TEST DRIVE MEME #2

[sailmods]

1. this hotel room got a lot of stuff

[you wake up.

it doesn't matter where you were before. going to bed? dying? opening the door to face a great evil? same result. you wake up in a soft bed with starched sheets in a cool, darkened room, sunlight peeking out from behind thick curtains. maybe you're alone; maybe you aren't. maybe you immediately notice the folded paper on the bedside table near your head. if you don't, you better fix that real quick: you won't be able to even open the door before you read it.

the note itself is written in a neat hand on white card stock; there is a stylized logo of a ship with the words SERENA ETERNA printed underneath. the note reads as follows:

Dear Passenger(s),

As your cruise director, it is my great honor to welcome you aboard the Serena Eterna, your destination for fun and adventure! We know you could have chosen any cruise line for your vacation, and we're very grateful you chose ours! On behalf of the Captain, I would like to assure each and every passenger that will we do whatever it takes to fulfill all your needs and desires during your journey with us.

At your earliest possible convenience, please attend the mandatory lifeboat drill by the end of the day. I'm sure everyone is very eager to get started on all the fun and sun, but safety always comes first! You can find your life jacket in your cabin's closet; carry it to your assigned muster station on deck one, where I will take you through the drill. If you can't find me in the crowd, just look for the gal with the winning smile!

See You Real Soon!

Sincerely,
Gal Friday

you walk to deck one. you have no other choice: every time you try to step in a direction some unseen being considers "not towards deck one," you find your legs no longer move, staying stock still, frozen. whether compelled quickly by curiosity, or delayed by pure stubbornness, the result is the same, and you are left milling around with other similarly curious or stubborn people.

you see someone in uniform near the front of the crowd. she seems to be a gal, but is missing the winning smile, along with most of her other features. she seems to see you, though, rushing to your side and placing a lei around your neck with great formality. a voice, cheery but artificial, sees to come from nowhere and everywhere.]

Welcome aboard! We're so glad to have you!

[you touch the lei. rooster feathers, lotus seeds, and a carved circle of something white and hard, linked onto a silk string.

after the drill is completed, you are seemingly free to go. or, well, your legs work, now. and maybe that's as good as it's gonna get.]

2. and a touch-tone phone

[chatterbox isn't exactly the most popular venue onboard. it probably has something to do with the distinct lack of open liquor bottles. so, nothing personal. except it seems that it's decided to take it that way, suddenly.

anyone enjoying the other amenities of deck five will feel the distinct sensation of being watched while they do so. the kind of feeling a prey animal gets while being stalked on the grasslands. something may slither by their foot, or past their elbow while they rest it on the bar, but nothing appears to be there when they look.

until there is.

a black electrical cord originating from somewhere will, first, wrap around their ankle, tugging in a very clear "follow" instruction. should this instruction be ignored, a second cord will wrap around their other ankle, and, once again, tug. should this clear final warning be ignored... well, now they're being dragged down the promenade, and that's really their own fault, isn't it. don't struggle. struggling means more cords show up. and none of them seem terribly aware that most species need to expand their lungs to live.

their final destination, no matter the journey, is chatterbox's main stage, where the karaoke machine awaits. the cords place a microphone in their hand; the mic's cords bind it tightly to their hand.

they don't have to pick a song. there isn't an actual gun to their head, in any literal sense. it's just, those cords really don't seem that interested in letting go until they do.

and if you were heading to chatterbox anyway? welcome to the weirdest goddamn karaoke night you've ever seen.]

3. and a bucket of ice (cw: cannibalism mention)

[no longer will scoops be bound by the shackles of only having 31 flavors. for this month, and this month only, a sign that very much looks like Friday hand-wrote it announces, they will have 32!

what is that mysterious 32nd flavor? it depends, really: the letters on the display case seem to shift and change with each new pair of eyes that fall upon them, with the contents changing along with it. someone from the capital wasteland might find some Nuka-Cola ™ branded ice cream. twilight town residents will be thrilled to find sea salt on the menu. and a frankly concerning amount of people bring out a flavor that only describes itself as "long pig." it's a weird off-white color. don't think about it too hard.]

Comments

Gummy | Arknights

[gummyhabits]

i. you can't run but you keep on trying

( it's probably one of the worst orientations gummy's ever been part of, truth be told. if peterheim had had an orientation, maybe that would be the worst, but it didn't- unless being forcibly marched there counted too. as soon as the current group is free to go, gummy bolts- she doesn't let the lei stay on her neck for too long, not when she sees something else in the place of the little white stones, and simply hauls her vault door shield and frying pan as she races around, trying to find anyone familiar- )

Zima? Istina? Leto? ... Rosa...?

