modblob: (Default)
Mods ([personal profile] modblob) wrote in [community profile] redshiftlogs2019-06-30 09:07 pm

july 2019. welcome to the void.

Who: Everyone in Anchor.
What: First Introductory Mingle
When: The Month of July 2019
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. bot party.

A few hours after the first arrivals, odd noises start to filter up from the pavilion and park at the base of the city. Limp whistles, the gunfire pop of small fireworks, and music from what sounds like a broken kazoo. It seems as though the still-functioning robots of Anchor are trying to welcome their new human overlords, based on programming that hasn't been exercised in... uh, shall we say "a while"?

Three of them have formed a tiny off-key band playing unfamiliar tunes from crackling speakers. One of the three punctuates the music at odd moments by smashing together a pair of cymbals that seem to have been constructed from a flattened pot and a trash can lid. Two others man the refreshments table. Some of the food looks downright inedible, but there are piles of wild berries from the upper floors. Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries. Apples and cherries. Fruits that shouldn't be in season together but somehow still are. There's a strange and vaguely triangular pastry that tastes like hot cinnamon candy. There are piles of vegetables, too, though the only preparation they've had is to be washed and dumped in baskets.

One of the chef bots has put some work in, though, and there are a couple of stews and soups available for the adventurous. All of them are made with the raw ingredients available to eat on the tables. One of them even has meat in it, though that's best consumed by people with very hardy stomachs.

At the end of the refreshment table is a cluster of fresh-pressed juices and unlabeled alcohol bottles, with uneven stacks of cups stationed around them. (Careful, some of the cups are cracked.) Even the good old bar bot is doing his part, pouring out glasses of orange juice and straight shots of tequila. A very generous compromise in place of his usual tequila sunrises. Right? Right.

The most conspicuous robot is the one setting off fireworks. It’s already blown off one six-fingered hand, but by god that hasn’t stopped it. With every small cluster of colorful explosives, the thing throws back its chunky head and gives a sound that can only be described as a metallic cackle.

Might want to watch that guy.

b. life signs in the wasteland.

In the wee hours of the morning after the robots' attempted welcome, the impacts against the dome overhead start. Meteorites, some of them as large as a person's head, bombard the shield and the area around for miles. The alarms that start throughout the colony are enough to wake anyone up, if the thunderous noise of the cosmic storm wasn't enough to do it.

And the alarms aren't for the meteorites. The red shift is rising up around the colony, that phenomenon that no one from the past had the foresight to give more than vague warnings about. New residents who have done some digging will know exactly what’s going on, but for those who’ve avoided even thinking about what’s happened to them, well. It could be a nasty surprise.

Anyone sensible would stay inside with all of that going on, but there's something else: life signs. The communication devices given to residents on arrival light up, indicating the presence of no less than five flecks of life out there in the wastes. Odds are good that at least a few of them are monsters from other worlds, or twisted radioactive creatures warped by the planet itself. But one of them is very human, and has been here for a very long time.

Should residents venture out to investigate these life signs, they’ll find the farthest one to be a man in protective gear, flickering like a badly received signal. As the red shift starts to fade, he solidifies, and as the shift finally dies away, he wrenches off his helmet with one hand and falls to his knees. He's as twisted as the creatures the planet has corrupted, one eye socket nothing but a depression sealed by flesh. His lips on that side curves sharply upward, barely hiding teeth too sharp and long for a human mouth. It's clear now while he pulled off his helmet with one hand--the other is a wreck, a blackened stony mass sealed to the cuff of his radiation suit.

He can hear you coming, if you're brave enough to approach. He can hear you coming, and will turn his one orange-irised eye to watch you until you speak.


c. hairy repairs.

Welcome to Anchor, where sometimes you're the only thing between you and the catastrophic failure of life support systems. After the red shift ends, the radioactivity warning alarms will at least fall silent. The cosmic storm has passed, and for a little while there's quiet under the dome.

But those exploring the upper reaches of the city might hear new alarms, much softer and less insistent than the radiation alarms. They're coming from one of the survey rooms near the garage and the exits to the surface. It might take a little doing to pull up the screens triggering the alarms, but you'll be glad you put in the work. It turns out, those meteorites damaged several of the exterior sensors and one of the major radiation and light transfer panels that help keep anchor supplied with energy--and help keep the shield dome in good working order.

While the damage is easy to see and isn't too hard to fix for those with some technical know-how, there are life signs moving slowly closer to the colony. It's quite possible to fix the damage and get back inside before those life signs arrive, but there's also the risk of being caught in the open and facing down some of the planet's native creatures.

