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meadowlarklogs2019-02-09 11:25 am
- !arrival log,
- castlevania: alucard,
- darker than black: hei,
- dc comics: dick grayson,
- dogs b&c: giovanni rammsteiner,
- dogs b&c: nill,
- ffxiv: arya gastaurknan,
- ffxv: noctis lucis caelum,
- ffxv: prompto argentum,
- game of thrones: sansa stark,
- gangsta: alex benedetto,
- starfighter: cain,
- starfighter: deimos
ARRIVAL LOG 007
WHERE: New Amsterdam
WHEN: Night of September 20 to night of September 23
WHAT: The seventh arrival
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Coercion and loss of autonomy. Further notes at end of log.
Awareness comes to you in blurred snatches, cloudy fragments of sound and light, color, sensation. Hazy and difficult to grasp on to, but slowly aligning into focus. A series of regular, rhythmic beeps. A medicinal, astringent smell. The sensation of movement, a low hum and accompanying vibration under you. Your eyes are heavy, hard to keep open, but in the glimpses between slow, dark blinks you see four people in black body armor seated opposite you, as well as a man in dark gray scrubs.
You realize there are others next to you. All of you are dressed differently: each in a cheap, clunky bodysuit of different colors. Red, blue, yellow, green, black, pink, purple, teal. It's as if you were put into a costume, the blurry shades of the outfits moving in and out with your hazy recognition. Your hair has been recently cut, and is at various stages of growth, and you're restrained across your arms, chests, and feet, left firmly attached to the softly cushioned seat beneath you. To your left, an armored interior door, two more people visible, the movement of streets passing through a windshield. You try to open your mouth to speak, but it's as if your tongue is coated in tar, and you manage nothing more than an empty parting of lips.
The vehicle stops. The guard opposite you stands and comes to unbuckle you from the bench, helping you to your feet. Your limbs feel wooden and heavy, slow to move. One guard opens the back of the vehicle, and there is a clutter of sounds and lights outside, children and adults milling about, with giddy cheerful music accompanying the pitter patter of sounds. The warm air is dry but cooling, and you'll likely wish you weren't in whatever overwrought attire you were dressed in for the occasion. Before you're let out, the nurse moves to check each passenger, releasing them from their restraints just before they're helped out of the vehicle. The nurse doesn't follow, instead moving to sit as the last passenger is unloaded.
The guards keep their heads down. Their actions are quick and firm, but not unkind. Once the passengers are out, the guards place a mask in each of their hands that matches the color of their clothing, and from it hangs a metal card that will grant everyone entrance to the party up ahead. Then the guards climb back into the vehicle and close the doors. The engine powers up again, and then the bus is gone.
You're left alone at the large entrance of a festival of some kind, with many people milling about in costumes while loud music plays from speakers. The festival itself undoubtedly looks like some kind of costume party, though you'll come to notice that your costumes aren't unique.
Though entirely capable of independent action and thought, new characters will find themselves completely, unquestioningly compliant to any verbal statement which could be taken as a command or request.
The message from El comes the same as usual: insistent, not waiting for any active attempt to open it. Scrolling within your vision as if being written while you're reading it.
Wow, I have to say – the guys behind this? They're getting creative. I'm sure some of you are already aware, but Anime Naex is on, and arrival #7 is there waiting for you in some rather unfortunate getups. Make sure you look up the Vestica pilots on the way so you can pick them out. Have fun and pick me up something there, will you? I never get to go.
Animation Naexpo – which is more coloquially known as Anime Naex – is a popular annual convention, born out of a subculture of video game and animation fans around the city. Since our time, animation has become a world-wide sensation, and is distributed out of numerous megacities, with each one specializing in their own flavor and genre. There are many smaller conventions that are held every year in New Amsterdam, but this is the largest of them all, complete with the most competitive cosplay competitions, as well as the most popular guests who travel from other megacities around the world to meet and interact with their fans. It also has the hottest venue: set in the tallest hotel in the center of the financial district, it's a place that many of the con attendees could never dream of entering without having the convention as their annual ticket inside.
