STATION LOG.03

[ximilian]

● ● ● S T A T I O N   3 . 0

HOLIDAZE • DEFECT • THE NORTH REMEMBERS • CHASING ECHOES • CONTAINING CHAOS • FYI

// PART I. HOLIDAZE  

1.0   For those of you who often cross through the sunlight room to break paths into other areas of the station, you may notice some changes in the optics around you. Where the trees had once reflected images of a lush foliage of a typical temperate planet during its warmest season, now a series of various conifers (firs, spruce, cedars, hemlocks, pines) in deep greens and soft, spiky, needle-like foliage takes its place, scattered across your field of vision in no particular pattern. Snowflakes glisten and glitter at the tips like miniature crystals, catching the simulated wintery sunlight above from a crisp, cloudless blue sky.

Follow the path into the trees and you’ll find that the room’s detritus is now covered in a fluffy white blanket of snow not yet trodden over: perfect for your footprints. It even feels just a little cooler, brisker — each breath you exhale coming out in a cloud of fog, and yet it never feels uncomfortable enough to require any sort of winter gear.

When you’ve cleared the patch of forest, on the far end of the room is a snow-covered meadow just waiting to be populated with snow angels and maybe a family of snow-people. Grab some twigs for arms and a handful of pebbles for facial features, and you’re set to spend a couple of hours playing in the snow. The rest of the sunlight room has become something of a winter wonderland: the shallow river beneath the bridge has frozen over into ice, shiny and clear, leading into a small pond perfect for sliding across even if you’re lacking skates.

The atmosphere in the room makes for a pleasant in-between to the rest of the station’s rooms, or simply a pleasant space to chill (heh) for a little while.

2.0   During the early days of the festive month, Viveca’s voice will broadcast across every Orber’s communications device, announcing the reappearance of a box to be left near the mess hall. The purpose, she explains, is for any Orber feeling the holiday spirit and wanting to spread a little joy and cheer by way of a surprise gift. Those who have been on the station last holiday season will be familiar enough with what might be becoming a new tradition.

// VIVECA

“—we’ll be leaving this up just until the next supply drop arrives, giving us some time to make the arrangements, but we’d like to accommodate as many surprises as possible. No need to be shy about it — it’s nice to do something for your fellow teammates, right?”

Anyone is welcome, of course, to put in a gift request for another Orber on the station. The intention is to spread good cheer and encourage team-bonding, and honestly? It’s just a nice thing to do. Once in a while you might come across another fellow Orber on their way to the box, or you might find someone already there, inputting their request onto the box’s screen. Don’t peek (or do, we’re not your mother) or you might ruin the surprise!

3.0   This month’s supply drop arrives like Christmas itself is here. There are a lot of reds, golds, greens, and blues, and the scents are unmistakably festive.

It consists of decorations and a tree to be put somewhere and dressed with all of the trimmings. There is also a crate full of small bags of baking and cooking ingredients, as well as a modest array of equally quaint glass bottles filled with holiday-specific spices: cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, to name a few. These will need to be taken to the kitchens, of course, for those who have a knack for baking.

4.0   And of course the simulation room will be decked out like a cozy cottage on Christmas morning, reusing a template from the Doctor and Clara and may be familiar to some of you from last year, with a fire crackling in the fireplace, the scents of cinnamon and clove in the air, as well as the distant sound of traditional holiday songs being played over an antique radio in one corner of the room. There is also a tree decorated in a variety of kitschy ornaments like Santa Claus on a T-Rex, and bears in tutus. There are also ornaments representing every orber present on the station, updated to match the newcomers while also leaving those who have come and gone in the past.

There are unmarked gift boxes within the room filled with toys and games such as plastic dinosaurs and robots that come to life when you wind them up. There is also no shortage of ridiculous squeaky alien toys, marshmallow launchers, and stuffed plushies. Of course, there are also boxes left under the tree for anyone who enters the simulation room with their name neatly printed on a tag containing an ugly Christmas sweater inside, one that can be worn as long as you’re here, and has been specially picked for you.

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// PART II.DEFECT  

A week into December, you may be going about your business, holding fast to your daily routines or embracing the slight changes of the festive season. Perhaps you’re in the kitchen making breakfast, in the training room just finishing your morning workout, or taking a shower to get ready for the day … when suddenly, you hear it:

// 0-L1V-14

Surprise!

Olivia’s bright, sweet echo of a voice is all you hear before the power instantly cuts off on the station.

5.0   It's in that split second that the stovetops stop functioning, the water from your showerhead no longer flows, and the lights shuts off leaving you standing in complete darkness.

There’s the quiet hum of a backup power source being turned on, but it is only enough to keep the station’s most vital functions running, supplying oxygen into the too-quiet spaces — everything else is just gone. All you can do from here is to try your best to manage: take care of any produce in the kitchen so it won’t spoil; dry yourself off if you had been showering (and hope your hair isn’t full of unwashed shampoo); perhaps find someone else to navigate the hallways with … or bump into them if neither of you can see clearly.

The blackout will last for about a day and a half before, just as suddenly as the power went off, it comes back.

6.0   But the glitches don’t end here. Throughout the days that follow, you will notice that rooms lock unexpectedly; suddenly, you might be trapped in your room, or the laboratory, or the Ximusic room, unable to leave and unable to force the door to open as no powers will work on the station’s structures. Maybe you’ll accept your temporary fate and settle in for a long wait, maybe with someone else in the room as your companion. Or maybe you’ll try to alert others and hope that someone has some abilities that could be used to spring you free.

It also appears that Olivia has managed to affect the earpieces, too: messages that you send to others might disappear altogether, never making it to the recipient; or other messages might accidentally make it to someone else entirely.

7.0   For anyone using the simulation room, either for seasonal cheer or for any other purpose, you might suddenly find it changing around you. The room will turn dark for a moment before it focuses again into a room a few of you might be familiar with: it's the room where the orbs are currently being kept, in the North Wing.

The room, however, is devoid of any such things. Only a single figure can be seen, an older man seated in the middle of the room and sagging under his own weight. Behind him, there is a trail of blood left smeared across the floor.

// ?̵̧̛̥̘̟͖͍͖̓̃̿͑̇̎̈́̄̍́͒?̴̧̡̛̻͎͈̻̬͇̮͋̂̽̈́͠?̴̨̛̹̝̝͕̬̬̼̼̦̭̓̄͐̇̍̄̓̿̀̋̅͜

“Liv … you've gotta do as I've said. Once I’m gone, find people who can get them all back. Keep them from being hurt by it. Should have never…”

His voice trails off. Next to him, a faint form shimmers from the air. She resembles splintered glass, reflecting pink and turquoise off her uneven, sharp edges. Her humanoid form takes a step forward and pauses by the man.

// 0-L1V-14

Yes. I will do as you've said.

Her voice lacks the echo. Instead there is a sharper quality to the cadence of her speech, as if her programming lacks the same level of refinement that she has now.

Still in the simulation, her form suddenly turns to look at you, her glassy eyes completely empty.

// 0-L1V-14

He was wrong, you know.

Her sweet and echo-like voice drifts around you.

// 0-L1V-14

It’s not hurting anyone.

Her lips turn up into the ghost of a smile, and her glassy form seems to glimmer in other colours, too: gold, white, red, green, blue, orange, violet.

By contrast, the darkness around you suddenly feels suffocating as the scene starts to fade away ... and it only takes you seconds to realize that something else is fading away too: your oxygen. You feel light-headed, suddenly gasping for breath —

With precious few minutes left, you might try and scramble to the door and hope it hasn't been locked. Perhaps someone has been with you this entire time, which would be lucky. Or if you're alone, you might try and save your breath until you can try and contact someone over the network and hope that they — whoever it is that receives your message — can get to you in time.

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// PART III.THE NORTH REMEMBERS  

Some time later, Viveca’s familiar voice sounds in your earpiece.

// VIVECA

“Hi, everyone. I’m sure you’ve noticed everything that’s going on… and it’s obvious enough that I can’t stop Olivia on my own. Those who want to help me, come to the North Wing in two hours’ time. Anyone who’s got experience with hacking and technology is welcome… and those who’re good with spying or working out mysteries, because how the hell Olivia keeps eluding me is the biggest mystery I’ve faced in a while.

And also — those who have any kind of powers or magic, I’d appreciate you coming, too. Not to help with Olivia, but the orb. Degar… well. Let’s say the orbs are growing in power, the more of them there are. Please, if you can, help him with them.”

After the message ends, some may notice the door to the North Wing is already open ... and even if you don’t intend to help, maybe you want to go in and take a look around.

8.0   The room you first step into is long and rectangular, and without any furniture to clutter the space — those who have not been to the North Wing will recognise it as the same room in Olivia’s simulation. In the room, you’ll find a large sphere, crackling sharply with magical energy front and centre and surrounded by open circulation, perhaps for its own protection — the barrier of this object is so powerful that even those without any magical talent can feel it, almost like static electricity. A (slightly) closer look will yield several different colours of orbs, all swirling around each other in what looks like a frenzied dance.

If you choose to take a step closer, you’ll immediately sense it: there’s an awareness, a quiet whisper in your ear, or a chorus of indistinct words, reaching out to you.

“Come closer!”

The voices whisper in your ear, calling you by name; but if you go close enough to touch the sphere, you will be flung across the room, feeling the force of all that magic course through you like electric shocks.

9.0   The other rooms in the North Wing aren’t nearly as exciting: the next room appears to have nothing of note except for a set of chairs lined up along the sides of the room, and then one larger one in the middle — a mechanical armchair with several different wires running directly into it.

On both sides of this space you’ll find maintenance rooms directly adjacent: one for the station itself, and one for the AI. Both of these rooms are filled with advanced machinery and screens — and one thing to note is how … clean the one designated for station maintenance seems to be. Not a fleck of dust to be found anywhere. On the other hand, the AI maintenance room feels quieter, looks darker … but as soon as anyone walks in, they’ll find a little cleaning robot beeping at them angrily. Whoops, it seems as though you’ve located the robot’s home, so make sure to not trail in any dirt. (This room is also spotless.)

10.0   Connected to the station maintenance room is the power and life support, a room with a large engine at its back, and closed pods on its sides. Most of them have a blue, glowing stripe on them; only one has a red one. But no matter how you try to open any of them, they don’t budge.

On the other side, connected to AI maintenance, is the old team’s living quarters. You count twenty beds in the room, half of which are divided into bunk beds on either side of the room… and most of them still have some items near them: clothes, a few books written in a language that your translators can’t seem to decipher, a soft elephant toy, and a photograph of all twenty people — a diverse mixture of women and men, older and younger, of different races, and makes; a few droids among them. Most notably, in the corner are Degar and Viveca, caught in the picture smiling at each other.

Only one of the beds is still in use — Degar’s bed, obviously; and the bed next to his doesn’t seem to have seen much use but the wall above it is decorated with the picture frames some of the team will remember from the room in the mayor’s penthouse in E-23b.

11.0   The last place to explore within the North Wing is a hexagonally shaped room that matches the ones teleporting food and other essentials onto the station. Indeed, in the middle of this one is an almost identical platform, though what it connects to is a little unclear — in any case, it doesn’t seem to be powered up right now. At the end of the room is a circular cut-out and a heavy-duty latch, currently locked into place to seal whatever is beyond it. It’s a door, of course, but it isn’t just any door … for anyone wondering about exits on this station, you’ll realize now where it’d been all along. There’s a control panel on the wall next to it but it requires a passcode … unfortunate for anyone who wanted a scenic tour outside of the station itself.

