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Entry tags:
❪ test drive #7 ❫
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YOUR STORY BEGINS  The Storm came. You remember darkness, but you don't remember much after that. You don't know how long you slept, but the dreams were short. You remember the expanse of stars and galaxies in your direct view. Every world and solar system ever known to man was present in your dreams in careful, pristine detail. You also witnessed the Storm, which has devoured a fair portion of these galaxies. Your Earth and similar planets were assimilated by the Storm. Somehow, you knew it would be the last you'd see of your world. That was when she told you what happened. You knew that you'd be living somewhere new. The details weren't clear, but you knew it was a part of a deal with the entity known as Darma - once, you might have been able to speak to her, but now you are only met with silence. When you awake, you will find yourself in Thesa Station. Your body is still cold, you're hungry, and the halls seem frighteningly bare somehow. EMPTY HALLS ![](https://i.imgur.com/G8jldQW.png") Despite the absence of Darma and the rest of the Natha Orbiters, the station is still managing to sustain itself. Those that dig within the station’s log will find that it’s currently in some sort of Energy Saving Mode. While Thesa isn’t at risk of failing any time soon, people will notice that the ship will appear more dim and desolate. Malfunctions will be common, and while none seem to be life-threatening (yet), they are notably inconvenient. Fortunately, it seems the Orbiters were prepared for the worst, and in a potential response to these concerning turn of events, they've prepared some help.
The virtual assistant takes a wide variety of shapes, from adorable animals to metal paper clips with googly eyes. Regardless of what form they take, their mission is clear: to help in any way they can. It’s unfortunate, however, that they just haven’t been calibrated properly. Hence, they will appear at the strangest times— in the middle of dinner or an important conversation— sometimes they won’t even offer anything useful. Apparently they were designed after a program that existed once, but who really knows.... However, while they may seem like nothing but trouble at first, there are many occasions in which they can actually help. They are equipped with a whole wealth of information on how to keep the station operational. They can offer tutorials and step-by-step instructions on how to fix various aspects of the station and beyond. Their knowledge is extensive, and if they believe the refugee they're assigned to needs a different kind of help (a lesson in smiling or how to have adequate small talk being some of the many topics they're equipped to teach), well ... they're not against supplying it. Expect some invasive teaching. The virtual assistants are also all synced together. Meaning, if there’s a big enough problem, they can ping one another and assign refugees to help with certain parts of the ship. The only problem is that prioritizing may not be their strong suit. What seems like a simple issue could be exacerbated into a huge ordeal. What someone thinks is a fire in the main hatch could actually be a plumbing issue near the Mess Hall. They also seem to assign people arbitrarily. One can only hope all the refugees get along. SEND HELP  While no specific parts of the station are necessarily offline, a lot of the tasks the station would normally complete on its own will need to be handled manually. Fortunately, the main functions of the station are more than accounted for, however everything else will be up to the refugees. As there is no telling when the Natha Orbiters will return, perhaps it’d be wise to take this opportunity to learn to be a little more self-sufficient on Thesa Station. 1. There are some areas the Station can’t automatically clean without exiting its current emergency protocols. Each of these areas will be marked off on the map provided by Thesa's very own virtual assistant, Yppilc. According to Yppilc, one of the key places that would benefit from a good wash down is the airlock. As a fair amount of foreign matter travels through these doors, special suits will be provided for those cleaning the area. The suits will have a built-in communications system and will also include its own oxygen tank. A helpful feature to have, just in case someone may be swept out into space. Which happens more often than one would think! Cleaning too close to the controls can trigger the doors to open… they’re sensitive. The oxygen tank isn’t equipped to last very long, so you can only help comes soon. GIFTS FROM THESA  The Natha have bequeathed their will unto the refugees, the burden of watching over their dear planet not given without a token of trust. Everyone, those newly awakened and those already settled, will receive periodic urging from Yppilc to visit the VR facilities. These messages will grow more frequent, more frantic, the longer they go ignored - for the sake of sleep, it’s best to indulge the request. Load into the simulation, and the scene is mired by the confusion of battle. You and another stand on a low hanging precipice, overlooking a failing front line. The location and conditions of the fight vary, drawn from the memories and fears of the participants themselves. Olympia and Wyver, locked in a caustic