TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 8

[avalonmods]

✨ Greet new players on the OOC intro while apps are processed HERE! ✨

{ QUICK NAV } Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary ⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️ SUMMARY: New arrivals drop into the lake and have to climb up a cliff to the Rent a Ride, where they are given their device and some headphones and can retrieve their personal materials. They travel to Camelot, which is a multiple day journey, so they stop at the Red Springs along the way and stay at an inn there. A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival KERPLUNK, SPLASH! Regardless of what you were in the middle of, you and your familiar have been magically pulled into the world of Avalon just above the Bay's waters. After a brief plunge into the Bay, the rush of water filling your ears and soaking up into every creak and crevice of your body, you may need to cough to clear your airways when you rise above the surface. It's still chilly, but not enough that you can't manage on your own. The Lady of the Lake is swimming around under the water, helping to rescue any wayward travelers who look like they're struggling in the water. This month's helpers are giant pillow jellies, a species of jellyfish that is capable of ballooning itself at the surface to create bouncy pads for characters to hop across to the shore, should they choose or not be able to swim. They come in a variety of bioluminescent colors, but do not seem to be very talkative even to animal magic users. Those who try may find themselves being ignored, even if they hear the jellies talking amongst themselves about this and that. If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. The shores themselves are littered with new arrivals complaining their way up a staircase carved into the walls of the White Cliffs. There is no railing, so be careful, but if you do fall, be prepared for a mysterious sand hand to reach out of the side of the cliffs to catch you. The hand will pat you atop the head twice before retreating back into the wall. This is the Cliff Beast; despite the name, he is quite friendly. (Though.. given how hot and muggy the weather is this first week, maybe you might want to ask him to toss you right back into the lake where the waters are still cool.) *Reminder: Your character's familiar may or may not be with your character in their initial plunge. If the familiar isn't partial to water, it may meet your character on the beach or sit atop their head while they swim. Or if they are, they might splash about and swim alongside your character. Familiars have different personalities and body specs and we leave those up to the players. B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot Once everyone is wrangled up to the top of the White Cliffs, the handsome owner of the Rent-a-Ride, Archimedes, will distribute smart phones and a pair of ear buds (the supplier was out of the regular ones) and tell them to "Check the Shit Box." The "Shit Box" refers to wardrobe more formally known as the Wardrobe of Finding, a hammerspace-like wardrobe that opens to each person's items and pets when the person touches the handle. It was recently enchanted by Merlin to prevent people from having to fish their waterlogged possessions and pets out of the water with them. From there, Archimedes directs everyone to settle in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and gives them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: The rest of the universe is frozen in time and your character has been brought here by a familiar that was able to bond with them. They'll have to learn magic to help save their own world from destruction, but first they've got to get them to Camelot. It is here that you have the first opportunity to decide who they will be in their new home. You'll have about an hour to wander around here, meet and greet, and pet the horses before it's time to go. These carriages use fae technology that combats weight, so your character will be able to get in regardless of whether they're light as a feather or weigh two tons. The carts have air conditioning when it's hot, heating when it's cold, and a mystical shield to protect from bugs. There is also a mini-bar that pops out of the console with nip bottles. Characters can use their smartphones to connect to Camelot's internet service, avalononline (AOL), to chat with other characters, watch dumb videos, learn about the world, contact Camelot Support (they'll answer any questions they can for you, from how to use a smart phone to where to find quests and resources to learn more about your magic). Be careful if you decide to use your phones while in the caravan-- if you don't use those earbuds and start forcing everyone to listen to your nonsense, Archimedes may make you walk. C ⦿ The Red Spring The journey from the White Cliffs to the City of Camelot is a long one, and the first evening you arrive you'll end up spending at the Red Spring, a booming resort town. Because of the volume of new arrivals and vacationers, inn rooms are assigned two-to-a-room. The rooms have two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and a few free movies. If you don't want to relax in the room, try taking a dip in the spring for another chance to meet your fellow travelers. