TEST DRIVE MEME ( 015 )

[lifeaftr_mods]

Test Drive Meme #15

Hello, and welcome to LifeAftr! We’re pleased that you’re expressing an interest in the game. Here, you can test the waters, gauge how your character may fare in the world of LifeAftr, and even gain some in-game incentives, if you so choose.

Remember that Reserves will open on September 17th, and Applications on September 24th!

Two important notes:

1. LifeAftr's test drives take place on the island of Mu, which exists apart from the real world and possesses a dream-like quality that characters are innately aware of from the moment they appear on its shores. No need to panic or fret. Dreams are odd things, after all - and anything can happen in them. Why would anyone question where their mind chooses to wander in its sleep?

2. Due to the nature of Mu, threads in our test drive can not only be accepted as thread samples in your application, but can be accepted as game canon as well. In fact, certain choices your character makes in Mu have the potential to bear in-game consequences, largely in the form of test drive reward items.

Drawn to You
The forest is dark, silent but for the snap-buzz of cricket song. Nearby, the soft babble of running water threads its way between the rough-barked trunks, though the origin of said water is difficult, at first, to pinpoint.

Granted, you probably aren't paying much attention to the forest, or the water, or the darkness. You're probably more concerned about the creatures flitting to and fro in sparse groups, most of them quite small. They tend to vary in appearance - some look to be totally benign, while others considerably less so - but all belong to the same species.

Scribblets are wily beasts, dream-haunters by nature, and they seem to revel in the idle torment they inflict upon those who cross their paths. You, dear travelers, are no exception. And while they are quite easily crushed into dust once caught, they are exceedingly slippery, agile creatures that are most difficult to pin down. If you're not careful enough, the scribblets will fasten a peculiar tether to you. It looks very much like it is made of the same materials they, resembling a sketchy line of crayon, drawn into the third dimension. Their intent, tonight, is to tie you to something that will make your life difficult - binding you to a tree trunk or to a branch far above the ground, tying your hands together...or even tying you to someone else. These bonds will only grow progressively denser and heavier the more you struggle against them.

Fortunately, the solution here is very simple. Like any drawing, it can be washed away if you find water. You'd simply better hope that you're able to collaborate with whoever you must in order to access said water, whether it's working alongside whoever you might be tied to, or convincing someone to lend you a hand.

You'd better hope the scribblets don't go after them either, by the way.

Quarantine Breached
Whatever this place once was, nature has long since claimed it for its own. A darkened, secluded laboratory now nearly swallowed by thick snarls of overgrowth is probably not your ideal vacation spot, particularly since there's a dearth of any decent lighting sources here. Drenched in shadow as this place was, it might have been helpful if you had thought to bring a light.

Fortunately, that problem is soon to be solved! Twin smoldering points of light abruptly ignite several yards away from you, paired with the pitched mechanical hum of engaging circuits. Another pair of lights immediately spritzes to life just beside it, and another pair, and another...and another...and...

Well, there seems to be a lot of them, doesn't there? "Attention," chimes a pitched, automated voice, doubtless issuing from one of the many automatons that have begun to stir awake, one by one. "Potential host sighted. Quarantine breached."

You must understand, traveler: the island of Umui was nothing like this. The guardian units there were conscious nurse-bots, charged with caring for the sick and dying populace of a hospice island. Most did so with as much care as they were capable. But in the initial days of Umui's exploration, a great deal of explorers' anxieties revolved around these fallen automatons, and what possible purpose they may have served.

We invite you to imagine a scenario in which this went horribly wrong.

Consider these automatons to be shadowy, overzealous mirrors of their long-dead, real-world equivalents. They have learned to become hyper-devoted to their task of keeping their patients safe; so devoted, it seems, that nothing will stop them from fulfilling those obligations. They intend to catch and sedate you so that you can be...returned...to a place of safety.

Unfortunately, this place of safety probably entails an inescapable four-walled room or a hospital bed, and it's doubtful, to say in the least, that enough of their programming remains for them to remember to care for and feed you once you've been returned to whatever passes for a quarantine zone. In a decrepit, dilapidated building like this, it's probably not pleasant.

Our advice is to simply not get caught. If this means doing some inevitable destruction to all this complex hardware in the process, well...at least there's no chance you'll be billed for damages.

The New Farm Simulator Looks Great!
It is possible that you vaguely recall being asked to take watch this evening. By whom? Oh, please, that doesn't matter! With the pleasant hum of crickets in the air, and a backdrop of paddocks and grain fields around you, there are plenty of worse ways to spend your evening than this. All you have to do is keep an eye on passive livestock. The farmer's life is a simple one, where your biggest problem is trying not to fall asleep before your shift is over.

In theory, anyway. While the scenery of the quiet countryside may be ideal, the state of the farm's buildings and and fences is far from it. For the curious creatures such as popo, there really isn't much to keep them in one place for long, wide stretches of fenceline ruined by fallen sections. Meaning that these massive, shaggy creatures can simply step over the crushed regions and start plowing their way contentedly in the direction of the fields of grain - fields that were certainly not intended to end up in some silly beast's stomach.

