locomodo: (light mode)
locomo mod acct ([personal profile] locomodo) wrote in [community profile] locomo2021-08-13 04:59 pm

Downtime Log - Intro


Log 01 Downtime Intro
Maybe you were walking to class, or riding into battle, or at your father's funeral, or gazing into the abyss as you brush your teeth and think about your waning youth. Maybe you're from 1000 years ago, or the far-flung future. But it doesn't matter how different you are, because all passengers will wake up sprawled on the same floor of the same car...


The Perfectly Average Everyday Normal Train Car
As characters stir from their slumber, they'll notice their new(?) phones vibrating in their pockets. An unread message is waiting for them...

FROM: clownductor one

Welcome to the Existential Express, car #83045029342000001.

[CHARACTER NAME] is currently engaged in Tutorial Mode.

Objectives:
> Read the Existential Express (E2) brochure.
> Access the user directory and send a message.
> Ask one of the other passengers to be your friend.
> Find the exit door.

By completing car objectives, passengers may proceed through the exit and onto the next car.

Thank you for riding with the Existential Express. Please enjoy your journey into the great unknown.

>>>>SUBJECT: New Passengers
How is that? I attempted to make it sound welcoming.


The message, strangely, cuts off there. The brochure goes over all the basic 'what is a train' questions people may have, but nothing else.

However, characters may find that the exit door is locked until they complete the objectives, so it's icebreaker time! On the bright side, it seems this is a dining car, so there's a few nice plates of treats and a bar that magically serves beverages when people make orders. The exit door will be locked until the objectives are complete! (Please see OOC notes below for more details.)

In any case, when they unlock the door and move on through the exit, there is a walkway to the next car. Please watch your step, and check out the FAQ for more details on trying to leave the train!

Immediately proceeding the intro car is...


The Land of Corginia Car
As characters enter the car, their phones will notify them of a new objective…

> Lend a helping paw.



Because this historical city is occupied with... dogs! Mostly corgis. They are smart, verbal, and very good boys and girls. The dogs are happy to play with anyone, and will also help passengers get to anywhere they want to go. The car itself is basically Rome, with low doorways and ceilings.

And because corgis do have short legs and zero thumbs, they will sometimes need and ask for assistance. For example, you and a partner may need to help the corgis cross a river, give them belly rubs, or reach a ball on a high shelf. They are easily distracted, squirmy little babies and will make life very difficult, but they're just so darn cute!


The Museum Car
(tw: body horror)

As the characters enter the car, their phones will notify them of a new objective…

> Complete yourself.



As passengers enter this car, they'll find themselves feeling notably lighter. This might be because they're suddenly missing a leg, or perhaps an arm, or their eyes, or tongue. Whatever it may be, a part of them has been taken away. There's no pain, or danger to their lives from the missing part, it simply isn't there.

It's been whisked away and hidden somewhere in the musty old museum that they've found themselves in. Luckily, it's currently closed, so there's nothing stopping them from raiding everything in sight! The displays span all manner of topics, from history to biology to space. Passengers might even find displays on familiar historical events or persons from their home worlds as they search—the collection is seemingly endless! Just watch out, because sometimes objects (and body parts) will come to life and lunge through the glass at anyone who walks a little too close.

NOTE: Characters can snipe items from the display cases in the museum! However, they'll discover the items are actually toy replicas made of flimsy plastic. They're completely non-functional and will break if handled too roughly.


The Birth of the Wind Car
As the characters enter the car, their phones will notify them of a new objective…

> Collect all the korogu seeds.



