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thirstology2018-04-01 12:05 am
futurologists) wrote in thirstology2018-04-01 12:05 am
Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE MEME
FANTASTIC MR. FOX  Welcome to Azeria, a small single-biome planet covered almost entirely by deep, mossy forests. The natives of Azeria, a sapient foxlike species called Vulphytes, have reached out to Hathaway for help in repelling a planetary invasion. Other Vulphyte tribes have sent word of dangerous aliens descending in silver machines and laying waste to the forest, killing and capturing Vulphytes and animals in their wake. Hathaway analysts have calculated that the Merging is to blame for this sudden invasion; before, these two nearly identical universes didn't see each other, but now that they are one, these strangers are suddenly planetary neighbors. The aliens, seeing a new planet, must be searching for colonization prospects, while the Vulphytes are helpless against their spacefaring weaponry. ▸ FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS.On greeting the Hathaway agents, the Vulphytes will initially be very awkward and surprised, or as awkward and surprised as sapient foxes can appear. The Vulphytes speak telepathically, and eventually a spokesfox explains the cause of their discomfort: the invading aliens are humans, just like most of you. ▸ PROMPTS Your mission is simple: protect the Vulphytes, forests, and native animals from the invading humans. It's not necessary to kill all the invaders (unless you want to), simply keep them from taking the planet for their own and do a good enough job to persuade them never to come back. Of course, the invaders are a bit... forceful in their methods, so it's up to you.   The Vulphytes live in a cluster of burrows which are unfortunately not large enough for anything human-sized to visit, but the presence of non-aggressive aliens (that's you!) is enough to get the majority of them to pop out and curiously observe. The Vulphytes are variably black, grey, or red, with fur transitioning to moss along their backs; animals you might see in the forest, including deer, rabbits, and owls, have a similarly moss-covered look. The Vulphytes will take awhile to warm up to anyone who is human (or those who visibly look human), their telepathic tones suspicious as they ask questions about their loyalties, where they're from, and what their homeworlds are like. Those who are clearly not human will receive a much warmer reception, the Vulphytes asking curious questions and the Vulphyte kits trailing behind in fuzzy little rows. When the invaders' silver machines -- spaceships -- become visible in the sky, through breaks in the tree canopy, the Vulphytes look skyward and begin to howl. It's a pre-battle ritual, one of them explains, and characters are invited to join in: howl to the sky, to your enemies, and get ready to fight. TWO ▸ THE INVASION. The silver spaceships of the invaders crash down through the trees, sending animals fleeing in all directions. The Vulphytes stay put, snarling in the direction of the noise and waiting for the invaders to come to them. If you'd like, you can rush forward and head them off -- or stay and fight alongside the foxes. Just as the Vulphytes claimed, the invaders are human. They are dressed in armored space suits, the visors on their helmets obscuring their faces and reflecting the forest all around. Their weapons are various types of laser guns, though a few are holding axes that have laser blades, which they use to start chopping down trees as their compatriots march toward the Vulphyte dens. The invaders are surprised to see people here, but they're not interested in talking: they open fire on anyone they see, not recognizing any of the recruits as their people and thus pegging them immediately as enemies. Though they're aggressive, they're not suicidal; if a single invader encounters too much violence or are outnumbered, they'll run back to their compatriots for reinforcements, so it's best to dispatch them quickly (or prevent them for running for help in some other way). Once the invaders reach the Vulphyte dens, the foxes fight viciously, swarming individuals in a flurry of claws and snarling teeth. Kill the invaders or simply give them enough trouble to make them retreat for good, it's up to you. But either way, look after your furry/mossy hosts; despite their telepathic way of communication, the Vulphytes don't possess any magical abilities, so they'll need to be looked after in the face of laser weapons. THREE ▸ BABYSITTER'S CLUB. The baby Vulphytes are in the greatest amount of danger from the invading humans, being entirely unable to defend themselves and uncertain of what's actually going on. Hathaway has been tasked with rescuing them from their dens and whisking them away to safer areas away from the fighting where they can be cared for until the fighting is over. The only problem is that baby Vulphytes are... well, babies. They're quite upset by all the ruckus, yowling in a way that resembles crying, and aren't exactly happy to be taken away by