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 Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:15 am
 People disappear all the time. Many are never found. There are no clues. These unexplained disappearances are filed away and ultimately forgotten. A mystery with no solution. But where do these people go? Some no doubt are murdered, the bodies hidden well enough to baffle the police forever. Some are runaways who make a new life for themselves. Some end up in hospital, John/Jane Does with no memory, no life. But some... they go somewhere entirely different... The last thing you remember is fuzzy. You were alone, perhaps in an alleyway or asleep in bed. A flash of bright blue light blinded you and it felt as if your limbs went heavy. Your eyes closed even as you fought to keep them open. Then the blackness of a dreamless sleep swallowed you. You have no idea how much time has passed or what has been happening to your slumbering body. You awaken in what appears to be a small metal cell. It is only just tall enough to stand in and wide enough to lie down in. There are no windows, no bed, no bathroom facilities. There seems to be a door on one wall but no matter how hard you try it will not budge. It is little more than a holding pen. You can do nothing but wait, or perhaps try and sleep against the hard walls and floor. All you have with you are the clothes you were wearing and whatever you were holding when you vanished. For some, this is fortunate. You may be carrying a bag with books, or pens, or some other way to entertain yourself. You will quickly learn that cell phones get no reception at all and there is no way of charging other electrical items once their batteries die. Others are not so lucky. Taken from your bed you might have only a blanket and pajamas. The cell suddenly jolts, as if it is coming to a stop. It has been too long and you feel a wave of relief, or perhaps fear, as the door hisses and pops open on its own. Beyond the portal you can see green. The green of grass and nearby trees. The blue of a clear sky. No monster jumps out at you, but no friendly face is there to welcome you. Where are you? This is no place that you know, though it may remind you of places you once visited. Stepping out of your cell you would realise that you are among a throng of similar cells, each looking like a metal box with a door. They are placed in organised rows, each sitting individually and with no clues as to how they got into the middle of a pleasant and warm meadow. And they are all occupied with equally confused looking people of all types. There is a large, solid looking metal chest set in front of each of the cells. When they are opened they reveal dried food supplies and bottled water, a tightly rolled up sleeping bag, a billie can and metal spoon, a sharp knife in a sheath, and a uniform grey jumpsuit seemingly tailored to fit (for those with the misfortune to be partially clothed or naked). One chest contains a map and compass, pointing the way through the nearby forest towards what seems to be a camp of some sort. With no idea what is going on and supplies short, the consensus is eventually reached by the group of strangers that the most sensible thing to do is head to that camp. Perhaps there might be help there, or answers, or at least food. How will a group of total strangers fare in an unfamiliar wilderness? There's no going back now.
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:15 am
RULES:
1 – Be polite OOC. But remember that arguments can and may start IC. Don't make it personal. A person is not their character and clashes are bound to happen. If you have a problem with someone OOC either talk it out in PMs or contact me directly.
2 – Be creative. I really don't want a gaggle of emo teenagers wandering through the countryside. What I'd love to see is a whole variety of ages, lifestyles, personalities etc.
3 – Don't be too creative. Sorry, but you're restricted the the species listed in this one. No demons, angels, werewolves, vampires, elves, mutants or anything else along those lines. Nor can you be a shapeshifter or psychic (except where stated).
4 – If your character has unusual skills e.g. is an expert sword fighter, come up with a good explanation as to why and how they gained that skill.
5 – No Godmodding, although that is hard to do with a regular human anyway.
6 – This is a literate RP. I expect decent spelling and grammar (no one is perfect though, just do your best). Netspeak is banned entirely. It won't kill anyone to write "you" instead of "u" or "to" instead of "2". There is also a three paragraph minimum per post. No one-liners.
7 – Enjoy it! This scenario may prove difficult at times but there is a lot of room for character development and side stories. Make the best of it.
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:16 am
PROFILE: Name:
Age:
Gender:
Species:
Physical Description: (Try to be detailed – more than a single paragraph please)
Personality: (Detailed – more than a single paragraph)
Inventory: (What you were wearing and carrying at the time of abduction)
Likes:
Dislikes:
Career/Schooling:
Additional Information: (This is the place to talk about any useful skills you may have, any important details or relevant history. You can pretty much write anything you wish about your character here that has not already been covered)
Image/s: (Optional)
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:17 am
FAQ:
How do I join?
Fill out the profile. PM it to me. As soon as I read it I'll reply letting you know if you can post. Easy as that. There are some occasions when I might ask for you to do a little more work on the profile first. Don't take this personally please, just remember this is a literate thread and I would really like to see that reflected in your profiles.
