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redmarsshit2019-08-24 02:53 pm
modblob) wrote in redmarsshit2019-08-24 02:53 pm
redshift: tdm #3
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. tfln: anchor edition.
The power returns with a surge throughout the colony, abrupt and powerful. Whether it’s because of an increase in the levels of radiation powering the dome or the unexpected addition of two more suns to the sky, the lights are back on, so to speak.
A surge that powerful has consequences, though. While some (currently unknown) systems have been powered up, others (mostly unknown) have come to life with a vengeance.
In specific, the robo-matchmaker in the intimacy lounge. Ordinarily, it works by taking the information of people who enter the intimacy lounge and pairing them up based on a carefully-tooled algorithm, so people are matched into casual or potentially romantic relationships. Somehow, through the frying of circuits and the machinations of a match-making AI gone rogue, the bot has the information of everyone in the colony - whether collected through the network, CCTV, or by scanning the data of people who passed by close at hand.
It's started making profiles for everyone, filling in bits of overheard conversations or bad pickup lines that it thinks match the personality of its chosen victims. It's also, helpfully, started sending messages at random to other characters, just to get the romantic ball rolling. Profiles and messages are as off the wall as the bot making them. Welcome to TFLN, Anchor Edition.
A surge that powerful has consequences, though. While some (currently unknown) systems have been powered up, others (mostly unknown) have come to life with a vengeance.
In specific, the robo-matchmaker in the intimacy lounge. Ordinarily, it works by taking the information of people who enter the intimacy lounge and pairing them up based on a carefully-tooled algorithm, so people are matched into casual or potentially romantic relationships. Somehow, through the frying of circuits and the machinations of a match-making AI gone rogue, the bot has the information of everyone in the colony - whether collected through the network, CCTV, or by scanning the data of people who passed by close at hand.
It's started making profiles for everyone, filling in bits of overheard conversations or bad pickup lines that it thinks match the personality of its chosen victims. It's also, helpfully, started sending messages at random to other characters, just to get the romantic ball rolling. Profiles and messages are as off the wall as the bot making them. Welcome to TFLN, Anchor Edition.
Robo-Matchmaker (?̵̢̠̀?̷̠͉͍̝̙̕ͅ?̡̢̡̹̩̖̝̞̪̦̘ͅ)
I͎͇̰̺̼͡ ̝̳̼̻͕̩͚á̷̳͍̫͕͞m̱̱̺͍̳̞̖ ̴̥͇̣͎̺̤̩͕̩͜h͖̕͞͠er͉̟͕͈̳̀ḙ͔̼̠̤ ͓̠̰̗̹̘̣͔t͏̸̤̳̙͍͎̮͕̞͢o҉̨̜͖̠̝͙̜̦̜ ̮̠̝̪̩̤̣m̖̻a̤͙̘̲̫̩̗k̮͓̀͜e̶̠͚͞ ̯̯̘̦͜͠you͈̹̟͔͜͠ͅr͈̮̮̗͖̜̠͠ ̮̗̗̹̘̬̠͢d̴̵̯͖̀r̷͇͍̦̗̯͢eaṃ̘͝͞ş̳̺̭̮͜ ̖͚͚͓͙͇͙͓̜c͖͕̰̞̺̟̫ớ͈̖͇̲̗m̶̞̟̣̘͎̘̲̣̕͢é̠̯͞ ̼t͔͢r͢͏̠̙̜̬͖̞̥̜ư̧͈̫͜e̹̮̮̝͝.̗̠̪̭̫͞
Interests: true love, friends with benefits, e͏͇̫m̲̤̬͟ ͉͍͜ǫ̙̟̳̲͘t̬͓i҉̟̼̣͓̯̜̞̼͜ ҉̛̺̪̣͈͖͖̟̥̺o̴̢͔̙̥̠̟̮̮̪̩n̷̗̜s҉̰̖̯͟͠
Assets: I̤̥̙̺̪̪̱͜ ̢̟k̢̰̫ͅn͕̤̳o̤͚͓͓w̲̬ ͠e̸̞̺̳͔̙ve̝̳̭̣̝͠ͅry͏̝̙̠t̲͚̠hi͕̣̯ng̭͓͕̖͈ ̖̣ą̰͖̲ͅbơ̯̥̹̠̱u͉̯̪͟t̜̞̱ yo̹͙ͅu̢̗.̡̪̥̙̱̘̞ ͕̀:̮̩̯̜̗̘)
Ass-ets: a bot never tells
✔ 😏 💀 🍆 ❤ 🔥 ✖
code to post
b. bad trip.