strangers they don't know. In fact, some of them might try to make a great escape, so you'd better be quick! Those who make it to a safe area will need consoling and, once that's done, entertainment. They'll also need their caretakers to make sure no invaders sneak up on them -- since some are hidden in the woods. It's a big job, but you can handle it, right? FOUR ▸ VICTORY CELEBRATIONS. Once the invaders are finally chased off, everyone gathers together to celebrate. The Vulphytes bow (as well as a fox can) as the team enters and apologize for their uncertainty before; they see now that many of you are nothing like the aliens who threatened them, despite your similar looks. They'd like you all to stay and celebrate, if you have time. The celebrations are... a bit different than most might be used to; it's definitely not a human party. There are games with handmade balls of packed moss, which the Vulphytes seem to love. In fact, they go crazy for Fetch, a game they were never introduced to before due to their tragic lack of opposable thumbs. They "sing" for the team in howls, a rare example of adults not communicating telepathically. As for the team, they receive a congratulatory message from Imogen on their magitek suggesting they take the rest of the celebration to meet and greet with the unfamiliar faces. There won't be much time to do so back at Headquarters, I'm afraid, she adds. Drakstaden awaits, darlings! FIVE ▸ CHIT-CHAT. It's your standard network option. Make battle plans, chat about how cute the foxes are, or share good hiding places. No matter what, you get one username to identify you and one only -- if you don't enter one, it will default to your real name (for example, Voldemort's would be tomriddle.) Choose wisely... or make it assfarts69, if that's your thing. More information on the jewelcomms can be found on the devices guide. SIX ▸ WILDCARD. Do whatever the heck you want! Go pick wildflowers. Climb a tree. Hunt animals. Loot innocent fox dens, you monster. The world is your oyster. ▸ OOC NOTES Welcome to the second test drive meme of Futurology Season 2! This test drive will function as an optional mini-mission for both new and current characters, similar in feel to the missions we have in-game but on a much smaller scale. Threads on this test drive are game canon by default unless one of the participants would like to retcon it. Current characters may use TDM threads for non-!plot AC proofs. Both test drivers and current characters are welcome to top level! While current characters are allowed to tag other current characters, we ask that you please make an effort to be welcoming to test drivers as well! Since incoming characters currently don't have official specializations, we have no specialized prompts. However, feel free to play as if your character is level 1 of whichever specialization you would like to choose. Questions about the game in general can be directed to the FAQ. If you've been with us before, you might notice things look a little different around here. Make sure you check out the welcome page for the basic rundown of how your character joined up with Hathaway. For further information about the game, the full navigation has all the links you'll need. ▸ Upcoming Events (Futurology runs on timezone UTC): |
hermione granger / harry potter series
a
[ well … that was until she pulled out a stick, pointed it at the vulphyte, said something that sounded like it could be in latin, and the creature was pulled into the air. stupefied, bellamy remains where he is, looking up at the floating vulphyte with confusion. with a furrow to his brow, he doesn't even look at hermione — he can't! what if he looks away and the vulphyte falls? this mom can't let that happen on his watch! ]
What the hell are you doing? [ it doesn't sound as rough as it should ... confused, slightly annoyed, but mainly just confused. ]
[ bellamy is usually good — decent? subpar? — in the face of strange situations ... he usually takes them in stride here! but this ... he has time during this mission to open pandora's box and start questioning everything. ]
no subject
What does it look like, baking a cake? Magic, of course.
[ She pauses, then adds, ] I've been given permission to perform spells outside of school without risk of expulsion, if that's what you're concerned about. [ As long as she's with Hathaway, they promised any spells performed under their watch won't count under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery. ]
Now pick him up, will you? We haven't got all day.
no subject
Glad you're not going to get expelled. [ yet, he doesn't quite sound it. as long as they won't have to deal with any ramifications they weren't prepared for by a source they weren't even briefed on, bellamy'll accept anything, even if she did say she was baking a cake. as long as it's edible ... ]
[ glancing down at the vulphyte in his arms, he can feel a slight niggle in his head. telepathy is still so weird. brow furrowing, it comes out all slightly unsure: ] He's asking if you can pull his friend out using your spell. Or is it just for baking cakes?
