TEST DRIVE MEME #1

[space_aces]

WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD

Your journey only happened because of your benefactor, so it begets that it starts at your benefactor as well. SUPERBIA, which is as much of a location as it is an entity, is where everyone's search for Fortuna begins.

There's not much of a welcome party: shortly after their fateful encounter with SUPERBIA, in which they swore to join the quest to find Fortuna, the new Privateers will find themselves afflicted by a sudden change in perspective. See, teleportation is a tricky process, so from SUPERBIA's point of view, why not make the target destination none other than itself? One highly disconcerting moment later, and the Privateers find themselves inside the belly of the beast.

The vast mega-structure is shockingly lonely, void of anyone other than the Privateers. Those who look off the metal satellite and to The Network for intelligence (or take a skim at the Space Wikipedia article) will find out that the surrounding space is clear for lightyears; rumors have it that the place is cursed. It won't take long to understand why.

1

Overclocked

The innards of SUPERBIA are that of an impossibly scaled up computer, and the Privateers start right in the middle of it. You are the spider living in the dusty PS4. Literal rivers of coolant, transistors the size of mountains, landscapes made entirely of circuitry. The sky, bounded by a distant metal ceiling, is constantly alight with coursing electricity that cracks the sky with lightning storms. It can be assumed that the Privateers are the first living things to set foot here, because such a place is not ever meant to be traversed by delicate, organic, mortals that worry about things such as "temperature" or "voltage". SUPERBIA needs not lifeforms to continue its operations; why design for them? Traversal itself is difficult: unscalable walls and perilous drops are common to encounter. The only company the Privateers will find are oddly adorable maintenance robots, which sadly seem too occupied by their directives of maintaining the massive machine to offer any assistance (or even acknowledgement of their new guests).

It is immediately clear that the most urgent priority is to get the hell out of here. Before your adventure ends at the starting line.

2

Skeletons In The Closet

If one stays inside SUPERBIA, either by getting horribly lost or losing all common sense, one will notice a peculiar pattern emerge as one gets deeper into the bowels of the mega-structure. Passages shrink and become more level, and the incredible hostility and danger of the surroundings fade away, until one comes across areas which were definitely intended for humanoid organisms to use at one point.

The construction of these areas is cramped, unfurnished, and dreary; they are reminiscent of artificial environments meant to handle harsh external conditions like a submarine or bunker, but they are entirely livable. One can eventually find distinct rooms, but everything in them has crumbled to dust and their original purpose is nigh impossible to discern. Deeper investigation may reveal the few items that have stood the test of time. While it is more plausible for life to have existed here, that doesn't seem to be the case now. What happened here?

3

The Shipyard

In the opposite direction, when one finally reaches the outer edges of SUPERBIA, they will be rewarded with the place to pick up a spaceship and a stunningly beautiful view of outer space. The outside of SUPERBIA has no atmosphere to get between you and the stars, and they shine brightly, like a beacon calling one out into the first steps of adventure.

The shipyard is already filled with countless space ships of every size, form, and function, all autonomously constructed by SUPERBIA's factories over the countless years. What's the harm in taking one or twenty out for a spin? Even if one has no intentions of permanent ownership of the vehicle, it's not like SUPERBIA will miss it. For a Privateer with a more specific vision, however, there are kiosks around the yard which will allow one to design their very own space ship down to their exact specifications. When the process is done SUPERBIA's matter printers will have it out and space-ready right before your very eyes.

If a Privateer has a ship, vehicle, or large item that they intended to bring with them, they will also find them here, neatly parked in the Shipyard. Why didn't SUPERBIA extend this courtesy to the pilot's themselves? The answer is revealed as soon as the owner makes a closer inspection: the inner contents have been rearranged, like a whirlwind was unleashed inside and assorted loose items thrown around. Now aren't you glad your transportation was given special attention, and the same didn't happen to your innards?

