Intro Log: The Forgotten City

[atlasmods]

GOOD MORNING NEW ARRIVALS This time for real! WAKEY WAKEY. As the storm finally peters out and characters can once again move above ground it becomes abundantly clear that the landscape has changed. Where vast expanses of sand dunes once laid is now the half-buried remnants of what looks like some sort of...city? Full of structures. It stretches so far it's really hard to tell. But there is one thing characters will notice: There are more stasis pods. Revealed by the sandstorm, a whole new flurry of pods can be found scattered on the way to the city (curiously though, not in it. Hurry and wake those guys up! SPREAD THE LOVE. OR ACID. With the departure of the storm there's even more new arrivals to be found besides those fellow travelers of yours! The "Seedlings" and "Cactus" are now both available, the former blown in by the storm and the former uncovered. The Seedlings are generally pretty harmless. They like to burrow into the sand so only their "Leaves" plant-like leaves remain above ground, and they're quite happy to stay that way until surprised. Then they pop up and trip over themselves a little, before slowing down and wandering aimlessly. When they find a patch of sand that looks comfy they begin burrowing back down. Pull or yank on their leaves though and you'll find yourself with a face full of pollen that makes you want to just tell everyone how super-cool they are. It lasts a while, and then you get a fever and vomit for two hours. Good times. The Cacti are much less harmless and just...why would you eat them? Everything about this plant is poisonous, and cracking it open causes a corrosive acid-like substance to spill out. It'll eat through everything but...dirt, oddly. Metals and flesh are like hot oil on plastic. DON'T GET LOST And last but not least: The Forgotten City. Maybe you want to check out the Hull first for some loot, but maybe that's not such a cool idea anymore? Although it looks like the ship's definitely more powered after draining the suits of whoever went in, now it's started to spread and fill the sinkhole the ship's in. Suits can go from 100% to 0% in just ten minutes--not good! Lucky for everyone else, it looks like finally there's some sort of civilization up ahead. Go on and check it out! OR DO. THAT'S OKAY TOO. Go nuts, have fun, and enjoy! (This is the wildcard option) OOC The Flora, Fauna & Resources page has been updated with information on the seedlings, cacti, and crystals! These items are now all available for Discovery, and The Forgotten City will be available indefinitely from now on! Characters can take this time to settle & build up a foundation for themselves, explore the area, and of course, harass those poor little seedlings. We encourage players to make their own open posts for this setting--you don't need to stick to just this intro log! But make sure to make our newbies feel welcome!

Comments

3

[adamance]

[Even though Lance is taller than her (not by much, but enough that he would have to look down at her), Lexa somehow manages to seem like she's looking down on him the moment he's speaking to her. Her chin lifts slightly with all the arrogance she can muster, and she does nothing to conceal her dislike of him.

Or maybe that's just her resting expression.

Yes, that may be closer to the truth.]

While true, you may need to specify why you think this.

[ceruleo]

[ If Lance even realizes Lexa is in any way, shape or form unhappy with him, he doesn't show it.

In fact, he just looks at her silently for a long moment, expression enraptured, caught up in the strange, fluttering tenderness that sits in his chest. He reaches over to take Lexa's hand gently in his own. ]

Man, I'm so glad to meet you. It's just--it's so great. I mean have you looked at you? Absolutely spectacular. And I'm positive you're so talented, too. A woman like you? Super talented, for sure.

[ His pupils are so dilated, it isn't even funny. With his free hand, he's gesticulating a bit in time to his words. ]

[adamance]

[As someone not yet aware of the effects of the pollen, Lexa's eyes narrow as she looks at him, not unlike how a predator might look at prey ... only the prey isn't the type you eat. Just destroy.

This metaphor got away from me.

Either way, Lexa looks vicious.]

What are you trying to get from me?

[ceruleo]

[ Sadly, Lexa's viciousness does strictly nothing to make Lance falter, because he's drugged out of his goddamn mind. ]

A smile?

[ So earnestly. ]

[adamance]

[Does she look like a woman who smiles Lance? How dare you!

Okay, but seriously, she is debating shaking him a bit. Odd things have happened. She feels only a portion of the pain she should feel. Lexa is beginning to wonder if he was bitten by something—or he's just an idiot.

The latter seems ... safe ... for now. But she knows of fruits in the woods back home that, when they go rotten, they make someone hallucinate.]

Who do you think I am? [Yes, it's another question, but it seems like a fine place to start.]

[ceruleo]

[ He still has one of Lexa's hands in his, and the free one shifts down to join it, clasping her with a bright gentleness. Under normal circumstances, this is where he'd wink saucily and shoot off my next girlfriend! or something equally ridiculous, but the pollen has made him affectionate, not flirtatious. ]

Isn't it obvious? You're my new best friend.

[ As far as friends go, they could both probably do worse, maybe. ]

[adamance]

[It's good that he didn't go for the girlfriend line. Clarke might have gotten jealous. And Lexa probably would have bloodied his nose. It'd be a mess for everyone.

When he takes her hand in both of his hands, she tenses considerably before the words come out. The last closest thing to a best friend that Lexa had killed her, so she's reluctant to find another. Lance doesn't seem like he'd be anything like that, but ... still.]

And what is my best friend's name? I always ask that my friends are in service to me. That means I'd be your Commander, and you'd be expected to follow my lead. [Lexa isn't actually going to force him to do anything too terrible, but she and Clarke do need someone to try food for them to make sure it's safe ...]

[ceruleo]

[ He'll thank his lucky stars later. For now: ]

Yeah, okay. [ He'll have regrets once he's finished puking his guts out, maybe. ] I'm Lance! [ No doubt, no worry, just total trust. ] Should I call you Commander?

[adamance]

Yes. [The answer comes too easily. Lexa may have to seek him out later once this wears off (and once she realizes that it's an actual Thing that's occurring).]

There's a better word for it, but it's been lost to us. For now, until I reclaim that—[said as if this an actual possibility]—"Commander" will have to do. Do you have any ranks where you come from, Lance?

[ceruleo]

[ He is going to puke all over her boots, just you wait. ]

I'm a Paladin of Voltron. [ Said in that same upbeat, excitable tone. ] I used to be a cadet, sort of! But then the Blue Lion found me and took me to space, so I'm not anymore.

[ He blinks. It's a bittersweet topic, normally one he'd be happy to capitalize on for bragging material, but his focus returns to Lexa like waves lapping at the beach. ] You didn't tell me your name! I bet it's super awesome, just like you.

[adamance]

[While Lexa understands all of the words he's saying, they don't seem to add up from where she's standing. Like, yes, she knows what a lion is, but she hasn't seen any blue ones. She's learned that space travel is common here, even if she hasn't done it herself (and while some of her people have, it was ... limited, to say the least). And then there's more than that.

She decides to just ... brush it aside. None of it matters, really, if he's agreed to listen to her.

Right?]

My name is Lexa, though again, I do prefer Commander.