The streets leading up to the hotel are lined with booths, all trying to sell handmade wares. These booths act as the artist's alley for the convention, allowing people to set up within rented spaces. Many of the artists craft their own supplies – T-shirts, shoes, and other articles of clothing – while also having a code that will allow someone to access their digital gallery if someone might want to commission anyone on their way inside. There won't be anything like the ubiquitous keychains, prints or stickers of today, but there are many an enamel pin for someone to show off their particular allegiances.
Just above these booths and on the way inside, there are numerous AR displays paid for by multiple streaming companies. Any of the new arrivals won't get a read on these displays because their implants aren't registered yet, but the previous arrivals will be able to see targeted advertisements featuring a wide array of different cartoons and animation programs meant for all different types of audiences. These advertisements are often fairly generic, inviting someone inside so they can learn more.
Once inside, it seems that there's a lot to do. Anime Naex is a three day event, and everyone there working the event is dressed up in the same dark blue period costumes, celebrating the biggest show at the moment: a moody noir show that's set in the late 1990s. Each of them have a different pair of gaudy sunglasses, and their pants have numerous pockets, signifying the long-forgotten cargo pants of the past. While these workers are dressed up, they are the hotel employees, and they won't be happy to be there. Try to treat them kindly?
The program for the event is full of a great deal of things, so try to have fun.
> CURRENT HITS
The two top shows that are getting the most attention are Hot Case and Vestica: Aeon. Hot Case is the aforementioned noir anime set in the late 1990s, involving a snarky, too smart for his own good detective as he tries to solve the unsolved mysteries of the previous centuries. He's a cynic who often believes he's chasing urban legends down blind alleys. Vestica: Aeon is the most recent addition to the popular mecha franchise that's been around for well over a century. This particular addition has been running for five years with no end in sight, featuring a rotating cast and different mechs tied to various animal and nature spirits. Otherwise, the current trends vary a lot: many are historical in nature (set in the 20th or 21st centuries, often with an emphasis on traveling to prevent this future from happening), while others are high fantasy and worlds that could never be, free of the constraints of technology and filled with magic and great wonders. There are also plenty of aliens, ready to intervene and keep humanity from destroying itself further. Some shows are more generic than others, and they're typically meant for varying ages rather than genders, with a lot of the modern-day fanservice and tropes left behind as society evolved. But don't worry: there are still magical girls.
> COSTUMES
Much like today, there are a few of the lazy people who haphazardly put together a costume at the last minute or buy it online. But then there's everyone else. Anime Naex is the convention to show off someone's hard work and ingenuity when it comes to the costuming scene. Many of these costumes are high tech in nature – and many involve various inspirational spins on classics, showing the creativity behind the design. Some of the more committed cosplayers have cybernetics to help enable their costumes, helping them replace certain aspects so that it can best suit their appearance for the event the following year. The goal for these cosplayers is always the same: win the big prize at the show, which is a hefty amount of credits and an internship with a top costume designer who's worked on some of the world's biggest blockbusters.
> EVENTS
The three day schedule for Anime Naex is jam packed, with certain panels running around the clock. No matter what, there will always be a steampunk or traditional tea ceremony of some time going on – albeit with leaves that leave a lot to be desired, grown in gardens around the city (don't expect much). Otherwise, there are lots of panels led by guests or con attendees hoping to convince someone to watch their favorite show, or to discuss some of the more involved pieces of subtext. Yes, there are still awkward shipping panels with involved, AR powerpoint displays and clips often taken wildly out of context to prove what they have to say. These panels can get rather heated, often bringing people who discuss and debate online into the same room once a year. There are also many game rooms and amateur gaming competitions.
> THE DEALERS
Like with many different events around New Amsterdam, Anime Naex acts as a hot spot for consumerism. There are numerous booths set up throughout the many floors of the hotel, selling different wares, including various pillows, stuffed creatures, and – while often more expensive – robotic versions of mascots from the shows. These robots lack any artificial intelligence, but function and work rather similarly to appear as if they've come right out of everyone's favorite shows. For anyone who's lacking a stellar costume, there are numerous booths set up to help people buff up what they want.
