World Jump #2: Struxta

[acatamods]

I ▫ main IV ▫ premise       XI ▫ applications XIV ▫ activity II ▫ logs V ▫ rules VII ▫ bestiary   IX ▫ canon updates XII ▫ taken XV ▫ drop/hiatus III ▫ ooc VI ▫ faq VIII ▫ setting   X ▫ mods XIII ▫ reserves XVI ▫ players welcome to the collected nations of struxta. It will happen at random- you could be asleep, or wandering the Temple, or a variety of other options. It will feel a little strange, like a sudden warmth spreading across your skin, and then your bracelet will light up. When you blink again, everything has shifted - changed, developed, like in that blink of an eye you have advanced thousands of years into the future. Around you is a city, a technological marvel. Buildings rise up from the dirt and through the clouds, figures of all shapes and sizes buzz around you. They seem to pay you little mind - a quick glance, maybe a pause, and then they will continue on their away. Ahead, there is a low rumble of thunder, a dim flash of light. It doesn't seem to be raining, but there is an electric hum in the air. A NOTE FROM YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD WITCH But before anything too weird can happen . . . your watch flashes again, beeps once, and on it has a new message, a hologram-sparkly image with a young woman who (to some individuals!) looks a fair bit brighter than she did a few weeks ago. To those who are new, you will recognize the voice -- Astoria, the guardian of the Temple (or, if you're a bit more pessimistic, your effervescent kidnapper). "Hello, my beloved travelers ♥ and new ones, too! My name is Lady Astoria the Witchess-san." The way she says it, though, it is very clearly something of a joke. "I'm so glad you are settling in, adjusting to your new powers . . . I apologize for not coming forward and greeting you all like last time. But I am feeling much more like myself, and ready to send you to a new world ♥ This one is named Struxta . . . Struxa? No, I think it's Struxta. It's very metal. I'm not sure what's wrong in this world . . . but I can feel something building. Pulsing, it's very chaotic. I'm afraid I can't be more detailed than that, I did have a headache earlier . . . Akira told me I was fine ♥" And, again, you can likely guess that Akira definitely did no such thing. Astoria clasps her hands, her bright blue eyes shining, with a bright smile. "Now! Please be safe, and please mind your manners, and tell me all about it when you return! I'll see you soon. ♥" And, just like that? The humming in the air grows louder, you feel an odd tug in your stomach, and before you can properly adjust yourself to the sensation of being cast across the universe . . . you find yourself in Struxta. (Astoria, it seems, did have it right the first time.) THE HOSTEL Just as it was in El Minha, it appears that upon arrival, each character is outfitted with a room at one of the largest, arguably most impressive skyscrapers in the city. Nearly two hundred stories tall, and with each floor containing nearly sixty rooms. Every floor, every room, every door is of the highest tech and the more advanced security. The watches that Astoria has given each of the Circle Members act, in many ways, like a key, a credit card, an ID, and any other form of identification the players will need during their stay. The rooms themselves are simple - one bed, roughly full sized, with a light, a desk, a chair, and a variety of plugs and buttons. Characters are welcome, if they are able to find the appropriate plug, to charge any and all devices they may have. There is a TV of sorts in the room as well, with access to all manner of shows and news stations. The bottom floor of the building is almost as large as a city block. It is open, sleek, and clean-cut. A kind of open meeting room, which has - upon inspection - been modified to include what appears to be a restaurant. Which, given the fact the group of Circle members who have arrived in the city are the only natural bodies around? Includes the fact you are the only members of the city who have to consume food and nutrients. Upon even closer inspection, the technology used to make the food seems a few decades behind that of the rest of the city, but it still works, and the food can still be produced. It might taste a little weird and turn out to be some sort of glorified goop, but it has some nutritional value. The rest of the floor has a variety of seating arrangements and places to sit and chat with your other Circle members, but beyond the Welcome Committee, who is set up on the far northern corner, there doesn't seem to be many of the natives walking through. THE SUPER CENTER Have you ever wanted to go shopping in the most technologically advanced superstore possible? Here is your chance! It appears that if you use your watch, you have been given a moderate amount of credit to buy clothing, toys, electronics, items, and anything else that might suit your fancy. You will not have enough to buy anything significant, such as limbs, organs, advanced computer technology, etc. But you are more than welcome to find a job to help collected more credits! Many of the stores within the Supercenter are hiring - greeters, cashiers, manual labor, errand runners, and everything in between! The Supercenter is attached, as most of the buildings seem to be in this city, by a roadway of interlocking bridges and stairways- to a point that you could, if you wanted to, move about the entire city without stepping foot outside. There are bridges on every level of the Supercenter, as well as a network of pathways and semi-roadways within the center itself. There are no restaurants or bars, but there are plenty of areas to relax and people robot watch if you so desire. Otherwise, shop, explore, find weird mechanical devices of the likes you could never imagine back home. There are all manner of stores, some art galleries, music centers, arcades, and more here. There is no limit to what you can find and what you can experience. Everything is automated, but there are still helpful employees of various appearances at each of the stories to help you decide and browse- small, flying blocks that speak in primarily beeping noises that (thanks to Astoria's wonderful watches) you can somehow understand, completely human-appearing androids of the utmost style and elegance, and everything in between. Take your time, do a little shopping or go to work, and enjoy the pique of futuristic capitalism. THE RACES In the south-eastern district of the city, a large section of the city has been modified into a multi-level, vast, complicated race track of sorts. Think Tron, meets Speed Racer, meets a type of racing that is something all their own. It's fun as hell, fast as hell, and dangerous as hell. Sounds great, right? What is simply known as ‘Racing’ here in Struxta is complicated, but at its heart is exactly what it says: it is a race. A race of cars, bikes, and everything in between through an obstacle course of everything you can imagine. It seems to all be linked, electronically, to a motherboard that decides - each race - what the drivers will find. Each race was drastically different, with dangers galore. One day you might find that the road is full of spikes, the next it might be slick as oil, there could be loops that defy gravity and breaks in the road that seem to be impossible to cross, but that's what the modifications and specialists in the garages are for, right? The rules are simple: if you have a vehicle, and you have a driver, you are allowed to race. First one to complete the track, wins. Surrounding the main track is an entire industry of shops, stores, garages, meeting places, lounge areas, and viewing rooms. There are robots who make entire livings on the industry surrounding the Races, without ever having to step food onto the course. Some of the areas will be cleaner, like the rest of the city, while others may air on the side of back-house garages. While there won't be any dirt or natural life forms, for the first time you might catch sight of rusted metal, oil slicks, broken down previous versions of what's out on the road. There are some practice tracks, some experimental safety sections to test out new additions, etc. The one thing that holds everyone together, here, is the excitement around watching. The excitement around the competition. There are Races every five days, so that gives you just enough to get settled. And maybe find a car. THE LIBRARY As many have already come to hear, there are plenty of libraries and museums all across Struxta. However, there is one that is known as The Library, which archives anything and everything in the history of all of Struxta, spanning back its entire history, over thousands and thousands of years. The building itself is as large and impressive as The Hostel, nearly two hundred stories tall, possibly more, and as wide and long as a city block. But where in the Hostel each floor had been made up of rooms, each of these floors are large, open areas, with dark, imposing servers held behind tight, clean cabinets. No one else seems to be here, which gives the impression that The Library is not open to just any native of Struxta, and that in fact - as members of the Circle you are being given special access to what would normally be off-limits. In the middle of each floor, there is a small collection of tables, with large screens. These touch-screens will be your access into the Library archives. And that is the thing - you will have access to everything, but as it turns out, everything really means everything, and with backups spanning the course of thousands of years in the past, it will take a lot of time and a lot of energy and a lot of research determination to find anything of use. Not because it is difficult, just because it is so massive and so overwhelming. The only natives you will find will be on the first floor, as a kind of secretarial position for the building. They are more than happy to try and help guide you through the search process, but they will not follow you up to any of the other floors, and there is a distinct feeling of being entirely alone when you do go up to begin your search. Alone, but watched, somehow. Remember- if there is something that you wish to look up specifically, please ask over on the world interactions post so we can be sure that the correct information is shared! The best way to go about finding something in the Library will be going at search terms in teams, as there is so much information there is no way one person will be able to wade through it all. Additionally, please feel free to write up and work with your own prompts! These are presented as jumping off points for your characters, not limitations. The idea of this world- as with all the others- is to explore. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask them back on the mod questions thread back in the OOC post from before! And if you have any ideas regarding how your character will interact with the world, also feel free to check back into the world interactions comment from the OOC post from before, as well! From this point forward, the Circle has become involved with the Collected Nations of Struxta. What your character finds out, decides, and does from here on out will affect the future of this city- one way or another! But what you do is completely up to you. What you discover, explore, and uncover will be yours to discover, explore, and uncover. Who knows what you might find? :)

Comments

[gamboler]

I. THE HOSTEL.

[ Call her a cynic, but in Blake's experience, if something is too good to be true, then it probably is.

But whether she likes it or not, they're in this world now, with no clue or direction as to what they're supposed to be doing here aside from Astoria's vague hint about something building. How is that going to be useful at all? Ugh...that witch is the worst.

Before she can slip out and investigate — something that will keep her isolated and preoccupied more than brooding in her room will — she stops at the restaurant on the floor to grab something to eat. It is rather strange that a world full of synthetic beings would have such a place at all. Did they put this in just for the Circle members? How much advanced warning did the so-called Mass Subconscious have before they got here?

And was it enough time to cover something up?

—Whatever. She's suspicious, but it's too soon to jump to conclusions, particularly before lunchtime. So Blake perches on an armchair in some tucked away corner of the large room, spooning at something goopy in a bowl that looks terribly unappetizing: ]

There's no way this is actually fish.

