xistentia | Mingle Log #1: Landmarks of Xistentia

Mingle Log #1: Landmarks of Xistentia

Characters: All characters who opt in
Summary: A party to mark the first wave of incoming characters in Xistentia, punctuated with weird physics and an unexpected trip to the heart (or mind) of F.A.T.E.S.
Date(s): Late May 2017
Warnings/Notes: Sexual content and other potentially offensive or triggering material to be noted in headers.

Mix and Mingle

Landmarks of Xistentia

It starts with the daemons, because of course it does. At sunset, they begin to ring and beep and urge you to follow directions through the city. For those with animate daemons, be they animals or people, the programs are even more intrusive. Pushing and pawing and urging you to get up and go. The destination is not far from the first reclaimed parts of the city— a tall tower covered in overgrown moss and trees, located near the beach, the Westernmost edge of the city. Even with the chaos of vegetation growing over it, it's clear that the building is a miracle of technology and style.

"Connection is essential," the daemon tells you. "However, genital contact is not required."

You have reached the Central Citadel, and it's time to party!

EARLY BIRDS

But F.A.T.E.S. is as susceptible to peer pressure and trendy trends as anyone else! Early birds will find that the atrium lounge is a true mess at first. Birds nesting in the ceiling, thorn plants all across the floors, and the bottles and cups at the white bar are empty. As parties go, this sucks. However, within a few minutes of the first arrivals, changes begin to overcome the club area visibly. It is exactly the same as the way the city has begun to accommodate the visitors, but far more accelerated. Soon, the lights begin to power on, filling the room with ambient illumination. Plants recede, but do not disappear entirely. High above, the ceiling suddenly morphs to display the starry night sky. And most importantly of all, there's booze.

With any luck, someone around here knows how to bartend, because F.A.T.E.S sure does not. Various liquors from across the multiverse are available, along with drink umbrellas, speared olives, mixers and wedges of fruit. However, the cocktails that automatically fill the glasses vary in taste from acceptable to horrific. Luckily, the bar does not keep anyone out.

FASHIONABLY LATE

If you're more than thirty minutes late, the kinks have worked themselves out. The party is now in full swing. F.A.T.E.S. has surrendered drink mixing duty to various refugees^[1], resulting in much more palatable alcoholic beverages. Someone even found chicken fingers, which are making the rounds.

However, it appears that the invisible supercomputer is still trying to DJ. Predictably, the music ranges wildly based on the listeners-- one moment, you have 17th century lute music; the next, Trance. Blink 182 may even make a brief auditory appearance. It is not particularly easy to dance to this nightmarishly incoherent soundtrack, but it does provide a cross-section of multiversal experiences, for those of us who care about that kind of thing.

Alternatively, you can explore. The Central Citadel is filled with odd rooms. In the presence of only one or two explorers, the tidying effect doesn't happen nearly as quickly. Characters may find jungle-eaten conference spaces, computer laboratories, or even more sophisticated situation rooms thronged with vines and flowers. Somehow, the screens and monitors seem to work just fine with blossoms poking out of the harddrives. Rooms with beds are available as well, some of them already pre-carpeted with romantic roses. You might also find your way into a gym, where slightly rotted bokken and a dusty boxing ring nonetheless make for an interesting way to meet people who aren't into roses and laptops.

BONUS ADVENTURE: THE TEMPLE

Characters who meet new CR at the Citadel have a special experience. When the two (or more) individuals get to talking, their daemons both abruptly interrupt with a very important, not at all loaded question. "Do you want to see something cool?" If the daemon was too big to come inside, the question is posed via earpiece or whatever other device.

The correct answer is "Yes." And with that, the characters are abruptly transported to The Telexistence Temple, on the Easternmost edge of the city. The sudden quiet seems deafening; the darkness is almost blinding before one's eyes adjust to the lines of light running through the tall stone walls. It is much cooler here than it was at the Central Citadel, but it has its own eerie dignity.

"In the future, this is where you may access information about your worlds. Recovery information, save points, and both passive and active world entry points are located here." A beat. Possibly the daemon is watching you stumble around. "Most of the tools have been disabled in order to prevent damage from inebriated users."

However, two pieces of technology continue to cooperate. First, a huge slab of glossy black stone the height of a desk, emitting holographic Head Up Display upward, the Chronological Cartographer. Your character must touch the device. Immediately then, a bright flowing diagram of data begins to spin through the air, whirling with lines and circles and familiar names. It is a chart of the worlds your characters have lived in before and the people they have met in the past timeline. The splitting point to Xistentia is clearly marked, and your future here is a red line wavering in darkness. Toy with it a little, and you'll even be able to pull up significant dates, friendships, enemies. Moments of transformation. F.A.T.E.S. remembers it all, and it is only a quick teleport from the Citadel. (Fortunately, it is also a quick teleport back.)

Second, there is a monitor with another HUD. It displays a HUD with a single prompt: Amenities needed?^[2]

Starting the next day, the Temple will be accessible to all characters at all hours. Those granted access the night before will be able to find their way back with companions.

