mansplains: (and then there's just me)

[personal profile] mansplains 2024-04-02 11:10 am (UTC)(link)
... If there's anything on your mind, Sidon... don't be afraid to speak up.

[ both he and margaret are acting a bit... off. but owner is as rude as ever. didn't even thank him for fixing the arm. god. ]

[ anyway, guy is doing his best to keep an eye on all of them... but he's also going to check out the statue's glowy eye. what's up with that? ]
tombtaker: (Default)

[personal profile] tombtaker 2024-04-02 11:58 am (UTC)(link)
There is a designated place she can stand, and she gets the sense she steps into the shadow of someone great. Somehow powerful and kind and loved, benevolent. This is the dream of Aeor: to be powered by the dreams and wishes of its citizens. The ceiling, from up this close, seems less a work of art and more purposeful. Perhaps it moves, or shows a star chart. That would make sense - after all, the ancient flying cities had to navigate somehow. And the grooves in the floor are for markers, to help plot a course.

Owner, through the whispers you hear a woman’s voice: `Through our belief in the power of dreams, we will bring forth the new dawn. One free of control of the gods, free of fear from attack, free of paranoia of infiltrators from the lesser cities. I work tirelessly to wake us from the depths of night. Please, please, lend me your aide - I need only but a moment.` And a vision of someone approaching the orb, and placing their hands upon it.

Sidon … the red eye you have twitches, and you feel a twinge of jealousy. `She’s always so full of herself. If you wish to make progress, you cannot ignore the steps you have taken. It’s the most important part of experimentation.` and you feel a sudden wave of terror. A vision of the walls here, bolted into with chains, and the grooves in the floor filling with blood.

Guy! It’s actually not a statue, but some sort of … automaton? Aeormaton, even :) A wonderfully crafted mechanical man. As you approach, you see that it is fairly short and squat, or at least the parts of it not rusted away are. The yellow eye continues to flicker. Something whirrs to life as you approach:`……W……..w……………W…….`

There is a section with what looks like a panel for access to its insides though.
]

bossbabygirl: (i look forward to hearing from you)

[personal profile] bossbabygirl 2024-04-02 12:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[this is what she wanted, after all. the world feels so unfair, and seeking power only made her feel like a cog in that cruel system, powerless to stop it but a part of it. so she contented herself feeling like no one can have the power to change the universe, all anyone can do it make their small piece of it better. she could try to be generous, and fair, and improve the lives of a handful of people she knows, and convince herself that it makes a dent.

but it doesn't. no matter what they do, this universe is still filled with people who have access to wealth and power that the billions and trillions living in their shadow can't even conceive of. people with the power to destroy a planet just to increase their shareholder dividends, people who will sacrifice lives just to protect their brand.

she could do more, if she wasn't so afraid to try. she feels like she can. she can dream something so much better for so many more.

and in this moment, she feels so much joy and benevolence that she lets go of her anger. it doesn't matter that sidon and owner are jealous of her and want this power for themselves. it doesn't matter that guy is cowardly and afraid of what's happening to them. they're like little children, they aren't to blame. she can show them a better way, too. and she forgives them.]


It's going to be alright, everyone.
discomfort: (oni)

[personal profile] discomfort 2024-04-02 12:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he is too wrapped up in the voices, and the vision, that he doesn't really notice what the others are doing. when margaret speaks, he does finally look up at her, unsure of why she is saying that. but really, it isn't that different from her usual pep talks, her assurances that they're on the right path, so he does not pay it too much mind.

so owner just nods in response to her, remembering they are supposed to be friends and he can't ignore her, before placing his hands on the orb. ]
polliwog: (64)

[personal profile] polliwog 2024-04-02 02:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[ terror. he's strong, he's a proud zora warrior—he's supposed to have trained himself out of such violent bolts of fear. but it bolts through him anyway. he rubs the back of his hand, suddenly uncertain.

almost to himself, ]


No, there's... something wrong here.

[ margaret's instincts are off. this place is dangerous. full of potential, maybe, but still not to be taken lightly. he collects himself and heads over to the metal heap of a man to help guy in case it comes to life or something. ]
mansplains: (Everyone thinks that I've got it easy)

[personal profile] mansplains 2024-04-02 03:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he does give margaret another look of concern, but... it just seems like a regular margaret pep talk. and, well, there is an automan here. ]

What's wrong?

[ at sidon, giving him a concerned look in turn. then he addresses the automan, looking at the panel and using the power of dex and cha to see if something in there needs fixing, trying to figure out if he can operate it, even ]

... Hey there. I'm Guy, and this is Sidon. Do you need any repairs?
tombtaker: (Default)

[personal profile] tombtaker 2024-04-02 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Margaret, you are correct. You are so assured of your position - I mean, you’re basically their leader, aren’t you? They listen to what you have to say. They should trust you on this matter, and maybe all matters.