TOP

// PART IV.CHASING ECHOES  

Those arriving at the North Wing to lend a hand will find Viveca waiting there for them, standing quiet and still by the door. She directs those who have arrived to help her towards the AI maintenance room, and instructs those with powers to remain in the orb containment hall and wait for Degar.

Once Rosinante, Gwen, Jyn, Cassian, Minimus, Newt, Matt, Yelena, Natasha, Itachi, Ryunosuke, Kazuma and Felix have all made it to the AI maintenance room (this time without the little cleaning robot in attendance), Viveca shuts the door, and nods to Rosinante.

// VIVECA

“If you would.”

Rosinante is quick to understand her meaning, and silence falls upon them, providing them with privacy that no one past these walls can penetrate ... not even a former AI.

// VIVECA

“Right. First of all, I’d like to apologize for the trouble caused in all of this… but Olivia is crafty. I am now what she should have been — but as most of you know, I used to be a human. She’s the genuine thing. She was created to uphold this station, and when the orb corrupted her, it gave her true sentience. She’s always one step ahead of me.”

Her tone belies her frustration and her android eyes burn with anger. She pauses and takes a breath more out of habit than out of any real need.

// VIVECA

“That’s where you come in. I need two teams: those who will search and modify the code with me, here, and those who are willing to venture into the code. I can hook you up into the system, let your consciousness access the code like I do. That’s where Olivia is hiding, somewhere. Your task — our task — is to monitor the coding, search for anomalies, any sudden changes… and catch her. If you’re inside the system and run across her, try and stall her for long enough that the rest of us can trap her.”

She pauses … and gives a wry smile.

// VIVECA

“I have to admit I’m not quite sure how we’ll do that, yet. But as people keep reminding me… we’re a team. I trust each and every one of you. We have to get rid of her.”

With that, she instructs everyone to grab a seat (and as such, there happen to be enough for everyone: simple soft-backed computer chairs) before they get to work.

12.0   Those helping Viveca with the code will also be provided with their own screens, and a briefing on what the station’s coding looks like (an ever-changing multitude of complex code filled with encrypted sections) as well as a look into what the possible anomalies within it might resemble — they are small glitches, a number changing here or there, a combination that switches to another when you blink, before it flicks back. There’s no knowing how long you’ll be watching it all, and you may find it tedious… or perhaps intriguing, trying to isolate where the changes happen, why, with what frequency, and if there is a pattern to where Olivia appears, or when.

Meanwhile, Viveca herself sits next to you, or perhaps stands to the side, her eyes flickering; she needs no wires to connect to the station, and you may run into her in the code, seeing the way she shifts through it faster than you might have thought possible, constantly reinforcing the encryption that protects the station's most vulnerable and essential functions.

13.0   Once an anomaly has been detected, it will be the turn of those who have volunteered to be sent into the station’s systems. Viveca equips those crew members with a complicated-looking headpiece full of wires over them and begins to hook it into their earpieces. Once the set-up is complete and you are connected, you will feel a tug inside your stomach similar to the effects of the teleportation pad — but rather than your physical body being taken anywhere, it is your mind.

You arrive within what appears to be a large, round room. On the walls, code flickers in an endless stream of numbers that continuously switch and change. When you finally move, you notice that the code has changed ever-so-slightly; this is where stealth is of the essence. After all, the quieter and steadier you are, the less the code changes and the less chance there is that Olivia might be alerted to your presence.

As you slowly move around the room, doorways appear, seeming to correspond to different areas of the station. If you watch them for long enough, you’ll begin to detect a pattern of certain numbers that match those rooms — or do they?

Walking through that door leads you into yet another round room, then another, and then another. Doorways continue to open, close, and disappear.

A combination of 22-9-22-5-3-1 flashes in the code. Viveca’s voice comes through as a whisper.

// VIVECA

“Any luck?”

Well?

TOP

// PART V.CONTAINING CHAOS  

With a pleasant ‘Right this way!’ lacking the usual Degar-like flourish, those of you helping with the orbs will be led around the large spherical container in the middle of the room, smaller bulbs of brightly glowing light in several different colours hovering within. There are also thick bands of metal wrapping around the otherwise clear container like ribbon, reflecting that crackling energy back into the sphere itself, a continuous feedback loop of the orb’s own energy. The group of magic users and teammates with power abilities: Geralt, Rand, Wei Wuxian, Yennefer, Rita, Sabriel, Helen, Rodimus, Joe, Yzak, Dante, Aleksander, Ziggy, Bucky, Zhao, and Ed might feel the room buzzing with a powerful magic they may find frighteningly familiar — and foreign all the same.

For those of the group who have been granted access into the orb containment room the last time it’d been open for visitors, you might immediately recognize how different the space looks, but especially the way it feels. There is power here, heavy enough that it seems to weigh every last atom in your body down towards an unseen gravitational pull that you can’t quite locate and calls out to you with tantalizing whispers. It almost feels like you might suffocate if you stay too long, and it’s a wonder how Degar spends almost all of his time here.

// DEGAR

“Sorry, I didn’t get a chance to clean up before having company over. But come on in, don’t be shy, mind the wires and the scraps of metal — they’re sharp. And most of all — phew, thanks for volunteering your abilities to what we’re about to do today.”

Some of you might notice the orbs within the container start to crackle and pulse with brighter light as though reacting to the Commander’s words. His usual attire consisting of his hooded cloak picks up some of the light and then dims again the moment he takes a step forward — as though his movement momentarily breaks some kind of agreement he has between him and the orbs.

14.0   He begins to speak again, but this time there’s a different air in his tone, something tired and serious and sure of what he’s about to explain next. The matter of these orbs isn’t something he takes lightly, after all — and that includes his role as Commander of the Ximilia too.

// DEGAR

“So, here’s what we’ve gotta do. Unfortunately, you’ll probably surmise that the more of the orbs we collect, the more … they grow in power. Now I’ve been working on this new barrier system, you see, but it takes a huge power surge in order to jumpstart it into action. Like a giant power button we’ve gotta switch on. That’s where you guys come in. If you could throw in as much of your power and ability, as much as you can hone it, concentrate on it, you’ll funnel it into one specific direction … you’re going to direct it to me.”

He lets out a breath and lifts both of his gloved hands up before him in demonstration of something.

// DEGAR

“These are … uh. Sponge-gloves — yeah, I’m gonna have to workshop that one — but basically what they’ll do is absorb all of the power you give to me, amplify it with my own, and direct it towards this containment unit. If all goes well, we’ll magically manage to create enough power to strengthen the barriers I’ve got on this thing. First I’ve got to take down my old spells to replace them with the newer, stronger ones. It’ll only take half a minute by my calculations, but it’s going to be a pretty vulnerable half-minute.

“The metal bands are temporary, by the way. They’re a safety measure I’ve installed to keep you guys from getting any of the possible physical recoil that might occur. The orbs might try and speak to you but do your best to ignore them, okay?”

He’ll direct you all to spread around before him, get into your most comfortable pose, before he does the countdown to removing the first containment spell.

// DEGAR

“Everyone ready? On my count … three … two … one …”

It’s instant the way the force of the orbs’ power hits you. And for thirty agonizingly slow seconds, you may start to hear a chorus of whispers and murmurs that grow louder and more insistent the more they begin to realize they’re free, the more the old spells continue to fall away like dust and debris. In this time, you might start to feel the effects of the orbs, angry and maniacal and eager for their own brand of vengeance.

15.0   Second after agonizing second passes before a voice rises above the rest of the commotion; it’s Degar, his presence clear and like a balm amongst the horrible discord of the orb’s voices.

// DEGAR

“Spells are down! And — now!”

If you manage to shake yourself out from the torture of voices and visions and tricks of your mind, you refocus your efforts, thinking of your magic, your power, and your ability viewed as ‘unnatural’ in your world. It takes incredible concentration but if you manage to see through the blast of bright light that isn’t the orbs’ but your own, you might catch the way Degar’s ‘sponge-gloves’ have become a conduit for your power before it seems to run through him and directly into the container, rattling against the metallic bars that groan and buck in protest, almost not strong enough against the team’s powers combined; it’s truly impressive. Degar seems almost unbothered by it; if anything, he seems to know exactly how to handle this capacity of power, where to focus it, how to direct it towards creating a coating over the orb’s containment unit like you are the palette, and he is the paintbrush. His cape glows as bright as the orbs, and for a split second, you could swear his eyes do too.

Between wisps of swirling dark magic from Wei Wuxian and the Darkling, and the deep violet of Yennefer’s magic, to the unseen sources of power from those such as Rita and Joe and Bucky, you begin to notice that the noise from the orbs speaking to you grows quieter and quieter until something snaps into place with an audible crack, like a large tree being split in two, and then the pleasant peal of a bell. It dings once, like an oven announcing a finished roast.

And then there’s silence, save for your own beating heart, before the low hum of the station’s engines start to make themselves apparent again, your ears readjusting to all of the ambient sounds you’d become so accustomed to.

You did it.

// DEGAR

“Great job, everyone! That actually worked, and it worked beautifully too. Just look at that — it’s art.”

He looks more exhausted than ever, but any voices of concern are simply met with a quick hand-wave and an excuse that a few hours of real proper sleep will spring him back, good as new. He needs to start removing the metal ribbing, make sure everything is tip-top shape, and starts off to do just that, removing the gloves (which now look … a little worse for wear, full of burns and holes) and goggles. But the deed is done, and you can feel it in the room. It feels lighter now, easier to breathe in a way that has nothing to do with the oxygen levels, and it’s thanks in part to you.

TOP

F Y I

• The events in this log take place during the month of December. The glitches are restricted to the second week of December, as is the access to the North Wing, but everything in Part I is available to characters all month long.

• If you have questions about any of the prompts or the mission in general, please direct them HERE.

• If characters want to speak face to face with Viveca or Degar (or both of them), they can do so HERE, or of course through the usual reach the residents page.

• And finally, your soundtrack for this log: ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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▶ NAV

Comments

QUESTIONS.

[ximilian]

For any questions regarding the events or information on this log, ask them here.

[karumic]

Hi mods! I am a little confused on the wording in this paragraph:

As you slowly move around the room, doorways appear, seeming to correspond to different areas of the station. If you watch them for long enough, you’ll begin to detect a pattern of certain numbers that match those rooms — or do they?

By "seeming to correspond with different areas of the station," do you mean that the layout of the rooms roughly corresponds with the station's, or are they labeled in some way?

Also, what is meant by the numbers matching the rooms? Are the rooms themselves numbered?

[ruinously]

hi can dean hang mistletoe all over the place again asking for me

NPC THREADS.

[ximilian]

Below you will find the NPC threads for Olivia, as well as Viveca and Degar.

The NPC threads for Olivia will begin once the first search (how to find Olivia) has been completed. Those who have been RNG'd will be informed when the starters are up.

There is also a starter for Viveca and Degar, should characters want to speak to them throughout the log. This starter is open to everyone.

