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sexyspace2018-11-25 10:05 am
zhautasmods) wrote in sexyspace2018-11-25 10:05 am
Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE MEME #7
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 on helping, or maybe the exact specifications of how you could help were 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 shortly after landing. Due to potential muscular atrophy upon awakening from stasis, I suggest hitting the osbtacle course for a bit of nonconventional exercise!"
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.
Obstacles Ahead
- While the staff are helpful, many of them seem to be on high alert. There's an unmistakable tension in the air. If anyone tries to ask, they reassure volunteers that everything is fine. Still, the moment that anything goes wrong or they can't exactly answer a question it's clear that they grow even more troubled. Just what's going on around here?
They won't say. Maybe one or two might eventually let it slip that the Zenith Corporation isn't especially happy lately with a wanted criminal still at large on Zhautas that seems to be terrorizing the volunteer program. Her name is Hoshiko and she's a pirate that seems to be somehow escaping every attempt Zenith has made to apprehend her. The only picture they have of her is one where she appears to have posed for the camera, flashing as much cleavage as possible and winking. She doesn't look very threatening, really, but they assure volunteers that they need to be on the lookout for this woman once they get to Zhautas. Still, try not to worry about it too much. Oh, and, don't tell their boss that they let you know this. They technically weren't supposed to. - As you draw closer to the obstacle course, some intense music begins to play through the halls. It's supposed to get volunteers pumped for the challenge they're about to face! They can thank the Nevrione Guard for installing the course. They wanted to give people visiting a taste of just a little of what they do to train to join The Guard's ranks.
"Are you ready, volunteers?" asks R.O.S.I.E. as a group gathers at a pair of closed doors. An LED countdown displays above the doors, numbers in blue that read 5...4...3...2...1... Go! A loud chime ding, ding, dings as the screen is replaced with !!! only that's flashing rapidly. The doors swish open quickly, revealing a large park-sized obstacle course to explore. It has artificial sunlight, plenty of trees and nature, and even mossy ponds beneath some of the obstacles that you could very well fall into if you're not careful.
Don't worry, they'll have a change of clothes for you in the case of this happening. It just might take a little bit to deliver them so hope you don't mind hanging out in your underthings for a little bit. You likely won't be the only one, if it helps the shame of failure any.
If the main obstacles prove to be a little too difficult, not to worry! There are easy sections. Originally, they were designed for the children of Nevrione who wanted to feel like they had a chance at joining The Guard from a young age. But they work just as well for volunteers fresh out of stasis with potentially noodly feeling legs! Step across wooden cogs placed closer together or walk up a flight of stairs instead of trying to get tangled up in a net on the way up. There's something to do for just about anyone!
There's even a bench you can sit on, right over there, in case you simply want to watch fellow volunteers eat dirt or get drenched for your amusement. See! Something for everyone.
- After all that exertion, it's important to remember that you were asleep for a while and likely need to help your muscles recuperate proprerly. A cooldown workout is the best option in case you went just a little too hard without meaning to. Stretch those muscles still, just- Gently. For that reason, they have a yoga class that's available anytime. One of the locals from Nevrione has offered to host these sessions, a lovely ison lady who is, uh. Wow. She's impressively bendy.
While you don't have to follow the same moves she's doing exactly (you didn't even know someone could twist their body into that shape!), she does encourage volunteers to try their best. It's likely you're more pliable than even you think! If not, it is something you can work up to. If that lady can fold both of her pairs of legs, then your one pair shouldn't be that difficult to work with!
She is very motivating and does her best to accommodate volunteers at every turn. Just don't get too twisted up now. At some point, she segways into movements where you will need a partner to help you with some of them. It's friend yoga and can be a lot of fun. While some of the poses are more difficult, it's meant to foster trust with the other person you're working with! Since everyone is so new, it seems like a good idea to try and get started with the right foot... by having it be held up by someone else, apparently!
Orientation
Shortly after 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 hooky, 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 twist and turn.
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 the 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 announces an additional seminar from R.O.S.I.E.! Do you all remember that voice speaking to you when you first awoke? If so, this digitally projected blond's soothing tone should sound familiar. She smiles wide for the "camera," clearly excited to be interacting with potential volunteers in a new way. The topic of today will be safe, sane, and consensual. Considering the location that volunteers will be arriving at has a heavy emphasis on BDSM, it seems very apt!
