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.
How's t-that going to help Ruh-Richie. We c-can't hear it hit the b-b-bottom.
[Maybe it's the sudden vanishing floor or the near drop experience, but Bill is just a bit stressed by the situation. Nonetheless he leans forward to watch Richie's spit drop into the darkness and waits before following it up with his own.]
[Bill just shakes his head at Richie's response, still looking down into the hole. He could drop the half coin in his pocket, but then he might not ever get it back. If Richie doesn't like plan a, they will just have to find a plan b.]
Then h-help me find some rope or a b-b-big stick. [He pulls Richie back from the hole gently, not wanting him to fall in, and starts looking around the rest of the space available to him.]
My b-b-bike [Bill pauses in his search to look back toward the hole, dark and seemingly endless. He feels traces of familiarity filling in the cracks and not in a good way. It's like descending into the sewers once more.] It fell in w-with the floor. I h-h-have to get it b-b-back.
[Derry may not be a place with many fond or happy memories, but that bike is his and he treasures it.]
You can s-stay up here and keep hold of the ru-rope. [He needs to get it back, but he isn't going to put Richie in further danger. They got through Neibolt House together, this was just a hole, and hopefully not some monster's lair. It'll be fine. He'll tie some rope to his bike and climb back up and they can pull it up together.]
[Surely this will be okay. The problem is that Richie really isn't that strong, so while he might be able to hold a rope just fine, supporting Bill and Silver might be a problem.]
I can tie it around my waist, and also hold onto it. Do you think that'll be sturdy enough?
[A quick survey of the area of the corridor they're stuck in reveals a floor to ceiling column that may or may not be sturdy enough to withstand his weight, but would at least be safer than potentially pulling Richie down on top of him. He shakes his head and moves over to it, tapping his knuckles against the column.]
We'll tie it around t-the pole. [Which just leaves that unfortunate little side point of not having any idea where they might find a rope, and Bill, who is intelligent enough not to just jump down into a dark hole without knowing how deep it is, what's in it, or at least having a way out, knows that this plan only works if they do find some.]
Maybe there's another w-way down. We should look for st-stairs, too.
[Richie adjusts his glasses and looks to the pole that Bill points out. There's probably little surprise that he missed seeing it.]
Maybe there's stairs. What if we can't find either? This place has so much metal everywhere it's hard to imagine they'll just have some rope laying around.
[Ever the optimist, Bill lets the pessimistic thinking roll past him and keeps looking, more determined than ever.]
Rope isn't going to suddenly s-stop being useful. I'm sure they have some s-s-somewhere. And there ha-have to be stairs. How else would they get out if there's a f-fire?
[Thinking in more futuristic technologies and designs isn't yet in Bill's repertoire, but stubbornness is. He assesses the hole again.]
It's not t-that wide. I could p-probably jump it and s-search the other side.
Maybe they don't have fires. Or they do and everyone just fucking dies.
[Periodically, his mind goes dark places, but he'd like to think that Bill is right, so he does. Even if fires aren't a factor, there has to be an alternative for getting about if an elevator or transport or whatever breaks.]
In the event that you don't make it, any last words you want me to pass along at your funeral?
You're a r-real idiot sometimes, Trashmouth. [But there's a smile to Bill's words as he looks down the hole and over it again. He really does believe he can make the jump, but there's no telling how sturdy the floor is on the other side. He might land only to have it break under the strain.
The search doesn't turn up a rope, but they do manage to find a door, and it does look like there's a staircase, though there's no telling where it goes. He sticks a bit of ripped fabric from where his shirt had gotten caught earlier into what he assumes is the lock mechanism and pulls Richie along with him.]
After we get Silver, we'll f-find the others. [He's confident they must be here, if Richie is. Maybe this is just another ritual of some kind, and they were brought here to accomplish something. That seems feasible to him at the moment.]
I'll be sure to say that, but remember you're gonna be the one that's dead.
[Richie takes it all well, as it's all said in good humor. He watches Bill for a moment, and actively helps with attempting to find a rope. So far, no luck, but maybe they can ask someone later if all else fails.]
We could be walking into a death trap right now. [As if they hadn't already had a close encounter with the floor caving in just moments ago.] Watch, they're all gonna be in the safe spot that's all ice cream and good times.
[He has no idea, of course, but he would like to think they're not in a similar situation to he and Bill.]
I'm sure they're having a good t-time waiting for us, Richie. They're probably sk-skipping rocks somewhere. They'll be jealous of all our adventures w-when we get to them.