4

Hot Crewmates in Your Area

But how will a single Privateer man an entire space ship? No worries: when one steps into a ship, the strangely endearing maintenance robots will suddenly take acute interest. The robots will follow inside and immediately start assuming the duties of a spacefarer, eliminating the need for extra hands on deck.

Even still, there's just no eliminating the want for a human touch, though. Thankfully even that dilemma has a contingency plotted by SUPERBIA.

Communication devices are easily available on every space ship. They come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from huge stationary consoles to portable smartphone-like screens. But whenever a Privateer attempts to access the Network, a pop-up will appear, obscuring the whole screen.

Tell me a little about yourself. Are you a LEADER or a FOLLOWER? What is your best feature?
The device will be rendered unusable until one relents to the pop-up's demands and provides answers to its questions. What will these be used for? The mystery will be solved when a social media app mysteriously installs itself on the same device, with profiles preemptively made for every Privateer. Each Privateer's profile consists of their given answers, paired with embarrassingly candid photographs. SUPERBIA has eyes in many places it seems.

Comments

Duo Maxwell ☠ Gundam Wing

[braidedwonder]

o1. OVERCLOCKED

For the most part, Duo is used to cramped spaces and wheedling his way through situations. Operation Meteor’s covert ops specialist who felt more at home in a cramped space liner than free and clear on terra isn’t typically the one to be found climbing or hopping around, but he isn’t incapable, either. What does suck, in all of this, though?

That snively little thing called gravity pulling on him as he does so.

That long braid of hair has long since been wound up around the back of his head, too precious in its current condition to allow it to get too sweaty or caught on something in the midst of a climb or jump, jamming the tips of his boots in to what small foot and hand holds that he can find or getting a running jump to clear a particularly wide space. Would he prefer to be touring the place to get a good look at the inside of a computer from a bug’s view? Absolutely. But instead here he is, squatted down in a break between sheer climbs, wiping at his forehead with the cloth cuffs of his jacket, a huff of breath blown up toward his bangs.

“I really shoulda just stayed with Howie and the guys, shouldn’t I? Damn.”

o2. SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET

Common sense? Never heard of her.

Duo winds his way deeper and deeper in to the depths of Superbia little by little, of course intrigued by the smaller, flatter, less dangerous area he seems to be stumbling upon. Ever the proverbial street dog that likes looking for a little place he can call his own, he thinks it doesn’t hurt to have an area to purposefully get lost in, when push comes to shove. The cramped conditions aren’t too far removed from space craft of his time, and it doesn’t even blip his radar in the slightest. What does catch his attention is that this was definitely meant for people. Though unfurnished and definitely showing its age, he can’t help but realize that this was meant as a living quarters at some point in time.

Everything is dusty, dirty, and unlived in for a long span of time, that much is obvious, but he comes across a room that was clearly once a bunk room, the mattress long since decayed and fabric that breaks off in his hands recognizable enough. He stops in his investigations, turning ever so slightly to the door as the sound of someone coming nearer catches his attention.

“I wouldn’t try to sneak up on a guy like me if I were you.” Though Duo’s tone makes it sound like a joke… it’s very much a veiled threat.

o3. THE SHIPYARD

Eventually, Duo makes his way out of the innards and winding tunnels of the wrong way to civilization and to the shipyard.

The scrapper in him desperately wants to try his hand at every ship he can possibly lay eyes on here, to take every possibility for a joy ride just because he can, and the speed demon in Duo Maxwell has not, and will not, be tamed for as long as he manages to stay on this side of a dirt nap. His tour of the ships, earmarking ones to give a try while he’s here and, presumably, has free reign to take a look and take things for a joyride. If they come back damaged… well. It isn’t his own, right? Return it and whistle away like nothing ever happened and he didn’t break a damn thing.

That is until he catches sight of something green, white, and gold out of the corner of his eye. All at once, Duo is backing up without warning, irreverent to others possibly around or behind him, and – Yep. That’s definitely Gundam Altron. All at once Duo is turning on his heel and breaking in to a run.

Not to find Chang Wufei, of course. (Yet.)

