❪ test drive: #2 ❫

[natha]

OVERFLOW POST

THE PROLOGUE     Many people in stasis seem to be medically sound enough to wake up, brother. Are the preparations ready to go? Yes, I've long prepared myself for this. Watching them everyday has been truly rewarding. ... Right. Yeah. Okay, let's get them ready to wake up. We should keep their minds active to ease the transition into consciousness. A simple VR program should do the trick, I think. I will boot one immediately. There! All systems are green. Their consciousnesses are linked. However, their minds appear to be too active... They may be over-stimulated, brother. Huh? How can that be...? Can we pull them out safely? Not from my end, no. This may be too large for us to fix alone. Do you think...? Yes, I think so... It will have to be done organically. Can you send out a message to our refugees? Of course, brother. I will send one swiftly. We must be sure to fix this before Darma returns. There is urgency in the Orbiters' request. Refugees currently in El Nysa are asked via mass message to please return to Thesa Station virtual reality area immediately. Zasere tells them that the next set of Refugees are scheduled to wake, but there's been an issue. On Thesa, refugees will find that the people in stasis are still apparently trapped in slumber. Most of them are complete strangers, but there's a chance you may recognize a familiar face or two. Normally, these people would wake up from their pods without issue, but due to a malfunction caused by the unforeseen force during The Descent, they have to go through extra measures to make this possible. Those in slumber require extra stimulation, something to keep their minds active. What better than a simulation of an area of El Nysa? Keeping their minds active requires an extremely involved simulation. Those subjected to the VR (prospective characters) will find themselves completely immersed in their new environment, believing themselves to be native Olympians. To wake up from the simulation, characters must work together to accomplish a certain objective(s) in the icy tundra. Characters in-game will be aware that this is a simulation, but this is good practice for properly interacting with El Nysa natives, isn't it? An AC-length log thread on this TDM may be submitted for Two (2) Natha REP points HERE. Please read the OOC note at the bottom of this post for the terms. PROMPT: WINTER CAME     The wind in the icy wasteland is bitter and frigid. You are wrapped up in a winter coat, but even still, the cold bites at your skin and leaves you yearning for a warm fire. Perhaps you're a merchant from the city, here to make a delivery, or you're a royal guard, sent to patrol the area. Who are you? The sky is the limit. One thing is certain — you won't snap out of your new identity until you finish a task. 1. Due to the vast diversity of the creatures on El Nysa and the fact that new ones are constantly being discovered, an important objective is to carefully chronicle different species. Unfortunately, to research these new species, they happen to need more than just a visual. More than just fleeting glances in over a snowy hill. Researchers are constantly looking for ways to secure... You guessed it! Blood and stool samples. The supplies for the former will be given. Supplies are offered in a small box; one per person. In this box is a small dart that will automatically procure a small touch of blood, and easily shaken off so the creature will be able to securely escape. As for the latter— well, they'll give you a plastic bag if that counts. Look, sometimes to get a job done, you have to get your hands dirty. Specifically, they seek samples from a newly recorded rare beast known as a Klep. Kleps spend much of their time hidden in caves, so hitting them with the darts will be tricky. They are also nocturnal, but you may be able to lure them out of the cave with fish as bait. When struck with a dart, you must grab the dart and escape immediately, as they will charge you, and killing such an endangered species is illegal. As for stool samples, well... Once you find a pile, you will have plenty of sample to work with. 2. It's cold, to say the least. Too cold to continue forward. Whatever you were doing, you must stop and seek shelter. Looks like your goal is clear, at least. Get warm. Not finding a way to sustain heat, whether it be seeking shelter, building a fire, cuddling up, or all of the above, will likely end in serious consequences. 3. You are stuck in a dilemma. On one hand, you are set to work for Olympia. One the other, you're not completely sure what is really expected of you, or who the man who gave you this mission truly is. You and your partner are meant to protect precious trade cargo for them. You were told that these were essential supplies for one of the outer colonies. They assured you it was mostly food. In loading the cargo onto the supplied wagon with your partner, however, you noticed something inherently off about it. The weight and even the sounds of some of the contents inside definitely don't sound like food. Moreover, some boxes are more obviously more concealed— draped in black sheets and reinforced on all sides. You've also caught wind of rumors that you are potentially being utilized to supply advanced weapons and other contraband to Wyver terrorists in the colonies. But what do you do? Refuse to make the delivery, and people in the colony will surely starve. Try to remove the weapons and only deliver the food, and you will be killed on sight for being too suspicious. Make the delivery as-is, and not only will Olympians die at the hands of terrorists in the future, but you will betray your country. Decide quickly... 4. There are many dangers associated with traveling in such an isolated, harsh environment. You must help each other to survive. Perhaps someone has fallen on thin ice, and requires a rescue. Maybe someone is on the brink of starvation, and you must share what provisions you have. When you come to, you will awaken in Thesa Station. All will be explained to you by Zasere or Sael via telepathic link. Your world is no more. The Storm has consumed it. We offer proof in the Observation Deck if you desire it, but it won't be an easy thing to stomach. We offer you a new life, in our planet of El Nysa. We just ask for your help in maintaining the vitality of El Nysa. What can we offer you in exchange for your help? PROMPT: STASIS UNIT     You have found the massive section of Thesa known as the Stasis Unit. There’s no special access required to access this part of Thesa Station, but refugees are warned that it may not be for the faint of heart. Here, in large pods that nearly cover every square inch of the space, are all of the people the Orbiters have managed to rescue. Your loved ones, your greatest enemy, your next door neighbor— you might find them here. These people are in a state of deep cryosleep. Due to the damaging effects of The Storm, their bodies are not yet ready to be awoken. PROMPT: GET REKT     The Orbiters have noticed that some of the refugees really miss their video games. The technology in El Nysa could be much worse, but it definitely leaves much to be desired. Which is why, after expressing relief that everyone awoke safely, the Orbiters have decided to provide a little fun in the form of video game competitions. Anything from old-timey arcade machines to state-of-the-art computers, consoles, and VR headsets (though you may be a little tired of VR right now...) is available, and yes, they have your favorite games! Enjoy PAC-MAN, Starcraft 2, or perhaps Dance Dance Revolution! Teach a friend how to play. Get unnecessarily angry and competitive. Most importantly, have fun. Keep fourthwalling to a minimum, please. Recommended playing: QWOP PROMPT: OMAGE     Upon receiving your mobile phone, you will be asked to set a username. Voila, you can now access the network! You can choose to send a message to the entire network, specific usernames, or you can try out the Orbiters’ service, Omage, which connects you to a random user. They thought this might be a good way for their new guests to make friends with each other... Connecting to server... Looking for someone you can chat with... You’re now chatting with [username]... Say hi! PROMPT: WILDCARD     You are welcome to write any scenarios in Thesa Station! Characters have been granted temporary access to the Observation Room, and are encouraged to study it carefully. FINAL OOC NOTE     Please give toplevel priority to prospective characters! Current characters wishing to thread these scenarios with other current characters are encouraged to create separate logs. However, threads between 2 current characters are not eligible for Natha Orbiter REP. These threads may be carried over as game canon if players choose! Players are encouraged to submit TDM threads as application samples, but they are not required. Please direct any OOC questions to the questions thread below! A TDM thread of AC length may be submitted HERE for 2 NATHA ORBITER REPUTATION POINTS. Current players may submit their thread at any time, and prospective players may submit a thread after acceptance. Please note that threads must contain at least five (5) log comments from your character. A toplevel counts as a comment. Network threads are not eligible. QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● world ● map ● reputation ● npcs taken ● reserves ● application calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

