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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
Katniss, yes, I think I heard the name when we were in Eudio. [ He's making some kind of association to the Wolf's Den, so he assumes she was a student or maybe an instructor? ]
Axel, he's very cute, [ Magnus says, looking not at all goo-goo eyed. That is not a thing the High Warlock does.
Yes, yes it is. He's doing it right now. Sorry to be so enamored of behavior that is resulting in you being bitten, Axel. ] He does seem quite resilient. You were about to explain when you got him?
no subject
Axel's explanation there causes Magnus to quirk one brow curiously. His fault? He goes on listening, expression turning sympathetic as the tale unfolds. By the end, he looks sort of wistful, humming thoughtfully. ] While I'm certainly sorry to hear our absence caused you distress, I must admit, I'm glad to hear it resulted in you making a new friend.
[ There, he grins a bit. It turns to a more contemplative look before too long though. ] It was always my intention to return, [ he adds.
Maybe a bit... uselessly at this point. But he'd rather say it than not. ]
I really am glad you're here.
no subject
He hopes Alec gets to talk to him before long. ]
Oh, I'm sure he's not at all spoiled, [ Magnus says, and he might as well be inspecting his nails innocently while doing so. ] You'll find a comfortable and safe place for him soon, I'm sure of that as well.
Actually, I'm hoping we all will.
[ To the latter bit, the comment about visiting and beads, Magnus nods. ] It would appear the universe has a certain fondness for us. Would you call that good luck or bad?
no subject
Okay, honestly: Magnus has probably been badgering Alec like mad about their Eudio friends. What do you think Axel is up to? Something practical, no doubt. I bet Vex is indulging the urge to fire Rose repeatedly. I wish I had visited Rafa's bar more often! I should have sent Armand a thank you gift for our wedding present. Etc. ] F.A.T.E, yes, of course. Why didn't I think of that?
Maybe you ought to let Mulder lead the way! [ A beat. ] Unless your daemon would be better suited to that. Mine isn't what I'd call a tracker.
I have an internal GPS, you know, [ comes a sudden, highly-pitched, and somewhat mechanical-sounding voice. ]
no subject
[ Does he sound eager? Maybe a bit.
Maybe more than a bit. ]
That seems fair, yes! He's still quite small. I'm sure there will be plenty of time for scouting the area, as it were. [ ... He may be mildly in love with Mulder. Just saying. ]
An owl! How apt. [ He is saying you are wise, Axel. ] Mine goes by Anned-- [ A little wave of his hand creates a mirrored surface of some sort, which shows Anned's colorful reflection on the screen. ]
A pleasure, Magnus' friend, Axel. [ Says she in her buggy little voice. ]
no subject
[ Friends offer friends magic shower facilities all the time, right? Right. It's very natural for Magnus to do so and not think a thing of it though, really. Going by his appearance, he's either not roughing it or doing a very good job of hiding that he is. ]
She's impressive, isn't she? [ Is that pride? Is he proud of his new friend? If a giant butterfly can look pleased, Anned does. ]
I would like to meet Otisd, Magnus. We should meet these friends of yours. [ Bit bossy, this one. Magnus lowers the magic mirror effect, revealing his face once more. ]
On that, we're very much agreed! Sooner, rather than later!
no subject
He would never truly mock Axel for his preferences for the convenience of civilization. But would he tease a little? Eh, probably. Little bit. In good fun! ] Don't worry: I'll be glad to assist, of course.
I can communicate with Otisd and find the closest place for you to meet, if that's what you want.
[ Magnus looks at the camera, as if to say, 'does that sounds good?' ]
no subject
He will wait. ]
I'm sending you our location now. If Magnus will consent to hold still and stop wandering around.
I don't know that I've been wandering. Alexander and I are exploring, that's all!
[ ... he looks sort of chastised, nonetheless. ]
no subject
[ Is that a twinkle in his eye? Yep, it is. A loving, gooey, sappy twinkle. Just ignore him if the sugary feelings get to be too much!
He is especially mushy right now for some reason. Anyway, once he stops sighing like a lovesick teenager, he looks at the camera again, or more accurately, at Anned. ] Yes, [ she says simply, as if some non-verbal communication has happened here and she's answering a question that only she heard. ]
That sounds like an excellent plan to me! I'll regroup with Alec and we'll soon be headed your way, if all goes well! [ A beat. ]
Oh, and I thought it sounded like a good nickname, too.
no subject
Well, naturally no one should have to go by a nickname they don't like! For example, I'm not that fond of "Maggie." And yet!
[ Doubtless there have been those who felt it was too good to pass up. ]
It's been several weeks now since Alexander and I left Eudio. [ If one heard a slightly weary note in his voice there, one was probably imagining it. ] I confess, it felt longer.
no subject
I don't mind Annie.
[ How belligerent. Magnus eyeballs the camera. Not the camera. He eyeballs Anned. ] Well, I don't.
We'll table the nickname discussion for now! And hopefully we'll be able to sit down face to face and discuss whatever else needs discussing. If I were to guess, I would say Alexander probably has some things he'd love to talk to you about, Axel.
[ ...
Axy. ]
no subject
We'll have a drink and catch up! It's only right, after all this. [ He waves one hand around, a gesture which is meant to refer somehow to the absolutely astronomical odds of having been plucked out of their own universes twice and brought all this way to find each other. Twice now.
It's quite something. ]
What? I didn't say a word! Not one word, my friend.
no subject
No, there's quite a bit to be said that has nothing to do with getting a crash course in wilderness survival skills.
[ He exhales, shaking his head. ] We're not alone and that's important.
[ He didn't say it. It never passed his lips.
He's going to tell Alec later though, just watch. ]
(no subject)