Multiversal 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 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 transit 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. Welcome to Avagi Station, your new home.
Avagi
That First Step, it is a Doozy:
There are always risks to exploring new environments and Avagi is rich with new nooks and crannies to explore. You’re checking out a new corridor that’s been opened, though there have been signs warning that there are areas where structural stability has been weakened by neglect and the passage of time. But maybe things have been going well, you’ve found a few interesting things of note and you’re ready to head back to your bunk for the day.
Except when you turn to leave, the floor is giving way without a screech of metal. Hopefully you’ve got some good reflexes and can catch yourself before you topple down a shaft that seems to go down at least thirty or forty feet. Do you call for help or struggle to handle it on your own? And more importantly, how are you getting around this giant hole in the floor now that it’s there?
The Buddy System:
In order to help new arrivals find their bearings the more experienced residents on board have decided to try out the buddy system in order until the new arrivals get their space legs. The guide is responsible for answering any questions, showing them all the important facilities and making sure their new friend doesn’t wander anywhere too dangerous. And what better way to get to know your buddy than to try and help them find all the supplies they need to be comfortable in their new home? Hopefully the barter blocks have some clothes in your size or else it could get a little bit awkward come laundry day.
Shining Bright:
The Observation Station is the best place on Avagi to get a look at the storm that rages all around. However today when you stop by there’s something strange and new to look upon. It’s not clear if it’s a change in the environment or perhaps an effect of the living energy that opens the portals but the entire room is filled with softly glowing floating lights. If you venture into the room and dare to touch one of the lights you’ll find that you find a song playing in your mind that fills you with a deep and abiding sense of peace. What you do with that feeling is up to you but it seems that these lights aren’t going to cause any harm then why not let yourself relax in a beautiful space for a little while?
Kaittos
This month there is a portal to the planet Kaittos, a peaceful world containing one large land mass and a scattering of lived-on islands across a clear blue ocean. On the mainland, a large city-state occupies the central region and southern coast and resembles what some travelers from some versions of Earth might know of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Bustling and lively, the city is clean and well provided-for due to the temperate climate and the bountiful natural resources found on its northern side; orchards, farms and forests extend into the distance, butting up against a small mountain range. The technology level is low compared to Avagi, with carriages and candles in place rather than cars and electric lights, but the craftsmen of the world have managed some very impressive mechanical feats.
Kaittans, the local residents of the world appear somewhat humanoid, but the bipedal race has hooves rather than feet, silvery skin and three eyes with vertical pupils. Although there is no sign of any other sentient species in the world, the locals are nonetheless excited to meet their guests, rather than suspicious or afraid; for some reason, they are not surprised that aliens exist, merely that they are here.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the city and partake in an exchange of goods and ideas, to share their culture and stories with the locals. Perhaps there’s a merchant willing to trade a bauble for a story or you want to try something entirely unknown to your palette in the culinary quarter. The possibilities, while not quite limitless, are enough to keep the curious busy for quite a while.
[ Look, his curiosity is hard to contain. He just can't help himself sometimes.
The tail's still unnatural and he's torn between not wanting to believe it and being offended by it and well not wanting to die... Oh god his hand too...
So, he reaches out and grabs the hand since it's the one that's offered now and well it feels more normal than grabbing a tail. ]
She lays her hand on the side of his face, still marveling at the fact that he's really here with her. "You gave me the strength." His death, she means, but she can't say it. Thinking of him had been the only thing to keep her from killing Maru, the only thing to make her believe she could destroy Ares.
She doesn't have to say what she means. He knows. He knows what was about to happen when he was pulled here; what will happen if he's ever sent back again. As unexpected as his arrival here was, as unfamiliar as "space city" is likely to be, the knowledge of what comes next for him is enough for him to be content with not searching for a way home. Plus Diana's here, and that's really all he needs.
[ Stan's definitely not been in this exact kind of situation. Weird and creepy, yes but the floor really just giving out under him that's a bit new to him and he's never had to hold on for dear life or face what he's certain is death. He hears a girl's voice, though, and while that doesn't really comfort him much he focuses on that to keep from panicking as he holds on as tightly as he can.
Already his arms are starting to ache -- someone should tell him to work out more if he's going to live in a place that's floor randomly goes out.
His eyes follow her movement when she comes out onto the beam and he has to wonder how a girl is so brave because he's not feeling very brave right now. He's not sure he would've done what she's doing.
He lets her help him and maybe later he'll be thinking about it with wounded pride. ]
Yeah. Yeah.
[ With some help he can get to the beam too and hopefully they can manage not to weigh it down too much. ]
Kurt's cheeks flush indigo, his shoulders rolling in a halfhearted shrug. "Maybe not all that," he teases, lips quirking higher. "But you're voice is certainly better than mine."