[He'll believe the others are all there and somewhere safe for both of them if he has to. He smiles at Richie, soft and small but warm, and tries to focus on the low light around them as they descend. When the stairs stop, it's hard to see, so Bill goes first and slowly, feeling along the walls.]
Keep hold of my shirt, Richie. We just have to c-cross the room. Watch out for the ru-rubble.
[He doesn't know how long the corridor is but he's taking it slow and easy for both of them, reassured that Richie is there by the slight pull of fabric and his friend's never quiet mouth.]
[He doesn't even feel the need to make some funny comment about it. What matters more is also believing that their friends are out there. Everything would be fine and work out, he has to believe, if they're together.]
I can't watch for what I can't see, you know! [Still, he clutches the back of Bill's shirt and stumbles along behind him.] What's the point of living that sci-fi movie life if they're not even going to have lights down here?
M-maybe you should try lights on. [Bill grins, and it carries in his voice. The idea of voice activated anything is ridiculous to him, but Richie said sci-fi, and it amuses him.]
I think I f-found something. [Said as he comes to an abrupt stop, his knee bumping something metal. When he reaches out his hand touches rubber, and the spokes of Silver's wheel turn slowly in the quiet dark.
He's careful as he stands Silver back up, and checks to make sure the rusted old bike can still roll.]
[The reference goes over Bill's head, after his time, unfortunately for Richie, but Bill stops right in front of Richie at the question, turning to try to make him out in the dark.]
Back wh-where the hole in the floor is? I d-don't think we could make that j-j-jump with the b-bike, Richie. [He had doubts either of them would make it either, though he believes he might have been able to.]
There has to be another st-staircase around here s-somewhere. We'll find it and then we c-can look for the others, o-okay?
We go back, and I j-jump the gap and g-get help while you s-stay put and don't d-do anything d-dumb. [Under different circumstances, he might have made a joke about cannibalism but in light of recent events he just doesn't have the stomach for it.
In the meantime he keeps feeling along the wall until his hands find empty space.]
We're going around a co-corner, Richie. Watch your step.
I can pull off being a damsel in distress while you go off to be a hero, Big Bill. [And then, shrieking in the most girly voice he can muster:] Oh please, someone help! I'm gettin' the vapors!
[Still, he heeds Bill's warning and he tries to keep from stumbling over himself this time.]
Performance of the y-year. [Bill shakes his head, but he can't help but smile a little at Richie's unending Richie-ness. He helps lead Richie through the side section until he stubs his toes on a stair, catching himself on a railing mid-fall.
[If Bill could have seen him he would have laughed. As it is he helps his friend up the stairs behind him, holding his bike up as best he could as he carries it up the stairs with them.
When they get to the top, they're just on the other side of the hole, and Bill steps a few steps closer to look down into it again, now too aware of how deep it is after their trek up the stairs.]
![[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
that first step
[He pats his pockets down, unfortunately finding that for once his shorts were devoid of any random things he'd stuffed into his pockets.]
I got an idea. Stand back. [Time to hock a loogie down the hole.]
no subject
[Maybe it's the sudden vanishing floor or the near drop experience, but Bill is just a bit stressed by the situation. Nonetheless he leans forward to watch Richie's spit drop into the darkness and waits before following it up with his own.]
Maybe we can use the w-w-wall to get by.
no subject
[He's the most helpful as ever, of course.]
What if the wall falls? Not the be the guy who says they're not digging this plan, but I'm not digging this plan.
no subject
Then h-help me find some rope or a b-b-big stick. [He pulls Richie back from the hole gently, not wanting him to fall in, and starts looking around the rest of the space available to him.]
We'll find out j-just how deep it goes.
no subject
Do you want to go down there?
no subject
[Derry may not be a place with many fond or happy memories, but that bike is his and he treasures it.]
You can s-stay up here and keep hold of the ru-rope. [He needs to get it back, but he isn't going to put Richie in further danger. They got through Neibolt House together, this was just a hole, and hopefully not some monster's lair. It'll be fine. He'll tie some rope to his bike and climb back up and they can pull it up together.]
no subject
Okay. So we're gonna need a big fucking rope.
[Surely this will be okay. The problem is that Richie really isn't that strong, so while he might be able to hold a rope just fine, supporting Bill and Silver might be a problem.]
