Commander Shepard (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
normandysbest) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
entranceway2017-04-01 12:14 am
normandysbest) wrote in entranceway2017-04-01 12:14 am
eighth galaxy [video]
[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.]
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.]
no subject
Not that this is not an amazing place! I am just an old fashioned woman, that is all.
[Toriel takes a moment to look back and forth, as she takes a few steps through the Wards.]
Also, I think that I may be lost.
no subject
Your omni-tool should have a map, including a navpoint for your current location. If you can send that to me- should be able to just press it and hit 'send to' from the menu, I think I'm in your contacts- , I can come get you. Or it can give you directions if you're trying to get somewhere specific.
no subject
[There's a pause, as Toriel begins trying to fiddling with her omni-tool, making many a confused sound, such as "Um," "Oh," and "Maybe if I... No..."
She has no clue how this thing works.]
I have no clue how this thing works.
I asked someone earlier where I could find somewhere a bit more open with space to relax, without so many bright lights, and they said to take a left at the movie store, but I have been walking for a while now and have not seen any stores with VHSes in them.
...It suddenly occurs to me that they may use something different out here.
no subject
Yeah, most things are digital nowadays. It takes less space to store data in devices like these than it does to have bulky tapes.
Here, you're probably looking for the...
[Huh, she can't think of the word. The big area, down in the middle, with the lake... that's weird.]
There's an artificial lake right in the center, with seating nearby. Let me do the programming.
[She plugs in the navpoint of the seated area outside of the cafe she and Liara used to sit at, and sends it to Toriel's omni-tool, where a light should appear with a little flag.]
Just press that and it'll give you step-by-step directions. I think you'll like it.
no subject
[Toriel's hand hovers over the unfamiliar glowing orange interface, looking for a way to end the call... but honestly, she just barely understands the basics of the normal phone-like device they have in Wonderland. This thing is way beyond her, and honestly, she suddenly doubts she'll even be able to figure out how to call Shephard back on this thing.]
Actually, I suppose there is no problem with walking and talking, is there?
There are a great deal of stores that I am walking past now, after all! Granted, I have little idea what most of them are selling, but they are still quite interesting to look at! Like- oh, I think that one there might sell some kind of fish? Or perhaps it is a sea food restaurant.
Perhaps we could take a closer look through them, later? It might be nice to get you some kind of gift! Assuming of course that we would actually get to keep the gift and that it does not fade away like everything else once we are done here.
no subject
[It's so charming watching her see all of this for the first time. It really takes her back.]
There's plenty of stuff to see. And yeah, here's hoping Wonderland lets us keep some of this stuff. It's no skin off their back, right? If it's gonna go through all the trouble of making it in the first place.
[Seriously, what's the point of going on a space vacation if there's no souvenirs?]
What sort of stuff do you think you'd want to do? Are you thinking about just shopping, or entertainment? I can, uh, try and find some things that fit into stuff you've liked before. Or whatever the future version of those things might be.
no subject
Still! No reason that I cannot try anything new, right? Oh, wait- is this it?
[The marker on her omni-tool points her to a large tube- must be an elevator. Looking through the shops will have to wait, then, as she gets inside.
And waits.]
My, this elevator certainly does go up high.
...Very high. Goodness, but this must be a bit of a pain without someone there to talk to and pass the time with.
You usually came here with other people, did you not? Part of a squad? What did you tend to talk about while riding these things?
no subject
Sometimes they broadcast news reports in 'em. More often than not they're talking about something I did, so we laugh at that. Or we just discussed whatever we were there for, current events sort of things.
[Or, y'know, pick up sidequests or whatever. Not much time for fleeing across the galaxy to help someone find their keys nowadays though... even if she did, uh, pick up dinosaur fossils and old banners.]
Has there ever been something you wanted to do, but couldn't? Maybe we can start from there in finding stuff to do?
no subject
Really though, with an entire world of possibilities suddenly open before me- or really, several worlds, considering all the alien beings around- it suddenly becomes a bit overwhelming, to have to pick something specific out! Honestly, it is somewhat part of why I preferred to stick to more traditional things when the Underground began rapidly advancing.
Giving it some thought, though, I think... Hm. I think I might want to find somewhere with a large window. To get a nice view of the stars, and truly feel the scope of things out there.
[The elevator arrives at it's destination, and Toriel steps outside, looking at her surroundings- small patches of flowers, a great lake. Much more open space and plant life, bright and well lit, compared to the neon and blue glow down in the Wards.]
Though... this place is quite beautiful in its own right, as well! I certainly would not mind spending some time here.
no subject
[It was one of her favorite places to be, too.]
There's a couple good windows for stargazing, but the best ones are at the ship docking bays. It's a little bit of a warehouse in places, but there's big windows out where the ships are parked so people can keep an eye on them. It's a great view.
