Waystation Mingle Log!

[twocomplex]

Who: GAME-WIDE MINGLE aka everyone
Broadcast: If you want
Action: The Stations!
When: From 04/05 through the month of April.

[Well, that all sure happened. But at least you have the waystations! Whether you want to stock up on supplies, work, trade, or visit the very fancy Virtual Reality Dome, it's bound to be a nice break from the attacks of the 5th.

Make your own prompts, set up your own Virtual Realities, etc! For reference, the OOC post with info is over here!]

Comments

vr, starstruck/waystation

[noctiphile]

tron Virtual Reality

[The first image he pulls up is a library, broad and towering, with dark walnut walls stretching three floors. Beyond the tightly packed walls of books, stories lie everywhere, embedded in carvings that cover every surface. They spiral around columns, march across friezes, dance around windows and doors, a mix of forgotten and remembered heroes guarding the tomes within. Thick tables rest in a spiral around an octagonal section of glass, inlaid with silver waves and peering down into a crashing river below. It mirrors the glass dome above, certain panels cut into shapes that form a variety of local birds, the most prominent being the peacock at the apex, its tail wrapped underfoot in a clumsy tango. The windows are positioned with the sun, ensuring the room is always lit in a heavenly light at all hours of the day.

Then, when he’s had enough, the image shifts. Turns to a massive stone bridge, stuffed full with buildings. He brings the image to a plaza, covered in mosaics depicting waves and water, cypress forests and silver snakes. Music plays against the sound of crashing waterfalls, visible in the distance as they pour out of the flattened mountainside. Indeed, the city looks as if carved from the mountain itself. Funny how that happens.

He continues to flit through locations. A flat stretch of desert, covered in glass sand roses. A curved canyon that cuts from the earth like a rib cage. A cave filled with luminescent mushrooms and labyrinthine bridges, twisting and curling on each other. So on and so on, exploring the full expanse of his world, seemingly oblivious to anything else.]

Waystation/Starstruck

[Yeah, so the Starstruck is trashed. It’s stopped smoking but it still looks like scattered puzzle than a working ship. And even if he can’t really do anything about it, it’s kind of a hard thing to just walk away from. So he picks up the small tasks. The simple things. A broken panel here, a hanging conduit there.

The entire comm station. No idea what he’s doing with that, but if it’s station, he might as well fix it. A loyalty thing. Or something. It gives him something to do, at least. Keeps his hands busy and stops him from thinking about how the majority of his carefully written notes burned in the crash.

Still, that doesn’t mean he isn’t constantly making a mess of things. There’s a lot of sparks coming from his station that he seems otherwise oblivious to, his fingers burned from the close proximity. Like the burnt arm he still hasn’t fixed, he doesn’t seem to mind. What does annoy him is how the damn wires aren’t connecting right.]

It’s green to blue, isn’t it? I could have sworn…

VR

[twocomplex]

[As Mattias is lost in thought, Oren lets himself get lost in the music. Quietly, he steps after Mattias' back in a one-two rhythm, steady at first until he widens his steps, gaining on him and his leisurely pace. It's a dance of his own, and of course when he reaches the finale, the light touch of Mattias' shoulder as he takes a few steps to the side and turns with him, pulling him into a small turn as his free hand reaches to take one of Mattias'.]

Dance with me.

[A callback. One spoken smoothly with a grin. The hand at his shoulder brushes away and presses lightly over his own heart, instead, as he continues.]

Or will you wound me with rejection?

[If they were going to reminisce, why not go all out?]

in this thread: self indulgent garbage

[invigorates]

VIRTUAL REALITY DOME

[ should anyone wander into the smaller, private room lioriley has taken residence in, they will find themselves in a city cloaked by night. the buildings are tall, all stone and wood and they seem to be glowing, faintly, as mostly everything in the city does. the single road in which this particular scenario takes place is lined with only a few torches along the side of the snowy path, flickering faintly as they lead the way to a bigger, open plaza.

lioriley has decided to leave out the unnecessary npcs, and it's all but silent until one draws close enough to the aforementioned plaza. the first thing anyone will see there are the four massive statues in the middle of it: the most striking being the one in the direct center - the only one that seems to have been painted. it's of lioriley - her features etched into stone as she stands, proudly with her comrades surrounding her.

but the others are not so bright. they have gone unpainted, purposefully, it seems. the one to her right is a male dark elf clad in armor; tall and regal looking, kneeling as if vowing allegiance to lioriley's statue. and to her left, in nearly the same exact pose, is a woman - human, by the looks of it, with long curly hair and a look of determination in her stone eyes.

and finally, behind the statue of lioriley, is a dragon - massive, wings spread wide to cast a shadow over the other three; his mouth open as if spewing fire from his throat. it's quite a sight to behold, really. ]

It is too bad I could not see you all properly. [ it seems the owner of this reality is actually here, speaking to the statues around her own (which she is all but ignoring at the moment) as if they are actually going to respond. ] Ah - but that would be too hopeful, would it not? I suppose I should be grateful I can even see you like this. [ she reaches out toward one of them - the woman, and taps her finger against one of her stone curls. it doesn't feel like it should. how disappointing. ]

WAYSTATION / EVERYTHING ELSE

[ and if you don't want to walk in on her weird interactions with statues, she will be around and about the waystation, offering assistance to anyone that might need it.

and since beverly gave her the go ahead to help out with healing on the Blue Fish, I assume she'll be there quite a bit as well! make up your own scenarios too dawg I'm flexible. ]

[noctiphile]

[He trespasses on accident and stays with purpose, enchanted by the endless night once described to him. It's easy to pin the memory, if not by description then by Lior herself, standing but a few feet away. He lags behind her, keeping a respectful silence between them. Letting her pay tribute. He's seen enough death to know the signs of mourning.

