test drive meme 21

[savmods]

NOTE: The locations in this test drive are placeholders and do not fit with current game events. Due to ongoing changes as we shift to arc 3, contents of this test drive as they related to specific areas or activities are unfortunately not able to be incorporated as game canon, though if it is possible for a particular thread, you may assume conversations took place similarly in a different setting once the changeover happens ICly. Test drive threads may of course still be used for application samples!

--

Ingress travel can be disorienting, but there’s no need to worry! All side effects are temporary and lessen with each trip. Your body may experience several sensations at once: being pushed forward as if a hand is resting on your back, momentary and startling blindness, a gentle ringing in your head. You may have difficulty discerning whether it is hot or cold, but where you have been prodded is noticeably warmer than the rest of you. Some may suffer from dizziness while others are perfectly fine. You notice that the area you are in is filled with a soft cerulean light and feels slightly humid and dark despite the glow around you. Regardless of your current state, however, the stress of initial Ingress travel forces your body into unconsciousness.

Waking up is another story. Or maybe it isn’t.

You find yourself in a nondescript room; sometimes with others who have found themselves in the same situation, sometimes alone. A robotic medical tech is always present to explain what’s happened in a rote fashion, though his programming does not permit him to answer specific questions. He provides some clothing, a TAB, and a guide that explains the basics of Ingress travel and why you are here. Outside the room, you'll find you're on a space station that is staffed only by other robots; the only other organics there are those who recently arrived with you, or perhaps your predecessors, who are strolling the halls in search of an observation deck or the tech they've been sent here to fix. Why not introduce yourself and say hello?

---

phanos

* The planet Phanos is not as it was during the last visit there. Storms of dark energy swirl across the sections of the world, though they do not yet overwhelm it. The temperature is cooler now, but sandstorms still kick up with great frequency, making cooperation an important part of survival as groups make their way across the landscape, investigating the changes. The pyramid forest remains, but the griffins who live there now venture farther down from their nests, and around a third of them have been twisted by the storms' energies into even more aggressive, monstrous versions of what they once were. Do not take one on alone, or it may be your last mistake.

* Inside one of the tallest pyramids, the lab remains intact, and rumors speak of a locked chamber in its heart that contains valuable material—but is that in the technological sense, or does it hold something monetarily precious in the right market? Maybe you don't care and you're just nosy. Either way, the vault is sealed away behind a series of complicated sliding puzzles that have just one catch—they are not possible to solve without two people operating the locking station. Are you here with a friend? If not, better hope the next guy to come along has a sharp mind for this stuff.

---

OUT OF CHARACTER INFO

FAQ | LOCATIONS | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS | NAVIGATION

Comments

[coercive]

[A winking skeleton. It's probably evil. He doesn't smell threatening though, so she tries to play it cool and act calm. She mimics his motion of rolling her shoulders, and is a little displeased when there isn't a single bone crack.]

But I have no money. You will have to lie to me for free.

[It's supposed to be a joke but Laura fails at delivering humor. It just sounds flat. She at least has the decency to try winking. She ends up blinking both eyes at the same time.]

[gainedlove]

[Frisk had come here out of curiosity, mostly. The storms rumbling in the sky make them nervous, but they press on despite it all. They aren't sure what they expect to find inside but...this definitely isn't it.]

[They're tempted, for a moment, to rush over and crash right into Sans, to cling to him tightly and ask him why he had to leave, but...they know why. They know, now, exactly how fragile he is. Even if you can't start a FIGHT with a shopkeeper...the rules here are weird.]

[So instead, Frisk walks over and settles themself right beside Sans, scooting right up next to him and leaning their head on his bony shoulder.]

[skelepun]

[The gestures were endearing and puzzling all at once. Sans cants his skull to the side, regarding her with equal parts amusement and curiosity.

Not that it's easy to tell, with how his rictus grin remains static.]

... Guess so. [Interest piques his tone, leaning forward slightly over the sign.] What's your name, kid?

network; SCREE

[shadowblends]

you're technically right about us being 'aliens.'
regarding the food situation, why don't we start with what you might like to eat?

