( 002 » ENSEMBLE ) gravitational.

[reveriemod]

» WHO? EVERYONE
» WHEN? JUNE 1 onward
» WHERE? ALL OVER THE STATION (literally)
» WHAT? Gravity is always on, until it isn't.
» WARNINGS? zero g, paralysis, the vacuum of space, possible asphyxiation, possible character death

0 0 1 » LOSS OF GRAVITY

The outer rings of Reverie Station rotate around the shaft of the station, using inertial forces to simulate gravity. One moment, this works fine — people are walking along corridors, sleeping in their beds, eating in the mess hall or having a drink at the bar. The next moment? In some parts of the station, a crunching sound can be heard, like metal against metal, and shortly thereafter, the rings cease to spin, causing a jolt to go through all rings.

And then what passed for gravity just stops.

Your food, drink or blanket might have floated off after the jolt. Remember to engage your mag boots, if you're wearing them, lest you follow suit. Good luck getting around in zero g.

( ♪ )

0 0 1 . 1 » UPSIDE DOWN AND FLOATING

The lack of gravity may be disorienting at first for those not used to operating in zero g environments. Fortunately, mag boots mean you can continue walking along corridors — though the boots will engage with what used to be the ceiling of the corridors as much as what used to be the floor. No matter which part of the corridor you're attached to, if any, better make sure to collect anything that may be floating around, lest it becomes a dangerous projectile whenever gravity turns back on.

The mess hall and the gym area in particular are in a significant state of disarray. In the mess hall, some cutlery (of the grey, hard plastic variant) has been left unsecured and is floating harmlessly through the air. The same holds true for a large amount of protein powder. In the gym area, meanwhile, the entirety of the dirty water from the pool is no longer in the pool.

( ☺︎ )

0 0 1 . 2 » PARALYSIS INDOORS

One moment, you’re walking — or maybe you’re floating, mag boots disengaged. Either way, from one moment to the next, you become unable to move. Your arms, your legs, even wiggling a toe becomes a thing of impossibility. There’s a heavy weight on your chest, despite the fact that gravity is still not back on. Taking a breath is an ordeal. You can’t call for help, you can’t signal to anyone, you can only stay still.

( ♪ )

OOC: The length of paralysis is up to players.

0 0 2 » TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

It isn't clear why the rotation of the rings has stopped and gravity ceased, but one thing is certain: life on the station is a lot more difficult without gravity, especially for those not used to living and working in a zero g environment. The sensible thing would be to fix whatever is wrong, but in order to do that, you have to figure out what's wrong first.

One way to get an idea might be to put on a suit (if required) and go out an airlock to have a close look at the upper ring, where the crunching noise could be heard the loudest. The objective is to identify the problem and, if possible, fix it — but unless you have the power of flight and can breathe in the vacuum of space, the walk from the airlock to surveying the ring will be taxing in and of itself.

Better not lose hold of the station or each other and whatever you do, do not disengage those mag boots. Hopefully, no debris will come flying at you. The station may be built to withstand it, but you aren't.

( ♪ )

OOC: There are some 20 vac suits with oxygen packs and small thrusters for (weak) propulsion available in the spaces currently accessible to characters; these can be found in various airlocks.

0 0 2 . 1 » FLOATING AROUND

The station may be built to withstand debris, but you aren't — which makes it all the more unfortunate that some debris does catch you. In the side, in the face or in the legs, it doesn't matter: what matters is that the impact is strong enough to disengage the mag boots, which means you are now floating in space.

Did your suit take damage? Do its thrusters still work, or not? Is your oxygen pack still connected properly? If your connection to the station network is still intact, now would be a good time to call for help and hope that someone's close enough to get to you in time before you float too far from the station to still be reached, before your oxygen runs out, before any possible injuries you may have sustained take their toll.

( ♪ )

OOC: With this prompt, the extent of possible injuries, the time before rescue and factors such as oxygen or damage to the suit are all up to players. Please keep in mind that character death is very much a possibility — but that death means relatively little. Should a character die from their injuries or lack of oxygen, they will awaken again. As per the death mechanism outlined in the FAQ, characters are brought back to life (possibly repeatedly, if rescue takes a while), but they lose something. What they lose is up to players as well (a limb, memories, senses, social skills, ...) and the duration of the loss can range from a few days to permanent loss.