> THE BALL
There is, of course, a ball. Titled the Dawn Ball, it's held on the Saturday of the event, providing numerous con-goers an opportunity to wear a fancy version of their costume to dance. These balls are opportunities for people to show off their cosplay partner and relationships, and even show a different kind of ingenuity, as they maintain their character in question while wearing formal wear. Admission does require formal wear, and most of the people who go are on the younger side.
> MISCELLANY
Like any convention, there are always those people who stroll up to stay in a hotel without knowing what they're getting in to, and that'll happen here. Unaware of why so many rooms weren't available, there will be the occasional individual who doesn't know what's even happening. Life outside of the hub of the convention will go on as normal … but with a lot more strangely costumed people walking the streets as they go out to get food or head home after the day's events. Many of the restaurants nearby will have restaurant week deals with special menus designed for con goers. Prove you have a badge to get another discount – and try out your favorite Vestica pilot's favorite snack!
Access to the safehouse is a hatch hidden behind stacks of empty storage shelves in the back of an abandoned supermarket in an outer district of the city. The immediate area is similarly abandoned, empty stores, flanked by several blocks of dive bars and clubs which cater to more niche tastes. A place where people can come and go unseen, or, if seen, not spoken of. A dark haired woman called Gaby is ready to greet the new arrivals and get them settled in, brusque and no-nonsense – she'll be open for in depth questions later, but will advise everyone to ask the people who brought them in for the beginning bits of information.
◉ The safe house is a large open space, filled with rows of basic cots set up to sleep a large amount of people. Basic, but outfitted with everything necessary for daily life. A few doors lead to back rooms for storage, medical care and a large communal bathroom, and past the long rows of cots there is a communal kitchen, fully stocked, and an eating area. Privacy is at a minimum.
There is a sign of some things being in disarray, with numerous metal containers meant to help stock things, as well as be moved out. There will be Morningstar agents moving in and out of the safehouse, helping prepare for the next step for their lives.
◉ New characters will be asked to pick their beds, and provided with a change of (second-hand, mismatched and somewhat threadbare) clothes and basic toiletries.
◉ While there were previously also NPC occupants of the safehouse, natives to New Amsterdam, these people have now been moved on to somewhere safer. A few of their belongings remain, discarded or accidentally abandoned.
◉ Gaby will make it clear to all new arrivals that if they have any requests or queries, they should contact her or El.
◉ The drugs making new characters compliant will remain in their systems for a few hours after their arrival at the safehouse before finally beginning to fade. They will be gone entirely after a night's rest. In the meantime, they may want to be careful of what others say to them.
◉ New characters will be given rudimentary access to the network on arrival in the safehouse, but will not have their ID set up yet. They will be able to make posts and replies, but their messages will be anonymous and they do not have inboxes yet.
◉ New characters will not be allowed to leave the safehouse until SEPTEMBER 24. These 4 days are for them to adjust, learn about the world they've arrived in from their fellows, and for El to speak with them and work on setting up their IDs.
Welcome to Meadowlark, newbies! You're now free to post to the network and logs comms. To reiterate, your characters will have no IDs or inboxes, nor be allowed out of the safehouse until September 24 (February 17). At that point it's expected they'll have gotten a good idea of their new situation from their fellow characters, and will have discussed their background and job potentials with El in order for their false IDs to be set up.
If you have any questions or ideas about how you'd like to get your character involved in the world, please head over to the plot engagement post and drop us a comment! For questions specific to this log, there is a thread below.
Please check out our February calendar rundown for a look at things happening this month, as well as some additional notes from the mods. We made a couple of revisions/corrections to the calendar since it was first posted, so please have another look at it!