For others, sweet grains aren't as appealing as that sweet, sweet taste of freedom. A word of advice: once the popo are over those hills, you won't be seeing them again. And they might not be terribly fast on their own, but in a herd, they can get to be as dangerous as a stampede.

Hope you weren't expecting an easy night, because in LifeAftr, there's no CJB cheats menu to save you.

---

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

Comments

The Guardian | OTA

[smallkindness]

Drawn to You

[Waking upon the shores of another land while the last thing you remember is taking your last breathes is strange, even for one who hallucinates often due to a sickness. Nevertheless the Guardian stands after a brief, quite coughing fit and quickly begins to explore.

The darkness was indeed worrying and the fact that their companion bot's map has been wiped clean equally so. they presses on however and records what they can onto the map, their figure lit up by the glow of the Guardian's hard-light blade and the companion bot's screen.

Inevitably they run afoul of the strange Scribblets and engages into combat. The Guardian's blows may be heavy and swift but the scribble monsters are slippery and soon lash the pink-clad drifter to a tree. Their only saving grace is that they did not manage to bind the hand that he wields his gun with. One of the Scribblets step forward to attempt to bind said limb only to swiftly be cut down by a bullet to the skull.

Despite the darkness the Guardian's aim continued to be swift and true as they level the gun at the remaining Scribblets. However he knows very well they do not have infinite ammo and more of these creatures are coming. They will be in deep trouble very quickly unless they receives some help and soon.]


Quarantine Breached

[The Guardian blinks and is plunged into darkness once again. But at least this time the automated voices let them know what is coming.

Their hard-light blade ignites as the automation charge their position and they swings, blade cleaving through metal as hethey dashes past all that attempt to grab and sedate them. It is a mistake to assume someone of their size is slow. Perhaps they would be more understanding of the situation if they knew what horrors had taken place on this island but the matter was dissolved the minute these robots attacked them. The Guardian would respond in kind until they retreated or they were all defeated.

They will see to such an end by continuing to fight but the minute they see someone being grabbed by the automatons, the Guardian will swiftly make their way over and cut the machines down before offering a hand to the person to help them up.]

Are you okay?

drawn to you!!

[hyperlit]

[A drifter's gun makes a distinctive noise; old, appropriated technology, finding new use in the combat-rich environments that plague a wanderer's footsteps. They anticipate that it must be a drifter of some sort don't anticipate the silhouette as it presents itself to them, the cream-colored fur and the pink helm that shadow every part of their face but for the eyes.]

[Their motions are swift, sharp, and to the point. Their blade hums out in a blaze of cyan, cleaving a scribblet in two in one fierce stroke.]

[And then, because the shape of them is so distinct and so familiar and so immediate, the Drifter's pace slows and skids to a stop and they make that critical, often fatal error - the very same that aches behind the rationalization that one should never get attached.]

[They hesitate, because no part of them wants to believe this is real.]

Quarantine Breached

[forwearemany]

(And well, the person being dragged away is... another robot?

Admittedly, they're a distinctly different sort of robot, all sleek and covered in weird muscles and tubes. Their movements are more alive, more "weird animal" than machine.

They stare at the Guardian for several moments, headflaps slowly settling, tiny lights on the side of their head fading from red back to placid blue.)

Thank you.

(And yet, they refuse to take his hand as they get to their feet.)

The Pale King | OTA

[godandvoid]

Quarantine Breached

[He wakes, the darkness dances and an automatic voice echoes throughout the air.

No...this is not a dream.

All hell breaks loose as the automatons begin to move forward, reaching with thin fingers to grab at all they can get their hands on. Some scream, some fight and some run.

The Pale King wanders.

The darkness of this place was no different then his dreams and it is easy to avoid the machines as long as one watches for their eyes. Although they could detect those they were hunting. A form of sensory, to detect certain things? Curious. So very curious. He should take a look.

In an isolated corner, perhaps a place one thought may offer a place of refuge from the rampaging automatons, is the Pale King. Kneeling down on the floor, he glows with a soft and pure white that is marred by the grease on his hands. A fallen automatons lies on the ground and the bug is digging around in the guts of the machine, pulling it apart to see how it works. The chaos around him does not cause the Pale King to flinch but he is not blind as he works, turning to stare at those who approach him.

His eye sockets are as empty as the darkness that consumes this laboratory.]

[lightlessfuture]

[ This dream is dark and cold and filled with strange, mechanical voices. An abandoned and broken place.

They wander aimlessly, uncertain. They're not sure when they decided to put their charm on, to take advantage of added height to avoid the grasping automatons or knock them away, but - regardless, they're taller now.

The sound of something that's not mechanical clunking attracts them simply for the novelty, and then they pause. Hovering just at the edge of sight, barely lit by the soft glow that this person emits.

They recognise him, of course. It would be hard to forget him, though not for the reasons he would want.

They simply stand and watch, because it's quieter here, away from all the noise and light that the automatons emit. And they're curious about what he's doing. About him. They've never seen him in more than brief glimpses, shards of memory long in the past. Despite themselves, they are interested, at least for the moment.

