starbolts: (Default)
Starfire ([personal profile] starbolts) wrote in [community profile] trans_92011-08-04 08:02 pm

Enchanted Aquatica---the Prom [WIDE OPEN Y'ALL]

The day had finally arrived for her big event, and Starfire couldn't be happier---or more nervous, actually. She was certainly not an expert on the inner workings of a prom, but it couldn't be too terribly complicated, right? As long as the people could eat, dance, and talk, it should be a reasonable success.

With that in mind, her decorations sprung from her mind into the large dome all around her, transforming a grey Sensorium into a beautiful underwater world, one with clear waters and free from the possibility of a shark attack.

The first change was the scent of the air, shifting into the comforting salty scent of the seas. Then the ground beneath her feet became a hardened sandstone, maintaining the gritty texture while remaining easy to walk upon---except for the smooth dance floor, of course. The grey dome transformed into a flowing bluish-green, rippling all around with fish of all colors passing in the background. Some of the 'sky' faded into a violet tone over the dance floor, lit by glowing circular lights in every color. Suspended in midair, they almost looked like motionless fireflies, though they sometimes swayed in tune with songs.

Tables arose from coral in all colors, rising from the ground and twisting to provide a flattened surface on the very top---rounded ones for guests, and long tables off to the side containing shell-bowls of food. Chairs were large floating clam shells with well cushioned interiors, some large enough to hold two people. More comfortable spongy places to sit were also littered across the area, notably by the large shell-shaped enclosure that was the promised swimming pool. It too was lit by the floating lights, providing what she hoped was a romantic atmosphere.

Finally, the glowing stage above the dance floor couldn't help but attract attention with its chairs. Six royal thrones and one plush chair of all colors directly in the middle rested in the back of the stage, leaving the front open for announcements. Just off to the side of the stage stood the DJ's table, with even that machine painted to match the soft underwater glow of the scenery.

Everything finally seemed pleasing to Starfire. With one last change, dressing herself in the formal attire of the prom, she sent out the signal to everyone and waited. She hoped they would have a wonderful time.

[identity profile] 8wings.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ah, but you see," she holds up her little finger for emphasis, "all those neutralizers are under Imperial AI control. Those AIs are supposed to be incorruptable, but I know they aren't. I broke Horanckk's control codes, and he survived. So if there was an occasion where there was going to be a lot of high-speed transit to Fle - say, a coronation - AND I had Horanckk study and subvert and seduce every AI controlling those neutralizers - AND I was able to get a large enough projector made, and get it into position at just the right time - then yes, I could do it." Her shoulders slump. "But then either Horanckk needs to keep his control on them - setting up a new AI dictatorship in place of the old - or release them, with their controls gone, and hope that none of them go insane.

"Overthrowing a dictatorship is never as easy as it looks in the vids. There it's always 'You defeated the evil emperor, we'll all be fine now' while reality has war, famine, blackmail, hate-hunts... It's like disassembling a building, while it's toppling, and assembling a new one out of the bits before it hits the ground."

"No," she shakes her head. "I could never take credit. It would be too damn suspicious - one Living Person left, everyone would think that I was going to set myself up as a new Empress, with the AIs under my control. Everyone would be out for my head. I'd have to be anonymous all the way, maybe get surgery to change my race, or just transfer myself into dataspace as an AI. There'd be no thanks for me. Curses, more likely, from everyone who was at least fed while they were under the collar, and now everything falls apart and they have to scrabble."

[identity profile] piggyback-ride.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"Projection of my mental voice in more than one mind. It would be a bother if I could only speak to one person at a time while in a room. Of course, that opens me up to having to deal with all the (inane, aimless) thoughts of multiple people. A (relatively) large price to pay!"

It's a good thing he's keeping his moves simple. He'd keep it that way if he enjoys the use of his feet!
iselldrugstothecommunity: (Disconcerted)

[personal profile] iselldrugstothecommunity 2011-09-05 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"How many other people could figure out how to do that? I mean, no offense, Anwei, you're smart, but AI's done seem too uncommon where you're from and I don't think you're the smartest person from your whole race." Not that he's met other Living People, but still. "Or is everyone like you, waiting for someone else to make their decisions for them?"

[identity profile] piggyback-ride.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"You can't! Not really, anyways. Despite her being a living ship, even I don't have the (metaphorical) cojones to attempt to read her 'mind', in whatever sense that she has one. A.I.s (again, assuming she is one, and isn't some form of advanced life) are bad news for psionic-based abilities. Especially considering she has them, herself."

[identity profile] 8wings.livejournal.com 2011-09-06 03:37 pm (UTC)(link)
She stirs her frozen grapes around on her plate for an instant; they are starting to thaw, so she re-freezes one and pops it into her mouth, chewing, thinking.

"The Living People are very used to having their AIs do their deciding for them. For the moment, we're a pretty passive species. Which is better than active, because active is aggressive for us. The population could be spread over a thousand planets instead of concentrated on Fle, which would make it a lot harder to take them out.

"Even if other people figured it out, implementing it would be incredibly expensive and difficult. Inside the Empire, there's the total-surveillance issue. And outside, it's incredibly hard to slip back in without being caught. Hard to leave too. Without Horanckk, I would never have made it out. Although since I've come here, I've started to wonder if I was escaping with his help, or he was escaping with mine."
iselldrugstothecommunity: (Wary)

[personal profile] iselldrugstothecommunity 2011-09-07 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
"So it's just, like...learned helplessness, I guess?" He scuffs his foot across the floor and bites his bloodied lip again. Not that different than the passivity of a lot of kids back home. Although he guesses he knows some things about being used by friends.