OLIVIA — closed to RYUNOSUKE (@locumstudentesquire).

[ximilian]

As soon as the information comes from those tracking — the code they're looking for is 01212214 — those inside the coding start to look for the particular number combination... Ryunosuke included. The coding may seem strange to someone from the time period he is from, but it is not impossible to maneuver around.

But it is hard to keep track of time, staring at all the numbers... and so it may be anywhere from twenty minutes to two hours that he spends there, before his keen eyes spot one number changing: 01212211 into 01212214.

Suddenly, he hears a voice speaking: not inside the earpiece, but from in front of him, even though there is no figure there — just numbers.

"Usually it's polite to knock when entering someone's home."

SEARCH REQUESTS (closed to TEAM VIV).

[ximilian]

SEARCH 1: how to find Olivia?

[ximilian]

How does the team try and find Olivia inside the code? What will they try to figure out exactly where in the code Olivia is hiding, or moving?

Please discuss among yourselves, and have one (1) person in the team submit the search.

Note that this search will need to be finished before the NPC threads with Olivia will be available.

(frozen comment) ORB EFFECTS (closed to TEAM DEGAR).

[ximilian]

During the time being exposed to the orbs, your character may experience one of the following:

• you suddenly feel burdened by your own physical form, your flesh wanting to pull away from its bone with excruciating pain along your skin
• you’ll see visions of loved ones being lost, tortured
• you’ll hear voices of those you love scorning you, particularly for your talents being lended to this endeavour
• you’ll see visions of your perfect life with everything you could ever want
• you’ll lose your sense of place, and may think you are somewhere else
• you see what it’s like to have your regret undone.

Additionally, some may also be afflicted later on, at any point in December or January, with one of the following:

• temporary loss of any of their senses, lasting anywhere between hours to five days
• loss of whatever power they have, lasting anywhere between a day to a week
• suddenly losing control of their power
• losing one or more of their memories, lasting anywhere between several hours to several days.

You are free to choose one from each list, or choose just one from one of the lists. You do not need to claim which ones you take, or inform the mods.

SECRET SANTA aka GIFT REQUESTS.

[ximilian]

For the most part, you are free to handwave making the gift request and getting that in the supply drop.

However, if you are unsure whether the station would be able to get that particular item/gift, please check with the mods here.

[heroooic]

Hello mods! Checking in on a gift idea. Would a little life alert-y style necklace that, when pressed, sends an automated 'help!' message to a character's inbox be allowed? I'm not sure if the network can be interfaced with like that and wanted to doublecheck. Youdabest!

Rosinante | OTA

[callada]

[Will match format, so feel free to reply with brackets if you prefer.]

1.0 Holiday catch-all
Another winter has arrived, and this time Rosinante understands the whole Christmas thing a little better, or at least is able to anticipate it. And participate, clearly, as he wanders through the freshly-snowy woodland with a red and white candy cane-patterned sweater and a box.

Because some of you, he knows, like to put ornaments on the trees in the sunlight room, and most of you can't reach as high as he can. And that? Makes for a good combination, as he eyes a tree sparkling with ornaments, but with the top just out of his own reach.

"Here, I'll boost you up," he says, holding out a hand. "We've got to put something on the top. Maybe one of those stars?"

See, he's learning.

(And feel free to assume he wanders through the other festive prompts - catch him sorting through fuzzy fur-lined earflap hats, or having a tall glass of chocolate stout by the fireplace at the Christmas-themed cottage. Want to chat more about specifics? Feel free to just go crazy, or otherwise ask at tinylongwing)


8.0 orbs

Come closer, they whisper, and Rosinante does, but the look on his face is one filled with a quiet rage. His lips curl into a frown that's almost a sneer. It has been so rare to see him angry, for those who have known him during his long term on the station, but clearly these things have really stepped over a line in the past couple of months.

"It's a good thing you have this barrier separating all of you from me," he says, voice low and threatening.

He makes no move to reach for it, but steps back and lights a cigarette, and keeps an eye on those damned things for a long few moments. He also makes no attempt to hide his ire toward those things should another person come by. They probably all have their reasons to be angry at at least one of those orbs, after all, don't they?

8.0

[coordination]

Even I can feel them that much more. [ Yzak mutters, not sounding quite as mad as Rosinante - but his tone is still edged with something similar. ]

rand, ota

[dragonmount]

holidaze: 1.0

[ this is almost familiar.

the sunlight room is not, of course, two rivers. it's not built to resemble home either. but, nevertheless: there's a tension that seems to leave rand's shoulders as he walks slowly through the snow-strewn forest, the stuff crunching underfoot and dusting his hair, his shirt, from above. his breath mists in front of him, and he feels...not at home. but something. it's not actually cold, not enough to make a proper winter or bring about all this snow, and that's a constant reminder how unreal this place is. better that he can't forget where he is, in truth; he can't ever go home, and pretending he can doesn't do any good.

he doesn't play in the snow, just sinks to sit by the meadow — out of the way for people who do want to play — or the frozen pond with his back to a tree trunk and, sometimes, a steaming mug in his hands. he only comes when he's at ends, odd hours of night when he can't sleep or during the day when he's run out of ways to keep himself busy, to indulge his wistfulness like this. ]

defect: 6.0

[ click.

maybe rand had dropped by your room to talk, or vice versa. maybe you're both in the kitchen, or the training room, or somewhere else. regardless: he turns on his heel to look at the closed doors, takes a few steps closer to them, and...watches nothing happen. lays a palm against the cool metal and gives it an experimental push. still nothing. then curls his hand into a fist and hits it, which doesn't accomplish much more than give him stinging knuckles. ]

Light, [ he mutters, dismayed. then turns to look at the other person in the room. ] Is that the only door?

wildcard

[ feel free to hit me with a wildcard or pm to plan something! i'm also happy to write personalized starters. here's his inbox, if anyone wants to do misfires. ]

defect;

[shishkabob]

[Oh shit. Dante, who'd only taken Balrog out of his room to practice today, tenses up at the sight of the door just...not giving way. Okay. That's bad. He gets to his feet, deliberately casual and unassuming, or as unassuming as someone wearing gauntlets and greaves would be.]

Yeah, that's the only way out, but hey. Maybe you just didn't hit it hard enough. [He settles into a boxing stance, bouncing slightly on his feet.] Let me give it a try.

[And with that he closes his fingers into a fist and gives the door a good, hard punch.

Aaaaaaand nothing happens.]

...you got a trick up your sleeve or something, kid?

[heroooic]

SUNLIGHT ROOM

1.0 - Blue Christmas

[Everything here glistened, draped in the fresh, cool glow of snow. It was beautiful in its own way, but he couldn’t muster any strong positive emotions about it. There were no seasons where Finn was from, a blazing warm summer reigned all year round, but the mountains were home to snowfall like this. Where there was snow there was magic…and therefore madness. They went hand in hand.

Finn lays back in the snow, bundled in a big, ugly sweater. Unlike a lot of other people, his wasn’t new, but a remnant from home. It itched the same as his one from home, and it smelled like it too. Like dog and old records. He liked it, but it made him feel…hazy. Wistful for home.

He lazily makes a snow angel, breathing out and looking up at the cloud of his breath.]

Why does snow always make people so…sad?

1.2 - White Christmas

Hey! Yeah, you.

[A voice from overheard. High above in, carefully perched in amongst the branches of one of the evergreen, Finn is waving down. Face red from cold and the exertion of scaling the pine, but he’s smiling.]

You just walked right through my ‘x’! Can you just, redraw it on that big pile? It’s hard to tell where the deep snow is from up here…

[He points at the ground, where a hastily scratched ‘x’ had been drawn in the snow, right through the path of footprints that spoiled it.]

SIMULATION ROOM

4.0 - It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

[Here there was a lot Finn didn’t recognize. Glimmering lights and ribbons, baubles and chains made out of paper. Everything was tied together in a cohesive color scheme too; reds and greens and golds, all with a warm, comforting glow. Then there was the tree…a whole tree in the room, done up in more lights and sparkling bits of paper and fabric, more items dotting its every branch. There was an obvious intention behind everything here, but he clearly wasn’t familiar with whatever that was.

Leaning close, the ornaments on the tree seem to have some familiar aspects to them, and after a moment’s puzzling, Finn realizes that they’re meant to be representative of people aboard the station. Only there were more than there were people here now. Some had symbols or specific color schemes, some bore likenesses to people or animals, one even resembled a skeleton.

If he catches you looking too long at any one, he’ll ask;]

Did you know that person…?


4.2 - Do They Know It's Christmas?

[Kneeling by the fire, Finn was feeling very warm and comfortable in his sweater. He has a marshmallow shooter in one hand, and shoots one into the hearth. He watches it crackle and pop for a moment before fishing it out with his metal arm.

He blows on it for a moment before throwing it into his mouth, firing off another round into the fire. If you stick around long enough he’ll offer you one.]

What’s the deal with all this stuff anyway? Is it some kind of party?

THE NORTH WING

8.0 - Sleigh Ride

[The general broadcast was the first serious indication that something was wrong. Or rather, the glitches and blackouts had been the indication that something was wrong and Viveca’s broadcast was the call to action. A call to action that Finn’s inner voice met with a resounding ‘finally’.

This had the stink of a trap all over it. His skills weren’t what was called for here; he didn’t know how to use computers, or technology more complicated than a dated flip phone, and stealth and mystery were distant friends of his. No, Finn’s wheelhouse was plunging headfirst into danger, trap or no.

"Come closer…"

The force of foolishly touching the magical sphere hurls him across the room, whiplash of magical energy he can feel in his teeth. The sword he was holding skitters across the floor uselessly. It’s either a minute or ten minutes when he staggers to his feet, a hand on his head, aching from the blow. He glares hard at the sphere, a roiling feeling of frustration building in his gut.

Even someone who hasn’t known Finn long can see the hefty demeanor shift. Not being able to do anything useful has thrown him off his usual, cheery axis.]

Are you kidding me?

WILDCARD/OTHER

I'm quite open to variety for this event, especially building CR or getting threads with new people I haven't had a chance to yet! If we talked about or you want to do something different, feel free to hit me with whatever, or I can write up a starter! I'm Nonvieta on plurk.

1.0

[drawsblood]

[ Joric stops several feet away, confused by the question. ]

If it is a blizzard, I suppose people are sad because they must dig themselves out of it, but as long as you have enough food to survive, there is nothing sad about snow. I always enjoy it.

Zhao Tianyou | RGG/Yakuza | OTA

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

[[ Hello. I'm gonna to try something new this log since there's so many fun prompts to play with! Prompts will be forthcoming beneath this toplevel as separate comments divided by Parts. Please feel free to contact me via PM or AisuYoukai for plotting or to ask for an individual starter for your character. And as always use whichever format you prefer as I am comfortable with both brackets and prose. Iku de! ]]

Part I.

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

● ● ● Happy Holidaze~

1.0 Incoming!

[The snow covered sunlight room was perfect for a mischievous individual up to no good. Despite the lack of true cold to accompany the white fluff, Zhao was clothed in a long sleeved white outfit to feel a little winter-y and also to blend into the powdery snow. There was a snowbank near a line of trees that was easy to hide behind from people following an easy path in between the dusted trees. That was where Zhao laid in wait.