And if the Pale King, who had only intended for one vessel to reach maturity, were to mistake them for someone else in the poor lighting of this place, well

that would be unfortunate. ]

[forwearemany]

(They find themselves, yet again, in a dream.

Though they are capable of fighting, something-tiredness? inability to bring themselves to destroy fellow synthetics?-leads them to avoid it as much as possible, and eventually they stumble upon the stranger in the shadows.

It would be easy, perhaps, to mistake them for one of the guardian units wandering around, with their robotic nature and glowing eye, but the behavior is entirely different. They stop, and stare, headtilting and chattering at this person who bears more than a small resemblance to others they have encountered.)

I am 99% canon-blind and I'm sure this is A Great Idea

[fortunefavored]

[Newt, on the other hand, is not great at that whole not-making-noise business. His doc martins stamp noisily on the ground as he runs, ducking away from the automatons and rounding a corner, trying to stay out of sight. However, the soft glow of light not a couple feet away catches his eye, and his head jerks over to look in that direction. He stares at the Pale King, blinking once in confusion behind his glasses--before his eyes fall to the automaton on the ground in front of them]

Oh, shit! Did you open one of them up?! [and, with complete disregard for any sort of safety of his own, he is going to invite himself over to take a look, already pulling out his flashlight] I've been wanting to see how they worked--

the hollow knight | hollow knight | everything is spoilers

[sealedvessel]

i. quarantine breached

[In this old building, there are only two sounds, at first. The first is of slow footsteps, each one echoing. The second is a low scrrrrrrraaaaape of metal. It is, perhaps, not the most comforting set of sounds to hear in a place such as this.

But the origin of the sound becomes clear in time, as you spot the tall, lumbering figure. Their movements through the building are sluggish. Possible not helped by the long sword they are dragging behind them, although the weight barely seems to register. The figure only halts at the appearance of the automatons. They're cautious at these new creatures, grip tightening on their blade. That is, until they hear the machines speak... and they pause.

Host. Quarantine. Patient.

Sick.

Sick?

Sick sick sick infection sick plague sealed light only light dawn shall break don't let it suffocate

KILL

There's a clatter. Their blade falling. The Hollow Knight drops to their knees, clutching their head. The automatons see this as nothing but an opportunity to advance.

They might need help.]

ii. drawn to you

[The feeling of being bound is nothing new.

The scribblets had been new. Interesting. Hostile? But there was nothing commanding them to attack anymore and they hadn't wanted to. Then, the lines had been drawn. And now the Hollow Knight is bound to a tree, a line around their waist fastening them. But the tether is not so heavy and they don't feel the need to struggle.

Maybe the desire. But not the need.

...It's a bit of a pathetic looking scene, all things considered. But the Hollow Knight seems more interested in examining these new surroundings than working on getting free.

It's not as if they can ask for help, anyway. And compared to the way they had been bound before... this is downright relaxing.]

i

[lightlessfuture]

[ The scraping of metal, the sound of slow footsteps. It's familiar. It's haunted their restless dreams time and time again, as they remember.

But not like this. Not the same. It's not-

They round a corner in time to see their sibling drop to their knees, defenseless, and that wrenches something inside them.

(But this is not a memory. There is no predetermined outcome. Even if it's a dream, they can-)

They move without thought. Someone to be protected, something to fight; simple facts, falling into place one after the other.

The sound of metal against metal echoes through the empty building as the Knight cuts apart reaching, clawing fingers, hacking fiercely away at the surrounding robots.

I won't let you have them. (Don't go.) ]

i

[fireindreams]

[The darkness was the last thing in the world that would bother Grimm and the machines were easy to dodge for one capable of his speed. Grimm knew the reality of these machines, had met ARUM-25 and knew their willingness to help despite their confusion over their missing memories. These automatons may still have the same desire to help but he cannot say their 'help' will be the same as ARUM-25's. And he did not particularly appreciate being sedated with no warning.

Shutting them down was the only option even if that meant the machines' destruction.

The crack-bang of Grimm teleporting in nearby interrupts the machines' chanting of their commands but he stops dead for a brief minute once he sees who they are advancing on.

The impossible happens here, this Grimm knows. But this is quite the curious impossibility.

But there could be time for his curiosity later. The automatic voices are drowned out by the screech of the Troupe Master's firebats as they stream forward to latch themselves to one of the automatons and begin to melt the metal down to a functionless puddle.

It gets the attention of the rest of the automatons but Grimm is gone again, only to re-appear behind another to smash it with a vicious uppercut.

He does not mind running interference for the Hollow Knight but they will eventually need to get moving.]

ii

[godandvoid]

[Perhaps there is irony in turning a corner to see the Hollow Knight bound to a tree. The Pale King does not think of it.

Observing from a distance, the Wyrm watches the Hollow Knight look around at their surroundings and he in turn wonders what it means they managed to fall asleep. This is a dream. There was no other way for them to meet each other again. A small child grown when they could not, clad in pure white. The grinding of chains, the snapping of seals put in their proper place.

A child with an arm eaten away by the infection.
(He is not thinking of such things.)

