[muffled spooky scary skeletons playing in the distance]

[geonomy]

Who: You! Me! Everybody!
Broadcast: idk but we've sure got a pretty broad cast of folks eh, eh
Action: HECK YEAH PLANET MINGLE
When: 10/7 until plot update or recaptcha

It's a deep, deep forest filled to the brim with fungi, mysterious life forms, and pitch black darkness. Explore if you dare and discover all these things and more! Just don't get lost...

Comments

Exploration

[stretchy_girl]

[It's been a good several hours since her shuttle landed, and Gemini's spent that time flying over the forest as a bird. There really hasn't been that much to see from above the forest cover gets so thick, just trees, trees, and more trees. Until she spots a shuttle parked in a clearing. Perhaps she can play a little with the crew of another ship, they might not laugh but Gemini certainly would.

She doesn't spot anyone at first, but after circling for awhile spots Natasha through the branches and swoops down to land a few hundred metres behind her. The movement of branches is the first clue that something now far bigger than a bird is moving through the undergrowth, keeping out of sight but circling ever nearer.]

Re: Exploration

[outstandingbalance]

[Movement in the branches isn't new. Since Natasha touched down, it's been a feature of this world. She's yet to spot much living other than birds and oversized mice, but it's clear those aren't the only things in the canopy. Natasha notes when something seems out of place, sounds out of the general quiet rhythm of the forest, but at least at this point there's no cause for more than that.

Natasha continues her investigation of the surrounding area methodically, getting the lay of the land.]

Re: Exploration

[stretchy_girl]

[This is most definitely not an oversized mouse, unless on this world they're more akin to alien space monsters. There a monstrous hiss and Gemini slithers out of the shadows, black scaly armour glinting in the light, massive clawed hands flexing.

Boo!]

[outstandingbalance]

[The reaction is immediate; Natasha came prepared, and while Gemini might—if she knew who she was facing—have opportunity to take pride in the fact she was able to take her by surprise, the immediate reaction in the face of shock is to raise the assault rifle slung across her back and take a bead on the monster.

Her finger twitches at the trigger, but doesn't quite pull. The thing hasn't attacked yet, the only thing that keeps her from firing.]

[stretchy_girl]

[That lack of fear is really disappointing. Gemini had hoped for a scream and at least some terrified flight, but all she gets is a weapon levelled in her face. It won't kill her, but Gemini knows from experience that high-energy plasma stings like hell. She's more cautious now, but not yet ready to abandon her act.

So she slithers closer, a maw full of razor sharp teeth opening to give a mighty chest shaking roar. Maybe that'll get the woman running?]

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha opens her stance, shifting back on one foot. it's not that she's not afraid, exactly, but she tamps down on the fear. Clarity sinks in. She doe consider making a retreat, but running might turn her into prey and she has no reason to believe she'd outrun the alien.

Instead she lowers the tip of her weapon briefly, firing a warning shot at the ground in front of it in a clear sign not to come closer.

The muzzle comes back up almost instantly, ready to fire again if the thing takes that for a challenge.]

[stretchy_girl]

[The blast from the weapon draws an angry hiss and stops Gemini in her tracks. She'd been hoping to trigger a flight response but instead she's got fight and with the Augment holding her back a fight just wouldn't be the same.

Instead she slithers to one side, tail flicking thoughtfully and after a moment her own clear feminine voice emanates from the beast's maw.]

You're not easily scared are you?

[outstandingbalance]

[Hearing the voice changes things. If it—she—speaks like that, then she can be reasoned with. Potentially, at least.

It also heavily implies the point to start with was to scare here.

Natasha snorts, her answer dry.]

No.

[stretchy_girl]

[The creature's form shifts fluidly, shrinking down into Gemini's human form, black haired and looking distinctly irritated.]

How very boring of you.

[She observes, sidestepping Natasha and walking right past her, seemingly unworried by that rifle pointed at her.]

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha lowers the gun's muzzle though there's the distinct feeling in her posture that it could come back up at any moment.]

If that's the kind of entertainment you were hoping for, I would be.

[stretchy_girl]

The augment would have stopped me from harming you anyway.

[She shrugs, a certain viciousness in the twist of her lips.]

Lucky for you.

[outstandingbalance]

I'll be counting my blessings.

[The response is dry, the edge sharp but the delivery almost indifferent to the girl's threat.

Obviously she has talents well beyond what Natasha does, but if this is all angry bluster, Natasha has better uses for her energy.]

[stretchy_girl]

[That dry response only heightens Gemini's anger, and in reply she shifts, skin and clothing smoothly reshaping until an exact double of Natasha stares coldly back at her before speaking in the Russian's own voice.]

I wouldn't.

[outstandingbalance]

[Oh, this is fun. Natasha wonders what she did to bring this on herself today and can only conclude, in the end, it's probably just bad luck.]

You should have started with that one. Once I've already seen the trick... loses a little of its impact.

[stretchy_girl]

[Gemini mirrors Natasha's expression although her eyes if anything are even colder.]

Maybe next time I will. You seem like someone used to keeping secrets, I wonder if your friends would know the difference...

[outstandingbalance]

[Very talented. Natasha's mouth tightens slightly, but her response is dry.

Natasha's friends can mostly take care of themselves.]

Do you. Guess that depends on how well you think you know my friends?

[stretchy_girl]

I'm a good study.

[A smile plays at the corner of her stolen mouth. If she can't scare Natasha she can at least make her paranoid.]

You're right though, being you will be much more effective and entertaining too.

[outstandingbalance]

[Joke's on Gemini; Natasha is always paranoid. And she's very good at not letting things get under her skin.

Not in any way that's visible, at least.]

You think being me is entertaining?

[Dryly, bordering on deadpan.]

Not the word I'd use.

[stretchy_girl]

Maybe not for you, but for me...maybe I'll liven up your life a little.

[She winks suggestively before turning to walk off, still in Natasha's shape.]

I'll be around, you won't notice me, but I'll be there.

[Maybe not immediately, but at some point Gemini will follow up on her threat.]