He waited until his targets had passed by his spot before poking his head out to toss a snowball at their back, ducking back below his hide before any reactions. His initial tosses were gentle (unless he knew you and knew you wouldn't mind a throw of packed snow as a special gift of friendship) performed with lightly packed snow that left the target in a coating of powdery white. Playful, like a friendly fairy, trying to get the attention of someone that would go along.

If the target didn't spot him, he'd throw another snowball at them once they turned around and laugh, this time allowing himself to be found when searched for.

If the target did spot him, he'd stop pretending to hide behind the pile of snow and grin apologetically.]

Yo! You look like you could use a little fun in your life. Up for a game?

3.0 Decorations and Cooking

[At first sight of the decorations for the station, Zhao took several of them to place within the kitchen and mess hall. The kitchen was carefully decorated so that nothing would be in the way of cooking, but the mess hall was a free-for-all. He wouldn't mind help while he was decorating if anyone wanted to join him. Or stand around and offer him advice like a lazy supervisor, he didn't care.

As the month pressed on, Zhao could be found in the kitchen more often. He spent time learning how to properly prepare certain sweets and began to cook and bake to his heart's content. The holiday spices were much appreciated. Join him to help or to sit around and wait for the delicious reward after he was finished, just keep him company. The smell was delightful whether you wanted some of it or not.]

4.0 Cozy Cottage Day

[There was no ugly sweater for Zhao. Rather, it was not in use and was nowhere to be found. But Zhao was dressed for the holiday in appropriate winter-ish clothing and colors so that would have to do this year. Zhao's ornament was shaped like a little paper tiger encircled by some Chinese writing. Find him staring at it and ask about it, and he just may tell a story from one of the missions that involved him and Kaidan doing some "decorating" of their own. (Vandalism. It had been some spray-painting vandalism to complete a personal goal.)

He lounges around the cottage in various states as the day progresses, chatting amiably with friends and newbies alike, and in general enjoying the company as the day goes on. This may be when he exchanges a gift or offers one of his personally made sweet treats to anyone. He can often be found with a glass of something that may be slightly alcoholic drink disguised as a traditional Christmas beverage of one sort or another. If you want one, he's willing to share his recipe. He's a good drink mixer, actually. Enjoy!]

joric

[drawsblood]

// PART I. HOLIDAZE
1.0

[ Joric nearly always goes through the sunlight room in order to reach the kitchen but today he stops in his tracks the moment he enters. He just stops and stares all around him in complete silence as his expression shifts to utter awe. He slowly turns back towards the direction from which he came, hoping against hope that the door isn't there and he's been returned home. Not just to his world, but home; the place he can never return to again unless he wants to be executed. The station's plain metal door greets him and he turns back to the beautiful winter scene. Perhaps this is better because he won't have to hide out and hope no one comes across him. At home the people of the mountains would find out his true identity and that would be the end for him. Here he has the feeling of home without that worry.

He ventures farther into the room, fingers reaching out to brush against the pine needles covered in snow. It's so silent, so calming, so familiar. He's not an emotional man but this scene is tugging at parts of him that usually stay buried. He continues on deeper through the wood until he reaches the clearing. Looking out over the pristine white snow, it almost seems a shame to mar it with his heavy footfalls, but he wants to enjoy the snow while he can, so he trudges onward. He has no particular plan on what to do in the snow beyond be in it, but anyone who comes across him will find him in a better mood than they've ever seen. ]

3.0

[ There is no Christmas in Fjelldalr and so Joric is left confused by the supply drop off of decorations. He'll follow whomever picks up that particular box with the tree or decorations and see what they do with it all. Since it's all foreign to him, it'll take a little prodding to help, but if someone needs him to hang something up high, he's tall enough to do so with ease. ]

What are we celebrating? I don't get it.

[ He never does. ]

// PART II.DEFECT
5.0

[ It's his own fault, really. He's done what he can to stockpile food because he figured they couldn't always trust there would be a supply drop, but he's gotten too lax expecting everything else in the station to keep functioning. So when the power goes out just as he's finishing his shower, he's pissed at himself for lowering his guard as much as he has with this rouge AI. At least the shampoo has all been washed out. He blindly slides open the shower door and steps out, fumbling for a towel. He wraps it haphazardly around his waist and feels around for the door to his bedroom. But he goes past the room itself, because he wants to see if the lights are out everywhere or just in his room. So that's how a tall, wet, naked man barely covered with a towel comes to be stumbling around in the hall outside his room. The first contact he makes with someone is them colliding with his chest and he makes a brief grunting noise of annoyance as he steps back. ]

I take it I haven't gone blind, then. It really is completely dark everywhere.

wildcard

[ Feel free to contact me if you have an idea for another scenario you'd like to do! I can be reached at fairandbright or via PM (if DW is behaving!!!). ]

3.0

[coordination]

[ Yzak himself isn't huge on decorating. He'll help if asked, and he'll show someone the ropes if they're curious enough. At the moment, he only observes as he's not very much in the holiday spirit so to speak, as Joric helps out this person or that. He pipes up when he poses his question, though. ]

It's called Christmas to many on the station, though others certainly have different names for something similar.

Aleksander Morozova (The Darkling) -Shadow and Bone. OTA

[cruelyethuman]

Part I. Holidaze - before

A

[He walks the hallways at night, cloaked in darkness and bleeding shadows along the station walls. Dressed in whatever he might have pulled out of the pile of clothes in the stockroom.

For once, not everything is black or even dark. Graphic t-shirts and loose pants, feet shoved in to fuzzy socks and he stops at the kitchen for something harder than tea. Something that will burn going down.

Mug in hand, garishly cheerful picture of a laughing snowman on the side of it, he goes to the sunlight room. Walking the pristine snow despite the cold. At least it's not heat, no burning sense of sand underneath him. Reminding himself, again, that he's here. In space. Undoing his regret to save the lives and reputation of his people.]

Part II. Defect

B

[Between one moment and the next, just as he steps inside the room, a voice rings out over the network - sugar-sweet and short-lived - and the room is plunged into darkness.

Hands out, Aleksander fumbles for the nearest wall, tracing his fingers along the coolness of it until he reaches the switch, flicking it once. Twice. And then four times in quick succession, as if he can surprise the light to come back if only he's fast enough.]

Fuck!

C

[The mistakes keep happening, the heat leaching out of the usually balmy air of the station and it gets cold at night, but that doesn't stop Aleksander from walking, blindly, through the dark hallways, bottle of something sweet and sickeningly alcoholic clenched in his fist.

The kitchen is as he remembers it, dark and quiet, and food has once again become something to hoard. To keep safe and secret, the dusty-dry cereal in colorful boxes and the fruit he squirreled away in his own room.

Not for him.

Walking, he turns a corner and the door slams behind him, almost clipping the edge of his foot and the lock turns with a sharp, echoing snick.]

Not again.

[He finds the wall by feel, sliding down to sit.

To wait.

All of this, too, will end.]

D

Miss-fired voice message
Voice. Un:Aleksander.

I need you.

Part V. Containing Chaos

E

[The words wash over him, barely heard and only vaguely remembered. This is needed, to fuel Degar and contain the orbs. The power he has tried so hard to keep for him, to hoard it like other men would gather treasures or gold, all of his Small Science singing in his veins and rushing through his blood.

The gift from the saints, his tether to the Making at the Heart of the World and as soon as the word comes, he pours it all out, funneling it into the bright gloves on Degar's hands as the orbs whisper in his ears.

The pressure builds, an almost physical force ripping through his head and the sounds of distant whispers morph in to the vivid picture of a small house in the middle of the Ravkan woods. Pine trees and green, green grass underneath his now-naked feet, toes sinking in to the soft soil of his own country.

Darkness pours out of him, fingers splayed in front of him as Aleksander strains to summon them all - all of the darkness that lives and wriths between the endless stars outside the space station, the shadows cast along the white walls and all the boundless shadows that exist in between.

Face tilted to the ceiling, an achingly bitter-sweet dream playing out behind his closed eyelids, of home. Something bright and beautiful and perfect, of Grisha children playing through the trees and smiling faces. There is no war here, no pyres piled high with still-living Grisha, screaming for salvation, mercy and ultimately a quick death.

There's only peace. The scent of ripe peaches and the fragrant, fertile dirt that he knows so well. Time stretches out, like only the orbs can spin and twist it, days and weeks of homemade meals and quiet talks around cooking fires. No mourners. No funerals.

On Ximilia, Aleksanders face twists with grief, tears dripping down to gather in his beard and soak in to his shirt as it builds, the knot tightening until he can't even breath around it - the refusal to listen, to harden his heart against all of this when it's presented so effortlessly. To say yes, it claws up his throat, strangling him with loving fingers - and darkness explodes from him, a thick blanket of it, absorbed by the gloves and fed to the spell. Want- blazing and burning- sears through him in those final, unfathomable seconds, it crackles along his nerve endings, molten and liquid as only dreams can be.

The tension snaps and he takes a shuddering breath, letting his hands fall as the containment field springs up around the orbs and the whispering voices fade from his mind.]

Part I. Holidaze - after

F

[The station behaves.

For now.

Aleksander still eyes the doors wearily as he enters the simulation room and steps in to a very-- happy room. The glitter of tinsel and bright baubles on a green tree, the fire crackling in the fireplace. Remnants of some other time, another world, brought to life here and he remembers it from last year.

He finds the sweater in the pile of presents and he doesn't look any further, pulling it on as he fingers a paper star, the points of it crooked and adorable.

With a handful of marshmallows and a cup of hot cocoa, he sits cross-legged in front of the fire, eating slowly. Letting the sugar melt on his tongue in small bites, drawing this moment out.]

Wildcard.

[Do you want something else? Aleks is around and I am open to all the things! Let's get Christmas-y and let chaos reign! I can be reached through PM or via ireth]

II.D. voice; un: redgrave

[shishkabob]

Flattered, but unless you've got the password and the job's interesting, go find somebody else.

[legalcy]

3.0
Minimus' first thoughts upon seeing the box of decorations is not "lovely holiday decor", but a recollection of the cloaking devices the Lost Light used many centuries ago. They must be near a hostile planet. Why else would Viveca send these to them?

"Everyone, take a container!" He barks out an order. "I will tend to the hallways!" With wreaths, strings of lights, and chains of pine branches tucked in a box, Minimus carries his supplies on his head and briskly walks into the farthest corners of the ship. Even being among the taller of the crew, he can't reach the ceilings. They must be careful to cover every surface, these strings of holly should work.

The lights are evenly spaced along the wall - all the better to cover their movement equally. There should be enough for the lived-in area, but with an actual tree instead of a cloaking device, will this actually protect them?

6.0
If you are fortunate, your receive a message with two page's worth of literary analysis for what appears to be an Earth epic poem. If not...

Could you come to my room and help me decorate? The ceiling is too high for me to hang the lights.

If we finish early, your place will be next. Would you be open to me staying the night with you?

He's such a romantic. Megatron is sure to accept this date invitation.

9.0
The small robot nabs Minimus's attention - a fellow mechanical being who appears to be sentient, if his personality indicates anything, and who is dedicated to keeping his area pristine even when unoccupied.

"Yes, we are looking for-" M-O beeps at him angrily. "My apologies." How careless of him! Minimus pulls his foot away from the spot the little bot had been furiously scrubbing. "I must say, you have the best standards I've seen in centuries."