As a reminder, AC for new characters accepted in February will be 10 comments across 2-4 threads, while current characters will need to provide the full AC of 20 comments across 2-4 threads. AC will be posted on March 1 and close on March 7. If you do not reply to AC, you will be considered idled and dropped from the game. We will not post a warning list.
expo oo1
As luck would have it, one runs into him instead, backing into him as he’s trying to cut through the throngs of people. On instinct, he reaches out to rest his hands on their shoulders, steadying them. ]
Easy. You’re likely to get yourself trampled in this mess.
[ With all the crazy costumes about, X’rhun has found he can go without hiding his Miqo’te features. His ears, plainly exposed, swivel towards the smaller figure in front of him. ]
no subject
but that voice cuts through the loud chatter of the crowd around her, clear as day and anchoring Arya's mindset to a point of familiarity. the unworn mask in her hands falls to the ground as she wheels around to confirm if she really did hear what she heard, if she really wasn't imagining things--
and there was her mentor staring right back at her, as though he never left. ]
X'rh--!
[ his name catches in her throat, stuck as she simply stares at the miqo'te with her mouth agape. she can already feel tears pricking at her eyes, for after all of the madness and confusion, and all of the foreign sights, sounds, and smells that left Arya reeling, X'rhun was the very last person she thought she would see here and never before has Arya welcomed such a sight from home. ]
no subject
All at once, he is filled with a strange sort of relief and dread. He longed to see her for a year -- a year -- and now that she is here, he wishes to the gods she were anywhere else. She'd been through so much, and now here she is, freshly cut open and changed and abandoned. ]
Arya? Gods, Arya it is you.
[ Her costume has sleeves, and he's so grateful for that. She needn't feel the way the bottom drops out of his world as he flings his arms around her and pulls her close. ]
no subject
but he's right here, embracing her, and it pulls Arya back to the reality of her -- their situation. almost immediately after she registers his arms around her does she return the embrace, fingers digging tightly into his clothes. she always knew she would see him again one day, but never before has she felt this much relief in seeing this jovial miqo'te again.
even in this unfamiliar land, she still has one link to her home. and from the way she's gripping his clothes, she doesn't intend to let that go anytime soon. ]
X'rhun… [ his name is mostly said as an anchor for herself rather than to get his attention.she swallows heavily, blinking back her relieved tears. ] Wh-what… What is all this?
no subject
Why her? Why here?
He supposes it doesn’t matter now – what’s done is done, through no control of their own. They must do as they have always done, and refuse to bend a knee to this new twist of fate. In true red mage fashion, they will make this situation their own.
He pulls back a little, just enough so he can see her face. The water gathering in her eyes breaks his heart ]
I can explain, but first let us move away from the crowd. Take hold of my sleeve, but do not grip my hand, do you understand?
no subject
Ye-yes, sir.
[ there's no questions asked as she does precisely as she's told, releasing X'rhun entirely in favor of grabbing onto his sleeve, just as instructed. it's a little disconcerting how she doesn't necessarily feel the need to question his reasoning for such specific instructions, but Arya ultimately chalks it up to the immense amount of trust she holds for X'rhun.
she uses her free hand to rub away her tears in the meantime. while she already knew that she would be just fine once she had a proper hold on her situation, having X'rhun around made gathering her bearings all the more easier. X'rhun is someone familiar, someone from home, someone she knows for certain that she can count on as much as he can count on her-- perhaps even more so.
she'll be okay. X'rhun is here.
she'll be okay. ]
no subject
I am sorry, Arya. I will try to phrase my requests more gently.
[ And as actual requests, rather than commands.
But she has a hold of him, now, so away they go. He guides her carefully through the crowd, weaving through groups of cosplayers and fans with their arms overflowing with merchandise. A time or two, someone tries to stop them for a picture, marveling at how real his ears seem or wanting a photo of Arya’s costume. He cuts them off each time before they can finish their demand.
