TEST DRIVE MEME #2

[zhautasmods]

Awakening

Artificial lights assault your eyes. It takes a few blinks for them to adjust properly. Quiet mechanical whirs and clicks sound in the small, sparse space that you had likely been corralled into before being put to sleep for the long journey. As grogginess fades away and lucidity starts to take hold, you begin to remember where you are and why you’re here on this spaceship thousands of light years away from home and perhaps everything and everyone you’ve ever known.

The multiverse is sick. It’s dying. And it’s up to you to save it. Or, at least, that’s what the Zenith Corporation had told you when they announced their search for a cure across the multiverse. They hand-picked individuals to be "volunteers" for the next stage of experimentation. Maybe they made it sound dire, maybe you already had your mind set to help, or maybe the specifics of how you could help was vague. Considering the alternative was wasting away on your home planet with no promise of when this cure might actually come to fruition, it ultimately wasn’t much of a choice either way.

Everything comes to life the more awake that you start to feel. "Good morning, volunteer," sounds a synthetic, feminine voice in your ear. That must be one of the fancy features they advertised about the chip that was injected just beneath your skin. A projected HUD above your torso displays and scrolls through several readings about the state of your being. "A scan of your vital signs show that everything is functioning as normal." There’s a small pause. "Wait-" The spike of alarm that should follow that single, distressed-sounding word is accompanied by a light chime. "Emotional responses are still accurate, too. Thank you for your cooperation!" Without any further explanation or allowing for protest, she continues on. "I hope you enjoyed your nap! We’ll be descending to planet #05031941 - common name designated as Zhautas - in approximately three hours. There will be a brief orientation for all volunteers exactly one hour before landing. Due to potential unnatural stress levels upon awakening from stasis, I suggest a relaxing trip to the garden beforehand."

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
My name is R.O.S.I.E. and, on behalf of all of us at the Zenith Corporation, we’re happy to have you aboard.

Code Credit

Say Aloe (Prospective Players Only)

Red lights lead the way to the gym, green will be your path to the gardens, ostignuh is- Wait, what do you mean the color ostignuh is burning your eyes? Huh. They must have over-corrected for your species. Oh, well. They’ll fix that for the next trip. For now, don’t worry about it. It probably didn’t lead to anything important anyway!

1. The staff is much more attentive this time than they were with the first wave of volunteers. Poor feedback and the threat of losing their jobs if they don't improve their standing will do that! Unfortunately, it isn't just the colors that have been over-corrected. Despite how many times you tell the very helpful staff member that you're fine, they won't leave you alone. Are you sure? They can walk with you if you'd like. They can even hold your hand if you're overwhelmed! If there's anything you need, they're here for you.
   
   Maybe if you find a buddy to walk you to your destination they might divert their attention to a different volunteer. The buddy system is pretty fool-proof, after all.


2. As you draw closer to the gardens, the lights in the hallway begin to dim. In fact, the only available source of illumination for a small distance is the thin green line across the floor guiding your way. Careful not to trip! There's handy railing to hold onto or maybe you accidentally grab the arm of that (hopefully) cute person nearby. It's kind of hard to tell and green isn't really a flattering color anyway.
   
   Suddenly, you're stepping into a wide open space of twilight. Iridescent flowers dot the landscape for as far as the eye can see. They come in all different shapes, sizes, and glow softly in this simulated night-scape. Trees of shining magenta leaves and blue bark wind up to the stars. Or, at least, the viewing panels that allow the stars to be seen from inside the ship. Not to worry, it's entirely safe and beautiful!
   
   The featured flower of this month is the Nykt Blossom. Be warned, however, that inhaling its pollen causes increased levels of oxytocin. This will cause you to feel compelled to bond socially with others. That is, you might find yourself a lot more friendly than usual! Maybe a little too friendly, even, if you're especially susceptible to its effects.


3. It's very easy to miss the warning signs in this dark as you step into the section of the garden that houses the more alien plant-life.
   
   They'll fix that for the future, of course, but for now many volunteers are likely finding themselves subject to the same unfortunate circumstances. Coitendrils are in abundance here; they're a pretty touchy feely species. It's a plant that thrives in warm conditions and grows at an incredibly fast rate to seek out these cozy spots. As it turns out, your body warmth is the highest temperature around and exactly what it's looking for.
   