But if Altron is here, there’s a good chance that Deathscythe is too, and soon he spots the black mobile suit, and anyone within ear shot definitely catches his braided loudmouth as he yells out.

“Deathscythe ol’ buddy ol’ pal!”

o4. BISEXUAL DISASTERS IN YOUR AREA

[ In this edition of gundam pilots offering useless answers : ]

Tell me a little about yourself.
Name’s Duo. That’s about all you gotta know.

Are you a LEADER or a FOLLOWER?
I don’t follow orders.

What is your best feature?
Definitely my hair.

o5. AND, OF COURSE, CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

[ I’m open to prose or brackets format wise. If there are any scenarios I didn’t outline that you’d like to play, slap that starter up there or message me here\hit me up with a pp on plurk goblinrex and let’s plot! :) ]

2.

[crystalmaster]

Radley is having an utter meltdown at being inside a computer, and he's only minimally comforted by getting away from the electricity. This is just creepy, and wrong, and when Duo speaks, he nearly jumps out of his skin.

"Trust me, I wasn't trying to sneak up on you!" he retorts. "I'm trying to get out of here!"

[braidedwonder]

"Then you're goin' the wrong way, most likely." He doesn't necessarily know for sure, of course. Has no way of knowing for sure. But it makes sense, math wise that heading to an area that's been noticeably abandoned for probably over a hundred years or so isn't the correct way to be heading.

Duo isn't too bothered by it all, happy enough to explore a place on his own, ever the street rat that can pick his way through small and winding corridors until he manages to find a way out.

"I'd about face if you're bothered by how cramped it is down here."

[crystalmaster]

"I'm more bothered by what's out there!" Radley retorts. "If I'm going the wrong way, then ... I have to go back ... out there...." Back to the electricity....

He starts to physically shake at the thought.

[braidedwonder]

“Well there ain’t a damn thing here.” Duo makes a rather flippant motion with his hand as if to say he’s equally disgusted as he is amused by it. But then he takes in the other man shaking…

… and laughs.

“Man. You’re really that scared by it? They’re bringing in some softies.”

shipyard

[bingboom]

He's not the only one that was interested in Deathscythe, that's for sure. After all, the place had a lot of airships, but Hachi doesn't seen one that looked like a giant robot before. Has he seen giant robots? Yes. Has he seen them this big? Not at all.

So maybe Duo's on his way to check his buddy out, but this guy's already making his way up it, trying to see if anything was worth checking out.

He's halfway up when his ears pick up the yelling though, and he looks over to see some guy coming up to the robot. Huh.

"What, so this guy's called Deathscythe? That's some grim naming choice you got there."

[braidedwonder]

"Deathscythe Hell Custom, actually." Duo corrects with that shit-eating grin still plastered across his face as he approaches his Gundam. It's been a while since he's seen Deathscythe, having left it in Quatre Winner's care while he was in space, and he's eager to see how his old buddy's made the journey. His hand confidently clutches on to the first handhold along Deathscythe's foot as he points over to a green, white and gold suit stationed near his own.

"And that's Altron."

[bingboom]

"'Custom'. You made this guy or something?"

He appraises the Gundam as he stands in place, already up on the shoulder, confident in his ability to land on his feet if he were to fall. Though, hopefully he doesn't, lest he risks scratching the machine. It was damn huge.

"I've seen mecha before, but nothing this big. How does this thing work?"

03 shipyard, as discussed

[heeroics]

[ Heero's senses are sharp enough that he can pick up on the flurry of falling footsteps long before he hears Duo's voice call from meters below. He'd had plenty of time to excuse himself from Deathscythe's cockpit before Duo came near enough to notice the open hatch.

Heero does not.

This is Duo's fault for lagging behind. ]

[braidedwonder]

[ Heero won't miss the very distinct sounds of Duo climbing up Deathscythe through his very familiar route, either. Of course there's the necessary bitching about gravity along the way as well, but it doesn't stop Duo's steady progress along the Gundam's body until he reaches a stopping platform by Deathscythe's hatch.