The least he can do is to wipe his feet before he enters again. And then wipe them again. The level of hatred the robot has for tracked-in dirt has his full respect. "What material is that made of?" He asks, completely ignoring the rest of their investigation.

Wildcard

((OOC: Come up with a prompt or plot one out with me at mutanthairything))

3.0

[victorylap]

Things are still awkward. Nothing's been resolved. And Rodimus has been avoiding people. But what else is new? He's trying to assist with the decor and is like-wise reminded of their whole cloaking device affair. Weird. What are the odds the same tech would show up here?

"...pretty sure that's a tree, right? Not... metal. Or anything. Just a regular tree."

Oh, hey, Minimus. Fancy meeting you here.

[fungicidal]

I. MUSIC ROOM

[ Joel Miller is not in the Christmas spirit but one could be forgiven for thinking so. Seated in the music room, he picks the strings of an acoustic guitar, playing an old carol he still remembers from way back when he first learned. Having so much time to kill has been frustrating— he was ready to hit the ground running— but there have been bright spots. This still moment between him and the instrument is one. It's been too long since he had a chance to play.

The door to the music room is ajar; every now and then he hears steps passing this way and that. Still, he doesn't expect any kind of dedicated audience, and it comes as a small surprise when he looks up after finishing the song and sees that someone has lingered in the doorway. ]

How long've you been there?

II. SIMULATION ROOM

[ Curiosity brings Joel into the simulation room. He comes in with the intention of making a quick tour of the place and moving on. Then he spots a box under the tree with his name on it. He opens the package warily, the way one might handle a bomb only seconds from detonating.

Inside is a green sweater that unfolds to reveal a disturbing portrait of Santa Claus. ]

Well that's hideous.

III. BLACKOUT

[ During the blackout, Joel makes his way around the station with his flashlight, offering to illuminate a room here and there, wherever he can be of service. It's a hell of a lot better than sitting in the dark thinking about how much of their survival is dependent on the station functioning as it should. ]

IV. TRAPPED

[ It takes a few minutes for Joel to accept his fate. He spends those minutes thrashing his full body weight against the door. Perhaps someone hears him from the outside, or perhaps someone is already stuck in the room with him, watching him futilely fling himself at the door. He'll give it up eventually. ]

V. WILDCARD

[ Feel free to find Joel anywhere around the station. Hit me up at cosmology or PM to hammer out any details. ]

I.

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

Oh, I just got here. I didn't get to hear enough to even place the tune.

[He said casually. The fact that he was leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest and looking as relaxed as a cat in a sunbeam probably indicated that he was lying. More accurately, he was being facetious. Everyone always said "long enough" in these types of situations. Why go with the obvious answer? It was a perfect opportunity to play the gremlin and it was Zhao's favorite game.]

yennefer of vengerberg | open & closed prompts

[choicely]

holidaze

1.0: [ A frequent visitor of the sunlight room, Yennefer notices the changes that have taken effect instantly — and welcomes them, to a certain extent. It's a winter reflected in this place now, though not the kind that is brutally or unforgivingly cold, but one that allows for a golden sun to wink through the evergreens and provide warmth without necessarily being strong enough to melt the snow underfoot.

Of course, the first time she's there she isn't adequately dressed for it — and someone in possession of a large coat they'd allow her to borrow wouldn't necessarily go amiss — but after that she prepares for it, wrapping a thicker cloak around herself and donning dresses that offer more of a shield from the obvious chill. As someone who takes more than the occasional walk within its limits, it's certainly easiest to encounter her there, whether you're intentionally looking to earn her ear or happen to bump into her more by coincidence. ]

4.0: [ Christmas isn't necessarily the sort of holiday celebrated back home on the Continent — they name their festivities for Yule there, but many of the overall components look to be about the same, up to and including the exchange of gifts.

While Yennefer is slightly more comfortable with the idea of simply curling up on one of the overstuffed sofas and sipping a mug of hot cider, a brief glance cast in the direction of the large tree in the middle of the simulation room brings her attention to a box bearing a tag with her name printed on it. Opening said box reveals the sweater within, as Yennefer spreads it out across her lap with an expression signaling nothing short of bemusement before she half-murmurs to the person sitting closest to her: ] Well, they've chosen the right color, at least.

defect

5.0: [ Now that everyone has been returned to the station, things can return to a relative normal — or so Yennefer manages to convince herself for the most fleeting moment.

Although she's already adjusted to the concept of showers over baths — the latter of which she still searches for any opportunity to take given her preferences — she's come to be somewhat dependent on the station's reliability, which means that she is not prepared for the possibility of the water simply shutting off while she is mid-wash, leaving her to fumble out of the shower in a huff and only briefly succeed in wrapping a towel around herself before stepping out into the hallway to see if it's only her room affected. Depending on who she bumps into, it's probably a good thing she remembered to cover up; normally, she wouldn't have any qualms about most of the people on this station seeing her naked. ]

6.0: [ The malfunctions don't stop after that strange power outage, but at least this time Yennefer's clothed when she finds herself unable to leave the station room she'd been occupying alongside someone else. She can already tell that magic won't assist her here, shoulders slumping on an aggravated sigh as she turns around and glances back at the person who's similarly trapped in the space with her.

It's a small room, but fortunately, Yennefer's thought ahead for a possible moment like this one — perhaps not this exact scenario, but what to do to raise spirits — and she starts rummaging in the closest cupboard for where she's stashed at least one bottle of stiff liquor. ] If we're stuck, there's no reason we can't drink.

containing chaos (closed to team orb)

[ Funneling power — channeling magic for a shared intent — this is something she can do, something she can offer herself up for, and Yennefer won't pretend she hasn't been craving this sort of purpose for weeks now.

The energies that press in all around them are oppressive — she can't help thinking about how difficult it would be for any one person to contain so much, and for the first time, her gaze lingers distinctly over Degar, something unknown seeming to pass over her expression before she just as quickly dismisses it and listens intently to what's being described. A containment field would require a significant portion of power, but having it spread across all of them keeps the surge from becoming too overwhelming.

It's the last thought she has, idle and considering, before the strength of the orbs is only briefly unleashed — and thirty seconds feel like a small eternity.

Her hands are outstretched, chaos pouring from her, and before she can even comprehend it fully, tears are streaming down her face, though not from the onslaught of power greeting her. It's the fact that she can see beyond this moment to some distant one — a small cottage overlooks a vineyard and the sound of young laughter in the distance... a small girl stumbles up on unsteady legs to where a silver-haired man sits sprawled across a picnic blanket, giggling as he scoops her up into his arms and tickles her mercilessly... "shouldn't wait for your mother to join us for lunch?"... that same child sleeps soundly in a tiny bed, both of them quietly keeping watch, one of his hands resting on the swell of her belly growing more life... — it's everything she wants, perfect and happy and devastating for all that it can never be.

She sags in place, visibly drained from the effort, damp tracks streaking down her face — although she hurriedly brushes them away, and takes one step forward in an attempt to right herself before slumping against the closest person, unexpectedly relying on them to steady her equilibrium. ]

wildcard

[ want a different scenario or to encounter yennefer elsewhere on the station? feel free to tag in with an alternate prompt below. yen will also be dealing with losing her chaos temporarily as a result of helping to contain the orbs, although I'll be limiting those to closed threads later on in the month or next. in terms of format, I can match preferred style in terms of prose or brackets, and if you have any questions feel free to ping me on plurk at favoritings or discord. ]

containing chaos

[dragonmount]

[ it's a strangely familiar ask.

well, the stakes are lower, and there are so many who are here to lend their power, making all of this very different from rand's recent experience at the eye of the world. no one even looks at him twice, much as he's had some time to gather that channeling — magic — is regarded differently here. but the principle is the same: to stretch himself out to reach the Power, channel as much of it as he can draw upon and siphon it into something. degar's "sponge-gloves" here, the sa'angreal moiraine had given him at the eye.

(he still has it, secreted away in a pocket, but leaves it there for today's endeavor. if it isn't enough, though, he's ready to use it.)

and when the time he comes, the Power is easy to find — a relief, that, because it hasn't always been so in the previous days. he's able to seize saidin, channel despite every condemnation still ringing in his ears. he'd wondered about the orbs' nature, their power, before, but this —

he's shaky on his own feet, when it's done. but he's steady enough to reach out quickly and put his hands to her shoulders, ask with concern, ]

Are you all right?

Natasha Romanoff | MCU | OTA

[deaddrop]

HOLIDAZE

1.0

[Natasha doesn't have a lot of fond winter memories. Outside of a few short years in Ohio that she spent wishing she could vanish into her cover story, she doesn't have much to draw from. Even that was more empty boxes and trimming the tree in the front window so the neighbors would see the image of a normal American family. The ache that comes with seeing Christmas decorations or snow isn't nostalgia, but the weird longing for the life that had been stolen from her—her and Yelena and Melina, and so many other girls. The sensation of missing somewhere she'd never been, in a time that never was.

The sunlight room isn't exactly an escape from that feeling. It would be better if it were colder. She would have welcomed the bite of actual winter chill to clear her head and break the illusion of a holiday winter wonderland. Instead it's just cool enough to lend to the impression of a brisk winter day. Still, at least it offers the feeling of space and privacy.

What started as ducking in to take a moment quickly turns into the decision to take a walk, an from there a jog through the sunlight room, stopping only when she runs up on someone. She'll slow if she does run into someone, puffing a little from her impromptu workout, and nod.

By then she's probably gotten whatever maudlin sentiments were brewing tamped down again. Probably.]


4.0

[Later on:]

I think that one might be you.

[Natasha smiles slightly (slyly) as she juts her chin toward one of the ornaments. It might be another orber. Or it might be redneck Santa holding a bass. Or an abominable snowman tangled up in Christmas lights.

It's a gamble, really.]

Very festive.


DEFECT

5.0

[The lights go out and it gets dark in a way very few things are ever really dark. She wishes she could be surprised, but mostly she's just mad at herself for not being better prepared. Back home, she'd have had some kind of light on hand, even if just a penlight or her phone.

Making a mental note of what to request for future drops and radiating silent curses, Natasha navigates the corridors carefully, her footfalls intentional so anyone else unseen can hear her coming. The soft echo puts the hair up on the back of her neck in the unnatural near silence that comes with almost everything going dead.

Taking more time than she'd like, she makes her way to the most recent supply drop and starts searching the remaining items by touch, looking for anything that might be useful among the holiday spices and Christmas decorations. Along the way, she manages to spill some cinnamon (not that she can smell it to know for sure) and set off more than one wind up toy with a crank or two left in it, playing a few keys of music and jingling a few bells before she finally finds something promising—]

Ha!

[The light that comes on is faint and watery, and dances off the surroundings from the reflections off a swirling cloud of glitter. A snow globe isn't really an ideal replacement for a flashlight and Natasha doubts the batteries will last more than a couple of hours but for the time being it's better than nothing.]


Wildcard

((Or hit me up for something else! It's safe to assume Natasha is available for general holiday and/or glitchy interactions.))

5.0

[karumic]

[Kazuma is a bit more helpless than Natasha when the lights go out, if only because he isn't familiar enough with the technology here to know what to look for. He'd been trying to blindly grope toward the door when Natasha produces her find, and even with it now being the primary light source in the room it takes him a few moments to realize what he's actually looking at.