Bellamy Blake | The 100

[jettisons]

i - winter came

[Bellamy has been working for the guard for years, and these are still the jobs he hates most—the scouting jobs with no real information. He's been sent with a partner to gather as much information as possible on a group of smugglers who might be out here somewhere, or who might be about fifty miles west. There's been no luck so far, but what there has been is horrible, crippling blizzards making travel nearly impossible.

One of those storms have forced he and his partner into a cave, which is doing little more than keeping the snow off of them. It's freezing, and they've been gone far longer than the mission specified. Supplies are getting low, and all Bellamy can do is hope they ride the storm out and the guard sends someone for them. For the moment, he's sitting at the rear of the cave with his back against the wall, wrapped tightly in a coat with his hands under his armpits in a desperate attempt to keep them a bit warmer.]

If this storm doesn't let up soon, we're going to need another plan.

ii - stasis unit

[It's just as unsettling as he was warned, but Bellamy had to see it. The rows and rows of pods are overwhelming, and for a moment, he just stands in front of one, staring. So many people. So many. The fact that they're all from different worlds is still hard to wrap his head around.

But soon enough, he pushes the shock and discomfort aside. He needs to see if any of his people are in these things, so he starts to head down one of the rows, methodically checking the windows of each pod, his back ramrod straight and expression determined.]

iii - omage

Connecting to server...
Looking for someone you can chat with...
You’re now chatting with Blake... Say hi!

I'm checking to see if this thing actually works.

[Cool, Bellamy, how social.]

[gozen]

[It's one of the worst storms Minamoto has ever seen. In all her years serving in the royal guard, she can't remember weathering one so awful. Though the snow stings her cheeks, she stands near the cave's entrance, watching the chaotic event. With each howl of the wind she tugs her cloak a little closer to herself. No fire, with only the clothes on their back--

Oh. But seeing Bellamy in the state that he is-- she can't just let him freeze like that. She kneels in front of him and whips off her cloak in one move. He doesn't have a choice. She's wrapping it around him!]