In this case, they're large, furry millipede-like creatures no less than seven feet long. They're perfectly harmless, if you don't count the fact that they seem intent on trying to eat the protective gear and tools you've brought out onto the surface with you. It's not their fault that your arms are inside those delicious radiation suits.


d. shadows of the past.

A few days of genuine quiet follow the fixing of the exterior damage. Time to explore, to get lost, to drink more than your doctor might recommend at the colony's only serviceable bar. Enough time to feel the weight of Anchor's emptiness.

The next time you walk into the bar, there's a see-through stranger at the pool table, smiling warmly in welcome. "Want a game?"

Get too close, and he disappears. But he was there--he was clearly there. The cue he was holding clatters to the ground and rolls over to rest at your feet.

Down in the pavilion, there are children playing in the park. Throwing balls, playing tag, their laughs echoing somehow in the open air. Invisible parents call for them to be careful or slow down. Now and then one of them will vanish midstep, only to appear again back where they were ten minutes ago and start their run through the park all over again. They can see you. One or two might even invite you to join their games, taking your hand in their own, leading you toward their fellows. And when they do, you can hear their parents' voices exclaiming in shock. A rush of shadows scoop up these phantom children and whisk them away into some invisible world where you can't follow, only hear the children crying in fear.

All around the colony, shades appear and vanish, some solid enough to touch, some just barely visible. Some are inexplicably aggressive, attacking anyone who tries to talk to them or get too close. Just as many run screaming or sobbing at the sight of you.

But there are others, too, who seem to recognize you. One of these is a young woman holding a gun like she has no idea how to use it. When approached, she almost starts to cry. "Oh, thank god. We have to get the kids to quarantine. We have to get them into lockdown. Those bastards-- Those sons of bitches-- The kids should at least have a chance."

She starts to turn, and a laser blast rips through her, lancing across the wall right where a deep score mark still exists, not in the least ghostly or unreal. If you touch it now, it feels warm.


e. ping from the rubble.

As though the presence of past residents sets it off, a persistent signal begins to broadcast from the collapsed library. It turns out there's a section not buried quite as deeply as the rest. A row of broken terminals, ending with the one sending the signal. A warning signal about the structural integrity of the library complex and the need to back up crucial data. Too little, too late, but with time and patience some of the partial files on the terminal could be reconstructed....

For those less versed in computers, there's a mysterious door just past the terminals, partially blocked off by rubble. If that can be cleared, the door leads into a dusty room with more broken terminals, but beyond that, there's a small library of real hardcover and paperback books, with comfortable chairs (some of them needing TLC), low tables, and lights (currently broken). The books are in a variety of languages, both Earth-based and alien. A flickering "skylight" at the top of the room shows a blue sky flanked by swaying trees, or a thunderstorm, or other, stranger but still friendly skies. It blinks off, sometimes, but seems determined to keep playing its peaceful scenes for those below. With some cleaning up, this could be a good retreat from the sometimes oppressive emptiness of Anchor.


writtendestiny: (014)

[personal profile] writtendestiny 2019-07-13 05:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[She stares right back at him when he looks at her, staying still and silent until he makes a move to leave. Then, she nods briskly and picks up the bag and belt, swinging the former over her shoulder. The belt will no doubt be too big for her, but she can make it work.]

Alright. We should try and find a way to maintain contact.

[Just in case.]

Are there any walkie-talkies in here?
itsnotaonesie: (what do they do exactly)

[personal profile] itsnotaonesie 2019-07-13 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh no they accidentally had a staring contest and Peter LOST.

That's okay he can deal with losing. He reaches into a pocket for his communicator thing and starts fiddling with it a bit.]


Did you pick one of these up when you got here? I think they should work just fine.
writtendestiny: (080)

[personal profile] writtendestiny 2019-07-13 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh--...

[She digs into the deep pocket of her jacket and pulls out a similar-looking communicator.]

Yes. I forgot about this. [Again, she purses her lips, and makes sure she can find a way to contact Peter on it before she stows it away again. A quick text, a ':)' face, pops up on Peter's device.]

Then we're ready.
itsnotaonesie: (turned upside down)

[personal profile] itsnotaonesie 2019-07-13 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[He chuckles, not in a "ha ha dumbass" sort of way, but in a

Well he's not sure what sort of way it is, but hey, now he has a ":)" on his space phone so that's fun.]


Awesome, let's get out there and see what we're up against.