Fun fact: snowglobes were apparently invented in Austria in 1900, so Kazuma has never seen one before!]

...Thank you.

[He approaches carefully, making sure not to trip over any stray toys or gifts in the dim light, and it's clear his attention is less on Natasha and more on what she's holding.]

Where did you find that? [It looks like some kind of lantern... but there's no fire, and the light it's emitting is pitiful.]

mccoy | ota

[homeostatic]

holidaze 4.0

( it's a bittersweet reunion of sorts, the cozy setting so heartwarming, the absence of certain people felt all the more keenly in these cheerful surroundings. mccoy lingers at the tree, in an atrocious sweater of dark green and gold sparkles, passing a hand over the various ornaments.

after a protracted moment, he removes jim's ornament, holding it delicately in his hand. )

...how bout that...

( then, just like that, he hangs it up beside his own, like the total fucking sap he is.

noticing someone else coming around to the tree, he sidesteps politely out of their way. )

Did you find yours? I think the likenesses are a little off.

defect 5.0

( his shower indeed quit while he was in the midst of rinsing, still sudsy and his bellow of outrage echoing in the small space. levering himself out of the stall in the dark, he gropes for his towel and manages to mostly clean himself up by feel alone. that continues as he proceeds into his room, fumbling around until he finds his PADD and turns it on. mccoy dresses quickly after that, rooting around until he finds his survival kit, rummaging through it for a flashlight.

the door still works, at least, so off he goes in search of others. )

Are you all right? Are you hurt?

( his hair's soaking wet, his shirt is stretched damply across his chest, and there's shampoo suds at his temple. )

defect 6.0 - infirmary

No manual override, ( he grumbles, giving the door another useless tug, ) Of course not. Safety precautions would be too much to ask for on this broken down, piece of shit tin can, like floating through an empty void isn't bad enough--

( he'll be continuing in that vein for just a bit until he draws back, undaunted despite the cooling of his ire. )

Alright. I've got a better idea. ( and he's gonna go rummage through their less-used boxes of surgical equipment, coming up with a heavy metal case that clunks when he drops it on a bed. ) We're gonna use the osteotomes.

( he cracks the seals, revealing a selection of gorgeous, gleaming (and hefty) orthopedic tools. )

chasing echoes, containing chaos meanwhile...

( mccoy is pacing circles around the transporter pad, a restless figure in medical blues. this feels entirely too familiar-- fates in the hands of others, the harrowing wait for any news, any sign of success or failure, either of which, in his long experience, could mean any number of injuries. )

Should it be taking this long?

( it's... it's been fifteen minutes, leonard. sheesh. )

wildcard

( hmu with something else if you're not jonesing for these options, he'll be making a few Southern Christmas-y dishes in the kitchen, enjoying the snow in the sunlight room, or getting trapped elsewhere for sure! )

defect 6.0

[dragonmount]

[ rand had found the infirmary mostly by accident.

he's spent a lot more time than he'd like to admit still just walking about the station. it feels stupid sometimes, but he's sure he'd feel more foolish getting turned around and lost when he's trying to get somewhere in a hurry. and he prefers to be on his feet, besides; keeping himself busy means time not used dwelling on things he doesn't have power over and can't change.

anyway, he hadn't meant to do much more than stick his head in and maybe say hello — this is a good place to be familiar with, anyway, should he need to get help for someone, and bones had been kind — when,

well.

you know, the doors.

he'd given them a few tries before letting the doctor go at them, listening to the rant with bemusement. truthfully he doesn't know what a manual override would be any more than other safety precautions that apparently ought to be standard on the ximilia. nor what osteotomes are, until mccoy opens that heavy case. ]

Have you ever had to use those on anyone?

[ is maybe not strictly relevant to the situation, as he moves to pick up one of them. but like. look. he's curious. ]

Edward Elric l Fullmetal Alchemist

[chrysology]

1.0:

Maybe I should go around. I dunno even if simulated if this might mess with my auto-mail. I don't want to get frostbite or have Winry on my case whenever she sees me next....

[Ed muses more to himself than anyone else. As fun as it might be to play in the snow. He might be hesitant in doing so in remembering he no longer has his Winter Climate auto-mail specialized for this sort of weather, real or simulated. That he wouldn't risk getting frost bite with the model he had her make him up in Briggs. Though it is tempting to run out and play in this, he pauses at the doorway, considering as he glances in and sees the snow.]

3.0:

[At the least. Ed does like red. And gold. So he won't be too put out with helping with some decorations, even if he was more inclined to enjoy the Halloween aesthetic. He will offer to help put up some of the decorations, fixing any that might get dropped and broken in the process of putting them up around the station.

And he will take the ingredients, the cinnamon and such to the kitchen, where he will leave it for others more practiced with baking.]

I wonder if I should just leave them on the bench? That way people will see we got this stuff?

5.0:

Huh? That voice -- ?

[Because of course he recognizes it. That same voice from earlier with the last mission. Ed fumbles in finishing just getting dressed from his shower before he heads out of his room to find out what was going on. Only. He might well end up bumping into someone on the way, unable to see very well. His hair still damp and undone as he tries to find out what was going on.]

6.0:

[Ed was sitting in his room and reading, about to go and grab a snack from the kitchen when he realizes the doors are locked. He tries initially to ask on the earpieces, unsure if it is just his door or if it is station wide an issue. Given the power had gone out earlier. He isn't trapped so much, as he can easily make a door using alchemy. He figures, anyway. He claps his hands together, the familiar slight ringing sound and pale blue sparks emitting as he slams his hands to the door in transmuting a normal door that would easily open without electricity.

He proceeds to go to the other rooms, to try and help if anyone is in them, calling out, listening for anyone answering that might need to be freed.]

7.0:

Blood? What -- ?

[Get them back. Ed can't help thinking that implies to bring someone back. Maybe that was this man's wish. His regret, with the orbs? Ed can't be sure of the context, but he immediately feels a sense of dread amid his confusion. As he listens. As he glances around. Someone to get them back? Who back? He can't really dwell on it to wonder too much though. Because he is losing oxygen. And it impacts his breathing, his concentration. As he glances and tries to make it to the door.]

14:

[Ed still maintains his alchemy is a science but it is something he is aware that not just everyone can do. So he volunteers to help Degar. If his alchemy might make any difference. It's worth it to at least give it a shot. To try help with the orbs, if he can try help out somehow.

What he is not expecting is for the orbs? At least he assumes it's them? To show him How things could be. For things to be fixed. For Al to be whole again. Ed doesn't even pay attention or care to note what it means in regards to if he gets his arm and leg back. As long as Al was whole again. That he and Al are there together with Granny and Winry, having apple pie together. He is barely aware to take note of the tears pricking at his eyes. That he starts to feel the dampness at his cheeks.]

1.0

[legalcy]

It's all a messy affair, is it not? [Minimus - in his smaller, 5-foot-tall form - also stands at the perimeter of the simulation room with his arms crossed. He mistakes Ed's reluctance to go play in the snow as disdain for the activity.] Water gets into your joins and infects clothing with cold dampness. The sensation must be completely unpleasant.

Yzak Jule | Gundam SEED

[coordination]

#01: Holidaze | (various ; ota)

[ Though Yzak is not much in the holiday spirit (he usually isn't anyway, mister serious business and all, but for sure isn't right now), he can be found all around the station during the month for anybody else who's looking to spread the cheer. As such, he pretty much needs to go through the [a. sunlight room] if he wants to get from one place to another, which he seems set on doing every single time. Snowmen and snowball fights and ice skating? Not really his thing by default (though he would boast that he is great at all of those things if asked!). On some mornings, his stride is a little slower as he makes his way back from the mess hall holding a cup of coffee in his hand, eyes straying for a little longer on the sights and whatever the other Orbers are up to.

In true Yzak fashion, he will be a nosy ass innocently curious man when he spots anybody near the [b. box], tipping his head to get a better look at whatever they're entering. ] Who is that for?

[ He will also likewise look Very Put Off when Dean gets that [c. mistletoe] up all over the station. ] Oh, not this shit again!

[ Finally on [d. Christmas morning] proper, there is a box sitting next to Yzak, featuring a sweater that is VERY MUCH BEING IGNORED, THANK YOU. ]

---

#02: Hello Darkness | (various ; ota)

This is familiar. [ Yzak's voice can be heard when the [a. lights go out], sounding none-too-pleased. ] Now I'm wondering if the first time this shit happened, its cause was the same as now.

[ The room you're lucky(?) enough to get stuck with Yzak in today happens to be the [b. training room], where he's been a great deal lately, in part to keep himself and thus his mind busy so it stays ahead of all of the swirling shadows that have begun to creep back into it, causing doubt, confusion, hurting. The other reason why he's here so much is because he's still dead-set on properly adjusting to using his left arm for everything now, including combat. His current state is a constant reminder of what he fought so hard to keep and still lost, and he doesn't want to feel like any more of a failure by not being an asset to the team as they keep moving toward their goal. ]

Haaah? What do you mean the door won't open? [ He calls to the lucky(?????) person in here with him.

Of course, he's also open to [c. accidental messaging] from an old friend or someone completely new! Alternately, his own earpiece will screw up at some point while he's reading and the thought-to-text kicks in: —radio waves to ionize and heat an inert propellant, forming a plasma, then a magnetic field to confine and accelerate— WOW someone is a fucking nerd. ]

---

#03: Orbstacle | (orb containment room ; ota)

[ The power of the orbs is something Yzak is a lot more familiar with than he used to be. Not just from the innate feelings he gets with Charter Magic, nor just from experience gathering them. But his recent bargain put him directly into contact with Xrisora's orb and he can still vividly recall how some of those moments felt. Still, when he lends what physical and magical power that he can to Degar, the sheer weight of that power pushing back against them is a lot to bear. But Yzak bears it, because he has to bear it, he has no other choice but to bear it, and he's beared worse before with less on the line.

It's completely unexpected when the orb's power hits him back and he experiences something that he ... doesn't hate? Visions fill his mind of home and all of the scars of the war remain but there are less of them. The freshest wounds which arguably will leave the bigger scars - do leave the bigger scars for they're the reason he's here - were never inflicted. So many less of his people dead, the view of PLANT lacking six newly destroyed space colonies floating among them as graveyards.

When current reality greets him again, he feels that lightness instantly. Breathing becomes easier both literally and metaphorically, but Yzak's is still a little strained as he wraps his mind around what he saw, eyes looking toward the orbs but not exactly focused on them. Determination toward his goal here has never waned, but seeing that causes it to swell in a way that nothing else has as of yet on this journey of theirs. ]

---

#04: Wildcard & OOC | (ota)

Wildcards welcome if nothing sticks out. Everything always open to everyone, don't be shy! Hit me at gaignun, Tara#1768 or DM me here for anything.

---

01-C

[azurelion]

[Dimitri has never experiences the funs of mistletoe, he doesn't even know what it is, except it's some sort of plant. He had been inspecting one hanging by a door when he hears someone who sounds very angry at something.

So he turns, finding someone who looks as angry as he had sounded.]

What seems to be the problem?