Unfortunately (there's always an unfortunately, isn't there?), something in one of the agricultural research facilities went haywire during the power surge, too, and released spores into some of the ventilation shafts, which carried the spores to specific parts of the agricultural areas and also released them into the park at the base of the colony.
Virtually overnight, red algae (water) and fungus (other structures) grows to cover the better part of the park and chunks of the agricultural level. There's plenty of room to avoid the algae or fungus if characters don't want to go near it (or if players don't want the effects). In fact, avoiding it is probably the smarter thing to do - except it keeps spreading, and it needs to be stopped before it infects the whole park or makes parts of the agricultural level unusable. The algae makes foliage and vegetation toxic to eat, but going in to get samples may be kind of tricky.
Those who come in contact with the algae and its spores will feel a variety of effects. The mildest among them are headaches, headiness, and mild highs; the sort of thing that would come from pot use or tipsiness. Progressing from there, depending on levels of exposure, the intoxication effects are heightened. Hallucinations, extreme highs, loss of coordination, slurred language, loss of inhibition, and an addiction that begins as a mild desire to stay near the algae and rapidly progresses into something worse.
Prolonged or extreme exposure will lead to the beginnings of vine-like plants growing under the skin, following characters' arteries and veins. The exposed will begin to exhibit plant-like behaviors - craving light, warmth, water. Particularly water. Worse, the infected will start to function as part of a collective with the algae/fungus growth, working in its interests. They will try to bring other creatures to the growth to attempt to infect them, they'll fight those who intend to destroy the growth, and they'll struggle against anyone who tries to remove them from its company or cure them.
While the growth can be destroyed with fire, the smoke still poses a hazard and can be accompanied by the mild/moderate effects of the algae itself. There are other ways to solve the algae problem, but most of them lie in the depths of the research station that accidentally released the spores in the first place, and the growth there is worse than anywhere else in the colony. Characters can be cured, too - by way of the medbay, by keeping them away from the growth until the infection dies, or by player-skill based means.
Virtually overnight, red algae (water) and fungus (other structures) grows to cover the better part of the park and chunks of the agricultural level. There's plenty of room to avoid the algae or fungus if characters don't want to go near it (or if players don't want the effects). In fact, avoiding it is probably the smarter thing to do - except it keeps spreading, and it needs to be stopped before it infects the whole park or makes parts of the agricultural level unusable. The algae makes foliage and vegetation toxic to eat, but going in to get samples may be kind of tricky.
Those who come in contact with the algae and its spores will feel a variety of effects. The mildest among them are headaches, headiness, and mild highs; the sort of thing that would come from pot use or tipsiness. Progressing from there, depending on levels of exposure, the intoxication effects are heightened. Hallucinations, extreme highs, loss of coordination, slurred language, loss of inhibition, and an addiction that begins as a mild desire to stay near the algae and rapidly progresses into something worse.
Prolonged or extreme exposure will lead to the beginnings of vine-like plants growing under the skin, following characters' arteries and veins. The exposed will begin to exhibit plant-like behaviors - craving light, warmth, water. Particularly water. Worse, the infected will start to function as part of a collective with the algae/fungus growth, working in its interests. They will try to bring other creatures to the growth to attempt to infect them, they'll fight those who intend to destroy the growth, and they'll struggle against anyone who tries to remove them from its company or cure them.
While the growth can be destroyed with fire, the smoke still poses a hazard and can be accompanied by the mild/moderate effects of the algae itself. There are other ways to solve the algae problem, but most of them lie in the depths of the research station that accidentally released the spores in the first place, and the growth there is worse than anywhere else in the colony. Characters can be cured, too - by way of the medbay, by keeping them away from the growth until the infection dies, or by player-skill based means.
c. whole foods double-tap.
When all that algae business gets itself sorted out, characters will find some good news at last: the red shift rose up around the colony while everyone was busy and left a very large Whole Foods grocery store behind, just outside of the colony's exit doors.
Going inside reveals that the place isn't in perfect condition. Stuff has been knocked off the shelves and a lot of basic staples are missing, but the luxury items and hygiene basics are all there. Everything from (free range organic and/or vegan) chocolate to that particular kind of shampoo your earth-based character loves so much.