It's only when he thinks she's finished that he steps forward, clearing his throat in warning.]

Lioriley, I don't mean to intrude but I was enamored by the sights. Is this your city?

[He won't ask about the statues. Not yet, at least, though the temptation's strong.]

idk what you're talking about, this was definitely always here ...and there, and everywhere

[forcemageure]

i. text + vrd } closed to anders
[ This glorious day in space, Anders will be treated to the following message, carefully crafted to convey the utmost respect and courtesy, certainly with no intention of immediately nailing the cheapest joke it can find. ]

Swirling rumors say you've assumed a new position! If I'm wrong you never heard this from me, but I'm fairly certain at least three sorts of interstellar protocol dictate I buy you a drink. Unfortunately the same protocol strictly stipulates this be a drink that wouldn't actually get you drunk, in a fairly subpar tavern stuck in the sleepiest village in all of Thedas, where no real money will change hands.

You're intrigued, I can tell.

ii. text + vrd } closed to varric

[ At some time that is definitely after that one we just talked about up there, the one that was never, ever not on this mingle, Hawke has decided he may as well just go and ruin Varric's day already. Try making him less cavalier about this, please! You may need a sharp stick. ]

About that ghastly big bubble squatting in the middle of everything.

[ That's ...it, that's the entire message. Obscure for most people, maybe, but of the fragments of their little band that's gathered here, Hawke can't imagine Fenris wanting to see Kirkwall again, and Anders has less than no reason to see it in the first place. It's just him and Varric, their coinciding idea of home (whether you're born there or you adopt it). The city itself would far outstrip the dome's limitations, but the interior of the Hanged Man seems manageable enough, with details accrued between the two of them. Even if the terrible ale would be even more terrible than usual. Even if it might be an awful idea, that single line says he believes it's an idea Varric is having too. ]

iii. vr } beverly + hawke + sokka

[ The problem with 50% of the crew possessing very little familiarity with devices that shoot holes in other ones, is that all the suggestive posture demonstrations in the world* don't teach a person what happens when they actually fire once of said devices. Having absolutely no idea what a laser pistol shooting range should actually look like, Hawke had consulted the bones the available resources and created, with the helpful assistance of various ...pokey button things, a room that does indeed look like indoor target practice might look in Blade Runner. Only even shadier.

He's recreated Timmy the Undead Horror just for the sake of familiarity and everything, knife gouges and all. ]
* Sokka did not have any of these

iv. errywhere else } hawke + YOU

[ Does what it says on the tin. Save Hawke from deeply boring shopping! Gather your party and go forth, on a hired muscle adventure! Introduce him to the grand delights of your virtual whatevers!

Well. Maybe not your whatevers. The VRD is a family friendly environment, and frankly narrative feels nothing but shame in even looking at you. ]

2

[merchantprince]

[He'd be lying if he wasn't thinking about it. Having missed the hubbub on Mor, or Dirkwall, or whatever the fuck that whole thing was about, Varric is itching to stretch his legs without having to deal with the people on the Waystation. Ironically, he's actually elbow-deep in business considering his more... unsavory skills. But he needs a break.

He wants to catch up with his bro, and that's when he gets a text.]

Perfect timing. Be there in an hour. I would be there instantaneously but I'm in the middle of something.

[As promised, though, he's there in the allotted time. Dressed about the same as usual-- red shirt (recently mended), leather duster (also recently mended), a red bandana about his neck and a very sad gap where Bianca ought to be. (He's still got a gun and a few knives holstered somewhere, though. Just in case.)

He gets sidetracked by the console though, giving Hawke a chance to approach him first.]

VR Dome (aka Warden Commander OPEN OFFICE HOURS! :D)

[howcanihelp]

[ Steffa has procured one of the "private" rooms for her own use, however uninteresting that use may be.

The room she's created will be vaguely familiar to anyone from Thedas, just based on the fact that some things are near universal, and intimately familiar to Anders, who probably will want nothing to do with it. Stone walls and floors, lined with simple beds and chests, some carpets and wall hangings softening the echos and helping keep in the warmth, the light coming from oil lamps, a fireplace, and a few scattered candles. A couple of mirrors and washbasins are against one wall, and curtained-off rooms that probably are used for bathing. Each of the beds and chests have some sign of use and personalization - a bauble here, a scarf or book there, some beds made neatly, some rumpled. The faint sound of people speaking in the hallway and something being sung can be heard, but mostly what you can hear is the crackling of the fire and the turning of pages from one bed.

Steffa is laying on her stomach on one of the beds, a candle on the little nightstand next to her, reading a book she's brought from the Bishop's library.

Looks like someone was a wee bit homesick. ]

[ladiesss]

Steffa...?

[when did she start calling her that? must have picked it up from Hiro. a familiar face pokes her head into the private room, looking around at all of the... well, she'd ironically describe it as a level in a video game she played once.]

Wow, medieval... Pretty cool...

