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

arthur // inception

[pointedlook]

a. say aloe
[ To say that he's a little dazed would be an understatement. Which is honestly a lot, since he's grown used to waking from dreams that felt like reality. Years of using somnacin, of pulling job after job in dreamshare. And yet, he's woken up here feeling like his head is full of cobwebs and not much else. Everything aches a little bit, a sure side effect from disuse.

Still, Arthur's never been one to sit around idly. Not that he would be given the chance here, considering. He gets up and starts to look around, following the pathway of little green lights that indicated the way to the garden. On the way there, a member of the staff greets him. And then proceeds to badger him, politely, the entire way. Asking if he feels ok, if he needs anything (no), and oh is he absolutely certain (holy crap yes).

It hasn't even been that long but he's at his limit of being able to deal. Maybe when he hasn't just woken up from an intergalactic nap he'll have more patience. In a slightly desperate bid to maybe get away, he calls out to whoever is closest that doesn't look like they're another member of the staff. ]

Hey, heading to the garden?

[ Blessedly, the rattling on of staff inquiries comes to a halt in that moment. Maybe he's onto something. ]


b. welcome to zhautas

[ One thing he's learned over the course of time is that if something is going to go wrong, it will. Especially when large groups of people are involved. He usually made a conscious decision to keep his dreamshare teams small if he could help it, because then it started to become a logistical nightmare.

Such as the one they seem to be experiencing once they're on planet.

Figures it would be something to do with their quarters. He tries not to be too irritated, having been looking forward to the bliss of relative peace and quiet after the chaos of orientation.

When R.O.S.I.E finally manages to usher the lot of them to their temporary quarters, he figures that he's honestly slept in worse conditions. There's even mattresses. That look clean.

(Okay maybe there had been a mattress, or a poor excuse for one, in that awful hostel in Hungary. It'd been mostly springs and his back hasn't been the same since).

Intent on getting non-induced sleep, or some semblance of it, Arthur ducks away from the crowd as soon as he's able and inelegantly flops onto one of the made up mattresses. ]

Silver lining, they picked a decent movie at least.

[ Not that he thinks he'll make it through it before nodding off. ]


c. bangr (oh hey grindr what up? or wait is this tinder)

bangr

Arthur | 26

If you found out you were dreaming, would you want to wake up?

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

d. wildcard
[ got another idea? want to save him from tentacle plants instead? or maybe start a pillow fight? go for it! feel free to PM pointedlook or find me on plurk vaulkner ]

b

[assholic]

[Fortunately, or probably unfortunately for him, the mattress that Arthur had flopped down on happened to be by the one Jessica had dragged closer to the corner. The corner she'd dragged herself to in an attempt not to watch with the others, because hey, group activities were for suckers. And she preferred to enjoy her movies from the peace of a rooftop -- like any sane person.

She had a bottle of whiskey she was nursing, working on getting enough of a buzz that she could get to sleep, but she looked over when he spoke, because she thought it was directed at her.]

Yeah, that's the silver lining. I'm surprised it's not X-rated Disney.

[She looked over at the screen and the people fixated on it.]

Strike that. It is X-rated Disney.

[pointedlook]

[ Fortunately (or is it unfortunately?), Arthur has no issue sharing the secluded corner with someone who clearly wants space from the rest. Especially when that someone has an interesting sense of humor. He doesn't really bother to get up, just tilts his head in the direction of her, tipping back some to get a decent look. From his angle, she's almost an abstraction of shapes. But even with the poor lighting, he can make out dark hair, a pale face, and dark eyes. ]

I think there might still be singing in X-rated Disney. That's kind of their thing.

[ Musical numbers in the middle of sections. Even the villains. Not that they'd ever put out anything above PG, but it's the thought that counts. ]

bangr

[blindninja]

If it's a nightmare wouldn't you want to wake up?

[pointedlook]

I'd want to wake up either way. Dreams are dreams for a reason.

So, if it weren't a nightmare, would you still want to?

✓

[backwaterbelle]

[Well that's a heavy question. She's far too intimate with the subject, or at least the idea of being trapped in one's own mind due with the assistance of a telepath or something similar.

