Second Report - Necessity Is The...

[lessabrasive]

[ The communicator clicks on, revealing the sunlit decore of Twilight Town. Sunset Hill, specifically, for those familiar with the location.

What should also be familiar is the statue in view of the camera. Not so familiar? The portal set at the base, the glow pulsing brightly. Invitingly, even. A pricklemane bounces towards it, then stops, tilting its head from left to right and waggling its ears in a show of interest. ]


This wasn't here when I passed by this morning. But it looks like the wait for something new to happen is over.


[ After 10 seconds or so of focus, the camera swings around until the firm frown of Lin Beifong is visible. ]


We don't know what might be through here, and securing a safe point on the other side is a priority. I plan on crossing over shortly. Anyone in Twilight Town is welcome to join me, but I recommend being ready for combat.


[ooc: this post is action/prose friendly! feel free to reply to Lin, or go ahead and do your own thing in a seperate thread. :D ]

Comments

[raisethemoon]

I shall be coming. There are few hostile environments an alicorn cannot withstand, and in the event of trouble, I can teleport a small group safely back to Twilight Town.

[lessabrasive]

Let us hope that won't be required, your Highness. [Her head inclines respectfully.]

I'll see you shortly, then.

[raisethemoon]

[Luna nods and shuts off the communicator. A few minutes later, she comes gliding in, circling her way down to land next to Lin, looking at the portal. None of her Dream Eaters are with her.]

It simply appeared with no warning?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Looks exciting. I'm in.

[lessabrasive]

[ Well here's a new face. Her brows furrow slightly. ]

And you would be?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

The name's Edge. Ninja, King, and all-around amazing guy.

[allfunandgamesuntil]

Looks neat. I'm on my way.

[He's already in Twilight Town, so it doesn't take York long to get to the portal. They really don't get a quiet moment here, do they? Well, it's good enough for him.]

[lessabrasive]

Understood.

[ When York arrives, Lin can still be found near the portal; arms folded across her chest, she's dressed in her own plate armor, though it's certainly nothing like the Freelancers - she's wearing actual plate metal, after all.

She recognises his armor style, even if she doesn't know this tan one specifically. Lin's head inclines slightly anyway, even as pale green eyes narrow with faint suspicion. ]

[dork_of_keys]

[That's really odd. Last time they found a Keyhole, it opened right away. Now... Sora's not sure he wants to know what's up with this.

Exploring the newly opened world sounds like a plan, though. So he's making sure he's got some potions and ethers on hand when he replies to this post.]

I'll be there soon.

[lessabrasive]

[ She remembers you. Sora gets a nod. ]

Good. Once you're here, I think we'll have enough for an initial scouting party.

HEY IT'S A (SCOUTING) PARTY

[lessabrasive]

[ Once the gang's all here, there's little time wasted. With a sharp whistle to her dream eater, calling him to heel, Lin steps up and steps on through at the head of the group.

The transition from one world to the next is a bit like the day-to-night from Twilight to Traverse Town. She doesn't feel a pull, at least, no twists or turns as she strides on through. Lin's eyes narrow slightly as they adjust, boots resounding loudly on the metal walkway that materialises beneath her feet. The faint thrum from distant unseen engines gives her pause, stirring her earthbender senses, before she looks around properly at the lit screens blinking on either side.

While Republic City's technology is certainly advanced for her world, it isn't *anything* like this. She takes a few more steps forward, as much to clear space behind her for any who follow, before she finds her gaze arrested by the starfield lying beyond an expansive window of glass.

/Is/ that glass? Her Pricklemane is already beelining for it, regardless, making 'oooooooo' chitter noises at the shiny. ]


What in Aang's name..?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

We're on a Lunar Whale.

[Edge... isn't even all that surprised. If they're in dreams, why shouldn't there be a Lunar Whale here?]

[statisticallyterrible]

[Chell saw little point in responding to the post--better to be efficient and just go check it out for herself. Besides, odds seemed slim that some sort of massive portal would show up at the same time as her.

Still, the idea of other people being there... As Chell approaches the Sunset Hill, she stops a moment, considering. Maybe she should try a way to sneak past the rest, and get in before them? The woman on the feed didn't look too friendly, either. It would be a lot easier to go on by herself, anyway.

As Chell stalled, a short ways away, her mind let slip the detail that, unlike turrets, inhabitants of the city are perfectly capable of turning their heads or walking right up and noticing her.]