Eventually the Pale King approaches. He never made much noise when he walked but within the darkness his body glows softly and he knows it's impossible to miss.

He stares up at his Hollow Knight, observing their binding. He does not speak but it does not have to do with the Hollow Knight. It has been so long since he spoke to someone in person.

The Pale King has forgotten how to.]

ii

[demonpuppy]

[The Hollow Knight will probably hear Chip's approach long before they see them; the rustling and scraping of a young one running through brambles and branches with childish recklessness, accompanied by shouts of frustration.]

Stoppit! Stupid dumb--you're not real, you dumb stupid scribbles!

[They finally burst into sight kicking a small scribble into half-formed dust, eyes blacked out in a pitch-dark void that might look familiar for the second of so it lingers. With the black magic of their frustrated curses spinning away, Chip wheezes and stops to catch their breath before actually noticing the huge bug standing by the tree.]

U-uh--!

[Give them a moment, you are very big and they are but a smol bean.]

i.

[mamaterasu]

[Coming back to this place is jarring. After all that happened on Umui in the past, watching people fall and die to the terrible disease as flowers - something Amaterasu once knew to be comforting, and a form of divine protection and safety - torn through the bodies of those she called friends and close ones. The strange, iron soldiers meant to care for them, and...to end them, it looks like.

The footsteps aren't exactly new, but that scraping is, and Amaterasu ducks away, crouches low behind the numerous piles of rubble, until she can see what it is creeping through the gloom. The sight is familiar and unfamiliar at once - a figure much like those she knew on the island, but a scent she does not recognize. It's enough, however, when they drop to their knees, weapon echoing loudly as it scatters across the room, multiples of the iron soldiers closing in.

She leaps before she thinks, standing as a barrier between the Hollow Knight and the automatons, teeth bared and claws scraping against the floor. Her head is lowhackles raised - her position is that of defense of the being behind her.

She is, to them, brilliant - a bright white shining from a point. But the light is not blinding, radiant though it may be. Is it warm, gentle, comforting...and she stands before them not as a foe, but as an ally.

Odd, that.]

Dylan Andrews | Red vs Blue

[ourcurrency]

Drawn to You

[If Dylan weren't so curious all the time, she could have avoided this mess, though she doesn't think anyone can blame her, in this case. Who wouldn't be curious about what looks like a living crayon drawing?

She approaches one of the more harmless-looking ones, looking over it curiously.]

Jax, are you getting this?

[...right, Jax isn't here. She winces inside her helmet, then steps in closer. Will it still look like this from the side?

She doesn't get a chance to find out. The scribblet snags her with a tether that wraps around her hands, securing them in place to her gun.]

Hey! [She struggles, which makes things worse. She doesn't really want to shoot it, since it still seems relatively harmless, but her hand is still on her gun even if she can't move it, and she fires a shot above the thing's head.

It misses, as she intended, but it doesn't scare it off. Instead, more flock to the sound. Dylan backs up, holding her gun between herself and the mob, and soon finds herself backed up against a tree.]

Oh, come on.

[She's been in weirder situations than this. Recently, even. But that doesn't exactly make it better.]

[counterblows]

[It's impossible to miss the loud bang of a shot going off, just as it's more or less impossible to miss the way the damn things start clustering around what's clearly someone from home. Has to be, doesn't it? No one else would walk around in full body armor - no other universe does that.]

[It hasn't registered that this isn't quite real. Not yet. So Wash swings the butt of his rifle around and clubs one of the scribblets square in its clumsily-drawn face.]

[He doesn't say anything yet, either - mostly because he doesn't actually recognize the armor of whoever is, allegedly, here from home.]

Hero | The Property of Hate | OTA

[ofsterlingstuff]

A.

[At first, Hero had been trying to avoid the scribble-things. They're pretty cool, and normally she'd want to meet them, but they remind her a lot of that wild Idea. That was...that all went really, really bad. Even if she's not sure that these are the same kind of thing, she doesn't really want to do anything that reminds her so much of that day. She can leave them alone, and they can leave her alone, and they'll all be okay.

So initially, she creeps quietly around the dark forest, looking for people or lights. But there's nowhere to go, and you can only hide for so long.

A small child vaults a fallen log and runs past, yelling to you as she goes:]

Run!

B.

Hey!

[Hero's jumping up and down in front of one of the popo, waving her arms.]

Don't go that way! [As it starts to walk past her, she grabs its trunk and tries to tug it back towards the center of the paddock, such as that is.] Ugh, c'mon!

[She probably wasn't the best choice for this job.]

A

[lightlessfuture]

[ The Knight's minding their own business and keeping away from strange, scribbly creatures, and then someone is bolting past and running and yelling?

They look around in clear bafflement and then run after her. If she's running from something, she likely needs the protection, since she doesn't seem to have a weapon in hand. And if something is coming, they'd probably do better to make themselves scarce.

They're a faster runner, so they keep pace easily. What are they running from again? ]

Niko | OneShot

[worldtamer]

[Quarantine Breached]

[Finding themselves in a strange and unfamiliar place is not a new concept to Niko. Neither is seeing robots like this.