( she calls out as she races through the hallways, unhindered by the weight of everything- but there's no answer. eventually she pauses, chest heaving as she looks around wildly- )

Hey! Excuse me, sorry- have you seen any other Ursus around?

( ... honey, i don't know how to tell you this but- )

ii. talk about stage fright...

( at no point has gummy given up on finding someone, anyone she might know. she has no intention of relaxing, and- and she didn't wanna go on a vacation anyways! but at some point, someone is getting dragged by cables and that's. that's super weird? at best. and gummy is not someone who can sit back while others need help- so she gives chase, skidding to a stop in front of the karaoke bar and... wait. )

... I'm sorry, what?

( how many people are here by force? as another person is pulled up to the stage, microphone in hand by force, gummy just blinks. ... yeah, no, training did NOT cover lonely, sentient karaoke bars? )

iii. i scream, you scream, we all scream because our traumas keep getting shoved right into our face- (cannibalism cw.)

( no matter how panicked or scared you may be, you have to eat eventually. and gummy especially needs to eat, because- because bad things happen if she doesn't, and no one is here to help or understand so she has to be precise about taking care of herself. so eventually, she lets herself indulge.

the moment she sees the weird, white ice cream, she kind of regrets it.

it's not that anyone ever went that far back then, but. well. she knows exactly what long pig means. someone used it at one point, to try and sugarcoat what they had to do to survive.

gummy stares. her own cone isn't even that offending flavor, but she still feels kind of sick looking at it. she doesn't want to waste food- that feels like a cardinal sin these days- but her stomach churns at the thought. she manages to hold on to her ice cream cone, but with how she turns on her heel, dragging her shield behind even now, she wonders if it's worth it. she's so caught up in everything, that she doesn't even register that someone is trying to address her until there's a hand on her shoulder. )

H-huh? Oh- sorry! Ehe, what flavor did you get? It looks good.

( she says, not even looking at the ice cream at all. )

iv. wildcard!

( gummy is an operator for an independent pharmaceutical company and also a private military operation known as rhodes island. she's also a bear girl! come say hi, she's goin' through it right now. and while we're here, i'd like to make two things clear:

1. i am voice testing currently! i just started playing arknights recently and fell in love with the children of ursus storyline, but i'm not super far into the game proper. i don't mind spoilers, but i personally am not familiar with future chapters yet.

2. i am currently sick, and will be slow in responding at times. this is nothing against you at all, i promise! but when inspiration hits and the stars align, you gotta go for it dude. )

i.

[opheliac]

( spending all of her time watching new shipmates going through the drill can take a lot out of her! all the sitting and sitting....and more sitting. so jinx decided to take a break and fetch herself a quick snack and a drink. and on her way back to her previous spot, she sees a girl frantically glancing around just a few feet ahead of her.

at the question, jinx tilts her head to the side while bringing the apple to her lips. a huge CRUNCH as she bites, chewing then speaking with her mouth full: )

A what now?

realizing a major typo made an hour later like, sips water. i do not see it.

[gummyhabits]

An- An Ursus? Y'know, like- the bear people? From the empire? Have you...

( it quickly dawns on gummy that the woman before her is. not like any of the ancients she's seen, actually? and not in the normal way- there's no animal ears or tail, or scales, or anything.

was she not from terra? or was gummy not on terra anymore? faltering, she pauses. but no, she's got to keep trying. )

They'd be like me- with the bear ears, and... well, some of us have claws, and some of us look like bears but we're able to still do people things, 'cause it'd be silly if we couldn't- I'm looking for my friends, they'd be my age but Zima and Rosa are taller and Istina's got glasses?

if it makes you feel better, i didnt notice anything

[opheliac]

( she hums to herself as the girl explains herself -- half attentively listening. jinx shrugs a shoulder while taking a sip of her drink next. )

Nope! Never seen or heard of 'em. You can always ask No Face, she might know somethin'.

it does thank you,,, also i think my brother used to play jinx so seeing her just makes me happy <3

[gummyhabits]

( gummy deflates, as any 14-year-old who was just told in essence that her dearly beloved best friends and survival-mates aren't here might. but that also just... makes no sense. wasn't this terra? how could someone have not heard of the empire?

except the other girl wasn't terran at all, or if she was, it was suuuuper subtle- gummy frowns, especially at the thought of having to talk to the faceless lady again. )

She- um- is that real?

oooooh, hopefully i play her justice then!

