eighth galaxy [video]

[normandysbest]

[The camera opens on Shepard standing against a display wall, with a bunch of chatter going on behind her. There's some text displayed, but it's too big to be seen through the limited scope of the video. She smiles, and mock salutes with two fingers.]

Gotta say, out of all the things Wonderland could've drawn from for me, this is probably the best end of the deal. So hey everybody, welcome to the Citadel. Yes, you're in space. No, you don't need a suit unless you wanna go outside, and I wouldn't recommend it.

[She swaps the video feed for a few moments to outside her surroundings, showing a crowded view of the Silversun Strip, and then back to her face.]

The Citadel's the hub of galactic government in my universe. Lots to do, lots to see. You've probably all got omni-tools, but they're pretty basic to learn. In general, try to stay away from any places that look seedy, and if it's illegal where you come from, it's probably illegal here. Otherwise, go wild. If you need directions, the holographic terminals are VI information guides. Ask 'em whatever. Or, y'know, you've got the extranet in the palm of your hands, so you can just search it yourself.

[She looks like she's gonna stop, and then grins a little bit wider.]

Oh, and one more thing...

[She steps away from the wall to show she's standing in front of a display sign. A very particular display sign.]

I re-maxed my high score at the Armax combat arena. I'll buy anyone who can beat me without cheating a free meal. Good luck.

[She winks, and cuts the feed.]

Comments

[didntknowbest]

This is where you are from?

[Toriel is... still reeling quite a bit, from suddenly finding herself in this place. All the lights, all the people, voices and advertisements going over the intercom telling her to buy things she's never even heard of... it's all leaving her a bit overwhelmed.]

I knew that you came from space, but I never imagined that there would be anything like this out here. I have never seen a place so big or so advanced before.

Do, ah... do you think that perhaps a private tour would be too much to ask?

[normandysbest]

[She can't help but chuckle, and give a warm smile to the camera.]

Yeah, this one's me. But I'd be happy to show you around. Sorry if this has been... a little much right out of the gate.

[video]

[wriggedywrecked]

So this is, uhhh...k-kinda fucking awesome and all, but do we gotta worry about your s-space bug whale friends?

[video - private]

[normandysbest]

[She encodes the feed quickly, just in case.]

I checked when I woke up. Year's not right. We're here a year before the invasion, which is weird, because it's set up exactly like it was during the war. But there's no information about it on the extranet.

For some reason, Wonderland decided to go easy on us.

video.

[poppycock]

[ this guy is somewhat already might be drunk. he found the green alcohol. if he hadn't, he probably wouldn't even bother replying to this helpful missive, but he does passingly know the commander and he is having some fun.

or he's just drunk. ] What— [ klaus starts this interaction off kind of loudly and strong, lifting a finger up. then he brings it back down. ] —exactly is the 'Armax combat arena', Miss [ he blinks, perhaps trying to remember her name or blanking at her actual title ] Commander Shepard. [ #nailedit ]

video.

[normandysbest]

[She can't help but snicker a little. Well, someone's enjoying the scenery.]

It's a fake battleground of sorts. You fight against simulated enemies with like, fake weapons and stuff. There's a bunch of different layouts and enemies, too. You can take it solo or with a group.

[chantes]

That's quite a challenge.

( Is it? Does she plan on doing it? Who knows. But now she's even -- they'll both have seen the other's world now )

[normandysbest]

Honestly, I picked it up back home to mess with an old friend. Here it just feels like messing with the Mansion as a whole.

[Which is, to her, entirely worth it.]

video;

[beatupgrass]

This is awesome. [delighted cackling. after the last two events, he freakin' needed this.]

And I'm pretty sure I heard "go to the seedy places, 'cause that's where all the fun's at."

video;

[normandysbest]

[She outright laughs.]

Y'know, usually I'd disparage people for doing that, but you have experience with not dying on space stations, so just try not to kill anyone from the Mansion, alright?

video

[mr_englishguy]

Why hello there, and I must say I'm delighted to be visiting your world compared to what I've already experienced. Might I ask what you would recommend? I come from a time much less advanced than this seems, so any advice would be wonderful.

video

[normandysbest]

Well, depends on the sort of stuff you like. You looking for entertainment, shopping, games? There's a lot the Citadel has to offer.

[video]

[wickedwest]

What's considered cheating?

[She's probably not gonna try, but you never know.]

[video]

[normandysbest]

Hacking the display board or the battlefield workings in any way, and/or sabotaging me or your fellow contestants.

It's also a pretty meaningless contest anyway, considering you all have a bunch of credits and as soon as we get back to the mansion all the food goes back to being free, so.

[It'd be a Long way to go just to spite her, but she can think of a few people who might.]