Said tail flickers to life behind him, dipping forward lazily over his shoulder. "Not at all. A lot of people have never seen someone like me before, so to be honest, I encourage questions." He shifts closer, reaches to gesture in a vague motion toward the tail, fangs still gleaming.
His face colors another shade, "That's quite the compliment, miss. I'm a mutant and before you think it's an insult, we've sort of. Adopted the word." He shrugs. "It doesn't have the effect you'd imagine it might."
[To be fair, he has problems containing his own curiosity, so he's got no room to judge on that. A life or death situation may not be the best time to ponder such things, though.
Stan's hand takes his own and Kurt firmly grasps it, pulls the boy up to where he'll be able to loop both arms around his shoulders.] Hang on, [he commands, waiting until he knows there's a secure grip around him.]
And I highly recommend that you close your eyes.
[Meaning, "Don't look down," even though saying it usually has the adverse effect.]
[ Stan wonders how the other's so strong and nimble and then wonders if he's human...and then he's wondering if he's real, if anything is real or if he's just crazy. It's highly uncomfortable and well his fear is lessened all the same with the other grasping him. Stan finds Kurt easier to hold onto and obeys quietly for now.
The start of 'why' begins but he clamps his mouth shut instead and squeezes his eyes shut and just follows the good advice for once. ]
Why. Of course the program has to ask. Rinzler tries to keep from bristling too much as he retorts.
"Threat assessment."
That had been his first priority, certainly. Plus, it hardly helped the system to have confused functions wandering the halls. Anything else... shouldn't matter. Not here.
'Threat assessment?' That gets a raised eyebrow. He won't ask what the result is, it would only waste time. 'I'm not familiar with the section of threat assessments that involves communication providing.' Skepticism? Maybe. But, glitch, this guy has been doing things his own way so far, so who knows.
"Rinzler" turns up no results when he runs it through his data banks, which he should be surprised by, and yet a small part of him is. There's no reason he should know this program, being from a different system with his double disks and minimal circuits.
Ram blinks, but the four small squares don't change. This doesn't make sense. But the voice... No, stop. It isn't the only possibility. Don't jump to conclusions. It takes him a few more picocycles to find his voice again.
[Shatterstar is no stranger to being dumped unceremoniously into other dimensions. Really, this is a phenomenon he has come to take for granted. That in itself is not the problem. The problem is this is not at all where he'd been expecting to emerge.
He is also not at all in a good mood, so rather than take this in stride like a reasonable person, he elects to come out swinging. In specific, he unsheathes his comical gauntlet blades at the first person he comes across.]
You! Explain this.
[Now. Or get spectacularly disemboweled, possibly.]
[ buddy system ]
[Okay. Things have been explained. He's calmed down, now. He takes it all in with an increasingly displeased expression, but he does listen. This is a space station, he's stuck here with a bunch of people, and there is no way to leave. Fine. He's really, really not happy with it, but he knows these things happen.
Before the exchange is concluded, however, he has one last, very important question.]
Is there a suitable place to train? I want to kill something.
[ them chill glowies ]
[Star is staying far the fuck away from those, thanks. As soon as he touched one he backed off. Not that he wasn't calmed, but he's familiar enough with mental manipulation to recognize (largely) when it's happening, and he wants no part of that.
Whether you know what these things do already or not, it is probably odd to see someone glaring at one like it's personally offended him. Honestly, he's just unsettled and confused. They aren't exactly something he can stab, so...]
[This did not bode well Matt thought to himself as he attempted to take a step forward and felt the floor give way underneath him. When he hit the deck he groans as his wounded side complains.]
Okay two things....one ow and two no collapsed building has this many heartbeats what the hell is going on? Can anyone hear me? Hello?
[Shining Bright]
[Matt stood quietly face turned toward the window even though he couldn't see the storm raging outside. But he felt as though he could sense it. There was a certain smell and sound the whole place seemed to have that he couldn't put a name too.
It was both peaceful and wild and Matt felt himself falling in love with it in his own quiet way.]
[One thing Dorian can't say he'll ever get tired of when it comes to this place are the hugs. Of course he likes to pretend he's smooth and too good for hugs, but they don't happen enough where he's from, especially where he's from. Nobody wants to get anywhere near a 'Vint and nobility in the Imerium? Forget it.
So when Nate hugs him Dorian curls an arm around his shoulder and laughs, he's happy to see the riff-raff, clearly.]
I can't say that I'm sad to see you either, happy in fact, and I want to hear all of the details. Like how we went from prison dump to paradise for instance.
[ooc: Lol I lost my mind and forgot that apps were due on the 30th, I intended to come back this month but I got sidetracked by kittens. Clearly I'm on top of it XD]
Polite as a box of razors tied with a glitter bow, sure, but there's no actionable reason for him to serve it back cold.
"Any time, babe," with an affable little smirk. Her answering grin is better, narrows his eyes a little, but there's nothing there in his tone--it's a friendly chat. He's after pipe, not Programs. Not even lovely blonde ones with the analyst skillset. "After all, it's not out of my way in the least. Not even a little trouble."