[skelepun]

[Sleep is heavy and inviting, made moreso by the arid climate and distant sound of wind whistling through stones and long corridors. Sans couldn't feel most of it, but there was something to be said for the suggestion of it all. A heavy head on his shoulder -- even through sleep -- only added to the comfortable illusion.

Until that imagined weight shifted slightly, jarring Sans from sleep and serving him a sudden reminder. This time, in a familiar shock of brown hair. Deep, dusky brown, without even a hint of red.

If he relaxes at that realization, it's only slightly.]

... Frisk?

[welcomeprofessor]

[ DAMN IT, PETER. ]

I did this to myself, didn't I?

[inconsequence]

[You tell a joke about a child that slept in the soil.]

[But, hey. You already know that one, don't you, Sans? It's an old story, and they're gravely sorry for bothering your rest with that kind of claptrap. They know how difficult it must be, hawking falsities to passersby whenever the mood strikes. It's ever so trying, which is why he looks the way he does - tired, and dull, and worn.]

[They don't have the kind of G that the Underground would call its standard currency, but they do have sencs, one of which they flick in his direction - aiming for his eyesocket, mind, with aim that leaves a little to be desired. But let it not be said that they don't try.]

[Lies for 1G, he says.]

[Funny he should say that.]

That's your best lie yet.

Leonard Snart | DCTV

[perfectlychill]

[When Snart heard that there was a locked door, and that there was something valuable behind it, there was only one possible course of action to take.

He was going to steal it.

After five minutes working on one of the puzzles, he comes to the conclusion that he needs a partner for this job. A partner or a chump, either way, so long as he gets a second pair of hands that he can direct.

And there's another pair of hands coming right now, attached to a shipmate. Snart sidles up to them, his head tilted and voice a slow, nasal drawl.]

I don't know about you, but I really want to see what's behind door number one here. You interested?

erik lehnsherr | xmu

[magneticfields]

[His first thought, even with all the robotic explanations, and the strange little gadget they gave him, and the clothing which was of much better quality than any prison uniform he had ever encountered, was that this was, in fact, yet another prison.

He touched the wall, and was soon comforted by the familiar thrum of metal, the pulse of it singing through his fingertips. If it was a prison, his jailers knew little about him.

How much did he even know of himself? Such questions were troublesome, and a distraction. The first goal was to find a way out of the structure he had been placed in without his knowledge or consent.

He emerged from the Ingress, blinking in the harsh light. Not knowing what to expect, he had dressed in layers. This instinct was reinforced by the chill wind, sending particles of stinging dust through the air. He squinted against it. His dark, perfectly tailored clothing, lean form, and wary posture suggested nothing so much as some large feline predator.

Turning, his gaze landed on the pyramids. He went still, the sight triggering a memory that was not his. The sight rang in his ears, a high-pitched whine that drowned out the sound of the wind.

He blinked and shook his head.]

Strange.

[pleasereset]

[It's almost like he never left.

A napping skeleton, his usual goofy sense of humor. Heck, maybe this is where he'd been the whole time. Asriel did never find out where he was going, only that he - as far as Asriel was concerned - wasn't coming back.

A part of Asriel feels somewhat relieved, maybe a little happy... but he's still kind of upset that he left them all in the first place.]

You came back.

[His tone is a little flat. And if that wakes up Sans, he'll see a rather new-looking Asriel. A long, white, lion-like tail instead of his usual small, bushy one. The fur around his left eye is gone, replaced by a blotchy pink burn mark on his face.

He folds his arms and wakes for Sans to wake up.]

so abt those pyramids buddy

[welcomeprofessor]

[ If someone were to actually ask Charles why in god's name he's out here, he might, at this juncture, leave it up to said god--it doesn't even matter which, whether one familiar or as alien as the landscape--to answer that for him. By all rights, he really shouldn't be: the terrain is hell on his chair, the sand is hell on his hair, the weather is hell on...everything else.