war - and your new home is succumbing. Or your homeland, entrenched in conflict from the past, or from a dreaded future. While the scene laid out before you is chaotic, one thing stands clear; your allies are fighting a losing battle. Comrades fall, innocents flee, and the wounded cry out for help. The program has determined what could best spur you and your comrade to intervene, though the more stubborn refugees may need additional goading from their partners. Your next action determines more than the outcome of the fight before you. Choose wisely - this message is conveyed mentally in a garbled voice that sounds familiar and ethereal all at once. Jump into action and fight. Save an ally - perhaps even your partner in this simulation - from certain death. Or help those who cannot help themselves. Act, and you will find yourself imbued with a new power. Use it, and the scene will soon come to a close. Despite returning to the reality of Thesa Station, you’ll find this newfound power still within your grasp. A gift from Darma, to aid in the battles to come. OOC Note: Feel free to give your character any one power that would be classified as a ‘major spell’ on the ACP rewards table. These powers can fall under any category (Unaffiliated, Natha, Olympia, or Wyver), and must be reported by existing characters and new applicants here under the most appropriate header no later than September 8th 11:59PM EST. Please include a brief description of the power you’ve chosen. You will receive a response within 48 hours if there are any modifications required. SOCIAL-LINKED(in) By some miracle, there are still some quieter parts of the hall. This may be an appropriate time to check out your smartphone. Aside from the expected "Omage" app, there seems to be a new one called Social-Linked. There, you may find a profile waiting to be posted. The app allows for the user to fill it in, but there is also an auto-function! upon pressing it, it will generate a shockingly-honest answer based on the Natha's observation of your history. Roman will be your only friend in this app, with his very own profile: PROBLEMS IN STASIS  1. The ship’s malfunctions have reached the stasis chamber, a long feared outcome finally dawning on sleeping friends and families. Yppilc will be quick to notify all refugees aboard that the pods will need close monitoring. Whether you’re visiting to keep an eye on things, or simply there to see the face of someone dear, be careful. Bumping a control panel, or drawing a hand along the glass could trigger an emergency ejection. Lights blink and a mechanism hisses, and then the pod is gone. With the pod thrust into space, you’ll be left with nothing but a small screen displaying the chamber’s position. There are ways to retrieve it— such as climbing into a suit from the airlock or following Yppilc’s instructions. Regardless of approach, it’s imperative that you stay calm. One error, and you could eject another pod or cut off the view screen entirely. 2. The newly awakened won’t find a moment of respite. The errors that pervade over the rest of the station have altered the contingencies for resuscitation in a majority of the pods. Some may awaken with gaps in their memory, or an old injury yet unhealed. Some may be afflicted with new ailments, such as loss of a sense or severe nausea. Anything could happen, with the computer systems processing so inconsistently. Interfacing with Thesa in any way, from entering the VR simulator to accessing the medical facilities, can cause the same range of side effects, so even established refugees should take caution. FINAL OOC NOTES
As always, feel free to wildcard prompts within Thesa Station!
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. Players may submit an AC-length thread HERE from this TDM for 2 Natha REP. The due date for submission is September 16 11:59 PM EST. For this application cycle, there will be a cap of 60 and no reserves. Applications will be open on September 2 12:01 AM EST and end on September 4 11:59 PM EST. Thank you! |
Phosphophyllite | Land of the Lustrous
[Idling in the mess hall, Phos is still more than a little overwhelmed by all....well, this. They barely know what to make of it all, the odd smooth metals and strange architecture and strangers that look somehow wrong, and on top of that, they're still feeling like they've just woken up after a particularly lazy hibernation.
The problem? It seems like night all around outside. The sky is black and dotted with distant stars, and they can't even see a sun from this particular window that might have any light to give. While others might be more focused on food and whatnot, they're lingering listlessly by the window, strangely metallic golden hands pressed against the clear surface. Sure, they've handled winter duty, they can manage if needed, but ugh. This is a pretty miserable way to wake up. Groaning, they can't help but whine.]
Can the lights in there at least get brighter or something...?
[They honestly don't know. They've never seen lights like these before. But it's frustratingly dim when they're still so tired, the station's low lighting barely even refracting off their bizarrely crystalline-looking hair.]
B.
[Phos doesn't have a problem helping out with...whatever it is they need help with here, they're not entirely clear on that. But by the entrance to the airlock, they do seem uncertain about one aspect of the job.]