Can I edit my profile after it has been posted in the profile thread?
Yes. You will be able to post your profile in the relevant thread, here. Just let me know what changes you wish to make and if I approve them, you're free to edit.
Can one of my personal items be a pet?
No, sorry. Any living creature you were holding has been left behind. This includes pets, service animals, children, friends and family.
Can my character be some kind of celebrity?
Potentially yes, though I don't want a gang of movie or rock stars running around so it would be a limited choice.
Can my character be a character from a series/movie/book?
No. Original ideas only.
Can my character be a ninja/assassin/spy?
That would be highly unlikely in a contemporary setting like this, so unless you can come up with an exceptionally good back story, then no.
Can my character be a/an … (insert option here)?
If you're not sure, just drop me a PM. Every possibility will be considered on a case by case basis.
The RP is already under way, can I still join?
Absolutely! If we are still journeying then it shall be assumed you were always with the group and you were simply quiet. If we are already at our destination then you shall be one of the many random cell drops I hope we shall have.
Can my character be homosexual/bisexual/transgendered?
Of course.
You said we have no idea how long we have been asleep. Can my character be from a different time?
Absolutely. Everyone has been kept in a sort of stasis. Most people will be contemporary, but there may be some that have been stored for a longer time. No one from the future please.
Can my character have an addiction of some kind?
Of course. However, seeing as the characters are carrying only what they had on their person at the time of their abduction, be aware that sooner or later the subject of their addiction is going to run out. I would like to see that reflected in your roleplay, if you choose to make your character in such a way.
Further questions can be directed to me and I shall do my best to answer everything as best I can.
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:18 am
SPECIES LIST:
Aside from human, there are 6 other potential alien species a player can choose from.
Sslishe:
Sslishe are reptilian in nature, but bipedal. They evolved from a variety of dinosaur-like species on their home planet and as such different races may exhibit different features such as small horns or spines. Colouration varies, usually by tribe. It is very rare for a Sslishe to reach 6ft tall, most being just over 5ft tall. Females are larger than males and do not have breasts as they are an egg laying species. Usually each female produces a single egg at a time, long and tapered. Occasionally they may produce two. No female has ever survived three or more. It is often hard to tell male from female at first glance.
They tend to prefer meat but can survive on a herbivorous diet if they must. They are tribal in nature and often wear simple hand made armour and clothing made from leather. Most often they wear little more than a leather loincloth and perhaps a little decoration. Their tribes are matriarchal. It is not uncommon for a single tribal queen to have several male mates. Often when a queen chooses a king they may form and share a small harem of young males and females, but are emotionally monogamous.
Contrary to their appearance, they are not stupid and certainly equal the intelligence of any human. They have no technological experience however, but are adept at adapting to new skills quickly.
Sslishe mature very quickly, growing from egg to adult in 10-12 years. When they reach maturity they seem to remain unchanging for decades, often for a further seventy or eighty years. And then they suddenly age as rapidly as they matured.
Zanlar:
Zanlar are tall and slender, averaging 6ft 6inches. Their skin is entirely grey and hairless. Their eyes are large and almond shaped, able to see just beyond the ranges of a human, just into the infra red and ultra violet ranges. These are the creatures that have given rise to the aliens known as 'The Greys', though their bodies are somewhat more in proportion than most descriptions would suggest. They seem to lack a nose and have no concept of smell or taste.
They appear to lack gender at all, and given that they rarely wear clothes (thanks to a metabolism that regulates their body temperature almost perfectly) it is often impossible to tell the difference between them. They actually do reproduce rarely, keeping their reproductive organs internally. All Zanlar are hermaphrodites. Instead of forming lasting monogamous relationships Zanlar will join a social unit. These vary in size. When a young Zanlar reaches maturity (roughly 25 years old) they leave their social unit and travel, living an almost nomadic lifestyle. As they pass from unit to unit they earn their stay by bringing fresh DNA. When a nomad arrives it is customary to check its genetic history and then elect a suitable partner for them to breed with. The nomad will then remain for a single year at most before moving on again. If they remain after the year they become part of that social unit for the rest of their lives. This stage of their development can last anywhere from two years to two decades, until they find a suitable home.
They are very intelligent and display very mild telekinetic powers, mostly likely to make up for their small physical strength. However, even this ability can not lift more than about 50kg. They are almost entirely vegetarian.
