xistentiaooc | Test Drive Meme #7

Entry tags:

Test Drive Meme #7

Hold me tight, it's getting cold.

CRASH LANDING

Exit one dimension, enter the next. It was chaos: pressure against your ears, light bending in an impossible, unimaginable way. The very molecules of your body vibrating against one another. If you have windows, the view outside makes no sense. Even if not, your hands, your face, your feet seem like an uncertain thing. It's the feel of reality itself tearing apart, reshaping, reconnecting, thread by thread.

And suddenly, there's a beach— or ocean, whichever you land in. Smoke. Fire. Salt water churning up, fizzing around, almost at odds with the layer of thick snow over everything.

Maybe you crash, in a ship wrecking into sand. Maybe you merely stumble out of a portal, a ragged wormhole in space. Or maybe you fall off the back of an incredible steed, some creature that carried you into this place. Either way, there's pandemonium around you. Incredibly, severe injuries are far and few between— nobody's screaming about the dead. But you might have to help pull someone free of wreckage, or move quickly to salvage burning belongings from the landing craft. Maybe it's the crafts themselves, that you're trying to salvage.

Likely, you don't know them, these other strangers who arrived here^[1]. Maybe you don't trust them— you just came out of a dying world, after all. But you all have one thing in common: you're here now.

When you get a second to breathe, maybe you'll see it. The snowy forest across the sand. Beyond that, the glint of a faraway city.

The Winter Festival

Your first party in Xistentia^[2] is wild, unexpected combination of cultures celebrating the winter holidays from around the Multiverse. Some of them are of contemporary Earth-- Diwali, Christmas, and Hannukkah are all represented, along with the Lunar New Year accelerated somewhat ahead of schedule. You'll find sticky rice pudding, samosas, Henna tattoos, dreidels, chocolate coins, and lanterns in dozens of shapes and sizes. The liquor is plentiful too. All the classics, from wine to mead.

If you aren't familiar with mistletoe, you'll be happy to know that F.A.T.E.S. will prevent unexpected smooches from landing on your face unless you assent. But there is certainly a lot of it around.

However, from unfamiliar worlds, there are a number of other unusual traditions. One of those is Mutuya, a practice from a dwarven land of lightbringing. Two partners, selected at random, get two torches they must carry outside and walk around the snowy building, keeping each other lit. Upon their return, they pass their torches onto a random person— or try again, if they failed. Those who succeed to bring the light back then write a wish on a tapestry hung in the center of the room. You'll notice a lot of people are wishing to return home and save their worlds.

Interestingly, there is even a space for those who disapprove of the interfaith mingling to debate or discuss the mingling of faiths.

NETWORK

As of December 2017, Xistentia now has its own 'friending app.' You can use it to make connections with new people! But beware, your daemon may well post without your permission, and things could get pretty embarrassing.

F.A.T.E.S. thought it was a pretty good pun: Synchr. Get it? Like sinker? Hook, line, and?

TEMPLATE
Select and copy the code below, paste into your entry. (The font is tiny for ease of copying!)

<raw-code><center><div style="background: url('https://i.imgur.com/LMmsp9R.jpg'); margin: auto; width: 300px; height: 500px; padding: 30px; border-radius: 20px;"><div style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans serif; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 28px; text-align: center; letter-spacing: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; border-bottom-style: groove; border-bottom-color: #999; border-bottom-width: 1px; line-height: 16px" align="center"><i><b>synchr</b></i></div>

<div style="width: 275px; height: 275px; border: 5px solid #b7d1ae; border-radius: 170px; padding: 0px; margin: 15px auto"><div style="background: url('http://i.imgur.com/i0hSO7K.gif'); background-size: cover; width: 225px; height: 225px; border-radius: 180px; padding: 25px; background-position: center;"><div style="background: url('** YOUR PROFILE PICTURE URL HERE **'); background-size: auto 220px; border-radius: 130px; width: 223px; height: 223px; padding-top: 223px; border: 1px dotted #000"></div></div></div>
<div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial Narrow, sans serif; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: -10px; text-align: center; color: #000;"><b>NAME</b> ▐ AGE</div>

<div style="height: 120px; background: url('https://i.imgur.com/m5GzmXX.png'); overflow-y: auto; margin: 5px auto; border-radius: 6px; padding: 10px">
</raw-code>** INSERT YOUR PROFILE CODE HERE **

<raw-code></div></div>

<div style="clear: both"></div></div>
<br />
<center><table><tr><td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#2EB82E;">✓</span> </td><td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#CC0000;">✕</span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center"><big><big><big><b>YES</big></big></big></b><br />
<textarea><span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#2EB82E;">✓</span></textarea></td><td style="text-align: center"><big><big><big><b>NO</big></big></big></b><br />
<textarea><span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#CC0000;">✕</span></textarea></td></tr></table></center></center></raw-code>