Footnotes

Some may be NPCs! Please avoid killing or maiming them without mod discussion first.
Go here and fill out the form, reply to that comment, if your character is going to take F.A.TE.S. up on the amenities request.

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Then maybe we'll get you back home sooner than you think, [ she agrees. Things aren't ideal right now. In a lot of ways. Especially for him. Unlike her, he... has a lot at stake in his world. And she wants to help him however she can especially considering it might on day be her world, but. Perhaps she's getting ahead of herself there. That's why she says 'you' instead of 'us.'

It's probably something they should talk about, but. Drinks are definitely a nice distraction from that train of thought. ]

Terrible, [ she admits, shoving the glass of whatever the concoction is away. But she perks up at the mention of something possibly a bit better. Made by her boyfriend no less! Doesn't she feel special. She'll take a seat at the bar and bat her eyelashes. ]

What do you have on special, mister barman? I'm looking for something strong.

Perhaps we will, at that. [There might be just a hint of subtle emphasis on that 'we,' despite his best efforts. He's not dealing well with the loss of his family -only having the chance to save them along with his world has kept him from coming completely unhinged- and for once he's in perfect agreement with the decidedly dov instinct to clutch the last remnants all the closer, protect them all the more fiercely. Here and now, that means Vex and Rose.

Especially Rose.

But he does his best to push those thoughts aside, smiles for her, and finds himself unable to help but chuckle as she bats her eyelashes at him.] Well, we're unfortunately a little understocked. But I'm sure I can come up with something more to your taste.

[He plucks a few bottles (Galliano, Cointreau, orange juice and cream) from beneath the bar, and, after a quick inspection to make sure that they're a) what the labels say they are, and b) haven't gone bad, retrieves a cocktail glass (chilled, thank you F. A. T. E. S.) and a shaker, and sets to work. The end result is a pale gold cocktail, rendered slightly cloudly on account of the cream, which he presents with a flourish.]

There we are. Sweets for the sweet. [It's said with a wink, keeping up the play she started when she fluttered her lashes at him and called him 'mister barman.']

[ And she doesn't mind in the slightest. However she can help him, she wants to... It feels like that's part of what relationships are about, aren't they? Supporting one another? It's all a bit new, honestly, but she's been trying. Well. Aside from that little running away stint, which she's not about to repeat anytime soon.

Hopefully.

She watches him work in quiet admiration. Partly at his bar-tending skill and partly because perhaps, just a bit cheesy, she still can't believe this handsome man is her boyfriend. Making her drinks. Calling her sweet. He's still something she feels entirely undeserving of most days, but she's also more than happy he's here with her despite everything.

Once he's done with his mixing, she gives the result an approving hum. A test sip follows immediately after. ] Oh, dude, this is so much better. Thank you for working your drink magic. [ ... Wait. ] Could you actually, like, magic drinks together?

[ She remembers him moving the miscellaneous objects in his apartment with some kind of magic. By now, he obviously knows she finds his magic incredibly awesome. ]

[Hopefully not - because in his current mental state, he's likely to react in a way that makes Shouting her door down seem mild by comparison.

He hums quietly to himself as he works, and quickly tucks the bottles away again once he's finished - though he makes sure to keep half an eye on her as she takes that test sip. Her pleased reaction draws another smile out of him, a real one this time.] I'm glad you like it.

Then comes that question, and he blinks in momentary surprise.] You know, I've never actually tried. [A little mischief colors his tone as he continues] But I suppose there's only one way to find out...

[He waves his hand, and all the ingredients needed for a Color-Changing Martini float out of their places on the shelves and the drink starts to mix itself. He does know she finds his magic awesome - which is part of the reason he enjoys showing it off for her so much.]

I'm just glad to know my boyfriend can make a decent drink. Maybe F.A.T.E.S. can learn a thing or two.

[ And if not, there's always wine. Staying with the classics is generally safe.

She's seen Magnus do this very thing before, but it never quite stops being phenomenal. There's something as well about it being Vanyel doing it - not Magnus - and for them that's... special. Maybe that's silly to think, but she still does. ]

Just when I thought I couldn't be any more turned on by your drink mixing skills, you found a way to make it even hotter. Go figure.

We can only hope, I suppose. [Not that he considers himself a master bartender by any stretch, but he at least has enough experience to know which kinds of liquor mix well and which really, really don't. Also, you know. Taste buds.

Or there were options that didn't require any mixing at all - wine, ale, and mead all came to mind.]

Oh? [He asks as the liquor and lemon juice all pour themselves into the shaker, then settle gently on the nearest shelf.] This turns you on, does it?

[His tone is light, almost innocent. But there's a gleam in his eye that says he knows exactly what his little show is doing for her.]

[ It's true that while F.A.T.E.S. is impressive in its own right, some things just need a more human touch. So while he might not be an expert at it, per say, he's still got something an AI can't emulate.