0 0 2 . 2 » PARALYSIS OUTDOORS

One moment, you are walking along the hull of the station. The next, you're frozen. Your arms and legs no longer move and there's pressure on your chest. Even taking a breath becomes an ordeal. You cannot move forward. You cannot move back. You can't even signal or call for help.

What choice do you have but to wait out this paralysis and hope that it loses its hold on you before your oxygen runs out? Better not panic, lest you use up more of it.

( ♪ )

OOC: The length of paralysis is up to players.

0 0 3 » WORK IT

For those who've successfully made the walk across the hull of the station to find the problem, it will soon become obvious what has happened: debris crashed into the station and got lodged between the uppermost ring and the shaft of the station, where it is stuck, preventing the spinning of the ring.

You will need to work together to cut through the debris or dislodge it. It's heavy, and you have little leverage in the absence of gravity.

Keep in mind also that if you successfully dislodge the debris, the outer ring will start moving again. Be prepared, especially if you're still connected to the ring by your mag boots. Inertial forces can be quite strong, so you will need to brace yourself or risk being dislodged yourself.

( ♪ )

Comments

[ryuji]

[From below, he continues to keep his arms crossed.]

Uh...You could probably do it now that there's no gravity.

[Could he? Does that actually make it easier, or was he Making Shit Up? Ryuji tries to hide the smile that's threatening to creep up along his face. Well, even if he does end up tripping, he'll just... float back up anyway, right?]

[dumbstruck]

[ It certainly sounds believable to Hyunseok, but he's also a gullible idiot. A gullible idiot who doesn't actually know what a moonwalk is. He's seen people do it, but he can't really recall the right steps to take, so he takes one shuffling step backwards and...

No. That's not right, is it? Another attempt? Yeah, that's not really working. What the fuck is he supposed to be doing?

Unless this guy means a moonwalk like astronauts bounding across the surface of the moon, in which case whatever it is that Hyunseok is attempt and failing to do looks even dumber.

Shit. ]

Uh...

[ Quick distraction! ]

What about you? You tried it yet?

[ryuji]

[He definitely means the dance popularized by the late, great MJ. Ryuji doesn't think anything of Hyunseok's attempt other than what it warrants: a small chuckle, as he moves his hand to cover his mouth.

Truth be told, he's got some dance moves in him, but he's just as inept at that as Hyunseok is. Or, at least, from what he can tell.]

Oh. Yeah. Definitely. I've mastered all the space dance moves. The whip, the gangnam style, the vogue, the twist, hell, even the macarena.

[Ryuji sucks inward on his lips to stop his obvious smile that's forming.]

[dumbstruck]

You think the whip and the horse dance are space dance moves?

[ Is he serious? Hyunseok is pretty sure he knows what the macarena is, but he's less sure about the vogue... and what the hell is the twist? It's probably what it sounds like, right?

Either way, this guy has a weird definition of what counts as a space dance move. ]

[ryuji]

If you're in space, and you're dancing, then it's a space dance move.

[It's as obvious a fact as any, even if it was dubious in its construction.]

I'd... well, I'd teach ya. But it takes years of study, man.

[Interlocking his fingers behind the back of his head, he plays it off like he's the teacher and he's about to drop a fuckton of knowledge of Hyunseok, but like all wise socratic teachers, he's not about to show it unless he absolutely has to.]

Have you ever flossed so hard that your gums hurt?

[Please stop him.]

[dumbstruck]

[ Something about this seems fishy. Hyunseok isn't the brightest guy out there, and is admittedly pretty easy to dupe, but even he can tell when someone is trying to avoid making a fool of themselves.

The question throws him off though, and works as an effective distraction. He can't really demand a dance when he's busy wondering where the hell that one came from. ]

What? I-- probably?

[ It's not a usual problem he has, but it's probably happened at some point in his life.

And no, no one is being stopped here. ]

[ryuji]

[Okay, now he's actually taking advantage of Hyunseok's inactive knowledge of all the latest dance crazes. Ryuji laughs, and brings his hands down to his side. It's been pretty good up until this point, though.]

Flossin'... it's a dance move, dude.

[Which makes his pun completely inoperable.]

Yeah. You don't actually... do anything to your teeth, you kinda just move your hands around like you're doin' it. But between your legs instead of your mouth.