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

hells yeah

Footnotes

Some of these can be nameless, plot-device NPCs to facilitate interactions! But even in this case, please avoid gore in describing their current state of being. Anyone dead or catastrophically injured will have disappeared by the time your characters make it to Xistentia. There are no corpses or dying here.
If you decide to join the game, this party will lead to the world-hop in December, detailed in the announcement! Features include The Grinch and Whoville.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Era levels him an unimpressed look of her own (that is much more effective than his, seeing as most of her face is actually visible, Mr. Helmet Head) while simultaneously piling a bunch more finger foods into her inventory, since obviously she won't be able to stay here any longer. ]

You've not been informed of anything then. [ Not a question. ] Do you really believe I would be idling my time if Eorzea was in danger?

[ Really Estinien, it's like you don't even know her and her self-sacrificing ways. She's almost as bad as Haurchefant was. ]

[ his lips twist some, letting out a snort, before he answers. ]

I believe you have many demands on your attention, including inane social appearances. [ in which stuffing your face with free food is really the only worthwhile activity to be up to. hence why estinien is no longer invited to fancy parties in ishgard, considering all he does is eat and be rude. ]

As well as I believe your line of work is prone to head trauma. [ did a dragon punch you in the head? did you forget the whole sky blacked out with monsters thing? because what else would he possibly not be informed of?? ]

[ since when has she had to make social appearances? Era shoots him another irritable look, tail twitching. She can't fault Estinien for being worried if he hasn't been informed of current circumstances, but honestly...

They need to speak somewhere private. And it's both fortunate and unfortunate that there are quite a few private rooms available. Fortunate that they exist, and unfortunate because of what they exist for. But whatever!! She is the Warrior of Light. Warrior of Warriors, according to Estinien. Era can manage sitting inside a room meant for a brothel in order to fill her comrade in on what's going on.

So Era quickly spots a destination and gesture for Estinien to follow.

She is careful to keep a polite distance from anyone else, although it takes some effort on her part to avoid the more assertive (and naked) party goers when they don't seem to have any concept of personal space. Someone touches one of her horns but she simply withholds a shudder and ignores it.

She goes as far as picking her tail up in her hands and holding it to her abdomen to prevent people from reaching out to stroke it. So what if her scales are softer than they look? Era would never begrudge someone being curious, but it is not always good to act upon one's curiosity.

The room is blessedly empty when Era pushes the door open further to check. That doesn't mean she trusts anything in it though, and she painstakingly pulls a length of linen cloth out of her inventory to spread over the bed so that they might sit without worry.

Or she'll sit, at least. You can do what you want, Estinien. ]

[ it's an unfortunate thing for all other people in this sex party that estinien is the one following here, instead of leading, because that means he bears witness to every attempt, failed or successful, to get in a touch on the auri champion that is clearly not interested. and estinien is the absolute last person to expect polite refraining from.

there is likely a series of thumps and yelps that follows them through the party, hopefully drowned out by the thrumming base of the music, as he trails closely after era to wherever she's taking them. the one that sneak in a touch to her horns, at the least, gets an immediate hard shove to the chest that sends them toppling over the lounge chair behind them. there's possibly a concussion there, but estinien doesn't care to stop and check.

people are gross. but he's glad he actually ventured to check in this place for her, else she'd be suffering them on her own. not that she couldn't well handle these people, but sometimes it's nice to have a friend who has no issue being uncivilized and aggressively rude.

they make it to the room, and from where era stands (much shorter than estinien is), she can likely see his nose wrinkle under his visor when she moves to sit on the bed. nah, even with the cloth, he's not touching that. ]

So. [ He starts, arms crossing over his chest. ] Pray tell, what is it I've not been informed of in the time it took to crash land and hike my way here?

[ The commotion behind her had brought a small smile to her face, but it falls in preparation of doing for Estinien what his daemon should have done already: explaining. ]

This is not Eorzea, nor any place on Hydaelyn. It is another realm altogether by the name of Xistentia. [ There's more to it than that - that this is all 'digital' and not real-real. Whatever that means. But it's unimportant. ] An entity by the name of F.A.T.E.S is for Xistentia what the Twelve or Hydaelyn would be for Eorzea. We were brought here to aid in stopping its opponent, D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. from destroying all worlds.

[ She knows it isn't as clear-cut as that, and the slight downward turn to her lips can attest to it. ] D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. has interfered with other realities, causing Calamities when there should have been none. Whatever even you remember - it was not meant to be, and can be resolved by our efforts here. I have seen and lived through evidence that proves it is effective.

[ And then nearly died when D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. struck for a second time. Or third, apparently, if Estinien's current armor and attitude is any indication. ]

In my time the Dragonsong War has been over for many moons, and Ala Mhigo and Doma both have been liberated of Imperial occupation. Aymeric is here as well and from the same timeline as myself. The threat I am currently combating is an ancient being named Omega.

