may 2020. welcome to the void.

[modblob]

Who: Everyone in Anchor.
What: Monthly Mingle
When: The Month of May 2020
Where: Around and outside the city.
Warnings: Please add any warnings in the subject lines.

Redshift: Welcome to the v͖͕̺̲̘̱̜͎o̴̦̣̠̦̘̹͞i̯̖d̛̪̬͈̱̦̝͍̕.

Click here to read what characters will experience when arriving in Anchor.

a. useful information.

It's midmorning on a bright and sunshiny day, and even as the several brand new (to Anchor anyway) suns pour their eye-bleaching brightness down upon the dome of Anchor, there is a rumble from deep in the city.

It's preceded by a voice that sounds very much like SINI's, echoing faintly through the halls: "Bitches want me to be useful, here, have something useful."

Those who investigate will find that the cube maze behind the door under the city has been reshuffled, and its doors are open - leading directly across and down into a new area. Beware, the traps are still active, and there are new ones there, too - use your imaginations!

b. tabula rasa...or not.

Should a character risk traversing the maze and actually succeed, they will find a door on the other side. As soon as they step through the door, they'll find themselves entering a decontamination chamber much like the one at the entrance to Anchor. Only, along with a rather invasive scrub down, adventurers will also be hit by a thick cloud of vapor meant to induce amnesia and/or delirium. Remember those memloss orbs? No? Well, those lucky lucky people who handled them or were infected from someone else will find themselves immune to the vapor that pours into the room. Those who are affected, well. Just don't let those affected wander back into the maze unattended.

The mechanism holding the second door at the opposite side of the decontamination room is shut, but it can be opened by brute force, but you'll have to really brute force it. In the 'can't close it again because it's busted open' kinda way - here's hoping you wanted that open permanently.

Beyond the door is a long hallway lined with cages, each cage with a door set into the back wall. Some of the cages are empty, or have ancient, grotesque dessicated animals inside, some strange and obviously twisted and others torn apart or mutilated. Others are broken open. Is that sound coming from deeper down the hall growling? Whatever it is, the creatures who broke out and survived can be familiar or strange - maybe a little something from home that you really didn't miss.

Man, it's too bad you had to break that door open and now things can get through the maze and back into Anchor.

Those who were smart enough not to go down into the maze could still face the creatures in the depths, should any of them get past the adventurers who released them. Not all of them are vicious. But all of them are definitely hungry and angry and scared.

c. welcome to the strip mall.

Should people emerge from the depths of the maze again after being hit by the memloss drug, those who know them (and those who don't) will find that the effects are not passing. Not after a day. Not even after two or three. There's a problem here, and it's one that will take work to solve and fix.

Meanwhile, a new store has appeared at the end of the row of shops propagating outside the dome. This one, a garden center for truly alien plants. The place is department-store huge, sporting everything from outsized venus fly traps to utterly foreign, tiny little trees, with grape-sized fruit hanging from their branches.

Down several aisles are… for lack of a better word, the "chatty" plants. These are the noisemakers, rattling against each other, chiming like tiny bells, making sad trombone noises or just...

Talking?

With a snap of...whatever passes for lips and teeth in the creepily vertical slit "mouth" of a three-foot-tall plant with broad fluffy leaves that sway despite the lack of a stiff breeze, anyone venturing too close will hear a deep, raspy, sarcastic voice making snarky quips at them.

"Wow, you sure are wanderin' around a lot. Forgot what you're looking for? HAH! Well, y'know, we got a cure for what ails ya!"

How is that helpful commentary?

Navigation.

Comments

QUESTIONS.

[modblob]

Any mod questions can go here!

[abheirrant]

What happens to people who aren't affected by mind-altering effects? I figured Carlisle wouldn't be affected by the idiot ball if he'd gotten a hold of one, but could we say the vapor is more powerful if we did want to play with it?

I didn't play with it then due to it just not being a fun thing for him to have gone through then, but it might be more interesting now that he's actually settled in and whatnot. I'm game either way!

[modblob]

That works fine by us! Feel free to assume the system adapted this attack to be effective against whatever resistances it came in contact with last time. This adaptation will be spotty, however, which means it can be anywhere from 100% to 50% effective on characters in a situation like Carlisle's, or not work at all.

[abheirrant]

Yessssss thanks mods!

[superposition]

Sorry about how late this is, still getting back into the swing of RP, but-

Qubit and Peter are both getting hit with memory loss simultaneously, and will probably be unable to do any supplemental maintenance to speak of until the cure is developed. My question is, would the station start to fall into disrepair again without their help, and if so, how quickly?