VRD - more self indulgence tbh (OTA)

[twocomplex]

[A place to create, to imagine, to remember. Of course Oren would be carried here. Whether by some sick sort of masochism or simple boredom, it's where he goes immediately after the ship is set to be worked on. His own presence would only clutter things, get in the way, and so he flees here.

As he steps across the room, his own imagined reality takes place of the one from before him. A river carved into the earth draws out before him, painting the scenery with the sounds of water, leaves, and the soft crunch of dirt beneath his shoes. By the time he stops, his section of the dome has been completely filled in.

He bends over to pick up a small pebble, thumb smoothing over the surface. It's nothing near the real thing. It tingles oddly, he can't really apply pressure, and the consistency is all wrong. Still, he carries it, glancing to the empty space beside him. Bitterly, he thinks this must be no different. A reenactment, if you will. There's nothing here beside him, and yet he remembers the hope he'd felt. It may be the worst memory he has. Standing by the river as his mother explained death, spreading the ashes of his grandmother together as his chest filled with this stupid idea that something, somehow, someday--

Would ever be different.

He scowls, winding his arm back and stepping forward in one harsh movement to chuck the pebble into the river. It wasn't an attempt at skipping it. It sinks straight to the bottom, and as his hand lowers, the scenery changes again.

This time, it's the upper city. He's at the top of the bridge, now, pulling back from the edge to glance down over it. He's so certain it must actually be floor there that he doesn't try to dangle his legs as he'd used to, but the view is just the same. Bridge after bridge in the expanse of city below.

He takes in a slow breath to calm himself, stepping back further from the edge to turn and face one of the nearby food stalls instead. He's considering it.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

This is nice.

[his approach was not entirely unnoticeable; his shoes are the kind with heels that click when he walks, and he's got an energy that certain parties might take notice of, but he's still got a weird way of suddenly appearing when it didn't seem like anyone was really around before.

can Oren recognize him from his voice alone? Robin is tall, pale, dressed in dark clothes. very nice clothes, even if they aren't fancy. his leather gloves are well-made and fitted. he ambles closer, glancing down over the edge of the bridge at the expansive view.]

What a lovely city...

[theboogieman]

VRD - FIGHTING SIMULATOR, VAMPIRE EDITION

[so Zhas had thought that the whole VRD idea was stupid... until he realized he could create fake monsters to punch in the face. horrible things with tapeta lucida glinting in the dim light of a dark city street. long fangs, human faces. claws, more often than not. anyone who's spent any time on Earth would probably pin them as vampires.

he goes at it with, perhaps, more aggression than necessary. running, jumping, brawling, stabbing vampires with whatever virtual weapons he's allowed himself this time around. he's pretty good at it, though. they can barely get a virtual scratch on him, despite his continually speeding up the process. you can catch him in the middle of it, or while he's taking a break between rounds, trying to decide what to do next... either way, he's in full face paint, as usual. this is work, not play.]

VRD - OCEAN DREAMSCAPE

[much later in the month, in one of the side rooms, someone's built a... beach? the sky is overcast, dark, almost featureless. the ocean itself cuts so flat and straight across the horizon that you could forget it was an ocean at all--save for the slow lapping of waves against the shore. there are no birds here, not many stones or shells to break up the fine sand. just... an eerie, dark, endless ocean.

well, Zhas is there. he kind of sticks out against all that flat ground, in his black coat and painted face. he's crouched just where the waves turn and retreat, his boots already sunk a little into the wet sand. and he's just... staring, off into that horizon. thinking, maybe.

but hey, he didn't lock the door or anything. the room is open to anyone who wants to go inside.]

STATIONS - RED FISH & ELSEWHERE

[his ship is busted and it fucking suuuuucks. he can't help with ship repairs much, but he can barter for parts and take on jobs as hired muscle for money. gonna help him with a job? looking to talk to him? this broody skullface is around somewhere, even if he seems busy.]

ocean

[hellofist]

[Cass has never seen this before, but Zhas is a familiar and oddly comforting sight in something so unknown to her so she makes her way to him slowly while she looks around. The place makes her think of magic, somehow, like it was conjured by a wizard instead of built by a machine. How else could it get that eerie feeling down so well?]

Can you feel that?

[She isn't out to surprise him, but when she speaks she isn't considering the fact that she gave him no warning before approaching. She just wants to know if the water feels real.]

ss bishop/waystation; THIS IS A WAYSTATION MINGLE BUT I DO WHAT I WANT

[arcanepower]

[Bishop;]

[Belthazar is relatively healed up from his concussion, but the aftereffects are sure to linger for a little while. He needs to be resting-- and he does, for a while-- but he is a child full of MUCH ENERGY and so he ends up... in the kitchen when he's not in the sick bay. He's stressed out and anxious and that means stress cooking.

He's making some kind of meat stew and dumplings, and it smells fucking delicious.]

[Waystation/VRD;]

[All right, there's only so much bed rest he can take. Somehow he manages to sneak out to the VRD. What he conjures is a vision of Silvermoon, or at least the main square, only this time it's not populated by douchebags. It's populated mostly by golden park benches and floating flowerpots and self-sweeping brooms.

Belth sticks out, a dark blot in his black and gold robes. He rests just beneath a windowsill. A book on another world's magic is sprawled in his lap. Upon closer inspection, the gentle autumn breeze has lured him to sleep.]

BISHOP ..... I HOPE THIS IS OK .....

