sexyspace | TEST DRIVE MEME #2

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!test drive

TEST DRIVE MEME #2

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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?*
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.

"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.

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.

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I knew witches were real before I met one. There are things that the, ah, community knows of and passes along. Vampires keep to themselves. So do most everything else, but they seem to be more xenophobic than most. When you're part of something that isn't supposed to exist, I suppose it broadens your willingness to believe without needing to see it.

[ 'When you're a part of something.' Then he is too, given his willingness to believe. Pelan tilts her head in consideration of that, searching him. She sets her wine aside. ]

I'm sorry. I'm not used to secrecy. Or anything being relegated to legend. What you've described would be considered perfectly ordinary, where I come from. [ Like ? ? ? if you don't have witches who do you go to for hexes. ] Humans are the majority, certainly. In the sky, at least. Are you saying you're part of some secret non-humans ... society?

Not so much. We just... avoid making it known that we exist. Humans react badly to things that aren't what they are, and the ones that do vary between being a part of our... world, if you'd like to call it that; either through marriage or blood, or they have it in their mind to eradicate us. So I suppose it's really just habit that has me keeping it to myself. I'm a shapeshifter. A werejaguar, if you've those where you come from.

[ She shakes her head. ]

I know of spells to change a person's shape. I can use them myself, though none to turn a person into an animal. That's a different school of magic than what I was taught.

[ Or rather, a different specialty. Beast shape isn't on the Inquisitor spell list ok. ]

You seem to be saying you don't come by it via spell at all, though.

Born this way. Most feline were's are. Witches can shapeshift into almost anything, but they usually use blood magic to do so. I am what I was born to be, as were my mother and father. Now, wolves and rats are an entirely different thing. Some are born, but a lot are infected.

Is that what you are? If you don't mind my asking, but you're... well, your scent is a bit strange.

No.

[ She's not a witch or a shifter. ]

I'm something else.

[ Something she doesn't entirely want to get into, if the way she bristles is any indication. Something that she's holding close to the vest even though she was the one to point out that Nova Aeros doesn't have the kind of secrecy that Lucas has described. She's something even they don't know about or accept. Something truly horrific.

She takes a longer drink of her wine here. ]

So you are.

[He didn't need extra sense to pick up that she didn't want him prying any more. That was as clear as the way her body closed in on itself and her voice turned a little icy. He shrugged, taking a sip of his wine instead.]

Well then, whatever you may be, now you're here. And most of these here seem to be some flavor of human. Think you'll mingle well with them?

Are you concerned for me?

[ It's a loaded question, an ellipsis trailing off the end of it. ]

Or for them?

[ Pelan knows that the truth of the matter is that given the kind of creature she is, the right answer is to be worried for them. She already has her answer. But there's also some part of her that's ready to get up and bail if she's being regarded as indistinguishable from the other monsters who indulge themselves freely.

She may be a monster, but she's trying not to be. ]

Can't it be both?

[His smile implied that it didn't really matter either way. He wasn't human himself, but he still had to look out for those that he'd felt were 'his' in some way. It was his nature, after all.]

The same could be asked of me. Some might think I'd eat them.

[Jenevieve...]

[ Some of the bristling falls away. One stage at a time, she eases up a little. ]

I've lived my whole life around humans, elves, dwarves, and gnomes without eating a single one.

[ Is she framing it like that because it's the concern he presented or because it's a concern someone else might have about her based on what she is? It's a mystery. She's not looking to confirm or deny here. ]

I'm as tame as they come.

Not too tame, I hope.

[Yes, and that was a wink, paired with a short lift of his brow as he lets his eyes dance over her. Not eating people was good, but too tame was... well. Boring.]

You're in a good position to find out.

[ She finishes her wine then in one final gulp and sets it aside, then advances on him, an unnerving grace to her movement that's not quite feline but definitely analogous. One of her hands finds his shoulder while the other goes for his cup, ready to take it from him and set it aside as well. They've got better things to be doing.