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly when drunk. It is known to relieve stress, improve energy levels, and mildly accelerate healing. It may be a little chilly when you get out though, so make sure you don't slip rushing back indoors when you get out! The springs are also home to a large training grounds just outside town limits, where there are teachers who will teach basic magic safety and help you discover what kind of magic you have together with other new arrivals. Try target practice, obstacle courses, meditation circles, and other ways to try to figure out just what you can do... if you didn't already have an accidental discovery on the ride there. SUMMARY: Merlin has a Plan B in case Camelot failed the trials: raise a sunken ship and offer it to the Elphame Traders on their way out in exchange for permission to travel their waters. Characters prepare for ritual magic to raise a sunken ship and travel underwater at the empty Camelot docks to gather ritual ingredients for it. After they've done all they can, Merlin sets up a little beach party with a bit of master magic for anyone who came along for the trip. After arriving, people may have heard about recent events-- the people of Camelot voted against war and to instead accept the trials of the people of Celliwig. The trials are now concluded, and a good number of people are emotionally exhausted and taking time to recover. Word from Celliwig has not yet arrived, but across multiple social media platforms, including AOL, there are clips of Merlin's cryptic addendum to Arthur's announcement along with notes that the meeting date was delayed a couple of days due to the awful weather and a need to rest after how bleak the trials were to some people. With people down and out, it won't hurt to have the new arrivals pitch in and learn a thing or two. "Lucky me, we've got a decent group. Celliwig's out of our hands now, but what isn't is a back-up plan. Vote was close enough I figured we'd have enough people to get a head start. Celliwig is closer and much less dangerous to deal with, we'd be able to communicate much faster with the faeries' queendom. They're not big on internet. Big followers of the Old Ways. T-L-D-R, we can't just text the queen and ask if drop-bys are on the table. We'd never make it past the leviathans without permission, so here's the plan: There is a... fixer-upper of a vessel sunken about a hundred yards from shore tossed out from Bermuda. We tried to build docks here forever ago, but you can guess the Bermuda triangle spitting out stuff in the lake all the time didn't go great. We just keep it up for visitors now, but there's plenty to explore in the immediate area that we can magic back into business." A ⦿ Shipwreckers He goes on to explain that the fairies value items that were once lost and refound, so step one is exploring the shipwreck with fellow magic users to find what amounts to a scavenger hunt list of items from the ship. He sets everyone off with a quick spell that essentially transforms their clothing into swimsuits that best fit their preferences and personality-- that means no one's going to get a swimsuit that makes them horribly uncomfortable, he's not harassing anyone. After that, magicians will be directed to use their magic to get down to the ship. It's not as convenient as underwater breathing and not as easily sustainable, but there's definitely different ways to go about it. Light magic users will find they can create a forcefield above the surface of the water and go under the water, though they may run out of oxygen quickly. Elemental users can find they can create a similar bubble by pushing water out of the way, though may run into the same diminishing air without a more advanced elemental user already in the game who can pull oxygen out of the water or an alchemist who can create chemical reactions to generate oxygen. Animal mages may be able to convince local lake life to help push bubbles along, and healers will be instrumental in healing oxygen deprivation if anyone stays under too long! (Note: If two characters can't create a bubble, you can put in a third NPC to do the bubble while your characters handle other roles during the search.) No matter what, make sure you bring someone who can watch your back. Rumors have it that the Fuath are harassing anything that comes near the area. Fuath are intangible spirits that may present as giant humanoids at about 8-9 feet each, but with the mane and tail of a yellow horse, with no noses and keen eyes. They hold grudges against anyone who takes advantage of their surroundings, even if not their own, and will come to attempt to throw those who try to take from the ships and flying through the air to land somewhere else in the water. Be very cautious about using names around the Fuath, as though they do not speak in human tongue, they have a particular ability to draw people and animals in using names that makes them very difficult to escape once you've been found. They've been known to turn familiars against their partners. They can be deterred, dissipated through attack to buy you time, but they'll keep coming so get in and out of the ship as fast as you can and definitely stick to more combat-heavy magics like dark and cognitive mages! *Note: These magics are all examples of ways to use primary magic, but feel free to get creative with your character's magic if you think of something else! B ⦿ Hoist the Flags Once all the ingredients are gathered, the ritual is underway! With the mementos from the ship, swim to a protective circle formed at the top of the water by Merlin that will keep the Fuath out. There, you need to take whatever item you gathered from the ship and try to find someone with a similar item. This "sister" item will allow you to pull the essence of the item up from the ship. It takes a load of people to raise a whole ship, but pouring your magic into the item and chanting the spell will cause the ship to resurface and restore itself to its original state before the crash, using residual memories from all the different items on the ship. Of course, finding a partner with a matching item while swimming around could be a challenge, especially if you don't get along-- it may take a while for everyone to get on the same page. It certainly won't clean up all the algae and kelp and wayward flopping fish, it brings the ship back to a livable state.. and a much cooler, more explorable one. Get a quick exploration of the ship and help clean up some of the lake slime before Merlin flags over the traders. Or goof around until then, and learn a sick free spell called (Recipe) Cool Firework: create a rocket firework from your fingertips. Make sure you're aiming it into the sky when you cast this spell, or Merlin will set off a Camelot totem right beneath your feet. No sinking the ship when they just got it up. The fireworks will attract the Elphame Traders, who are leaving the day after they close up shop to head back to Elphame, before the set out to leave. Merlin negotiates offering the ship to