Deeper in the aisles, though, characters will come across more dramatic signs that something is wrong with this place. A smear of blood on the floor, leading toward the back of the building. Should characters choose to investigate, they'll find themselves following a widening smear of gore, with bits of cloth and tissue in the mix. At the very back (in the dairy section - and look! that yogurt is still good!), the source: a dismembered corpse.
Also, zombies.
These aren't the running hordes of 28 Days Later or the clickers of The Last of Us: they're standard Walking Dead shamblers, slow-moving and stupid but relentless, and very capable of coming from unexpected places or surrounding characters during a moment of inattention. Like most standard zombies, a shot to the head will take them out of commission--or you could go full Evil Dead and take that chainsaw from the inexplicable home goods department and go to town.
Those who get bitten will be decontaminated upon arrival back at the colony, but characters won't know that until they get there. Trauma abounds when death seems imminent. Even after decontamination, any injuries will remain until treated in the medbay.
Going inside reveals that the place isn't in perfect condition. Stuff has been knocked off the shelves and a lot of basic staples are missing, but the luxury items and hygiene basics are all there. Everything from (free range organic and/or vegan) chocolate to that particular kind of shampoo your earth-based character loves so much.
Deeper in the aisles, though, characters will come across more dramatic signs that something is wrong with this place. A smear of blood on the floor, leading toward the back of the building. Should characters choose to investigate, they'll find themselves following a widening smear of gore, with bits of cloth and tissue in the mix. At the very back (in the dairy section - and look! that yogurt is still good!), the source: a dismembered corpse.
Also, zombies.
These aren't the running hordes of 28 Days Later or the clickers of The Last of Us: they're standard Walking Dead shamblers, slow-moving and stupid but relentless, and very capable of coming from unexpected places or surrounding characters during a moment of inattention. Like most standard zombies, a shot to the head will take them out of commission--or you could go full Evil Dead and take that chainsaw from the inexplicable home goods department and go to town.
Those who get bitten will be decontaminated upon arrival back at the colony, but characters won't know that until they get there. Trauma abounds when death seems imminent. Even after decontamination, any injuries will remain until treated in the medbay.
Mod Note: The algae/fungus growth is set to last from August 24th until September 1st, when the intro log goes up at the start of the app cycle; or until someone finds a solution and informs the modteam.
no subject
[It isn't as if he'd thought that Reynir wouldn't notice the fact that he consistently let him visit in the dream realm, listened to his worries, asked his opinion about spirits, and offered to let him punch him for revenge if he needed.
Isn't that obvious friendship?]
How did you not notice?
[And yes. That does put a bit more context on Reynir's constant re-introductions. Onni had thought maybe Reynir believed he had memory issues, but apparently he'd just considered himself unmemorable.]
no subject
[ Well this has all gotten mildly uncomfortably. Reynir knows if they're going to get on the same page it's necessary, but that doesn't make it exactly awesome to talk about the reasons he didn't think Onni was his friend yet. ]
I guess you didn't ever seem like you liked me very much.
[ Reynir knows he annoys people, sometimes. He would have to be a complete idiot not to notice, and he isn't one of those, despite what the team seemed to think on occasion. When people were closing doors in his face or walking away while he was talking to them or scoffing and rolling their eyes at him, he got it. And mostly he didn't blame them or hold it against them. But that doesn't mean it somehow automatically doesn't hurt. ]
Whenever I try to talk to you it's kinda like you can't get away fast enough.
no subject
I don't dislike you. You're easy to talk to.
[Well. Maybe this particular point, the point of fact that Onni can't seem to get away fast enough sometimes, needs some explanation.]
That was because you kept coming into my dream space uninvited. I'm not used to having visitors there besides Lalli. It's supposed to be a place to relax, and having someone enter without being invited is like having someone enter your home without an invitation. Jarring.
I could have sent you away whenever I wanted, but I chose not to.
In Iceland, I had to leave because I had something important to do back in Finland.
no subject
It was the only way to contact you...
[ But despite his protest, Reynir is starting to understand a little better. Both Finnish mages were so territorial in their dream spaces. Perhaps that is a cultural thing. ]
I'm sorry for intruding without an invitation. I didn't know that I was supposed to have one.