"I should probably talk to people besides Medical, I guess. Do that whole 'socializing' thing."

[identity profile] 8wings.livejournal.com 2011-09-07 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Helpless to choose, at least. Their conquests would disagree that they were anything but supremely vicious, given the chance."

"Good idea. I think I'll go sit by the pool and show off my dress." She fluffs up the tendrils, which are looking a little limp. "My parents and sisters made fun of me when I was dressed like this, you know. Always made sure to point out how much prettier the dress was than me."

She vanished her plate and chair, and drifted off with a wave.

[identity profile] seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com 2011-09-07 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oooh, I see. It's even worse than normal when you're 'talking' to more people at once, huh?"

That... gives him an idea! "Hey, could you, for example, go into one person's head, and from there go out into other people's? That way all the thoughts would be absorbed by the person whose head you're in, and spare you the pain?"

[identity profile] piggyback-ride.livejournal.com 2011-09-08 07:09 am (UTC)(link)
"Just a bit, considering I'm actually in their head, as opposed to being a victim of the constant buzzing, mumbling noises of the babbleroar."

His second question surprised her; even moreso because she wished her powers worked in that manner.

"Unfortunately, (very unfortunately) no. Since one person's mind isn't linked to another's and my own mind stays firmly planted to well, itself, I don't get the benefit of 'losing myself' (so to speak) when I'm in the head of another. Perhaps if I wasn't in control of my own self while 'puppeting' another, but that simply isn't the case."

[identity profile] seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com 2011-09-08 05:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hmm. Are your powers stronger than a person's mind if you're not trying to make them be? I mean, if you were in my memory, and I very specifically was remembering you not being bothered by the babbleroar, would that help at all?"

He knew he was reaching, but he wanted to help if there was any way he could.

[identity profile] piggyback-ride.livejournal.com 2011-09-09 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
"Well..." she trailed off. "I suppose if I'm manipulating a portion of someone else's mind (such as placing myself in their memory) the effect of the babbleroar is reduced. It takes a giant potion of concentration to do such a thing and even more focus to override what you remember so that I not only (quote, unquote) 'exist' there, but also that the environment reacts to my (psi)presence. "

[identity profile] seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com 2011-09-09 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"Maybe it's just all that concentration that helps?" He'd perked up a little though. "Well! You are welcome to any of my memories anytime that might help you! Though I'd advise not using the ones with Yogg'Saron, the Lich King, or... actually there's a lot of them you probably wouldn't want to use," he said after a moment's reflection.

[identity profile] piggyback-ride.livejournal.com 2011-09-10 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"Possibly! Seems like you have quite a lot of detrimental memories (ouch!) stored up there, so it would be beneficial to us both for you to ah, choose wisely what I should and shouldn't peek into (I'm just thinking...). I'd hate to find myself, well, mindfucked by taking a glance at some antediluvian, starspawn horror!"

[identity profile] seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com 2011-09-11 06:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, it takes a minute or so of looking at it before your mind snaps," Mar said matter-of-factly. "It's really the crushing tentacles you have to be worried about in the short term. But I have good memories aplenty! After all, we're making one right now," he said with a wink.

[identity profile] piggyback-ride.livejournal.com 2011-09-14 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"My, well thanks for the forewarning. I'll make sure to avoid the tentacles as well, so it doesn't turn into your standard, raunchy, schoolgirl anime where they meet an interesting end at the hands (or ah, appendages, as it were) of a salacious tentacled beast."

She was pretty sure he had no idea what she meant, and that was probably for the best.

"But you're right! I'd be interested in knowing just what someone like you considers a 'good memory worth keeping'."

[identity profile] seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com 2011-09-16 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
No, he had no idea what naughty things she was referring to... though he filed that away for later discussion. "Good memories worth keeping, huh? Well, besides this... there was that time I made dinner for you in Hydroponics... and there was that time we talked forever out on the Obs deck..." He arched his eyebrows slyly, then affected surprise. "Oh, but I guess you're IN those memories already, so it might be awkward for you to visit them!"

He so wants her to blush.

More seriously, he continued, "Hard-won victories, and those quiet moments stolen in the midst of everything. Those are what I like most."

Actually, that WAS an oddly-serious answer from him.

[identity profile] piggyback-ride.livejournal.com 2011-09-19 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
He'll have to try just a little bit harder.

"Oh my, someone's trying to be a Cassanova (or a Don Juan, you shameless flirt)? And yes, just a (tiny) bit strange to jump into memories I remember quite clearly!"

Still, she smiled, even if it was half-filled with amusement at his words. "I do admire your answer, though. I'm quite the (unspoken) fan of 'hard work' (admittedly, there's not much more to do in space!). So I imagine sitting on the sidelines during one of those victories would be akin to watching a period piece. With magic. Interesting."

[identity profile] seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com 2011-09-19 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Trying too hard is... well, trying too hard! Besides, persistence can achieve what volume can't, sometimes. "I will assume those things that you think I am involve charming lovely ladies, in which case, yes! I am specifically attempting to charm a lovely lady. It's harder than most things I do, I have to admit. Though I suppose I'd know if I failed if you ran off to say hello to the casters." Although most things he tried to keep the attention of usually elected to do that with their fists or weapons...

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