[Damn, she wishes she could get into the Normandy. Even if they couldn't take her out, Toriel would love the wall in the lounge there. And it might... invite a little bit of privacy they're not going to get on the Citadel.]
There are more traditional things to do, though. The Archives is a massive library, and there's plenty of places to sit and relax.
no subject
[Toriel would hope that there are. She'd definitely make sure to build a cafe in such a beautiful setting.]
no subject
[She'd met plenty of people down there. It really was a gorgeous view.]
I'm on my way now. Meet at the counter?
no subject
[And of course, she is, following Jane's directions- much easier to follow and understand in a place that's so much less crowded. She takes her time, taking in the sights, wondering how such a serene and natural looking area can exist in a place like this.
When Toriel actually sees Jane, her face brightens immediately, walking over and leaning forward- nuzzling her nose affectionately against her's.]
There you are, Janey! It is such a relief to finally see a familiar face. In person, anyway.
no subject
Nothin' beats it. I think it's only sweeter for me because I get to see you. How do you like the Citadel?
no subject
I think that I like this section of it a bit more! It is very open, and peaceful, and the scenery really is gorgeous- especially now that you are here.
It is somewhat difficult to believe really, that this is all an artificial structure. I feel a bit lighter than usual, but this place feels so... natural, otherwise. The plants, and all that water... It must be very difficult to take care of.
I wonder if there are any fish in it.
no subject
[Can't resist giving a little compliment to herself. She can't help but laugh when Toriel asks about the fish, though.]
Interestingly enough, there isn't. Apparently it's the water supply for most of the station, after getting filtered and cleaned before it comes out of the tap. It took me a surprising amount of time to find that info.
[Those krogans mentioned it in passing and she just Had To Know.]
There's a lot of processes in place to make the station feel as much like a planet as possible. Lots of people live here full time.
no subject
Hm. I figure there are not any bugs, in these patches of plantlife either, then? A shame- I have to admit, I was a bit curious how alien snails might taste.
Though ah, I doubt you are very interested in that sort of thing! Either way, it truly is a marvel. We constructed aquariums for aquatic monsters back in the Underground, and even without the problems caused by people living in them, the challenges of keeping them in order and ensuring the water stayed fresh and clean were quite difficult!
I cannot even begin to imagine what it would take, to maintain this much water, in a wholly artificial place, with no easy access to natural resources. It strains the imagination, to try and envision how something like this could be constructed.
no subject
[Frankly, all of this biology stuff just goes right over her head.]
There's people whose whole jobs it is to make this place run in ways that the Earth does naturally. I don't understand how it works, either. All that science... that's way past me, too. I can't imagine comprehending worlds like that, as strings of numbers and chemistry. It's just... remarkable. You know?
no subject
I simply meant that you would most likely not be interested in that sort of food, though. Most humans do not enjoy it. ...Most varieties of monster do not, either, actually.
[It was mostly just her family that visited the snail farm run by all those ghosts, after all.]
It is never something that I really understood. The advanced science of today's age- or, well, the today of my age, at least- has never been something that I have been able to wrap my head around. So the today of your age... I could not even begin to comprehend it. This is why we had to appoint a Royal Scientist- and why I mostly just let them do their own thing.
no subject
[Snails were like, a human delicacy in certain places. Sometimes? At least she can describe herself as the adventurous sort.]
Frankly, it's kind of the beauty of this whole thing, you know? That no one person is... completely self-sufficient, I guess. That we're all really helping each other get by.
Though I guess you could start studying science, if it really interested you. There's plenty of information out there, and you could start small with whatever you wanted. But even the best tech should be usable by people who don't understand why it happens. It's not good design if it's not accessible.
no subject
[Toriel nods, smiling.]
I, certainly, have always done my best to be as helpful to others as I can. Standing by and doing nothing has never been in my nature.
I have been reading up, actually! Nothing too advanced, yet, but small things. I have a lot of free time, after all, and the library is quite extensive. Little books of fun facts are a favorite choice of mine to pick out. Small, easy to digest bits of information.
no subject
[Even if everyone might be better off using it to like, figure out ways to escape. But the last few attempts have been disastrous and frankly she's not the person to be asking about that. She's the muscle and tactics gal. Let her know when the tech works, and she'll move the people around it.]
I should probably take my own advice on that, actually. I don't really have much of a hobby to speak of, still.
[She's like, effectively out of model ships to build.]
no subject
[Really, escaping isn't something that crosses Toriel's mind very much- probably because she's pretty sure she'll just cease to exist and resume being dead, if she stops being in this place.
She really, really tries to avoid thinking about it.]
Or, well. With as big as a place this is, I am sure there are plenty of things to find for us to spend our time together doing!
no subject
[She's great at small, finessed movements, but like... I dunno, man, cooking has just never come easily to her.]
For now, though, you got anything in mind? I know a good lunch spot around here, if you're hungry.