Zhautas (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
zhautasmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sexyspace2018-06-25 07:10 am
zhautasmods) wrote in sexyspace2018-06-25 07:10 am
Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE MEME #2
Awakening
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 CreditMy 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.
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. - 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.
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:
(*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
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 |
NO |
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.
EHEH. just... just testing for the moment, but...
With no particular regard for volume control, he can be found apparently trying to communicate with R.O.S.I.E. just outside. ]
Right, could I have my body back, then? Appreciate the rental, don't get me wrong, appreciate the rental, but, um... Well, it's not very dignified, now is it? What with all the... legs. And... [ what other parts do they have. ] kidneys and such.
Well, you understand, don't you, luv—
[ The moment he lays eyes on her, something strikes him as wrong—and it's not just that he's laying eyes on her, plural, weird, and it's not that there seems to be something wrong with both of them for how fuzzy her outline is at a distance, but it's that she's familiar, but again it's been some time since he's had anybody but good ol' Spacey for company, so—? ]
I'll, um. Get. Get back to you.
no subject
The determined look on her face could just be because she's focused on navigating the crowd; it certainly resembles the expression she wore while running through test chambers. It could also be there because last time they were on a planet together, Wheatley tried to blow her up, and Chell does not intend to let that happen again.
Either way, when she starts to get close to him, she gestures sharply at his general form. What is going on? ]
no subject
He backs up enough that he bumps up against the wall behind him, hands raised as if to halt her; it doesn't do any good. He doesn't know how this thing works. ]
All right, I know what you're gonna say—o-okay, probably nothing, not much for conversation, you, as I recall, but I think it's really important that you know I've had a lot of time to think on it and in my defense I wasn't quite myself for a while there, you know, not quite the same mild-mannered old Wheatley you'd come to expect, and I promise I'll never try to smash or blow you up or make you test again but whatever you do just please don't kill me please—
no subject
YOU. She jabs him in the chest again, points at herself, and mimes an explosion. You tried to blow me UP. ]
no subject
[ Seems this golem of meat comes preloaded with all sorts of automatic processes, like the way he flinches away from her pokey little finger and sort of swats pitifully at the invasion. ]
The thing is, and I was just thinking this so I'm way ahead of you here, you're right, I'm sorry I called you a fatty, you're really not at all, in fact you're probably the least fatty human I've seen who was still in the facility and also, you know, alive. Seems like it'd be the least of your concerns, mind. Really. 'Specially consideriiinnngg... all the other details of our little row, but far be it for me to criticize your priorities.
[ He is really acing this apology thing. ]
no subject
Wheatley could maybe be forgiven for interpreting this series of gestures as a threat rather than an expression of betrayal. ]
no subject
Nononono, that's not necessary, that's not necessary!
[ This is like, really pitiful to watch from a bystander's perspective. A woman, tiny by comparison, poking angrily at a cowering beanpole of a man who is doing a very poor job fending her off. ]
I know, I know you probably want nothing better than to kill me now, but please please don't, I just got out of space, thanks for that, by the way, it was only totally awful, the single worst experience of my life— [ oh shit wait, change direction, change direction ] but, but! Okay, admittedly, not the best angle to come at this. Point being, and I don't know if I ever told you this, but I could always tell you were a lovely person deep down, a kind person, merciful person.
[ When a couple seconds pass and he hasn't been savagely murdered, he actually shuts up and slowly lowers the ineffectual shield his hands have formed. ]
S-So...
no subject
She's still mad. But she's more frustrated by being unable to get across what she means.
Also, he's kind of pathetic. Hard to maintain aggression in the face of all that flailing.
Chell glowers, gives him another poke because she can, and then steps back and spreads her hands. There. Happy? Wheatley?? She's not out for your stupid giraffe neck. ]
no subject
At her last cruel poke he lets out a sort of squawk, dignity more bruised than anything. Very briefly he contemplates poking her back a time or two, see how she likes it, being prodded incessantly, but he's not sure yet which parts grow back and which don't and he'd like to hold off on finding out. ]
Well. I'm glad that's settled and you're definitely not going to kill me, and if you are, be sure you say something first. Ohhh...
[ He sort of slides partway down the wall, restless and uncomfortable. ]
Knackered, I am. How do you deal with this? This. Legs. And everything else. Everything's stacked on top of everything, innit. Exhausting. And I've not even been like this a total day! It's mad! Nope—I'll take my core chassis any day of the week, thank you very much.
[ He's sunk down enough that he's almost at eye level with her. It's strange to look at—how small she is now. And not... not like before, when she'd been small and he'd been... very, very big. Bigger than everything. Able to crush anything. Wanting to, too.
Not like that. Different, that's all. ]
Nice to be able to move about freely, however. No rails here, you notice that? Shocking... and, offensive! The, the lack. Of proper accommodation 'round here. Suppose that's the last thing you'd want, eh? Lugging ol' Wheatley all 'round town. Like times of yore.
[ It's kind of an elephant in the room. While she may be, let's say excessively, excessively preoccupied with what he said about her weight, it seems a bit more important to remember they parted on a pretty bad note, didn't they. ]
no subject
This also brings her to an important question. She nudges his foot with hers to get him to focus on her. What is he, in this shape -- she gestures with one hand at his just, like, comically lanky frame -- doing here? She waves at the ship around them. What does Zenith want with a personality core? ]
bedtime but... tomorrow... :eyes:
There's a second right after she kicks at his foot where he's not sure of whether to take offense and if so, how much; he's not exactly a seasoned pro at this whole touching thing. What are the rules? And, matter of fact, it occurs to him belatedly that she's the first person to make any kind of contact with this body at all, which is maybe just as well, because if it's all as unpleasant as she's committed to making it then he's clearly not missing much. ]
You want to know what I'm doing here? [ He scoffs, but he's more than happy to talk about himself so it's fine. ] Could ask the very same about you, luv; turns out Zenith here knows a sure thing when it sees one, floating in space, floating alone amid the debris of its only companion, who—let's be fair, let's be entirely fair, was incredibly annoying. They brought me in from outer space, and in return they've found themselves a master hacker, a maverick if you will... What am I doing here, why, just saving the bloody universe, aren't I?
[ The amphitheatre has pretty much emptied out at this point; the resultant quiet is, well, a bit disquieting. ]
Do we have to stay here? Getting a bit creepy, if I'm honest.
Bedtime is ... probably a good idea.
Oh God, is Space Core dead? ]