them as an offering for Queen Elphame to give them permission to travel in the Elphame territory. At that point, the ship is pulled into the docks and Camelot citizens are ushered out for the fae traders to take over the ship. C ⦿ Beach Episode Once everything's said and done it.. really only took a couple of hours, so the whole group is done around 4pm. There's plenty of time left for dinner and a good time at the beach a short walk away from the docks and the sun doesn't go down until around 9pm. Before Merlin leaves everyone to themselves, he conjures up a buffet-style table with loads of fresh food and drink, watermelons and bats for smashing. The swimsuits provided earlier wear off at midnight, though you'll probably want to leave before then since it still gets chilly in the evening, especially if you're all wet from playing with the chest full of waterguns or the beach balls distributed around the beach. The docks are nearby, so feel free to call your friends over to come hang out with you, even if they didn't help. It's a beach party, enjoy it! SUMMARY: Unseelie faeries and unseemly humans have teamed up to kidnap a small number of otherworlders in the chaos of the trials to fight in an underground fight ring. Play as a victim or be part of the squad to put an end to it if you're more good-leaning, or villains can choose to participate as audience and pay for "gifts" to be given to their favorite fighters during matches. CW: These prompts contain kidnapping, illegal and forced fighting, and inhumane treatment of fighters. Just because people are tired doesn't mean that the world stops for them... crime certainly doesn't. Throughout the start of the month, people are going missing. Exactly what's happening.. well, finding the truth out about that is going to depend on your perspective. A ⦿ Cursed Kidnapees Kidnapping victims will find themselves suddenly blinded by a spell, and then chloroformed by a floating cloth pressed against their face. (Smart kidnappers don't touch their victims if they have magic, you know!) When they wake up, they'll find themselves in a dungeon with at least a dozen other people. There's definitely not room to lay down, and sitting down as you had been propped up immediately starts you with a potentially uncomfortable view. Don't worry, someone's peeks in from a window at the top of the room-- an extremely handsome-looking man with long, wavy hair and pupils slitted like a cat's. "Let's see.. You two, you'll be the first fight of the night. Winner gets dinner, gyahaha!" It's a fighting ring. You've been kidnapped into a fighting ring and there's no obvious escape! Fight against fellow captives and monsters for your dinner and to buy time to figure out what you're going to do... At least you start hand to hand, so there's nothing lethal... right? (See Audience for more details.) B ⦿ Audacious Audience Maybe you're a less scrupulous sort and saw an invitation to this event hidden on the dark web, or got invited by a particularly sketchy friend. Either way, you've got cage-side seats close enough to chat with either fellow audience members or interact with the cage fighters. As a bonus point, audience members can spend some of their G on betting or on purchasing "boons" for their favorite fighters, such as weapons or enhancement spells. They can also bid against other audience members for special sabotages that make it harder to fight-- foot weights, strange masks, roller skates, hinderance hexes.. get creative with it! It's the biggest fight show that you can interact with your wallet... newbies may find it's a very lucrative way to make a pretty penny very fast. (As always, remember to communicate with anyone you're helping/sabotaging so you don't go past anyone's OOC comfort level.) C ⦿ Roaring Rescuers Thankfully, the fae who want nothing more than to sow discord and the greedy humans who joined in their venture are a bit disorganized. Even the beginning-level heroes among us will be able to track them down and topple them with a little bar hopping to gather information from the locals. Eventually, one of them will give up having overheard some "scary looking fellows" talking about which of the patrons of the bar looked like they'd be good in a fight before getting extra hush-hush. Follow all the leads, and you'll find yourself at an outlying, smaller-scale castle with a dungeon tower and an underground fighting ring built beneath its floors. Sneak in and unlock individual fighter dungeon doors while the fights are providing a wealth of distraction. Maybe you'll find a grateful Fogueria who casts a temporary fire-immunity spell on you to allow you to do ride them into battle to bust up the fight going on right now. There's definitely gratitude going on, regardless of moral compass, and you may find gifts of food and drink (non-alcoholic if you're not old enough) placed at your door over the next week for your deeds. MOD NOTES: • All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, but this post should have top-levels by potential new characters only. Current characters may reply to any threads, but should not top-level comment on this post. • If your application is accepted, you may accept TDM threads as game canon as long as both players consent. Characters may begin threading as soon as their journal is accepted to the communities. • We are testing out formats for key points displays, to be voted on for player preference based on what seems to work best for the most people. The other options were used here (end of post summary format) and here (start of post preview format). The format featured on this post is the last option, which will provide small summaries under the banner of each prompt set. A poll will be put up before the next event to see which format will be used going forward, so please keep in the back of your mind which seems most comfortable/makes the content more easily accessible. •If nothing here tickles your fancy, try one of this month's Quests for your TDM prompt. • The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM, but contain seasonal tweaks for flavor. All other prompts will change monthly. • Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ.