Before you on the balcony, a glowing control panel of sorts floats in front of your vision. It’s not quite in your understanding yet, but you can see that perhaps, if you concentrate and try, you can start to make adjustments here. You can open the ceiling and contain the space, or begin channeling.

Owner! Do you just touch everything in your way. Gosh. Well. Nothing in particular happens, but both of your hands stick solidly to the orb. Like you’re magnetized. Strongly. Lmao. Lol.

Sidon and Guy come over to observe the metal man, and Guy starts to fiddle around on the inside of it - it actually doesn’t seem that complicated to mend up, at least with his level of charm and dexterity and Sidon’s emotional support. It doesn’t move yet, but the one yellow eye glows brighter and whirrs again:

”Good Afte— Even— Mornnooning! I am V-V-V—” It whirrs harshly, like an overheating computer. “Victoron, Concierge of the Da-Da-Daw— Dream Crucible. Please listen closely to the following menu options so that I can further assist you:

Say UNUS for the HOURS and HOLIDAYS of the D-D-Daw-- Dream Crucible
Say DUO to begin the Aeor University Study Guided Tour, hosted by Loquatius Seelie
Say TRES to report an ISSUE
Say HELP for more options
]
bossbabygirl: (as stated previously)

[personal profile] bossbabygirl 2024-04-02 05:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[margaret is busy but please pick Duo, I want Alli to have to RP that tour.

margaret will concentrate using both her intelligence and arcana to try and command the space. she wants to see how much control she has over this room before she begins channeling. it is just opening the ceiling that she can do, or does she have any more ability to change things?]
discomfort: (hannya)

[personal profile] discomfort 2024-04-02 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ well



owner is dealing with being fucking stuck to this so uh

everyone else take care. i guess. TUGS AT HIS HANDS. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS ORB. HELP. ]
polliwog: (47)

[personal profile] polliwog 2024-04-02 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[ sidon watches this thing whirr to life and doesn't sense that it's any danger. so he'll let guy decide what to do with it so we don't have to discuss.

in the meantime, he notices owner just. standing there? and wanders over. ]


Owner? Everything all right over there?
mansplains: (and then there's just me)

[personal profile] mansplains 2024-04-02 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Duo, please.

[ i would have picked this option even without siz egging me on, for the record. he will let sidon unmagnetize owner ]
tombtaker: (Default)

[personal profile] tombtaker 2024-04-02 07:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[ she can lock the doors :) for safety reasons!

owner you have no strength score so its just you, both hands stuck fast to this thing. it’s a smooth, golden orb - in it though the reflection is a little … odd. Instead of showing the entire room, your companions, its just you. distorted. your reflection smiles at you serenely and lifts a finger in a ssh motion

Sidon you can’t see this odd reflection at all, but you do see one for yourself - another red zora, oddly bent by the reflection, but a good deal smaller than yourself. it wavers, as if it’s not sure it should be here.

the robot WHIRRS and then “My-My-My apologies, the command POO-OH is not recognized. Please select from the following:

Say UNUS for the HOURS and HOLIDAYS of the D-D-Daw-- Dream Crucible
Say DUO to begin the Aeor University Study Guided Tour, hosted by Loquatius Seelie
Say TRES to report an ISSUE
Say HELP for more options
]

bossbabygirl: (let me clarify)

[personal profile] bossbabygirl 2024-04-02 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[keep trying.

ok she locks the doors for safety. and she will start trying to channel. :)]
Edited 2024-04-02 19:34 (UTC)
discomfort: (oni)

[personal profile] discomfort 2024-04-02 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[ well, this is all fucking fine, i guess.

he continues to not really know what the others are doing, but he can hear the distant robot talking?? that is likely okay. owner looks up at sidon. ]


I am stuck. Can you go check on Margaret?
polliwog: (37)

[personal profile] polliwog 2024-04-02 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ being baited into a strength check here. but yeah whatever Margaret is doing is concerning. he stares at the other, petite zora for a moment before he's startled back by owner. ]

...All right. I'll be back in just a moment, okay?

[ guy can probably help owner if anything goes awry. for now, he'll try to head up to where Margaret is. ]

Margaret, did you find something?
tombtaker: (Default)

[personal profile] tombtaker 2024-04-02 09:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[ there’s a heavy, echoing metallic clunk as the doors click into place in preparation for the channeling. Margaret will find herself frozen into place as the machinery and magic starts to spin up - there’s a smattering of dust across the entire place as portions of the ceiling shift and begin to glow. Margaret, would you like to draw them forth? Their dreams? Their memories? You get the feeling it will be taking from you as well, but that is the price to be paid.