[And awaaaaaay they go.]
writtendestiny: (026)

[personal profile] writtendestiny 2019-07-13 06:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's a little tricky to actually get out to the broken piece of tech, and not - Poison quickly surmises - not something to be done without adequate protection. It makes things somewhat more difficult, but it can still be done. Once Peter has gone back inside, Poison sets up her communicator so speak to him.]

Can you see a readout?
itsnotaonesie: (i think the fuck not)

[personal profile] itsnotaonesie 2019-07-13 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
One second.

[Peter sets his communicator up next to himself and takes a second to pull up some readouts on the computer. I know nothing about fixing futuristic space equipment so this is the part where Peter gives her instructions on how to do a thing. They're very detailed. Just trust me on this one.]

How's everything going out there?
writtendestiny: (072)

[personal profile] writtendestiny 2019-07-13 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
It's harder to do this with gloves on.

[Poison sounds annoyed when she replies, but she's working on it, following Peter's instructions. It reminds her of being in the Autobot clinic, watching Ratchet performing surgery and mimicking his actions. She doesn't often think of the Cybertronians now, but it still stings when she does.]

But you should be seeing something soon. If I just-- Ah!

[There's sound of a scuffle, and the line goes silent.]
itsnotaonesie: movieconnoisseur (holy tits)

[personal profile] itsnotaonesie 2019-07-13 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[OHHHHHHHH

that's not good.]


Poison?

[SUPER NOT GOOD. He snatches his communicator up and sprints out of the room. Shit shit he knew he should have stayed out there, now Poison's getting eaten by aliens or something and it's ALL HIS FAULT OH GOD.

It doesn't take him long to get outside, POISON WHERE YOU AT.]
writtendestiny: (094)

[personal profile] writtendestiny 2019-07-14 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[Fortunately for the both of them, Poison is not getting eaten by aliens. After losing her footing outside, she's several metres further down the slope of the roof and gripping to a loose piece of framework with both hands while she tries to regain her balance.

It looks like it's annoyed her, more than anything else.
]

I'm fine, Peter, go back inside!
itsnotaonesie: (...!?)

[personal profile] itsnotaonesie 2019-07-14 06:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[He visibly relaxes when he sees that Poison is not, in fact, being eaten by aliens. There's a relieved sigh and everything. He is not, however, relaxed enough about this situation to just go back inside. It's not that he doesn't trust Poison to get the job done, it's that he doesn't trust this rickety, shitty roof to cooperate. So.]

Uh, yeah, in a minute. I'm gonna give you something.

[He removes one of his web shooters and starts making his way over her, being careful not to step anywhere that might dislodge any of the framework. The last thing he wants to do is throw her balance off again]
writtendestiny: (099)

[personal profile] writtendestiny 2019-07-14 07:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Peter.

[Spirits, she's fine. Look, she's getting herself back up the roof and everything (if a little ungainly in the doing so). She manages to meet Peter half way, and instinctively grips his hand once they're close enough.]

Okay, what is it?
itsnotaonesie: movieconnoisseur (you are The Worst)

[personal profile] itsnotaonesie 2019-07-14 08:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[Just because she's fine doesn't mean she's fine fine okay. Or maybe it's just Peter being paranoid. After everything he's seen, it would probably be weird if he wasn't a little on edge about everything.

She takes one of his hands, and he slaps that web shooter around her wrist with his other.]


Just a, y'know, safety precaution. Just in case. This roof isn't very stable, so...

[And now he just fumbles for the words he's looking for because he's an awkward fuck. So they're gonna just stand around holding hands for a minute before Peter realizes he should probably show her how to actually use the web shooter, so he'll demonstrate with the one he's still wearing.]

You just, uh, point it at whatever you wanna web up, press down with these two fingers, and release.
writtendestiny: (008)

[personal profile] writtendestiny 2019-07-14 09:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[Safety precaution. Right.

Her fingers tingle against his hand and she'll just tell herself it's because of the shock of almost sliding all the way down the roof, given a timely out in his explanation of how to use the web shooter.

She gives it a try, extending her arm and pointing it further up the roof. Press with two fingers, release-- A string of webbing fires and hits just below the sensor she was trying to repair.

Poison can't help it - she laughs.
]

Alright. I promise, I'm okay now. Go back in and tell me what's on the computer.
itsnotaonesie: (hey dickwad)

[personal profile] itsnotaonesie 2019-07-14 10:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[His heart's just beating faster because he was afraid she'd fallen off the roof earlier, no other reason. Nothing weird here, shut up.

Her reaction to the web shooter is kind of great though, Peter can't help but laugh too.]