At last they find a corner of the hotel mostly empty save for a few tired stragglers leaning against the wall or fussing with a bit of their costume that’s broken off. He stops here, turning once again to face his charge. ]
You can let go now, if you wish. Are you alright? Apart from confused and disoriented, that is. Comes part and parcel with arriving here, I’m afraid.
no subject
she supposed she'll get an answer as soon as they were away from the crowd. Arya follows dutifully behind as X'rhun navigated through the crowd, keeping her grip on his sleeve tight so that not even the roughest jostle could dislodge her from him. every time the two of them were stopped, Arya always eased her way behind her mentor as he brushed the other person off. it was an old habit that she promised she wouldn't fall back on, but she hoped her mentor would forgive her just this once, considering her vulnerable state.
the interest in X'rhun's ears especially interested Arya, however, and it took up until this moment for her to realize that the other attendants seemed to be predominantly… or rather, entirely Hyur.
just what kind of strange land were they spirited away to…?
gradually the crowds thin out, and Arya finds that it's easier for her to breathe now that she can actually hear her own thoughts. as much as she didn't really want to let go of her mentor, she feels a little more sound of mind and fully convinced he won't just vanished. she releases him, not realizing just how tightly she'd been gripping him until she feels the ache in her hand. ]
I'm… [ confused, disoriented, overwhelmed, scared-- ] I'm alright. Much better now, actually. I feel as though I can breathe easier.
Although I'm still uncertain as to where 'here' is, precisely…
no subject
Still, it does him good to see her breathe a sigh of relief once the crowd is not so oppressive. He has ever kept his faith in Arya’s strength, in the fire of her soul that beat back Lilith herself, and while she is shaken now, he knows that with time she will be alright. ]
We find ourselves on a star known as “Earth”, in the city of New Amsterdam, specifically. ‘Tis a world unlike our own in many ways, though I know not how we came to be here. Only that here we are, and we have been changed for it.
no subject
not the most imaginative name, but it wasn't exactly Arya's choice to make. she remains attentive to X'rhun's explanation otherwise, her gaze remaining trained on him even as he could only describe a scenario that bordered on the fantastical-- the sort one would hear from a bard looking for pay or a drunkard talking absolute nonsense.
but X'rhun is neither of those things. he had a penchant to tease innocently, something that Arya found herself on the receiving end of several times, but she knows better than to think he would create some outlandish story like this. everything he said was undoubtedly true in her eyes, which only worsens the sinking feeling she's experiencing. ]
… [ there's a moment where she can't even find herself to speak. such a bombshell's been dropped on her, it's taking longer than it normally would for her to process the explanation. ] I… I think I understand. I noticed everything here felt 'wrong' in a sense, once I was more myself.
But, changed… how?
no subject
First of all, there is some sort of technology in our heads, which is to account for our new haircuts and the scar we each bear on the back of our necks. You can think of this technology as something akin to a linkshell and a library all rolled into one. I’m still learning it myself, but I can try to teach you as best I can.
But the second and most extreme change lies here – [ he places a hand over his own chest. ] There has been… something put in each of us. It denies us access to any magic or powers we may bear naturally, and grants to us new abilities instead.
no subject
it's the second part that has the stunning feeling return full force. never mind the fact that apparently they were given new abilities, to be denied access to their own abilities… the hand moves from the back of her neck to just below her heart, the same spot X'rhun rested his hand upon his own chest. there's nothing visibly different there, but once again, there's no way X'rhun could be lying. ]
How could this be… How could they have… [ she doesn't finish that reason of thought before another occurs to her and she snaps her head up. ] So-- even your red magic is gone as well?!
[ Arya's not all that concerned with her own abilities being locked away-- another case of 'been there, done that', and while she made some headway in regaining her abilities, it wasn't much. but the possibility of X'rhun losing his magic as well… it was something she could not fathom. it may as well be unnatural to her. ]
no subject
[ Without thinking, he will often try to summon up a spell, even something as simple as Vercure or even tether, and it feels as if his heart catches fire until at last he remembers and backs off. Two decades and then some of habit are proving rather difficult to break. ]
There is one other effect of the thing in our chests. Whenever two people who are possessed of one... whatever-it-is make skin-on-skin contact, they will feel each others' emotions. That is why I told you to take hold of my sleeve before.