The world that lies ahead of the passengers is vast and lush; a spectacle of nature that spans snow-capped mountains, dense forests, deserts, and lakes. Aside from unusually large and extremely territorial fauna (1, 2, 3), the car appears devoid of any signs of civilization, and passengers might think themselves completely alone…

… Until they hear the tinkling of a bell, and a cheery, "yahaha!" in the distance. Upon closer inspection, the car is in fact populated by small, wooden creatures known as korogus (here). They hide at the tops of trees and mountains, on lone islands in large lakes, and under rocks. Once a passenger stumbles across their hiding place—whether knowingly or otherwise—they'll appear in a puff of magic holding a golden korogu seed. Simply finding them isn't enough for them to hand over the precious item however, and they'll require passengers to offer up one truth in exchange for a seed. And don't bother lying, they'll give you a solid bonk on the head and disappear if you do!


Numbers
Numbers! Everyone starts with one that glows on their bodies — as a fun thread mechanic, we suggest they're somewhere visible, but it's up to you!



Because while this is not IC knowledge yet, numbers are determined by how troubled your character is. This may be based on their past actions and crimes, but also alienating habits, regrets, personality flaws, trauma, etc — a higher number does not necessarily mean they're a bad person, but it may signify a difficult time in their life, or substantial personal issues.

Numbers change as characters work through their issues... which we'll cover next time! However, for this log, please note that numbers will remain static. They may flicker or warp occasionally, but don't worry about them going up or down for the intro! As a bonus, numbers can glow in any color you would like.


OOC Notes
Car Order: While the cars are linear and in the order shown, characters can freely move between these four cars for the next three weeks — players may assume 1:1 IC:OOC time ratio.

Locks: Passengers may follow other characters out of cars after they've been unlocked — so in general, players can assume optional cars on downtime months are unlocked if they don't want to play in them. Likewise, if your character ICly would not participate in a car but you still want to play with those prompts, you can assume they're locked in and must complete objectives. Feel free to pick and choose what you'd like to play from any downtime log!

Update: We will also have a small update in the coming weeks — the setting won't change, but there will be a few more (optional!) aspects to play with later.

Feel free to direct questions to our Discord help channel. Welcome to Locomo, and have fun!





[community profile] locomo [community profile] e2 [community profile] traincation


FAQ & Game Info / Calendar / Taken
Applications / Reserves / Hiatus & Drops



FULL NAVIGATION
onlyhope: (14)

[personal profile] onlyhope 2021-08-14 08:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The expression, the greeting; they are more than enough to assuage Obi-Wan's outlying concerns about what kind of person would be holding a Jedi light saber whom wasn't part of the Order. In echo of the turbulent emotion that flutters across the boy's face and shimmers in the Force, Obi-Wan experiences a surge of aching, heartbroken relief. After seeing all those bodies in the temple, knowing that everywhere any Jedi had been surrounded by clones they had been mowed down ruthlessly... the echo of so many lives expending at once still sits like a black bruise on his heart.

And that was before he'd ever seen the recordings in the Temple.

Obi-Wan closes the distance between them, looking into his stunned expression to try and place his face. It touches something familiar in his mind, but he can't quite place it. Still holding the light saber in his fist, he reaches out his free hand to lay it on the young Jedi's shoulder. ]


I did. I was not sure how many of us got away. The Temple...

[ He shakes his head, finding his throat close over the reality still too close. ]
ascends: (04)

[personal profile] ascends 2021-08-14 08:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[you count. the expected response—because suguru supposes that he is interesting, in some odd way; a restored, reanimated corpse is the sort of medical marvel that would send shoko reaching for her scalpel, but with satoru, it's more than that? it's as complicated as their past ties; it's as simple as the fact that, by somehow evading death, suguru is now living proof of satoru's failure.

(and suguru, despite himself, remembers those lazy days in the dorm, putting his reading on pause to watch satoru try whatever new game he'd picked up. it never took satoru long to master them; he was as quick at picking up new controls as he was at picking up everything else, but occasionally he would lose—and he would make something of a production out of it? tipping his head back against the bed to whine about whatever cheap shot took him out, waiting for suguru to goad him into giving it another try.)

but even as satoru shifts about—even as suguru once again takes stock of his curses, finding them lacking—suguru remains still, searching the bit of satoru's face that is visible. he knows what it's like to fail; he'd felt the shame of it as he'd leaned against that wall not so very long ago, though it had been tempered, somewhat, by a strange sense of relief. at least it was satoru, in the end.

at least it was satoru.

which is not to say that suguru has any intention of dying again. he is prepared to do what he must, if it comes down to it—but for now he hums, as though he's graciously granting satoru this point.
]

You always were a sore loser.