You poor thing... don't fret, dear. I'll make sure both of us make it back alive.

[jettisons]

[Bellamy blinks in surprise at her as she kneels down, and then frowns when she wraps her cloak around him. What is this?]

I'm fine.

[He's definitely trying to pull it back off.]

You're going to freeze. Take it.

[gozen]

It's sweet of you to worry about my well-being.

[Sorry, when he tries to squirm away she'll do her best to match his movements. You can bet she's working on fastening the cloak.]

But you needn't. I've traversed many storms during my service. Let this silly old woman's heart be put at rest, all right?

[jettisons]

That makes you immune to hypothermia?

[He's trying to grab her hands and pull them away from the clasp.]

[gozen]

[Minamoto frowns. It's the sort of stern expression a teacher would wear to scold their misbehaving student.]

Really...! You're a very stubborn boy, aren't you? [She lets him grab her hands but she's still wearing that disappointed look.] It's in the superior officer's best interests to look after their subordinates. Do you think I'd make a decision that'd hurt us?

[>:|]

i

[romancekiller]

[clarke has never really tried the virtual simulations before since she has other priorities with her arrival and she was more than skeptical of their situation. it had been over a month since then and now being brought back to thesa station with the urgency of people needing simulation before they can emerge from the stasis units. she wasn't sure the first thing about any of this but since there is a chance it could help her friends wake up, she decides to give it a try.

the first thing she notices is the complete change in atmosphere and the fact she is already bundled up in a warm winter coat and it feel so surreal that she isn't really able to focus on the fact she is seeing all this for the first time in her life. it's freezing cold, the storm is terrible so clarke immediately tries to seek shelter before she can even think to go anywhere else.

she treks through the snow as best as she can before she eventually finds a cave to take shelter nearby. she ventures further inside, she can hear a voice and suddenly she sees bellamy and it's like she can't breathe for a moment when she sees him. clarke just has so many questions about this, she isn't even sure how much of this is real as she just stares at him sitting on the ground, trying to keep himself warm] Bellamy?

[jettisons]

[The wind is howling so fiercely at the mouth of the cave that Bellamy doesn't even hear her come in, but when she says his name, his head snaps up. It's clear that he's confused—if she's here to find him, it makes sense that she knows his name, but calling him by his first name so casually is a little off.]

Did the guard send you?

[romancekiller]

No, that's not— [the confusion immediately clear on her expression hearing his response. the complete lack of recognition and for a moment she wonders it was a deliberate part of this simulation, running into bellamy like this or just any of her friends as if it was part of some test or to face the fact she was responsible for killing him by shutting the dropship door.

she finds herself stopping midsentence not sure what to believe or even knowing how to answer his question. between being overwhelmed with a rush of emotion she was feeling from just from seeing him in front of her and wanting it to be real, for him to alive, she impulsively just runs towards him and pulls him into a hug]

[jettisons]

[Bellamy's not expecting it, and she moves so quickly he can barely react. She throws her arms around him and he goes rigid, spine stiffening, so thrown off it takes him a second to do much of anything at all. Finally he pulls back, getting his hands on her shoulders and pushing her back gently.]

Who the hell are you?

[romancekiller]

[this time clarke realizes she probably should have expected how awkward it was for him that she was hugging him in the first place. that wasn't really a thing they did, she wasn't sure what came over her but other than how relieved she was to see him alive and breathing. it felt so real to her, like he was actually there in front of her and that scares her a little she can't tell which it is. it takes her a moment to register his words when he pulls back from her and it hits her like a punch to the chest] Wait, really? You really don't know me?

[she looks at him with complete concern as the words sink in] I didn't even think I would see you again, not after I—

[it goes unsaid about how this is all her fault. she almost looks like she is about to cry but she takes in a deep breath, inhaling sharply before she trails off to just steady herself to answer him] My name is Clarke.

i!

[tailorable]

[ At this point, they've been coworkers for some time, coming in from close batches of recruits. Eggsy has patrolled enough with Bellamy to trust that he knows his stuff and speaks directly when he has valuable information. So, Bellamy not immediately suggesting a plan of action strikes him as a red flag. This is brainstorming then, innit? Not an immediate solution but the promise of one. Great.

Eggsy has yet to copy Bellamy's cold-coping posture, expending valuable energy by pacing as he searches through his pockets for something of use. ]

Might need a few plans, mate.

[ one to supplement his inevitable failure at finding something to use as kindling in his meager possessions. ]

[jettisons]

The first part of our plan involves you sitting down.

[Bellamy is used to this from Eggsy by now, and he usually doesn't call him out, but this is a near dangerous waste when they're so low on rations.]

Our supplies will last us another week at most if we make them stretch.

[Really make them stretch.]