Zanlar age similarly to humans at first. Children belong to an entire social unit, not to a single couple. They have no concept of parenthood in the same way humans do. Instead any child of the social group they have joined is treated just as if they were their own offspring and thus all Zanlar children reap the benefit of a large family. When they reach around their 20th year they seem to simply cease to age. It is unknown how long they can actually live for, as their bodies are so frail they usually succumb to injury or illness long before they succumb to age. It is rumoured that a single pair of Zanlar are kept in their main city, cocooned. Both are reportedly many thousands of years old and are the holders of all Zanlar wisdom.
Elpa:
Elpa look like humans at first glance. They are roughly the same average height and shape. Notable are their pointed ears, making them look like elves of legend. They also have very large eyes seemingly to be entirely pupil. As such they do not take to very bright lights well and even being out in the sun can be painful for them. Most will find some way to shield their eyes if they must venture into the light.
They have obvious differences between male and female, in very similar a way to humans. However, their colouration tends to vary depending on their bloodline and can include shades of green, blue or red. These colours are often very subtle.
Elpa breed just as humans do, usually in lifelong monogamous partnerships and heterosexually (though like humans there is a lot of deviation from this common system of relationships - multiple partners and homosexuality are not taboos among their kind at all). A couple however rarely produce more than a few children in their lifetimes, despite how long lived they are. They age at roughly half the speed of a human, sometimes only reaching maturity in their 40s.
They are fairly intelligent and can grasp concepts quickly. Physically, they are considered more beautiful than humans. On the down side, they are somewhat weaker. Elpa are omnivorous like humans.
Krakar:
Krakar are insect-like humanoids. They tend to be bipedal with one main set of arms. Often they have a smaller, secondary set of arms on their torso. These are rarely used and seem to be mainly for gripping. They have large segmented eyes as well as a pair of antenna that do the job of both ears and nose. Their bodies have a tough exoskeleton which they sometimes decorate with jewels and trinkets.
The vast majority of Krakar are genderless drones, with the exception of queens and their rare mates. As is to be expected, these queens are much, much larger than the drones, governing them and spending most of their time producing more drones (note - fully fledged females are far too vast and as such are not available to roleplay, however younger, less developed princesses may be). Their male mates die shortly after breeding. They mature normally like drones, but sometime in their mid-teens a peculiar changes comes over fertile males and females. Females suddenly begin emitting a very attractive scent and produce a sort of sweet, sticky nectar. Males stop eating anything except this nectar and will often go for weeks without rest or sleep trying to find a female. As such they may only mate once or twice and then simply die from exhaustion, leaving the princesses to mature into egg-producing queens.
Meanwhile the drones carry on as they always did, though they are technically mature. Though they are not fertile they can enjoy pleasure with one another. They do not live too long, often rarely reaching their 60s. This is not because they die young, for they could continue well into their hundreds if they wished to, but when they feel they are weakening and can no longer continue to work their hardest they often engage in a form of ritual suicide.
They do seem to possess a great ability to cooperate, enabling them to work together perfectly. They tend to work for the benefit of the hive rather than selfish desires. They are also exceptionally strong and are brilliant engineers, able to build structures out of almost anything. However, their intelligence lacks and they do not cope well with the concept of individuality. Krakar are omnivorous, preferring simple foods like moss and lichen.
Bronads:
Bronads look like strange, wingless dragons. From the tip of their flattened noses to the tips of their tails they can be almost 12ft long, often being between 4ft and 5ft from the ground to the tops of their heads. They have six limbs, four limbs for walking and a pair that act like regular human arms and hands, though they only have three fingers and a thumb. All of these digits have sharp talons. Their face is flatter than a dragon's, with large, slitted eyes. They often have horns, though it is usually the males that develop the largest. They have the appearance of reptiles, but they are actually mammals. Touching their apparently scaly skin would confirm the heat and smoothness of mammal skin. Some Bronad races have a crest of hair on their heads.
Bronads are exceptionally intelligent, rivalling the Zanlar easily. They do wear a sort of specially designed clothing when they feel cold, but otherwise have no sense of modesty. The genders are fairly easy to tell apart thanks to this. They often employ the use of bags to carry things, very similar to saddle-bags that they rest over their hips. They are omnivorous, being excellent fishers and farmers.
Bronads age relatively quickly at first. Childhood for them lasts usually until their fifteenth year at which point they are considered adults. From then on they seem to age in comparison to humans, reaching middle age in their 50s. Some live until their early hundreds. They often form a series of monogamous relationships during their lifetimes, much like humans. It is very rare for them to find a mate and then stay with that mate for life. A lot of their emotions and relationships are similar to humanity's that way. They form close knit family groups however.