   Before you know it, long green tendrils are suddenly growing around your arms or legs in speedy spirals. They get everywhere in a matter of mere seconds. Their growth is aggressive, finding ways beneath the fabric of whatever clothes you happen to be wearing and to the skin below. The only way to reverse their growing hold is to cool yourself off and fast. Maybe someone can grab you some ice?

Orientation (Prospective Players Only)

Around an hour before landing, an announcement is made to everyone aboard the ship. It’s time to find your way to the amphitheater for orientation. If anyone gripes, they are reminded that it has mandatory safety information that the Zenith Corporation is legally required to cover. In fact, there's even a quiz at the end to make sure you understand all the technical ins and outs! The Zenith Corporation only has your best interests at heart. They also can’t afford another lawsuit or PR nightmare but who can, really? It’s only a half an hour long and R.O.S.I.E. reassures everyone that it will go by faster than they think.

1. Are you way too cool for school? If you try to play hookey, the crew members of the spaceship are already on guard. You're not the first one to try this and they doubt you'll be the last. Try as you might to super sleuth your way around, there’ll be someone at apparently every single turn and twist you try.
   
   It’s also very likely that in scrambling to find a place to hide you’ll run into someone else breaking the rules! Perhaps great minds think alike and you decide to try to defy the system together. Or maybe they’re totally just getting in your way and you decide instead to throw them to the wolves to give yourself a better chance at escaping certain boredom that is an informational seminar. The choice is yours, volunteer!


2. Whether you come to the orientation willingly or are dragged in by one of the staff, you’ll quickly realize just how bad R.O.S.I.E. lied. A half an hour feels almost like ten hours instead. The last time you checked your watch, it was somehow later than when you check it now. Is time going backward? It sure seems like it the longer you listen to the monotone voice read over colored flavor text clearly meant to engage but missing its mark stupendously. Even the motivation of a quiz at the end that needs to be passed in order to disembark seems to do little to nothing for your dwindling attention span.
   
   Finally, there’s a break in the bureaucratic monotony. The faceless, droning voice introduces one of the staff currently on Zhautas, Jeneviere. He's assistant to the head scientist, Professor Quintalian, and freshly assigned overseer of new volunteers. He also looks like he absolutely doesn't want to be the one doing this seminar.
   
   "Come now, Jenny," says a masculine voice off screen. "You promised."
   "I know what I said," he snaps, glaring off camera and not seeming to care much for the fact this is a live feed nor that these new volunteers are expecting something a bit more professional.
   "Then what's the problem?" the voice asks again. As it does, a tentacle wiggles into view and gives a reassuring pat on the deerman's shoulder. "I know for a fact that you like being filmed, Jenny, so really this shouldn't be so daunting-"
   
   As he speaks, Jeneviere's cheeks suddenly burn red hot. He stands forcefully out of his chair and uses one of those hoofs to kick harshly at the source of the tentacles. There's a very undignified squawk at the attack before the video feed cuts out and a technical difficulties sign is displayed.
   
   "... Right," the narrator from before says to break the undeniably awkward silence. "Just give us a moment, volunteers, and we'll get a pre-recorded seminar ready for you instead. In the meantime, let's open up communications with the facility and allow you to discuss with those already on the planet about what they've enjoyed most about their time on Zhautas so far?*
   
   
3. Hopefully, you didn't forget about the quiz! The staff certainly didn't. After the pre-recorded seminar is run, papers are handed out. A quiet shuffle carries through the room as people pass them to and fro down the aisles. It all seems rather arbitrary and tedious but remember! You have to pass in order to disembark.
   
   It isn't too hard. Or maybe it is. Perhaps it's just the pressure that you only have fifteen minutes to complete it. What was the professor's first name again? How many research facilities are there on the planet? Staff are scrutinizing your every move now, it feels like. Do you take the risk and try to whisper for help to the person next to you? Pass notes? Do what you must to succeed! ...Or you can just shamefully take the quiz again and again and again until they're legally obligated to let you off board.

