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.
He raises one eyebrow at her at the response, but doesn't press. For all he's heard about her from Tron, he doesn't know her well enough himself to know if there really is an issue, or to push the matter if there is.
The news makes his shoulders slump and his circuits dim a little, but the reminder of the seemingly flexible time makes him brighten again. 'Alright. If you're working on it, I'd be happy to help. Communication systems aren't my primary function, but I might be able to lend a hand on the signal calculations.' Figure out how to transmit across worlds.
'Users, it'll be good to see Flynn again,' he sighs, smiling. 'I can let him know I'm okay at least. I think Flynn mentioned a Clu, but from the way he spoke about him, he'd been lost and likely derezzed.' Then there is a whole slew of things that leaves him blinking and feeling... many things.
'Okay, we're going to need to talk this through properly,' he says, tugging at his curls again. 'You say we need somewhere private? Where can we go?'
Not all sections of Avagi station are created equal, and not all of them are in equal repair--meaning many of them are flush with unclaimed scrap. He's always short of conduit pipe, and if they're going to grow food in earnest, he'll only need more.
He's been following the bright, soft back-and-forth of voices for some time.
Timing is, after all, everything, and his is...
"Maybe I can help you with that." With a genial lift of the hand, both eyebrows high over a warm grin at Yori. "After all, I distinctly heard my name."
...Perfect.
Edited (lmao setup has conclusions.) 2017-12-01 01:21 (UTC)
A jolt of electric fear pins her in place. "Greetings, Clu," Yori says after a moment, struggling for an even tone.
Meanwhile she runs a frantic analysis backward. How much had she said? Which parts had he heard?
Nothing he couldn't guess, but is he going to take offense anyway?
The administrator can't attack her openly without losing the fragile truce he seems to value. It's very little comfort when Ram's beside her, disk unguarded. Does Clu value that truce more than he'd enjoy the chance to make that much trouble? How can she judge?
Her hand tightens on Ram's shoulder with a shielded ping: calm/wait. They can't give Clu an excuse here.
The voice startles him and he looks up sharply. But even as he does so, even before he sees the yellow circuits and black bodysuit, he knows this is not Flynn. The voice is too controlled, lacking the informality that Flynn had always had. And yet, the face momentarily gives him pause, but it too is too set for Flynn.
Yori confirms it and Ram stays still, caught between warning and reason, he can only make sure he treads carefully. So he bites his tongue for now, staying close to Yori and keeping his gaze on Clu while trying to maintain an appearance of ease.
The yellow on black though. That's interesting. Yellow circuits in Encom meant hacker, but Yori had said sysadmin. And the black bodysuit with limited circuits, an interesting getup and familiar--
--ah, of course. Well, that could make things more... complicated.
Quick as that, she swallows the ends of whatever she was about to say, delicate and abrupt as the scissor snap of a bird's beak.
He'd startled her.
...How. Interesting.
Scans are a waste of energy and pings are an excess in this dead, charge-devouring place; he'd just as soon keep as much power as possible for himself. And lies are easiest with words. After all, he's not a friend, they're not friends, and it's not like she's made a secret of passing those packets to absolutely everyone.
"Greetings," bright, soft and deliberate, "Yori."
Rebels had managed to get it into his personal anteroom, once, eight feet high on the fourteen foot wall in throbbing, hideous, forbidden fluorescent Bostrumite green--
CLU == MCP
--and it was just as good for his resistors then as it is now: a spike of outrage like heat shimmer, just visible in lesser circuits--a twitch of the fingers, then gone.
Rinzler wants her.
That keeps the grin on his face, in his voice, keeps everything amusing.
"I have the strangest feeling I'm interrupting? But I do know any number of ideal venues, if you'd like suggestions. Good places for," maybe she'll push, or maybe he'll push first, "a close, quiet, secret chat."
He levels a look at the new guy, quick sweeping assessment of the blue and grey, matching to Encom system descriptions, to known data, to hazard a guess at potential functions--but he doesn't place this unit.
"I'm sure your," qualifiers, testing, "new friend will appreciate that? He," assumption, render-based, "did ask directly."
"Thank you for the offer," polite, so polite Clu could cut himself on the edges.
Ram's blue light under her hand is a reminder that her priority here has to be not provoking Clu. More than she already has.
It's an interesting question whether Clu actually has such places. Probably so. Rinzler would have arranged them, even if she doubts Clu's capability.
She manages at least a faint echo of a smile. "We'll find a place. I wouldn't want to trouble you."
Privacy from Clu is getting ever more valuable. The fact that Clu checks Rinzler's disks means she has to be careful, but it's so much easier to process necessity when she isn't looking at the program who's hurt Rinzler and tortured Tron.
The obvious threat in the offer means he might just be amusing himself. That's easier to accept than the tiny chance that he might actually want to talk.
SO he's been listening to them. How long for? The tension is as thick as a datacloud and every User second that passes in silence seems somehow louder than when they are speaking.
Yori had said Flynn created Clu as the sysadmin for a new system, but Clu took MCP like control. There is clearly a whole history there, but with only a few pieces, Ram is struggling to fill in the gaps. There are many questions, none of which it would be wise to ask while said admin was in the room.
How had Flynn done this? He helped them against the MCP, Yori told him not ten nanocycles ago that they were successful. How could his own program have been allowed to rise to such a position?
/Redirecting questions, folder: For_later
He meets the gaze evenly as it crosses over to him. 'A program such as yourself surely has better things to do than listen to catch up.'
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.
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.
Yori's speech has slowed by 0.24 picocycles, only noticeable because he was listening for it. She's being careful.