Morgosai:
Morgosai are the largest species present, often reaching 8ft to 9ft tall. They are very strong and covered in hair, with long, powerful arms. They have elongated faces with sharp teeth and keen, dark eyes. Their hands are large enough to envelop a human head, and hang near their knees. They look sort of like a cross between a gorilla and a bull.
Males are generally slightly larger than females and the genders are often easy to distinguish. Males are bulkier, females being more angular and slender. They also have breasts like most mammals. Morgosai are fiercely protective of their families, and will choose a single mate for life. Though they are often considered brutish and simple by other species, they show remarkable compassion and love among their own kind. Usually. They may do things that would be far too rough for other species and will openly attack one another in an argument, but they can take far more as well. What would kill a human from them would merely bruise another Morgosai. Romance is equally as violent, as a male must impress a female by fighting her and overpowering her. This is far more difficult for a male than it sounds and a female can easily kill a male if she does not like him. As such mates are chosen very, very carefully and only if a female is truly impressed will she back down and allow him to court her. And it is said if one of a pair dies, the other will die of heartbreak.
Morgosai frequently produce twins. They are raised by the parents but often schooled by a local elder as well. They are taught the ways of their kind, but little in the way of formal education. As such it is often only leaders that can even read their simple form of writing. Children are considered adults on the day they can take down a Karshia beast (rather like a cross between a bear and a boar) without assistance. Many adults have scars from their attempts to do so. Most achieve this in their early 20s, and it is the same rite of passage for males and females alike. They are at constant risk of an early grave thanks to their lifestyles, any Morgosai past the age of 70 is revered and adored as an elder and they will then spend their later years teaching the youngsters the secrets they have learned in life that have allowed them to live so long.
They dress in a primitive fashion, mostly for identification and decoration as their fur keeps them warm. They are not regarded at the most intelligent of species but make up for it in brute strength and agility. A fit young Morgosai can jump almost 10ft in the air from standing and is able to lift up to a tonne. They have a reputation for being skilled fighters with a taste for violence. They are mostly carnivorous, but will eat plants when necessary.
Humans:
Presumably you are already aware of humans and their quirks. No sense listing them here.
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Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 6:07 am
Edward Jameson sighed wearily. As he made his way through the dark London streets he cursed the fog that blinded him to his surroundings. He had slipped out of the party early, making his excuses. He simply hadn't like the company, nor his friends and their ridiculous bets. But the fog had meant he had missed most of the hackney cabs that passed him and he had given up. His home was just an hour's walk away anyway and though it was foggy, the night was not cold.
His footsteps were the only sound he could hear for a long time. The streets were nearly empty. Very rare for London, even at night. He took a corner and paused. Was this the right place? He looked around, seeking a street sign. He thought he saw someone nearby, but it was hard to tell through the fog. He tried to peer through the murkiness. He removed his top hat and straightened the crisp Victorian suit he wore neatly.
"Excuse me..." He began.
There was a flash of blue light and Edward couldn't stop himself from falling to the ground. His vision went black. Had he been struck by lightning? But it had not been storming. Perhaps he had been struck by a vile mugger, or a wicked murderer.
---
Time passed. How much time, he had no idea. Perhaps it was a minute. Perhaps it was a hundred years. All he know was that when he awoke he was in a room, not on the street. He sat up. The room was smooth and metal, little more than a box. He pulled himself to his feet and tapped on the walls, working his way around the room until he found the door. He pushed and pushed, throwing himself against it eventually. It wouldn't budge. He called out time and time again until his throat was hoarse. But there was no response.
Eventually he sat back down and rested against the smooth wall, watching the door. He checked his watch periodically. Time passed slowly and though it felt like hours slipped by him, it wasn't long before the door hissed and popped outwards. He would give his captor a piece of his mind! He jumped to his feet and put his hat on, grabbing his can and storming out onto the...
...grass?
He looked around. He was surrounded by identical metal cells. There had to be somewhere between fifty and eighty of them, but they were so spread out he couldn't tell for sure. And from most of them various people were emerging and looking around. Some were human. Some were most certainly not. And some, it seemed, were far too frightened to come out at all. Where were they? And what was this place? Were they in danger at all, he wondered? He gazed down at the chest in front of his cell and opened it. All the supplies he might need for a small camping trip. He examined the contents cautiously, spotting a creature with six limbs staring dumbly at the chest in front of it a short way away. There was a pack slung over its back.
"Well, at least they saw fit to give us beasts of burden." He remarked to himself.
"I do beg your pardon!" The creature looked up at him angrily, narrowing its eyes at him. He stared in shock. It could talk.