Comments

2B | nier: automata | kinetic & siphoning + moose

[conciliant]

❖ car[A]van to camelot ❖

[The last thing that 2B expected when she crash-landed back on Earth was to wake up in an entirely different place, and a world with humans, no less. As early as when she was sputtering and coughing in the lake, she wondered to herself if she'd suffered so much damage that she was now imagining things... or worse, if she'd been infected like the others. The latter theory proved to be incorrect quickly, when she was helped out of the lake while frantically calling out for 9S and her Pod.

If a YoRHa android had a bucket list, the first item on it would be to meet her creators, the humans, but now that she was surrounded by so many of them, soaked and tired just like her, 2B finds herself at a loss for words. Not that she was ever much for them in the first place, but what is she supposed to say to the species that gave her life? That she was created to protect? 9S would have a field day with this, but 2B? She'd never thought about what she would say if she ever met a human.

So instead, she's kept to herself for the most part. After being surprised at finding her belongings in this so-called "Shit Box", she's taken up a spot in one of the caravans with her Pod in her lap, laying lifeless, and her two swords—one massive and one smaller one—taking up the entirety of the seats around her.

Sorry, did you want to sit there? This strange, out-of-place looking girl is too preoccupied with mumbling to her Pod to notice anyone who might be eyeing them.]

❖ [B]each episode ❖

[The whole bathing suit thing has been a bit odd for 2B. Although her new one-piece closely resembles her dress, it took a while for the confusion and frustration over her new outfit to wear off. Thankfully, she's over it by the time the work on the ship's is through, so she takes the opportunity to sate her curiosity and explore whatever this man called Merlin has conjured up on the shore of the beach. Her moose familiar traipses behind her with some trouble, its legs wobbling when it's unable to keep its hooves solidly grounded in the sand, and Pod 042 hovering in the air alongside them.

It's the giant green balls that draws her attention first, but it's more so the smashing of them. 2B approaches as someone at the front of the line winds up a swing, and she stops next to whoever happens to be near the back of the line. If she didn't know any better, she'd think they were killing the poor watermelons, and in some ways, she really doesn't know better.