Clu's smile, his words, they all seem genuine, though a lack of familiarity grants a level of uncertainty. He runs it through what he learned from Flynn, but it doesn't provide much more. He'll assume cooperation for now but be wary of escalation. Despite Clu's words and smile, he's getting the distinct impression of a couple of bits facing a gridbug.
'Then I look forward to more chances of self-determination.' As long as he has something to do.
A few more pieces of the puzzle, thank you, Yori. 'Flynn created a whole system? Now that must have been a sight to see.' Do tell.
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thisavrou_ooc2017-11-17 07:40 pm
no subject
The news makes his shoulders slump and his circuits dim a little, but the reminder of the seemingly flexible time makes him brighten again. 'Alright. If you're working on it, I'd be happy to help. Communication systems aren't my primary function, but I might be able to lend a hand on the signal calculations.' Figure out how to transmit across worlds.
'Users, it'll be good to see Flynn again,' he sighs, smiling. 'I can let him know I'm okay at least. I think Flynn mentioned a Clu, but from the way he spoke about him, he'd been lost and likely derezzed.' Then there is a whole slew of things that leaves him blinking and feeling... many things.
'Okay, we're going to need to talk this through properly,' he says, tugging at his curls again. 'You say we need somewhere private? Where can we go?'
no subject
He's been following the bright, soft back-and-forth of voices for some time.
Timing is, after all, everything, and his is...
"Maybe I can help you with that." With a genial lift of the hand, both eyebrows high over a warm grin at Yori. "After all, I distinctly heard my name."
...Perfect.
no subject
Meanwhile she runs a frantic analysis backward. How much had she said? Which parts had he heard?
Nothing he couldn't guess, but is he going to take offense anyway?
The administrator can't attack her openly without losing the fragile truce he seems to value. It's very little comfort when Ram's beside her, disk unguarded. Does Clu value that truce more than he'd enjoy the chance to make that much trouble? How can she judge?
Her hand tightens on Ram's shoulder with a shielded ping: calm/wait. They can't give Clu an excuse here.
no subject
Yori confirms it and Ram stays still, caught between warning and reason, he can only make sure he treads carefully. So he bites his tongue for now, staying close to Yori and keeping his gaze on Clu while trying to maintain an appearance of ease.
The yellow on black though. That's interesting. Yellow circuits in Encom meant hacker, but Yori had said sysadmin. And the black bodysuit with limited circuits, an interesting getup and familiar--
--ah, of course. Well, that could make things more... complicated.
CREEPING INTENSIFIES;
He'd startled her.
...How. Interesting.
Scans are a waste of energy and pings are an excess in this dead, charge-devouring place; he'd just as soon keep as much power as possible for himself. And lies are easiest with words. After all, he's not a friend, they're not friends, and it's not like she's made a secret of passing those packets to absolutely everyone.
"Greetings," bright, soft and deliberate, "Yori."
Rebels had managed to get it into his personal anteroom, once, eight feet high on the fourteen foot wall in throbbing, hideous, forbidden fluorescent Bostrumite green--
CLU == MCP
--and it was just as good for his resistors then as it is now: a spike of outrage like heat shimmer, just visible in lesser circuits--a twitch of the fingers, then gone.
Rinzler wants her.
That keeps the grin on his face, in his voice, keeps everything amusing.
"I have the strangest feeling I'm interrupting? But I do know any number of ideal venues, if you'd like suggestions. Good places for," maybe she'll push, or maybe he'll push first, "a close, quiet, secret chat."
He levels a look at the new guy, quick sweeping assessment of the blue and grey, matching to Encom system descriptions, to known data, to hazard a guess at potential functions--but he doesn't place this unit.
"I'm sure your," qualifiers, testing, "new friend will appreciate that? He," assumption, render-based, "did ask directly."
no subject
Ram's blue light under her hand is a reminder that her priority here has to be not provoking Clu. More than she already has.
It's an interesting question whether Clu actually has such places. Probably so. Rinzler would have arranged them, even if she doubts Clu's capability.
She manages at least a faint echo of a smile. "We'll find a place. I wouldn't want to trouble you."
Privacy from Clu is getting ever more valuable. The fact that Clu checks Rinzler's disks means she has to be careful, but it's so much easier to process necessity when she isn't looking at the program who's hurt Rinzler and tortured Tron.
The obvious threat in the offer means he might just be amusing himself. That's easier to accept than the tiny chance that he might actually want to talk.
no subject
Yori had said Flynn created Clu as the sysadmin for a new system, but Clu took MCP like control. There is clearly a whole history there, but with only a few pieces, Ram is struggling to fill in the gaps. There are many questions, none of which it would be wise to ask while said admin was in the room.
How had Flynn done this? He helped them against the MCP, Yori told him not ten nanocycles ago that they were successful. How could his own program have been allowed to rise to such a position?
/Redirecting questions, folder: For_later
He meets the gaze evenly as it crosses over to him. 'A program such as yourself surely has better things to do than listen to catch up.'
no subject
"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.
no subject
"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.
no subject
Clu's smile, his words, they all seem genuine, though a lack of familiarity grants a level of uncertainty. He runs it through what he learned from Flynn, but it doesn't provide much more. He'll assume cooperation for now but be wary of escalation. Despite Clu's words and smile, he's getting the distinct impression of a couple of bits facing a gridbug.
'Then I look forward to more chances of self-determination.' As long as he has something to do.
A few more pieces of the puzzle, thank you, Yori. 'Flynn created a whole system? Now that must have been a sight to see.' Do tell.