When the video starts, she's all professionalism. Okay, so- Mostly professionalism. Compared to most of the other lecturers of the past, this woman manages to touch on the core concepts of the topic while still adding appropriate humor to keep things interesting. Of course, her topic is a very serious one and she doesn't take it lightly despite trying to lighten things up for the code. "Make sure," she emphasizes, "that you always have an enthusiastic 'yes' from your partner and that both your boundaries are clearly set! Communication is key in these types of situations. So long as you talk and are honest, well- Everything should be a kinky good time!"
"Thank you, R.O.S.I.E.," the voice says, charmed themselves even by the entertaining seminar. "Wasn't that fun! Volunteers, what do you think about the topic of safe, sane, and consensual? Discuss amongst yourselves!" - 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
- Volunteers will be dropped off at the outskirts of the city of Heawood. The market is bustling, the streets are full, and most homes have their doors and windows open to peer out at passerbys. For the most part, everything seems fairly busy throughout. Volunteers will be directed by staff to the Nevrione Inn. It has a dining hall and bar, fireplaces to cozy up to, and plenty of places to tuck away if you want to gossip about what's going on with Zenith staff. Though perhaps you just want a moment or two to yourself instead.
Once you're done getting settled in, why not stop and explore a little bit? The locals certainly don't seem to mind the company.
- Suddenly, R.O.S.I.E. turns on one of her newest features to help volunteers blend in a little better. Someone next to you might sprout cat or dog ears. Don’t mind if you get knocked in the face suddenly by someone’s new butterfly wings. It happens! It’s also possible they take on the long whiskers of a Coeurl or plumage of a Chocobo or other animals entirely unfamiliar to some. Either way, everyone just got a lot more animal-like. While it doesn’t look exactly like the natives, it does bring a smile to the faces of the locals and they seem a bit more generally receptive to the people waltzing into their homeland.
This feature is extremely customizable. Volunteers can toggle it off if they don’t want it at all. Additionally, they can have as many or as few animal features as they’d like. They can also change what creature they’d like to take after with just a thought! The only limitation seems to be that they can only appear as one animal at a time.
While all the add-ons seem to be mostly for aesthetic, it is a lot of fun to play around with! 
In Nevrione the current seasons is clearly Autumn. There’s orange, red, and yellows everywhere in varying shades and varieties. There are a lot more leaves missing from the trees than before as the season starts coming to a close. Everything starts to look a little more sparse as Winter creeps ever closer and the temperature grows increasingly colder.
If you head out and about, there's a marketplace to peruse and locals to mingle with. Volunteers shouldn't want for things to occupy their time here. They've landed just after the Harvest Festival and it seems to have been a fun time indeed. Some might ask for assistance in taking down decorations or cleaning up a bit from all the festivities. They've got to start gearing up for Winter now and figuring out their stores for the coming cold. You'll be compensated with a couple of bronze seedlings for your time, of course, and might even get some fun festival stories like-
Oh, uh. This story is really explicit. Did they say there was an orgy? And you missed it? Well, you might be glad that you did... Of course, just because there was an orgy doesn't mean that all the fun has been had. The natural growth enhanced by the Selva are still growing and especially at night, milky wafts of pollen might tickle your nose and cause a stirring in your nethers you don't quite expect. Maybe you're lucky and immune to these plant's effects but if not, don't worry! You'll likely find someone else feeling just as friendly as you are before long. Or maybe a kind soul will help alleviate this (sexually) tense situation you've found yourself in.
Network/Bangr
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
I have already. Several times, in fact. Exhibitionism is such a fun kink, I think, and really allows for such a unique feeling of freedom.
| ✓ | ✕ |
| YES |
NO |
PLEASE NOTE: This BANGR code is the COMMENT-FRIENDLY version, 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!
Extra Notes
- Remember that all prompts are OTA! It can now be assumed that after the ship lands, current volunteers in-game were able to board and hang-out for a little bit before it leaves again! That means established volunteers can welcome new members, show them around parts of the ship they're familiar with, and explore new areas that weren't open during their own arrival! Only new volunteers will be taking the orientation quiz, but established volunteers are free to peek inside the room or try to help with the quiz!
- A reminder that the TDM can be considered game canon and timeline-wise the TDM takes place on the 8th when the arrival ship arrives, as shown on the calendar.
- Going into DECEMBER, we are continuing with an APPLICATION CAP of (40).
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There’s barely time to notice the strange twist in his belly before suddenly he’s in a completely different place, not even in the city at all. He quirks a brow at Barry’s comment, but before he can even blink there’s a cup of hot cocoa being pressing into his hands, and Derek can’t help but to laugh in astonishment.