Owner, since you’re already stuck to it, you feel it start to hum with magical energy - lifting the hair on the back of your neck and starting to thrum through your veins (or whatever you have that passes for veins) and your own reflection is swept away suddenly with a slight look of panic. Then in the orb you see in rapid fire: spider, butterfly, red eyes, sasaki, spiders, yourself, butterflies, eyes - and it hurts - you can feel it draining you, your vitality, the scab that keeps whatever contains your soul can be called peeling away into the machine.

Sidon, you’ve started to ascend out of the bowl near the orb, but you feel its power gently tug at your back - probably not strong enough to actually draw you in.

Guy, however is close enough that he (and the robot who goes U-U-UH-OH) will start feeling a strong gravitational pull towards the orb, strong enough to pull Guy’s feel across the floor.
]
Edited 2024-04-02 21:04 (UTC)
bossbabygirl: (my two cents)

[personal profile] bossbabygirl 2024-04-02 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[yes, she would like to draw them forth. yes, that sounds nice.]
discomfort: (nuribotoke)

[personal profile] discomfort 2024-04-02 09:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ oh! well!

he tries to tug himself free a little more desperately now, trying to ignore the pain that hits him as this thing tries to suck his life away. if he tries to do a check, what kind of feeling is he getting from this? any idea of what is happening. ]


Someone-- stop this!

[ guy was messing with some robot, sidon hadn't touched anything, but none of them was paying attention to what margaret was doing and she has been on a really annoying ego trip this whole journey. ]
polliwog: (127)

[personal profile] polliwog 2024-04-02 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he feels the pull, and more urgently, sees that guy and his robot buddy are getting jerked into the gravitational tug. ]

Margaret, enough!

[ if he does a check, does he get a sense of what the hell is going on here? either way he's going to try and grab her away from the console, forcibly. ]
mansplains: (other people roll their eyes)

[personal profile] mansplains 2024-04-02 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Margaret! Stop!

[ as he plants his feet and tries to slow/stop getting dragged down!! he will try to use his cha and dex to try to get this robot to help ]

Victoron! Help!
tombtaker: (Default)

[personal profile] tombtaker 2024-04-02 10:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It does sound nice. Margaret is absorbed in her work so fiercely she probably doesn't even notice how it's beginning to drain her too - her face going pale. She can bring them here. You can bring them here, to this better world, and everything will be okay again. No more Eudora, no more murdering each other on this horrible ship, no more rats or teeth or pain and injustice. You start to see faces, familiar ones, flash across the Astral Sea painted across the ceiling. Magic is filling the room, the stars painted now looking real, flashes of light and sound and arcane energy crackling. Something is about to emerge. Something is arriving.

But at this moment, Sidon reaches for her to grab her - for a moment, Margaret will look at him and there’s a feeling like something curling around his mind. A soft whisper in his ear to head back to the others, everything is fine here but— he’s able to resist. He can tell she tried to cast something on him. Something strange, and controlling. He’ll be able to pull her away, ripping her hands from the floating magical console and everything in the room that was starting to spin screeches to a terrible halt - the feeling of silence right before lightning about to strike.

Owner, you get the feeling … like it is rifling through the recesses of your mind. Searching, seeking. Drawing out that which you desire most and trying to give it form - but form doesn’t come without a price. Nothing can be made from nothing. Dreams can be made reality, but flesh must be taken. As Margaret is interrupted by Sidon, he’ll be able to take the opportunity to wrench his flesh hand free of the orb, but the metal prothesis … it sticks, and then it starts to slow, and then - as easily as paper it explodes, peeling back layers and layers of metal and machinery. He’s free, but at the cost of everthing on that fake arm below the elbow. It is ruined, wasted, sparking and flickering uselessly.

Guy (and the robot) are pulled nearly to the center, near Owner, and as he turns to see his reflection in the orb it is — Luke, looking down curiously at him and the robot. And then it swirls off. He’s able to grab the bot in time (it’s small, or least, what’s left of it is.)

For a moment, everything stills and the fog (since when was there fog) around the ceiling stirs. Then a giant, fleshy hand pushes through, with a scream. It sounds like y̸̪̹̕ouȑ̴̦͝ ̷̺̐͆s̶̨͚͠i̵̞̍s̷͇̬̈͘ter ḓ̶̒y̵͔̹̾ing̶͇̲̈́.̴̤̹̾̓.