Despite her assertiveness, there's something unpracticed in how she moves on him. Insofar as she has experience, she's definitely presumed herself the necessary aggressor, but it's apparent that her earlier messages might have exaggerated how extensive that experience is. ]

[He reads body language. It's what he does. Between forms, body language is a constant when vocalization can't be, so he picks up those little aggressive yet hesitant moments and he smiles. He lets her take the cup, then slides his hands up her back, laying back to let her settle on top, to have the driver's seat until that mood changes.]

Darling, I can be in any position you'd like.

[He moved a hand to curl into the front of her shirt up by the neck, hooking into it and drawing her nearer for a kiss.]

[ When he tugs her forward by hooking his fingers down the collar of her leather armor plate, it's almost enough to assuage her uncertainty about him introducing the myriad options of 'any position you'd like.' Almost. Decision paralysis sets in all the same as she starts to ease herself into his lap, and it keeps her slow to respond to the kiss.

The one thing she does seem firmly decided on is setting his cup aside and digging her teeth into his lower lip. There's something slightly hesitant in that too. Her body does not feel like her body, ultimately, when she is like this. And in that vein, it feels like a lie, but it's a pretty one. One that she shouldn't deny him, at the very least. Let him think she is this human creature. It's for the best.

She curls her arms around his shoulders, wrapping him in an embrace to deepen the kiss, flush against his chest. ]

[He felt the bite to his lip, responding by flicking his tongue over hers and rumbling a growl low in his chest. He could be a patient, gentle lover, but there was always something that he was able to let loose more with other shifters. He hadn't been with any other sort of non-human, so he himself had waters he had to test with her.

His hands moved around sliding down her back and to her backside, giving it a firm squeeze as he kissed her back, feeling that low level of arousal that seemed to always simmer under his skin turn up a notch.]

I think you may have to lose a few layers.

Is that how this works?

[ She sounds faintly amused rather than defensive, breaking the kiss, her eyes searching hers with a faint curiosity. However, it's a worthy acknowledgment. Her armor is more complicated than what his people wear, and sitting astride him like this, she realizes that she will have to move to stand or get off of him to rid herself of her boots and pants.

So she settles back some to start unbuckling her armor, casting it and an empty weapons belt aside. The necklaces that dangle between her armor and her underclothes hang looser now, one of them a bright ochre stone and the other a simple talisman. Beneath she has a button-up vest that comes to her clavicle that covers a long sleeved blouse. Though she begins to work on her vest's buttons, it does nothing for the leather pants and the boots. ]

[He moves to help her, or, hope he's helping her, deft fingers slipping buttons and ties free, teasing over the bits of skin that are bared for him to touch as he gets a better draw of her scent.]

Well, I'm no expert, but I do believe that at least some parts need to be uncovered for this to be enjoyable for one party, let alone both.

[ She lets him take the lead on the buttons and strips out of her vest once it's loose, discarding it near her armor and stripping off her shirt. Underneath she wears a simple band around her chest, which is … unimpressive, generally. The outline of her sternum is visible in her thin body, and elsewhere her clavicle and even her shoulder bones are just this side of too-prominent. ]

I think you'll have to earn those parts.

[ She settles on that once she has her shirt out of the way, buying herself some time to decide how to go about elegantly solving her pants and boots situation. ]

And show that you can make a fair trade.

[When she's mostly bare from the waist up, he takes his time looking at her. His fingers run up her sides, tracing over the ribs there, then up over the bandage, skimming along the sides of her breasts before he taps at the hollow of her throat.]

Are you asking for me to remove my clothing? In public? How scandalous.

[But he was grinning as he trailed his finger down to the edge of her binding, tracing along it and feeling that heat blaze hotter in his chest -- and a bit lower.]

Shall I do away with it all at once, or would you like a show?

As I recall, 'public' was your idea.

[ She challenges him with this readily, feeling evidently more comfortable in the verbal back-and-forth than movement. And they both know this is more private, anyway, than what's waiting downstairs. She tilts her chin up slightly, giving him more access to her throat, welcoming the path of his fingertips.