[tailorable]

[ He stops abruptly, rolling on the balls of his feet as he considers Bellamy's proposal. ]

Yeah, alright.

[ Without further hesitation, he drops next to Bellamy, bumping their shoulders together. A companionable gesture. ]

That's good, innit? Then all we gotta do is stay warm. [ he sounds, well, not entirely mollified but lighter, perhaps. ] Ashti will send a search party before then, anyway.

[ The head of the guard — unless the storm remains a threat to the safety of anyone who enters the mountains, of course. ]

[jettisons]

[Bellamy pushes back with just a little extra force, because of course he does.]

If you have any bright ideas on how we're going to stay warm, I'm all ears. Ashti won't have much use for a couple of corpses.

[Isn't he so positive, Eggsy? A light in the dark.]

[tailorable]

[ Oh, Bellamy, don't start a playfight that you can't win. He only snorts at the negativity. ]

Fire's the obvious thing. [ but how do they get fire? Maybe there's something flammable in their packs. He tugs his bag over, rooting through the rations. Not much in there besides sustenance, really. He has his glasses, but there's no light to concentrate in here. Fuck.

Suddenly, his mouth tugs sideways, which should warn Bellamy of mischief. ]

Well, we can always cozy up — [ he gives Bellamy a proper shove. ] — if we can't make fire.

i. i can change it if you'd prefer no assumed au cr

[mayarah]

[ bellamy has been working for the guard for years; so has kara. this isn't even the first time they're partnered together, and she's always thought bellamy was competent, if a bit grumpy. she can kind of understand the grumpiness right now, because it's freezing. kara runs warmer than the average olympian, she always has, and she's always been stronger and faster, too, but none of that's any help right now. ]

I'm not sure there's much we can do except wait, one way or another.

[ she's wrapped in her coat and a large red blanket, cloth unlike what is sold in stores. she doesn't know where she got it, but she's had it with her all this time. it keeps some of the cold out, at least, and combined with her higher body temperature, kara figures she's better off than bellamy. which means that she ought to help, somehow.

so she scoots closer to him until their sides are pressed together. ]

au cr is great!!

[jettisons]

[Kara is definitely right, but Bellamy isn't generally a huge fan of waiting, especially when they're running out of supplies and they have no idea if anyone is even coming for them. His own coat is warm enough, but it can only do so much, so he's grateful when Kara scoots in. He presses just a little bit closer, the movement automatic, then tilts his head back against the rock.]

You think they owe us a better assignment next time?

[It's slightly teasing.]

[mayarah]

[ even though kara's not as badly affected by the cold, she's glad when bellamy doesn't move away but presses closer instead. it's good for both of them to have that contact, she thinks, and doesn't look too closely at the thought. instead, she tips her head to the side so she can look at bellamy. ]

Yeah. I mean, I bet some of the others are chasing birds on a beach somewhere. That sounds like way more fun than this. Next time, we should get to go somewhere warm.

[jettisons]

Maybe if we suck up enough, we'll get one of the cushy assignments.

[Or maybe you keep getting the crappy ones because you disobey orders, Bellamy.]

ii.

[loufa]

[ Echo has been wandering the breadth of the stasis units since she'd first taken refuge in this place — searching for Roan, for anyone from Azgeda, anyone in whom she might be able to place her trust — in vain. There hasn't been a single face of anyone she knows, no one sleeping she can recognize.

She pushes past the heavy metal pods more urgently, panic continuing to rise, until she spies a familiar mop of dark curly hair and Belomi kom Skaikru's trademark blue guard jacket and ramrod-straight posture, always tense as though he's ready for gonplei, and instantly she's shoving him against one of the metal boxes face-first, pinning his wrists on either side of him. As tall as she is — his height, on eye-level with him — and as strong, he won't be able to break free so easily. She barks into his ear, angrily: ] — What is Skaikru doing, in this place?!

[jettisons]

[He slams into the metal of the pod, and for a split second his mind runs through all the ways he could get himself out of this until he hears Echo's voice, and he goes very still. Somehow, he's simultaneously not at all surprised and utterly confused.]

Echo, what the hell are you doing?

[loufa]

[ She doesn't have her sword, or her bow and quiver, but Echo can be menacing enough even without. Bellamy goes still and she leans in toward his ear, her voice low and hissing. ]

How many of you are there?

[jettisons]

[She leans close, and that's all he needs. He smashes his head back, trying to break her nose or at least hurt her enough to get her to back off. He has no idea what the hell this is about, but he doesn't trust her enough yet to give her the benefit of the doubt.]

bellamy!!!!

[loufa]

[ That's her first mistake, assuming he won't play dirty — and Echo doesn't have time to think before his head is ramming back into her face. Instinctively she rears her head back and he butts her hard in the chin, and in the confusion she releases her hold on him. ]

— Jok of! —

[ — is all she manages as she staggers backward. ]