It seems a strange thing--a stupid thing, really--to leave that up to whim to dictate. This isn't necessarily something he wants, but something he's drawn to instead. It isn't quite explicable, or even reasonable, but he's here and committed to it now. Maybe it's some half memory he doesn't have. Rumours of things he should remember (things even his students seem to recall but he can't). Raven's once-adamant insistence that Cairo would be where everything changed. There's always been enough mystery in ancient cultures, and the study thereof, that his interest is piqued at least, and maybe that's enough.

The consideration and pondering of that draw don't seem to matter much, however, when in the course of trying to find some meager resource against the wind and sand, it isn't just a vague pull that holds his attention, but something in his mind that rings all too familiar. At first, he brushes it off (this can't be right), then squints into the wind, as if that will change anything. Finally, when there's nothing left for his denial but to confirm it, he approaches, rough terrain and all. ]

Strange isn't the half of it.

[ Which is said as he realizes there's no room left for doubt at all. ]

HELLO FRIEND

[quickfingers]

Right now I'm feeling something deep fried or prepackaged

[quickfingers]

Pretty much.

It's okay though, everyone has their off days.

[magneticfields]

[There was something off about the thing. It was maddening. He could feel all the metal, but he could not manipulate it. The full force of his power brought down upon it only elicited a slight tremble. He could operate it well enough with his hands, but that was it. And he could only work one lock at a time, so unlocking it on his own was out of the question. A full circuit of the structure revealed no other way in, and whatever was being used to block his abilities was all over the area.

Adding to his frustration, when he returned to the lock (the first lock he had encountered since awakening in this strange place, and thus the lock he was committed to opening) somebody else had found it as well.

Erik eyed the other man. He had an aura of something very much unlike respectability. Which was promising, at least. And he apparently couldn’t read minds, always a plus.]

It seems determined to make us work together. As much as I dislike the manipulative tactics, it appears we have no other choice.

[yondu]

Still havin' a go at it alone, ain'tcha Quill?

[Who is particularly good at crashing parties? Especially ones Peter Quill is attending? One sad sack of a pain in the ass, Yondu Udonta, who speaks to Peter from behind as he watches him galavant down the damn corridor. The fin, though, is one from before the revolt. The attitude one of a man who's still a little riled that this boy pulled a fast one on him.]

[Okay, he might have been impressed by the stunt too, but there's no good in inflating Quill's ego more than necessary and making him think he can get away with that.]

What are you doin' here?

[Well, logically he knows why he's here. Ingress, this and that, needed money, blah blah, but asking is almost obligation to make him explain himself. Like a relex or muscle memory. See Peter? Also see what fresh hell he's making.]

Long Time No See

[yondu]

[Ever had that awkward moment where you're trying to figure out how to undo a door lock that apparently takes two puzzles being completed at once and then you're sitting there without another person to help you?]

[Well, that happens to be Yondu right now.]

[He's puzzling over a stone wall, running his blue hands over it, before he hears someone speak behind him. Someone with impressively quiet footsteps because he had all of no idea whatsover someone crept up behind him.]

[Yondu looks over his shoulder, and abandons his own venture for a moment.]

You reckon you found somethin'? [The obvious non-human says in a bewildering drawl.] Alright, let's see it.

Re: so abt those pyramids buddy

[magneticfields]

[He felt the familiar presence before he heard his voice. Like a scent triggering a long-forgotten memory. Or the warm bedclothes on the other side of the bed, indicating that somebody had been there, even if they were now gone.

No, not it was not like either of those things. It was like nothing Erik could describe, no matter how well he knew the feeling. And there was only one reason he should have such a feeling.]

It is good to see a familiar face, old friend.

[He faces him, turning his back on the pyramids, and rubs the back of his neck, feeling intensely vulnerable in a way that he does not at all appreciate. A thousand questions bubble, but he does not give voice to any of them.

Not that it would make a difference, if Charles really wanted to know.]

There is not much else I have found that is familiar since arriving… here.

