Mark I - ||video||

[the_mechanic]

[There's a close-up view of a well-manicured goatee, though there's a bit of blood around the lips, and as he adjusts the camera, it's plain to see that the clearly-attractive man has definitely been in a fight recently. Put mildly. And also that he's wearing some kind of metal armor suit thing, with the face-mask open.

He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it again. Twice. This is not a man accustomed to being at a loss for words.]

Please tell me there's someone in this sparkly-rainbow-nightmare than can get a full sentence out, with minimal KUPO, that can tell me what the hell is going on?

...please?

[The camera pans out just enough to show the komory bat perched on the top of the man's head, chittering away happily. Tony swipes at him half-heartedly, as if they've been through this a few times already, and the bat makes no motion to vacate his vantage point.

Tony looks pleadingly into the camera, and with a deep sigh, cuts the feed.]

Comments

[video]

[earthshatter]

What would you like to know?

[video]

[the_mechanic]

Any breakthroughs on how or why we're here or how to "wake up"? Any chance I'm hallucinating all this?

I got the impression the welcoming committee has been giving the same speech for a while.

[brodakota]

[North had been looking for an answer to that for a while now.]

I really wish I could give you an answer that makes a bit more sense than you've woken up in a dream world, but that's all I've got.

[There's a flash and a little blue and red hologram wearing halo armour is hovering beside North's head.]

Is he okay?

[video]

[the_mechanic]

[Tony closes his eyes just a moment and swallows down the mania that keeps creeping up his throat.]

Heh, I'd been avoiding sleep for other reasons, this is just... [he shakes his head]

And uh, to answer what I'm hoping isn't another hallucination, no, I'm not okay, but that's normal.

[unrecovered]

You're in a dream world. Yes, it's real. No, nobody's figured out how to wake up yet. No, nobody knows how we got here or why we're here either.

And that bat either thinks you're its mother or its best friend. It's not going to leave you alone.

[As if to illustrate the point, Wash's bat, Fang, swoops in and lands on Wash's shoulder, squeaking excitedly at the feed. Hi hi hi!]

[the_mechanic]

[The bat on Tony's head starts chittering away, wings flapping in emphasis. Oh hi oh my gosh he's so shiny isn't he I just can't even...

Tony kind of groans and glares up at his eyebrows, then rolls his eyes back down to focus on Wash.]

Awesome.

[sailorgenerous]

Are you alright?

[The most worrying part of this is the injuries on his face, at least to her.]

[the_mechanic]

[...

...

...

Well, now he's seen everything.]

Uh. I. No. No, I don't think I am.

[lessabrasive]

Welcome to Traverse Town. As I believe several of the others have mentioned, we're all rather stuck here.

[ There's a definite frown to the pursed lips of the woman staring back at Tony. The hell happened to this guy? ]

Did you sustain those injuries here? [ The bears are kind of vicious, but that damage seems excessive. ]

[the_mechanic]

Hah, no. These are-- [his eyes go wide a moment as it all flashes back, everything that happened before he magically ended up here and...

He bites the inside of his cheek, hard, trying desperately to get control back for just a little longer. He clears his throat.]

This is what it looks like when your home comes crashing down on you.

[raisethemoon]

[Luna peers in close, eyes narrowed critically.]

First, dost thou require medical attention?

[the_mechanic]

[Tony hasn't had a chance to check himself out in a mirror yet, but if everyone keeps asking, it's gotta be bad...

and oh god, another pony, and this one straight out of some Shakespeare-for-kids adaptation.

He bites his cheek to center himself, and tries to smile, of not at least keep a neutral face.]

I'm pretty sure I've lived through worse. Thank you for your concern...

[action]

[sailorlaughter]

[A wild Pink Pony appears!]

HI! Are you new here? I don't know everyone yet, but I've never seen you before, and I would totally remember someone with super-cool red shiny armor, so you've gotta be, right? Here, I baked you a cupcake!

[Wild Pinkie Pie used Spontaneous Baked Goods!] My name's Pinkie Pie! Hey, did you know you're bleeding?

[action]

[the_mechanic]

[Tony absolutely does not shriek like a little girl. Does. Not. Not like anyone could hear him over the sound of WHAT THE HELL IS WITH THE PONIES Jesus God, this is the nightmare to end all nightmares. If he ever wakes up from this he is never sleeping again.

Tony tries, really, really tries to keep a logical head on his shoulders, but he has no idea how to process this. This is like a 6-year old princess's wildest dream come true. He's in hell.

But hey, free baked goods. Let's just go with this. The worst it can do is kill him. LIVE DANGEROUSLY, TONY. TAKE THE CUPCAKE.]

Okay, for the record, don't ever sneak up on me when this armor actually has some juice.

You're forgiven this time because you brought me a cupcake.

[Oh, you're an observant one.]

Yeah, I kind of figured...

[Meanwhile, the komory bat has launched itself from Tony at his not!shriek, and was currently hovering nearer to Pinkie Pie, chittering away in greeting.]

[trademark_skull]

[.... the hell is with this place and picking up guys in metal suits?]

I see you must be new here.

[the_mechanic]

What's it like having 20-20 vision?

[shadearchivist]

It seems as if others have filled you in on the general situation. If you need to sit quietly, please be aware that there are dangerous creatures around; I am sure there are people here willing to come to your aid should you need assistance.

[The man looks somewhat overwhelmed, after all.]