It is however alarming when they don't seem to be listening to Niko when they attempt to speak with them, gently attempting to communicate that they're unharmed.]

N--No, really, I'm okay! I'm not hurt, I don't need to go to the hospital, or... or anywhere else... why are you not listening to me? Can't you hear me?

[But they're still coming toward them, reaching out as if attempting to grab and make them come along by force. Is there someone that can help Niko here?]

[Farming Simulator]

[Now this is definitely more Niko's speed; they have gone into the fields to help the grown-ups with attending to and collecting the wheat that grows outside of town before, so this should be a cinch.

... Home, however, did not have what looked like shaggy mammoths roaming around, and Niko cannot help but stare a little in awe, despite the task at hand to keep the grain safe.]

They're so... big! And furry! What are they?

quarantine

[lightlessfuture]

[ The repeating corridors of this dream are one they've grown a bit used to. The drone of mechanical voices in a dark and abandoned place...

They hear a voice, asking, reasoning, and they turn a corner to find another stranger who is clearly having some trouble here. Rather than fight (at least at first) they grab Niko's hand in a firm but gentle grip, attempting to pull them away from the robots and danger.

It might be a bit comical. They're like two feet tall at best, and that's including their horns. ]

Leonard Church--a different one I promise | Red vs Blue

[motherfucking_ghost]

scribblenauts
[Maybe you find Church--in essence, a blue armored person who is underneath the armor a fucking robot--while he's blindly going around the forest. Because it's dark and a forest and what the fuck is going on?

Maybe you find Church swatting at the scribbles like they're particularly annoying flies.] Get out of my face if you're not gonna help, you 2D bastards! Ah-ha, [after somehow nabbing one, lucky shot] see here? That's what I'm gonna do to the rest of you if you don't get outta here!

[Or maybe you find Church where he inevitably ends up: hanging upside down, one angle secured pretty firmly to a branch, arms crossed, and very unhappy.]

I swear to GOD if SOMEONE doesn't get me OUT of this FUCKING DEATH TRAP I am going to GNAW MY OWN LEG OFF!

safety not guaranteed
[He wasn't happy before, when he found himself in this place, like a fucking haunted hospital from the cheesiest horror movie. Less happy with creepy skeletal robots who only want to 'help'. Maybe you find him while running to and fro, and, honestly, if you put a Scooby-Doo chase sequence over it, it'd be pretty funny. Except Shaggy never grabbed a piece of piping and whacked the monster across the face with it.]

Sorry, my insurance definitely doesn't cover this!

[Or maybe you find him, frantic, back pressed to a couple stacked beds pressed against a door.]

Don't just stand there, help me! I dunno if they're gonna find another way around or what!

don't wanna be a cowboy baby
[He doesn't...know why he's here. He doesn't know why he cares. And normally that would mean climbing a tree, chilling out, pulling a Grif, and let things play out as they will. But he does care, for reasons that escape him, so he's trying to fix the fences. Hamming at posts or gathering up wood and wire and nail in his arms.

More likely, he's chasing after some wayward...is that a fucking woolly mammoth? In the heart of dixie? Is that--is that what the hell is happening here?]

No no no c'mere boy! [whistle] Come on, back this way, back with your friends! You hairy piece of shit, I'm talking to you! Uh, uhhhh, don't you want something nicer to eat?

[flower_of_innocence]

[Wowowow watch your language, Church, there are children on the island!!]

[Fortunately for him, Lillie isn't the type to not help someone in need just because they're cursing up a storm. When she comes across the dangling soldier, she has to stifle a little laugh, her hand flying up to cover her mouth as if she can catch it before it escapes. He just looks so mad, despite the helmet obscuring his expression, and, well. It's funny.]

[Church probably sees Nebby first, the little cosmic cloud-creature following her, as it waddles/floats right up to his visor to examine its own reflection and cry out cheerfully. Lillie follows close behind, calling up from under him:]

Um...Do you need a hand?

Lavernius Tucker | Red vs Blue | OTA

[lovernotafighter]

Drawn to You


[A long time ago in some ancient historical landscape where there weren't any alien wars, it was a simpler time with really good - if not slightly meme worthy - music. Among the seas of audio visuals, there was a video for a song, Take On Me, that was only good to watch when one was some delightful level of intoxicated and absolutely bored (something he had been known to experience on occasion).

These motherfuckers reminded Tucker of that video.

It was surreal watching it in real life, even more surreal squashing something that was flat but not flat, not exactly paper but something else, the living embodiment of television static. It didn't take long for someone like him to get tangled up in the worst case of shibari he had ever been a part of. He frantically struggled where he was stuck to a large rock, trapped sitting in the grass with his back flush against it until the lines were shockingly heavy weights and thick bands. Stubbornness made him try harder, which only worked against him in the end, a strangely familiar scenario. If only his sword worked--

The second he heard footsteps, his head jerked up, brown eyes wide. Yes!]

Holy shit, tell me you've got some scissors or something, because safe words sure as hell aren't working.


