lunardreaming: (015)
πš•πšžπšŒπš’ πš”πšžπšœπš‘πš’πš—πšŠπšπšŠ ([personal profile] lunardreaming) wrote in [community profile] magisteriaexe2024-10-07 03:40 pm

the dream i left behind was never real [ open ]

where: all around magisteria
who: lucy + others
when: october
what: an ota post for october questboard starters
warnings: tba as necessary





[ ooc: all of the following are the tech quests from the october questboard, starters to be posted in the comments ]
floweroftheapex: (Default)

[personal profile] floweroftheapex 2024-10-09 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
It's good to see her confident, and smiling. In her element. Excited. After the bathhouse, well...probably best to just leave it there. And be careful in the future asking Lucy anything about the moon. That's clearly a no-go subject. Even a Berserker can tell that much.

Musashi has opted for more modern athletic wear. This is a race after all, the kimono's not going to cut it. And they show off her toned body quite well. She's not augmented, but she is a Servant, and Lucy-chan has seen how fast she can be. Augmented or no, this is still anyone's race.

Musashi meets Lucy's grin with one of her own while she performs a cross-arm stretch. "Ohohoho, such confidence! I like it!" If anything it's energizing her to really bring her all.

"Don't disappoint me, Lucy-chan." She dares with a wink.
floweroftheapex: (14)

[personal profile] floweroftheapex 2024-10-13 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
Musashi had wondered if she should say anything, the next time she saw Lucy (despite what happened at the bath house, it never crossed her mind they wouldn't see each other again), if she should ask how she was doing, if she was all right, or try apologizing in person. No, Musashi didn't know exactly what it was that had triggered Lucy so badly, but it was obviously deeply personal, and Musashi had unknowingly trodden into it. It was enough to know that doing so had hurt Lucy. There was some kind of deep pain associated with her trip to the Moon, and it wasn't Musashi's place to ask about.

But she knew she wanted to be the person Lucy could talk about such things to. And...there as a part of her that hoped maybe Lucy would, once they met again.

But...it seems they just won't talk about it instead. It's fine. As long as Lucy is okay, that's what matters. It's fine. They're fine.

Lucy runs, and Musashi chases after her, ignoring the yearning that her heart feels not just to catch her, but to never let her go either. To be the person for Lucy she knows she wants to be, and thinks Lucy wants her to be as well. They haven't taken that step because...well. It doesn't matter.

The chase is exhilarating in its own right.

Of course, Lucy knows how fast Musashi is, and Musashi knows she knows that. But to keep things interesting, Musashi doesn't go all out, matching Lucy's jog that keeps them just abreast of each other as they approach the rock wall.

"Whoo! Gets that blood pumping, eh, Lucy-chan?" Musashi calls as they approach the first obstacle. Rather than leaping at the handholds, Musashi just crouches down, and pushes off.

The jump takes her to the very top of the wall. Looking down, Musashi lowers herself into a sitting position, letting her legs dangle over the edge, and she grins at Lucy, starting her ascent.

"Take your time! The breeze is nice up here!"

It's a little showboaty. It's a lot showboaty. But it'll push Lucy to go harder, faster, really push things with those neat little gadgets she's been gifted.

They'll always have the chase.
floweroftheapex: (8)

[personal profile] floweroftheapex 2024-10-14 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
Musashi can only stare, wide-eyed and grinning as Lucy goes sailing past her over the wall and giving her that cheeky little wink. It's not the most graceful landing she's ever seen, but Lucy hits the ground running, with no hesitation.

It takes a few seconds for Musashi to stop watching over her shoulder admiration and remember this is still a race.

She hops backwards off the wall, lands on her feet, and then pushes backwards, in a series of long hops to close the distance, just as Lucy reaches the poles.

"That was a nice move, Lucy-chan! Show me some more!" Musashi dares as she passes the Edgerunner and jumps onto the first pole, beginning the process of hopping along. Her feet are barely touching the tips as she jumps from pole to pole with incredible precision. It takes only a few seconds before she's already halfway across.
floweroftheapex: (12)

[personal profile] floweroftheapex 2024-11-19 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
Musashi stops halfway across the poles and flashes Lucy a wink and a smile of her own. "Charmer."

The flirtatious comment gives her an excellent view of Lucy engaging the Cyberware again, lifting up, aiming downwards, nearly falling, but stopping herself. She's just watching with interest and a smile as Lucy glares at her, then rises to her feet.

