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Test Drive Meme #1 (cw vehicular crash, moderate injury)
Test Drive Meme #1
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.
You don't need an invite to test
but please remember we're currently invite-only
but please remember we're currently invite-only
CRASH LANDING
Exit one dimension, enter the next. It was chaos: pressure against your ears, light bending in an impossible, unimaginable way. The very molecules of your body vibrating against one another. If you have windows, the view outside makes no sense. Even if not, your hands, your face, your feet seem like an uncertain thing. It's the feel of reality itself tearing apart, reshaping, reconnecting, thread by thread.
And suddenly, there's a beach— or ocean, whichever you land in. Smoke. Fire. Salt water churning up, fizzing around.
Maybe you crash, in a ship wrecking into sand. Maybe you merely stumble out of a portal, a ragged wormhole in space. Or maybe you fall off the back of an incredible steed, some creature that carried you into this place. Either way, there's pandemonium around you. Incredibly, severe injuries are far and few between— nobody's screaming about the dead. But you might have to help pull someone free of wreckage, or move quickly to salvage burning belongings from the landing craft. Maybe it's the crafts themselves, that you're trying to salvage.
Likely, you don't know them, these other strangers who arrived here[1]. Maybe you don't trust them— you just came out of a dying world, after all. But you all have one thing in common: you're here now.
When you get a second to breathe, maybe you'll see it. The brilliant green forest across the sand. Beyond that, the glint of a faraway city.
INTO THE WOODS
Your first night at Xistentia does not feature five-star accommodations, but as the sun begins to set, the forest offers everything you need to survive. By now, you may even have met your daemon, who'll help guide you through this. There is fallen wood to make fires for warmth and cooking, any number of rabbits, deer, and fish if that's what you're into eating. Those very same animals also provide guidance as to what vegetation is edible, including a variety of vine mushrooms, fruits, and flowers. If you're the kind of creature that mostly eats other sentient creatures, well. Technically, there are a lot of those hanging out too[2]! Now and then, you'll see tiny, winged humanoid creatures the height of a finger dart in and out of view.
A resourceful group, the multiversal refugees have determined ways to create shelters, using wreckage, supplies, and basic survival knowhow. There aren't enough blankets to go around, but the weather is mild and the fires seem to keep out any aggressive creatures.
Things get quiet. This could be a good time to meet the others under less fraught circumstances. Maybe you'll see some familiar faces and reunite with others who fled from your dying world; maybe you'll meet someone new.
Try not to seek out and fight any Rock Trolls. It's still early.
ENTER THE CITY
The city is beautiful, even with the vines covering everything, the streams running down half the streets, the massive white deer leaping off under the highway overpasses. The architecture of the skyscrapers is incredible to look at, modern and sweeping. It's clear that terraced gardens were part of the building design, and some of the greenery that lines the street had been part of the original city plan. This is a city of great potential.
And it knows you're here. As you walk by, beacons like streetlamps begin to emit a gentle glow, registering your presence. No doors are locked, though you might find yourself chasing out nests of silver-winged birds and bug-eyed rabbits.
Here, you can claim empty shops or the clothing and other sales items inside of them. Apartment complexes aren't difficult to find in a range of sizes; nor are standalone homes, brownstones, loft studios. Penthouses may not feel like penthouses when there's a thin layer of dust growing on everything and a flower growing out of the sink, but you know what? Maybe that little bud is gonna be your first roommate.
It's the strangest thing. After a few days, the lights begin to work and the water begins to run, fully operational within the unseen sewer system. At some point, the keys to your house or residence are going to turn up. Your daemon will help you find what you need. F.A.TE.S. welcomes you.
NETWORK
By now you've settled in. You have some time to explore the city, the woods, and your new kit.
Chances are pretty good that your daemon is not a phone or a computer or a wax-sealed piece of parchment or a Howler, nothing with a convenient camera or a keyboard; it probably isn't even a pocket sized. Likelier, it stares at you with eyes that contain the lenses-- or powers-- of a camera, and some part of its body projects a holographic keyboard into the air. For those of us who are not accustomed to manipulating intangible light prisms, it's about as intuitive to type on as shaping a cloud with your fingers.
But here's your network access. Accessible to all your fellow travelers in XISTENTIA.
Misfires, typos, and blurry video footage are likely. Time to feel like a Luddite!
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
hells yeah
Footnotes
- Some of these can be nameless, plot-device NPCs to facilitate interactions! But even in this case, please avoid gore in describing their current state of being. Anyone dead or catastrophically injured will have disappeared by the time your characters make it to Xistentia. There are no corpses or dying here.
- But like OOCly ask permission ofc.
no subject
Alright you two, stop flirting. Mags, don't talk to the daemons, mine is willful enough as it is.
He'd be bored without me.
Shut up. And really, has it only been a few weeks? It felt like years since you walked out of my life. Well! What does it matter, right? Let's have a drink to celebrate! Your place or mine? Is Princess with you? And I mean the cat, not Alec. Alec's always with you, right?
[ It would be the universe's ultimate cruelty to separate those two. ]
no subject
For now. ] Well, I am very charmed! I'm sure you do an admirable job of keeping Vex out of trouble. [ As if that's possible. Okay... now he'll behave, promise. ]
It's been a pretty hectic few weeks, [ something about his expression here alludes that's the understatement of the year ] otherwise I'm sure I'd be feeling exactly the same. To be honest, I've barely had a minute to breathe! And I see that won't be changing any time soon, will it?
Why don't I tell you the rest in person? I'm tempted to ask you to come here, in spite of being curious about seeing where you've settled in! [ This is absolutely not because he doesn't want to let Alec out of his sight. Nope. That...