The creature (for that is the only word to describe it, even if it seems inadequate), leans down from the ceiling, dragging its fleshy, wretched body with it. It’s face is, well. Almost different to each of you. A groaning, sluggish Sasaki, a Shouxue grimacing in pain - black hair draining to white around her, your sister, your sister, your sister— It’s large enough to curl around the whole room, elongated like a snake with legs and limbs.

You interrupted the process of creation, and it is in pain.




… This is the moment the bot says You have selected the HELP menu for more options!
Say QUATTUOR for directions to other locations in the GENESIS WARD
Say QUINQUE for the Weather Forecast and Aeor Landing Schedule Locations
Say SEX for Further Menu Options
Edited 2024-04-02 22:54 (UTC)
bossbabygirl: (i'll be out of pocket for a few hours)

[personal profile] bossbabygirl 2024-04-02 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[well, when she's wrenched free she screams, struggling against sidon, trying to claw and scratch at him to stop him from pulling away, but then once she's free, she stops, almost like she's coming back to her senses. her expression goes from furious to frightened and then crumples into tears and she stops struggling against him.

she was so close. she wants it back, she wants them back. she doesn't want this at all.]


Oh, god. I'm - [owner? was owner screaming? is he okay?

at least, that's what she thinks, and then this happens. it almost looks like rosamund, or she sees sheba for a moment, or even sydney for a second - it shouldn't be here. she wants to go back. she holds onto sidon, useless for this round.]
discomfort: (amanojaku)

[personal profile] discomfort 2024-04-02 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ that's fine, this is fine.

he stumbles backwards as he manages to free himself from the orb, almost falling over but managing to right himself. owner says nothing, panting, trying to will his adrenaline to go back down.

and then there's the scream. he looks up, startled, and sees it. ]


That...

[ does whispers do anything for this? can he try to see what this creature is? ]
Edited 2024-04-02 23:13 (UTC)
polliwog: (42)

[personal profile] polliwog 2024-04-02 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[ it startles and hits a deep chord of sadness in him when the spell lifts off his mind, just barely escaping its influence. but the urgency of what just spawned in front of him—it brings him a moment of clarity. she's obviously affected. aren't they all? what is this place? he knew it wasn't safe. he sees blood again. he holds onto margaret, mind turning back on just enough to leap away from one of the many limbs that's encroached too near them.

he has one arm around margaret, and the other drawing his weapon, but there's no way he can immediately bring himself to use it on the pained face of someone he recognizes. he's going to listen to whatever noise the creature is making, even if it sounds too familiar.



also we are having a SERIOUS MOMENT, victoron? please? ]
tombtaker: (Default)

[personal profile] tombtaker 2024-04-02 11:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[

The whispers are barely whispered. They are screamed, wild and raging and afraid - this is your creation. You have made this here, in the Crucible from your own vital self. These are your memories of these beloved people. Life! Life itself. It is miraculous and awe-inducing. Beautiful. To bring forth life from dreams themselves is the realm of the Gods themselves, and Aeor and its mages will see that power brought to mortals too. No more being a plaything. No more being a puppet. But-- the way to discovery isn't always paved so easily. You are assailed by visions of the past, of others who tried to draw forth life from this terrible arcane machine - of citizens and slaves trapped within for the Greater Good of All. Progress.

The creature makes a strange cacophony of sounds, but to Sidon ... it sounds like prayer. A prayer for healing. And someone calmly explaining the mechanics of steam hydraulic system of the Hexgate tower. And a stoicly silent friend, awaiting your guidance.

It doesn't wait for long, however, swinging a massive limb towards both Margaret and Sidon, trying to knock them off of the balcony together and to the floor. It swings its barbed tail at Guy--

The robot, chipper goes:
You have selected More Menu Options!
Say SEPTUM to File a Complaint with the Aeor Ethical Testing Committee
Say OCTO to Access Public Records of Previous Experiments
S-S-S-Sa-Say Ṉ̸̡̗̯͎̗̤͎̫̘̝̣̘͓̱̌̊̉̈̀́͋͌̊̑͊̿͛̽̔͘ͅͅO̶̧̪̘̪̼̥̺͚͔̣̐̅́̏͒̄̅̔́̇̐̕͘̕͝V̷̞̙͇̖̖̝̝̥͙̿̓̒̒̍͝ͅȨ̷̪̘̦͇̻̮̺̺̞̦͚̘͇͔̤̭̽M̴̤̻͇̜̠̀͛͑̒̈́̎̀̅̀̀͒ to access EMER-EMER-MERGENCY SH-SHUTDOWN P̸R̷O̸T̴O̴C̷O̸L̸.
]

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