[and thus i let you win, that tone implies. the type of tease that was friendly, once, but has since taken on new meaning. dangerous.

but less dangerous than the question he asks next, as his eyes linger on that blindfold.
]

And your prize?

[after all, that's how their games used to work. impossible for suguru to forget, thanks to the charm tucked somewhere on his person.]
lavishes: all icons by galasvar (Default)

[personal profile] lavishes 2021-08-14 08:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[ :D ]

I mean, I could! But I don't know what you look like. Or what your name is. Ooooor what you want for a drink. [ She sure is ignoring the sigh. ]
onlyhope: (10)

screams!!

[personal profile] onlyhope 2021-08-14 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's so utterly normal. The blind way Anakin reaches out, sitting somehow both in meditation and out, turning the attention of his little learners back to the task at hand. Obi-Wan had always known Anakin had it in him to be a great teacher. The way he had guided Ahsoka had only proven that fact. Always, he had been so gentle with children.

Holding this sight up against the violence in his memory makes the cracks in Obi-Wan's heart split. The carefully constructed walls holding him together, having taken such a vicious beating since Cody fired that shot at him high in the canyon of Utapau, crumbles under the weight of his grief.

He has not been able to stop. He had been on his way to find Anakin, to do what must be done, and then has been firmly rooted in completing each mission on this train. Faced now with his former Padawan as he is, is too much to bear. His face burns, a heat that flushes into his eyes and makes him bow his head. Squeezing his eyes tightly, he makes a poor attempt at holding back the tears as he takes a deep, unsteady breath. Trying to ground himself for the conversation that must happen. ]
unrepentant: (5)

3

[personal profile] unrepentant 2021-08-14 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[Goal-oriented by nature, this is the first train car that feels like it's really required him to slow down. The landscape itself is vast and stretches out in all directions, and the objective itself is pretty open ended. How many of these little guys are there? How will they know when they've all be found? Anakin hasn't struggled to find them, if anything he seems to be drawn in the right direction over and over again. But he also seems to be collecting the korogus themselves more than the seeds they're bequeathing.

Like the tiny figure he's just uncovered under a conspicuously placed rock. Delighted at being found, the korogu chimes at him and Anakin pushes back up to his feet. He can see now that they're on one of a series of ledges, a cliff face that makes him think of a staircase, one short, steep ledge after the other.

....And one with a, person on the ledge below him. A person looking down at one of those much bigger locals. What'cha got for teeth, there, buddy? he hears. A person with no self-preservation instincts apparently.]
You know that thing could squish you, right?
mugen: (pic#14951691)

1a one lucky friend coming right up

[personal profile] mugen 2021-08-14 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[As it happens, Satoru isn't enjoying his drink. He chose something that looked sweet but ended up being spiked with something strong, and as he doesn't drink, he makes a face upon giving it a whiff. Since this terrible drink is yet another disappointment layered on top of the ultimate annoyance of being placed on this train according to someone's whim (and Satoru has a guess on why), he decides to lowkey deface train property to stick it to the higher-ups that run this place.

So! While Wheatley is suffering face-down, Satoru makes his way over to him, judging him to look important and (maybe) like he's part of this train. He sticks out, sure, and he might have said hello a moment ago, while Satoru was approaching, but he's electronic enough to have something to do with this train. So Satoru poises his glass above Wheatley and is very nearly about to give him an unwanted bath of whatever's in his glass, when —

It speaks again! And truth be told, Satoru does happen to be familiar with seemingly sentient inanimate objects. He'll just tilt that glass of his back upright, sparing Wheatley, and pretend that he wasn't two seconds from potentially ruining him.]