[ um excuse u, his daemon is nidhogg's eyeball and any time nidhogg's eyeball starts talking to him, estinien immediately stops listening. F.A.T.E.S. could've picked a better one to assign him if they wanted him to stay informed or out of trouble. thankfully, the warrior of light is also here.

this explanation, he pays close attention to, even if that doesn't seem so clear, given he's standing with arms cross, one ankle over the other, face obscured by his helm's visor, but the thin line of his lips speaks of seriousness. there's a lot of this that makes no sense, and while estinien is very much a man to settle on his own conclusion once viewing apt evidence, there are a certain few he'll take truths from in trust. era is one of those.

after a long several moments of settling silence, he finally nods, seeming to come to a decision to accept all of this insanity. ]

Anti-climatic as it is to hear the end of our eons of war thusly, we have new trials to face, it seems. [ is he a little buttmad he didn't get to live his own apparent victory? yeah, intensely. but estinien's chief priority has ever been the security of his people and his home. the enemy to both has shifted now. ]

You say we can take back this new catastrophe with the defeat of, what was it? DESTINY? [ a short, sharp snort. yeah, okay, that's not a stupidly ominous name or anything. carrying on. ] Then let's be about it. Where do we start?

[ Era is not one prone to lying unless circumstances require it, so there are certainly worse people to trust. She doesn't stop to consider Estinien's trust in her, but if she ever were to she would be appreciative. ]

When you return home you will have no memory of this place. Rest assured the war's end will not be anti-climactic when the time comes for you.

[ She crosses her ankles where they hang a distance above the floor and pulls a grimoire out from seemingly nowhere (as she is often wont to do). It takes but a moment to re-summon her own daemon from where she left it roaming outside - Emeraldd appears in a somersault of aetherial sparkles to land upon her lap.

Its presence isn't particularly needed, but she finds comfort in her Carbuncle's presence. In the weeks prior to being discovered by the Scions the summon had been her only companion; loyal and steadfast in the face of so much uncertainty and her struggle with amnesia.

Era rubs Emeraldd behind the ears and contemplates how best to explain things. ]

Our mere presence is enough to aid in the fight. This world's defenses draw strength from the connections its residents make with each other. Emotional connection is enough, but... [ And here is where Era falters, freckled cheeks colouring in a rare moment of lost composure. Despite her many months in Xistentia and her newfound relationship with Aymeric, physical contact beyond battle or healing is still something she struggles with. ] Physical connections between people offers a great deal more energy to aid in the war.

I’m not sure if I should be pleased for it, stated like that. [ he’s squinting at her, from behind his visor, head tilting. pointedly climatic, for him specifically. Somewhat worrisome. But, given Era didn’t react to him as if he was a ghost, Estinien’s assuming he at least makes it through alive. And considering what she’d said of her and Aymeric - ]

At the least, full glad am I to know the end does come, and both you and the Lord Commander make it through hale and whole.

[ he does have some doubts at times. About Aymeric, mainly. Era seems durable enough to survive the next calamity or two. But Estinien isn’t one that likes to know the future, doesn’t enjoy the thought of being bound to destiny, so he leaves it at that. The rest isn’t relevant to the current situation, and he’ll see its outcome in his own time, whether it follows the same path or not. What’s more concerning, besides, is the way Era phrases the work to be done in Xistentia.

it takes a moment of so for era’s answer regarding their means to fight this dark ending for their home to truly dawn in Estinien’s mind, not because he doesn’t understand the words paired together, but because he’s finding it extremely difficult to believe. No combat, no political maneuvering, no magical rituals. Just the connection between two peoples. The specially physical and emotional connection between two bodies and souls. So - sex. Era isn’t one for comedy, so he doubts it's a joke - that is not why he bursts out laughing in response. Just simply for the absurdity of it alone. ]

Whores. [ estinien barks, half incredulous, half amused. ] We’ve been spirited hence to act as this world’s whores.

[ another barked laugh, estinien pacing his way over a lounging sort of couch to plop down. ]

I'd say 'you can't be serious', but you very rarely aren't. [ of all the pleasure workers in all Eorzea to choose from, it plucked the three of them up. ] Fury take us, we're doomed, aren't we?

Edited 2018-02-13 00:02 (UTC)

[ Era wants to say that Estinien's description is entirely wrong, but it's partially true. Enough that she feels mildly uncomfortable whenever she thinks about the situation in too much detail.

She can feel Emeraldd shaking in her arms with unvoiced laughter at her expense. ]

Not whores. [ Twelve above it would be wonderful if her cheeks would stop burning. ] A brief hug or holding hands with friends is sufficient. And if it weren't, there are more than enough people willing to indulge in more intimate activities on a frequent basis that a lack of it from a portion makes no difference.