"You're getting the hang of it, though! Think we're halfway through though, so if you wanna win, you better figure the rest out quick." Then a few more hops brings her to the other end of the poles, and she's sprinting down the platform.

At the other end, a thin walkway-barely that even, extends over a steep drop, requiring careful balance and coordination. That would be bad enough...except for the swinging cylinders at regular intervals that threaten to knock an incautious soul off. At least they're cushioned. And worse, in the middle, the path actually breaks. One has to jump, not a long way, but still perilous when one has to keep their balance, and not be knocked off by the swaying pillar placed uncomfortably close to the other side.

Musashi stops, and sinks to her haunches, resting her chin in her hand thoughtfully. "Ohhhhh, this looks tricky. If your timing is off by even a second..." She extends her hands, mimes someone walking with one hand, then slamming into it with her other, causing her to mime being thrown off and down below. She blows a raspberry to simulate hitting the ground.

"It'd take a lot of control. Tricky, tricky..." She continues, but in a sing-song sort of way that's just daring Lucy to push through it.
floweroftheapex: (2)

[personal profile] floweroftheapex 2024-12-01 04:37 am (UTC)(link)
Now that's a look of determination if ever Musashi saw one! Lucy-chan's good and fired up now. It suits her. It definitely suits her.

"You got this, Lucy-chan."

As the Edgerunner takes off, Musashi sits back and just watches her go, clearing the first few pillars with style. When she can't quite avoid the fourth, Musashi begins to rise in alarm that maybe Lucy got nailed, but some quick thinking with the cybergear saves her and Musashi pumps her fist in excitement. Good, Lucy-chan, good!

It's not until Lucy clears the jump that Musashi rises fully, takes a breath, and proceeds to breeze through the pillars, making speed to catch up. It's not like she's particularly worried about hitting the pillars, not with her excellent reaction times and speed.

So it comes as a bit of a surprise as Musashi's approaching the jump, having just cleared the last pillar with time to spare when...

It catches her foot, and Musashi is knocked rather off-balance. "β€”!"

The bar goes sailing past her vision, but her arm shoots out in time and her hand manages to wrap around in the nick of time and grab hold. With one arm she hangs suspended over the drop.

She likes being a Berserker, but sometimes the recklessness that comes with it, does get her in the odd bit of trouble.

"My, my! It seems I timed that badly."
floweroftheapex: (2)

[personal profile] floweroftheapex 2024-12-20 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, I am a Berserker too." Musashi replies with a cheerful wink. as the Netrunner extends her hand. "I leap before I look." Usually that's not meant so literally.

She takes Lucy's hand and begins to clamber up back onto the platorm. After a moment they're both standing together, Musashi's breath a little more ragged than usual. She's not out of breath, but Lucy is...stunning. Hard not to be taken in by the way she's looking at her.

"Thanks for coming back, Lucy-chan. Want a five-second head start? You did give up a lead advantage to help me." With that implant and the way she's been moving, Lucy could easily put some distance, distance she'll need. She knows how fast Musashi is.
floweroftheapex: (13)

[personal profile] floweroftheapex 2024-12-30 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
Musashi can't resist miming clasping the kiss to her chest and swooning a bit, and not entirely affected. The flirting comes easily, and it was cute as hell. Almost like the bath house never happened. Like there aren't heavy things still between them.

Almost.

But after all is said and done it's closer to ten seconds before Musashi resumes her pursuit. "Here I come, Lucy-chan! Better be ready!"

Interesting! Lose your balance on this and it's all over. No saving her from any falls here. So as Lucy approaches the midsection, Musashi pauses, takes a breath, centers herself...and steps into the log.

Balance is key when you're a swordsman. Musashi always liked to forgo armour; too bulky and hard to move in. Had to stay light, had to home her speed without sacrificing control. Had to learn to keep balance. One false step in battle, one errant slip, and it could all be over in an instant.

Musashi has a VERY good sense of balance. Where Lucy must pinwheel to stay upright, Musashi practically strolls. A shame Lucy has to keep her attention ahead of her or Musashi might feel tempted to work her hips a bit more. Ah well.

She's making up the distance quickly.

Edited 2024-12-30 03:50 (UTC)
floweroftheapex: (5)

[personal profile] floweroftheapex 2025-01-04 01:53 am (UTC)(link)
Musashi hops down off the log and, ahhhh, here they are at last. The home stretch lies before them. No tricks, no obstacles...just whoever can cross it the fastest wins. Lucy is determined to claim that victory as no sooner has Musashi stepped off, then she's gone, rocketing herself forward, and giving herself a speed boost.