[ And the apology is a sincere one; he knows Onni is telling the truth about being able to kick him out whenever. He just hadn't realized exactly that kicking-out was the default, and that not doing it all that time had been a sign of liking or at least tolerance. ]
I guess now we're both living here I won't have to barge in on your dreams. But just so I know for the future, is there a way to... ask to be invited?
[ There hadn't been a door to knock on, a bell to ring - how was he supposed to know??? Seriously. ]
no subject
When Reynir protests that it was the only way to contact him but still apologizes for having intruded in his ignorance, Onni sighs a little, out loud. Normally, he would tell Reynir to stop apologizing so much, but in this case the apology is appreciated.]
It's fine. You didn't know.
[There's a bit of a pause after that, while he thinks about how Reynir could go about asking to be invited.]
When you get to the boundary, just call me by name. You're also easy for me to hear. And if I don't answer, come in, but don't creep up behind me like you usually do and it should be fine.
no subject
[ Says the boy who is so light-footed in dreams that he can walk on water. ]
Next time I will call your name first.
...And if I see an owl, I'll know not to pet it on accident.
[ There are a lot of sad memories attached to that particular meeting of theirs. A lot of sadness around Tuuri. But Reynir, despite that grief and his embarrassment, can't help reminding Onni of that graver social faux pas of his. ]
no subject
Please don't. It's also startling and annoying to be touched without warning. And I was tired.
[But he knows that Reynir didn't know better and he probably sounds angrier than necessary. So he sends another message after a moment.]
I'm expecting you now, though, so it will be harder for you to catch me off guard.
that ICON
And of course Onni is "no fun allowed"-ing all over his little reminder of past times. ]
I told you, I didn't know it was you!
Wait, is that a challenge?
[ He's just teasing, honestly. ]
I had to.
So you say.
I didn't intend it to be, but if you want to take it that way, I won't stop you.
no subject
[ He says, definitely not flirting not even a little bit except maybe kind of. ]
There should be a reverse, too. Like if I can't, you get a prize, too.
no subject
[This is absolutely mind-boggling. How did this happen?]
I could probably find ingredients to make you Mustikkapiirakka.
no subject
I was going to make it be something like you teach me one good mage skill but now I am curious.
What do you want your prize to be?
I could teach you something...?
no subject
I'm not sure how much we could teach each other about being mages, since the way we do it is different.
[A moment later.]
What else could you teach me?
no subject
[ Bilberries are very common in Iceland, as well, and Reynir thinks he knows a similar dish, though he can't be sure until he actually sees and tastes it. Which he now wants to do very much. Even moreso because Onni mentioned that his mother used to make it. He feels a little pang of bittersweet emotion, imagining little Onni and little Tuuri eating it together, before things went so wrong... ]
It may still be valuable, to share knowledge. You never know when something might be adapted to cross that boundary. All the things I did on that first trip as a mage were improvised. I didn't even know I was one until I was out in the Silent World.
[ And maybe that little tidbit, finally revealed, will give Onni some perspective on just why Reynir was so completely naive at first. ]
Oh, a lot of things.
[ ....
Flirt.]I know a lot of traditional dances. I could teach you a lot of songs you may not have heard. Or I could braid your hair for you.
no subject
That is true. It isn't the sort of thing I would want to involve as a prize in a bet though, it's something I'd rather talk out with you first. Did you get any training back in Iceland after I left?
[Really, Reynir does have a lot of potential. It's enough to make him a viable source of good information, someone to discuss this sort of thing with, Onni has always thought that.]
I don't like to dance, though I do play kantele.
[That last one is puzzling.]
Should I want my hair braided?
no subject
I did. But the school only taught magic for farming and raising animals and domestic protection. I tried to get them to teach me more, but the instructor said because I wasn't immune and could never go anywhere or join the army, it didn't matter and I didn't need to know anything more.
[ Maybe not an entirely accurate summary of the conversation, but that was how Reynir had perceived it. He's still a little bitter... ]
And when was the last time you danced, anyway? Maybe I could change your mind about it.
[
ABSOLUTELY INCORRIGIBLE.]Kantele? I don't know what that is.
[ Even with the technology that is translating in this place, there are so many specific things he doesn't recognize. ]
It's nice to have people braid your hair for you. Don't you agree? I have always loved people messing with my hair.
no subject
[He doesn't need to have experienced any of the danger for himself to know that this place is dangerous. Even ignoring the fact he knows he's got a healthier dose of fear than most people do, he can feel the danger here, hovering around every corner.]