I could lend a hand.

[A compelling offer, isn't it? But though Satoru says it, he doesn't actually move to do so — yet, at least. He's too busy looking Wheatley over, assessing him.]

What are you? [He's just going to...crouch down and lean in real close to get a better look...is this Wheatley's "butt" he's staring at? Hmm...] Cursed corpse? Mecha? [...] Nah, too small.
unrepentant: (52)

[personal profile] unrepentant 2021-08-14 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
What do I get when I pass?

[Totally normal thing to ask Anakin. 10/10]

Pod-racing
neriticism: (4)

[personal profile] neriticism 2021-08-14 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Really narrowing it down with all the knights in literal shining armor floating around. Why don't you just bring two for you, you'll stand out a little more.
ascends: @m_nokichi (59)

iii!

[personal profile] ascends 2021-08-14 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[thank you, sylvain, for choosing to nap under an acorn-laden tree? it gives geto plenty of ammo to work with—aka plenty of ammo to toss down at sylvain's prone form, because while geto was perfectly content to ignore him while collecting the korogu seeds from this particular korogu...

...well, you know. part of flying under the collective radar means faking it (tm), so. hi, buddy. hello. please enjoy the occasional acorn hitting your face until you wake the fuck up? and then please enjoy the sight of a monk sitting crossed-legged on the back a manta ray, which is just hovering near the top of this tree. totally normal stuff.
]

You know, [he says, perfectly cordial,] there are better places to take naps.

[because maybe other places don't have a veritable parade of chuchus—fire chuchus, electric chuchus, ice chuchus!—sliming their way ever closer. suguru chucks an acorn their way, too, just to direct sylvain's attention toward them.]
mugen: (pic#14951777)

[personal profile] mugen 2021-08-14 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
this isn't pass or fail! that's not how personality tests work

[Yeesh, where do you come from? Someone clearly has never read a trendy magazine before. But that's okay because...]

since i'm a generous guy i'll arrange a reward if you really impress me

but little green fruits are already costing you points


[Racing in pods sounds cool though...]
stardivers: (Default)

no answers only questions

[personal profile] stardivers 2021-08-14 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[His annoyance only grows when his question is met with another question.]

al phinuald wheere ay you./arr eyou on this airshioptoO?

[The letters on the very small keyboard were foreign to him yet he innately understood them.]

Is this dragon magicks then?

[He mumbles quietly to himself not knowing what the glow from his lance nor this new revelation meant.]
stardivers: (Default)

idunwantit

[personal profile] stardivers 2021-08-14 08:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[Droid... Now where had he heard that word before? Oh. Azys Lla. Of couse.]

You're searching for a small mechanic thing clanking about. I've not seen one here save that circular one over there. Mayhaps that is the droid you are searching for? Though it appears more akin to a node than an Enforcement Droid.

[His brow scrunches up and he frowns as the non-droid thing continues to buzz and blink in the other man's extended hand.]

Mm. Keep it, I've no use for it. Know you a way out of here? Mayhap this 'droid' of yours has managed to escape already.
7edacted: (80sbear_01)

[personal profile] 7edacted 2021-08-14 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[Only one hand is gone! Although for someone that constantly has the other firmly held onto her white-oak staff, suddenly finding herself one hand down feels all the same.

She tucks the staff into the crook of her elbow. A little better.
]

As long as you aren't in pain. [Suddenly, she's thankful for all of her parts that aren't missing and has to resist giving herself a pat over, just to be sure.] So far this feels much more corporeal than existential.

[Then again... no, there's no use contemplating the possible metaphors between her history with writing and the loss of her hand. Although she tucks her arm a little more securely into her robes.]

I would offer to heal you, although I don't think my magic would do much more than close the hole and... that seems worse, somehow.
psychometries: (084)

[personal profile] psychometries 2021-08-14 08:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ah, that Dathomiri sounding accent sure gets his attention, even if this man doesn't look at all like any Dathomirian Cal's ever encountered. Pushing the observation aside for now, he casually shifts his weight on the branch so that he's resting his elbows on his knees.