[opheliac]

Uuuunnfortunately. And trust me, she's a real pain. Ya think you got privacy and she swoops in stickin' her nose where it doesn't belong.

( a pause. )

— And she doesn't HAVE a nose which makes it even more whack.

[gummyhabits]

( after a moment, gummy leans in a little- like the middle schooler she is. )

D'you think she was born like that?

[opheliac]

If she was, imagine her parents. Yeesh!

2

[elysiantern]

Yo, Gummy!

[ A familiar operator waves from the top of the karoke stage. No wires had to force the libiri man here, he does this because he loves it. It's dark in here, but Elysium would never miss that blonde hair and good cooking smell. The queen of Rhodes Islands cafeteria herself...young Miss Gummy! Well he won't have to worry about the food on this cruise ship.

How did they get on this ship....eh...probably The Captain fried his brain with her arts again. He'll ask the younger girl after this next song. ]

Come help me pick a song! I can't find Emperor or AUS on here...maybe a trendy kid like you will have better luck? Zima's always tells me I'm too mainstream for her, can you believe it?

koalas onto you

[gummyhabits]

( gummy stares blankly for a moment, trying to figure out what's going on- why is elysium here? when did that happen? why is he doing karaoke? is this a normal cruise that she forgot after all? except she'd never forget something like that and she doesn't think half the weapons she's seen others carrying are cruise-permitted actually?

her head hurts so much. but she practically toddles over, shield and frying pan in hand, and climbs onto the stage. um.... )

I- I can give it a look? ... And you are, she likes lots of underground stuff- ( but. hhhhhuh... she's pretty sure even zima wouldn't know any of this. ) ... Elysium, I've never heard of these songs before. What- what's Hollaback Girl?

[elysiantern]

[ When it doubt about your location, its always a good idea to do karaoke. Take that as a little advice from a long time operator. ]

And I'm sorry my travels have not yet introduced me to the wonders of Ursusian nu metal! Or anything on this playlist. [ He helps her up onto the stage with a hup! ]

Hollaback Girl... Not sure! If thats what you choose, I'll do my best. [ He presses the button with a shrug, gripping the microphone with a cheerful smile. He's about to give this song 100% with his (pretty average) singing voice. ]

[gummyhabits]

Well, alright. If you say so... I've never heard of these either, though. I didn't see anything from home at all... Wait, you're starting?!

( almost immediately, gummy scrambles back off the stage with a hop, like a good girl. ... also she is super not in the mood for karaoke and in fact refuses to do this, so like. ganbaaaa, elysium! she's cheering for you!

when she's not giggling at the lyrics, that is. what IS a hollaback girl? she still doesn't know but the song is fun at least. )

1 reaches for gummy....

[mooninthewater]

[ Mizuki isn't actually sure how long it's been since he's been here. That might have been a problem- should he have been keeping track? It's been over a month, for sure, and he had gotten so used to the idea that he might be the only Terran on this cruise. But to hear a vaguely familiar voice, followed by "Ursus"...

How exciting. ]

Ah- Gummy? [ He vaguely recalls this operator around. If just because she's cooks, and that's a particular passion of Mizuki's own. She wonders if she recognizes him? Certainly, she's a bit too frantic right now for him to really worry about it now, of course... Hoo boy, he has a lot of things to fill her in on here. Where does he even begin? ] … Ehehe. So, funny story, [ It's not funny. ] we might not be on Terra anymore. And by "might", I mean definitely.

reaches for mizuki!!!!

[gummyhabits]

Oh- um. Mizuki, right?

( even if it's not who she's looking for, there's a certain relief that comes with a familiar face. she tries to be friendly with everyone, learn their likes and dislikes, accommodate- mizuki was no different.

but that relief immediately falls because of his next words. immediately, her shoulders fall and she almost lets her frying pan and shield slip from her fingers, voice shaky when she speaks. maybe if she wasn't so panicked her reaction wouldn't be so severe- but then, that's not a maybe that will come to pass, so perhaps it's not worth dwelling on. )

What do you mean, not on Terra anymore- that- that doesn't even make sense?!