[lessabrasive]

[ Human, non-Human and dream eater inhabitants, certainly. In this case, while Lin doesn't move far from the portal, her Pricklemane certainly does.

Noticing the stalled figure, he starts bouncing her way, beaming toothfully in what he hopes is a friendly manner. HI hi hihihi are you joining us? you should totally join us. ]

[motorvation]

We don't know anything about the world on the other side of that thing yet, do we?

[Really, Asami's not sure if it would be safe for her to go, a thought she hates.]

[lessabrasive]

Not yet. Hence the scouting mission.

[ She can't blame Asami for being concerned, but she's certainly more than capable in Lin's mind. ]

We'll make sure to update everyone once we're through.

[the_mechanic]

[There's the whirring of metal gears just before the video kicks on. Tony's geared up, and while his suit looks a helluva lot better than it did a week ago, it could still use a new paint job. And more tweaking, but it'll definitely do.]

I'm in. On my way.

[The helmet snaps shut as the feed closes.]

[lessabrasive]

[ Well someone's looking better than the last time they talked. This should be interesting. ]

All right. We're going on through. We'll wait on the other side for you to join us.

Luna and York: We Put the Fun in Dysfunctional

[allfunandgamesuntil]

[York wasn't sure how the ship was put together, other than the fact that it definitely wasn't like it was in the waking world. You could still see the leaderboard just about anywhere though; that figured. He headed over to the nearest console, poking at it to see if anything would happen.]

...so, Luna. Are you. Gonna be alright?

[raisethemoon]

[Luna followed, curiously peering over his shoulder as he works. The communicators are the highest form of technology she's ever used, and this seems much...more complicated, at least.]

Wherefore should I not be?

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus already looks ready to go, with two Spirits in tow. He's made it a point to go on to the new worlds opening up, just to see what other clues they can find.]

I'll be there in just a moment. [And he's off toward the portal.]

[lessabrasive]

It'll be good to have you with us. See you shortly.

[ When Eraqus arrives, however, he'll find the bridge empty of all save Lin herself and a rather enterprising moogle attempting to occupy one corner of the room. (The metalbender hadn't been remotely surprised - trust them to camp out new territory sooner than soon, if only to reap the rewards of new battles.)

Arms folded, her back is presently to the portal, attention fixed on some of the screens. The largest is the massive scoreboard, which she keeps glancing too, face fixed in a frown. ]

Sora and Tony - This might be fun?

[dork_of_keys]

[Sora's not averse to exploring on his own. The worst would happen is he gets lost and has to call for help from one of the guys that knows the place. But he can't, not in good conscience anyway, leave a newcomer alone to deal with the Nightmares.

So he goes with the other armored guy... and realizes that he hadn't bothered with the guy's introductory post after seeing how many people had already replied to it. He doesn't even know the man's name (yet), though he's gathered from the conversation that this certainly isn't part of his home world.

It won't be a surprise if they both get lost.]

I don't think we've met yet. My name's Sora.

\o/!

[the_mechanic]

[Tony waits the moment for the kid to catch up, then starts walking again. He leaves the helmet open for a moment longer, even though he'd be more comfortable viewing the information Jarvis is collecting.]

Nope. I'm Tony.

[He gives the kid Sora a once over, smirks ever so slightly, and closes the helmet. It'll erase most of the emotion when his voice filters through the modulator, but that's not his concern right now. There's no telling what's on this boat, and he'll feel better not taking it in the face.

He stops a few minutes later at another computer console and attempts everything he can think of short of just punching it to get a reaction. Nothing. Damn. Finally some decent tech and totally cockblocked. Also, Jarvis is taking area scans as they go and piecing together a map, so hopefully that can prevent some of the getting lost... unless this place is like Hogwarts, in which case, they're screwed.

Dingbat chitters happily in greeting at whoever Sora brought along. SO MANY NEW FRIENDS.]

Chell, open for any others

[statisticallyterrible]

[Exploration of a stark, officious, winding government structure proved both disgustingly familiar, and in its own sick way, a vague comfort. At least she'd had no time to be misled into thinking this dream-place was any different.

Sticking to herself certainly felt the norm, at least, though one key difference seemed clear; in this buddy-heavy environment, the foreign concept of teamwork may well prove necessary. As the only one without a partner Dream Eater yet, Chell made the concession where she could: periodically, where wall allowed, she threw up a partner portal to the one at the entrance, linking the two. As uncomfortable as it felt, leaving an opening for something to come after her, she'd have to trust Lin to let only the right sort through. With luck, though, she'd get to keep to herself. ]