Quarantine Breached


[There were nightmares, and then there was this. The dark hallways of a dilapidated building echoed with footfalls and breath, the scuttle of something small as it darted around. Tucker didn't think much of it, usually unshaken by the setting of a bad horror movie, until he saw the eyes.

Or. You know. Whatever those lights were.

Robots themselves were not terrifying (unless they were twenty foot tall Mantis' under Caboose's control), but Tucker knew menacing when he heard menacing. Quarantine. Quarantine sounded bad. Quarantine sounded real bad.]

Just so you know, your bedside manner sucks.

[So the Sim Trooper turned and ran, dashing through the twisting maze, shutting any door behind him. Window. Door. Something. He had to find a way outside or get a weapon or something, like an old I.V. pole or pump on an extension cord. Something.

Come on, guys. He could use a little help here.]


The New Farm Simulator Looks Great!


[So, it should be no surprise to anyone that Tucker fell asleep.]

Motherfuck--

[And it should be of no surprise to anyone now that he was actively chasing after these animals with a stupid plan in mind (stupid plans were Blue Team's currency).

Was he totally trying to get in front of them? Yes. Was he also planning on doing some cinematic move where he would grab onto their fur as they ran by and try to climb up onto the top of the leader? Also, yes.

This idiot was probably going to die, and he probably deserved it. But really, what was the big deal? He had seen this happen a ton of times in just about every action movie ever and it looked easy enough.

It couldn't be that hard, right?]

With a moo moo here

[uptightness]

[She should be surprised, really, she should, and yet, somehow Carolina isn't. She doesn't question the fact that there is pasture and strange furry creatures, and she certainly doesn't question the fact that Tucker is chasing them around like an idiot. Of everything, that seems to make the most amount of sense.

Not an animal person in the least, Carolina would think that common sense would dictate that you don't go chasing after them. And is he? Yes... Yes it looks like he might be trying to ride one? Dropping her own fencing supplies, as someone hadn't been asleep on the job and had actually been repairing the posts that had been in disarray, she starts to make her way towards him, trying both for speed but also trying not to spook the animals any further.]

Tucker. [That raised hiss even as she brings her hands up, as if to say easy big hairy creature.] You're supposed to watch them, not ride them.

[agnominal]

Drawn to You

[ Quick, agile movements have never been his strong suit. He can move surprisingly fast for someone of his size, but compared to these slithering, slippery creatures, his movements are restricted and slow, shifting the weight not only of his own body but the considerable bulk of his armor.

Which results in one latching hold. Then another. Then another, while he tugs and struggles, all his strength amounting to very little against this particular obstacle.

He can be seen easily enough, as many as have gathered and clung onto him by now. Around his legs, his wrists, his neck, tethering him down as he grunts in frustration and tries to shake them loose. They only tighten their bond, leaving him bound, on his knees, and glaring up through that eyeless helmet at whoever approaches. ]

...some assistance would be appreciated.


Quarantine Breached

[ It sounds like those machines have laid hands on someone. Or so it seems from the secure position Locus has rooted himself in to observe. He has no desire to get any closer to those machines than he must. From the sound of it, not everyone was that lucky.

So you have a voyeur look in from the shadows at your predicament, one deliberating how worth it it might be to save you...or see what becomes of those dragged away by the machines. ]

quarantine;

[determinist]

[ Leonard's barely conscious as he awakens on a gurney in the room. Feels like he'd been drugged or something. Or maybe it's a consequence of something else. Either way, realizing Locus is looking in on him causes him to start, fully awake in a sudden, disorienting way. ]

Who are you? Where am I?

balthier | final fantasy 12

[piratry]

[ quarantine breached ]

[ however balthier got here - and really, what more reason does a sky pirate need to go examining shadowy, overgrown locations than the promise of treasure - he certainly didn't intend this. not the strange voice, nor the eyes, lighting up like a creature of the mist. he's seen automata before, mechanical beasts, but nothing quite like this and that unsettles him all the more.

and the talk of hosts and quarantine doesn't excite him one bit, either.

he's already backing up, assessing escape routes as he lays a hand on his gun, prepared to fight his way out if necessary. ]

No need to roll out a welcome for me, I can find my own way out.

[ but, he glances over to you, and then nods his head to the nearest door in a quick movement. lets make short work of getting out, yes? ]

[ the new farm simulator looks great! ]

[ the thing is -

the thing is balthier has never dreamed of being a farmer or a farmhand before. he doesn't see the appeal, it's simply too quiet for him.

so, although he knows he's supposed to be making sure the shaggy creatures don't get out, instead he's procured himself a glass of lemonade - it's probably spiked - and he's watching a particularly excited group of them beeline for the nearest crack in the field.

of course, as soon as he's spotted, he makes a show of setting the drink down, and raising his hand to peer out at the field. ]

Oh my. It does appear they've found another crack in the fence. When did that happen?

[ a put upon sigh. ]

You should probably go get them.

yasha / critical role c2

[barberian]

01 drawn to you

(Wandering throughout dreamscape isn't something new for Yasha per se, but this certainly constitutes a drastic change of scenery. What immediately tips her off is the weather: there are no storm clouds here. No brewing thunder, no threatening rain. The Stormlord is noticeably absent this evening; so where is she, exactly?