Welcome to Zhautas! (All Players)

Finally, it's time to disembark at the research facility. This time they have the right coordinates so it's as easy as stepping off the ship and to your new home away from home. Or, at least, it should have been that easy...

There's an awful lot of construction going on around here. Several beings with hard hats, power tools, and ridiculous amounts of glue are rushing about. They're shouting orders and saying "excuse me" where they remember to. Still, it can be hard to get a word in edgewise about the fact that you're new volunteers here to check-in. In addition to the construction, there's also an awful lot of important-seeming people walking throughout the facility as well that staff are far more attentive to than you.

In short, it's borderline chaos as you try to get your bearings.

1. "Bad news, new volunteers," says R.O.S.I.E. in the midst of all the commotion. "We have your housing assignments but there have been some... technical difficulties in preparing the new rooms." There's actually been a lot of technical difficulties, period. Maybe you've already noticed with the lights randomly changing color or dimness, the vending machine that launched your drink at you, or R.O.S.I.E. herself glitching out periodically when responding. The problem with the rooms is that the doors won't open. Or they won't stay closed. Or that they open and close constantly and forcefully so it's a safety hazard. As if everything else going on with all the construction isn't.
   
   "We're working on it as fast as we can, but for now, we've set up a temporary sleeping situation until its resolved." Everyone will be directed to one of the larger common rooms in the east wing of the facility while the rest of the volunteers are still awaiting their new housing as promised. Mattresses are laid out in rows on the floor. There's plenty of blankets, pillows, and even some LED lights strung around the room to provide some nice ambience.
   
   Additionally, there's a screen covering one of the walls for a movie to be projected on before bed. R.O.S.I.E. has chosen a thematically appropriate film that was approved by Professor Quintalian himself. Snacks are provided too! It's an old-fashioned sleepover, volunteers. Make a blanket fort, enjoy what's on for your viewing pleasure, and have - most of all - have fun.


2. What's a sleepover without scary stories? Flashlights have been provided and it's time to get spooky. Here's your chance to share that real thriller that you know from back home. Maybe another world has a similar tale! Either way, there's nothing like bonding over a little healthy fear. Right?
   
   Or maybe terrifying strangers isn't your idea of a good time and you'd rather make shadow puppets instead. That's also an option! In fact, some people are trying to start a contest out of it to see who can cast the most creative shadows around.


3. The night staff comes around for one last security sweep. Get some sleep, they say. It's been a long day. Tomorrow might be even longer if they still can't figure out the rooms or where to put all these new volunteers for the time being.
   
   As nice as that sounds, it's a little easier said than done. Whether it's the construction noise, the person next to you snoring, or late night existential thoughts it's difficult for sleep to find you. Maybe talking to someone might help? Or maybe you just need to go to the bathroom. Good luck crossing the swath of bodies, in the case of the latter, and who knows! You might find someone else having as much trouble sleeping as you that you can commiserate with.
   
   Or maybe you're the one snoring. Do you happen to kick in your sleep? How unfortunate for the person assigned to the mat next to you. They might be courteous or they might tell you just how obnoxious it is. Whatever the case might actually be, you're likely in for a long first night here at the research facility.

Network/Bangr (All Players)

During all the goings-on, R.O.S.I.E. will prompt you to set up your presence on the network. Pick a username, a profile picture, and commence to shitposting immediately if you so desire! Additionally, if you want to get a headstart on your contribution to the volunteer program, why not set up your Bangr? R.O.S.I.E. even has an icebreaker question ready for you! They change every month. This month's question is:

Do you like wake-up sex or staying up all night?*
(*Despite what you might actually put, know that R.O.S.I.E. is a little glitchy. What you wrote might not actually be what's displayed! I.E., you can totally use this as a misfire type deal in case your character wouldn't answer this question.)

bangr

Professor Quintalian | 35

Do you like wake-up sex or staying up all night?
Wake-up sex is the best, in my opinion. Hormones are more haywire first thing in the morning; it's just scientific sense to get your bang in during wake-up time.

✓	✕
YES <span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#33cc33;">✓</span>	NO <span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#CC0000;">✕</span>

BANGR CODE Please copy this pastebin for now!