Her Pod is the first to speak, sensing 2B's bewilderment.]

"A watermelon is a flowering plant species of the Cucurbitacaeae family. It is a scrambling and trailing vine-like plant, originally domesticated in Africa. The pink flesh contains many seeds, and has a sweet, juicy flavour that humans are fond of."

[2B nods in understanding, then turns to ask:] So why are they breaking them?

[It makes zero sense to her??? If anything, it looks kind of stupid!! Will someone please enlighten her?]

❖ roaring res[C]uers ❖

[She may still be a bit shy around the humans, but no one (no one!!!) kidnaps her creators and gets away with it. The moment she'd heard whispers of where the unseelie fae and humans were keeping them, 2B didn't hesitate a beat in joining the rescue mission. With the audience and fae being kept busy upstairs watching the fights, she's dungeon crawling, opening up the dungeons where they are being held captive.

So, if you've been kidnapped...

Be prepared for a small android literally kicking in the door to your cell with the weight of 300 pounds of metal behind her heeled boot. The kick sends the entire thing flying off its hinges to hit the wall opposite her. She peers inside before stepping into view.]

Come with me if you want to live.

[A beat, and then not even three seconds later:]

Let's go!

❖ wil[D]card ❖

( You know the drill! None of these work? Feel free to leave something else below! )

[A]

[gunmettle]

[ There’s a bit of commotion at the carriage door, Archimedes going back and forth with someone about “no smoking” – apparently a certain smoking gun decided to try and board with a lit cigarette. After a bit of grumbled complaining, Juzo steps aboard, ducking a bit as he looks for a place to park himself.

While most of the others on board at least look human, Juzo definitely does not, with a massive revolver sitting atop his shoulders instead of a normal human head. ]

This seat taken?

[ You know, by something other than her swords. ]

[conciliant]

[What a pair to end up in the same carriage. 2B looks out of place herself, sticking out like a sore thumb with her massive swords and visor, and even she can't help but stare. Thankfully, her rudeness is masked, eyes covered, but the way her line of sight still lingers on him is obvious.

She doesn't need her Pod to tell her that whoever this guy is, he isn't human.

It takes her a moment to realize, and however many seconds pass before she shuffles over to move her swords. Virtuous Treaty, being the giant greatsword that it is, is a bit awkward, and it threatens to topple over before she's able to catch it. There isn't much room given, but... it's enough.]

Not anymore. [And then, to point out the elephant in the room before he can even sit down, she opens her mouth again.] You're not human.

[gunmettle]

[ Even if he can’t see them, he can feel her eyes on him. He’s hardly surprised – everyone stares at that head of his, at the very least. More often than not they run away screaming, so he’ll take what he can get.

Once the swords are sorted, he takes his seat next to her, one hand dipping into his coat pocket to fish out a cigarette case. He gets as far as pulling a cig halfway out before he remembers the driver’s rather staunch orders and puts it away with a sigh. ]

That’s a cruel observation. [ His head angles in her direction slightly. ] But I guess you’re not too far off.

I’m surprised you can tell through that blindfold.

[C]

[tantailizing]

[Zidane is finding being separated from the other fighters is doing weird things to his head, but he wasn't going to act like it was. He'd see people again - it was just a matter of biding his time until another fight came up, but he's starting to lose track of how long since the last one has been.]

[Things he doesn't expect while waiting is his door being kicked in which has him leaping to his feet and staring at the human(???) that walks in. Damn... she mind kicking him next? He shakes his head quickly.]

Wait a sec, I have to get my stuff back from these guys!

[conciliant]

[2B's pod appears in the doorway behind her and the two of them stare(?) at Zidane before she rolls her eyes behind her visor.

Are all humans this stubborn!? She doesn't demand an answer out loud, but her frustration is unmistakable in the way she groans low in the back of her throat. Still, she won't argue... too much. If it were her in his position, she'd want to grab her swords too.

She steps aside, giving him room to pass over the threshold first.]

Then let's stop wasting time here and move. Fast. Do you know where they're keeping it?