[ She speaks to herself, but not quietly enough that she can't be overheard. ]

II. THE CITY.

[ Once Blake hits the pavement, her plan is concise: explore the city for signs of disquiet, and ask the natives if they've seen any signs of trouble. For once, her involvement with some of the White Fang's more illicit activities comes in use, as Blake is somewhat familiar with how a criminal enterprise might operate below ground-level. Perfect society or not, Blake can't really believe that there's just...no crime. Even in times of peace, there are still petty thieves. So you might find her:

A. Patrolling the streets on the older side of town, where the buildings aren't so sophisticated and advanced. They would be the ideal location for some kind of underground operation, but Blake decides to tread carefully. She's too used to getting caught up in a fight to let her guard down, so she has her weapon on her back, ready to be drawn if the need arises.

Approaching a building that seems abandoned, Blake casts a quick look around, before jumping up onto a drainpipe to scale up towards a high window. With her attention on climbing now, she gives less to awareness of her surroundings, and she might not realize someone could be watching her right now...

B. Speaking with the natives. When her attempts to uncover the seedy underbelly of the city doesn't turn up any leads, Blake decides to spend more time speaking with the natives themselves. She's heard plenty about the Mass Subconscious, and she doesn't want to come off as rude, but she's eager to cut to the chase and asks upfront about any criminal activity they might be aware of.

At last, one of them actually seems to have an answer for her, but they barely get the word "under" out before they...freeze.

They freeze, like a computer when it encounters a problem.

Alarmed, Blake grabs the android by the shoulders, looking up into blank eyes. What is this? ]

Hello? Can you hear me?

III. THE LIBRARY.

[ When all else fails, Blake hits up the library, though this, too, seems to be an exercise in futility. Still, she's running out of options, and this at least offers her plenty to do. So she finds a table to camp at, pulls up the archives, and begins to read.

She's uncertain how long she's been there. A few minutes? Hours? But it's clear from the dark circles under her eyes that it's been awhile. She hasn't really...rested much at all since they got to this world, but it's easier not to.

At least, until she can no longer keep her eyes open.

After a long, long research session, Blake's eyelids begin to droop in earnest, despite her best attempts to stay awake, and then—

A loud thunk sounds throughout the room as her head knocks against the table.

Bolting upright once more, she lifts a hand to her forehead, suddenly wide awake and glancing around quickly. Please say nobody noticed that... ]

IV. WILDCARD.

[ Hit me with your best shot! ]

II-A

[apocryphas]

[ For the purposes of a hilarious misunderstanding, Mordred has been stomping around the back area much like a thug herself. Whether or not Blake has been following her, or even caught a glance of her back at the temple, Mordred sure thinks that Blake is one of the native criminals here, a criminal waiting for a chance to ambush her. Mordred is also an idiot.

Not content with drawing out whoever has been following her, Mordred instead makes it known that she's aware of somebody else's presence. ]

Hey, trash, you looking for this?!

[ Mordred picks up a garbage bin and hurls it in Blake's direction. This is how our CR starts. ]

[foundafamily]

[The Hostel]

[Funny that the food he gets here is somehow miles worse than what he got in prison. But food is food, so Firo eats it gratefully, if without much enthusiasm at first. Afterwards, he'll be studying the cooking equipment more closely, though he doesn't really know what he's looking for. Which leads to him eventually just kind of banging on the side of one to see what happens.]

[Library]

[ooc: on the mingle log]

[Security Area]

[In a place like this, Firo assumes the weapons have to be something else. This, finally, could be information to take back to his Family if he ever does return to them. So once he figures out where one of the security areas is, he quickly makes his way over there to check it out. ...And is of course disappointed to find that a city of robots doesn't have the same security concerns as a 1930s gangster. Whatever the battles they have to fight, this isn't a knives and tommy guns kind of place.

Maybe you've been milling around the area yourself, near enough to hear the guard on duty telling Firo vaguely about their work dealing with bugs, viruses, and the general plagues of a technological society.

Once the explanation peters out, Firo turns to the nearest Circle Member.]

...You got any idea what that means?

[Wildcard]

[ooc: Feel free to hit me up by pm, plurk, or discord (crowghostie#2437) if you have another idea or want to work something out!]

security area

[lonered]

[Sadly, Keith does know quite a bit about this, so when he sees Firo (and gives a little wave. Hi there, person he knows) he nods at the question.]

Yeah. I mean, it's something we've used pretty effectively back home. If you can take down the main computer system of something, you can really expose its vulnerabilities.

[A nod.] In a place like this that runs pretty much entirely on that sort of thing, it could be pretty catastrophic if they couldn't stop it.

[teratias]

I. Hostel

[Waver was pretty sure that every place they went to, they'd have some kind of way too high end hotel. He liked the other place better, there was a certain air of familarity to it. This space, it was too clean, too sleek, too...everything.

Walking around the main floor, he ended up poking his head into the restaurant just to get an idea of what they'd be eating for this trip. Waver frowned as he looked at what was already out, meant to be some kind of fruit basket? Maybe?

No. Oh God. It was gloopy what the hell?!]

They can't be serious with this. They can't.

[Horrified? Him? Yup.]

II. Super Center, Art Gallery

...Interesting.

[The piece Waver is in front of is familiar in a few ways. It's a city scape, to be sure, and even in a style that looks like the work of an impressionist painting. He's standing at it from a distance to get the right effect, but the whole think is slick with greys and all the little lights that make this place up. Quietly he tilts his head one way, then the other, trying to see if it's a part of the city that they're in.]

I wonder how this ability gets developed here.

III.
[He's a nerd, what can he say? Waver's happy to be seated at one of the touch screens, going through digitized history and taking notes. He's focused on just coming to get a timeline of the place, but...

...there's a weird feeling over his shoulder. Waver perks up, the feeling of being watched ever present since he went up into the stacks.]

Anyone there?

IV. Wildcard
You know the deal

II

[apocryphas]

[ For whatever reason, Mordred has attached herself to this FAKE MASTER for the day, but she figures that the one who's been here longer than her will have some insight about their situation anyway. He has world hopped before!

... She's really not as impressed by whatever he's marveling at though. What's the big deal? ]

This is boring. What's the point of this?

[sunborne]

i;; struxta’s so bright that you gotta wear shades.

[ considering the last jump he had gone through, daylight is more prepared for the travels this time around. his traveling clothes are finally fitted and he carries a travel bag on him to ferry his supplies with more ease, along with the little bag that had been given to him for el minha. he makes sure his internal reserves, should they be used here in this world, are at full storage so there’s no risk of him running out, stress or not. he makes sure meddy is charged and has switched their systems to idling so the jump to somewhere near or strange doesn’t tax their system.

he's all but vibrating in excitement when they arrive in struxta and he realises where they are and what this world has in store for him and the others. since leaving the lornful light, daylight couldn't help feel like he stuck out like a sore thumb due to his appearance and status. in struxta, however, it doesn't seem to be the case at all. he can blend in. fit in. walk into the crowd without getting gawked at since this everyday life for them and oh man this is going to be awesome...!!

though first things first — roll call!! ]

Hey guys! It’s Daylight here! :D

Are you all okay? I’m at the bottom of the hostel right now and there seems to be a restaurant here! If you wanna meet up so we can poke at stuff together and maybe has out plans and dates and stuff, let me know!

ii;; with his core on his sleeve.

[ he doesn't stick out for once and daylight is taking advantage of of it. it isn't long before he's heading out into places and areas in hopes of gathering information for himself and for the circle. he's soon happily poking his nose into others' businesses and days to see what he can pick up from them while making his way

to the merchant district to look at supplies, the residential district to make friends, and make a quick stop to a medical clinic to get a checkup for himself.

daylight soon realises something amazing while he's traveling around: not only do the natives of the world have the ability to pick up his emission field, but they're responding to it positively too. no surprise, perhaps, given how cheerful by default daylight is. with how much he's missed using the field since he arrived to the temple and found himself the only type of his kind, one form or another, daylight is simply ecstatic to, once again, use this in a social setting.

now he keeps his em field wide and open for everyone to read should he run across anyone and everyone who can pick up on his field. he's happily threading his emissions with nothing but sincere hello-joy!-warmth to show he means well and only wants to be friends with whoever he meets. ]

iii;; painting the pretty picture.

[ check out the art scene?

definitely check out the art scene. why wouldn't he check out the art scene?

daylight recalls a lesson that he picked up from his mom. a lesson he learned while reading from a collection of works of hers. apparently one can figure out a lot about society judging by their art scene, their preferred artists and the leaders of the movement.

it doesn’t take daylight too long to realise that he’s probably going to stick out like a sore thumb here re: his art — while art seems to be very well-liked here, there’s an almost obsessive focus on precision and the execution of the pieces. which makes sense with how the art leans towards the modern styles - because duh. - it does make him a little nervous to approach the owner of the gallery he’s currently in.

he wants to get an opinion of his work now that the chance has presented itself but… he looks around, wondering if someone else is here and… hey! ]

Hey! Yeah! You! Hi… Um… Sorry for ambushing you like this but— I need you to be honest with me. [ he then shows the individual what he wants to show to someone else: a watercolour sketch. one that depicts a garden of some sort, the plants in full bloom. an explosion of messy but vibrant colours of greens and reds and yellows that are all but spilling across each other in the piece. ]

Is this enough to get someone’s interest or should I try to mimic the art movement here? Everyone seems really… focused on symmetry and order.

iv;; obligatory ‘gotta go fast’ joke.

[ if you asked daylight how he managed to get himself roped into a racing team that hopes to climb the tiers-

yeah. he's going to be honest with you and shrug because he's still wondering that himself, you guys. the most he can offer to whoever is asking him or to the meddy who will be angrily beep at him in some point is a very bemused, ] I honestly don't know!

I just wanted to get some decals from the body shop and... one thing brought in another thing and... you know... [ he's not sure how he entered the shop and came out not with his desired decals but, instead, a new team to train with but them's the brakes.

get it? brakes? breaks?

.... sigh. he wishes dialup was here with him. ]

v;; wildcard!!!
[ want to do something else? use this prompt or hit me up via my hmd or my plurk, prognostic, if you want to plot specifics! ]

iii

[flyingsolos]

I like it.