[And scratches his nose, smirking to himself.]

[dumbstruck]

[ His brows are pushing together at that as he tries to consider what that would look like, and... ]

That sounds like a really stupid looking dance.

[ Just putting it out there. He's not convinced he's not being messed with still, because would people actually do a dance like that? ]

[ryuji]

[You DARE defy the knowledge base of someone as (un)apt as Ryuji when it comes to the art of modern day meme dancing, Hyunseok?]

...

[There's absolutely a dance move that entails all of those aforementioned traits. Ryuji breathes in through his nose. It's time Yoda came down from his meditation and showed the young padawan how it's proverbially done.]

Watch and learn, dude.

[dumbstruck]

[ He does indeed dare defy the knowledge, or more he questions what is wrong with people to even make up a dance like this in the first place.

Maybe it's surprisingly cool looking though? This guy seems like he's really gearing up for something big, and Hyunseok keeps his brows furrowed as he waits for this apparently impressive dance to get busted out. ]

Okay...

[ryuji]

[Seeing as how he asked for this butt-beating, rationality defying, obnoxious course of events to unfold before his eyes, he sighs and drops his hands down to his sides. There's no music, and that's what honestly sucks about this entire thing.

More than that, Ryuji never realized how much he missed listening to it in the first place. Space is oddly quiet. And you kind of want it to be, right? Loud noises and hysteria are typically signs of danger out here. Nothing good.]

So you basically just move your legs and hips at the same time to get the effect that it looks like you're runnin' a string between your legs.

[He does the move slow, just to show each part of it piecemeal.]

Got it? Then you kinda... speed it up.

[And he does so.

And it's ridiculous.]

[dumbstruck]

[ The lack of music adds a certain feeling to the dance that might not exist if this was being done to an actual beat. Hyunseok is silent while Ryuji demonstrates this apparently incredible dance of him, just taking it all in.

Now that he's seen it for himself, he can say with some certainty-- ]

It looks even dumber than it sounded like it would.

[ What a compliment. ]

[ryuji]

[This dance, in fact, is not incredible. It's just sad. And it's even sadder that Ryuji knows how to do it. Curse him and his inner tempo, his pirouette aptitude, his prowess on the dance floor. And when he stops, he can't help but smile, thinking that the jig (god...) is up.]

Yeah. I think that's kinda the point, actually.

[Compliment taken, Hyunseok.]

[dumbstruck]

[ A snort of what is almost laughter at that comment. Well now he knows the whole thing was one big joke, but way to take a joke as far as it could go, Ryuji. It was a good show, even if it wasn't a good dance. ]

Whoever thought it up did a good job then.

[ A pause. ]

That's really a dance actual people like doing?

[ryuji]

[Listen, when it comes to putting his ass out there, it's always going to be full-on. There ain't no room for halving it.]

Ionno. Some kids on the internet, I guess.

[He kiiiiiiiind of wants to see Hyunseok try it too, but he's not (that) mean.]

It's more a thing to try to keep a straight face while doin' it, I think. So then you just look super ridiculous doin' it.

[dumbstruck]

[ He's gonna have to bribe him into making a fool of himself... through dance. He'll make a fool of himself through other means on multiple occasions before they all get off this space station for sure though.

Ok, that's definitely a laugh now, but the expression is disbelieving. ]

Don't you already look super ridiculous doing it anyway?

[ryuji]

Yeah, but you gotta pay attention to the fine detail of makin' yourself look as much of an ass as possible while giving off the vibe that you're totally serious about doin' it. Otherwise, you're just performin' for the crowd, and where's the irony in that, y'know?

[Ryuji admittedly doesn't have a ton to bribe Hyunseok with, but maybe they can come to a sort of consensus on this friendship-exchange dealie. Ryuji smiles, and offers out his hand to shake.]

I can tell we're gonna get along great.

[dumbstruck]

[ Another laugh. People like this with no shame whatsoever...

Are actually kind of admirable. Hyunseok makes an ass out of himself often, maybe he should embrace it and go full idiot so that at least it looks funny instead of just sad.

He does take that hand though, giving it a good shake. ]

Because I made fun of your dance? I can definitely make fun of more of them if that's what you're about.