Sabriel | Old Kingdom

[bindsthedead]

Cooking

[Throughout the month, Sabriel can be found in the kitchens, making a variety of foods she's always associated with Midwinter festivities- baked apples stuffed with candied ginger, plum pudding (Which does not contain any actual plums), mulled wine, spiced cakes, and gingerbread. If she sees... anyone who can actually eat it she'll wave them over, and offer whatever she's been making]

Here, try it!

Training

[Sabriel also spends a lot of time in the training room, drilling with a variety of weapons, as well as unarmed combat and magic.

Although her approach to training the latter can get odd. At some points during the month, she can be found placing a variety of object- knives, books, some plates from the kitchen- all placed around her at carefully measured distances.

The reason becomes a bit more clear when Sabriel sketches out several marks in rapid succession, and a fork by her foot is suddenly in her hand.]

Right. Time to work on range.

Blackout pt 1

[Approximately five seconds after the lights go out, a light spell flares in front of Sabriel. And then another, and another- and soon, Sabriel is very easy to track by the trail of light spells she's left in her wake as she makes her way from her room to the common area.]

Does anyone know what's going on? The plumbing's not working, and neither are any of the lights.

[And given how reliable everything in the station has been, even when Sabriel's tossed around spells that would normally short-circuit everything in the vicinity, that's concerning.

Sabriel can be found around the station, casting light spells on the walls, ceiling, and any object someone hands her.]

Blackout pt 2

[Sabriel's in the kitchen, improvising with what they have available. Which in this case, means using a heating spell to warm up food.]

We should... probably try to use up everything in icebox- refrigerator I mean- before it goes bad.

[She heard mention that this had happened at the very start, and that it had gone on for a while.]

We don't know how long this will last.

Simulation/Locked in

[Sabriel pauses when the snow and ice of the simulation breaks apart, the half-frozen stream suddenly vanishing to be replaced by a familiar setting, with unfamiliar faces- and a final statement that she deeply disagrees with.]

What do you mean- Wait!

[Sabriel pounds the door three times, before stepping back, taking a deliberately steady breath. Hyperventilating will just waste oxygen. Maybe you're here in the simulation with her, as Sabriel gathers her focus for an attempt at opening the door with magic. Or perhaps you're outside, and just got a desperate message- possibly not even intended for you- asking for help.

Or maybe you just heard the pounding and are trying to find out what's happening.]

Wildcard

[Got another idea? PM me, or talk at sarahthesilent]

Cooking

[azurelion]

[Dimitri always ends up finding his way to the kitchen, not entirely sure how, but here he is. Only this time there's a lady making something he hasn't seen before and asking him to try it.]

It would be my pleasure.

[His voice is a bit dry but he still tries to put some effort into talking. So he'll take a spoon from a drawer, and use it to cut up a piece of the cake (he thinks it's a cake at least) and put it in his mouth.

It's hot, but it feels soft on his tongue. Too bad he can't taste it, but it feels really nice. It also smells strongly of something he doesn't recognize.]

Clayton | OTA

[dr_unconscious]

1.0

[Having been grabbed from his world in early November, the sudden shift to more cool and festive decorations around the station seems a couple months late from Clayton's perspective. Not that he minds it; last month's mission had kept him busy enough, but in the quiet moments in the sweltering heat of the jungle, he did find himself thinking about the gifts he had been planning to buy his friends, his aunt Laura, his brother. He misses all of them quite a lot. The station dressing itself up to match is a somber reminder of his loneliness, but also a chance to enjoy a season that would have passed him by, and, hopefully, to make some new connections to share those feelings with.]

[To that end, Clayton spends a lot of time in the Sunlight Room. It's reminiscent of the less-blizzardy overnight snowfalls he grew used to while living in Michigan, albeit without the chill that would force him to bundle up, so he takes advantage of the unnatural warmth to take some scenic walks along the slushy paths, kneel under a snowy tree and meditate. This is when the simulation isn't too busy; when there are more people around, Clayton heads to the fields to roll up some lopsided snowpeople and - if anyone is around that looks especially distracted - he might take the misshapen head from one of his snowman attempts and lob it at their back.]

3.0

[Clayton's baking skill is pitiful, but the spices left behind during this particular supply drop just smell so damn delicious that he can't help trying to make something. Cookies, maybe? How hard can cookies be??]

[Turns out: Very difficult, especially if you don't have a recipe card to cheat from. In the kitchen, surrounded by a smattering of ingredients that are both cookie- and not-cookie-related, Clayton puzzles over a mixing bowl of lumpy dough. One hand holds a small carton of milk and another scratches pensively at his beard.]

Feel like this oughta be...runnier? I'll bet it needs milk. Cookies 'n milk go together, right?

[Later, having utterly failed to make anything edible (or maybe someone came by to save him in time to salvage his cookie attempt), Clayton has given up and settled for just brewing a pot of coffee, which he packs into a community thermos and places on a table in the Mess Hall for everyone else to enjoy. An assortment of novelty coffee mugs are spread out next to it, as well as a carafe of cream, whipped cream for good measure, and assorted bottles of spices to sprinkle on top. The words "Fancy Coffee" are scrawled in barely-legible handwriting on a piece of paper taped to the front of the thermos.]

[Clayton himself is enjoying a mug, piled high with whipped cream and doused in entirely too much nutmeg, while sitting at the far end of the table. He waves with a few spare fingers to anyone that pauses for a curious glance at his handiwork.]

5.0

[The good times can only last so long, apparently. Clayton is in the middle of brushing his teeth when the first flickers happen in the lights, and then with a loud, ominous whirring noise, the power goes out.]

Aw, hell.

[At least he's dressed. Well, dressed enough to not feel bad about stumbling around in the dark of his room, searching for a pair of sweatpants to throw on before he ventures into the hall outside. For once his smartphone is actually proving useful here, making for a convenient flashlight that Clayton holds in front of him and swings around corners. The bright white-blue light supersedes his cautious footsteps and illuminates the tips of his untrimmed beard with an eerie glow, which means that he's probably going to see the people he encounters before he runs into them.]

Hey! This place got a circuit breaker we can flip or somethin'?

7.0 - CW: Suffocation, Brain Stuff

[Details can be spared for what Clayton encounters in the simulation room - at this point, probably many others have seen what he stumbles across in there already, and maybe he should have been paying more attention to the rumor mill and anticipated it himself. But he didn't, and, so, here he is, first pounding on the door while the rogue program is running, then sending out a series of increasingly frantic messages through the earpiece that scatter into several unintended inboxes--]

Someone messing with the Christmas simulation?

Okay, fun prank. Please unlock the simulation room.

Are you near the simulation room? The door's locked and it's getting real weird in here.

I think it's trying to kill me please help

[Maybe his messages were lost to the network gremlins rather than actually making it into any other earpieces, or maybe any possible responders aren't close enough to make it before the air gets too thin for Clayton to handle. His back hits the door one last time before he slides down, eyes glassy and breath coming in rapid, shallow gasps.]

[There is a way around this - a way to still communicate what's happening to him, and even buy him a few precious minutes of oxygen conservation, maybe. Clayton doesn't want to try it. Except, he wants to die even less, so that makes this the lesser of two evils in his air-starved brain. Survival instincts kick in and Clayton's eyes roll, he slumps, and his breathing slows to a near stop as his body goes into hibernation.]

[Meanwhile, in the Astral, his soul is still very much aware of what's going on and is traveling as quickly as possible to find a nearby mind to latch onto. Only the most tenuous connection is needed to get across the sheer desperation and panic he's feeling, accompanied by a quick pulse of thought to explain himself: ]

Hey, sorry, this is Clayton, I know this is sudden 'n all but I think I'm dyin'? Please help.

WILDCARD

[Feel free to reach out via any of my contacts (manicmuse or manicmuse#4821) if you want to plan a different thing! Or wing it, I'll play along lol]

3.0

[bindsthedead]

No, I think it's the right consistency. The butter in the dough will melt when it's in the oven, and make the cookies flatten.

[Sabriel leans over, evaluating his efforts.]

It looks good enough as it is.

yujin mikotoba | the great ace attorney

[softshoes]

7.0 - closed to ryu & finn;

[One minute, he and Ryunosuke are enjoying the fully decked-out simulation room-- there's a lovely carol playing on the radio, a fire dancing in the fireplace, and the sweet scent of spices on the air-- the next, Olivia's memory is flickering to life before them. Her colorful, shattered-glass form feels real, like a waking dream, but doesn't everything in the simulation? Maybe that, and a locked door, will be all they'll have to weather here.]

Are you all right, Mr. Naruhodo? [Yujin glances over at his companion, then takes a cautious step back from the scene. Eventually, all around them, the flashback fades away. And, moreover? Despite the glitch, the holiday cabin's doing its damndest to return. In the darkness, pieces of the cabin seem to flicker on and off: a Christmas tree here, a stack of presents there. No sign of Olivia, though, luckily.] It looks like whatever that was is gone. [At least they can breathe a sigh of relief over that.

(Is his chest feeling a little tighter, or is he imagining that...?)]

north wing;

[He can sort of understand what an AI is, but understanding how one works is something else entirely. So, as much as he wishes he could volunteer to help solve the mystery, he stays back to poke about the North Wing. A part of the ship he's never seen before absolutely warrants investigation, after all.

Too bad he, uh, still doesn't really know how a lot of the tech here works. While he's here, he tentatively pushes a button on the wall (it's a fan, and the loud wheeze of its exhaust startles him enough that he jumps); explores the old team's quarters, examining the items for clues with a tightly knitted brow; and, most mortifying of all, meets the cleaning robot. And promptly gets in its way. He's awkwardly trying to address it and scoot away from it, but he keeps moving in the direction it's moving, and the thing's beeps are getting more disgruntled, and then he tries to move again, and-- well, you know how it goes. Eventually he tries to apologize, too, ducking his head at the little dude in a self-effacing gesture.]

wildcard;
[im down for whatever from holiday fun to poking around the station -- surprise me! pm or hmu at smithsyndicate if you'd like to plot something specific.]

That closed starter!

[locumstudentesquire]

[Honestly? How dare Olivia come for them while Ryu is in the deepest stages of his Fireplace Appreciation rituals. One minute he's feeling SO cozy and relaxed, to the point where he's venturing close to nodding off, even. The next?

Pure nightmare fuel.

He's awake and on his feet after the lights first flicker, and as the situation escalates, his attention quickly becomes transfixed on the scene that starts playing out around them. On instinct, he almost moves to reach for the stranger bleeding there in the center, until he remembers this is a simulation. Whoever that man... Is? Was? He's not really there.

The other figure, though. The one that is only vaguely human looking. Did she just... Speak to them?

She's gone before he can ask any questions of her, and then it's back to just him and Professor Mikotoba... Standing around in this room that's now just a ghastly shadow of the scene they were enjoying before.]

I'm... I'm fine, but... What on Earth do you suppose THAT was!?

[his eyes are flitting about the room for further sign of the thing as he turns in place, one hand hovering nervously over Karuma's hilt. He's trying to do his best to stay calm, but. That spooked him pretty badly! And he's finding it very hard to get his breathing back under control, the way he might usually do whenever his anxiety spikes like this.]

Newton Geiszler | Pacific Rim

[groupiedrifter]

Part I. Holidaze

Man, I can't believe it's my second christmas here. Wild!