I can tie it around my waist, and also hold onto it. Do you think that'll be sturdy enough?
no subject
We'll tie it around t-the pole. [Which just leaves that unfortunate little side point of not having any idea where they might find a rope, and Bill, who is intelligent enough not to just jump down into a dark hole without knowing how deep it is, what's in it, or at least having a way out, knows that this plan only works if they do find some.]
Maybe there's another w-way down. We should look for st-stairs, too.
no subject
Maybe there's stairs. What if we can't find either? This place has so much metal everywhere it's hard to imagine they'll just have some rope laying around.
no subject
Rope isn't going to suddenly s-stop being useful. I'm sure they have some s-s-somewhere. And there ha-have to be stairs. How else would they get out if there's a f-fire?
[Thinking in more futuristic technologies and designs isn't yet in Bill's repertoire, but stubbornness is. He assesses the hole again.]
It's not t-that wide. I could p-probably jump it and s-search the other side.
no subject
[Periodically, his mind goes dark places, but he'd like to think that Bill is right, so he does. Even if fires aren't a factor, there has to be an alternative for getting about if an elevator or transport or whatever breaks.]
In the event that you don't make it, any last words you want me to pass along at your funeral?
no subject
The search doesn't turn up a rope, but they do manage to find a door, and it does look like there's a staircase, though there's no telling where it goes. He sticks a bit of ripped fabric from where his shirt had gotten caught earlier into what he assumes is the lock mechanism and pulls Richie along with him.]
After we get Silver, we'll f-find the others. [He's confident they must be here, if Richie is. Maybe this is just another ritual of some kind, and they were brought here to accomplish something. That seems feasible to him at the moment.]
no subject
[Richie takes it all well, as it's all said in good humor. He watches Bill for a moment, and actively helps with attempting to find a rope. So far, no luck, but maybe they can ask someone later if all else fails.]
We could be walking into a death trap right now. [As if they hadn't already had a close encounter with the floor caving in just moments ago.] Watch, they're all gonna be in the safe spot that's all ice cream and good times.
[He has no idea, of course, but he would like to think they're not in a similar situation to he and Bill.]
no subject
[He'll believe the others are all there and somewhere safe for both of them if he has to. He smiles at Richie, soft and small but warm, and tries to focus on the low light around them as they descend. When the stairs stop, it's hard to see, so Bill goes first and slowly, feeling along the walls.]
Keep hold of my shirt, Richie. We just have to c-cross the room. Watch out for the ru-rubble.
[He doesn't know how long the corridor is but he's taking it slow and easy for both of them, reassured that Richie is there by the slight pull of fabric and his friend's never quiet mouth.]
no subject
[He doesn't even feel the need to make some funny comment about it. What matters more is also believing that their friends are out there. Everything would be fine and work out, he has to believe, if they're together.]
I can't watch for what I can't see, you know! [Still, he clutches the back of Bill's shirt and stumbles along behind him.] What's the point of living that sci-fi movie life if they're not even going to have lights down here?
no subject
I think I f-found something. [Said as he comes to an abrupt stop, his knee bumping something metal. When he reaches out his hand touches rubber, and the spokes of Silver's wheel turn slowly in the quiet dark.
He's careful as he stands Silver back up, and checks to make sure the rusted old bike can still roll.]
Now we just have t-to find a w-way back up.
no subject
[Bill stops too quickly, and Richie stops too late, bumping his face right into Bill's bike. He makes a startled sound, but otherwise is fine.]
Can't we just go back the way we came?
no subject
Back wh-where the hole in the floor is? I d-don't think we could make that j-j-jump with the b-bike, Richie. [He had doubts either of them would make it either, though he believes he might have been able to.]
There has to be another st-staircase around here s-somewhere. We'll find it and then we c-can look for the others, o-okay?
no subject
[So maybe he'd forgotten about the whole trapped on the wrong side of the floor thing.]
What's your plan if that was the only staircase and we're trapped down here, doomed to cuddle for warmth and chew on rubber tires for sustenance?
no subject
In the meantime he keeps feeling along the wall until his hands find empty space.]
We're going around a co-corner, Richie. Watch your step.
no subject
[Still, he heeds Bill's warning and he tries to keep from stumbling over himself this time.]
no subject
Think I f-found our way up.
no subject
Oh, Bill, my hero.
[Once Bill starts up the stairs, Richie's immediately behind him.]
no subject
When they get to the top, they're just on the other side of the hole, and Bill steps a few steps closer to look down into it again, now too aware of how deep it is after their trek up the stairs.]
Lucky we d-didn't fall in, huh R-richie?