[The planet, the Ingress, all of it. All of it except the pyramids, and now Charles.]

kelly ann | roadies

[aka_pistachio]

ingress complex

[This is crazy.

And not in a “caught the stalker groupie masturbating with The Boss’s mic” crazy kind of way or “Phil’s body taxidermied in a forever hug” kind of way but in a what the fuck is going on what happened to me am I going fucking crazy or was I actually fucking abducted kind of way.

The nurse… robot… things treats her for shock until she isn’t cold and shaking anymore. She still feels like she was going to puke, but there isn’t enough in her stomach to actually produce anything. So she focuses on breathing in through her nose, out through her mouth every time she starts heaving.

Spending so much time on the road teaches you a few tricks, after all.

Legs still shaky, she pushes herself off the metal… medical… cot… thing. The room is empty, except for the robot things. They give her some clothes. Distressed jeans, Chucks, an old tour t-shirt that is worn soft as pajamas. But not her jeans. Not her Chucks. Not her t-shirt. What the fuck? She pulls her hair back in a messy bun and goes into the hall. Somewhere, she could hear voices.

After so many years of tour buses and back stages and green rooms and signings, the feeling of being utterly alone is the worst part. Whatever the ship… hospital… thing is made out of, it makes the acoustics all weird and echoey. She listenesfor a while, and then goes in the direction that she thinks she can hear the voices.]

H-hello?

[She remembers the little cellphone… pager… thing. Tab? Like the soda? Her mouth goes dry, and she doesn’t even like tab.]

network - text

Hi. This is awkward. Does anybody know where we are? Or where I could get something to drink?

i cant believe it is Sons Undertale

[wallride]

[lúcio, drawn to sans booth, puts down a piece of paper that has "this is one million g" handwritten on it.]

Hey, man! I'll take one of each!

a good frog

[wallride]

a. guess who's back, back again

[it takes about three seconds for lúcio to get his bearings when he's unceremoniously spat out of the ingress. he only stumbles slightly, looking around then sighing with a strange mix of defeat and fondness.]

You still doin' this stuff, huh?

[said to the ingress, before he quickly checks over himself to make sure none of his gear broke on the entry then... decides to have a look around. if anyone comes near him, he's definitely going to flag them down.]

Hey-- [he calls out.] Do you remember the Moira? That name ring any bells to you? I'm looking for the crew.

b. network - voice

Hello, hello! My name's Lúcio-- I don't know if anyone here knows me, I was with a bunch of people who fell through the Ingress a while ago. Crew from the Moira. Any of ya'll know 'em?

[his tone is only a little pleading.]

Thanks!

wildcarddddddddddddddd

[CUT THE BRAKE BITCHES]

B

[justice_from_above]

Yes, I think I might be familiar with a few of them. [A little sass for you, Lúcio! Can you hear the smile in her voice, because it is there and it is big! It's always a blessing and a curse; things aren't exactly a fun, soothing vacation over here, but hearing a good friend's return certainly picks her spirits up.]

How have you been? You must tell me everything!

[beautifulleopard]

[Now why is there a sleeping skeleton holding a small sale booth inside a pyramid is its own question and mystery sure, but to be fair it's hardly the weirdest concept that Juri has encountered. Questions can come later!

She pulls out a checkbook with a orange rose from her pocket along a pen, flips it open and taps an empty page with her pen.]

How much for an answer?

[greyate]

[ Jean smiles a little more at that, a suppressed laugh shaking shoulders. She isn't sure if she can confirm it, either, since she only knew the Peter from her time for a short while. But either way, it's still good to see him again.

Nodding, ]

The Professor is here. Scott, Kurt. I think you said you knew Logan from before? A few others were here but they are gone now.

[specifications]

[ .... ]

More or less. Intensity will vary obviously but better safe than sorry.

[specifications]

[ Her smile, however she tries to hide it, is enough to make Arthur give a small one of his own. ]

Arthur.

[ He gives a little shake of his head at her question, ]

No. But I can understand it if you need to use it. English is easier for me.

[ He looks around them again, ]

Have you seen anyone else here?