Why do I have to wear something like this?
[They've got one of the special space suits held up before them and they're the odd materal a skeptical look. It's a lot of material, too. Are they really supposed to cover themself head to toe?
Granted, they definitely look out of place -- the booty shorts and high heels are an odd look for a space station -- so maybe they just have no experience with this sort of thing? It certainly looks that way, and by the frown on their face as they finger the odd fabric(?), they don't seem eager to try out this particular novelty.]
C.
[What is this?? It's not like anything they've ever seen before. And what kind of questions are these?? It's so vague and open-ended, what are they supposed to write? Well, they'll do their best...]
@phos (301), EARTH
I'M SKILLED IN: dispersing lunarians, being extremely cute
I'M LOOKING FOR: information and lost gem fragments
ALSO, I'M: hardness 3.5
WILDCARD.
((OOC: Hit me with a unique starter of your own if none of these work for you! Feel free to pester me via PM or at
A
Well, I'm not sure there's anybody you can ask now, so you might have to grin and bear it... [He leans in slightly again, tilting his head to look at Phos' eyes.] Are you a gem...?
[He's spoken to Diamond before, and the similarity is too striking to ignore, despite this one's...accoutrements.]
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Obviously.
[Sorry, stranger, this gem is unfortunately not as sweet and charming as the lovely Diamond. Not to say that they're entirely rude, but given they were asked about it first, they see no issue with giving the guy an unsubtle once-over, frowning slightly in confusion as they actually take in the details.]
What are you?
[Besides just "weird", anyway. Everything looks wrong. The general shape and coloring seems right, but everything else just seems off. Strangely matte hair, an imperfect outer surface that looks oddly soft, proportions that seem closer to Sensei's than any of the gems...]
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I'm a human. You'll meet a lot of us here...and a lot of other organic kinds of people, actually. You and the other gem I met are the only things like you I've seen here so far.
[He takes on an exaggeratedly thoughtful expression and taps his chin for a moment or two, as if wondering why that is, before he shrugs.] I guess we can't really ask why that is, so it's best not to worry about it, right?
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[For a moment they just blink, distracted by how familiar that sounds and how they don't know why. Something...they've heard that word before somewhere, but from who? The only thing that's coming to mind is the ocean, for some reason.
But something else the guy says pulls them back to reality, and that thought fades to the background for now as their frown deepens. That's a problem for another time.]
"Other gem"? What other gem?
[It's hard to articulate exactly what about that is strange. If the others are here then where are they? Why wouldn't everyone stick together? Why does this guy make it sound like he's only met one? That doesn't make sense.]
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A!!! possible vague spoilers for later chapters
Which is probably why it takes Dia a few seconds longer than it should to recognize the green gem--among some other reasons. When was the last time they saw that shade of green, even back home?]
Ph... Phos!? [Diamond starts in surprise, hurrying toward the window and the other gem with a hesitant disbelief] You're awake!
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Eh? [Turning away from the window, Phos blinks at the welcome sight of a dazzlingly familiar face.] Dia? Finally!
[Phos is distinctly less hesitant, closing the rest of the distance between them with a relieved expression. They resist the urge to grab, thinking at the last second that it probably isn't a good idea to risk scratching or breaking anyone when they haven't seen any kind of stock of pastes and whatnot around, but they do hold their gold hands up excitedly like they want to.]
Jeeze, where were you? I haven't seen anyone. ["Anyone" meaning "gems", of course. These weird organics don't count.] I had to hear that you were around somewhere from a...human, I think.
[Yep, there's that niggling sense of familiarity again. That's gonna drive them nuts.]
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I was on the surface below, but they asked us to come up to help people waking up! I didn't know you'd be one of them! [But they're glad to hear the humans seemed to have been helpful, at least, and they relax with that knowledge.]
Yes, they're pretty nice, right? And so cute! And they're everywhere. Nearly everyone I've talked to since I woke up has been a human... [It'd been pretty lonely and alienating, though Dia had done their best not to show it.] I'm so happy you're awake. I missed you!
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Really? They're kind of weird-looking. Like they're trying really hard to look like us but it's not really working.
[It's very sad. But who can blame these poor humans for clearly wanting to look like gems? And of course Dia finds that super endearing. Of course.