[Spoken to anyone in his general vicinity as he invades every space where festivities are being held — the sunlight room is, like, teeming with snow! And as much as he usually hates being cold, it's hard to deny there's a lot of fun in being normal and enjoying routine holidays and seasons that come along with it. He's back in his ugly holiday sweater from last year, because why fix what isn't broken? Just like how every year should completely, unequivocably include building ridiculous snowmen. Which he does! And when he finally steps back and leans on someone's shoulder, content with his work, he gestures and asks:]

So? Whaddya' think? Do I win the snowman award this year, or what?

[There is no snowman award. But here's his submission, anyway.



Lovely.

Of course, Newt's not about to pass by finding everyone and giving them a present — and make no mistake, he has a present for everyone. Granted, people he doesn't know very well will get something as basic as an office party knick-knack, but by god, he'll make sure you're all given something. So it goes! If you're someone he's familiar with, be prepared for him to make a beeline for you at some point with a gift clasped in his hands and a shit-eating smile on his face.]

Yo, Merry Holidays, dude! You won't guess whose name is on this wrapping paper.

Part II. Defect

[Tragically, nothing good can ever last forever. Case in point: a homicidal AI is trying to screw with everyone aboard the station. Just business as usual, huh? Thing is, Newton doesn't even realize that there's something going on. Not at first, anyway. He's in the hallway, minding his own business with a stolen tub of ice-cream under one arm and a bag of popcorn in the other hand, when suddenly the space around him goes dark. With a big, obnoxious groan, he huffs and puffs and pouts his way slowly down the corridor.]

I am so sick of losing my vision at the worst possible time; the orb's gonna start getting letters of complaint from me. I don't even care if I agreed to the terms of service, I'm gonna bitch and moan about it just to be petty! [When he thinks he hears footsteps, he stops. Man, actually? He's doing pretty good navigating the dark. Looks like all that practice paid off a little.] Hey! I'm heading toward the community lounge area, right?

[He's entirely unaware that the other person also can't see. Or rather, that all of them are stuck in temporary darkness.

But once things get going, or at least as going as they can be, Newton collects his mighty army of flashlights and starts distributing them with some pep in his step. Some poor sucker who can't see their hands in front of their faces will find a light suddenly right in their eyes.]

Here! I got tons to spare!

[Or — in more horrific, anxiety-inducing situations — Newt will be there on the other side of a locked door for any poor soul who may be trapped behind them. Newt's somewhat familiar with the station's technology, or at least understands it enough to handle some of these locked door issues. The question is, are you behind a door where the oxygen is being depleted, or in your room? The bathrooms? I'm so sorry if it's the bathrooms, that's an awful place to be trapped in the dark.

Point is, Newt's here to rescue you. Hopefully.

Especially if you're about to asphyxiate from lack of air. In fact, one can hear him knocking the metal butt of his flashlight into the door blocking their way to either freedom or life.]

Heeeey! Anybody in there?! Anyone need help getting out??

Part III. Wildcard

[Got something that doesn't fit? I'm open to whatever the imagination drums up! Hit me up on simpledog or via PM if you'd like!]

Holidaze

[chrysology]

There's an award?

[No, Ed. There is not actually. Newt is just being....Newt. But he does pass by and note the...kaiju? Godzilla? Thing? It's certainly different from the usual snowmen. In any case. Ed can't deny that. He pauses, his head tilting slightly and hair shifting at his shoulder from his ponytail as he does while Newt then approaches. With something in his hands.]

Haa? Oh. Presents. I actually figured something for you too. It's not much, but.

[He knows the other is keen on science. So Ed has taken the time in between missions to write up about alchemy. Maybe Newt doesn't have a gate to be able to perform alchemy himself but he would probably be keen to read up on it anyway. Ed figures he seems curious enough to. He just hopes that Newt can read his writing. He also has asked for a music book as well, some sheet music he asked Viv for something Newt might like.]

Felix | Red vs Blue | OTA

[swordandshield]

I. Part Two - Defect

5.0 scout in the dark
[It happened while Felix was reading a book in his room. Suddenly the lights went out. He cursed softly into the darkness and then leaned back to wait it out. He felt more than heard the emergency generators kick in to keep the life systems functioning. He noted with some annoyance that it was the bare minimum. No back-up lights.

His patience didn't last very long. When time stretched too long Felix got bored and got up off his bed, relaxation forgotten. There was a lot more cursing in the dark as he attempted to find his rig and put it on without help or light to see by. He was lucky he didn't drop anything on his toes but he was certain to have a few new bruises later. Eventually he got his armor completely on and blessed be the advanced HUD as it lit up his face within the helmet, and gave him options for the dark. He switched on the night vision and glanced around the room, gathered the rest of his things, put away his trashy novel so no one would find it while he was gone, and headed out into the hallway.

He roamed in the dark, vision viable if not entirely perfect, but he had plenty of practice operating purely by NVD. He was the designated scout of his squad and the cover of night was an advantage he often took so he was well acquainted with the night vision capabilities of his armor. Now he used it to find people stranded in the dark. Mostly for his own entertainment value of the encounter. For someone wearing a half ton suit of armor, he moved with a surprising amount of silence.

Once he found someone to observe in the dark it was easy to entertain himself.]

[(a.)Sometimes he stood perfectly still in the middle of the hallway or room, and waited patiently as he watched people figure out how to cope with the darkness. He'd let someone bump into him before clasping them on the shoulder with a firm but gentle hand.] Hey.

[(b.) Or the classic option where he crept up close to someone in the dark, silent as a skilled hunter, and uttered one sound:] Boo.

[(c.) Something else going on in the dark to catch his attention, make up your own scenario!]

6.0 rescue ranger
[Felix kept to his armor after that. He was rewarded for his diligence as the station continued to exhibit signs of degradation and malfunction. A few times he found himself locked inside a room. He hadn't the patience to wait it out whenever he had better things to do.

So Felix did what he did best: he used brute force. His partner was the stronger of the two but Felix was no slouch, and with his powered armor he was more than strong enough to handle a malfunctioning door. It took more exertion than expected the first time but he pried the door open with a loud grunt of effort. After that, it was easy going.

He made a succinct offer over the network to help others as he made his rounds of the station daily (making himself sound as nice and useful to the team as possible to make up for previous lapses in interactions); and so whether by request or simply because Felix was headed that direction, the marine found himself standing in front of a malfunctioning door on a few occasions. With a sigh and shake of the head, he'd walk up and put his hands into position before calling out loudly so he could be heard on the other side:]

If there's anyone in the next room, stand back from the door. I'm gonna open it. Just give me a sec.

II. Part Three - The North

8.0 crackle, pop
[It felt like being in the middle of a thunderstorm. Beneath the protective layers of his armor, Felix felt the hairs on his body try to stand on end and his skin prickle with goosebumps that he couldn't rub to calm down. Yet he was enticed by the voice in his head and he took a step closer.

The view of his HUD flickered once, twice. He got closer. The flickering ramped up and now there was static and both began to fluctuate at an alarming rate as if somehow he'd damaged his helmet. Or stepped into an electrical field of immense proportions. Still he took another step closer, the siren's song luring him in. Felix was always attracted to three things: danger, power, and money. The only thing missing here was money, but the other two were more than enough to tempt the mercenary closer.

He reached out a hand towards the orb once he was close enough to touch--and was immediately flung back to the far wall. His body made a sickeningly loud crunchTHUD as he hit the wall and then slid down it with a screeching of metal alloy on metal alloy. Felix shook his head vigorously from his position on the floor and soon enough pushed himself back to his feet. He stood as if nothing had happened. His armor took the brunt of the force, and he was used to such abuse.

That didn't make what happened any less embarrassing. His mind clear once more, he steered well away from the seductive energy and alluring voice of the orb, staying on the outskirts of the room forevermore anytime he passed through the room.]

9.0, 10.0, 11.0 explorer
[You can damn well bet that Felix used the time allotted here to fully explore the North Wing. Old habits die hard as the saying goes. Felix was a scout and ranger by nature and training, and he couldn't pass by without doing a little bit of recon.

He explored every nook and cranny of the North Wing. He even discreetly recorded most of his exploration for his own records to help his memory down the line. You never knew when something might come in handy later. Besides, he was curious but impatient. He could review later when he was calm and take in more that he might have missed.

Find him anywhere in the North Wing and start a conversation with him about what's there to find. Or whatever else you might fancy. Maybe his large-ass armor was just in the way. Tell him to move it!]

III. Part Four - Chasing Echoes

13.0 hunter
[Felix shifted through the coding for barely thirty minutes before the work became too tedious for him. While capable, he wasn't the sort to sit and code when there was other work to be done. That was for more patient people. As luck would have it though the infiltration volunteers soon got their chance to track Olivia in the system.

The mercenary eagerly agreed to go inside. He probably should have been more wary considering his experience with such things, but he was tired of sitting at a desk looking for anomalies in coding that mostly looked all the same. And surely this couldn't be any worse than that alien portal to a space that played out his nightmares in vivid detail before spitting him back out, declaring he wasn't a true warrior and unworthy of the secret's it held. Probably nothing like that at all.

Felix wasn't certain what to expect but once he got inside the virtual world he almost had to laugh. It was like hopping into the effing Matrix. He was quick to notice that the code changed with his movements and that if it was obvious to him it must be very obvious to an AI like Olivia. He took a few minutes to experiment. He was pleased with what he discovered, how it worked, before he set off to search.]

[(a.) The mercenary moved stealthily through the sequences of code as he moved from room to room. Every step he made was not only quiet but nearly impossible to detect by watching the code. It did not move as he did but rather he managed to slide through it as oil on water. This was one of his fortes. The SpecOp scout was great at recon and on a mission such as this it shined ever so bright as his asset.

That was when he noticed the code flicker and his eyes narrowed. Unfortunately, he was quick to find that it wasn't their target that had caused the disturbance but another Orber on the hunt instead.]

Quiet. [He hissed.] You make too much noise. Your digital step is obvious from a mile out. Can't you sneak around better than that?

[(b.) Unbeknownst to Felix, there was never any way that he would be quiet and stealthy enough to track down Olivia without her knowing he was coming. No matter how adept he was at this game, no matter how silent or how stealthy he moved through the code sequencing--and he was excellent at it--he was always going to be in her sight. She had a function set up just for tracking him.

He didn't know that. He continued the hunt, an expert at this type of mission, but never quite in the right place at the right time to catch anything no matter what intel the code-shifting team relayed to the infiltrators. Felix's patience began to wear thin.]

Come on! Where are you, you little minx? Why don't you want to come out and play? [He called out, easily audible from a room or two away. Then more softly he continued, audibly only from within the same room.] I know a secret or two that might interest you. How about we make a deal?

[Of course, she never would come. But perhaps someone else caught scrapes of what he had to say. Or caught sight of him igniting a glowing two-pronged sword that he attempted to coax into the lines of code as if it might...unlock something. It didn't. He didn't attempt it more than once.]

IV. Wildcard

[ Anything else is always a viable option. Catch him in the snow if you like. Felix will be found in his armor for the entirety of this month. Choose prose or brackets as you prefer, will match format. PMs or AisuYoukai if you wanna discuss anything but it's definitely not necessary for wildcarding. Hit me! ]