[the_mechanic]

[Yeah, this is all a lot to take in. He's just... trying to ride it out, at this point.]

Nightmares, right? Yeah, everyone's been... really helpful, actually.

[It's downright bizarre, but, he'll take advantage of it while he can. Keeps him distracted.]

[allfunandgamesuntil]

It's nice to see another new face around here; welcome to town. The ladies of the pony persuasion talking to you are real, if knowing that helps at all. D wants me to ask about your armor specs if you have a sec.

[the_mechanic]

[Tony chuckles, so much straight-forward conversation today.]

Heya. ...thanks. Yeah, I'm pretty sure even my mind wouldn't have come up with them on its own.

[Aaaaahhh, hahah, suit. He. Yeah. Maybe when/if you two get to know each other better.]

Yeah, uh, maybe another time. In a much less public forum. If ever. I... can tell you it's custom, I designed it, I'm kind of possessive of it?

[He tries to say it as politely as possible, but there are so very few people privy to those specs, and he feels safer that way. It's bad enough when people repaint his suits, he doesn't need the actual specs out in the cosmos.]

[defrostedpride]

What did you do to yourself?

No, don't tell me, I don't actually care. Just drink the potion. You'll be much more capable of understanding explanations without a concussion.

[the_mechanic]

[He scoffs at that. Finally, someone who isn't overly helpful.]

Nothing wrong with my brain except everything I'm pretty sure magic can't fix. Thanks anyway, though, you're a peach.

[He's put enough suspicious substances in his body over the course of his life, he's trying to knock that habit.]

[text]

[ttlynotanagent]

[Well...to be fair you did say you wanted someone without using the words "Kupo" and hey Perry doesn't talk at all so there's that.

Of course, he's a platypus, but beggars can't be choosers Tony.

Perry, however, has noticed some of Tony's reactions to the stranger characters and decides to be a little more cautious about NOT giving the man a heart attack. So, you get a text response and no video Tony.

Of course, this might also be leading to a terrible joke when Perry reveals he's a platypus after all of this.]


1. This is Traverse Town.
2. You're in a dream.
3. The bat on your head is a Dream Eater, it does what the name implies and eats bad dreams.
4. Don't expect to wake up from the nightmare any time soon.
5. Get used to the moogles, if you want any supplies it's unlikely you'll get them anywhere else.

Might be forgetting somethings, but I'm still pretty new myself.

[text]

[the_mechanic]

1. Got it.
2. Ugh.
3. Okay, that's new. Interesting.
4. Ugh.
5. Guess I should stop antagonizing them.

That's been pretty concise, I like it. Thanks.

[yabigfurball]

[Ammy cocks her head in curiosity at Tony. She'd never seen armor like that before. Although more importantly, he doesn't look to be in good shape. Is he all right?]

[the_mechanic]

[Tony just blinks at the screen. It's a wolf. Ooookay.

Hey, at least it's not talking.]

Uh. Hi there.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus looks pretty concerned. He showed up here from being dead, and yet he still didn't look as bad as Tony looks now.]

Yes, but perhaps the more pressing matter is if you need assistance?

[the_mechanic]

[Ouch. Well. Tony just has one of those faces.

Also, seriously, so many people offering to help, he's tempted to just be an ass for the sake of normalcy. He's going to keep biting back the urge, though. He knows he needs allies.]

Okay, be honest with me. Does my face really look that bad?

[colorbymemory]

[Oh, another new arrival, and he looks fairly badly off, too.]

No, it's not just the Moogles here. Did they not give you a potion?

[the_mechanic]

[GAH. POTION.]

I'm beginning to realize.

Yes. There's a potion. No. I don't want to drink it, it kind of freaks me out.

[Reaching the end of the sanity rope, sorry kid.]

[fearmylaserface]

[Here, have a guy in armor like a few others that replied, only his is blue.] Dude, you seriously look like shit. What the hell happened to you?

I'm assuming you've heard the standard details. You're dreaming, which is still kind of bullshit seeing as I'm an AI. You can't choose to go home, though from personal experience... It can happen. I went home, and not by choice. Came back from a later point in time.

And if you have my luck, someone from home tries to murder you when you return. May want to be careful of the guy in blue and yellow armor like mine. He's an asshole. [Epsilon, holding a grudge? You better believe it. And there's a grumbling pricklemane in the background.]

[the_mechanic]

Survived my house getting blown into the ocean via some heavy artillery. Nothing major.

[Said deadpan. God, he's tired. And this is more social activity than he's had in weeks.]

Well that's an ugly detail no one else mentioned. Even if I get out, I can be dragged right back. Awesome.

[Tony lips quirk up at the last bit.]

Someone's always trying to kill me. [He shrugs, but it's weary.]

Thanks for the heads up. [Pretty good idea who he means.]

[motorvation]

[She's seen all the offers of assistance from others and concern for his health - and yes, she heard that little-girl shriek when Pinkie popped up, not that she can blame him, considering how enthusiastic Pinkie can get. Still, she has another offer, one that's slightly different.]

Do you need any help with your armor? Tools, equipment, a pair of hands?

[the_mechanic]

[He grins. Oh, if he were a younger man. And... not dating the most amazing woman in the world. *mental cough* Okay, anyway.

This is stuff he'll sorely need, and he's wondering what the catch is.]

That depends, yes, yes, maybe.

[His eyes narrow shrewdly, but he's still smiling.]

What's in it for you?