[ honestly enough. She's no art critic, but... ]

A lot of the stuff here is pretty, yeah, but it's all kind of the same in the way it's designed. I'd say because this is so different, it's bound to get some interest.

[bleps]

001 ▲ THE HOSTEL

[Are you a brave soul, attempting to eat the goop that has been labelled as food in this place? Well, then at some point, you’ll have Connor walking up to you with a look of mild curiosity on his face, eying the blob of… stuff on your plate.]

Are you going to eat that?

[-he supplies, maybe rather unhelpfully. Those who require food to function have no choice in the matter, but even Connor cannot help but look morbidly curious as to its taste and consistency, given its overall appearance. He’ll just have to rely on the opinion of others to satiate this curiosity.]

002 ▲ THE CITY

[It’s a far cry from real detective work, but it’s a job regardless. A task to find a supply of components that had quite literally fallen off the truck en route to its destination, which honestly is more suited for an errand boy than an investigator. Still, it’s work, and it’s income — which is what Connor is prriotizing, in his rare in-between hours from spending time in the Library.

So far it’s been simple enough. Just track the route from A to B, and see if he finds what he’s looking for. But this is a particularly busy area of the perpetually winding city, and his sensors aren’t exactly what they used to be. A second pair of eyes would be helpful.]

Excuse me. [He says, to someone nearby.] Will you walk with me?

003 ▲ THE LIBRARY

[Watch Connor fail his QTEs and fry his AI at the mingle log here. Open to all who want to help get him back online, or just popcorn.gif from afar.]

004 ▲ WILDCARD

[Up for anything, honestly! Hit me up at aurajen if you want to plot!]

02

[apocryphas]

Hm?

[ She wasn't prepared for such a straightforward approach, and the part of her that's naturally distrustful makes her pause and stare him before giving a definite answer. Why is he so nice and respectful!! ]

...You're one of us, right?

[ Of course he is, she can see his watch. Okay, so not a robot then (lol)... ]

Where are you going?

[ She hasn't agreed yet!! ]

[purrtagonist]

A. Your friendly neighborhood witch

[anyone who happens to be near this frizzy-haired Circle member when the world hop happens will find themselves treated to a nice view. . . of pure exasperation]

Don't skew what I said. . .!

[he's staring at his watch, rubbing his temple with his free hand, trying not to laugh in annoyance. Astoria why!1]

Akira told you to pace yourself! This doesn't look like pacing yourself, Astoria!

[. . . yelling at his watch isn't going to help, is it]

B. The hostel

[well, anyway. after spending a moment wishing he could reach through the universes and shake Astoria until she rests, Akira makes his way to the bottom floor of the hostel. it's natural, as a biological, nutrient-consuming being, that he finds himself drawn towards the food first. which is. . . um. how he winds up with a plate of some gray-colored, glorified goop]

[appetizing]

[he's seated at a table, staring at the goop with a put-out expression. until you happen to pass by, that is]

Hey.

[hey!]

I'll bet you ten-- [he glances at his watch] -- credits? That you're not gutsy enough to eat this.

[wanna make a wager??]

C. The races

[a few days into their stay in Struxta, and Akira is as tense as a board]

[. . . he knows his reaction is kneejerk. he knows that the stuff about the "Mass Subconscious" isn't at all like the complete and total control Yaldabaoth displayed over the people of Japan. but it makes him nervous nevertheless. every Struxta citizen seems happy and content, but every Struxta citizens seems to adhere to one line of thought and one line of thought only. it's tough to pinpoint individuality in this city. it's tough to pinpoint discontent. and while he wouldn't wish unhappiness or strife on anyone (especially not after El Minha) something still seems. . . off]

[but the more he searches, the less he seems to find. there's no law enforcement (no need, apparently) and even those who even think about doing something illegal (like cheat at the races) seem to change their minds instantly. is that a good thing. . . ?]

[maybe. a city where every citizen gets along, where everyone has the best interest of the whole in mind, is ideal. maybe. . . it's just that Akira is having a difficult time believing a place like this can actually be real]

[at any rate, his diving into the shadier areas of the city has found him a job lugging machinery from point A to point B, and a lot of that machinery is stuff utilized in the races. and so today, Akira can be found near the more broken down areas of the racetrack. . . uh. chasing down a rogue wheel that's somehow escaped from him]

Stop that wheel!

[it's rolling down the line of shops, bouncing off of walls and the ground alike. help a guy out]

D. Wildcard

[hit me up at rogueclass for plotting!]

( the hostel. / aka why you never make bets around daylight. )

[sunborne]

[ ten credits? that's ten more credits than he currently has!

it doesn't take him too long to come to a decision about this. grinning a big grin, daylight practically hops over to akira's table with twinkling optics and a big smile on his face. ] Sure! I bet I can get it all down in one go too!!

[ oh no he's actually being serious about this. he's actually going to try and eat this mystery gunk, no hesitations whatsoever.

why is daylight agreeing to this without any questions about the dare? where is meddy to stop him from accepting this dare?? who let this hybrid out all by his lonesome??? so many questions, so little answers. ]

[cakebuffet]

a ❤️ the hostel

[Though the city itself seems to be at peace, Ann trusts that they're here for good reason— it just has yet to reveal itself. Even if that weren't the case, she thinks Struxta would leave her on edge. It hits a little close to home as she recalls months-old palace venture, and what they weren't able to accomplish while there. The idea of everything being mechanical is unsettling, but everyone here seems to be... happy? Is it possible for them to be happy?

There's a lot to consider as they explore the city and dig for information, but before she goes anywhere, she definitely needs to eat something. Their arrival here had been sudden, after all— it's not like she'd had time to prepare. She's dubious with regards to what this place might consider to be 'food,' but even steeling herself for disappointment isn't enough when a plate of something gray and suspiciously homogeneous-looking is set down in front of her.]

Oh...

[Maybe she's not so hungry after all?]

... this is going to be a long trip, isn't it?

[ROBOTS WHY :c]

b ❤️ the supercenter

[Learning about the city as a whole means getting to know it's culture, and in finding her way to the supercenter, Ann finds a facet of Struxta's culture that's quite easy for her to connect with. She's amazed by the variety of things offered in this place: there's so much more than what she's used to seeing back in Shibuya, but given that androids have very different needs than humans, she guesses that makes sense. Naturally, she's first drawn to see what Struxta's idea of fashion is, and some of it isn't all that different from things she's seen other models wear for shoots. Clothes, jewelry, electronics— much of what these stores have to offer are so much like what she might find at home, and for a short while, it's almost like being back, except for the robotic attendants buzzing around offering their assistance.

Perusing the supercenter feels like the first really normal thing she's done since bring brought into the Circle, in fact, but that feeling quickly leaves her when she slows to a stop outside an establishment that appears to be selling—]

Organs?

[She pales slightly. Well, that's a little grim. Are those arms for sale, too?]

c ❤️ wildcard

[Whatever else you like! Toss Ann a starter or reach me via PM or at necrofancy if you'd like to work something out together.]

b!

[adelphoi]

[ to say that alisaie finds this place overwhelming would be a grave understatement.

she's never seen anything like it. even the coils of bahamut, bright with lights and humming machinery, is nothing like this place - perhaps it's the general hubbub that makes it seem so different, but nevertheless alisaie is just one smol ye oldey elf in a world far too techy for her to grasp.

so she very nearly runs right into ann where she stands before the shop, stopping only just before crashing into her. ]

What are you talking about?

[ ... ]

.. oh.

[ what the heck?? ]

[annoyings]

SUPERCENTER.

[ this world jumping business is so~o annoying. this entire world is so~o annoying. (izumi, we get it.) like most things, even hopping from place to place is an inconvenience to izumi sena, but the supercenter is a good place to destress from it, or at least to explore. having claimed a room with leo in the hostel, he sets out to look for essentials besides food (an option he's already felt plenty of distaste for, rip his diet). a failed look at a cosmetics store (unless he's interested in getting robotic prosthetics, there is absolutely nothing, not a toner or a sheet mask to be found) left him in a cranky enough mood that he's going to go for some retail therapy.

clothes, at least, are normal. he's got his eye on a crisp, expensive looking blazer, and he pulls it off of the rack and examines it, then looks to his side to see someone standing near him.

his eyes narrow. ] ...is that what you're planning on getting? [ wow. well, maybe he'll give you some fashion advice for this new technological world? ]

RACING A.

[ idle hands are the devil's plaything, or something along those lines, which means izumi's looking for work. he's quick to bring his services to an agency and signs a contract for a photoshoot in a matter of a few minutes. the location of the shoot is the race track, where he's outfitted in a sleek black racing suit, electronic lights running up the sides and the front, lighting up those pretty blue eyes of his. he blends in well with the androids here, and he's a true professional, leaning against a wall, taking photos holding the helmet under his arm, even posed on the racing bike, where he strikes a pretty imposing figure.

there are breaks, where he stops and takes a drink of water. at one point, he borrows the highly advanced camera from the photographer with a surprising lack of fuss, and sits back on the bike, flipping through the pictures of himself and deleting a few every now and then. it'd be an excellent time to interrupt. ]

RACING B.

[ the photographers finish the shoot after an hour or two, and izumi's left alone with the bike itself. it's the agency's, a driving advertisement with the symbol for the company on the back, and it is beautiful, just as sleek and pretty as the suit itself, inky black with the same blue lights in strips across the fender, around the tires. izumi has a motorbike at home, but it's nothing quite like this...even so, the concept is the same. he turns his wrist, and then bike's engine kicks to life with a thrilling, loud roar. ]

...hm. [ vroom, vroom.... this is highly unsafe, but he puts both feet on the bike proper, anyway, straddling it and adjusting the helmet on his head, closing the visor with a click. he's not a thrill seeker by any means necessary, but if the agency's going to let him have it...

he revs the engine a third time and takes off, shooting down the road beside the racetrack in a blur of bright blue light. he doesn't go too fast, not too reckless (because he has a beautiful face to protect, obviously), but that doesn't mean he doesn't bring the bike around in a sharp, speedy turn to park it right next to the hostel with a skrreeech! he pulls off his helmet, tosses his head back.

and he's smiling. how rare...~ maybe this world might not be so bad after all. ]

THE HOSTEL.