Extra Notes

• The BANGR code only works in comments, there is a separate code for entries!
  If you're testing this code before posting it here please do so in a comment to an entry for accuracy!


• TDM top levels are allowed for current characters and/or new characters!
  However, current characters can ONLY interact with the following prompts:
  WELCOME TO ZHAUTAS where new characters are on the planet AND/OR the network options available if they want the thread to be considered game canon.



NAVIGATION ✦ TAKEN ✦ RESERVES

Comments

[benstein]

Mm.

[Maybe . . . . he could have done that a little easier, but on the other hand, he assumed All Might wanted that vine gone, so. Anyway! What's done is done.]

. . . are you all right?

[fiftynifty]

[Aizawa breaks All Might in half, news at 11. He's probably not all right, as it happens, but he's "not all right" enough to match his, mm, standar-- so.]

Haha, never mind all that! You got me away from those vines, so I'm great!

[benstein]

That's not what I asked.

[Don't be like this.]

Don't brush it off. We're not at home anymore, and we don't have access to the things we're used to having.

[fiftynifty]

[Why wouldn't he be like this!! Aizawa may have a point, but at the same time, what is the point of making a big deal of it every time his body hurts? He'll never have a spare moment.]

Don't worry about it— unless you'd like to get me an ice pack.

[benstein]

[He stares for a few seconds, his expression as blank as ever. Then, with a shrug:]

Come on, then. There's got to be a kitchen around here somewhere.

[At least getting down will be easier . . . it's not that high up, anyway. The problem lies in those plants, but surely they can outrace them now that they know what's happening, right?]

[fiftynifty]

A-- oh.

[He's actually... going to do it? That's a surprise, and All Might gives him a look for a moment, like he'll say as much-- but then he looks down towards the deceptively still vines, instead.]

Alright.

[Hmm, he can't jump out of a tree anymore... he will have to dangle and drop himself down, which looks about as silly as it sounds. Sigh!!]

[benstein]

[At least he isn't dropping down in some flashy way. Just a simple hop, landing next to All Might and trying to ignore how his knees protest. He isn't old enough to be having knees that hurt.

He turns the instant he lands, but those vines are . . . still, for now. He squints at them, wildly distrusting, but slowly turns back towards All Might.]

. . . they film us here. At all times.

[He's done some research.]

[fiftynifty]

[Can't even let him get to the kitchen before dropping this truth bomb on him, huh. All Might casts a wary look back at the vines himself, then looks down in front of them just in case they're about to step on more in their hasty retreat.

Anyway: that's uncomfortable.]

You'll finally have to get used to cameras. [not the point.jpg] All the time?

[benstein]

All the time. Unless we can find them in individual rooms and disable them, but even then, I doubt we'll find all of them.

[He looks deeply uncomfortable.]

It's everything I hate about the press multipled to an infinite degree.

[fiftynifty]

Well, it's worth a shot. If we had someone around with an electricity-based quirk, it would be easy.

[But Not A Student, pointedly. No kids allowed.

Hm...] Do you want a hand looking for them?

[benstein]

[He hesitates, almost declines. He's almost certain however thorough they look, there'll be more hidden, but still: it isn't in his nature to just give up.]

Yes.

[. . .]

We can do your room afterwards, if you don't intend to stay in mine.

[fiftynifty]

[That's a good question; is he going to stay with Aizawa? They're... not even really coworkers here, but they are allies, and it's good to know where he is if he needs another pro hero around.

So, he'll think about it. Right now, while they play treasure hunt for little cameras. Leaving it up to him is a backwards kind of invitation, Aizawa...]

We'll see! You were able to pick one already?

[benstein]

The one with the banging doors.

[He literally only picked it because it was close and empty. Love yourself more, Aizawa. He should . . . probably get those fixed? Eh.]

Though I'm sure they'll try and assign us sooner or later.

[fiftynifty]

[Aizawa, goddamn it. That room is terrible.]

Why don't we find a room with doors that aren't so loud...?

[Please, god.]

[benstein]

[Know this: he wouldn't have agreed if it was just up to him. If this was just his room, he'd absolutely just stay there, because he's a disgusting hobo.

But if they're going to room together . . .]

Sure.

[They're on their way to the kitchen first, but maybe they'll find a room that isn't hideous on the way there? It's possible.]