She is in a forest. The air is cool, the night is quiet. Yasha finds herself walking in a set direction without knowing exactly why. Perhaps she's following the distant murmur of water, though the sound of it often changes, forcing her to alter her course through the woods. It takes her a considerable amount of time to notice the scribbled creatures dancing about her feet. Yasha is quite tall, and has her eyes fixed on the treeline ahead; she only has cause to look down when she accidentally steps on one and it makes a horrible noise in response. By then, of course, she's surrounded.

Some of the more menacing scribblets are already advancing on her from between the trees, but when Yasha reaches down for her sword, a tether shoots out and fastens her hand to its hilt, still in the scabbard. She grunts, kicks at the nearest thing trying to scramble up her boot, and cuts a fast track through the forest, still trying to wrench her hand away. It is stuck, well and truly, and the more she tries to free herself, the tighter the tether becomes.

So now she's stomping around the woods frustrated, trying to find the water (why does it feel so imperative that she find a water source, anyway?), trying to get her hand free. Her arm feels numb. The scribblets are in hot pursuit. She could certainly use a hand (or two)!)

03 i wanna be a cowboy baby

(This part of the dream is much more Yasha's speed: keeping watch over a paddock, with the sun fairly low in the sky and the world quiet around her? Conditions are perfect. All she has to do is sit and think, and she's good at that. The large mammals feeding lazily about her only add to the serenity of the whole thing: they chew cud and she shields her eyes against the incoming sunset, legs stretched out before her. Yasha wants for nothing, now, except perhaps a hat.

She should probably do a round or two, huh. Upon a slow, begrudging circle of the property, she notices the lack of fence. Something probably should be done about that. It wouldn't do to lose the... whatever livestock she's been given responsibility over. They're big enough that Yasha's not sure she could put up any suitable barrier to contain them, but she should at least try.

Tools are found in one of the dilapidated farm houses. Why is everything around here so intensely weathered? Perhaps she can salvage wood from one of the more ruined buildings to construct a fence. The popo have been watching her the entire time, silent and hulking behind her: one of them approaches her then and nudges into her side. Yasha lets it, since she's trying to pry nails out of an old board that doesn't look too rotten, but that only encourages the others. They must be curious, of both her and what she is doing, because soon she's almost surrounded.)

Oh, (she says, when one of them tries to wedge its head between her and what she is doing,) hello, uh–

(Help, there is so many. Yasha is trying not to offend, trying to let each of them have a turn examining her, but they all have very stinky, hot breath and she would like to get back to her work. She's causing a bit of a commotion trying to extract herself!)

drawn to you ;3c

[lesbeau]

[Beau has gotten used to her dreams being squirrely garbage since she got to this island. It's not that her dreams were great before, but this place is such a weird jumble of magic and bullshit that she's lost track of what's happening and what's not. Best to roll with it, like she does the rest of her life. That said, as soon as she saw one of those little scribbly motherfuckers, she scurried her way up the nearest tree and is hanging out in the branches, while a couple of them try fruitlessly to climb the tree she's in. All in all, it's weird, and probably symbolic of something, but not anything she's worried about.

Of course, there's something new to focus on when a familiar face comes crashing underfoot... as well as an absolute wave of those things. Beau cracks an eyebrow, and starts in pursuit, staying in the trees as she observes. That's-- that's Yasha. That's absolutely Yasha. Here and alive and looking slightly in trouble.

Huh. Maybe this will be a better dream than she thought.

She hangs back a moment and, when the time is right, jumps down right behind her and brings up her staff more like a baseball bat.]

Duck!

[And then she'll take a big ol' swing at the group following her, knocking quite a few into nearby trees and hauling out a big hole right behind her.]

Jester Lavorre ❥ Critical Role ❥ OTA

[candystriper]

Drawn to you
[ It's almost as if Jester's sketchbook has come to life. She laughs in delight, her voice reverberating in that echoing, dreamlike way. ]

Hi there rabbit, can you take me to my friends? Do you have a name? Do you live here?

[ She'd like to see the animated caricatures of her party, and digs through her pockets for some of her colored inks so she can sketch them a dance hall or a tea party or a boardwalk. In the logic of this dream, that seems perfectly sound, and the rabbit hops off with Jester in tow. It doesn't speak to her, but she keeps asking it questions nonetheless, feeling as if she's garnering a good rapport with the creature.

She feels like she's been walking for ages when she finally slows, and she's found herself somehow in the thick of some dark trees. Immediately noticing her lack of confidence, it rears on her in a disconcerting snap. ]

Rabbit? I don't think this is right... Maybe I should go back and look somewhere else, really nice meeting you though--

[ She tries to turn and leave but it clearly doesn't like this change of events, and a jagged line shoots out and a scribble ties her to one of the trees. The force of her pulling against it snap the line and her right into the tree as the rabbit hops off elsewhere.

Suddenly, the sun seems to be setting very quickly. ]

H-hey come back!