Her skin feels distinctly warmer now under his touch — to both of them, really. The gentleness of his traced patterns provokes a tingle of anticipation that pushes her tongue out between her lips to wet them before she gives him her answer. ]

I see no reason I can't have both.

[ She climbs off of him and gestures to the foot of the makeshift bed as though to indicate where he should stand. ]

If it's good, I'll let you take off something else of mine.

[He laughed, head falling back on the pillow as she got up and moved away from him. He had only his big mouth to blame, but he was also a little on the vain side, so getting up with that liquid grace to his feet to move over the base of their little nest was easy enough.]

I feel as if there should be music. I suppose I'll have to make do without.

[To make up for the lack of tunes, he watched her as he toed out of his boots, leaving them there at on the ground and lifting a foot at a time to peel off his socks. Feet bare, he flexed his toes a bit, feeling oddly more comfortable like that than with shoes on before he reached over his head and pulled his shirt off in one quick jerk, holding it in front of him for a moment before dropping it.

He was furred, but not overly so. A patch of hair that spread down towards his belly before disappearing into his trousers. His hand went to the button of his jeans, then slid down to cup himself for a moment before lifting back up, a tease both to himself and her as he met her eyes again.]

Shall I proceed?

[ There's a definite moment of uncertainty when he starts, a brief pause where Pelan feels that maybe this will be more awkward than it is enticing, but Lucas saves it with pure charisma. Music would distract from that faint awkwardness, cover it. But as soon as his shirt's off, she's forgotten about it anyway.

Generally speaking Pelan doesn't prefer men. If she had to choose (and thank the gods she doesn't), she's more often to chase down women. There's an appeal to that softness, the delicacy. Lucas is all bulk by contrast, but the curves of his body draw her eye, the shadows they cast giving the impression that even though he is thick, he's lean.

She shifts where she sits, her eyes accepting the invitation down into his waistband just in time to catch the way he gropes himself meaningfully.

She laughs. ]

I hope you will.

[ But as she says it, she's skimming her hands over her own abdomen to release the clasps on the band covering her chest. It falls away forgotten, and her hands slide up to cup her modest breasts. The gaps between her fingers exposed dusky, pert nipples, a few shades darker than her skin. The constant brush of her fingertips draws them to stiff nubs in short order.

Importantly, it doesn't look like she's doing this for him. She'd expose herself more, if that were the case. Rather, she gives the impression that she's really just allowing him a glimpse into a genuine response to the presentation of his naked body. ]

[A smile, his eyes dropping to her fingers as he flicks the button free of its hold. The zipper follows and then he's turning, giving her his back as he starts to slowly shimmy out of his jeans. He leaves his boxerbriefs on, a black spot of fabric against the tan of his skin as he steps out of his jeans. A wiggle of his backside, then a slap to one cheek, and he half turns, giving her a coy look that he can't quite hold onto with the grin forcing itself to show.]

Do I satisfy?

[ Always one for darkly sardonic humor, Pelan is caught off guard by the sheer silliness of his levity. For a moment, her eyes widen with the slap, and the laugh comes at a delay on the heels of his question. She can't remember the last time she laughed that wasn't a 'we're all gonna die' laugh or a 'here's this stupid plan to keep us all from dying' laugh. She's not positive it has ever happened. ]

Let's see.

[ She sits forward, shifts onto her hands and knees, and prowls towards him. The black of his underwear makes it hard to distinguish the shape of him, and she's not exactly a connoisseur of dicks. Eyes on him, she sits back on her heels when she reaches him, and lets her fingers skitter up his thighs to glide into the waistband of his underwear.

Only if it looks like he's amiable to the move does she start to pull them down. ]

[Of course he is, and there's an appreciation in his gaze as he watches her over his shoulder when she crawls towards him. He stays where he is, back to her, letting her tug his underwear down and then stepping out of them when they're off. And still he stays turned away, enjoying the little game they're playing and letting her take the lead on how far they go and how fast.]

Better?

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