[ino]

[ She'll be stopping by when he happens to be in the sick bay, knocking on the door frame before entering with a smile ]

Docking ports

[alwayscomeback]

[Sokka is, in fact, not doing a lot of waystation visiting right now. He's mostly working on fixing up the busted up scanning systems of the Blue Fish.

When he's sure the Blue Fish is in top shape, he'll be visiting other ships docked at the station. ]

Hey, need an extra engineer?

[Sleep? What is sleep? ]

Docking ports - outside the Red Fish?

[blindoptimism]

[Hey Sokka hey Sokka? guess which ship is a giant hunk of junk that is looking reeeeeeally bad? Yep, the good old Red Fish. And if he comes to call on it, Nunnally will definitely give him a weary looking smile and head his way]

Hello, Sokka. [the question is a sweet one, but she sees those bags under his eyes. Soooo she'll just avoid answering it at first and instead ask]

How did the Blue Fish fare in the attack?

Waystation

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley feels a new lease of life, after resigning as captain. It's not like he held any sense of responsibility for the Pathstone before, but now he absolutely doesn't. If the attackers come back, it won;t be his problem. He can just stay here, and get drunk. It'll be marvellous.

He can be found lounging around outside one of the bars on the waystation, doing something with his communicator.]

[Private comms to Aziraphale]

Angel. Meet me at the dome. Right now.

comm // action

[principality]

[There's no argument, just a smile and a]

Yes, dear.

[And he shows up there a few minutes later, loitering around outside and waiting for Crowley to collect him.]

waystations/EVERY SHIP THAT HAS ASKED FOR HELP and also the bishop

[everydayhero]

[hi there fleet, this is hiro hamada speaking, and over the next couple of weeks, he will be visiting the majority of ships and busting his ass on them. if you happen to notice that more often than not he has a "FEED ME" sign taped to his back, you should probably not mention it and just... give him an apple or a sandwich or something.

[hamada brothers are innovative when it comes to taking care of each other.

[he'll be helping out the huntress first, as soon as he has the bishop running again, but everyone who asked hiro for help is getting hit up, too.]

bishop;

[merchantprince]

[Varric comes by first, actually. He has a pretty good sense of timing, at least when money's concerned. He gets off the shuttle and edges a crate of... stuff... onto the floor, as gently as he can manage.

Which is not very. Shit's noisy.]

Is there a Hiro Hamada around?

[ino]

VRD, locked to hamadas;

[ At some point or another, these boys have to take a break, and she's happy enough to provide the entertainment.

She's stepping into the dome, company behind her, before she turns to look with a smile ]

Ready?

waystation;

[ She'll mostly be doing a lot of jobs to afford what her ship -- and everyone else's -- needs to fly again. It's a lot of part names she doesn't really understand or remember that well, but she's been doing a fairly good job of batting her eyelashes at the right people to get what she needs for cheap. Feel free to help her, deter her ... etc.!

She'll also be stopping by the ships to check up on anyone who might have noted they were injured somewhere. Let Nurse Ino heal you up, if nobody's already taken care of your bumps and bruises! ]

[ishere]

[ this is the first tadashi has approached the VRD - he's openly curious, both at what she's going to call up and how this technology works at all. ]

Ready as we're gonna get, I think.

VRD, open to anyone

[dancingmd]

[You'll find Beverly on the bridge of the Enterprise. The holographic one that is. She's even wearing her Starfleet uniform, which until now, has been stowed carefully away out of sight. It's the only thing she has from home and she doesn't want anything to happen to it. Today, though, it feels wrong to be standing on the bridge wearing anything else.

Running her fingers lightly over non-functional consoles as she wanders, she is beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea. She stops short in front of the entrance to the Captain's Ready Room and rests her palm against the door. There's no reason she can't recreate what's behind that door, but that would be too painful. To walk in there, without Jean-Luc sitting behind his desk, looking up with a smile when she enters... no.

She turns away. With a defeated sigh, she sinks into the Captain's chair.]

Computer...

[This computer chirrups in response, not entirely unlike the Enterprise's computer. Locate Captain Picard, she thinks, uselessly. Instead, she says nothing and leans forward, covering her face with her hands. This is all so wrong.]

[Someone come cheer Space Mom up!]

[ino]

[ So, she doesn't really get what this VRD thing does just yet. She's just peeking in to see what the hell it even is.

... This looks kind of like their ships?? Except different and less shitty?

And ... is that Beverly? She squints ... ]

Dr. Crusher ... ?

vrd, golden/waystation shenanigans

[recopy]

VR
[It's more on half a whim, really, a small chunk of time taken out between wandering the waystation, puttering around in the Golden, and helping out others with less intact ships--as close and highly visible as the dome is, it's difficult to resist taking over a shuttle at least once. And so Megaman does, at some point into their impromptu visit. An almost limitless number of scenes to pick and choose from...honestly, it sounds like a feasible park attraction from somewhere back on his own world. But it's the home setting options that snag his attention the most, the longer he prods at the database. And, after some consideration...

ACDC Area 1 has gone through many a site update since he first set foot in it himself, and from his working memory Megaman pulls up one of its earlier iterations. The Internet is a causeway at the end of the day, no matter where you are in it, bright paths suspended in an expanse of virtual space--here, glassy square tiles of blue and green, offset with the occasional yellow and pink. The off-chance tastefully-placed rows of faux pine trees are comprised entirely of green light, some designer's idea of a more 'organic' touch to the area. And the virtual space fortunately isn't that shade of eye-bending orange, but a dim void intersected with the grid-like lights of countless other neighboring networks off in the distance. Probably still a bit disgustingly bright on the whole for the unfamiliar, though...and everything is constantly moving and glowing to some degree, from the patterns in the tiles to the grid lines on the horizon. Try not to look too hard over the edge of the path...