The comment gets a chuckle out of him. ]
Definitely the four-legged one. My mission is to find the perfect stick.

[ He sounds very amused by that fact, as well as slightly indulgent. Clearly, helping these good boys and girls is something he's more than happy to do. Speaking of, he calls down to the corgi, who is now sniffing the stick very intently and giving it an experimental bite. ]

Is that one okay, or do we need to keep looking?
frostblooded: (16)

kaeya alberich | genshin impact

[personal profile] frostblooded 2021-08-14 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
I. AVERAGE, NORMAL, EVERY DAY

[If Kaeya's honest, which he won't be, it took him some time to get his bearings. He's a quick study, though, and while much of what he's seeing and experiencing is brand new to him, he can adapt. That's why it's not long before he's sorted the important details--namely, that the bar will give him anything he wants.

Having taken full advantage of this fact, he's now draped himself over one of the dining car's booths, glass of sparkling wine in hand.]


I hear we're meant to make friends.

[He gestures to the opposite side of the booth--there's an empty glass. In the center of the table: bottles of wine, a plate of meat and cheeses.

Kaeya leans forward.]


Why not sit for a minute? Get friendly.

II. CORGI CROSSING

[Kaeya's got a corgi tucked under each arm, both fat and squirmy, both straining against as his sides as he strolls over a river. The water freezes beneath his boots with every step, creating a bridge, which he traverses at a leisurely pace.

'Faster, please! Over there, please!' one of the dogs under his arm insists. Meanwhile, at the river's edge just behind him, several more dogs slap their paws on the ice bridge and whine softly. 'It's too cold.']


Say, mind helping me out?

[He jerks his head towards the other side of the river--there are a bunch of inflatable balls stacked on the grass, waiting for someone to bat them around.]

These little fellows need an escort.

III. MUSEUM

[It's suspended in its case, hovering in mid-air. A single blue eye, a little unusual as far as eyes go, given its diamond-shaped pupil. Kaeya can't see it clearly, but he has a sense of shapes and depth still; he can move about freely, more so than he's planning to let on. He notices, too, that the case is flanked by Ruin Guards, also under glass, and certainly inert. But the situation gives him pause, nevertheless.

He pretends to fumble about the aisles, grasping here and there, and perhaps ultimately catching hold of another passenger. His tone is helpless, infused with panic -- ]


Please, spare a moment?

[His uncovered eye is just a hollow socket, at present.]

I'm really in a lot of trouble here.

[Would the Ruin Guards activate if they sensed motion? Kaeya's not sure. But he's interested in you finding out for him.]
sociably: having to make my own icons....disgusting (pic#15068717)

[personal profile] sociably 2021-08-14 09:12 pm (UTC)(link)
oh thank goodness
i mean, we have a talking dragon where i come from but a talking rat is a little much you know?


[ is it though? ]

do these things glitch a lot?
i've never had one before
but mine keeps telling me to open some brochure thingy
sociably: (pic#15037616)

[personal profile] sociably 2021-08-14 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[ WHAT THE—this is simply unfair!!!! Which she will state. In writing. ]

that's not fair! how am i supposed to know who this gojo satoru is??

[ Probably by skimming through the phone directory, but details. ]

you tell me who this person is then!
psychometries: (039)

[personal profile] psychometries 2021-08-14 09:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The Temple... he still doesn't know what happened there, as isolated as he was on Bracca, exposed only to the Empire's propaganda. But he recognizes the pain in Master Kenobi's voice, and can imagine all too well the bloodshed at the very heart of the Order.

The touch is comforting—it helps to make Master Kenobi more tangible, more real, as if he could've just been some ghost Cal manifested out of desperate hope. It helps to ground him, and he lets out another breath, this one steadier. ​]


I was with my Master. Jaro Tapal. I'm Cal... Cal Kestis.