Well, time to see what she can really do. Musashi won't do her the disservice of giving this anything other than her all. She breaks into a sprint, her strides covering long distances, even with the speed boost Lucy is getting. Soon, they're in a dead heat, and the finish line is approaching.

"Time to...see what you're...really made of...Lucy-chan." Musashi says, eyes forward, between gulps of air as she pushes herself for one last burst of speed...

And begins to pull just ahead of Lucy...
floweroftheapex: (13)

[personal profile] floweroftheapex 2025-01-09 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
Musashi sees the monowire thread around the pillar out of the corner of her eye, but doesn't grasp Lucy's plan. Is she trying to bring it down, hope to gain a crucial split-second of surprise to take the oh there she goes.

It's a photo-finish, but Musashi knows the second Lucy pulls ahead by that crucial few inches that she's lost. And she's just fine with that. She would never have disrespected her friend by giving it anything less than her all, but still...

Musashi would have been disappointed if she'd won. She does find that she's never been happier to lose, though. Not like this.

As Lucy struggles to catch her breath, Musashi just laughs. She's sweating, and breathing hard, but not bent over the way Lucy is. "Sure will! Revel in them, Lucy-chan. Every single one is a sign of a victory well and truly earned."

Kiss her.

The thought enters Musashi's brain, slipping in like a treacherous serpent, and coiling there at the base of her skull. Kiss her. She won. You want to. She wants you to. Kiss her.

The impulse is so strong as Lucy catches her breath and stands back up, Musashi almost leans forward to do it. It would be so easy to cup her chin, turn her head slightly, lean in and...

No. You shouldn't ask me that.

But the memory of Lucy rising out of the bath and walking away is strong, even now. They're both pretending that it never happened, but Musashi remembers all too well what happened when she pushed too far. If it happens again, then maybe next time Lucy won't come back, and Musashi...well. The thought bothers her quite a bit. It's reason enough for any sane person not to follow through.

If that person were not also a Berserker, that is.

"Well, a victory like that ought to be commemorated don't you think?" She asks brightly, then dips in and kisses Lucy...on the cheek. Her EX-rank Madness Enhancement means she compromises and settles for a gesture of affection that could be seen as platonic...if both parties were intent on seeing it that way.

"You're really cool, you know that, Lucy-chan?"
floweroftheapex: (11)

[personal profile] floweroftheapex 2025-01-12 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
"Ahahahaha, I do have my moments every now and then." Musashi laughs with a cock flick of her side-bag. "But this moment is all yours."

She looks back in curiosity when Lucy hesitates, and when the apology comes, her eyes go a bit wider. It's not that Lucy apologizing is surprising, Musashi knows her not to be a callous person, but whatever it was that she'd inadvertently tapped into, whatever pain or trauma Lucy is carrying is clearly a deep one, and one Musashi would have left untouched if that was how the other woman wanted to play it. Maybe it wasn't the smart or healthy thing, but if the alternative was to push Lucy away, well.

So when it comes, an acknowledgement of what happened in the bath house, even if she can't bring herself to explain why, it's...a gesture Musashi knows Lucy wouldn't extend to a lot of people. Maybe she's the only person Lucy would allow herself to be even this small amount of vulnerable to.

She reaches down and takes Lucy's hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. "It's okay, Lucy-chan. I was...afraid I might have screwed things up that night. I'm a lot more at ease now, so thank you." She gives Lucy another cheeky wink.

"Hey. Chooms for life, you and me. That's a fact."
gilgamess: (gil looking all happy)

[personal profile] gilgamess 2024-10-12 10:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There are not likely to be many contexts wherein Gilgamesh is out of his element, adaptable as he is. Yet, it must be admitted, this virtual landscape is unlike anything with which he has familiarity. Of course, he is certain he can master the terrain: he is still an adventurer, and the context does not change that. But, certainly, at present, Lucy has very much an edge in this particular arena. ]

So this is what a largescale simulation is capable of, hm?

[ He muses idly when he sees her. Naturally, he assumes they have come to this place for the same reason.

Gilgamesh, of course, is still learning the technology of this world, though he is making great advancements. But it's still a little new. By now, he has come to understand simulations, in a general sense. They are what power the different appearances of technology-centric quarters within the Evergreen Terrace apartments. If Lucy finds herself comparing the world's magic to the holograms, then Gilgamesh frequently finds himself doing the reverse. Magic is the closest frame of reference he has for technology that operates in such an advanced way so as to modify and create the very appearance of... well, in the case of this Vplane, something like an entire city-state of its own.