Stepping away from the console, Megaman paces a little ways into the hologram as it gradually builds into existence around him, drab grey melting away in favor of electric-bright color, boots touching onto tile instead of floor. It's--almost disconcertingly accurate, actually. Unexpectedly, an odd and not entirely happy feeling settles somewhere in his chest...but he valiantly tries ignore it. Remarking to nobody in particular:]

...Wow, this is pretty spot-on! Not bad at all...they must have put some pretty crazy technology into this place....

GENERAL SHENANIGANS
[When he's not having lame feelings in the VR Dome, though, Megaman spends his time trying to keep himself as busy as he can. Call it habit, but sitting around not doing anything will probably never not feel weird--and besides, there's plenty of things to get distracted by. Sometimes he's on the Golden touching up on the last few mildly damaged bits of the ship; other times he's making a...valiant attempt at shopping, though honestly it's more like rather clueless prodding around when it comes to the conventional things like foodstuffs and clothing. Why's he even picking up that hat, would it even fit on top of his helmet? Why is he contemplating that package of chips so intensely?

And other times--most of the time, really--he's trying his best to help other less fortunate ships, putting that engineering augment to good use. Maybe he's offering to help chip in for that part you're having a hard time bartering off another alien waystationer, or maybe he's working with you on an odd job or errand or two. Either way, feel more than free to harass him.]

[hairkink]

[ koujaku finds this particular room purely by accident - having wandered in from the outside in investigate this so-called 'virtual reality dome.' of course the first thing he sees is something almost akin to rhyme, a game he loathes for such petty, unfathomable reasons back home. he's accosted by bright streaks of electric light, glowing floor tiles and fake trees and he nearly recoils, arm raised to shield his eyes until they grow more accustomed to the intensity of the light around him.

he has absolutely no idea what rhyme actually looks like; has only seen the fights from the outside, but if he had to guess... this looks about right. he's surprised he can't hear usui's voice in the background.

what he does hear though, is the room's owner speaking - not to him, obviously, but koujaku replies all the same. ]

Is this supposed to be something from your world?

VRD; Open to All? This is self-indulgent trash.

[serpentis]

[Dorian knew where he wanted to go, he always did, and a moment's respite led him to wander down to where the virtual reality dome was said to be. He was, after all, a curious man.

He can't keep something from pulling at his heart when he steps inside, though, and he's overcome by dark streets, public roads, paved with wide, flat stones and bordered on each side with paved paths for pedestrians.

It's the main viae publicae, and though it is empty, he can hear the sea and the smell of the water. The harbor was further down the road, but he can hear the water breaking against the docks, even distantly.

Dorian looks up, the stars overhead the same as he remembers- constellations positioned just slightly differently than further south. As a boy, he'd taken a slight interest in them, though he only knew a handful, anymore. Somewhere, he knew he could remember them if he tried.

Overhead hangs the stars of Fenrir, a constelltion out of place among the rest, but he scoffs slightly. How very fitting, he thinks, and looks back down the survey the road.

There's a low, thin fog drifting over the stones of the road, and the buildings on either side are large and loom over him. On either side are streetlamps that flicker to life with a thought- it's a trick, he remembers. The streetlamps only light up when a mage conjures fire in them. A small trick to show the Soporati and Servus who were in power, and who deserved even small things like light.

It was Tevinter, as a whole.

Dorian stands there, robes wrapped around him- green and ivory- and he takes a few steps. The ground underneath is solid, and he chokes down a half a sob. Stepping to the side, he settles down and sits on the side of the street, face in his hands as he finally lets himself cry.

The last time he had seen these streets, he had cried then, too. Running away in the dead of night, so much anger welling in him, he had paid his way to join a caravan and catch a boat in Carastes to Minrathos.

But Quarinus...he has not seen Quarinus in some time, nearly years. These streets were once all the knew- the cobblestone streets as familiar as the lines in his hands.

He wipes at his face, sitting on the side of the street, nearly an undignified mess of robes, and he looks back up at the sky. He sits, arms between his legs, boots against the cobblestones as he sits on the side of the road, on the walkway near a lit lantern.

And he smiles.

For the first time in years, the pariah is finally home, if only for a moment.]

self-indulgent trash that I LOVE

[ino]

[ She's wandering on in, and glancing around curiously ... Is it just her, or does this place seem pretty gloomy ... ?

Except, wait a second, isn't that -- ]

Dorian?

VRD & Waystations; open to all!

[save_the_souls]

[A. Virtual Reality Dome, open to all!]

[Honestly, Allen thinks it's hella stupid that this VRD doesn't offer food. What's the point in exploring new wonderful places if you can't eat the food they offer? Seriously, that ruled out most of his ideas immediately.]

[But, Allen was sick of space, and he wanted some chance to relax. So finally...he comes up with a place he'd like to be. So in one of the smaller private rooms at some point, you may walk in on a setting that looks like an idyllic country town. Though okay, maybe you won't be walking in on an epic panoramic shot unless you REALLY want to be, but you get the idea. Either way, a quick walk seems to lead you to the lakeside, where there sits a a little country church. It's a warm and sunny day, perfect weather really. Allen's easy to spot from here, he's sitting underneath a tree - possibly reading or playing games on his network communicator.]