Nope. It's definitely something else. ]
no subject
And don't you bloody forget it. [ Vex huffed. ] How about you do something useful and take me to where Mags is, alright?
[ The daemon seemed amiable to that as it hopped down and began trotting to the door. Vex followed, the viewscreen still open so he could chat with Magnus along the way. ]
I can't bloody believe any of this. Out of paradise and into what, a bad episode of Survivor? The only way this is going to be worth it is if you decide to go native and walk around in a loincloth. Are you feeling savage yet?
no subject
However, at the second bit there, his brow rises in a typically dramatic fashion for Magnus and he looks down at his attire...
Button-down shirt that's ready to file a complaint about his biceps, a rather handsome waistcoat, slacks, shoes that are not meant for hiking. All of it spotlessly clean somehow.
No, he's not exactly playing the part of multiversal castaway very well. ] Well, I can't say the urge has struck me just yet, my friend. [ No doubt you'll be among the first to know if it does, Vex. Being his bff and all. ] You seem to be doing all right from where I'm standing. If you stop making jokes about reality television, that's when I know to become concerned.
no subject
He let out a frustrated groan. ] I was finally getting comfortable! Do you know I was actually collecting the pots to go with my teacups?! I thought to myself, finally, I have a home where I can actually fill in the complete sets. But no, the entire universe has gotta bloody well end!
[ Why yes, Vex did just make that a rant about one of his more eclectic hobbies. Same ol' fae. ] And the bugs! Have you ever seen so many bugs?! Then you have bloody Rosie and her twenty dogs! [ whine whine WHINE!!!! ]
no subject
Or trying to.
Again, not thinking about it. ] Pity the universe doesn't have better timing. [ This is said with a rather wry sort of look to accompany it. He's not picking at Vex, but rather the universe itself. Because that's a very Magnus-and-Vex thing to do. Sit around fussing about the timing of the end of the world. ]
I saw Rose! And her dogs! Or, at least a few of them. Does she have twenty now? [ It would neither surprise him to learn she did, nor would it surprise him to hear Vex was exaggerating. Both seem equally likely. ] Did you know Apollo talks now? [ He's apparently fascinated by this. ]
You know, I'm going to guess you never spent much time in the rainforest.
no subject
Honestly, if I'd completed my collection I could have looked at it and said 'ok, yes, now the universe can end', then we could go into this nonsense. And yes, twenty, or thirty, they multiple like rabbits or at least they seem to. There always seems to be a bloody dozen more every time I see her.
It's a daemon, innit? I wonder if it was this whole time and we just didn't know until now. And no, why would I?! Do I look like a fae who is one with nature?! Agh, what is THAT!?
A cicada. [ The daemon responds calmly. ]
It's HUGE!
That's not what she said.
What?!
[ The daemon has gone silent, oddly enough, leaving a perplexed Vex who was fairly certain he heard that-- but wasn't quite sure-- still following it to Magnus' location. ]
Did that thing just make a joke about my dick or am I going mad?
no subject
We may never know what he concludes. Either way, he does that enigmatic humming thing he's so fond of doing. Hmm. ] I feel sure I've never seen her with a dozen dogs, much less multiple dozen. How long was I gone? [ Still working on solving that mystery. ]
I hope we'll make it to the city soon, so you can enjoy some creature comforts! I might be able to conjure up something ahead of time though, if you like. [ Since they are bffs and all. Also, he was going to say something funny there about things that like to bite, but that just feels like opening the door to trouble. Lips slightly pursed, as if to hold back laughter, he looks at the sky.
It's not about the wilderness survival thing. He would not tease about that. The bug thing, maybe a little. That's sort of funny. It's okay, really. It's fine. ] Oh no, I think it was talking about cicadas. Strictly insects.
You're as sane as I am, Vex!
no subject
As for Rosie and her brood, he was sick of thinking of it. He only had a shudder left when it came to that topic, or maybe that was because he thought of how long Magnus was gone. ] Felt like forever, however long it was. I could use some comforts, creature or otherwise.
[ About then he finally made it to wherever Magnus was hanging out. While the daemon went to go examine the flitting butterfly, Vex stood there with a fond look in his eyes and offered his arms out to his friend. He wasn't very huggy, but in certain situations he'd allow for it. If Magnus wanted it, of course. ]
no subject
Forever is a long time! [ Magnus says, sounding rather like he agrees. It did seem like a long time, longer than the few weeks that passed on his end. But then again, those weeks felt like they flew by, too. It's probably only when you're really, really old that you can appreciate how those things can be simultaneously true. ] I'll have to make up for it with something special-
[ He's about to elaborate, maybe, when Vex appears. Hello there, friend! Magnus will absolutely allow a hug. He'll welcome it, actually, and with noticeably more openness now than in times past. Thanks to Eudio and to some things that have happened at home, he's gotten a lot more...
Comfortable. That's a good word. Once again, maybe another very old person can appreciate how a person can be both stressed out and comfortable at the same time. ] Hello, Vex. It's good to see you.
no subject
All was well.
He let go of him a few moments later, despite the urge to hang on as tightly as he could. No, he needed to relax. Deep breath. Ah, there. Much better. He was oblivious to his daemon's obsessive staring at the insect, and soon enough there would be a game of 'catch the butterfly' in the background while Vex focused on Magnus' lovely face. ]
Good to see you, gorgeous. Haven't aged a bit, have ya? Bloody bastard. [ He whispered fondly. Oddly enough, there seemed to be a sprinkling of grey hairs in Vex's beard, but we'd all be better off it that wasn't mentioned. ] Show me around then, huh? What have you managed to get you and your angel?
fading to black for future shenanigans