[mooninthewater]

[ There's a brief nod at his name, and a relief that he might be some kind of comfort. Even if just a little. Though, he should probably take this a little more seriously, and it's unclear if he's just trying to stay positive for her sake or just... like this. It's probably the latter. ]

Weird, right? [ Another laugh, like he's just told a funny story and not a devastating realization. ] I wish I could tell you in such a way that it does make sense, but... none of us have really figured it out. Oh, but there's some kind people here, too, from other worlds. And they're all working very hard on trying to find out how to get all of us back to our respective homes.

[gummyhabits]

( why is he laughing? it's not funny. it's- it's not. it's horrible and awful and for the first time in what feels like forever she doesn't have her pillars and they don't have her and- why is he laughing? they're trapped here and there's no way out.

what if whoever is in charge takes away the food? or something else- what if- she can't do this again. almost hesitantly, completely unaware, gummy takes a step back shaking her head- )

I don't understand... how could this happen?

[mooninthewater]

Hmm... Mostly, there exists evil people, even beyond those we know in Terra. Evil people who want nothing more than to snuff out the good from even other worlds. I don't understand their minds well enough to tell you why, but, especially in this instance, sometimes those bad people have a lot of power. Power like this.

[ He gestures around to the ship, though he clearly means just being in a new place altogether. Though, he does stop to glance at her, noticing the way she's moving back. Maybe he's not instilling the hope that he thinks he is. And that's not fair. She's too young to lose hope over something like this. ]

But, like I said, there's a lot of very kind people here, Gummy. [ He holds his hand out. ] And I'll make sure to stick by you, too, okay? We'll go home together, somehow, I'll make sure of it.

[gummyhabits]

( he makes it sound so simple. like a fairy tale, almost. there must be more to it... but then, with reunion... ...

gummy takes his hand, nodding. it's a silent promise: i will protect you, and we will go home. but when they're both the protectorate here, maybe that might be a little difficult? well... at least she's got her shield. but gummy is perhaps first and foremost a child. one who has once again been cut off from her family. and mizuki is here, offering to be there for her.

she'd be an idiot not to take it. even if it puts them both in a difficult situation- he doesn't know her habits, after all. )

Don't go off ahead, okay? I've got to shield you, too.

[mooninthewater]

[ Mizuki squeezes her hand comfortingly, giving it a pat with his other. He's never been very good at verbal comfort... but this? This he can do. ]

Ehehe, do I seem like the type to go charging head first into danger? [ Maybe not physically, but it's not too far off from his attitude in general. She doesn't need to know that. ] We'll just stay together then. Side-by-side. How's that sound~?

I.

[selenokinesis]

[Completely ignoring the question, because the answer is no and he doesn't feel like answering it—]

My, that's quite the set of arms.

[A frying pan and a door, huh. How interesting — he can only wonder if she's arrived with them much like others have arrived with weaponry, or if she ripped that door off its hinges and there's now a perfectly-open vault somewhere...

Okay, now he'll answer the question.]

I haven't seen anyone who looks like you around, no.

kill bill sirens (affectionate)

[gummyhabits]

Huh? Oh, this is nothing, you should see Rosa's siege harpoon...

( ...

and immediately she deflates again. she should have known... with jinx saying no earlier, and mizuki saying what he did... she expected it at this point. it doesn't sting any less, though. the confirmation of being alone here... or, the only member of the ursus student self-governing group here burns no matter how many times she hears it. )

I... I thought as much. I'm sorry to bother you, sir.

[selenokinesis]

[Yeah, but like, a siege harpoon is normal compared to a fucking door and a frying pan?]

It isn't a bother. Are they your friends? Is that why you're searching?

[gummyhabits]

( she ripped it off a ship, we're pretty sure.

gummy nods, trying not to pout a little. )

Yes, my best friends. We're from the same town and work together, even. It's- it's been a really long time since I've been apart from them... I hope they're okay...

[selenokinesis]

Well, if it's any consolation... as long as they aren't here, I'm sure they're quite alright.

["Here" is safe, so far, but... well. The Jenny situation might have gotten some people hurt, not that Ebalon was really paying attention. Besides that, the risk of drowning is pretty great when you're in the middle of the entire ocean.]

[gummyhabits]

... I dunno. Maybe.

( like. this place undoubtedly sucks just in sheer regard of the whole interdimensional kidnapping thing. but also. terra's pretty awful in it's own right too... )

Um- What's this place like, then? I don't really know much...