.. What he doesn't expect to find as he hoists himself up? Heero Yuy, sitting there like it's the most normal thing in the world. Of course he wouldn't find it weird, but it takes Duo all of two seconds where he goes from surprised and happy to see his friend, to a suspicious narrow of his eyes as he points to the cockpit. ]

Lemme guess, you've already had your mitts all over Deathscythe? You poked around Altron too?

[heeroics]

[ Visual confirmation: it's Duo. After that quick glance, Heero's attention returns to the controls of the mobile suit, punching buttons and scanning the numbers in the readouts it returns.

Of course it's all very natural. The color scheme and their arsenal of weapons and defenses may differ, but Deathsctyhe and Wing were designed the same in the cockpit. ]

Chang doesn't like other people in his suit.

o3

[retributing]

Altron and Deathscythe are not the only Gundams that SUPERBIA has brought to the shipyard. Having seen to his own suit nearby (there is not much that can be upset inside a mobile suit's cockpit, given their purpose, but it was somehow still a bit of mess), Gaelio has turned his attention to the unknown MS he is currently standing in front of.

He's peering up at it, holding a tablet in hand and scrolling through what looks like pages upon pages of technical documents. Only, he can't find the specs for this particular model. There are some similarities to his own suit, and some to the Gundam Barbatos. Yet- even so, if it's from the Calamity War, it should be somewhere in the files, even if its armor has been altered.

He turns - it's rather hard not to hear that boisterous voice. Given the direction of the young man's gaze, it's probably safe to assume- "Ah— is this one yours?" Gaelio looks from presumed pilot back towards Deathscythe. "I've never seen a mobile suit like this." He holds the tablet up with a gloved hand, and offers a wry smile. "Apparently, neither has this."

[braidedwonder]

“Yeah. Deathscythe’s mine.” Now that it doesn’t have to be some thinly veiled secret or something Duo is happy enough to tell anyone and everyone that this is his gundam. Operation Meteor is over, after all.

Duo can hardly contain himself from beginning his spider climb up his gundam’s leg, but some part of him that remembers manners stops his progress.

Well. And the simple term ‘mobile suit’.

“It’s a Gundam. Gundam Deathscythe Hell Custom.” And, well. In classic L2 form, points at Gaelio’s tablet and plainly states his want for Deathscythe’s stats to stay as they are.

“Good. Keep it off of that thing.”

[retributing]

"So it is a Gundam frame," Gaelio muses half to himself, gaze lifting upwards along Deathscythe's form. He's clearly impressed - and interested.

His smile shifts to something pleasant and reassuring, if faint. He makes a not-quite theatrical motion as if to say he is putting the tablet away. For the moment, it stays in-hand by his side; he doesn't exactly have pockets big enough to store it. Still, he'll honor the other pilot's request— though he hadn't exactly intended to try to catalogue it. He assumed it would already be catalogued.

"Ah, of course. I can respect that." The Kimaris had gone through more than one change to keep its identity hidden. "I thought all of the Gundams had been accounted for, is all."

Gaelio looks just about to ask another question, when he pauses with a blank expression. A smile smooths the look over just as quickly. "Ah, I'm being rude, excuse me. I am Gaelio Bauduin." He extends a hand in offering. What's a little nerding out between Gundam pilots, right?

o2. SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET

[fourhope]

“I wouldn’t try to sneak up on a guy like me if I were you.”

"And I would agree. Luckily I'm not trying to sneak up on anyone." Quatre agrees as he enters the room, entirely unruffled by what he knows is far more than just a joke. Despite the perilous journey to get here and the general dust and mess of everything, Quatre is somewhow...only slightly ruffled.

"It's a very strange place." He remarks, walking past Duo to see what he'd been looking at curiously. "The more I see, the more questions I have."

Curiosity sated, he turns to Duo with a grin before stepping in and pulling the other pilot into a hug that's fairly brief but still so very warm.