[ryuji]

[You know it. Ryuji Sakamoto doesn't even know how to spell shame!

Well, okay, shame- yeah, that's only... what. 4 letters? 5? He's got this.]

Yeah, man. That's what bein' friends is all about. Doin' stupid shit together and not lettin' each other live it down, y'know?

[A vigorous handshake ensues.]

[dumbstruck]

[ Ha! Even Hyunseok knows how to spell shame! Spelling may be about the only thing he can do competently without looking like a complete idiot, however.

He opens his mouth to argue, then realizes that no, no that... that is about right, isn't it? He sort of lost a lot of his friends recently due to reasons, but that is a lot of what his friendships were based around when he had them. Mostly him doing stupid shit and them not letting him live it down, but still.

He'll say something else instead of trying to disagree with that very legitimate point. ]

Hey what's your name anyway?

[ Introduce self first? No! Demand name instead. ]

[ryuji]

[The one thing he's known about a lot of people since moving into this utopian place of wonderment, is that a lot of people got separated from people that they care about. Hell, there isn't a day that goes by that Ryuji's not thinking about his mom, or hoping that the friends that didn't make it here are doing okay... and basically, that none of them ever wind up here, to be honest.

But he tries to remain friendly when he can, and help people when he's able. It's pretty much the only thing he can do for anyone, really. Not that he's supposing anything specific from Hyunseok in that sort of matter, it just kind of comes naturally.

Ryuji smiles back at him, bright, and simple.]

Ryuji Sakamoto! You?

[dumbstruck]

[ When you wind up in unknown space very far away from your home with the constant threat of death hanging over your head at every turn? It's kind of nice to have guys like Ryuji who are trying to find some fun in the whole thing. It's easy to fall into a depressive funk for most people, and while Hyunseok is a little more emotionally resilient than most people even he isn't impervious to negative thoughts and feelings.

Obviously losing gravity isn't one of those things that bring him down, but still! ]

Hyunseok Choi.

[ A pause, and the smile drops a little. ]

Hey, you're pretty young, right? Are you still in high school?

[ He could be a college student. Hyunseok really hopes he's a college student, because there's something deeply unsettling about teenagers being stuck in a situation where one false move and they could be jettisoned into space by a faulty space station. ]

[ryuji]

[Literally can't bring him down, either. Thanks, gravity, for not existing up here for a little while.]

Hyunseok. Got it. Korean?

[If Ryuji wasn't Japanese sounding enough, and Hyunseok wasn't Korean sounding enough. It's pretty obvious, but it's just a talking point, an invitation to open up more about someone other than just names. And, hey, look, Hyunseok is doing the same thing to him.

Cool points all around. They can be collected and tallied up later for... no apparently useful reason.]

I'm a few months shy of turnin' 18. It was Christmas Eve when I got sucked up from my home world. You?

[dumbstruck]

[ He nods at the question. He already figured this guy had to be Japanese, but maybe he shouldn't assume? The whole translated language thing really throws him off some, and for all he knows this guy could be speaking to him in Swedish right now?

The expression on his face twists into something a little distressed looking at the response. Not even eighteen yet? He doesn't know how Japanese laws work, but he's still over a solid year away from really being an adult in Hyunseok's eyes. That makes the fact that he's been dragged into this mess pretty distressing by default.

Not that twenty-one is some deeply mature and put together age, but at least he has a two in front of his number, so it's slightly less distressing in theory if he dies in space.

... Theoretically, not actually less distressing to him personally. ]

Like mid-fall, but man... you're really young, huh?

[ He may have just misunderstood the question asked here, but forgive him he's having a crisis moment right now over this. ]

[ryuji]

[The shared language thing only ever broke down when two people tried writing things out on paper. Luckily enough, Ryuji wasn't a big fan of writing, anyway, so it didn't really seem to come up very often. Just another one of those bullshit things that the station was trying to throw at them.

Adulthood was only 2 years away- Japan's perception of that pretty much began at 20, a coming of ages type year for teens as they progress into the next great venture of their lives. But still, he's caught off guard a little bit by the question. Yeah, he's pretty young, but. Dude.... he practically saved the world with his friends. Or at least, his best friend told him that they did. Ryuji hadn't gotten that far in his home world yet.]

I mean... I guess? I've seen a lot of shit though.