"Hah!" Flattery will get you smiled at, Ram. See how shiny his teeth are? "I'm flattered, but nah, friend. Not here, I don't. I'm sure Yori's told you--we have so many chances to self-determine, here, and a gross excess of spare time."
"I don't suppose," tilt of the head, "you'd mind working while we talked? I'm already on a task, and I'd prefer that, but I'm also a very good listener."
This is the most fun he's had in months. Good luck getting rid of him.
His words are bittersweet, though she can't let him know. If she hadn't given him that strength, maybe he wouldn't have sacrificed himself. It's so selfish, she knows, but watching him die had been so hard--it had been like losing Antiope all over again. So preventable, and yet inevitable all at the same time.
Diana leans forward, ghosting her lips across his, almost as if she's still afraid he's going to vanish still.
[this isn't one of those american shows or cartoons where the blades end up inches from his crotch or something
no these land inches from his ass instead, leaving him wobbly-legged and weeping:]
I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE GOING TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DIDN'T LEAVE YOU AT THE POINT IN YOUR LIFE YOU THOUGHT, AND YOU HAD TO BUY THESE SHITTY THINGS!? I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER!
[ The 8ft magenta woman who'd been milling about nearby stops in the middle of her explorations to give the little human a look. Admittedly, the exact nature of the look remains hidden behind her mask, but it's definitely some form of look.
Folding her arms, she turns her full attention to him and announces: ]
If Clu's being friendly, can she afford to snub him? She'd rather not make anything worse.
"I haven't told him much about this place yet," Yori admits. Known public data is a better topic to allow Clu to overhear than anything else. If it'll amuse Clu enough to keep him from taking his frustrations out on Rinzler, she'll try not to mind. She's just grateful Ram trusted her enough not to attack.
He deserves more explanation than she can give right now, but for the moment-- "This is Clu," she introduces him with a sideways glance at Ram. "Administrator of a system Flynn went on to build in his world, but not in command out here. No one is." A strange state of being. Yori can't quite decide whether to approve or disapprove, but she definitely wouldn't want Clu in charge.
She offers Rinzler's admin a half-nod in wary salute. "There's a truce of sorts in effect."
Clu has power over Rinzler, but any action to harm Yori puts Rinzler's loyalty up for question. Any action to reset Rinzler's memory makes Clu a target for all of Rinzler's surprisingly numerous allies. Rinzler is the only piece Clu has of the Grid, and it makes sense to Yori that Clu wouldn't want to lose him. Meanwhile Flynn is...well, he hasn't upset the whole thing yet.
None of this is quite what she'd want to say in front of Clu.
[ And that earns Star a brief look of confusion, helmeted head cocked to one side. ]
Oh. We're gonna fight?
[ The way it's said sounds vaguely surprised. It's not the surprise of someone who'd just walked into an unexpected situation though: it's the surprise of someone waking up to find a present at the foot of their bed.
She gives Star another, slower once-over, thick, armored arms unfurling and hands clenching into fists. ]
Sure!
[ And that's about all the warning he gets. No shifting of weight, no telegraphing at all, really- just a gloved hand darting out fast as light to knock his blades aside and make room for a brutal knee to the gut. ]
Had he always known that he might end up giving his life for the cause? Yes. Had he always been okay with that knowledge? Yes. But there's a difference between facing death every time he left on a mission and the sacrifice he had made. He had been okay with that sacrifice too, because someone needed to make it, and if they had any chance at making sure the world was still around for another day, it couldn't be Diana.
He doesn't let go just yet, but instead speaks into her shoulder. "So. A city in the stars."
[Indeed he doesn't see the blow coming, and he's knocked back with enough force to go skidding across the floor and into the wall--perhaps moreso than would be expected. For some reason, he's much lighter than he looks.
He isn't even stunned for half a second before he leaps back up into fluid fighting stance. And, at odds with the situation--he's grinning from ear to ear.]
Excellent.
[Apparently none the worse for wear, he lunges at her, blades extended.
Why are they even fighting. Does it really matter.]
As Shatterstar goes flying, Spinister follows. Is it weird that the human is getting back up that quickly? Hell if she knows. He's still moving and that's all that means is she's pushing more power into the avatar.
They meet halfway, Spin slamming her foot down, one arm up to deflect the blades with a fizzle of sparks. The other is clenched in a fist that she's intent on driving directly into his neck. ]
[He waits a moment longer, making sure Stan is absolutely secure before easing into scaling across the spanse of the wall toward a more stable part of the floor. It feels like an eternity, but once they are there, Kurt raises a hand and pats Stan's shoulder, signaling that he can look.]
After you open your eyes, put your feet straight down beneath you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
savmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thisavrou_ooc2017-11-17 07:40 pm
Page 16 of 17