"I'm so very glad to see you! I should have known you'd be here too." Which is the truth, Quatre's practically radiating with joy at finding a friend. If he's going to go through a situation like this, it only makes sense to do it with the people he trusts most by his side, right? "If we're both here then surely some of the others are as well, have you come across any of them?"

What? He's not fishing for information about anyone specific don't be absurd. He's just gathering information on what their tactical strength is! Honest!

[braidedwonder]

“Eh?” Duo turns with the questioning sound as he registers that the voice is very, very reminiscent of one Quatre Winner. Did he expect that cherubic face to actually come around the corner? No. But does it inspire a mega-watt grin as soon as it registers? Hell yes it does.

He doesn’t even bother to agree to this place inspiring more questions than answers, instead already moving to throw his arms wide for the hug that he knows is coming. Despite all of the distance he’s out physically between them all by going out to L2, and sometimes being with the Sweepers.. Duo does truly think of all four of them as his friends.

Though… at the question of finding anyone else, Duo’s grin all at once shifts to something sly.

“I ain’t seen anything from our favorite clown, and I know that’s why you’re askin’.” He’s even ballsy enough to give Quatre one of those little looks down his nose, a motion of ‘I know you’ following shortly after.

Artfully, he does not mention that Heero is here, and instead moves right along.

“Wufei is here, spicy as ever.”

[fourhope]

It's not every day someone gets to surprise Duo Maxwell, so Quatre will enjoy this little moment. It's the little things that make life so sweet as they say.

Quatre is absolutely the sort of guy who isn't shy about expressing his affection for his friends. Though Duo is usually his target for hugs, simply because he knows Duo's comfortable with them. Unlike Heero who's a gamble and Wufei who's.... Wufei. But showing platonic affection is one thing...

Aqua eyes widen slightly and he shakes his head even as his cheeks flush hotly. "I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about. It's important to know what resources we have available for this operation." Ducking his head, he fusses over a few strands of his bangs before smiling sheepishly. Okay, so maybe that hadn't exactly been the most subtle tactic. But these are extenuating circumstances!

"Okay, so maybe I was mostly just asking if you'd seen Trowa." Because Duo does, in fact, know him all too well on these things. While not so true anymore, there was definitely a time Duo knew more about Quatre's thoughts on Trowa than Trowa himself did. "But the others being here is also important!"

Quatre's not one to hold a grudge. Very rude, that's important intel to have. Shame on you, Duo Maxwell.

"If he was any other way I'd be concerned."

3

[raynos]

Jamie's first thought is that Deathscythe is an incredibly weird and impractical-looking machine, but this guy is obviously fond of it, and Jamie has manners enough not to insult someone's robot to their face. He ambles over from where he'd been looking over his Zoid, tilting his head back to take in the full scope of the thing.

"Does it understand what you're saying to it?" ...it doesn't look like it does, but maybe things work differently with...whatever kind of mech this is.

[braidedwonder]

“Literally? No. But it doesn’t really matter to me.” They all talk to their gundams even though they don’t necessarily speak in return. In a way he feels more attached to the gundam than most actual people, though, if only by virtue of all that they’ve been through together.

He tugs at a covert something behind a dark panel, leaning against Deathscythe’s foot at he waits for his lift.

“Sometimes Deathscythe’s so fine tuned I feel like he anticipates me anyway.”

4

[shangrilady]

Oh sounds like we got a bad boy here lmao

[braidedwonder]

You really wanna put a bunch of information on an aggregate form?

[shangrilady]

I'm less of a loner than it sounds like you are. But putting anything really important on there would be weird.

4

[sleepfan]

Following orders is overrated.

That is the second best hair I've seen.

[braidedwonder]

Second?

That sounds fake.

[sleepfan]

Fair enough: I wouldn't believe Ferdinand's hair unless I saw it so often.

[One of the wonders of the world has to be how his comrade's hair always looks that good. Linhardt ponders it on occasion when he's tuning out whatever Ferdinand is saying.]

His is just a bit curlier than yours and almost bright copper colored. Your hair style is better, though.