[tantailizing]

Nope! But all the better to search, there's still other people that need to be busted out!

[Yeah, she sounded annoyed, but he's not leaving anyone behind if it can be helped. And once he finds his daggers, he's really going to give them further hell.]

[B]

[yorhaberserker]

[She had been sitting on the beach, listening to all the activity that was going on. Her face turned up feeling the sun on it, when she heard a very, very familiar voice of one Pod 042. How many times throughout her time on Earth had she heard it, and it rarely meant anything good for her.

She decided to stand up and look around for the floating pain in the ass. Why here of all places, because where it was so was she. She easily spotted it and started to move towards the duo, soon stopping behind them.]

I have yet to understand why they do half the shit they do here.

[There she was, wearing a bikini and her arms crossed over her chest. Her voice dry as ever when she spoke to the other android.]

Wasn’t expecting you to show up. Where’s your shadow?

[conciliant]

[2B recognizes the voice instantly, and for a splitting moment, she can feel her shoulders tense. It was hard enough to believe that 9S had come here with her, but A2? She hadn't been anywhere near them when the Bunker had gone down, as far as she knows, so how...?

She's able to hide her surprise well enough when she turns her head, ever so slightly, to cast a glance at the other android.]

My shadow?

[Her brow shoots up behind her visor, and then... She points to the ground at her actual shadow, her voice turning dry to match A2's.]

Right there.

[ :| ]

[c]

[garyoutensei]

[ At first, no one had seemed to take the chances of a one-armed woman doing at all well within the hostile arena as being worthwhile. But after she'd proved remarkably vicious and willing to claw her way to a victory, regardless of anyone else's morals, well, she was a certified money maker to be sure. And that meant 2B had to get through quite a bit more security than usual to get her out.

Baiken had generally sort of accepted that the arena was just sort of her life, at the moment, biding her own time for a chance to kill her captors and make her own escape from that particular form of hell. Honestly, that anyone rescued her, much less this girl who had somehow made quick work of that metal door. She takes a moment to stare, not at all responding to her words, before... ]

Get me to my sword, first.

[ She wasn't leaving, just yet. ]

[conciliant]

[What is with all these humans wanting to get their goddamned shit first!? "That's a stupid idea!" is what she wants to say, considering the amount of security she had to push through to get here, but she bites her tongue. Talking back to humans wasn't on the agenda today, or ever, so she voices her frustration with a sharp sigh instead.]

It's going to take a lot longer.

[To get out of here, she means, but she bows her head in agreement before stepping away from the door, giving the woman room to make her way out.]

Did they say where they're keeping it?

[(2)B]

[flapsin]

[A duck approaches, casually dressed in a buttoned up shirt with a pair of sunglasses. He watches in amusement as the woman and the robotic entity examine the watermelon.]

It's just a game. It's a chance to prove your skill by splitting the watermelon while blindfolded. And then you get to win the insides. Sweet deal, don't you think?

[Something about this lady seems out of touch, but Drake chalks that up to him still getting used to being around these strange-looking people that call themselves "humans". He's sure she'll catch on!]

i see what u did there

[conciliant]

[2B hears the voice first, not turning to look at its owner as the blindfolded man at the front of the line brings the bat down. He misses on his first try, but gets it on his second, breaking it with a loud CRUNCH. It's a bit of a messy cut, but the crowd cheers him on anyway. That must mean victory...]

I suppose. It's a bit silly to—

[That's when 2B turns and her voice trails off into a confused silence. What she had been expecting to be a human... isn't... and once again, like many of the other people she's met here so far, she finds herself staring a bit too long than what should be considered polite. She's been shy around the humans, but this...?

Is he a...?

Pod 042 speaks up to clarify and to break the awkward silence.]

"While ducks are typically not known to have the ability to speak, this one does. Proposal: Unit 2B should respond accordingly."

[That's putting it bluntly. Thanks for the observation!!!