[ With her free hand, she reaches out with her pen to draw something in the air, but the ink just falls to the ground, very much not alive. ]

[ OoC: Only leaving one prompt because I'm testing 2 other characters, but feel free to starter me with something else ]

wink wonk

[lesbeau]

[Beau doesn't think it's real when she hears Jester's voice. This place is weird- really weird- and not being able to tell if something is a dream or not is messing her up. But she's in a forest, and she hears yelling, and she really thinks she knows that yelling, so off she goes. Beau sprints as quietly as possible through the trees, trying to get in close, when a rabbit nearly runs into her and she sidesteps her way with a hop right into where Jester's tied.]

Jester?

[She's only got a moment to be shocked, though, as the scribbles now start heading towards her. Beau squints towards them, looking between the lines and Jester mysteriously by a tree.]

Is this some, uh, Traveler stuff? And if so can you call 'em off?

Fjord ⚓Critical Role ⚓OTA

[mystaken]

Quarantine Breached
[ Right, so Fjord already doesn't like this dream, but it's a dream, so he walks around the lab curiously, trying to find the exit. He climbs up to the next area, expecting it to maybe turn into a beach, but it turns out it's just more of the same. Honestly, he's half-expecting a mysterious yet familiar voice to show up and start talking about his potential.

When things start lighting up, he walks towards them. After all, this is probably just another test.

But... what the hell are those?

Quarantine Breached.

What? ]

Think you got the wrong guy.

Think I'm maybe in someone else's dream...

[ He summons his falchion, and starts running back the direction he came. ]

Hey, you! Is this your dream?

[ OoC: Again, feel free to hit me up with a different starter! ]

[lesbeau]

[This is certainly not her dream. This is nothing she's ever seen before- weird automatons and even weirder things chasing her. She's been doing her best to be stealthy, steps light and quiet, but it sounds like someone else set them off. Beau peers around the corner to see who it is, semi-intending on leaving them in the gulch, but gritting her jaw when she sees she can't actually do that.]

No! Why the hell would I dream of this!

[Shit, she's actually going to have to fight. Beau takes hold of her staff harder, staying still until he catches up.]

What'd you do to piss 'em off?

Caduceus Clay ☤ Critical Role ☤ OTA

[mortaliteas]

Farm Simulator
[ Waking up from a nap, Caduceus moves the sunhat out of his eyes. He has the vague recollection of being charged with watching the popo, and he can't remember why he fell asleep, but it's such a wonderful day and they're all still accounted for.

Actually...

He jumps to his feet as he realizes one of them is nearing the border, and yells out a herding call to it. Apparently it doesn't hear him, as it continues running off. ]

Hey there.

[ He says this to a popo that's near to him. ]

I'm going to need you to give me a ride. Do you think you could do that?

[ It stares him down, and for a moment he thinks it doesn't get the message, but then it lowers its knees so that Caduceus can mount it and chase after one of its brothers. This seems to accidentally have stirred the entire herd into action, which was not his intention. In fact, there's someone else in the near distance who might not enjoy getting trampled. ]

Take my hand!

[ One hand embedded tightly into a mass of fur, he leans sharply to the side and reaches out as far as he can. ]

[ OoC: Last one, and again, feel free to make a different starter! ]

[lesbeau]

[Y'know, it's nice out here, but it's boring. Beau feels like that's a theme with her life- she can end up in beautiful places, with people enjoying the scenery, and it's not long until she's itching for something to do.

Of course, uh, a stampede wasn't exactly what she was expecting.

Beau is perched near the boarder on a fence post, looking out to the horizon, and immediately interrupted by the thundering of feet and a bristle on the back of her neck as she turns and gives a look to the man riding them.]

Cad what the fuck--

[Thankfully, she's fast enough to grab him and then just stuff a hand in the thick fur, struggling her way to the top.]

What did you do!

Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu | Danganronpa

[nineheadeddragon]

a.) Drawn to You

[ When Fuyuhiko first came across the Scribblets, his instinct was to avoid them, because that's his first instinct when it comes to most living creatures. But of course, he'd never seen anything like this before, and curiosity managed to take hold.

He didn't manage to follow one in secret for long, however, and it took an even shorter amount of time for the creature to take hold. From there he kicked and screamed and clawed his way into being bound to a tree.

By the time he's been found, the bond keeping him to the bark is exceedingly thick, and he is looking very, very tired. Still, he manages to act indignant even through such exhaustion. ]

Hey... what do you think you're staring at? Is this fucking funny to you?!

b.) Farm Simulator

[ Part of him thinks he might as well just let the popo fuck off to who knows where so he can have a quiet evening, but something about that just doesn't sit right with him. It feels like he's letting them win.

Unfortunately, they are very large creatures, and he is (...admittedly) not an equally large man. So most of his attempts to get them to leave amount to little more than grabbing hold of their fur and trying to drag them away with what little strength he has.

It's a glorified game of tug-of-war, where the popo always win. ]

Mother... fucker...

[ He's breathing heavily, his knees nearly about to give out. He's rarely one to ask for help, but an extra hand wouldn't sound bad right about now. ]