I can't remember. Probably when I was adolescent.
Kantele is a Finnish instrument. I have a small one with me, since it can also be used to boost the power of incantations. I used it during the fight at Odense.
I've never had my hair braided. Isn't it too short?
no subject
[ Reynir had been able to do some good, against the ghosts, figuring out runes of protection, summoning Onni when they were in dire need. But he should be able to do more. He can feel that same potential that Onni sees in him and he won't let it go to waste. ]
That is settled. You have to try dancing again. So many things can change.
Is that what that music was? I could hear it. I didn't know you were playing it. It was so beautiful.
[ The whole thing had been breathtakingly beautiful - even amidst the fear and chaos and all the tragedy after. ]
Never?!
No, it is not too short at all. You have to let me try!
no subject
[Onni has never really been of the same opinion that Lalli is about Reynir, after all. Untrained or not, he's still a mage, and still useful. There's nothing wrong with lacking training, so long as the person is willing to learn, and Reynir is that, for sure.]
I wouldn't call it settled. I'm not convinced anything has changed.
I didn't realize you could hear the music where you were. I suppose I would accept some Icelandic songs as a prize, if I win the bet.
Tuuri tried, sometimes, when we were small, but my hair isn't meant for being braided. It's too coarse. If you want to try, ask first.
no subject
Well you've never danced with ME.
That settles it! Or I can teach you some songs just for fun. Sneaking up on you doesn't actually sound all that friendly to me. I never did it on purpose, you know. It's not really my style.
There are many ways to make hair less coarse. And I have a lot of practice with braids. Can I ask permission right now?
no subject
That's true, but it still isn't settled.
[The next text catches him off guard, though, and he looks at it for a few moments before replying.]
Teach me, then. And I would prefer not to be snuck up on. I'll believe you when you say you didn't intend to, though I have my doubts.
[A joke? Sort of.]
If I teach you to fight, you can help me improve my Icelandic. Is that a fair trade?
As for my hair, yes, you can ask permission now, but warn me first if you're going to touch me.
no subject
Maybe I should start humming while I'm dreaming. That way even if I accidentally run into you, you'll know it's me and won't be startled. I will still call out but precautions never hurt.
[ He really doesn't like the idea of scaring Onni, particularly because he hadn't realized up until now just how much it upset him. ]
A very fair trade.
I will be sure to do that.
[ Then, because he is curious. ]
Do you not like to be touched?
[ A few things Onni has said are making him think maybe that is the case but he doesn't want to make assumptions when he can just ask. ]
no subject
Humming might help, especially if you were't doing it on purpose.
It's a deal then. And maybe I'll make some Mustikkapiirakka anyhow, if I feel like having it.
[That last text...he isn't sure how to answer it, because the answer is complicated. The first thing that pops to mind is that no, he doesn't dislike being touched. But at the same time, he can't freely say that either, because being touched before he has a chance to steel himself against it makes him uncomfortable, in a way, and he'd rather not deal with that, particularly on a regular basis. The truth is that maybe he likes to be touched a little too much, more than he thinks he should, and so rejecting the entire concept of being touched is easier to deal with. Onni isn't very good at moderation, in this kind of context.]
I don't dislike it. I just like to know it's going to happen before it does.
[That should be good enough.]
no subject
[ The whole concept of texting is so new to Reynir. He has spoken on radios, sent letters, but this is something different. He is discovering, though, that there is some advantage to it. It encourages asking questions he might hesitate to otherwise.
And if he really had been alarming Onni that much, and Onni had thought it was intentional... well, that's something Reynir would like to clear up as soon as he can. ]
I would like that.
I have been working on planting as you know and I will see if I can coax out some bilberries.
Alright. That is good to know.
[ Maybe he shouldn't be so relieved that Onni's answer wasn't a flat 'yes'. Maybe his emotions over that answer and the concept of touching Onni in the future, deliberately and with warning, are complicated. So complicated he doesn't want to look at them right now thanks. ]
no subject
[Easier to admit by text, which is starting to feel like a more comfortable way to communicate than actually speaking is.]
Yes, I saw some of your planting. Do you need help with it?
I suppose it would be.
[That is also too complicated for him to touch at the moment, and he's already given it more thought than he wants to.]
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