"Ha. You speak, little thing. I thought you were our food supplies." A massive furred beast on his other side laughed at Edward.
Edward closed the chest and sat on it, stunned. This was going to be some adventure.
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Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 9:46 am
Her eyes popped open as she jerked up in bed. It was the pained whimper that had woken her.
“Wendy!” The girl had called out in worry.
She knew in an instant that her sister again was plagued with nightmares. She was saddened, though it was a long times since the accident, the nightmares didn't cease. Jumping off her own bed on the opposite side of the room she wasted no time to comfort her troubled sister.
Ever so carefully she climbed onto the bed. Gently she brought her hand to her sisters side and rubbed her shoulder. “It's okay.” She cooed, trying to be careful not to startle her. As her sister seemed to calm in her sleep Tuesday wrapped her arms around her, and hummed a song lightly. Fighting sleep her self, she was determined to care for her sister. But, alas, the sandman won, he had even brought along a calming blue light to aid in his duties as she again fell into a deep sleep.
A metallic tinge entered her nose.
That was strange, she felt crowded. In the same moment Wednesday sat up in her seemingly uncomfortable she realized that she wasn't in her bed. Reaching up to rub the sleepiness out of her eyes her hand was intercepted by hitting the wall. It was cold... A gasp left her mouth as her hands traveled the wall. Her heart began to pound, and the sound seemed as if it echoed or bounced off the metal walls. The room was unfamiliar to her. Her fingers trembled with each touch. There was no texture, nothing, just smooth and the smell of the metal was overbearing and made her feel slightly nauseous.
Panic taking over, she let out a small scream.
Startled Tuesday replied with a yell. “For heaven sakes Wendy! You scared thhhhhh...” her mouth dropped looking around the tiny room that they had been squished into there was hardly enough room for the two to move easily. The girl tried to assess the situation, the last thing she remembered was crawling into bed with Wednesday, calming her, and the blue light.
That was when the light clicked. Had the sandman kidnaped them? Did she upset him by not going to sleep when Mother always told them to, Or right after their father had tucked the two in. “Hello!” She called. But again, silence, except from her sister's irregular breathing.
She shifted over to hold her sister's again trembling body. “Its okay.... it's just a bad dream.” She heard her self reply. She didn't know why it was she said that, it was more like something her mother would have said, in this kind of situation. She and her sister sat and waited, until the door opened.
Both girls stared in the direction of the door. Neither said anything for some time. But someone had to go and check what was going on. After quietly convincing her sister that everything would be okay, she slowly walked towards the open door to investigate.
It was far from what she expected to be. Though she wasn't really sure what she did expect to be out the door. From what she could tell around her were other people... and creatures? That had already emerged from holding cells just like their own.
“Tuesday?” came a small nervous cry from behind her. “What is it?”
Boy, She really must be dreaming.....
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Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 2:34 pm
James was not pleased. The ship had nearly aground on this godsforsaken island, and the cause of this near catastrophe? Was the obviously terrified man standing in front of him. A lousy lookout this fellow was. Yet the captain's anger was not obvious, in either tone or body posture. He was slumped in the chair on the main deck, speaking slowly and evenly as he questioned the lookout, and the duo that had been drunkenly patrolling the deck and had spotted the situation in time to react.
What was the man's name? Charles, right? Something like that. New kid, and he'd nearly sunken his precious ship on his first night on watch. Lovely. As much as he'd like to retire from piracy, playing king of the godsforsaken island for however long they survived on it was not his idea of an enjoyable retirement.
"Charles." The trio froze, snapping their attention back to the captain. "If something of this nature happens again, I will be booting your waterlogged behind over the side." 'Preferably in the direction of the nearest naval ship.' He thought to himself, neglecting to mention that part out loud. "Now gentlemen, I am going back to my bunk, and I suggest you three get back to your duties."
He stood finally, ignoring the sounds of the trio scrambling away, and made his way back to his bunk, yawning as he went. James hadn't bothered removing his coat, his hat, or any of his weapons as he sank onto the old hammock. The blue flash of light was barely noticed as the pirate drifted off to sleep again.
And it wouldn't be for several years, several hundred years at least, that he'd wake again. Not that James would be aware of this.
All he knew was that he was jolted awake by the sudden stop of the cell, scrambled to his feet, and he was going to flay Charles alive for running the ship aground...and that would be when he noticed where he was. "Oh, damn." One hand on the hilt of his cutlass, he examined the room, getting more and more aggravated by the second.
