesie: (turned upside down)

[personal profile] itsnotaonesie 2020-05-29 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd say you have. I mean, you put up with me on a daily basis, after all.

[But enough goofery. Peter steps back and offers her his hand, and for a moment manages to pass for a proper gentleman. Until he opens his mouth again.]

C'mon, let's go make asses of ourselves.
Edited 2020-05-29 20:38 (UTC)
borntohurt: (pic#12911985)

[personal profile] borntohurt 2020-05-30 11:43 am (UTC)(link)
"Sure. Little fuzzy on why, still."

This isn't exactly what everyone's clamoring for, but it's not a disaster in the making, or a deadly puzzle, so they're willing to take it for what it is. Though he's fairly certain that even the chaos of the past few months, he hasn't seen her around here before.

"You new?" he prompts gently, after a moment.
borntohurt: (pic#12912003)

[personal profile] borntohurt 2020-05-30 11:45 am (UTC)(link)
"Maybe."

He pauses and amends the statement swiftly. "Probably."

It seems the sort of thing he'd be keen on, and that's fine. Charles is more than willing to dance if Jacob asks. God knows there's precious little Jacob could ask from him that he wouldn't give. This? This seems so small a thing, comparatively.
borntohurt: (pic#12911962)

[personal profile] borntohurt 2020-05-30 11:47 am (UTC)(link)
"Don't think he minds."

It's certainly not getting in the way of the licking, that's for sure. The wolf's tail thumps back and forth rapidly, and Charles just folds his arms, smiling faintly as he watches.

"And I wouldn't worry about the dress. Seen the way women fold those things up for travel, and it's possible. Probably."
borntohurt: (pic#12911975)

[personal profile] borntohurt 2020-05-30 11:50 am (UTC)(link)
Likely it recognizes a kindred spirit. The wolf used to be one of those blob-like creatures, after all, and it watches the jay right back with big, unblinking yellow eyes. Perhaps they can communicate, as they can with the people they've bonded with. Who knew what they were saying, in that case.

"Sure."

Charles just shakes his head. He's not worried, and the wolf isn't about to go hunting its own kind any time soon.
mustact: (→66)

[personal profile] mustact 2020-05-30 11:51 am (UTC)(link)
Well ...

"Both."

He has no particular opinion about his looks. All he knows is that she likes it, and that's really what matters.

He hadn't meant to tease her, but he won't deny that he was. And that definitely is teasing.

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