It is with some internal amusement that he takes note of Lucy's happiness. Indeed, it has been rare, in his experience, to see this woman showing such... open-hearted wonder. One might even call it child-like. ]


Is this akin to the world from which you hailed? If so, then I must grant... [ Gilgamesh is quite stately about it, but his tone if sincere, not grudging. ] It is indeed... impressive. Even worthy.

[ Of a King, of himself. And he does not give praise lightly/easily. But it is clear innumerable minds and hands and thoughts have gone to work to create the fabric of this sphere, and he can feel that it demands a kind of respect and understanding. Unlike Lucy, he has not begun to alter the scenery. Not yet. Rather, he is much more hands-off, but only so far. Still feeling out the parameters. ]
gilgamess: (babylonia 2)

[personal profile] gilgamess 2024-11-07 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Were Gilgamesh still in his own kingdom, it would be exceedingly strange for virtually any individual, with the few rarest of exceptions, to behave in such a familiar manner with him. His Friend, of course. Siduri, perhaps. He might even countenance such behavior from the visitors from Chaldea. But it's a testament to how different matters are in this world that he would, in the first of places, cooperate with another person at such a level and to such an extent. The forehead poke and subsequent setting of the hat elicit a nonchalant stare, save for a slight pinching of the eyebrows -- a visible, if slight, manifestation of what might be described as an "?" reaction.

Truly, how does one even respond? Though, after a moment, of course, Gilgamesh catches himself, making the familiar hmph sound beneath his breath. Then, perhaps taken by a sudden whim, he lifts the hat, taking the virtual item and holding it in his hands, arms outstretched. Seeing all that Lucy has done, Gilgamesh too has a mind to experiment with this world, but he must first think of what to convert the material into. His hands are accustomed to holding treasures and weapons, swords and grails. But here, that feels inappropriate: uncreative, simply item after item that is the same in some respect. ]

So, instead, Gilgamesh turns his thoughts towards the concept of a "lion," imagining it in his mind and projecting what he has learned of the code bases within this world. The hat becomes a papier-mΓ’chΓ© lion, albeit one with imperfect features. ]


Is it the freedom that appeals to you? [ He glances around, still turning this virtual realm over in his mind. In truth, programming is still utterly new to him, let alone... the connection to the mind, pulling out some piece of knowledge of code and willing it into something, as seems common here. This feels like learning another language while entering an environs where one is forced to speak with the locals, a form of immersion, because they don't speak your native tongue. But Gilgamesh has been approaching programming as one would encryption/decryption, also treating it a bit like a treasure hunt in which one finds and thus learns the answer and one is constantly building upon what one has. ] A world which you can design yourself... framed thusly, I suppose I understand the appeal.

[ It's not that the world does not appeal to him, for that matter. Gilgamesh values novelty. It's more that it veers into an alien level surreal. Here they stand in a terrain built by invisible, unknown gods, forces and powers from "Beyond." Only those gods are, as Lucy references, giant supercomputers or skyscrapers' or whole districts' worth thereof lurking on some invisible horizon, dictating a life of entities not born of any organic means. ]

And what of these beings who are so populous within these cities? These fleshless entities? [ AI, robots, cyborgs, their various names and titles. They seemed virtually endless here. ] Did you also interact with those? In this city-state of Magisteria, they seem a society unto themselves.

We had no such... [ He hesitates, uncertain. ] ... peoples? In Uruk.

[ "Peoples" seemed accurate. They were citizens, and the general behavior of the populace, both from and with respect to them, would seem to suggest that they are virtually as sentient/feeling as humans. Though how was this possible? Even with Gilgamesh being from millennia earlier, his understanding of "modern" technology, phones or the sort, is that it possesses no such attributes of life. Curiouser and curiouser, and now, in this Vplane, seeing them walking around, feeling the weight of their gaze, it feels impossible not to contemplate this more deeply than he has thus far. ]
gilgamess: (lmmmmm)

[personal profile] gilgamess 2024-12-05 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
It was a different matter for me, as you are aware.

[ Gilgamesh also sounds a touch wistful. But also proud. Slightly nostalgic, as well. ]

I was an adventurer as well as a King, traveling throughout all the world... and that, to me, was freedom. Yet, even with my authority -- [ or "Authority," capital A] -- the gods attempted to bind me and have me enforce their will. Indeed, as I recounted to you, I was created to enact a specific purpose. In that sense, I too know what it means to have one's freedoms curtailed... or, rather, for the attempt to be made, for I did in fact defy the gods and bring about the end of their reign.