[ He doesn't expect Obi-wan Kenobi to recognize him—there were thousands of Jedi before the Purge, and he was just one small Padawan out of many. But he should know his Master's name, even if he didn't know him personally, as another General in the war. ]

We were stationed outside of Bracca back then. [ He can feel emotion lodge itself in his throat, that old familiar grief. Even with five years of distance from the loss, the wound is still deep. ] Because of him, I was able to get away.
sulahnan: (Default)

[personal profile] sulahnan 2021-08-14 09:35 pm (UTC)(link)
A what? Are you... I mean I assume you're alive, since you're talking to me, yeah?

[ Never fear, she's stronger than she looks and isn't about to drop her new acquaintance — accidentally, anyway. She tips him a little bit this way and that, though less actively than before, still curious about the nature of this... little buddy. ]

Why are you a row-boat if you don't have oars? You don't even look like a boat. More like a buoy. Do you float?
psychometries: (120)

[personal profile] psychometries 2021-08-14 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Okay, he is definitely not keeping this thing, evidenced by the way his hand does not move, but first things first. ]

I was actually searching for a specific mechanic thing clanking about. [ His little buddy. His best friend, as arguably pitiful as it is for a droid to be your best friend. His constant companion, except for right now.

But it sounds like this man hasn't seen BD-1, and the droid is distinctive enough for that to be believed, so Cal just sort of sighs sadly and turns his attention back to the issue of the datapad. ]


No, he wouldn't have left me behind. [ That, he sounds very confident of. ] Are you sure you don't want this? [ Please, for kriff's sake. Take it back. ]
recitations: (Default)

i

[personal profile] recitations 2021-08-14 09:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, a tall man sliding up to her personal bubble ( this is not anything new at all ). She doesn't look particularly alarmed at the grin or the flirting or — anything else, instead her tail swaying slowly back and forth as she tilts her head upwards. In her hand is a large tome that she snaps shut, then ... holstered. Oh no, she's a nerd. ]

Drinks already? Even before you get to know my name? [ She raises her eyebrow, but there's a small smile playing at her lips. ] A little out of order, don't you think darling?
maleviolent: (brat)

ii lance me

[personal profile] maleviolent 2021-08-14 09:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[I could have the ball smack Sukuna in the face. I could. He'd deserve it. He deserves 100000 balls (all kinds of balls) smacking him in the face if I'm honest. Unfortunately for all, even nerfed, he has stupid fast reflexes and he catches it just before it can meet its mark and dole out the punishment he so sorely needs.

It kinda looks like it smacked him though, with how Sukuna glares down at the object like it personally offends him. As Estinien approaches, he levels that same annoyance at him. None of the corgis that follow get anywhere NEAR this man. Stranger danger.]


You're the one that threw this?

[It's rhetorical because before he can even open his mouth to answer, Sukuna


crushes the ball in his fist, it POPS!!!!, and then drops the remains at Estinien's feet.]
Edited 2021-08-14 21:49 (UTC)
psychometries: (115)

[personal profile] psychometries 2021-08-14 09:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Sometimes, but not that often.
Not the ones I'm used to anyway.
But I get the feeling you're not from my galaxy.


[ Judging by not having a datapad and the talking rat comment. That's very mean to Ranats and Chadra-Fans. ]
sulahnan: (6)

[personal profile] sulahnan 2021-08-14 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah yeah, got it!

[ It sounds a bit dismissive, perhaps, but she does understand what a pet is. After all, Vanadi is on this train, too.

When she gets to the next corgi-sized intersection she skids to a stop and looks down each diverging path, sniffing the air. ]


Uh...that way? Or... no wait... Maybe this way...
testgasm: portalcaps @ tumblr (ceiling wheatley is watching you test)

[personal profile] testgasm 2021-08-14 10:15 pm (UTC)(link)
oh it says it right there

it's wheatley nice to meet you