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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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He spreads his arms a little, not afraid, but already jumpy with anticipation.
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He looks Barry over and reaches out to grip the most solid part of his hips, letting them rest there for a moment before he lifts Barry into the air with no effort at all, holding him up high in the air for a few moments before curling his slim hips into one arm and lowering him down to hug him against Derek's side.
Barry's feet dangle a few inches above the ground and Derek realizes how close their faces are together, pausing to stare into his eyes for a moment. His cheeks heat up and he sets Barry gently onto the ground, clutching at his hip for a moment before letting go and taking a step back.
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"If that was some kind of audition, I liked you the moment I saw you in the square," he says. Derek has taken a step back, and though they've only sat together for moments, Barry misses his presence. He reaches forward, fingertips landing on Derek's hip. "So werewolves are strong," he says. "I don't trust the legends, what else is true?"
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"You liked what you saw," Derek says, because that part doesn't surprise him. Derek is aware of what he looks like. It's the fact that Barry is still here after everything Derek has told him, looking at him with those warm eyes and a flirty smile, that surprises him.
"Well, we aren't the bloodthirsty beasts that the movies like to portray as," Derek says with a wry smile. Sure, newly bitten wolves may fall into that category, but Barry is asking about him. "I'm strong, and fast." He chuckles and reaches out to touch his fingertips to Barry's chest through his sweater to feel the quick thrum of his heart. "Not as fast as you."
He flattens his hand against Barry's chest for a moment and then slowly pulls it away, reaching up to rub at the thick stubble on his chin. "I can smell emotions, hear things half a mile away or more, and heal from pretty much any wound. Though that last one isn't exactly my favorite power to put to use."
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"You can smell emotions," says Barry, fascinated. "Pheromones I'm guessing, and you can hear an entire half a mile? We'd have been a good team up at home - you could hear the trouble, and I could be there in seconds. I heal fast, too," Barry adds.
"Definitely not my favorite power to use, but without it I'd be dead a few dozen times over."
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He huffs out a slightly bitter laugh at Barry's comment, raising his brows for a moment. "Yeah, me too. Definitely."
It's a bit of a relief to learn that Barry heals fast, that he's safer than the average person. He reaches out to lightly poke Barry's slim hip. "That's good, though. Regular humans are so squishy. Glad you're more durable."
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"Which, when you grow up as nerdy and skinny as I did is almost as big a deal as being able to fly."
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He feels himself drifting closer to Barry, wanting so badly to feel his warm hands on him again. The hug is stuck in the back of his mind, but he has no idea how to go about getting another one.
"Nerdy, huh?" He smiles a little and shrugs his shoulders. "Before everything happened, I guess I was more of a jock."
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"But I don't think you would've been one of those people holding my head in the toilet in Junior High," Barry continues. "You're much too nice."
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"No, I wasn't like that," he says with a wry smile. "I don't know about nice, but my mom would have had my hide. She was-- my mom was tough as hell, but also the kindest person I've ever known. The perfect alpha."
Derek's eyes flash red briefly, and he shakes his head a little. "I could never be her."
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"That means leader, right?" It's a nice thought, a matriarchy. Barry doesn't hate himself or anything, but he does hate the type of men who come in and try to take everything over. If it weren't for his affection for the man, Barry would think of Oliver this way - he's certainly stubborn enough - but at least Oliver listens to Felicity. The world would be a better place if men did more of that.
Barry comes back to himself with a sad, searching look. "But she was in the fire."
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Derek looks over to see Barry's sad eyes and nods in confirmation. "My older sister and I were the only ones who survived, and it went to her. That's how it was always supposed to go."
He doesn't mention Peter, because that wasn't Peter who survived the fire. It was something else, something twisted, and he has no place here.
"And then she was killed too, about a year ago," Derek says, nearly laughing at the absurd tragedy that is his life. "And now it's me. I'm the last Hale, but there's no pack to lead." He sits down on the rock again, sighing as he stares out at the water. "Probably a good thing."
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"I'm the last Allen," he says. For a brief time, he'd hoped that might be different. That Iris would love him, that he could be the man that she deserves, that a West-Allen would be greater than any heritage that came before it - but instead, he came here.
"Orphans together, yay," he says in a small voice, though Barry smiles, again bumping Derek's shoulder with his own. "Having a...a really crap history is a common thread here. It's really sad, but sometimes it's nice, not to be the uniquely tortured person in the room. I don't know if it makes sense, or is even healthy, but I feel a lot less isolated here."
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"I'm sorry," he says quietly, looking over at Barry as he speaks and leaning against him until they're basically propping each other up. "At least I'm in good company. Right now, anyway. In this little corner of the world."
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"It's a good distraction from home, and far enough away that I can't feel torn about getting back there, because..." Barry never thought he'd say this. "I don't have a spaceship."
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"Yeah, that would do it," Derek says with a slight laugh, sitting up enough to take off his jacket. Barry still seems cold and it's not as if he's wearing real pants, so Derek lays the jacket across his lap with a vaguely shy smile.
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"Yeah," he confesses when Derek has resettled beside him. "This place is pretty wild. I hadn't really been...adventurous before. So now I'm trying everything out. It's easier for me than some, I think - I can escape nearly any situation if I really need to."
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He isn't even sure if he wants to be adventurous. When it comes to sex, Derek's tastes run pretty vanilla, with the obvious werewolf caveat. Just him, one other person, and a bed. Or the forest floor. Maybe a little rough, with a lingering sort of afterglow. That's what he wants.
"I'm glad. Just-- be safe," Derek says, cheeks flushing slightly as he reaches up to rub awkwardly at the back of his neck. Thinking of Barry sleeping with faceless other people makes him want to squirm, but he can't really put a name to the emotion. "Be happy."
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"I like trying new things out," Barry confesses. "It's sort of like, you know how you can only tell some secrets to a stranger? There's a freedom here I haven't had in my life before. I don't know," he laughs, "Maybe I'm making up for lost time. I wasn't exactly a catch before I got my powers."
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Or maybe it's because he doesn't want to ruin this tentative friendship that they've created here. It's astonishingly how quickly he's taken to Barry, and how much he's already opened up. He doesn't want to ruin that.
"Oh, I don't buy that for a second," Derek says with a scoff, shaking his head as he turns to look at Barry. "Lightning gave you abs, but I doubt it made you who you are."
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Barry looks down at their cups, discarded randomly in all the revelations. "Do you want more cocoa?"
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He chuckles and waves a hand, not wanting to pry. Or maybe he just doesn’t want to know, because he can’t want what he isn’t aware of. He looks down at the bubbling puddle of cocoa in the dirt and smiles sheepishly. “Yeah, sure.”
Standing up, he digs the rest of his seedlings out of his pocket and hands them over. “And maybe some food? I have to eat all the time, which is kind of annoying in a place like this.”
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Likewise, Barry waves away the offer of seedlings. "I have more bronze than I know what to do with, and I need twenty thousand calories a day, so you know I'm not exaggerating my resources."
A rush of wind, a rise in static electricity in the air, and Barry stands before Derek, wearing his leather jacket and extending a plate nearly buckling under the weight of a bread bowl filled with rich stew. "Tip me if you want," Barry grins.
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Barry’s gone only long enough for Derek to smell the burst of electricity, and he’s still sniffing when suddenly he’s back and Derek gets a good whiff of Barry and a hearty stew. If he hadn’t already been sitting, it might have been enough to send him to his knees.
“That looks good on you,” Derek says, nodding to the jacket as he reaches out to take the plate with a grateful smile. He’ll be able to smell Barry on it for days. “A tip, huh? You won’t twke my cash, so I’ll have to think of something else.”