[ now that things have settled down a little, izumi can be found in the center room of the hostel with his back turned to the main crowd. he figured out this place gave him weird 'powers' the first day he landed in astoria, which means if he wants to be useful, he needs to understand exactly how they work. izumi hates showing anyone he's not perfectly prepared for anything, anyway, which means it's practice time.

forming the light is pretty simple. it's light blue and pretty, forms into a sphere in his hands as he mutters to it. sword. the light reforms itself into a...well, it's a sword.

izumi's brow twitches, and he scowls at this "creation", muttering under his breath: ] Annoying... [ god he's so annoyed. he'll be sitting in his corner trying to master making a sword, now, which means every now and then there's a slight flash of blue light and, occasionally, a boy with an actual weapon as opposed to a cocktail stirrer. ]

WILDCARD.

[ i'm up for just about anything! tag me w/ whatever your heart desires. ]

Supercenter

[beyondthegreen]

[She might currently be wearing a kinda grubby t-shirt and definitely worn and grubby jeans. And dear god is that red plaid shirt in her hand? Fashion disaster at 9 o'clock!

Not that Tefé can't sense the disapproval radiating off him. She half-hides it behind her.]

No, I mean, not really...

[oculusriffs]

i. gourmet buffet

[yeah, by literally the first meal, he's sick of the food on offer.]

[there's absolutely no way Dave is going to be messing with piles of nutrition glop when he's perfectly capable of, thanks to a power that's subject to the whims of his own weird ideas just as much as he is, making his own food. and maybe, whenever they escape this city and make it back to the temple, he'll think to mumble something that sounds like a thanks to Astoria.]

[anyway, he's not actually capable of rapping up an entire buffet, as he's limited to to only what he can carry. but then, Dave's a lot stronger than he looks, and pretty much always willing to try out a dumb idea if the mood strikes. so after a bit of thought, after sorting out a fervor for a burger and the fact that there is just way too much shit that rhymes with cheese, what he winds up with, is, uh.]

[science has gone too far.]

[already as sick of the food as he is? Dave isn't interested in playing restaurateur over here, but it's not like he can finish this disaster on his own. he's seated at one of the tables, messing with his phone and not paying much attention. if you can figure out a way to cut yourself a slice of giant burg, it's yours. or ask where he got it, that might get a funny answer, too.]

ii. vandalism

[and by the time a few days have passed, Dave is pretty sick of the city in general. out of the four he's ever stepped foot in, this one somehow manages to feel the most ... lifeless. that's not even getting into the thoughts he has on "emotionless robots" in general.]

[being stuck in a pace that hides its flaws as well as this one has a habit of making it feel like your own flaws are much more exposed. it's weird. it doesn't feel safe. he doesn't like it.]

[so, naturally, he has the urge to start messing it up. he's not about to go barging in random buildings to fight some friendly robots or whatever, so he'll just fall back on an old habit.]

[should you happen to be wandering down the right hallway in the hostel, then you'll find him standing there, a pile of chalk on the floor, drawing on the walls like he's a goddamn 2-year-old. they're mostly a wide variety of these — that is to say, they're all completely terrible. and he'll absolutely be stopping any Circle member who passes by and shoving a piece of chalk in their hands.]

Here. May as well make this shitty place look actually lived in.

iii. wildcard

[have a different idea? do it! Dave can be found pretty much anywhere and everywhere.]

i!

[adelphoi]

[ ah, how she misses food. real food. something without the texture of cold snot and tasting even mildly edible. how long have they been trapped here? months? years? how long since she has tasted something delicious? a lifetime, surely.

anyway, it's impossible not to catch the scent of that hamburger. alisaie stops so short it nearly sets her heels on fire, and she glances down at her tray, and its single bowl of.. mashed potatoes? then right back to that enormous sandwich. she doesn't know what a burger is, but it looks far, far more appetizing than literally everything else here. ]

Where did you get that?

[ she will kill a man for some real food tbh.. ]

[beyondthegreen]

The Super Center: Starstruck

[She's been cut off from the Green, all those feelings and connections with the plant world, since arriving at the Temple. It's still a strange and awful kind of thing... but being here, it only takes one long glance up at the ultra-advanced buildings, lights and halls full of robots to know that, even with powers intact, she would never feel the Green here.

How far does it go? Were there humans here before? Is that how it ended up like this? Or was it always robots? There's so many questions.

Caught somewhere between gawking at the sights, and feeling incredibly uncomfortable with this utter absence of nature and organic life, Tefé wanders the mall, trying to fend off the occasional overly helpful salesbot.]

No, I don't want to buy anything! I.. I don't want anything, sorry. Just looking.


The Hostel: Foodening

[Having to actually eat sometimes is unexciting, so the gloop in and of itself doesn't bother Tefé that much. If she still had her powers, she'd be able to tell where it came from, maybe what it was. But in the absence of that, and the complete lack of anything organic around other than themselves, this prompts... questions.

With a bowl of half-eaten nourishing gloop set aside on the table for now, she's busy poking at the machine, turning her head upside down to try looking up a dispensing spigot.]

How does it work?

[She asks as if you'd know.]


The City: Driving Miss Daisy (Part 1)

[Maybe some people are looking for a car for racing. Tefé is looking for one... to explore with.

Unfortunately it's not quite so simple to break into one and take off with the electronic ultra-modern 'keys' of a city of robots... and on top of that, she didn't really do much of the work on that road trip.

So you can find Tefé wandering between vehicles on the street, casually checking a door handle once in a while, or just staring at a particularly advanced model of car with some kind of sleek handle-free door, baffled... how do robots do any of this?]


The City: Driving Miss Daisy (Part 2)

[Some considerable time later...

Don't ask how she got her hands on a more manually operated vehicle. But she'd seen people drive before, even vaguely remembers a little from her time as 'Mary Conway', when she'd been enchanted into thinking she was a regular human teenager.

So how hard could it be, really?

Cue a car drifting around the corner, nearly smashing into the building across the way, veering dangerously close to actually hitting you before fishtailing, tire smacking up against the curb and... this car has had enough of reckless driving, tire popping with a loud BANG and skidding jerkily to a halt at the corner.

The door cracks open enough for Tefé's head to pop out, looking a bit nervous and sheepish. The tire is one thing but... she looks back, calling out:]

Sorry. Are you okay?

the city part ii

[extirpator]

[ that was certainly something.

the car grazes against his calf — he's quick to jolt back on reflex, shoulders squared as he shifts his weigh back onto his heels.

however, once the car skids to the corner nier merely...furrows a brow? before approaching it, somewhat wary all the while. ]

It's alright. [ there's a nod. he stops at the door and extends a hand, beckoning her to grasp it. ] I'm not hurt. Are you?

[punshots]

I. SHOPPING.

[ At last, a world with electricity! Prompto never knew how much he could miss modern conveniences like a light switch until he'd stayed at the temple and then in El Minha, but Struxta has all the modern conveniences he's familiar with, and then some. From the moment he arrives, Ptompto is wide-eyed and infatuated with the high-tech city, enamored with ever new gadget or gizmo he sees - though his enthusiasm is dampened somewhat when he learns that every being here is an android. It's not fair, he knows - this isn't Eos, and these people clearly aren't the mindless drones of the Niflheim military. In some ways, it makes him more sympathetic to their plight, what...ever their plight may be, but still he can't quite shake the quiet paranoia that reminds him of the time he'd spent in the empire's Magitek facility.

...But first things first: buying cool stuff nobody needs. Find him:

A. At the shopping district in a store that is, like, the futuristic equivalent of a Brookstone. You know, with the kind of products you would see in a SkyMall magazine. He's running low on funds and appears to be deliberating between three options: a camera accessory that captures holographic images, a helmet that claims it won't muss any 'do, and, of course, one of these.

He's clearly having some difficulty choosing on his own, so he chances eye contact with whoever's nearby to get a second opinion. ]

Hey, you got a 'sec? It's a matter of life and death.

[ It sure isn't. But it makes it sound more important, right?

B. Picking up extra jobs to replenish his wallet after buying a whole lotta junk. As fast-paced and advanced as this city is, Prompto's ability gives him the edge over even automated delivery of physical goods, and so he zips all around the city, a blur of motion, kicking up a a strong wind behind him.

it's tiring work, however, and he's distracted at the best of times, and while he won't actually full-on mow anyone down with his high-speed running, he'll come pretty darn close, veering to the side at the last second and skidding a stop to make sure he hasn't blown some poor innocent bystander over. ]

S-shoot, a-are you al -

[ He stops, sniffing the air a moment, before his gaze drops down to his boots, which are literally smoking. ]

Hey, uh...can rubber melt through socks?!

[ This is suddenly very important to him. ]

II. THE RACES.

[ Of course he would find his way here eventually. Prompto isn't exactly what you would call a...skilled driver (read: he's terrible), but there's no way he can pass up an opportunity like this. The bikes in particular catch his eye, and by the time the first races roll around, he's had a few practice runs and didn't die, so...

Still, his practice and excitement don't quite quell the nervousness clenched up in his gut, and so as the racers wait on the starting line for everyone to get situated and ready, he glances to his nearest competitor, throwing them an anxious grin. ]

Oh, man, can you believe this?! It's just like in that one movie! [ Don't ask him which movie. ] You, uh...ever done this before?

[ How grass is his ass gonna be? ]

III. INFILTRATION...SORTA

[ But Struxta, for all its appeal and thrills, is not all fun and games, and Prompto never loses sight of the fast that Astoria sent them here for a reason. The issues aren't as obvious as they were in El Minha, and while that might make it seem like there's not much for them to resolve, he's not so sure about that. There's something to be found here, and so Prompto can only follow where instinct takes him.