When the door finally popped open, doubtless those on the outside could hear the sounds of the pirate loading and priming two of his flintlock pistols. One was left half-cocked, and jammed back into the waistsash, the other fully cocked, his cutlass in his other hand. And then he emerged, standing straight and proud for once. "You'll never take me alive you...you..." He almost dropped the pistol, both arms hanging limp by his sides as he gaped at the creatures around him. It was probably a good thing he'd stopped where he had, as the chest was barely a foot length from him, and he'd have probably tripped over it had he kept going.
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 7:15 am
Shillian was having a good day. She'd slept in peacefully until two little bundles of energy had decided the best way to wake mommy was by jumping up and down on her. She'd caught her youngest and bundled him into the blankets before play battling with her oldest for a while, the whole thing turning into a cheerful weekend tumble on the bed. Having been woken by play she'd managed to get them out into the garden for a while to give herself some peace in order to make them all a large breakfast full of their favourite things.
Breakfast had led to more playing, a trip to the local park and then home for dinner. After getting the kids bundled into the bathtub she was drying them off when the door was politely opened and she heard a familiar voice behind her. She had to laugh as they kids scrambled to meet their father. They didn't know he'd be visiting today, so it was a cheerful sight to see. Shillian watched as they climbed all over him in delight, her tail flicking. He had even been so nice as to bring her a packet of her favourite candies.
"You sure you don't mind taking the kids tonight?" She had asked him. But as always it was his pleasure. Besides, he wanted to introduce them to his latest mate. A good friend of Shillian's had recently ended a relationship, so she was spending the night with her in order to give her company and comfort. A night of talking and fine drinks seemed to be exactly what they both needed. She had kissed her ex-mate's cheek and bent to hug and kiss her two babies goodnight, promising them she'd be back in the morning.
She never returned.
Shillian had been on the transport system, curious at how quiet it was that night. Only a few other people were using the shuttle. And she was the only one to disembark at her friend's closest station. Passing through the clean and crisp building she was startled by a flash of blue light. And then darkness.
She awoke in a metal room. She had to curl up slightly to fit in comfortably. This was no place that she knew of. She struggled against the door before giving up and sighing. Eventually she had turned to the comfort of her music player and eaten one of the candies her ex had given her. She was resting her chin on her tail when the door opened. Cautiously she packed her things away again and stepped out into the sunlight. She was surrounded by identical cells and all sorts of non-identical peoples. She stared down at a chest in front of her, too shocked and stunned to think of opening it.
"Well, at least they saw fit to give us beasts of burden." Said a strange biped nearby. She looked up suddenly and scowled at him.
"I do beg your pardon!" She retorted, though she was smugly amused when a massive furred creature remarked on eating the little biped.
She finally opened the chest and examined the things within. It reminded her of a strange forced camping trip. A soft noise nearby made her look up.
"Oh merciful deities!" She gasped. There were children here. What vile being would kidnap children from their beds?
The same that would kidnap a mother on the streets, she realised. She stared at the pair of matching creatures and felt a sob catch in her own throat. Would she ever see her babies again? At least she knew they were safe with their father.
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 5:40 am
Valerie had simply been taking a walk a few blocks down from her apartment. Her trusted, durable corduroy bag that had served her so well was slung over one shoulder, and the satisfaction to the crave in her pocket. It was a good day. It was a good life. It was about to get better.
She plopped down unceremoniously on a street corner, reaching into her pocket to pull out a baggie. She opened her bag and grabbed the works. A clean and syringe, bottom of a soda bottle, and a bottle of water. A little bit of alchemy, meaning mixing heroin and water, and holding a lighter beneath it to help with the dissolving and she was ready to go. Hey, there was a science to it.
She reached into her bag once more and grabbed a cotton ball, letting it soak up the liquid before inserting the needle and pulling the liquid free. Normally there would be an alcohol swab or two involved, but eh, she didn't have time. This was just a quick one to keep her going. With a steady hand she sunk the needle into her flesh, taking a moment to make sure she had the vein before pumping the liquid into her veins.
She took a moment to put all of her things away once more, waiting for the drug to kick in. Unfortunately, relief didn't come while injecting, it took a minute of so for the drug to begin taking effect. She ran her fingers through her red hair waiting. It seemed like a long time. Longer then a minute.
It had to have been longer than a minute.
Finally warmth spread across her body. "Mmm." She sighed as the familiar, relaxing sensation overtook her. Her hands ran across the sidewalk for a moment lazily. Maybe she would just stay where she was a while...
Oh, no. She'd been going home. She closed her eyes for a moment and willed herself to stand, almost surprised to find her body so responsive. Oh yeah. She smiled a little as she shouldered her bag and continued on her way, stepping out of the alley and into the street. The sun was mostly set, but it was as if she could feel the Sun beating down on her.