[He's missed this place. Even if he wishes he could see the people that live here...at least he knows they're alright, so it's less sad]

[B. Waystation, Open to All]

[If he's not at the Waystation or on his ship, Allen can be found wandering around the waystations- often offering help. Sure, he's terrible with tech and can't do much for ship repairs. But if you need medical help or maybe just some food and money- he can work something out. Otherwise, he's exploring what this place has to offer for food for himself. It's pretty disappointing overall though]

VRD and OPEN

[dawnwillcome]

Skyhold

[There's really only one option for her first destination, and once it's pulled up and created in front of Jove she lets out a weak, choked kind of laugh.

It's a giant hall, stone walls and floors covered in expensive tapestries with the symbols of the Dalish on them. On either side of the pathway leading up to a dais are heavy wooden tables and chairs of dark wood set with a luxurious feast, huge statues set behind them, closed doors leading off to other parts of this apparent castle.

As she walks up toward the dais, though, her destination is clear. There's a throne there, emblazoned with the eye and sword symbol of the Inquisition, and it's with a smile she touches the red fabric. The stained glass windows behind the throne throw colored lights over her, her hair and skin dappled with red and yellow and purple before she finally sits.

There are no people recreated here, it's just Jove on a throne she finds she's missed, and even though she knows it's fake, even though she knows it isn't soft and welcoming, it looks terrifying with its stark coloring and the spikes extending from it, but it's home all the same. It's hers, and she sighs contently as she sits back and relaxes in it.]

[wolfuncaged]

[Well, this is a fancy operation. He thought Hawke's estate was grand, but this... it could rival most of the Magister estates in Tevinter. Fenris wanders around, eyeing the trappings all around him.

He's still prefer a dank hole somewhere, but this feels like a safe place. Eventually, he makes his way over to her.]

So this is where you run the Inquisition.

VRD, open to all

[serves]

[It's not quite right, but it'll do.

The small dock leading out to the fog-shrouded lake doesn't creak as it should under his weight, and the air isn't as chilly, but it's close enough to Ferelden as he'll get for some time, he imagines. It's eerie, as everything here is to him, but he can't help but brush his fingers against his empty pocket. His real lake is worlds away, along with the exact timeline he knows. It's all so mind-boggling that he really has no choice but to accept it and take it in stride.

Still, the sight makes him exhale, long and slow, and he leans against the wooden post of the dock. If he closes his eyes and listens to the water, he could almost swear his siblings were just about to ruin his peace and quiet.]

I... im sorry

[invigorates]

[ it all happens so fast, and it honestly could have been avoided if lioriley had actually been paying attention. as it stands though, she was not paying attention at all, and in believing that - for whatever reason - she was entering an empty room, devoid of other patrons, docks and lakes, ends up stepping off the mentioned dock and right into the water.

it's even worse because she realizes it just as her foot misses the last step before she begins her descent into the murky, oddly-dry water surrounding the dock. she sees cullen standing there and there's a look of horror on her face as she anticipates what's to come.

too late. ]

Around the Station/VRD Opennnnn

[savedtheworld]

Around the Station

[This is Aang's first time at a way station, so he's spending some time exploring in general while looking for ways to find whatever the Caprine needs. He may also be eying the snacks curiously.

And in the courtyard, he zips around with his air scooter. He may or may not crash into some of the fake trees.]

Virtual Reality Dome

[Once Aang finds out that this place can simulate places from home, he does what he can until he manages to get the simulation he was hoping for. It's of the Southern Air Temple, and although the monks generated by the virtual reality are generic ones wom he does not know, he almost does feel at home again.

He'll spend some more time zipping on his air scooter, or trying to talk to the simulations, or just sitting down for a good old-fashioned meditation.]

[wilder]

[Kaneis had been exploring the waystation at a leisurely pace, when Aang on his air scooter zips on pass. It's a near hit, so he jumps back]

Whoa!

[And then he stares because wtf did he just see right now]

Uh-

vrd / waystations

[misconceived]

virtual reality dome;

[ Considering the sort of technology where Chris comes from, a virtual reality room isn't beyond the realm of possibility. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if something like this does exist and he just didn't care enough to look for it considering the state of affairs. He gives it some fairly simple instructions, hoping to not confuse it or otherwise end up somewhere unfamiliar.

It's an address to a park in San Fransisco. A specific courtyard, really, one that he unnecessarily follows up with my spot with Bianca. That's probably the explanation for how it turns up: ruinous. In the background is a familiar skyline marred by unfamiliar damage. Chris only takes a deep breath and moves to sit on the white marble bench, bowing his head, shaking it, and letting it sink in. ]

That figures. Of course it would.

waystation

[ It's a much more put-together Chris that finds himself on the waystation. He's working on collecting parts and supplies, talking out jobs and making what he can of the situation. Closer to the attacks, there's some spectacular bruising and a healing gash along his cheek. It almost seems too old to be from the attacks, really, and he isn't paying it much mind. ]

Okay, so—you just need all this stuff brought over to the other side of the station by the end of the day? [ He gets an affirmative and scoffs. Too easy. ] Sure. I'll see you about the payment later.

Oh—and don't forget, you promised that extra circuit board, too.