[ that last bit was bellamy. ]
ii | un: jupiterson
While you were scouting did you find anything about their positions? That could be helpful in trying to make a plan. If we have an accurate count on numbers that would be great too...for both sides. Seeing as I'm not sure how many people are staying behind to help with evacuation and who is gearing up to head out.
[Of course, planning and coordination was a heck of a lot easier when you were dealing with smaller numbers of people or least had designated cohort leaders. Perhaps those teamwork drills hadn't paid off as much as Jason would have liked.]
no subject
I, for one, plan to help evacuate the Vulphytes. I can create protective enchantments to keep anyone from getting to them.
no subject
[He can do some scouting as well, it's unlikely he'll be seen from the air.
He doesn't question the enchantments part, at least, not right now since it doesn't seem important.]
If you are heading up evacuation, I'll direct people your way to help with that if I find out who is interested.
b.
zokla carries one of the kits in her arms, a baby she discovered with a laser burn in its flank. the rescue earned her a bite to the wrist and several scratches. when nymeria snarled at the kit, zokla was half-sure the baby was about to die of fright. it doesn't scratch and it doesn't yowl anymore, but it also hasn't stopped shaking.
nymeria leads the way and when the direwolf slinks off in pursuit of a sound zokla follows carefully. she expects to spot the invaders, and is ready to shield her direwolf, except…except it's another girl. a recruit, mayhaps. and she's drawing water out of the air.
they may have stayed longer in quiet awe, but the wind shifted carrying their smells over: one fox kit, one human, one predator.
which of the latter two frightened the kits is hard to say, but they quickly shrink away, crying, and zokla snaps out of her surprise. ]
I'm sorry. I just wanted to get a closer look.
[ she hikes her kit up a little higher, mindful of its injury. at her side, nymeria huffs. ]
no subject
That's all right. I think I was beginning to lose them, anyhow.
[ She can't be too cross with a little girl. She looks like she could be a first-year, and Hermione doesn't want to make her mark here by shouting at pre-teens.
Her gaze falls to the injured kit in Zokla's arms, and her brow furrows. ]
Is she injured? Let me take a look at that.
no subject
( she's eleven, tiny and a liar. ) ]
I found her like this. Can you do something?
[ zokla moves closer on the balls of her feet in case she need jump back. the kit starts crying again. zokla shushes it and passes a hand over the short fur.
nymeria stops ahead of the girl, half-hiding her. the animal has a keen, intelligent look in her golden eyes as if she understands more than she should — she is also undeniably wild, fur matted in places, lips peeling back slightly from her teeth as she regards hermione.
despite the question, it's immediately apparent neither wolf or girl feels at ease with a stranger. the other girl looks kindly enough, but people who look kind often aren't and she's armed. were this her first day, zokla might roll her eyes at a stick. but she's been around long enough to know how common magic is even if she hadn't glimpsed the earlier display with the water. ]
i. B.
Excuse me.
[ An already low voice dropped lower so as not to disturb the nursery. He's English — posh English, too, though it softens in ordinary conversation. The grey in his hair and the bags under his eyes make him look about twenty years older than the young man he actually is — but he has gentle eyes, and his hands are steady on the creature. ]
Could you tell me a little more about what you're doing? I've never seen anything like it.
[ And he's seen a lot of weird things. ]
no subject
Uhm, it's magic, you see. But I expect you riddled that out already.
[ It's not like it's difficult to figure out what someone's doing when they're waving a wand and saying incantations, after all. Especially not when the result is so... well, magical. ]
They're only simple spells, but I figured it would be enough to entertain them while we wait.
no subject
[ "Magic", as ludicrous as it sounded in his head, was also the conclusion he had come to. It's not that he's skeptical, far from it, it's just that his experiences have skewed either paranormal or — well, Hathaway's resources blend magic and technology. With the magitek device, quite literally. But this is just raw spells. ]
Are you summoning the fluid from somewhere? Or creating it out of nothing?