Everything was warmer. Brighter. More vibrant. More... alive. And it seemed to take no time for Valerie to reach her modest apartment. She stepped in with a smile as her cat came to the door to meet her. "Good evening, Tink." She smiled and reached down to stroke the animal. "Been good while I was gone?" She asked, crossing the hall to her bedroom.
She had just sat down on her bed, when there was a blue flash.
Sometime later she awoke with a muffled groan. That had never happened before. Her hand reached down to prop her up and she didn't feel what she expected. Metal? That was strange. She ran her hands across it a few times with a frown before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a lighter. She flicked the knob and turned the flame on, looking around her dark prison.
This was bad... but she supposed it could have been lots worse. She was alive. And it apparently hadn't been long, since she could still feel drugs in her veins.
The door swing upon, and her emerald eyes widened a little as she put the lighter back in her pocket and stepped out. There other cages... and people... and things.
She blinked and looked at a strange dragon-like creature. There was something wrong with that smack. She was hallucinating. There was no was this could be real. Still, it was pretty nice. Was that man... wearing Victorian clothes? She gave her brain a 10 for creativity. Out came the camera and with a click she captured the image. She wondered what was actually going on, but supposed it didn't matter.
After all, she was still at home, on her bed. This was some strangely realistic dream-hallucination thing caused by the bad smack.
Right?
Well, she supposed she would just ride it out. After all, she was already having fun.
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 11:20 am
The click of Valerie's camera was what got James moving again. He pivoted to one side, pistol and cutlass held out in front of him again. But whatever the girl was holding didn't look like a pistol, which had been the first explanation James had thought of for the sound and flash. And she was dressed so strangely. "Drop it! Right now! Or I'll shoot!"
He still hadn't the slightest idea of where he was, or what was going on. And he couldn't taking quick glances around him, at the bizarre creatures, at the strangely dressed people. What had happened to his ship? To his crew? And for that matter, what had happened to him?
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:49 pm
"Oh - Oh ********." Valerie's hands instantly let go of the large camera, which landed with a gentle thus at her feet. "Don't shoot!" She cringed, her hands in the air, palms out. "It's just a camera."
She almost didn't notice the man's strange attire in her panic, but as she did a look of confusion crossed her face. "Are you... a pirate?" Her head shook a little as she opened and closed her eyes in clear disbelief. "Is it Halloween and no one told me?" She muttered.
"What a strange dream." She glanced down at her camera on the ground as she lowered her hands. Maybe she would leave it for another moment or two. She shifted her backpack nervously and looked around, her frown deepening as she took in the various races and people.
Well, it was only a dream. The worst thing that could possibly happen was she would wake up.
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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:22 pm
Edward rubbed at his eyes and bent over as he sat on his chest. All around him he could hear voices and unfamiliar sounds. How could this be happening? It didn't make any sense at all. He raised his head and watched a pirate a short distance away waving a pistol. A pirate. Edward actually laughed. How many stories had he read as a child about pirates, and there was one right in front of him.
He sighed and stood up, going through his chest again. Surely there had to be some clue as to what they were doing here. At the very bottom of his chest he found an odd piece of paper. It felt smooth and didn't tear. It was made of a sort of plastic, but Edward didn't know what plastic was. He smiled and examined it. A map. That was a start. He examined it. The area they were in was clearly marked. And as he studied the layout of the diagram, a way away (though he wasn't sure exactly how far) there seemed to be a settlement of some kind.
But he had no idea which way to go. He looked up and glanced around. There was no clue as to which way was actually north in this place. The sun might have been rising, or setting. And who knew if it rose and set in the same place as it did in London. Presumably it did. If his watch was right, it could be 8am, or it could be 8pm.
He'd try the pirate. For one thing they were both human, and as a nautical gentleman he might in fact be carrying a compass or a sextant. As he approached he studied the girl waving a device at him, who was startled rightfully so by the pistol. The language she used was frightful. He paused and shook his head in disgust. And she was not properly attired. She must be a foreigner.
"I say, old chap. I have a map but I am in a bit of a bind. Might you have some sort of directional device?" He asked the pirate.
--
Shillian swallowed back her sob. She couldn't afford to break down here and now. She had to find a way to get home. But... she looked to the twins nearby. How much they feel? She was at least an adult. They had been torn from their parents. They must be so afraid. She slipped her hand into the side pocket of her bag until she found her packet of sweet candies, mostly made of sugar just like human treats as it turned out. She had a very sweet tooth. She approached them carefully, trying not to scare them further. She probably looked as odd to them as they did to her after all.