You're a natural at that. Uh, call you in a minute, I guess. [He giver her a friendly, only slightly awkward pat on the shoulder and turns to head inside.]
writtendestiny: (033)

[personal profile] writtendestiny 2019-07-14 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
-- okay.

[Why the heck does her head suddenly feel like it continued to roll off the roof when her body stopped? She watches him scoot back inside, then purses her lips and shakes her head sharply, using the webbing to work her way back up to the repairs she's making.

Once there, she wraps the web string firmly around her wrist. No more accidents.
]

Peter? Are you there?
itsnotaonesie: movieconnoisseur (lemmie stop you right there)

[personal profile] itsnotaonesie 2019-07-14 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh dang girl you should get that looked at, rolling head dizzy spells are probably not a good thing while you're on a dang roof.

Peter gets his butt back inside and sets his communicator back up all professional like and here we go]


Yeah, just got back to the computer. All good up there?
writtendestiny: (025)

[personal profile] writtendestiny 2019-07-15 05:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Mhm, all good. I'm secure.

[Just in case he needed to know that.

She fiddles with the piece of equipment, leaning in close to it and find a couple of loose wires to slot back into place.
]

I did something. Did anything happen?
itsnotaonesie: movieconnoisseur (ha ha i am so dead)

[personal profile] itsnotaonesie 2019-07-15 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[HE DID NEED TO KNOW THAT AND HE FEELS MUCH BETTER NOW THANKS]

One sec.

[He does a little fiddling on his end, typing some junk, computer stuff.]

Oh, hey! I'm getting a reading! Whatever you did, I think that got it.
writtendestiny: (075)

[personal profile] writtendestiny 2019-07-20 03:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay, good. I'm coming back in.

[For now, and very carefully. A few minutes later, still in the middle of pulling off her gloves, she joins Peter at the monitors and lightly bumps her shoulder into his arm.]

How does it look? [She asks curiously, and then leans in to the screen. The tip of her finger presses to the glass, pointing at a... something... that appears to be moving closer.]

Peter... What is that?
itsnotaonesie: (72)

[personal profile] itsnotaonesie 2019-07-20 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[He tries not to look as relieved as he feels when she comes back in. He's a little twitchy lately, don't mind him.]

Looks good so far. There's still stuff out there that needs some work, but-- [And then she points at the screen. Peter frowns at the image, takes a second to figure out how to get the image to zoom in. Iiiit's a giant millipede. A giant millipede that could have eaten Poison. Yiiiiiiiiiiiikes.]

...Y'know, I think I'll take care of the repairs out there from here on.
writtendestiny: (008)

[personal profile] writtendestiny 2019-07-20 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ah... that is... a large millipede. Her skin crawls as she looks at it, and she wrinkles her nose.]

I could have handled it. [She says confidently, planting one hand against her hip. She carries at least three knives at all times, and currently has a large hunting knife tied to her belt.]

Would you miss me if I got eaten by a giant bug?
itsnotaonesie: (...!?)

[personal profile] itsnotaonesie 2019-07-20 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[He gives her a look like, "you'RE SEEING THIS SEVEN FOOT MILLIPEDE TOO, RIGHT???" Even if she can handle it, no. Okay. Just no.

But then he immediately looks confused. Like. It was a simple question? But somehow the phrasing is just completely throwing off his game and before he realizes it he's just staring at her like she's grown a second head.]


Y-yeeees? Wh- I mean, yeah? I don't wanna think about you getting eaten by a giant bug, this is horrible. Those are horrible.
writtendestiny: (031)

[personal profile] writtendestiny 2019-07-20 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[She sees the seven foot millipede. She could definitely take it. It doesn't look that tough.

Poison laughs at the way Peter looks at her when she asks that question. It was a jest, mostly, and she doesn't expect any kind of serious answer. She sobers somewhat, though, when her attention goes back to the large bug on the screen.
]

Do you think there are more of them?
itsnotaonesie: (what do they do exactly)

[personal profile] itsnotaonesie 2019-07-21 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
[HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO REACT TO THIS LAUGHTER. If he's embarrassed at all, he quickly puts it behind him in favor of talking about giant murder-bugs. They're just so much easier to talk about okay.]

I mean, just knowing our luck, there's probably like a whole colony of them or something.
writtendestiny: (016)

[personal profile] writtendestiny 2019-07-21 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[A much easier topic of conversation. Poison wrinkles her nose up again.]

Hmm. Do you think so? That does sound like something that would happen to us, doesn't it. [She leans in and squints at the picture again.] I wonder if they're edible.

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