[ As though it matters, as though scientific principles really apply. But he can't help but try and understand it, his curiosity piqued. ]
iii
Consider another position: she's spent the entirety of this mission playing a game with Hermione Granger. In her head, that is. She's only just now decided that Emma Watson is Hermione Granger, and that conclusion was helped along thanks to the addition of a wand. Look, in Veronica's mind it's a blurry 2017 to 2018. Emma Watson could very well take Hathaway's offer to try to further women's rights. Hermione Granger could very well do that herself, as well.
As it is, it's Imogen's message that finally spurs Veronica along in introducing herself to Hermione. It's not that she was shy; it's more that it was a little strange. But look, even as a self-proclaimed Slytherin, Veronica has always appreciated Ms. Granger. How couldn't she? She's incredible. She gets shit done. Anyone who takes issues with others based on house lines is stupid, especially ... since they're typically fictional.
Anyway. Hermione also shares a name with Veronica's mother. A dubious achievement but it was a big deal to a younger Veronica Lodge. So, it's vaguely a big deal now.
Right, so: introductions.]
I have reason to believe that you're a large part of our success here. [Her bossy message was bossy and great.] I figured, as a similarly go-getter type, I ought to introduce myself. Hi, I'm Veronica Lodge. [She's extending her hand with a cheerful smile.]
no subject
It's a little strange to be approached by her now, like there's some ulterior motive to their meeting — although, for the life of her, she can't imagine what it would be, considering she's only been here for a day. It feels a bit like Veronica might try to sell her a used car, is all.
She hasn't done anything wrong yet, though; Hermione's simply made a snap judgment based on being approached like this, which... well, she supposes it isn't particularly fair. It's odd, but some people are odd. Lots of people here are odd. She resolves to give her a chance, although she's not quite as chipper as Veronica is — more hesitant, waiting to see if she has something else in mind besides introductions or if she really came only to meet her. ]
Hermione Granger. [ She shakes her hand a tad uncertainly. ] A pleasure to make your acquaintance.
[ She's silent for a second, then adds, ] We all had a part to play in our success. It wouldn't be fair to discredit everyone else. [ Even if some of them did bumble around like disorganized baboons. ]
no subject
I think there's a lot to be gained from praising those who deserve it, but you can tell half the people who showed up don't know the first thing about animals.
[Which ... well ...]
Myself partially included, but I'm a quick learner.
1 / a.
Which is why Eliot has one Vulphyte latched onto his calve, and another cradled in his arms, desperately attempting to keep it from breaking for freedom. ]
Why not just leave it there? [ He suggests; all the lightness of his tone is beyond forced. ] I only have so many limbs to offer to the cause.
[ Not to mention the single, dark thought flickering in his head: it's just as well Fen's baby was stolen by fairies. Eliot had been immediately dubious about his own parenting capabilities, but being so quickly crushed by a pack of alien foxes seems like a clear confirmation he isn't cut out for fatherhood. ]
no subject
She hitches her own Vulphyte up in her free arm. ] You've got another arm, haven't you?
[ She raises her eyebrows, shaking her head. No, clearly he's got all he can handle. In her opinion, he can't handle very much, but that's neither here nor there. ]
Fine, I'll just do everything myself. [ She flicks her wand and floats the Vulphyte over to her, dropping it off in her free arm somewhat awkwardly; it's difficult to balance moving a wand and grabbing a struggling fox cub. She manages, however, and grasps both Vulphytes tighter. ]
I can't use my wand if my hands are full, so it'll be up to you to keep watch.
no subject
Alright, alright, overachiever, don't get snippy with me because our hosts cheaped out on proper childcare equipment.
[ Which in this case would be a playpen sturdy enough to contain multitudes of troublesome fox cubs. ]
We just need some entertainment.
[ Not a bad idea, however Eliot's repertoire isn't exactly child friendly. Is it going to screw up the mission if he ends up corrupting a bunch of kids? His face puckers into a moue of indecision before he starts cracking his knuckles. ]
What are we thinking? Barney?
[ A dancing purple dinosaur has to fall within his capability to produce. It's not so far off from that illusion from the Mardi Gras party he and Margo threw a couple years back, even if Eliot feels like those events happened in an entirely different lifetime. ]
ii | un: beloved
ii | un: kovacs
[Not that she's got the wrong attitude, or even the wrong kind of ideas. Just that they're exactly the attitude and ideas he can't help ribbing at.]