At that question, she's all smiles herself. Almost coy, in a way. She shifts on her seat, runs her hands through her hair. Drops her elbows down onto the bar to show off whatever cleavage she can. She's gotten pretty good at this 'flirting' thing without even really realizing. Or maybe it's just because she's comfortable with Vanyel, confident in his feelings for her that she doesn't overthink it all that much. ]

Well, yeah. It's always sexy when a dude uses his skills.

[F.A.T.E.S. might yet bring in someone with more bartending expertise than he has, but until that day comes he's happy to put his skills to use. Save people's tongues from the computer's attempts at mixing drinks.

His drink finishes mixing and the contents of the shaker pour themselves into a glass, but he pays it no mind. gaze dips downward as she leans against the bar - because how can he not look, when she's so clearly inviting it? But it's only for a moment or two, then he raises his eyes to meet hers again. His smile grows a touch more heated, and he leans a little closer too.]

I'm glad. [He replies, tone low and intimate.] I do aim to please, after all.

[ For the first time, but probably not the last, Rose wonders why she decided to put the bar between them. She just wants to reach over it at that smile and- Okay, jeez, chill. It's only understandable though when they'd been interrupted by their daemons earlier, she supposes.

But then he says that and she can't help the way her smile grows. ]

Oh, I know you do, [ Just going to casually stretch even further across the bar. ] Just one of the many reasons why I love you.

[It's definitely on his mind now, just what their daemons interrupted to drag them here. He wouldn't mind leaning over the bar and- he cuts that train of thought off before it gets much further; best to wait until they can get a little privacy.

(He may be a shameless exhibitionist, but he knows she isn't.)

But he has to lean across to kiss her at least, when she says she loves him.] And I love you. [He murmurs. Then, finally, he picks up his glass and clinks it gently against hers.] Cheers.

[ She isn't yet. There's still time. Besides,
it doesn't sound like such a bad thing in this moment... But if he can wait then so can she.

There's more important things to discuss, anyway. Even if she'd rather not. She returns that kiss easily, lingering maybe just a few seconds too long into it. Like she doesn't want it to end. (She doesn't.) ] Cheers, [ she agrees, before drawing back to take a sip from her own drink.

A beat. ]

We're really in another world, aren't we?

[He can wait - for a little while, at least.

One hand comes up to cup Rose's cheek while the kiss lasts, and he lets his figertips trail gently over the curve of it once the kiss breaks, only falling away completely once she draws back.

He takes a sip of his own drink then, and his hand curls idly around the glass as he answers.] That we are.

[ She lets his answer hang in the air for a moment. Then she sighs heavily, a hand reaching to pet Apollod for a bit of familiarity. Comfort. ]

I'm worried, [ she starts. This is... hard for her, but. It's part of the promise in being more 'honest' she'd made. ] about what that means, I guess. How that'll change things. If it does. I mean, I know it doesn't have to, but...

[When she reaches down to pet Apollod, he takes a moment to surreptitiously glance around for Zeymahd to make sure the daemon isn't getting into anything it shouldn't.

But he turns his attention back to her as she breaks the silence.] How it will change things in regard to...?

[Because it's already changed some things - they're not going to be able to lead a life as sedate and danger-free as their life in Eudio, for one. They're living together here, for two. But it doesn't have to change absolutely everything.]

[ His daemon does seem to be a bit a troublemaker. Not around her, but that's probably because she happily gives his scales scratches whenever he wants them. ]

Us, I guess. [ To clarify, ] It's, like. It's still cool that I want to go with you to Tamriel, right?

[ They actually hadn't talked about it before. She had hinted at it, sure, and when things fell apart it was where she tried to go but ended up here instead. Still, she hasn't asked a lot about his time home. What it was like, what it meant for them when it was time for him to go home again. If it meant anything. ]

[There's every chance that Zeymahd just plain likes her better than Vanyel at this point, just on the basis of those scale scritches. He can't even bring himself to mind; anything that can induce the thing to behave is perfectly fine by him.]

Oh, [is the first thing out of his mouth, because- they haven't talked about it in detail, no. She's hinted, and he's made it as clear as he can that she'd be perfectly welcome, but.]

Yes, of course. [He says, as soon as his brain has caught up to that.] Whatever else has changed, I promise you that hasn't.

[ She does what she can. Even then, is daemon is definitely... unruly. Though she supposes they all have their quirks. Having a dog for a daemon is fun, until he gets distracted and chases after something in his peripheral when she needs his assistance. ]

... Okay, [ she replies, letting out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. ] I don't wanna, like. Disrupt your life back there or anything, but. Hopefully we can figure it out.

[That, unfortunately, is part and parcel of his daemon being a dragon. Not much to be done but try and teach it better - and run damage control until the lessons sink in.

That isn't his main concern at the moment, though.] I'm sure we can. [He reaches across the bar and gives her hand a gentle squeeze as he says it.

Yes, he's sure - mainly because he refuses to let things go any other way.]

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Mingle Log #1: Landmarks of Xistentia

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