[ He looks down at the lion, adding -- ]

Perhaps you may take this as a souvenir. Though it would be easier, were I to carry it.

[ And with that, the creation disappears into one of his golden portals. As Lucy correctly ascertained before, Gilgamesh has his own pocket dimension -- quite useful if either of them should wish to take anything from this landscape back to the other. Other souvenirs of their time here, for example.

In place of the lion, the King of Heroes pulls out one of the aXess Link codes -- a map -- and projects it as a three-dimensional surface screen before them. ]


In any case, we should make our way to this being, "Gridmaster," I suppose they are called.

[ Gilgamesh supposes he should probably contemplate all this more: the entity known as Phantom Cipher, this new being calling themselves the Gridmaster, the society of Magisteria. Lucy seems quite fond of it, and from her description of her own home city, well, it makes perfect sense why she would be. It seems a city of abundance and plenty, but ... the presence of these rogue elements suggests it is not all a paradise, and it is entirely possible there is more than meets the eye afoot in the structure of everything, especially with how vague some of those authority figures have been. ]

I should hope eventually we will gain more of an idea for the workings behind this city-state. If there are towering structures powering this virtual city, there must accordingly be beings working within those structures. And we do not yet know whether all their ideals align, or whether there are internal conflicts.

[ The division of magic and technology was one, but that AI caretaker had, from the first, claimed it was far from the only one... ]
gilgamess: (babylonia anime: amuse me!)

[personal profile] gilgamess 2025-01-09 01:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ As a being whose inherent nature is oriented towards collecting treasures, Gilgamesh would certainly not dissuade Lucy from such thoughts. Quite the opposite. He is not much for a barren life of pure utility: one of the great joys of living is the collection of objects, not merely for their sake, but for the worth and value you instill within them. ]

That is indeed the case.

[ It could be an arrogant statement, or at least greatly self-assured, but Gilgamesh says it rather casually, returning her smirk with a smile that even borders on fondness. ]

Yet... well. [ Because he is in fact a Wise King now, he adds: ] Though I am built by nature to overcome most obstacles, I am not so presumptuous as to assume that I might not face difficulty when encountering something of a nature foreign to me.

But, if I am to speak on that point, I rather hope these 'corrupt elements' do provide a challenge. It would be boring otherwise, would it not?

[ He says, as if musing to himself. ]

The worst experience I had, for example, was the time I died from working myself overly hard... I had perished when the goddess struck me down, also, but far better to die in battle, do you not think so? In any case, the second time, I did perform a miracle and summon my other self. The first time, the goddess of the Underworld became quite displeased with my presence.

[ He was having too much fun in Kur.

Anyway, to speed their journey, Gilgamesh blinks and waves his arm, device still in hand, and with a look of concentration, the terrain speeds by the two of them in planes and diamonds and filaments of different colors of light. In the virtual world, he supposes, if they can shape this place, then it can also maneuver them where they need to go -- after all, isn't this merely a sphere created by technology and their own imaginations? Though it would be interesting to have a more mechanical and solid understanding of how exactly they are operating this place. But Gilgamesh thinks he is beginning to get the hang of it.

Within mere seconds, they stand before the projection of this great AI being, the Gridmaster: [he? it? they?] -- all lines and translucent body. It is a projection on a screen, not even a figure within a room, but it seems to inhabit the screen as though it were a room.

And the screen itself seems not a tangible screen, but a rectangle sliced in the shape thereof in a world that blurs technology, code, the virtual, and the real, at every corner.

It does not speak to them. Staring straight ahead of itself as lines and diagrams shift before it, it does not even seem to be looking at them, but both Lucy and Gilgamesh will begin to see/hear the instructions for this task in their mind. They will see/hear what sounds like the beginning of a simulation:

Nodes activating...

Sequence beginning...


A perfectly and ambiguously AI voice, humanlike but also perfectly mechanical.

-- alongside numbers and glyphs that run like links of chain up and down and through the air around them. They seem to be standing on platforms that are moving down/up, and the floor, or what passes for a floor, also lights in different places. Like a dance floor. ]


Well, well... this certainly has the promise of being intriguing.

[ No dying of boredom here, huh, Lucy? It suits Gilgamesh just fine, this sort of adventure. But he thinks she must really be in her element. ]
Edited 2025-01-09 01:12 (UTC)