This also sounds like someone witty and intelligent, so she'll go out on a limb here.]

Depends on the dream, but that doesn't mean I'll stay given the choice. It might be tempting, but staying is both selfish and, in my universe, often dangerous.

[pointedlook]

[ Oh, huh. Someone who might have some experience with dreaming. The kind that he's familiar with. He wants to ask a hundred questions.

Most of all, he's thinking: right answer ]

Dangerous how?

c - something something when you combine grindr and tinder you get a big bang

[semicharmed]

Assuming I'd wake up eventually in the natural course of REM ...

I wouldn't want to wake up. Dreams have interesting teaching potential.

[pointedlook]

Humor me here— say it isn't normal REM. But you still know you're dreaming. It can go on as long as you'd like, until you told it to stop.

bangr!

[originallutece]

Would you?

[pointedlook]

Reality might be imperfect, but where's the challenge of living if everything went your way, like it does in a dream?

bang bang

[courtintrigue]

I can recognize a dream. If this was a dream I would not particularly care to linger in it.

Do you ask for a reason or merely out of boredom?

[pointedlook]

You too, huh?

[ On both counts. ]

A little of both. It's a better ice breaker than the suggested one.

bangr

[novelizes]

Depends entirely on the dream.
But even then, a dream is still just a dream.
Everyone has to return to reality some time.

[pointedlook]

And if the dream is more than that? Lucid, even. Would it still be easy for you to return to reality?

( bangr )

[infiltrar]

Depends on what the dream is. Are all my enemies dead? Has justice been gained for the weak and defenseless? Am I dressed good? Also is it anything like that movie with all those people on drugs, where the guy gets his arm amputated or something? Because that was messed up.

[pointedlook]

It's a dream, it can be whatever you want it to be.

Though seriously, what the hell kind of movies are you watching?

c.

[casuistic]

Depends on the dream, doesn't it?

[pointedlook]

[ First of all, how dare you use Yusuf's words. Second of all, you come into this house... ]

Even across multiple galaxies we can't get away from each other, huh?

a

[magneticfields]

[ Erik is doing his best to ditch his own overly-solicitous assistant/tail. Who also waits quietly for Erik's answer to Arthur's question. He glances from Arthur to the assistants and back. ]

...Yes.

[ He was not. ]

Perhaps we could go together. Get to know one another.

[ His tone is far more flirtatious than his expression. He's only just arrived, and is still trying to get his bearings. But maybe if the guardsassistants think they're off to a fast start they might actually leave them alone. ]

bangr

[sizeofyourbaggage]

✓

Man, is this gonna be one of those philosophical what is reality and what does it mean to be real discussions? Cause I don't know if I've had enough alcohol for that.

✓ what am i doing i just don't know

[pinwheel]

[ The reason for the check mark is because it starts the conversation, all right. Let's not make this weird.

At any rate, thank god. A familiar face. Do you know, Arthur, how completely goddamn jarring it is to be shot, killed, and wake up in Limbo, which it turns out is some kind of bizarre corporate orientation?

(Actually, that sort of does sound like how he'd think of Limbo.)

He's been here long enough for the initial paranoia to have died down a bit, but just because he's not panicking anymore doesn't make this whole thing any less alarming. ]

You tell me.

✓

[verumdicit]

Too many variables. What is the dream like?

C.

[whenturksfly]

[ Well, that's certainly an interesting hook. Even if some terrible pick-up line were to follow, there's potential there. ]

I think there's a time in every person's life when the answer to that question is no. A dream is a dream, though.

✓ bangr

[ghostmagnet]

most of my dreams aren't dreams

[ That's the problem with being able to see the future. Granted, it hasn't really been happening as much as her powers develop and grow... But it's still garbage when it happens. ]

but if i knew for sure it was a dream? yeah. i guess.
i don't sleep much, so i feel like i'm not fully qualified to answer this question.

[ And half the time she gets more than a few hours, it's because she's either unconscious or was knocked out by a vamp... So... there's that. ]