[fiftynifty]

[He's doing this for Aizawa's own good! It will occur to him later that he's essentially signed himself up for the roomie-coworker life.

But he needs that ice pack, first, and the walk to the kitchen doesn't have any wildly banging doors, but it has more flickering lights than any sane man would know what to do with. One room he pokes his head into has a radio in it, somewhere, that seems permanently stuck at maximum volume. It's like Mic is here too...!!

Maybe one of those flickering light rooms, though. And not banging doors. Once he has an ice pack in his hands, he'll give it more serious thought. Time to rummage through the freezer... Two idiots go to the kitchen instead of looking for an infirmary: a cautionary tale.]

[benstein]

[Listen . . . shut up. The kitchen seems easier to find than the infirmary, and also incidentally probably not as well monitored. Besides: after the horror show of the radio and the lights and the entire thing looking like the setting of a cheap horror film, he's glad to see a semi-sane room.

The kitchen! Full of . . . not much food, honestly. Definitely none of those disgusting little packs he sucks on. Disappointing, but not unexpected. He sighs as he hoists himself up on the counter, sitting there, watching All Might as he digs through the freezer.

But that's a little boring, and so he tugs out that cell phone.]

Ah.

[His mouth twists into a scowl.]

Iida is here.

[fiftynifty]

[You hear this, Aizawa? This is the sound of a giant man smacking his head on a freezer shelf because more students are here. Now he needs two ice packs... No, not really; once he finds the one he straightens back up from this freezer escapade, shutting it and looking over and, oh, Aizawa is just up on the counter.

Hmm. Noted.

But back to the mortification, while he debates the merits of sticking this ice pack properly under his shirt or not.]

Whose bad influence is this...? I would have thought young Iida would have learned his lesson by now.

[benstein]

And yet.

[He sighs softly, irritation born from worry clear in his expression.]

I suppose his sense of justice overtook his sense of responsibility. That's three of them now . . . your favorite might be next.

[JUST SAYING. Midoriya and trouble go hand in hand.]

[fiftynifty]

[DON'T... He immediately coughs again, out of Fear, half-turning away from Aizawa to hastily compose himself. Truly, this is what defeats All Might: Midoriya around R18 things (besides Midnight??).]

That's-- not outside the realm of possibility... [but please @God: spare All Might the heart attack.]

[benstein]

[IT SURE ISN'T. Still better than Mineta coming here, though. Literally anyone would be better than Mineta.

All Might coughing isn't unusual, but it reminds him--]

That ice pack won't do you good if you just hold it.

[fiftynifty]

[Good point, the entire class showing up at once would be better than Mineta. He waves a hand- and ice pack, as it happens- at Aizawa and wipes his mouth with the other; just... give him a second.]

Do you see anything to wrap it in?

[He did pull this out of a freezer for food. Even a paper towel would do.]

[benstein]

[Mm . . . he glances around, not yet getting off his perch. He likes the counter. It's comfortable. But the kitchen is bare-bones, devoid of everything from knives to food to paper towels, but . . .

There goes his capture cloth, snapping out to snag something off the shelf above the freezer. There, an oven mitt.

He shrugs as he holds it out towards All Might.]

[fiftynifty]

[An... oven mitt... that's a little, uh, hm. Thick? Insulated? How is the cold going to get out of the mitt and onto his pitiful body, Aizawa? Not that he doesn't take it, he does, but he gives Aizawa a look like maybe Aizawa has never seen an oven mitt before and doesn't understand the concept.]

...Thank you. [Whatever, it's good enough if he makes a paltry effort to wipe this ice pack off on his pant leg. He unbuttons like, two shirt buttons and slides it through to hold against his ribs. Flawless. The oven mitt is rejected.]

[benstein]

[WHAT ELSE, EXACTLY, WOULD HE LIKE HIM TO OFFER. It's not as i--

Oh, for god's sake. He exhales irritably, slowly unwinding the cloth from around his throat. It's long, almost ridiculously so, and he bites back a shiver as he gets it off. His throat feels oddly bare without it, but unless All Might has a scarf in there, there's nothing to be done.]

Don't get it wet if you can help it.