And of course, 2B's response is to let her mouth fall open, still stunned. This is not responding accordingly!! Apologies for her rudeness.]

b. unfortunately for everyone he will be of no help whatsoever

[ferrytale]

[ this is also ledo's first beach party so he's doing much the same — wandering about to puzzle at things. he was confused hours ago at why he ended up in a small bathing suit but the weather at this point has both clarified and justified that. the fact that of while 2B's familiar wobbles, ledo's floats along serenely behind him (or as serene as a disco ammonite hideauze gets) and it's his robotic companion that walks along dealing with the sand. it's why when the pod speaks up and its voice attracts his attention that he's staring at it almost enviously. ]

Many things in this world are inefficient and meaningless. I suspect they justify the waste of resources and energy by claiming it brings them pleasure.

[ even if they were all conjured — and to be sure, he doesn't actually fully understand conjuring as a concept — it's still waste as far as he's concerned. ]

How is your machine floating? Chamber lost that ability along with much of its other functionality coming to this place.

[ never mind that chamber is actually a giant mech in its usual state and the local magic might've gotten a few wires crossed turning it into something the size of a large toy. that's beside the point! ]

[conciliant]

[Humans sure are strange. 2B never doubted that but seeing it all in action only proves her point. Why waste precious, non-renewable resources? They're all getting splashed with the watermelon's pink insides, and it doesn't look very fun to her (then again, 2B has a poor idea of what constitutes as fun), but who is she to question them?

Just an android.

She hums, neither in agreement nor disagreement, but it's when he points out her support unit that she finally turns to face him. The question would be better directed at 9S, or Pod for that matter, because they could go into detail on how it works, but she can at least give an answer. 2B's lips even turn upward into a smile, proud that she can be helpful in some way!]

All pod units are equipped with an anti-gravity chip. Without it, they can't move, and what use would they be then?

[Unless they claw on the ground using their hands? Pod 042 beeps to confirm.

She eyes the robot next to him.]

Is that your support unit?

B

[scandroid]

[ 9S, who's sporting far too much black with the colour of his shorts and t-shirt, is at least wearing hot pink sunglasses over his visor. As ridiculous as it looks, he seems happy to partake in these human activities. ]

Well... the thing is, they can only be eaten from the inside, so I guess they're supposed to be broken... But look! They seem to have made some kind of challenge of it!

[ The other android himself doesn't quite understand it, but it certainly tickles his boundless curiosity. Unlike her, the things that don't make sense only excite him, because the thrill of uncovering something is always greater than already having all of the answers. ]

Maybe it tastes sweeter if you succeed... why don't you try it, 2B?

[conciliant]

Eaten off of each other's faces—?

[2B winces when the crunch of the watermelon's shell echoes across the beach, followed by cheers as the audience at the front is showered in broken pink pieces. Some stray ones come at them, and one splats against her leg, which she immediately brushes off.

Seems a bit strange. The people do dig in though, scooping the insides of the watermelon out with their hands, and she looks to her partner, and her frown fades a touch. She's been wondering why he's been wearing those funny looking sunglasses, but... at least he seems to be having fun.

After a beat of consideration, she hums.]

It does look a little fun... [Just an observation she's made, based on the smiles and laughter surrounding them. If he wants her to try...] Do you really think I can?

[It almost looks... too easy. Isn't that a bit unfair? Is she asking him for permission???]

a

[peacewithouttyranny]

[The next passenger to get on board the carriage may appear even more peculiar than 2B and her pod is. As the person is a... 7 foot tall mech. Despite his reduced height/size and the removal of his shoulder-mounted gun, Soundwave still has to duck to steps inside the carriage, and thanks to whatever magic is imbued to the rides, is able to withstand his heavy weight.

Soundwave's head turns left and right to search for a free seat, and finds most are already taken by others. His glowing red visor stares down at the seats where her two swords are, and then to 2B.]

I presume these swords are yours?

[Even if one doesn't directly look at him, the mechanical and electronic like quality voice would made it quite clear that he is a mech.]

sorry soundwave 💦

[conciliant]

[The voice is all 2B needs for her instincts to kick in. The mechanical voice hits a little too close to home, reminding her of the machines on Earth—the machine lifeforms she was created to kill—so the moment she hears it, she isn't reaching for one of her swords to move it, but to raise it at him as she rises to her feet, holding Pod close to her with her other hand.