But they can't help but notice what's wrong with what Dia's aaying, and they frown despite keeing their careful grip on the other gem's hands.]
Where's... I mean, isn't anyone else around? I know I used to always be the last one to wake up after winter...
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B
[Molly's here because he was curious, and he's on his way out because NOPE. Not his thing. He would like to not go out in the void of space, accidentally, in a spacesuit or otherwise. Like where is he supposed to put his horns in those helmets. Honestly.]
And not only that, this is a lot of personal risk just for cleanliness. I think I'm perfectly okay if the place that is separating us from... all of that is a little dirty. It just seems reasonable.
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Hey, if this guy isn't going to comment on them being an odd one out here, they won't say anything either. Even if they really, really want to.]
It's ugly.
[The face they make at the suits suggests that this is, in fact, important. Red Beryl can make clothes that are functional and look good, why can't these people?
Frowning, they put the offending garment back on the shelf they got it from -- neatly, at least. They may not like it, but they were still raised to take care of items. It's not right to be careless with something someone put their time and effort and limited materials into.]
What's even out there? Why does it need special clothes?
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That is a good question, friend. And the only answer I have is death. Horrible, suffocating death.
[So, you know, he's not going to participate in any of that. Waking up buried in the dirt will make you deeply inclined to never approach anything where you might have limited oxygen and could suffocate.] That's the best I've got.
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...That sounds more like a human problem.
[All the squishy people here are gonna be humans to them until they're told otherwise, sorry bud.
But they've matured somewhat since their days of avoiding unsavory work, so they just shrug at the weird human shit and turn to open the hatch to the airlock, sans spacesuit. If it's gotta be done, then they'll at least make sure it gets done.]
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un: bortz
Don't cause trouble for the humans.
[ She's glad you're okay. Like, totally. Yeah. ]
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wow i'd know who this was even without the name attached.
and why do you act like i'm gonna cause trouble for anyone??
maybe THEY'LL cause trouble for us, did you think about that?
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[ Get on with the program Phos. ]
We need to show them we're better than them then, and that means not breaking their fragile things.
And I know you.
[ That's all the reason she needs, really. ]
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B!
[Allura gives the newcomer a peculiar look, although she's dressed in her own full-body space suit
which is way more fashionable, rather than the standard one the station provides. Helmet in hand, Allura is busy reviewing the on-screen protocol before they enter the air lock, making sure she's up-to-date on how this ship's systems work.]In case of an accident. Have you never done ship maintenance before?
[It's hard to judge, some refugees came from worlds where it was normal, and others barely knew what existed outside of their planet's atmosphere.]
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I've never even seen a ship before.
[And also no one ever let them do maintenance on anything anyway because of their infamous clumsiness. But they're different now! They can totally handle helping out here, just...they have very little understanding of what helping out will entail.
Or how the space suit will aid in that, for that matter. They give it a skeptical look at her words, practically radiating doubt.]
How are weird clothes supposed to help if there's an accident?
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Have you ever been on a ship on the sea before? Or swam in the ocean?
[Not the best metaphor, but it's the one she's going with.]
You see, out there is like a vast ocean with no surface. There's no oxygen—Well, I suppose water has oxygen, technically, but not the kind you can breathe— [She's losing her train of thought to technicalities. Allura clears her throat,] The point is: these "weird clothes" have a system that will help you breath, even when in an airless environment.
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A
Are you talking about the stars?
[It's a little ambiguous when the question is posed as though the stars are somehow "in" there like an aquarium of lights, rather than "out" there, almost as though this person has never seen stars in their life.]
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Sighing, they gesture around vaguely, towards the pinpricks of starlight outside, the dimmed artificial lights inside, wherever. They're feeling too lethargic to be specific.]
I mean, if someone can make the lights in here brighter, I'd settle for that, too...
[It's not as good as actual sunlight, but they could at least trick themself into feeling more energized that way, maybe. It's kinda worked with the jellyfish lights before.]
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[So don't get any funny ideas! She begins to wonder if there are any other solutions for this light-deprived refugee...]
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C. UN: kingofconquerors
Are you a friend of Diamond's? She will be glad to see you, I should think!
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yes!!
you know dia?
they said they've been making friends with all the humans and i'm not surprised but there really are a lot of you here.
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Well I'm not human but yes! I know her! She is wonderful!
I am Iskandar. Welcome.
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