[ Yes, he's haggling, and no the job might not be on the up-and-up. What about it? ]

vrd

[devilsinthedetails]

[He's just wandering around the virtual reality thing, not really knowing what to make of it, when he stumbles upon Chris. Cole's aware that Chris can sense him and doesn't really do anything to draw attention to himself as he looks at the ruined skyline. Once he's done, he lets out a low whistle and moves to sit next to Chris on the bench.]

Remind me to never ask Wyatt to decorate for me. [He's trying for a joke, but it's a bad one.] How are you holding up after everything, Kit?

VRD options

[radiantwingedone]

{VR: 1, 2, 3, 4 or a .5 with a number-}
[ Duke looks in the dome itself only once – this seems like a space too many would be drawn to, so he finds himself a room instead.

Perhaps the thing he missed most in Paradisa was freedom to roam with his abilities. So, he sets out to do just that. Walk the world he knew, if with a bit more jumps at first. Revisit the places most important before simply spending hours walking over a terrain who knows when he would see again. Refresh the colors in his memory, maybe he could manage an illusion of these places later. Where to start?

Something familiar. Well, most familiar is the Garden on Tarqaron. He had been there, most recently. He paces in, the room scrolling to keep up with him, building the cobblestones and stairs into better detail with a few annoyed words, then hedges out of flowering. The stone arches and crystal pillars he edits a little as well. The sky taken over by a twisting purple-red shape. Duke pauses, looking over the level. The blue-white wall that chirps, running with symbols of his formula. He removes that with a word – not only does he not want to look at it, it was the wrong color and annoying with inaccuracy. It's too empty here, the place where he had faced the Guild, it lacks the feeling of new mana, the spirits flitting about are light and nothing more. So he turns, starting to walk.

With a word, he's in a town. Halure, which he had passed on his way to Aspio, to underneath where Tarqaron lay dormant. He walks the path to the base of the tree, stares up at its branches laden with pink blossoms, the room making the section about him and leaving the rest as like murals. Another word advances the season, and he stands in a cascade of pink petals before turning and stepping away.

Another word, and he's in the neck of a cave. The faint green glow of the aer krene brings a faint smile to his face, and he keeps walking. Lilies grow in the pale green light, which seems to be the water. Duke stops and stands in the Releweise Hollow, the oldest aer krene of Terca Lumireis, looking a pained sort of relaxed. It's… not quite right, the scent is too much like lightning and flowers than aer and flowers, the charge to the air is wrong. It's enough to have him frowning before long, and he turns to walk away.

Only to stop abruptly, as otherwise he would find out how the virtual reality room deals with cliffs. Ehmead Hill lays behind him, untouched by the Heracles, and he turns, suddenly urgent, to look at a stone that is clearly placed near the edge.

It's still there, and Duke crosses over before freezing. Suddenly uncertain, he slowly takes steps toward the edge of the forest, and sits on a fallen tree. He'll... be here, for a while. Staring at the ocean past the headstone. ]

(OOC: pick a place, or a transition. I just wanted to link spam because pretty game.)

Waystation: In which you should hire some help to... retrieve desired items

[wordmiser]

[Jinx would never go so far as to post a sign advertising her abilities. That just doesn't sit with her personality. And could very well be led to being arrested for something she had yet to do. She took offense at that.

She is loitering, rather discreetly, in an out-of-the-way position. Much in the way one who has had a lifetime in illicit activities might recognize as being open for business.

If she was a smoker, a lit cigarette would be dangling from her fingers. Instead, she eats a lollipop with just as much arrogant laziness.

Come one, come all. Jinx will get what you need. For a lower price than otherwise.]

[pompous_today]

[Simon spotted Jinx on his way to get lunch and made his way over to her, nodding a greeting.]

Had any luck obtaining things yet?

VDR OTA

[faithfulwisdom]

[It takes him a long time to figure out how to work the Virtual Reality Dome and even longer to get everything just right. For a long time, he can be seen standing at the controls making adjustments, changing the layouts of the city streets, altering the color of the light that streams in from The Two Trees.

Eventually, something very much akin to this emerges and Finrod leaves the controls to wander the city. No matter how far he walks, however, he always ends up back in the same place- a quiet courtyard in front of what is quite clearly the royal palace. He doesn't try to enter, doesn't make a move to approach. Just... looks at it.]

[howcanihelp]

[ Steffa was going to pass by and do her own thing in one of the private rooms, but...

Well, this city is beautiful, she just can't help herself. She's got to wander the streets, exploring and taking in the beauty of it. Which is how she accidentally ends up in the courtyard in front of the palace, where Finrod is. ]

Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you, I was just... exploring.

VRD | waystation | ota

[respired]

VRD;

[It takes some finagling--Koltira's not unfamiliar with certain advanced technologies, but he's rarely interacted with anything of this complexity up close--but Koltira eventually manages to recreate the place he's looking for. Fortunately, it's a mostly simple terrain. Northrend is a frigid, desolate land, buried in snow, spiked with tall, frozen mountains. In some places, the ground is hard-packed snow; in others, it's pure, shimmering ice. Certain areas are split open, as though rent in two by a sword, and something wretched and ancient whispers from the chasms left by these wounds.

But to make it familiar, to remind him most powerfully of where he's been and where he's come from, there's one other detail in this simulation.