Which is to one of the android production facilities within the city. Even approaching the building, he looks pale and anxious, his posture unusually cagey. He won't be unfriendly if approached, but it's clear that he is not looking forward to what he is about to do.

Which is sneak inside this facility and figure out how these beings are made. If it's anything like home, then...yeah, they've got a serious problem.

But as he is not especially well-verse in infiltration, like a genius he heads to the front doors first. The doors are locked, but they respond to his watch, unlocking and gliding open as if welcoming him inside. Which, of course, he completely misinterprets. ]

....Heh. What d'you know? Didn't...think that'd work here.

[ Maybe keep him company while he heads inside. He looks like he could use it. ]

IV. WILDCARD.

[ Anything goes! ]

ii - races

[lonered]

[Keith looks up at the familiar voice. Oh hey. His disguise buddy. He's been working pretty hard on fixing up... well. It's a piece of junk but he's sure as hell going to race it anyway. Hopefully it doesn't blow up. Or toss him.

Or kill him.

He's excited anyway. He's not used to ground craft so much as he is aircraft, but he thinks it's all about the same.]

Uh... kind of I guess? My speeder back home had more of a hover... thing... going on. But it's not all that different. What about you?

[dawninglight]

a. hungry hungry hostel
[After doing a brief inspection of the rooms and not finding anything remarkable about them, Yona goes to check out the second most important thing: the food. Her expression is...dubious when presented with a pile of goop, but she isn't about to turn up her nose at the only avaliable food they have.

That doesn't stop her from making a face when she takes a bite.]

...It's not the worst, even if it's nowhere close to the best.

["Not the worst" is enough to compel her to wave over the nearest fellow traveler to sit with her.]

Do you have any salt? We should have thought to bring some spices.

b. chic super center
[None of the technology catches her eye as she explores the super center, though that's because she doesn't know what most of it can do. There's only so much that one can figure out on intuition and guessing alone. But technology isn't the only thing avaliable for purchase within the city, and there's still plenty that piques her interest. Fellow circle members can find Yona standing in front of a clothing store--specifically, a store with a variety of bright, cute dresses on display in a big window. Her eyes are trained on her watch, counting up the credits she does (or rather, doesn't) have.]

Of course the cute things are the most expensive.

c. bemused beeping blocks
[At some point during her explorations, Yona has managed to aquire a small flying block to escourt her around the city. Rather than flying, though, it sits neatly on her shoulder, every now and then beeping directions at her. With its guidance she winds along stairways and bridges with more confidence than she would have had on her own, even if the result is about the same. She comes to an abrupt stop in front of a store and shakes her head.]

No, no, I was looking for a forest, not a flutist. The music store won't do. Can we try again?

[Maybe. She needs help.]

d. wildcard
[feel free to hit me up at thelibrarian for plotting!]

c!

[purrtagonist]

[. . . block. . .]

Is that your own personal GPS?

[sorry, Yona. you're totally not going to get that reference]

[a_sharp_wit]

[A] Hostel / Traversing the City
[For the first few days Elizabeth confines herself to the hostel. She needs the time to acclimate -- as much as she can, that is. Where El Minha was desert and heat but quite familiar on a technological level, Struxta is a thorough opposite. Even the lamp in her room at the hostel befuddles her briefly, though dealing with her communication device has certainly made it somewhat easier to pick up such new things.

The Welcome Committee is more than happy to answer her questions. They give her terms she's never heard of alongside gossip of some scoundrel of a robot trying to upload himself to the network as well as technological jargon. She picks up bits and pieces of it all and by the time a few days have passed, she feels ready enough to emerge into the city itself.

From this day forward then for a good bit of their stay in the Struxta, one can come across Elizabeth nearly anywhere in the city. She is accompanied by a small navigation robot and is still chiefly dressed in a very old fashioned way. Where it makes her stick out somewhat, Elizabeth herself derives a great deal of comfort from familiar garments.]

[B] The Super Center

[And despite loving her familiar clothing, Elizabeth can't help but delve into the shops of the Super Center itself. The navigation droid still accompanies her and she's taken to talking to it almost as if it were another person meandering along with her.]

Now then. Do you think I would do better in blue or yellow?

[And here Elizabeth holds up a pair of blouses in front of her.
The notion of readily-made clothing is quite a thrill and she seems to be in a high, amused mood right now for the pleasure of browsing.

The navigation droid makes no noise. Elizabeth huffs out a breath as if dismayed.]

Your lack of reply is enough to instill doubt in anyone with such a question of import!

[Eventually one will find Elizabeth in near any store that can be found. In fact later on one may find her marveling over the electronics and trying to divine what some of them may be used for.]

[C] Wildcard
[I'm open to any prompts you may think of. Feel free to PM me with any questions!]

B.

[juniberries]

[Allura is taking the opportunity to shop with gusto, glad to finally be able to do so after having missed out on the last opportunity the team had at a swap-moon. She’s picking up a dress or two for herself, for the sake of wearing something other than her armour, and she’s having her own dilemma of colour choices (pink? purple? white perhaps?) for a certain style of long dress.

She’s currently holding the white coloured dress in front of her as she hears another having the same issue as her, and hoping she isn’t being intrusive as she turns to look at the young woman. There’s a moment’s pause as she looks at the blouses, then perking up a bit after she considers the two.]

Oh! I quite like the blue!

Konoha | Jinba

[lumberlady]

01 | HORSES IN TRAFFIC | CITY

[Even though she'd known it was coming, or, had been told it was coming, Konoha still wasn't mentally prepared for the shift. She'd been sleeping before it all happened, and then... they're gone. Arrived. There. The witch is talking to them, everything is metal and cold, she doesn't know where everyone is, she still hasn't mastered their "watches"-

And it's so alien, so strange, so advanced compared to the medieval world she's come from... that she quickly becomes frantic, desperate for the one familiar thing she knows, who isn't in sight.

And not knowing what cars or paved streets or what red lights changing to green means... Bolts straight towards what is about to be a traffic accident.]

02 | GREEN SEARCH | CITY

[There's nothing but metal.

Konoha is desperate to find anything that looks natural, grass, a field, a mountain, a tree... anything at all. When she finally spots another member of the Circle she breaks into a limping trot, hooves clattering loudly on the metal walkway and making her wince at the sound before she quickly catches up.]

Excuse me- Wait-

[She almost reaches out, but instead nervously trots in circles, casting anxious looks skyward. More- More metal-]

Have you seen any... anything green?

03 | TEARS OF A CENTAUR | HOSTEL

[By the time she makes it back to what is apparently where they'll be staying... Konoha is exhausted. It's too much, too different, and even though she tries her best to keep it together, to not panic...

She ends up crying over a pile of gloop on a plate.

With a clatter and a knocked over chair which she quickly picks back up to make her retreat, Konoha tries to high tail it out of the restaurant before it gets any worse or noticeable. Though in the process, momentarily blind while she wipes her face on the back of her arm, she almost runs over a fellow... organic person who needs food, stopping just short of a collision .]

Sorry-

[Wait, are you going left to get around, she was going to go left- No, right-]

04 | WILDCARD

[If there's 2-3 hits on the other prompts or you have a different idea, feel free to tag me with whatever or hit me up at stormcoming/PM!]

[beyondthegreen]

[Tefé's eyes are wide at the clattering, turning around and... well. Yeah. That can only be another from the Circle. Looks like there's more than a few interesting characters here.

But at the anxious question, she can only turn her gaze aside, frowning.]

...No. Nothing. Just a lifeless husk of a world as far as I've seen.

[It may have lights and movement... but that isn't life.]

[lonered]

[ Option 1 - Hostel ]

[Keith is not exactly super excited about where they've landed. At least not at first. So at least there's some technology, a little more like what he's used to, but there's something weirdly unsettling about the whole place.

It's cold. And a little too... shiny. Flawless.

And since he's not worried about sticking out here, he sticks to his Blade uniform, hood drawn, but mask deactivated for the time being. He's found his way to the "restaurant" where...]

...honestly, this looks familiar, at least.

[Food goo. Hooray.]



[ Option 2 - Races ]

[Once Keith finds the races, he's a little more interested. He can't help it. It's kind of intriguing, and if they're stuck here, well, maybe he can learn more about this place by getting involves! ...that's totally not an excuse to try to put together a machine.

So he finds himself hanging around, doing some odd jobs that he can manage to convince the local robotic population that he's vaguely qualified for. Rather than pay though he's eyeing a fairly broken down cycle.

...so feel free to come across him after he's managed to earn it. He's gotten himself a little out of the way place and is trying to figure out how the hell this works. Man he'd kill for Hunk or Pidge's expertise. But he thinks he can make it work.]

Hey. [A rather abrupt greeting if anyone walks close enough.] Know anything about mechanics?

[Eventually, however, another idea will strike. Not that Keith will abandon the racer he's working on but he's very interestedly asking around about just what counts as an acceptable racing vehicle anyway??.

The smirk on his face when he gets the answer he wants probably spells trouble.] I gotta call Shiro.



[ Option 3 - Library ]

[Research and delving into files isn't exactly Keith's forte, but he's only gotten so far talking with the local androids and robots, so he figures he can give it a try.

It's not going well and he slumps in his chair with a sigh.]

There's got to be something. This whole place is way too... clean. Too perfect. like they scrubbed away their whole history.

[His main line of inquiry is what happened to the non-machine lifeforms that used to live here. It's weird that they're all gone, isn't it?]



[ Option 4 - Wildcard ]

[Keith will be around the city a lot. If you've got another idea for hitting him up, go for it. Or ping me on plurk at seasided.]

Option 3

[dadandgone]

[Research and delving into files is exactly Maes's forte...at least back home. This is not only a new library to explore, but a new world. Maes doesn't even know if they use the same kind of organization as the libraries he is used to. The truly difficult part is that this world is so beyond where his world is in technology, that a lot of the information is out of his context of understanding.

He sighs, and looks up from his own book at the young man that's just dropped into a chair a few spots down.]