If the other passengers weren't staring before, they sure as hell are now.

Her breathing is quick, and she can feel her circuits going haywire on the inside, making her head feel hot with anger, but she doesn't move from her spot. Instead, she stares, eyes narrowing from behind her visor as she looks the seven-foot-tall machine up and down.]

They are.

[ ... ]

Damn it. The machines are here, too?

c!

[shithogs]

[The door swings open and flies off its hinges, hitting the wall of the cell so violently that Kainé is actually startled to her feet, ready to retaliate against whoever it is that's come knocking this time— except it's not one of the handlers running the cage fights, but someone else entirely.]

Shit, that was something.

[Color her impressed.]

Don't have to tell me twice, let's get the fuck out of here!

[Even half-starved and exhausted, she's ready to run, and she starts to make for the door.]

[conciliant]

[2B has no time to pride herself on her grand entrance because there are more guards on their way, shouting from one end of the corridor while the sound of doors breaking and locks clicking comes from the other.]

There's only one way out of here, [she warns Kaine, and hands the girl one of her swords to arm herself with until they can either find her things or escape.] We'll have to fight our way through them.

[And hopefully not kill anyone? She's having a hard enough time processing everything that's going on right now that the thought of killing a human is so beyond her.

Pod 042 hovers close.]

"Alert: Multiple enemies incoming."

resCue

[dragongrrl]

[Barbara doesn't like being in the cell. She's already tried to muscle the door open, and it hasn't worked, and she's pacing like a wildcat just waiting for some fool to come down with the keys so she can make the way she feels into everybody's problem.

But this person clearly is not a ringmaster or an unseelie. (Whether they're human is an open question.) Barbara gets out of the way of the door to give her the room and--okay--now there isn't a door anymore! With a satisfied growl, she practically leaps out of the cell. She's almost about to go roaring off to smash in faces, but. She doesn't know her way around down here and she doesn't want to walk into another trap.]

Which way?

[conciliant]

To where? Everyone wants to find their belongings.

[2B doesn't make an effort to hide her frustration about it. Here she is, coming down to help everyone, and all they want to do is wander further into the lair for things she thinks are easily replaceable rather than get the hell out of it... So, it's why she's asking before Barbara can say so.]

slams in here late with a wildcard

[intonings]

( based on overgrowth quest, hope it's ok ♥ )

[ Zero isn't the type to help people deal with their shit—she's managed to establish that much back in her world but people around here still think that it's fine to approach her in the streets and make requests. No matter how loud she's yelling, there's always some idiot who didn't hear and will ask for something.

This guy was the same. She lost interest after he said something about a baby. If this guy can't deal, that's his problem. Thankfully, it doesn't take longer than a minute of some flowery language to make him back off.

The thing is...fate has another surprise for her. Without realizing it, she ends up in the vicinity of the man's house and it looks like the baby kraken really enjoys picking up people with its tentacles and shaking them like a rattle. ]

You damned pussy monster!

[ Unfortunately, being offensive isn't effective against this monster—it's reaction is only turning Zero upside-down and shake her even harder. ]

Tentacles off me!!

perfect 🥰

[conciliant]

[2B, on the other hand, is more than happy to take up the requests! Her innate sense of duty doesn't really allow her to do otherwise—she was made to protect them, after all, so when she receives word that someone is in need of help, she wastes no time in getting there.

She's not sure what she's expecting from the word 'kraken' when it's given to her, besides what Pod has already explained to her on the way, but what she's expecting even less than that is to have a girl suspended in the air, upside-down and being rattled like a salt or pepper shaker.

Halting, she reaches back for her large sword, eyeing the beast with disgust. Ew...]

Let her go!

[But that only angers it more, and it raises Zero further up from the ground, reeling its tentacle back as if it's preparing to slam her against it. She isn't going to let that happen, and so she darts forward, sword in hand now, and slashes at the tentacle, managing to slice it clean from its body with Zero along with it.

Hope she's ready to break her fall, because 2B isn't going to catch her...!]