“Amazing,” he murmurs, smiling in that unfamiliar, cheek-aching way before he looks around at the glowing orbs Barry gestures to. He’s never smelled anything like them before, and when he inhales deeply to get a better read on their scent, he blinks owlishly as his shoulders seem to relax from their normal bunched up position. He looks around in wonder, eyes wide before his gaze shifts back to Barry.
“No, no. This is... it’s amazing,” Derek replies genuinely, looking a little stunned. He had expected to go out and try to find a coat, to continue resisting advances until he thought more about how to handle them, but instead he’s here. It almost feels like a dream. “Thank you.”
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"Here, there's a..." Barry points. "A rock we can sit on to look down at the water. About a week back, the locals led us through a lantern lighting ceremony. Everyone released lanterns for their loved ones across the water - the view from here was spectacular."
Barry leads him towards it, parting a little flock of selva as he moves and sighing in contentment as their warm light seems to sink beneath his skin. "I remember how overwhelming it was when I got here. I would have loved a place like this to come and breathe."
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"I would have liked to have been a part of that," he admits with a wistful smile. They walk through a plume of the bobbing little lights and one of them sways in close to Derek, practically gliding along his cheek before floating away. He lets out another breath, feeling more relaxed than he has in a really, really long time.
"It is a lot," he says, taking a seat on the rock and looking over at Barry with a warm smile. "You'll have to show me how to actually get here."
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"There's a path from town that leads here," he says, gazing into his cup to pull out one of the little marshmallows. "I don't know how much exploring you've done, but there's fishing at the lake down there, fire patrols in the forest if you want to earn more seedlings. Just be careful. Something, more likely someone is setting fires on the regular. It's good money, but I only do it because I can put out fires in seconds."
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He's so calm, but Barry revealing that someone is setting fires has him going pale, tensing as he straightens up from his relaxed sprawl.
"What if I got whoever was setting fires?" He says in a clipped tone, irises flashing red as he swallows hard.
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"They'd probably give you enough seedlings to dive into like Scrooge MacDuck," he says, "But again, be careful. There are surprises here." Barry's stomach dips, and all at once he regrets the sugary cocoa. "In my first two weeks here I nearly died because a pirate invaded our beach camp, letting in hundreds of creatures intent on killing us. There are resources she and others have that we can't anticipate or expect. I mean - "
Barry's eyes are wide with fascination despite himself. "We're on the other side of the galaxy from home. We're the newbies here."
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He listens to Barry's story curiously, frowning when he reveals that he almost died. The thought makes his belly twist and he shakes his head, unable to fathom this man he's known for an hour no longer existing.
"Half a galaxy away, but I still understood your Scrooge McDuck reference," he says with a rue smile, nudging Barry's shoulder with his own. "Maybe we should stick together."
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"That's actually really unusual. The people here are incredible, pulled from worlds I've never heard of, let alone dreamed of, but it's really nice to know someone who remembers Earth like I do. And..."
Barry hesitates, not wanting to spoil the mood, but neither does he want to leave Derek vulnerable. "Not that I know much, but it seems like you've been through a lot. Don't trust the Zenith team. Get to know your fellow volunteers, decide who's worthy, and put your trust in us instead. No one told me that and...it didn't go well."
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It feels almost like flirting, if Derek even remembers how, but his expression goes a bit more serious at Barry's advice. He wonders what happened to Barry, what hard lesson he learned.
"I don't trust easily," Derek admits, "so that won't be too hard."
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"It's not all bad," he promises. "Far from it. I've met some amazing people, and I wouldn't give that up for anything, it's just - we're not as safe as it sounded when we signed up." Barry smiles, trying not to look so grim.
"But I'll look out for you. We all take care of each other here."
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He's never said all that out loud before, and he blinks in surprise before sitting up a little straighter, taking a sip from hip cup just to have something to do.
Back on earth, he was at his absolute lowest. He had lost everything, everyone, and had no idea how to claw his way out of the darkness. When they came to him and asked him to volunteer, it was with a bitter sort of resignation that he accepted.
His body seems to have gotten used without his input all the time. At least here, in this place, it might help someone else.
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Barry shakes his head. He actually hasn't thought too deeply about this. He'd been so desperate to leave his Earth before he did irreparable harm to it, and on arrival to Zhautus, had instantly met so many great people. The people he's slept with, he went to them because he wanted to, because they could make each other feel amazing, and that simple pleasure was better than anything he could do at home. "I like making people feel good. I couldn't help people at home anymore, but I can help them here."
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He stands up because he has to, stretching a bit as he takes a few steps away. “It’s been done before. At least this time I have a say in it.”
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To their sex mission.