[modblob]

Thank you for your question! And there's no reason to apologize for lateness.

Repairs would still be done while Qubit and Peter are out of commission, they just wouldn't happen as quickly as they would with constant player character maintenance. There are systems in place in the city now that weren't in place before the characters' arrival to ensure that the place stays livable.

Any special projects they had going, however, would not progress or be maintained. Behind the scenes maintenance would only apply to regular station upkeep.

[circumspector]

Hey, how long will the people be stuck with the memory loss problems? If they talk with the plants, can they fix it?

[modblob]

Left untreated, the memory loss can last for as long as any individual player wants it to. Feel free to make up a reason your character has it for a longer or shorter time - brain chemistry, mental shielding, magic, etc. can all be reasons.

As for talking to the plants - yes, the talking plants will give tips and hints on what plants in the shop and/or in the Agricultural area might be combined to create a cure. They won't give a direct answer (mostly because they're trolls with twisted senses of humor) but will give characters some ideas.

Genji Shimada | OTA

[arcadedragon]

1. Maze and Memory Loss
Genji is eager to help out in any way he can, so when he hears that there might be something useful through the maze he's all on it. He'd gone through the maze once before, so while he couldn't possibly memorize any of the traps at least he's aware the thing is trying to kill him.

He ends his maze run by doing a few sick ass flips into the decontamination room. Get this done with and then head out the other door and...

and....

Oh no.

Genji will just be standing around the decontamination room very perplexed, or stuck in the maze because he doesn't remember which way he came from. He could probably use a little help.

2. Plants
It's a miracle that Genji didn't wander off into the desert and die, but he's managed to get into the new store and is perusing the plants. He already has one cradled in his arm, brilliant green with silver flowers that make a soft sort of pinging noise when jostled. It's vaguely the Pac-Man wonka wonka noise but he doesn't remember that, clinging to it because it sounds familiar in a way he can't place.

"Do plants normally make sounds such as these?" Because he doesn't think so, but he can't be sure.

2

[tsuyoi_ame]

Never one to sit back and do nothing means from the moment he arrives in Anchor Yamamoto makes use of his free time. Rather it is training, exploring, or meeting the people who are now essentially his neighbors. Unaware of the maze as he is still learning his way around he finds himself wandering toward a plant store.

It's the noise that gets his attention. Yamamoto slips into the store and immediately blinks. That noise is from a flower.

"Uh, I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to do that." He gives a gentle warning because, well plants don't make noise man, they just don't.

[arcadedragon]

"That is what I thought but.." He trails off because he really can't remember. He gives the plant a soft shake and it responds with a slightly more annoyed wonka wonka, apparently it doesn't like that.

"At least it's not trying to bite me, another I picked up did. I don't think they really like me." He holds it eye level (well, visor level anyway) and peers at it. "That is too bad because you match me little plant, and you're coming with me."

[tsuyoi_ame]

"I don't think it cares for being shaken." But can a plant really care about that sort of thing? A plant definitely should not care about that sort of thing. He takes a closer look around the store. While not a plant expert he is pretty sure these are not normal plants. Some even give him an ominous feeling, Genji's next statement confirming.

"They tried to bite you?" The surprise in his face is clear plants are not supposed to do this. Yamamoto leans in to inspect the plant currently at visor level, thinking it's sad that he seems to like them so much but they don't like him.

His eyes go wide "Uh, are you sure that's a good idea? What if it tries to eat you in your sleep?" He means they are biting people, what if one goes whacky later?

[arcadedragon]

"No it doesn't. I'm sorry plant." A plant that will need a much better name than 'plant' eventually. Genji isn't even really sure why he wants it, he just does. It's green and silver like him, it makes video game noises, he needs it.

"It tried, I was too quick for it. Not that it would matter." He waggles one of his metal hands, it wouldn't have been able to get through his armor anyway, but it was a little endearing that it tried. Aside from the whole part about it being a plant.

"This one just makes sounds, I don't think it can eat me." He gives it a poke, and other than some disgruntled noises and waggling, it doesn't seem like it wants a taste of cyborg. "I can take it should it try. You hear that plant? Do not try anything."

He is... talking to the plant.

[tsuyoi_ame]

Yamamoto stands perplexed, watching Genji to him something does not feel right. Sure he is the new guy in town but this whole thing seems wrong somehow. He can feel it edge up his spine in warning tingles, his instincts tell him something is off.