They may have tried, but I seriously doubt they were able to erase every trace of something like that. It might just be covered up by other stories or events.

[He frowns.]

I just wish I had more of a context for understanding this stuff. It's hard to help when you don't even understand what you're reading.

[theseuschip]

i. hostel

[ So far, Struxta is a double-edged sword. Being surrounded by machines makes it pretty hard for Simon to forget that he is one, but the absence of humanity or anything organic and familiar, aside from Circle members, also means he isn’t constantly seeing reminders of what he’s lost. Except for this nutrient slurry everybody has to choke down, but he’s not particularly envious of that. He doesn't have to constantly confront the fact that there isn't a place for him among humans, not like before, but it isn't as if there's anything to replace it with. He doesn't know how to be a robot, either.

But he did get a weird little robot toy because it looks like something Catherine would buy, and it is marching placidly across the small portion of the table that he allows it.

He repositions it when it approaches the edge. The whole process is distracted, more compulsive than anything; Simon sets it down, it does a tiny robot trek some arbitrary distance, and he picks it up. And then he begins the cycle anew. As you do, in the middle of robot hivemind country that you know is nothing like a rogue A.I.’s clumsy attempts to “preserve humanity”, but still.

Eventually he addresses whichever unlucky Circle member is close by and requires sustenance. ] So... how is it?

[ his tone says “because it sure looks terrible", ofc ]

ii. all bots go to heaven

a. [ This just in: the scrapyard is fucked up. It looks like a place where the Mass Subconscious’s mass “empathy” failed. Simon can’t make heads or tails of why they would do it this way, another dead end in the maze of ascribing human values to robots who seem really human.

So if you head southeast while he’s at this sad junk pile, he’s kneeling at the edge of it, examining what looks like a hard drive. Well, it doesn’t look like anything, just kind of like a box, so Simon can only assume that’s what it is as he turns it over in his hands. Like something he would’ve found in PATHOS-II — a robot brain, like his cortex chip, an entire mind left in a field of discarded parts. Or maybe it’s something else entirely. And yet he's touching it. He's gotten his hands all over worse things.

So yeah. Maybe you had the same idea and trekked to the scrapyard, or Simon’s yelp when he picks up some kind of marble only to turn it over and see an incredibly human-looking eyeball staring back at him is that loud. ]

b. [ Later in his investigation, a stealthy broken piece of metal takes a slice at his palm, and he yanks his hand back with a hiss. ] Agh, shit—

[ and when he sees black ichor welling up into a rivulet from the cut he stares at it, frozen and winded with alarm. this is wrong- ] What the hell?

iii. library

[ The library is comfortable busywork. It's something Simon would've liked even back on Earth, actually, or like PATHOS-II without the death and decay and constant threats to his life. The absence of those things means he could do this sitting, like a normal person, but instead he operates it with both palms flat on the table whenever he's not using the touchscreen, in that dumb weight-on-one-hip sticks-leggy-out lean.

Much of what he finds he ends up skimming, and eventually, to the nearest Circle member, ] There has to be a better way to do this.

[ it's kind of only now coming into focus how impossible it will be to find anything here ]

iv. wildcard

[ simon will feasibly be pretty much anywhere, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ throw me a starter or hit me up at honchkrow to plot! ]

2a

[bestaround]

[ Hi I'm slightly wildcarding this and saying 9S followed along with Simon to the sad scrapyard.

Now that we have that established, when they get there, it doesn't take long before 9S breaks off from his fellow robot to idly explore the property for himself—and he's definitely less horrified about stepping over the bits and pieces of former machines and androids. After all, he's done this hundreds of times by now.

With Pod in tow, his first pass around the junkheap is little more than a cursory glance, getting a gist of what sorts of old parts one might find around here. The quick inspection is soon interrupted by a very Simon-sounding yell. ]

Wha—? [ 9S turns around, backtracking to see what's going on. ] What's all that shouting for?

[dirtdevil]

[ i ] the janitor's utopia

[ there must be something symbolic about this. to rise from the dim caverns of the underground, where the filth never seems to come clean, to the surface, where the sun shines and it smells a bit less like shit, and finally to... this place. it's an upgrade, for sure, but he's not sure he likes it; it feels so utterly foreign, like he shouldn't be here.

but hey, whatever, right? this is the bullshit he's on now. hopefully it will be over soon.

a sudden rumble of thunder (that was thunder, right?) snaps him out of his confused but awestruck survey of the city around him, and he happens to glance down at the ground. it's... awfully shiny, isn't it? surely hundreds of people or robot people or whatever have traveled up this road today.

how is it so clean?

with a sudden burst of curiosity, he kneels down on the side of the road and examines it more closely. he can practically see his own reflection in the floor. he runs a few fingers across the ground, then studies his fingertips.

nothing.

this could be paradise. ]


[ ii ] what the fuck is an iPad

[ the Supercenter, as it turns out, is exactly what its name implies. the clothing looks kind of odd, but at least he knows what clothes are—a lot of this shit is a complete mystery to him. still, exploring is kind of part of his job (his real job, not whatever kind of magic nonsense he's doing here), so that's what he does: explore.

soon after setting out, he can be found among the electronics, standing in front of a very large TV. he's got the remote, too, but he... doesn't seem to quite Get It yet. "Power," maybe? Brows furrowed in annoyance, he presses the power button, and the giant screen suddenly lights up—

—it's a scene from some kind of action-thriller. explosions and screaming fill the air. someone left the volume all the way up.

it spooks him, and his instincts kick in before anything else. he wastes no time flinging the remote, hard, directy at the TV. it is now firmly lodged in the screen.

the loud scene plays on behind the shattered screen.

maybe sometimes violence isn't the answer. ]


[ iii ] wildcard

[ hit me with anything! i'm at clickboom ]

ii

[apocryphas]

[ Oh my GOD did he just break the TV in the middle of the most beautiful (and only) cinematography that Mordred has ever seen?! NOT COOL ]

Hey, you creepy-looking bastard, I was watching that!!! Put it back on!

[complementing]

I; CHECKING IN
Hostel; Remembering the Past

[So! First world jump. As far as bizarre situations go, this isn't her first, but somehow it's so much more difficult to wrap her mind around than anything else she's seen before. Instinct tells her to go exploring, but practicality insists on saying hello to the welcoming committee first. And so she and her shiba inu head over to chat, bright-eyed interest mirrored in their red eyes.

As for the conversation, well. She's talking at them more than she's talking with them, but at least they look interested? She's gotten so into it that she's made a drawing with a little holographic screen drawing pad one of them gave her. The artwork is a rather cutesy doodle of a blonde android.]

She technically had a soul from the time she was created. It was called a Papilion Heart, and she stored it right here, under her ribbon. [Minako pats her collarbone.] But she didn't really understand what it meant to have a soul until much, much later.

[She looks like she's about to launch into a big explanation, so now might be a good time to cut in.

When night falls, Minako won't be in her room. Instead, upon discovering that Astoria's watch allows her roof access, she'll be there instead, sitting on the ledge with her feet dangling hundreds of feet in the air, leaning back to gaze up at the thundering skies. Koromaru is on his hind legs, front paws on the ledge so he can look up with her.]

Do you think Astoria would even answer me if I asked? I can't stand not knowing. [Koromaru whines softly. Minako gives him a rueful smile, ruffling over his ears.] She seems nice enough. We can ask some of the others what they think. For now...let's take it one step at a time. Just like we did before.

II; LIVING IN A MATERIAL WORLD (AND I AM A MATERIAL GIRL ♪)
Supercenter; Sightseeing the Present

[A Minako out and about exploring is a much more energetic Minako! Despite her new apparent duty to 'save this world', she figures that it's better to follow the others' lead for now on how to make that happen until she's learned the ropes. Insomuch as anyone can learn the ropes for saving multiple worlds across however many universes may exist.

It's kind of a relief to not be the leader for once, really.

So for now, she and Koromaru are off to be tourists and have fun! After a not very satisfying goop meal at the hostel, the two of them wander into the Supercenter, where Minako's first priority is finding a music store. Do androids listen to music? Do androids enjoy listening to music enough to dedicate entire storefronts to selling the downloads? She's going to find out!

But then she passes by the arcade, and it's so shiny and exciting looking that she can't help but be tempted away from her quest. Since it's too loud for Koromaru, she leaves him to people/android watch outside, while she goes in to try out video games from the future.]

Oh, no way, they have DDR here?! I wonder if they have some of the classic songs...

[Minako is going to crush any and all competition that may step up to challenge her.

Later, she'll actually make it to a proper electronics store in her hunt for Struxta music, but upon entering, she pauses and pulls out her Astoria Watch. A general text goes out to all the members of the Circle.]

hi it's Minako! (๑ゝ◡◕๑)
so just to double check
we're allowed to take the things we buy in other worlds back to the temple, right?
I know Akira brought back a gecko from El Minha
but if I was looking to take back a new music player, or maybe a charger for the mp3 player I already have
it wouldn't upset some sort of universe hopping, time-space continuum, would it? (๑꒪▿꒪)*

if we can take stuff back
does anyone want to throw credits together into a fund to buy some things for communal use at the temple?
cameras, speakers, portable game consoles, this world's version of a Kindle
or anything else that people might need, really, whether it's now or later
aside from a charger and a new outfit, I don't have anything else I'd want to spend credits on
so I'm willing to share mine!! (✩´꒳`✩)

III; ON YOUR MARKS
Race Track; Taking Risks for the Future

[Of course, despite her text, she knows it's good to save up in case she has a sudden desire to splurge. Or if there happens to be a very dire emergency. So she's off to take on a ton of part time jobs! Minako has a great customer service smile that never seems to tire of being stuck in that position for hours on end, so any transactions with her are sure to be pleasant.