The air around them changes, molecules suddenly charged with unspent electricity as Barry tries hard to master himself. He can't fight Quin. He can't fight Zenith. If he tries again they'll take his powers, but god, someone needs to. Every hair on his body rises with static, and Barry takes off, running around the lake five times in an attempt to calm down, but when he returns to the rock - not seeming to have left it but for the change in his hair - he's still so angry he doesn't know what to do with himself.
"I should take you back. I should - " Barry scrubs a hand over his face, fingertips chasing sparks that leap over his skin. "I should take you to the inn."
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He’s still staring when Barry’s words filter through, and the surprised hurt shows in his eyes for just a moment before it settles into something like resignation. He showed too much of himself, perhaps. Barry smells angry, so much so the air between them is thick with it, and Derek isn’t sure why.
“Sure,” Derek breathes out, sounding defeated. “Just point me in the direction of the path and I can sniff my way back. It’s fine.”
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"You've been fucking preyed on and they brought you here, they are - they are unbelievable." They don't know each other, but Barry knows enough - even with vague details, the way Derek speaks of himself, his body, like it's just something for another person and not his own - it's beyond fucked up that they approached him at all.
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“Barry, it’s okay,” he says, lifting a hand and hesitating for only a moment before resting it on the other man’s shoulder. “There’s nothing waiting for me there. I would probably get killed if I went back. So just— it’s okay. It’ll be better here.”
His hand glides down Barry’s arm before he lets it fall away, and he shrugs one shoulder. “I just have to adjust.”
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Barry reaches forward, catching Derek's sleeve. "We do have a therapist here. She's mostly here to help people having trouble with the mission, but I think this more than counts."
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"There's no getting over what happened to me," he grits out, jaw working as he looks anywhere but at Barry. He's embarrassed and upset, and he lets out a quiet growl-whine in discontent. "It's not what you think, anyway. I wasn't-- I wanted it at the time."
He huffs a breath and lets Barry hang onto one sleeve while he reaches up to rub his face with the other, ears flattened back against his head. "We didn't come here to-- to fall in love, or start families. We came here to have sex, right? I can do that."
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"And I worked for the police at home. Assault isn't cut and dry. Did you know some women come during their rape? It doesn't mean they wanted or enjoyed it. Whatever happened, something about it changed for you, and that matters."
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Derek's eyes are bright red now, and he shuffles backwards quickly enough that he knocks over the cocoa he set on the ground, spilling liquid out into the dirt.
"I was sixteen, and she was a substitute teacher who made me think that she loved me," Derek says, horrified by the words tumbling out of his mouth but unable to stop them. "But she was really a hunter, and after she got me to sleep with her, she killed my whole family. Burned them alive."
He stumbles backwards until he hits a boulder and sits down on it, shoving his hands into his hair as he stare at the ground. When he speaks next, his voice is quiet and defeated. "I told her everything she needed to know."
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Derek stumbles back, and Barry braces his own hands on his knees, breathing through the worst of it. He's seen a lot. He's been hurt by a lot, including watching both his parents killed right in front of him, but this is worse. However Thawne and Zoloman had manipulated him, they'd never once made him feel like those deaths were his fault. "You shouldn't be here," he repeats, straightening to swipe a hand over his mouth.
"I'm so sorry, that's too much, that's - You're hurt and this will make it worse."
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“And I told you, going back would probably be a death sentence. All I have at home is crumbling ruins and a pack of wolves that want me dead,” Derek tells him, shrugging helplessly as he stares at up Barry’s face. “I chose to come here. I knew what was going to be expected of me, and I’ll handle it.”
He stares at Barry’s face, at his red mouth and nimble fingers, and for a moment he wonders what it might be like to be one of those lucky people that Barry wants to make feel good. He’s sure that he’ll never find out, not after spilling his secrets until he was a trembling mess, but hopefully those people know how lucky they are.
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Someone he'd trusted had taken advantage of him, used him, raped him - a person's first time should be good, not forever associated with guilt and pain.
Barry shakes his head, nodding at the boulder where Derek sits. "Can I?"
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“Yeah, sure,” Derek says easily, sliding over a bit to make room. He doesn’t generally like being touched, but from Barry it’s okay. Nice, even. Barry sits down and their shoulders brush as Derek furrows a brow. “It’s not like I hate it, you know? Sex.”
He blows out a slow breath and looks out across the lake, feeling tender and a little brittle. “I just— I wonder if it would be better if it actually meant something. Here isn’t really the place to try and find that out, but I’ll be fine. I can go out around full moons. That’s when I want it the most.”
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