Yamamoto grins at the waggle of metal fingers, okay so yeah he would be hard to eat but still. That plant seems harmless, some of these others not so much and looks can be deceiving. After all, who would expect a guy who looks like Genji to be talking to plants?

Then he hears it, the plant talking about forgetting and having cures. It is like a lightbulb above his head.

It also makes him realize, this guy really should not take the plant. He needs help but is it the medicine that crazy, evil-looking plant is offering, or is it something else?

"Hey, do you remember was this place here all along?" Yeah, he is eyeing that plant, letting the other have his conversation, he doesn't see the harm in talking to the plant. It is taking it home with him that worries the youth. Test one, does he remember anything. The store seems a safe place to start since they are here.

Because he does not remember a place like this in the welcome video.

Ratonhnhaké:ton (Connor) // OTA

[mustact]

A. Tabula rasa

Even though it may not be a good idea to go snooping in every new area that is revealed - or every old area that reappears - it isn't about to stop Ratonhnhaké:ton from doing so. If they don't, how will they find out what happened in Anchor? How to potentially get people back home? It may usually come with risks, but it's never easy to know what will happen.

Unfortunately, he's not immune to the vapors.

For anyone who joins him in the decontamination room will find a very confused assassin, turning a lap on the spot to figure out where he is. When all he sees is blank walls, he wonders if this is supposed to be prison. Only it doesn't look at all like he thought a prison might look. Then again, he supposes that doesn't really mean much.

B. Around Anchor

Once he gets out of the maze, he doesn't settle. He moves around the colony with resolution in his step, almost manic in the way he explores every nook and cranny as though he's searching for something. He can be found in the library, in abandoned stores, in the park at the very bottom.

If he isn't doing that, well ... You may at some point while going about your own day feel someone's gaze in your neck. Because there aren't a lot of people about, and anyone he meets is instantly a target for scrutiny.

After some time, however, he'll stop being a strange wallflower, and the next person he sees coming towards him, he will halt with a hand and a sharp question.

"How long have you been here?"

C. Wildcard

B Wildcard ish

[circumspector]

Angel didn't have half the problem escaping the maze - but then she didn't expect Connor did much either. Even with them losing each other in the inside of the maze, eventually, they'd end up the other side of the walls. After all, she'd run the gauntlet of losing her memories once already, it had no effect now.

The rest is just a matter of reconvening, later on. Takes the time to do her own rounds of checks. On the Reindire, Charles and Jacob, Her bird.

When she sees him again, the response is the same, she just bounds up to him on her hooves to tumble into his chest with her arms around his waist. It's light, arms not very heavy, tilting her head up to look at him with a smile, but thinks she knows what he means, right? "Connor, I only just made it out myself. Got a little sidetracked."

[mustact]

Make no mistake; the whole situation is very confusing. Anchor is something unlike anything Ratonhnhaké:ton has seen, and his quest to make sense of it has so far not proved fruitful. It's not that seeing someone who appears to be half woman half goat isn't equally as confusing, just that ... everything is, and it's just one more thing to add to the pile.

That said, while he's never seen a structure like this, this woman is even more fantastical. And she seems to know him? In fact, she acts as though he's very familiar, and he's so stunned by the hug that for several seconds, he says nothing at all.

"I ..."

And even when he tries, he still doesn't know what to say. There are so many things he wants to ask. Why does she know his name? Why is she hugging him? Who is she? What is she? Is she behind this?

Is she somehow connected to Those Who Came Before? Are they behind this?

[circumspector]

Something is.... wrong.

No, something is very, very, very wrong.

He says nothing, but he often does. He'd always tended to let actions speak form him. That wasn't it. No... No, it wasn't that as she realized what was offer. No matter how bad, no matter if they needed to talk, or one of their moods was bad since they'd... they'd decided to try this, Connor always managed to at least press a kiss to her forehead. A hand on her shoulder at the minimum.

Not this cold, sudden, retracted presence from her.

Angel's head tips back, looking into his brown eyes with her own black ones, flicking between them, looking for it. The warmth, the way that he smiled, just in the corner of the eyes that made her feel like she was the only one he saw. No corner of bemusement at her exuberance. No reassurance. Nothing.

It wasn't there.

Her fingers slowly loosen from where she held, sliding flat to get more space.

"Connor? What happened? Did something hurt you in there?"

[mustact]

She's backing off, giving him space, and he visibly relaxes. But his gaze stays on her, wary, as he takes a step back to further increase the distance. What is going on? Who is she? The vision he was given through that artifact hadn't been this real, this clear. It looks like something that could exist, even if he can't quite make sense of it.