[video]

[punful]

[Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit.]

so, uh. not that i'm complaining or anything, but this is...this can't be the whole event, right? i mean, it's wonderland. there's probably gonna be some kinda alien invasion or the station's about to explode or something, right?

[It's a pretty downer attitude, but this has to be too good to be true.]

[video - private]

[normandysbest]

[She locks this quickly; not because she doesn't want this information getting out, but primarily because she doesn't want anyone to panic.]

I thought so too, but it's not the right year. Wonderland doesn't usually involve fine details like that unless it's important. This place is gonna face down a massive invasion twice, but the first already happened and the second shouldn't be for another year and a half.

It seems too good to be true, considering the crap they could've pulled from here. But I do have a lot of good memories in these parts, and the last thing I did before I got taken to Wonderland was spend some time here with my crew. It's possible it was just drawing from that.

[Video]

[cuteshit]

This place is from your world?

[Kanji had been wondering who was responsible for this one, having visited the Silversun Strip himself already. There's a lot to take in here-- almost too much.]

Dude, this place is awesome.

[Video]

[normandysbest]

Yep. I've spent a lot of time here over the years. Not where I lived exactly, but it's the best place to go for supplies and everything.

[She's really pleased people like it this much, though. She remembers seeing it for the first time in basic, too, and being completely enthralled.]

I remember being excited when I saw it for the first time, too.

I was told holograms were a thing.

[literalidiotball]

[Oooh, looks like the moron has been messing with the hologram feature. You're gonna get a video featuring Wheatley's voice coming out of a computer generated avatar he just put together 30 minutes ago.]

Wow, this was... This was your place?

You know, I was actually getting tired of space before I got here. Then again, where I was, it was literally in the middle of nowhere. Not like a city or anything... So, I dunno what to feel about this.

yep!

[normandysbest]

[She snickers a little bit.]

Yeah, I mean, this place is gonna be a lot more exciting than floating in the void. How'd you end up just in the middle of a star system somewhere?

video.

[interpersonal]

( shepard's announcement could not come at a better time. sure, elena knows better than to blindly trust anything, especially if it involves space, but the mood of this event is sort of unmistakable. shepard's instructions are confirmation if anything else, and elena plans to let herself enjoy this. )

This is ... this is where you're from? ( try sounding more in awe, elena. )

video.

[normandysbest]

Yep. This is my world.

[Honestly, all she wants is to party while she's here, too. Usually when she ends up here it's something horrifying, but like... fuck it, time to get drunk and shoot shit.]

I guess you've never been to space before?

video;

[circlejerked]

So this is what living with your head in the clouds is like. If there were clouds. And you--you live like this all of the time?

<sub>[An undercurrent of awestruck excitement marks Anders' voice as he can't help but reply to the woman's message with one of his own.

On another occasion, he might have simply listened to the explanation and left the commentary to other individuals, but he's from the equivalent of Middle-earth. This is crazy. Clarke Griffin had tried to explain it once, only words don't do the real thing justice. Even while recording himself, his eyes keep flicking away to the sights around him as if magnetized.]</sub>

This "omni-tool" is like the communication devices Wonderland employs, yes?

video;

[normandysbest]

Oh trust me, we're way above the clouds.

[Way above the whole ding dang atmosphere, to be exact. But she's happily entertained by how excited he is.]

And yeah, omni-tools are about the same thing, but they're all holographic and touch-enabled. Plus they'll give you maps, restaurant recommendations, take notes, go on the extranet... whole ton of stuff. You can even interface them into certain consoles for information or inputting content.

[video]

[assembles]

[ Even with all of the places that Wonderland has transported them to during Steve's long stay here, this is a first. The chance to actually visit space had been at least feasible back home, considering one of his friends is, in fact, an alien from another planet, but there hadn't ever been a good reason for it. And with the state of the world now, it's looking even less likely.

So really, this is a treat. Steve feels like a kid again, wandering through a world fair and looking at all the futuristic inventions. It's like all the best parts of waking up in the future, concentrated down into one incredible place.

Given that Shepard had mainly told him about her time as commander of a spaceship, he's surprised when he finds out that this event comes from her memories. This is the happiest he's ever seen her look, too. Must be nice to feel like she's at home, even if it isn't real. ]

So... [ There's a hint of mischief on Steve's face as he sends a message back to her. ] How do you define cheating?

[ A combat challenge sounds intriguing, not to mention the promise of a free meal. But if his enhancements immediately disqualify him, he may as well find out now. ]

[video]

[normandysbest]

[Her grin widens when she sees him respond, because he is exactly the kind of guy she was hoping would take that bait.]

No hacking the scoreboard or stadium to display a score you didn't receive, or earn extra points through re-routing the recording matrixes. Otherwise, go wild.

[She uses her tactical cloak in there all the time; if he enhancements didn't count she probably wouldn't have come out on top.]

Frankly, I'd love to see you take it on.