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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.



mustact: (→32)

[personal profile] mustact 2020-05-08 08:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Which he prefers? That's a difficult question to answer. His first thought is that fighting monsters is better, easier to understand, but there is also something to be said for the relative peacefulness of a party. As much as there might be some hidden less than peaceful agenda.

When Charles doesn't wait for an answer, however, Ratonhnhaké:ton decides that perhaps one isn't needed.

"They are," he agrees, with a fond smile on his face. "I'm glad."

Angel, especially, deserves things that make her happy, that make her relax. Having someone like Jacob with her can only help.

As much as he worries a little about what they might get up to.
borntohurt: (pic#12911993)

[personal profile] borntohurt 2020-05-11 01:13 pm (UTC)(link)
A worry not unfounded. They've certainly gotten up to mischief before, though he doubts they'll leave the party to get up to anything too adventurous.

"As am I. Though I'm sure they'd like it if we had a good time as well." He lifts an eyebrow faintly. "I'm not that great at dancing, but I did see a place to sit over there by the hookahs. If you'd join me."

Much as he loves Jacob and Angel, Connor was the first person he encountered outside of his own world that made him feel...well. Not alone. He treasures that time with him as much as any other. Now seems as good a time as any to observe the party and maybe, if they got really wild with it, relax.
mustact: (→57)

[personal profile] mustact 2020-05-13 07:59 am (UTC)(link)
Dancing is pretty enjoyable to Ratonhnhaké:ton, and he has every intention of giving Angel one, but it doesn't surprise him that Charles is much less eager. People might consider him to be something of a loner, content to stay at the edges of celebrations and listen to others rather than participate himself, but when compared to Charles he might just be the life of the party.

Well. Maybe not that bad. And, even so, he's happy to find somewhere quiet and simply appreciate good company. He lowers his chin in agreement, and starts making his way over to the hookah table.

"Does Jacob want to dance?"
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.
mustact: (→50)

[personal profile] mustact 2020-05-31 12:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"He has not asked yet?"

A part of him would have expected for Jacob to not waste time asking, but maybe there was something that distracted him from it. And the dance floor is probably not going anywhere.