It's some distance away, looming over the skyline, but it's hard to miss nevertheless: Icecrown Citadel. The fortress glows with the same unearthly light that shines out of Koltira's eyes. Gargoyles and colossal skeletal monstrosities wander around the citadel's fortifications, and an atmosphere of menace pervades the area. The citadel's towers stab the sky; its very design is a challenge to anyone who might approach it.

But though some horrors remain, the citadel now is largely empty. The Ashen Verdict,
an alliance between death knights and paladins, had seen to that.

Koltira sits now among the tundra, one leg folded over the other, staring straight ahead. There is silence here; there is cold; there is peace. Pain throbs in every muscle, but at least here there is no temptation.

For now.]

waystations;

[Koltira requires almost nothing in this life. But he does need something to do. Someone to hurt. He paces the waystation, aggravation clear on his typically inscrutable face. He has a problem, and if it's not solved soon, the consequences will be difficult for everyone to bear.]

vrd

[whereivebeen]

[ Every time Tay comes here, there's something interesting someone's doing. Usually she doesn't much care, but... there's something about the desolate icy mountains that make her stop to just... take it in. The lonely places of the world have always had a certain draw to her. Empty highways are more her speed, but this place... it's not bad.

She doesn't notice Koltira at first, just walking slowly, the snow crunching under her boots. He probably has already heard her, at least, by the time she notices him and wanders closer. ]

So what's with the spiky castle thing over there?

VRD - Open to all

[puro]

[Manolo knows he can't recreate the people who mean the universe and more to him in the VRD. He can't create María, or Joaquín, or even his parents. He can't create the people in his tiny little town, not properly, anyway.

So he doesn't really ask for the streets of San Angel. Instead, he finds his favourite place, the last place he saw in the Land of the Living. So, he stands, propped up against a giant, ancient tree, looking out as the sun rises, light glinting across the town like sparkles of life. He sees the light and remembers María.

He'll get back to her soon. He has to.

He strums a few strings on his guitar, and then starts to sing ]

♫ Hey there María
What's it like in San Angel?
I'm a billion miles away
But girl, tonight you look so pretty
Yes you do
The stars can't shine as bright as you
I swear it's true ♫

[whereivebeen]

[ Tay doesn't need to know the location or the sound of his voice to know it's him, because she's been honing in on him in the first place. She's been running jobs for parts and helping with heavy lifting, and now she thinks it's been long enough since she put eyes on him that it's time to track him down.

She stops a few yards away from him, hard to miss considering she's an amazon and standing in front of him, and listens to him sing.

Huh. Go figure, it actually sounds pretty good. ]

Waystation & VRD - OTA

[princessia]

Around the Waystations

[ Being able to be out and about is far better than being stuck on the Marsiva. Still, Teepo is nowhere to be found. All she can hope is that he'll suddenly show up again, safe and sound. It doesn't stop her from missing him though. Unfortunately, she doesn't think she can help with repairs on the ships. And if anyone had injuries, she wishes she could use her healing artes. But she can't. Or so she thinks. Not without Teepo.

She believes the best thing for to do now is stay out of everyone's way while they work...

At the shops, she's curiously looking over all the products she can buy with her allowance. Food and snacks sounds good. She could use some new clothing too. They all look very basic and boring though... unlike the fancy dresses that Jiao brings back for her sometimes. ]

VRD - private room, but still OTA... if you'd like to barge in!

[ Elize decided to recreate her residence back in the village of Hamil: a small stone storage shed with patched up holes on the roof. Since she was occupying one of the private rooms, she was only able to replicate the main floor with the VRD. There were several tools laying about and large baskets of fruit. Not only the typical objects you'd find in a shed were present, but there was also a bed, stove, and a sink. It doubled as a storage house and a tiny place to live in. The few windows show the gleam of dawn shining through. Several small lanterns hang down from the ceiling, but it's not enough to brightly light up the shed.

A stairway led down to the wine cellar, an even smaller room where Elize usually slept, but she'd have to overwrite the current floor to recreate it.

Recent memories of Hamil haven't been happy ones for Elize. Whenever her former caretaker was around, he tried to lock her up in the building. Whenever he was away and when she somehow managed to sneak outside, villagers weren't too kind to her either, especially after the harassment from Rashugal soldiers. They used to be nicer to her, but now they just thought of her as some evil brat.

The memory of the building remained fresh and it was the first place that came into mind. She merely picked it out to first test out the machine, despite the memories.

Before she decides to change it to a more happier setting, there's something else she wants to recreate. ]

I would like to see my stuffed doll and best friend, Teepo, please. [ She speaks out loud to the computer. Upon her command, an ordinary, pink stuffed rabbit appears. She can't help but feel upset. ]

That's not Teepo. Try again! [ And again, a different doll appears to replace the rabbit: a stuffed pig! Still not Teepo. ]

Ugh. [ Obviously, her requests are not going as planned. After commanding the computer to withdraw the doll, she decides to ask for something... someone else. ]

I... want to see my mother and father. What do they look like?

[ Elize waits expectantly for something to happen, but nothing turns up. Both her requests are far too specific. She lets out a sound of frustration and slumps over on her virtual bed. ]

[got_it_memorized]

[Axel's always been a bit of a nosy person. He just likes to know what's going on! So after he's made a few rounds through the main room of the VRD, he decides to stop by the smaller private rooms, just to see if there's anything interesting going on. Peeking into one room, he sees it's made up like a small house. There's a girl slumped over on the bed, and he frowns a bit. She looks awfully young.]

Everything okay in here?