One part time job, though, is decidedly much more dangerous than the usual door greeter or delivery girl gig. For those who stop by the race track, it'll be hard not to notice her with her bright red hair, manifesting red and gold barriers that shimmer like sunlight on the sea...in the middle of the track. While the races are still happening. Her barriers are translucent, too, so she is absolutely watching the cars come bearing down on her at top speed while using her still new and admittedly shaky powers to protect the androids. She's too stubborn and protective to be anything but 100% successful, but it's clear she's bracing herself every time the cars clip her barriers.

Hey, someone has to protect the mechanic androids while they're cleaning up wreckage! And Minako is that someone.]

IV; WILDCARD

[Send me a new prompt or message me at raynestorm to work something out!]

II

[unrecovered]

[...honestly, that's a brilliant idea.]

idk about taking stuff back
someone whos been here longer might know
but if we can we should find something that converts solar energy into power

[ghostdrives]

I) Hostel

[Well that was certainly the most jarring entrance Aqua's ever experienced in terms of entering a new world. Although the Realm of Darkness hasn't been fun or anything, this was disorienting.

At least she can put a face to Astoria's name though. That's one good thing.

Tucking away the information for now, Aqua begins to head out of the hostel, curious to see what's out there. This definitely isn't a world she's seen before. Too clean, too perfect and too... a little too robotic. It doesn't feel quite right to her, but who is she to judge a world and it's ways.

Restaurants are places where multiple gather, and where she could find some more information. Taking a seat beside another Circle member, she orders their special, hoping to experience something a little different.

But ends up blinking a few times at the bland heap of goop presented to her.]

Perhaps... they've just run out of the right ingredients?

II) Library

[After asking around some locals and finding her way around for the most part, Aqua's come across the library. Perfect. Libraries are amazing sources of information. And while she doesn't expect to find what Astoria's looking for, getting some more history on this place could prove useful. And maybe there will be some sort of clue.

And at least the locals seem to be okay with her looking through their records. Aqua heads on up to some of the higher floors, finding a good seat at one of the tables, and she begins searching.

One hour passes. Two hours pass. By the fourth hour, Aqua leans back, turns off the screen and rubs at her eyes, feeling tired.]

This could take longer than I though...

[Maybe even a whole eternity! Who knew that everything literally meant everything.]

III) Speed Demon

[After a few days pass, Aqua is finding herself in need of a release. Information gathering was tough, hard and exhausting work, and she has to focus on something else for a while. Somehow, she's caught words of the races in the city, and went to investigate.

Some vehicle's owner managed to catch sight of observing the races, and had the brilliant idea to bring her on board as its new driver. Admittedly, she was a bit cautious, but it's been so long since she's done something fun. And she remembers what it was like to race around in Disneytown, and how much fun that was.

Even Struxta's version is about 500x more dangerous than those races...

Outfitted in a sleek black and blue costume on a bike that matches her suit, she pulls up her visor and glances at the competitor beside her.]

Let's have a great race!

IV) Wildcard!

((Hit me up here or at delphoxes if you want to do something different!))

II

[dadandgone]

[Maes misses coffee. Every day he is finding new reasons to hate this place. Just how in the WORLD is he supposed to research a world he doesn't understand without coffee. He groans, rubbing at his face, and then getting up from the table. He needs a break and maybe some physical movement will help both wake him up and clear his head.

He isn't walking long before noticing a familiar head of blue hair a few tables down. Maes slows his pace and crosses over to her.]

Hey Aqua. You look like you could use a break too.

Ignis Scientia | Final Fantasy XV

[ebonyengine]

A. The Hostel

[If asked, Ignis wouldn't say he enjoys cooking. No, it's just something he was forced to take up as part of his long list of duties and obligations to the Crown Prince. Someone had to make his meals and it simply wasn't feasible to make the royal chefs go out to his apartment to cook for him, so naturally, that role would fall upon the prince's chamberlain. It's complicated.

In practice, however, the truth is that Ignis is passionate about cooking and food, to an obvious degree that goes beyond a royal obligation. He loves creating new recipes. He loves making his friends' favorite dishes. He loves trying new foods and learning from them.

So when confronted by this...this...sludge, he doesn't know what to do with it other than stare down at it like it has personally offended him. And really, it has.

He tries to tell himself that it's because this is a place filled with beings who don't need to eat. So naturally, they'd have no culinary culture of their own. It doesn't work. This is still an affront to his sensibilities. In this futuristic, science fiction looking place, they don't have any information about cooking? None at all? He doesn't believe that.]

I suppose I should be grateful to them for trying, but this is really...

[He doesn't want to be rude but...]

...unacceptable.

[Now what is Noctis going to eat?]

II. The Supercenter

[Ah, now here's is something that seems a little bit like home. Such a large and blatant display of consumerism is oddly comforting, reminding him of the Crown City. Ignis tries to ignore the little pang in his heart as he remembers the fact that Insomnia is not in the best of shapes right now, having sustained heavy damage and currently under foreign occupation.

Ignis isn't looking to buy anything. Not anything in particular, anyway. He's simply here to look around and feel a bit nostalgic for home.

The vendors, however, have different ideas. Wherever he goes, robotic shopkeepers immediately approach him, welcoming him to their humble little corner of the Supercenter and might they interest him in some of their fine products for sale? It's oddly charming at first, but after the tenth time it's beginning to get annoying.]

No, thank you. I'm only here to browse.

[The flying cube that's currently pestering him, however, seems to have other ideas and is trying to steer him towards a display table filled with various items, beeping enthusiastically.]

A

[dadandgone]

[Maes doesn't really cook. He doesn't need to when he's married to a woman who is, at least in his completely non-biased opinion, the best cook in the world. And, when you have eaten food prepared by her for several years, your standards for food get pretty high. At one point in his life he had survived on food stuffs that were probably not too far removed from this goo, but not in several years.

Maes has been sitting at his seat for awhile, frowning at the plate and willing himself to just eat the damn stuff. Connor had suggested just small bites, and he had done that, but he was really going to be going on a diet if this was what he was expected to eat during their time here.

He is making a mental note to speak to Astoria when they return about possibly packing rations next time just in case when he overhears the other man in the room.]

You think so too, huh?

[murderp]

[ I. Hostel! ]

[ Soujirou can be found in the restaurant, because like most people, he does need to eat. Unlike most people, when he takes a bit of this lovely colorless glop he's been given, he does not look disgusted or despairing, but rather... nostalgic??

If you look at him, he offers a smile and takes another bite. ]

I actually think this is better than a lot of the food I've had before. It's not too bad!

[ SOUJIROU?? ]


[ II. About! ]

[ He's wandering when you spot him this time, either with one hand on the hilt at his hip or leaning against a wall as he diligently polishes the blade.

More noticeably, he looks like he totally just came from a tussle, which might be a bit odd given how all of the robots in this nation really seem to enjoy peace and getting along and being happy and productive.

But Soujirou also looks happy?? Just... also bruised and scuffed up. ]

Hello! It's a nice day today, isn't it?

[ Is he... okay? Maybe you should ask.

Or maybe you should just walk away. ]

i

[oculusriffs]

The hell sort of food are you used to eating?

[says Dave "probably lived off of Doritos and burritos" Strider. oh, wait. oh, holy shit, that rhymes. he's going to have to save that gastric abomination of an idea for later.]

[ryuji]

1. More Protein

[He doesn't actually mind the food.

He doesn't actually mind the food?

It's not the worst thing that he's eaten in his entire life, passable, but growing boys are hungry as hell, and he raises an eyebrow as he stuffs his face with another forkful of indiscernible food goo. His mouth is pretty much full when he asks-]

You gonna finish that?

2. Grease Monkeying

[On most days in Stuxta, Ryuji can be found in a mechanic shop not far from the racing venue. He's found full time work doing mostly small things at first- moving boxes around, separating lug nuts from bolts, but occasionally the shop owner will take pity on him and teach him how to do some simple repairs. This... is a really weird sort of opportunity for Ryuji, because up until now, he's pretty much believed that school and learning and studying was all a crock of shit, but using his hands? Physically touching parts to learn how to repair them, and getting himself all greasy and mucked up; this is the sort of thing that he could never learn behind a desk. And he's living for it. He spends more than just 8 hour shifts here, and the android behind the operation has taken to a keen liking of the kid. He has enthusiasm for days and works almost as hard as someone who's programmed to do so.

He's gotten enough trust from the owner to man the shop, too, while the more important details can be taken care of. Ryuji's grown fond of the guy, too, so he's doing his best to be both a merchant and a mechanic, standing behind the front counter, tinkering away at what looks like a muffler that needs some welding done on it. He hasn't leveled up that well in this particular area of Fixing Shit Up, but he's at least trying to get things together so that when the owner comes back later he can show him.

With a warm smile, honest-to-god happy that he's here, he greets you as you enter the shop with a short wave. If you're delivering parts, he'll take the invoice. If you're shopping for something to fix your bike up, he'll be there to suggest some parts from the back room. Or if you're just wandering in and want to talk to a newly bonafide grease monkey, Ryuji's there for you too.]

Hey. Welcome to Heavy Metal, what's up?

3. First Call

[He's worked for a few weeks with the small hope that the androids will give him a bike to get his hands on and give racing a try. Ever since he set his eyes on the races, that's where his heart has been, and finally, finally, he's looking at what appears to be his pride and glory. The equivalent of a 1957 Chevy, busted, in the midst of hyper futuristic amazing bikes. There's probably no way that he can win with this thing, but maybe he can scrap together some parts to make it a little better.

First, though, this thing seriously needs a new paint job. He decides to give his powers a little test drive, touches the chrome of the bike and watches it turn an obscenely bright yellow. He's so pleased with himself, he's practically grinning ear to ear. It was his own piece of shit, and the pride that comes along with having an entry level bike to get in on these thrill junkie circuits is practically pulsing through his veins.]

Eh, not bad. [He turns, looking you over, and crosses his arms.] Wanna go for a test drive, dude?