"Hello. My name is Shillian Dagten Mo Hakat." she smiled gently. Hopefully her version of a smile would not make it look like she wanted to eat them, though her kind did have rather sharp teeth in comparison to humans. She held out the packet towards them cautiously. "Do you like sweets? I have some."
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Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 3:38 pm
“Ah...........” Tuesday tried to answer, but her voice trailed off. This was nothing like she seen before. The metal cubes seemed to go on for as far as she could see in all directions. Cubes, grass, and people...or well, creatures.
Her eyes searched the crowd for anyone familiar. There was a man dressed as if he was going to some Medieval faire, someone in a pirates costume waving a pretty real looking gun at a girl with reddish hair, who seemed to be the only one besides them dressed normally. It was the creatures who caught her interest most of all. 'Could they be real?' she wondered silently. There was really no words that she could you to express all that she now saw.
Tuesday took a step forward to investigate when she stubbed her toe. Bringing her attention downwards she studied the chest. “Oh, what do you think is inside?” She asked her sister kneeling down beside it. “Come,” she beaconed, “three steps.” She was very aware of her sisters anxiety to unfamiliar places. This would not be an exception. “Yes, come down... look!”
She opened the chest as her sister joined her on the ground. Once opened she inspected the contents of the newly found treasure chest of sorts. Food, water, and utensils enough for one person. She shrugged. Not that it mattered to her. They could take turns.
Wednesday tilted her head in about every direction that she could, she heard a jumble of voices and noises all around her. The only one that proved to be a familiar tone was that of her sisters. She carefully followed her sisters voice, the only one that she wished she heard. After taking three steps as her sister instructed she knelt down to 'look' at what her sister was speaking of.
Reaching her hand out she felt every nook and cranny that formed the outside of the box, it as much more pleasing to the touch than the cell they had emerged from, it was not cold. Once she finished looking at the outer edges of the box she reached in and felt all of its contents. Some things felt distinguishable as other things did not. That was when her hand grasped a leathery handle of some sort. She felt it for some time before realising it could be opened.
Before opening the, 'what-ever-it-was' a very sweet sounding woman introduced her self. Her glance stopped in Shillian's general direction though if she was more observant, the dragon-like creature would realize that Wednesday appeared to look past her.
“Woah!” Tuesday exclaimed in surprise at the huge beast that stood before her. Her eyes were drawn to Shillian's razor sharp teeth and counted each one of them, that she could see of course. She had never seen a dragon for real before. “Are you real? Are you really a dragon?” She asked, but before she could answer she jumped up in front of Wednesday holding out the only thing she could find in the box to use.
The spoon...
She had just realized that if the beast, no matter how nice it sounded, was indeed a dragon, that it probably would like to eat little girls. “Your not going to eat us are you? I bet a pirate would be more tasty!” She exclaimed just as fast pointing in the pirates general direction.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:05 am
Shillian glanced at each of them. They were identical in every way, aside from their clothing. Her first assumption when she saw them wearing clothes was that they were from a cold climate. But as she glanced around she saw that nearly every one of their species was clothed in some way. It was almost as if they were ashamed of their bodies. How foolish. She ruffled up her crest of bright red hair and looked down at one twin.
She was feeling her way through the chest carefully, exploring the contents. As she looked up Shillian registered that something wasn't quite right. She didn't meet her gaze. Perhaps she was shy, but it seemed to be more than that somehow.
Suddenly the other twin jumped up and brandished a spoon at her. Shillian blinked her violet slitted eyes in surprise. And then she laughed in amusement. How endearing! She was very protective of her sister it seemed. And it was clear why. She was clearly blind, or partially sighted at best, judging by the way she cautiously felt her way around the items.
"Oh my. I'm afraid I don't know what a dragon is at all. But I can assure you I am quite real. As real as you are certainly. I've never seen a creature quite like you." Shillian remarked as she turned her head this way and that. She glanced in the direction of the pirate she pointed at. He didn't look terribly tasty. "Deities no! All that hair would get stuck in my teeth and make me cough. No, I don't eat little girls. I eat sweets." She smiled, taking one of the candies from the packet and popping it in her mouth. She offered the bag forward again and raised an eyebrow.
As she did so she caught sight of Wednesday examining one of the items with her fingers. She frowned a little.
"I don't think you want to play with that sweetie, it might be dangerous." She cautioned her gently. She didn't want the poor thing to hurt herself right after getting here. She didn't know if she'd be able to find a suitable healing herb around here. "Do you have names?"
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