"I am not supposed to be here."

Can't be here. It's wrong. He has things he needs to do, things that are far more important.

[circumspector]

That hurts, that hurts so much. Her fingers curl in like she'd been burned. Her arms falling back to her sides, then in, tucking around her, like she doesn't know what to do with herself.

But that wasn't useful. So she focuses on what she usually does. Work, and what is happening in front of her.

"I'm. Uhm. Okay. Okay, we can work with that. Where do you need to go?"

It comes out shakey, but it's a clear something is wrong, and if they are going to get to the bottom of why her boyfriend all of a sudden doesn't want to even touch her - then, making him feel at ease and helping him work out where he needs to be is... is where they are going to start. Even if looking at him and not being even known by him... hurts, hurts like a knife in between her ribs, searing and hot.

closed to Peter (& later Scaramouche) (cw nudity i guess)

[superposition]

01 | Qubit'); DROP TABLE Memories;--

[ My name is Qubit.

The square root of -1 is i.

No three positive integers a, b, and c satisfy aⁿ + bⁿ = cⁿ for any integer value of n > 2...

He goes over the familiar proof in his head, and the overwhelming feelings of panic and dread start to subside. Proof by contradiction. Assume there's at least one solution, and use a, b, c, and n to create a semi-stable Frey curve... Fermat's Last Theorem, naturally. But ... why was it so important that he remember this proof? He does remember it, easily, like a song he's heard a million times - but a moment ago, it felt absolutely vital to recall this piece of information, whereas now he has several far more urgent questions.

Such as "Where am I?" or "How did I get here?" or "Why am I naked?"

Okay. Don't panic. Start with the facts, assess the situation. He's naked and soaking wet. Some dizziness, but it's subsiding. Tiled room, showerheads - communal shower? Would explain nudity, raises several other questions. He's not alone - young man, muscular, also naked and soaked, also appears disoriented. ]

... Hey. Are you all right?

Re: closed to Peter (& later Scaramouche) (cw nudity i guess)

[itsnotaonesie]

[Disoriented doesn't even begin to describe the state of one Peter Parker right now. He's soggy and butt naked and has no idea how he got here or why he's here, but he is sure of... two and a halfish, maybe three things? His name is Peter, he knows the entire periodic table by heart, and he has an aunt who's name he totally remembers, but not her face.

This is alarming, to say the least. For a moment it's all he can focus on, dedicating all of his brain power to trying to remember this one thing. He is naturally facing the wall while all of this is going down, one hand braced against said wall while the other clutches his head. A voice behind him startles the absolute fuck out of him, and rather than carefully turning around on the wet floor like a normal goddamn human being, he so very gracefully whips around only to slip and fall right on his ass. The dizziness certainly doesn't do him any favors either. He cracks the tiles of the wall that is now behind him with his elbow, but he'll worry about that after he's figured all this other shit out.]

Uhh, no. Nope. I just discovered that I'm showering with an old guy, soooo. That's how my day's going.

[Totally don't panic. Just. Maybe try to diffuse the situation with humor, right? That's totally gonna work.]

[superposition]

[ Okay well he was wincing apologetically when the kid slipped there, but apparently he's well enough to crack wise. Qubit bristles for a second - ]

Old?! I'm not -

[ - before it occurs to him he has no idea how old he is. Yeah, that's always a good sign! He sighs and rubs his forehead. Stay calm. One thing at a time. Focus on the facts, not on how incredibly uncomfortable this whole situation is. ]

Never mind. So - you don't remember what we're doing here, either. Is that right?

[itsnotaonesie]

[It's all good man. Peter also has no idea how old he is. Old enough to be pretty ripped, at least. Probably 20-something? Maybe? He'll maybe figure it out later, right now he's going to worry more about picking his ass up off the floor and finding a towel to wrap around himself. His soggy shower companion is on his own.]

Uh, showering? I guess? As for why we're in here showering together, I couldn't tell you.

[superposition]

[ Are there towels? Oh, hey, a couple of towels have just been dispensed from a wall slot. And they're even clean, apart from some minor rust stains. He'll let Peter grab one first before doing the same.

The group shower isn't really the part that bothers him - it does seem unusual, but there are plenty of potential reasons that are perfectly innocuous. Not knowing why, on the other hand...

He secures the towel around his waist, then puts a hand to his temple, his mind racing. It's not just that, obviously - there's a lot more missing. A lot more. However many years old he is more. That's the part that's bothering him. ]

All right. Okay. What about... do you remember, let's say... anything at all, before about ninety seconds ago?