4. Rubik's 8-ball

[Ryuji's shopping exploits have proven to be incredibly... fucking useless, to be honest. He's found a bunch of shops that sell things he's never seen before, but hell, if it isn't a throwback to the diminishing number of junker shops in Akihabara, he doesn't know what is. He's spent some time looking around, but for the most part, Ryuji had led a decently ascetic life back home. Money was always tight with a single income household, so he learned to curb his appetite for nicer things and took care of the stuff he already had extremely well. That isn't to say that he didn't love the prospect of hanging out with his friends after a good heist, taking in the extravagance of UTTER MEAT DOMINATION at a buffet, but mostly he just enjoyed... the experience of it.

He comes across a peculiar shop, then, and picks up what has to be a rubik's cube of sorts. The owner had supplied him with some minimal information about it, explaining that it was meant to be a battery pack and somehow wound up as a speaker, and hey, if you ask questions from it, it'll totally give logically great answers. All for the low, low, price of get it out of my shop and I'll give it to you for free.

Free. Now that's what he's talking about. And he brings it with him pretty much everywhere he goes, since it's kind of cool. Any conversation started with him after this point will begin with the following offer, and hell, he's outgoing enough to probably just walk up to you and ask:]

Yo, ask this thing a question. It's great!

4. Wildcard

[if you have anything you want to do, throw it at me, or reach me at centerfold]

3

[purrtagonist]

[Akira's a frequent flyer at the shop for which Ryuji works. his full-time gig doesn't see him staying in one place for long, but someone's gotta deliver the tools and materials used to build these racing vehicles, right? and if Akira just so happens to linger to chat with Heavy Metal's newest grease monkey for a while afterwards, then. . . eh. it's fine, right??]

[today's delivery is smaller than usual-- a bag of nuts, bolts and other shiny tools-- that rattles and clanks when Akira drops it to the ground near the garage entrance. one look at Ryuji's eye-searingly bright bike gets a low, impressed whistle from him, and he can't help but vaguely think of Makoto. he bets she would've liked this place, too]

Thrill-seeker that I am, I'm contractually obligated to say "yes." [no hesitation!!] Where'd you get this?

[unimpeded]

I. The Hostel

[Geordi, perhaps, is strangely optimistic about this place. Strolling into the hostel with a big smile on his face, he claps his hands and looks around the lobby. This? This is nice...]

Now this is what I'm talking about. It looks just like Risa.

[Which probably means nothing to anyone but he doesn't care. He was scheduled to get shore leave on Risa, and he's still sort of put out by Astoria's timing!

Getting settled is nothing, so plopping his bag down and heading to the restaurant for food comes next. Rubbing his hands together eagerly, he heads for what appears to be the replicator and pushes a few buttons...only to have his face fall in dismay.]

I wonder if this is even edible...



II. The Shopping Center

[Geordi isn't much of one for shopping, or spending money but he definitely needs to get something besides his uniforms, since he's officially off duty. Going from place to place, he rather quickly comes out with an assortment of clothes. Dull reds and purples, things that very much suit him. And one...extremely ill suited shirt.]

So? [He asks, in that awful outfit.] How's it look?

[...he may already know.]


III. The City

[Geordi has been poking around, a lot, since he arrived. Despite his initial interest in exploring, he'd actually stopped and holed up in his room for a day or more, nowhere to be seen. When he does emerge, he's carrying a pamphlet that looks like a map of the city. Approaching anyone from the Circle, he waves it.]

Hey. Was wondering if you could help me out. I'm heading somewhere, and I want an extra pair of eyes, and hands. Shouldn't take long.

iii

[lonered]

Hey.

[Keith replies in greeting, and he lifts his chin curiously now. Well, he's all for helping. And he recognizes Geordi, so all the more reason.]

Yeah, sure. Where are we headed?

[Count him in for this adventure.]

[spaceforged]

1. The Hostel

[His sigh is long and loud, as he stares down at the food...goo. Maybe he should be grateful they have anything at all. Anyone passing by will hear him mutter, 'I knew the good times wouldn't last', as he sets to eating efficiently but with speed. He's starting to regret being a shapeshifter. The amount of this stuff he'll have to stomach will make this a long stay.

Or one might find him wandering the halls, idly striding along as if he's on a walk. Except he's not human. A winged metal lion roams the halls one more robot among the many. Until it pauses and swings its head to look at whoever from the Circle happens by and a voice enters one's head.] Hey, have you seen anything unusual here? So far most of it seems to check out but I haven't done a full search.

[Later still as night is starting to fall he's sitting out in the open with a computer tablet. The tablet is outdated compared to anything seen in the city but he can still use it. His fingers swipe over the surface. He's clearly engrossed in whatever he's doing.]

2. The Races

[Maybe you came down to see about getting in on the races. If one is lucky they can find Shiro with a light hung overhead, bent over the open compartment of a beat-up garbage bin of a racer. Oil is splattered on the side of his face as he pulls out wires and adjusts some kind of pipe inside. He jerks his head back with a hiss and narrowly misses getting more oil on himself.

He'd done odd jobs and the like around the racers and the city. As a human and a robot. He had been surprisingly useful for clearing away debris from crashes. It's the lasers. He blinks.]

Hey. Got a minute? I need someone to hold the light closer.

[Or you find him another time, the cycles shooting past and something black with red wings and glowing yellow eyes darting among them. A leonine roar rolls through the air in their wake. It wasn't a dream. The Black Lion has hit the races. Sometimes he has a rider. Other times he's alone pushing himself to the limits of his speed and control to push ahead of the pack.

He nods to any Circle members on racing cycles, eyes glowing bright and dimming.]

Good luck. If your cycle shorts out I'll help you.

3. The Library.

[The native robots he'd questioned at the Hostel told him to come to the library. At first, he almost couldn't believe the library was really the massive building he was directed to. The robots on the first floor are helpful in the way most secretaries are but only to a point. Having a quiet discussion (anyone is free to interrupt here) doesn't get him too far.

How do they manage to handle their searches? Probably could plug in and narrow their search down like that. His arm won't work that way and he would feel terrible if Galra code did something irreparable. With one last thank you to the staff he departs.

The path to an elevator is wide and open with clean cabinets to hold rows and rows of servers. Cool air keeps him awake and alert and uneasy. There's no doubt in his mind he's being watched. It could be paranoia. Yet he won't agree with that assessment. Shiro takes him time in case whatever tail he has will be obvious.

In a robotic city, the servers themselves could be watching. He takes the elevator up just high enough he'd need to change and burst through a wall to escape. They need to think he's trusting. He walks on past anyone who is around and heads for the direction of their objective, the screens.

He finds an available touchscreen that clearly isn't being used to begin his search. The history of this city. He draws up the right words then jerks back. A long list version updates scroll rapidly down the screen. He grips the edge of the table and leans a little closer to the screen.]

So when they meant I could find everything. They meant everything. ...this system is old...to have these many backups and still be spitting out the list. Thousands of years?

[He moves the screen down as it continues to load more and more of the backup versions of what he'd typed in as a search.]

I should have brought a book.

Wildcard

[Got an idea? Pm this journal for plotting it up!]

[lonered]

[Keith's own adventures in the library have been, well, not as productive as he would have hoped. He's never been the overly patient type -- much as he is working on that -- and delving into research involves a lot more sitting still than he's terribly thrilled about.

But.

It's important to find out about this place. After everything suddenly went downhill in El Minha, he wants to be better prepared here. Astoria, ostensibly, dropped them here for a reason. When that reason rears its head, who knows what'll happen.

He's at least met that one guy here who had a few interesting ideas, ideas that involved more than going blind from staring at a computer screen for hours on end.

The moment he catches sight of Shiro though, well, even if he'd been about to head out of the library, his course changes and he heads over towards him in time to hear what he has to say.]

It's a pretty effective way to hide things, under a pile of other stuff. It's too much information.

[seventhdawn]

[The Library]

[All of her inquiries into the history of this world have led to friendly if distant clockwork suggestions to look into the matter further in the Library. Advanced technology being something of an archaic privilege in Eorzea, Minfilia is not well versed at all in the manipulation thereof. The watch still proves too complex some days; these interface screens, rather than books, are far beyond what she can make good use of in a limited amount of time.

But wandering the stacks...well, there aren't any stacks. The place is tall and desolate and dead with lights.

A few hours of prodding at nothing on the screen and Minfilia rests her head in her hands to stave off a growing headache. She ought not have tried this alone- of course! There are others from the Circle near enough to approach and:]

Pray forgive the interruption, but may I ask of you what it is you are researching here?

[Mayhap she'll find someone with similar interests to hers...or better ones.]


[The Races]

[Minfilia goes to the Races strictly as an observer! Unless they're about to race chocobos, she knows she would be little good as a participant, and her parts are not near as replaceable as the seasoned competitors. But this is the hub of some important portion of life in Struxta, or it would not have so very much public property dedicated to its performance. Whatever it is they are meant to learn on Astoria's behalf, probably a piece of it is here.

So, on the bidding of the god of advanced timepieces, to the races she goes! It's enough excitement to see her picking favorite competitors to cheer for, for a time. After a little while of that she feels certain that simply watching will show her nothing, and leaves her view of the course itself to do some exploring. Thus far, no doors have been barred to them, and Minfilia wanders the framework of the race arena as much as she can.

So clean and well-maintained has the great city proven that she is not expecting the trail of slick oil on the next ramp. Down she goes, the corridor echoing gently with the impact of flesh on metal, and she slides to a stop halfway down the ramp, wincing. Let's hope she didn't collide with anyone on the way.]

[Something Else?]

[I'm down to plot! If you've thought of another fun thing or want to get totally lost in the city together trying to complete a delivery job...]

races!

[mcskittles]

[Like Minfilia, McGillis tires of the races pretty early on—or, rather, he wasn't particularly interested in them to begin with, but it definitely seemed like an event worth checking out, if everyone else was going to be there. But he's nosy, so when the spectators reveal nothing especially interesting, he wanders off.

He wasn't prepared for the dirtiness of the ramp, either... But (luckily?!), he was not the first to head down this way. He hears the impact before he sees her, but he (carefully) heads over to investigate. And when he does see her...]

Is everything alright?