no subject
but X'rhun continued, so she tried to push that revelation aside. it seemed like he was taking everything in stride, so Arya will be able to as well. it was actually the second half of his explanation that had her perking up-- after all, even though she's currently unwittingly drugged, she's still capable of independent thought. ]
I'd actually been wondering about that! I didn't think much of it, as you always had your reasons, but I did think it a very curious request…
[ her eyes flick to X'rhun's bare hand before turning down to her own. she wouldn't dare to try and test it on anyone -- not without their permission, and especially not with how vulnerable she still felt now, even if she was significantly calmer than earlier. ]
no subject
[ His ears droop a bit, and he looks as apologetic as Arya has probably ever seen him. It is not his intention to steal the free will away from anyone, and he could kick himself for forgetting as he did. ]
The people responsible for bringing us here apparently like their patients compliant. There is a drug yet lingering in your system that renders you unable to disobey a direct demand. So, again, I am sorry for the way I spoke to you earlier.
no subject
well, that's another tally for the 'been there, done that' board. the knowledge that she's been drugged again settles heavily in the pit of her stomach, but it's X'rhun's reaction that really takes precedence. the urge to grab X'rhun's hand was strong, but she refrains-- if only because of the empathy link. ]
You don't need to apologize, X'rhun! You meant no offense, I know that, and I also know you've always held the best of intentions in what you told me to do.
[ her voice lowers so that she doesn't catch the attention of the lingering congoers scattered around them. ] Besides, even if I weren't drugged, I still would have done as you asked without hesitation.
no subject
[ He offers her a teasing grin, though he still feels bad about the whole thing. She is right, however, he only meant to protect her – he only wishes he hadn’t inadvertently stripped her of her ability to choose when he’d done so. Lesson learned, and he can take some solace in knowing that in a day or two, she’d be free of the drug’s infernal influence.
As if he can sense her desire to reach for him, he rests a hand upon her shoulder, squeezing just slightly. ]
Are you ready to take your leave of this place? There is much more to discuss, but I don’t believe this is the place for it.
no subject
[ okay maybe she did a little.
but there was definitely a comfort in returning to a routine she was so used to. it made being in this foreign land all the more bearable, doubly so when she felt X'rhun's hand on her shoulder. it once again gave her the reassurance that he's here and they can get through this and find a way home together.
a glance was spared to the hall they came from to reach this sequestered corner, and she only mulled over her options for a moment before offering a single steady nod. ]
Yes, I think I'm ready. I'm pretty certain I can handle the crowds now.
no subject
[ It feels good to tease her again. As much as he wishes she weren’t here, there is a selfish part of him, a part that he does not often indulge, that is glad she is. He had slotted himself into Alisaie’s life as a surrogate parent, he imagines the same will come to pass here, and that gives him a bit of direction. ]
Alright. I shall run interference again if people try to stop us. Will you please take hold of my sleeve again?
[ And once Arya has a hold of him, away they will go, cutting through the convention-goers and out of the building to make their way to Morningstar’s safehouse. ]
no subject
but with X'rhun's request comes the effects of the drug once more: whether or not she intended to willingly follow his instruction (which, let there be no mistake, she absolutely would have followed anyway), she'll obediently take hold of his sleeve with a firm grip that held no intention of letting go. she follows him obediently, weaving through the crowds with far more ease than usual.
eventually they leave the main event hall with minimal interruptions and were on their way to… wherever X'rhun is leading them. the crowds began to gradually thin out, but Arya quickly finds that being outside is no better than being among the crowds, especially in this bodysuit. it's so humid. ]
I don't think I've ever seen so many people in one place… [ she turns back to the building they just came out of. ] Was all of that a festival of some sort?
no subject
Considering the schedule of the whole city is flipped, meaning the residents sleep during the day and wake during the night (a concept that sits entirely at odds with X’rhun’s Seeker instincts), the weather is not as hot as it could be. It’s still pretty damn muggy for the middle of the night, though. ]
Something like that. I’ll be able to explain it a bit better once you become acquainted with the functions of the network device.
[ He taps a finger to his temple to illustrate what he means. ]