[ There is a reason the unicorns are still her friends, Estinien. And it's not because she's so good at killing unicorn-eating trees with Fire IV. ]

[ Estinien snorts, not entirely convinced of Era's ideas of what's sufficient, considering what they'd just walked through. An armored hand lifts, pointing a thumb over his shoulder, back towards the door they'd recently come through, and the orgies that can still be heard, muffled, through the walls. ]

It would seem no one bothered to inform the rest of the brothel of that.

[ Still, Estinien has ever been one willing to do absolutely whatever it takes to preserve his home and his people. He'd just never expected that sex would be one of those things.

He's looking away for a long moment, watching a far wall and thinking this over. Sex he can do - it's a simple physical act. He's hardly exceptionally experienced with it, but it isn't a difficult concept to grasp. The emotional connections, honestly, seem the more concerning part of it. Not something he can just bend his body and will into the shape of. ]

Why this method of fuel, exactly? Is there some kind of aether that can be siphoned from it? If so, I have the Eye here with me. Could we not just offer that instead?

I do not judge those who enjoy sex and being... promiscuous, even if I cannot understand it myself. This party is the first of its ilk I have heard of in all my time here.

[ She really, really doesn't get it, Estinien. What is so great about it? It seems so unsanitary and uncomfortable. Sparring is much better. ]

If it was simply a matter of aether I have more than enough to spare. I know not why it must be this specific form of energy, though apparently this is not the only world to thrive on it.

[ estinien's spiky shoulders lift and fall from where he's slouched on the lounger, a half committed shrug. it isn't that he doesn't understand the want for sex and promiscuity, but he's never found it particularly important. not compared to other things. ]

I imagine the insecure crave such attention and validation, and the haunted seek escape. [ the kind of copulation that bears children, he thinks, is probably more based in love and fondness. but that's clearly not what's happening in this place. ] I suppose this does mean I'll need a bath after all.

[ his lips, visible under the visor, twist in distaste. estinien's never been too concerned about his appearance, but thankfully, most people prone to this sort of activity, it seems, only want a warm body more than a preened one. can't he just cuddle and have sex with his armor on??? anyway. ] Are you certain this specific form is a necessity rather than a preference?

[ is FATES controlled by creepers? how much have we looked into this? because that is a very, very specific kind of need to have. ]

You are in dire need of a bath regardless. [ She crinkles her nose at him. Friend, you are filthy and your armor needs tending to. ] And I am not positive, but have reason to believe it is the truth for the time being.

[ Sighing, Era slides her feet back to the ground, smoothing her skirts out as she does so. It's a far cry from the more practical armor or even the protective (warm) robes and tunics she wore throughout her time in Coerthas, yet she still holds herself in a way that screams she is more than capable of killing anything that crosses her, skirts be damned.

Emeraldd seems only mildly put-out that it is no longer on its mistress' warm lap, being scratched behind the ears. It sits at her feet as she contemplates her next move.

By her body language it's clear that Era is leaving - though not through the door they came through. Unwilling to let any more dirty hands ruin her dress she moves to the room's window instead and pries it open with minimal effort then promptly jumps out with all the grace of a fully trained Dragoon, fully expecting Estinien to follow. ]

Yes, yes, so I've heard. [ weh weh dire need of a bath, weh. estinien doesn't doubt era's conclusions, believing if anyone is likely to get to the truth of something, it's her and whatever cohorts she's brought along this time. still, he'll likely investigate it himself at some point. her word is good enough for now.

it's bizarre, seeing her in something frilly, feminine and cute, but the dragoon supposes that ought to be expected in a place more interested in your flirtation skills than your combat skills. dumb as that is. following after her, it doesn't seem at all strange to him that she go leaping from the window, dragoon finesse and all. his armored boots hit the ground below the window, estinien pacing on after her. ]

Has a goal been set? Or are we to just continue frisking one another until someone tells us it's enough?

[ Straightening her clothes Era realizes her error a few moments too late to really do anything about it - that it is mid-winter and she forgot to grab her coat before jumping out the window. It's in her inventory somewhere of course, but the cold has already begun to turn her bared skin uncomfortably red, her fingers stiff, and her scales itchy.

Wordlessly Era begins pulling the long, woolen jacket out from what seems to be a fold in her skirt and quickly bundles herself up before bothering to answer her beloved, obnoxious friend. ]

There has been no set time frame, though I believe it will be at the very most less than a handful of years. [ Which makes her realize she forgot something else important -- ] When you return to Eorzea you return to the moment you left, so regardless of how long it takes the lost time will be given back to us.

[ She moves to stand a more companionable distance away from Estinien, less because she missed his prickly self and more because his body mass shields her from the bitter wind. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Test Drive Meme #7

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject