elnyan | ❪ test drive: #2 ❫

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test drive

❪ test drive: #2 ❫

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.

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[...But he wanted to jump cool into the distance. He gives the distant mountains one last forlorn stare before he returns to Hak's side, dropping his own pack down and shifting to try and stomp out an area to use for a fire. He doesn't see any stones nearby to use as a bedding, so eventually he has to brush some of it away with his fingers, ignoring the sting.]

Unless you have a better idea. [He hasn't minded the company of Hak at all. He's not bad looking, since Jae-Ha always has to judge something like this, and he seems like a good person. He's fun to tease, too, and it's made for a nice trip that hasn't been lonely at all.

But he's very aware that if they don't make this work tonight, they'll both freeze to death in the cold.]

I only have a small amount of wood to start a fire. There doesn't seem to be anything around here that we can use... [He'd put some small, dry pieces of wood into his pack when he'd run across them, but it'd make a measly fire at best. If it even lights.]

( not bad-looking? you're excused for your tag meta understatement, Jae-Ha. still, they've been on the same page generally and both have brought their own tinder, though Hak's bundle is more than Jae-Ha's meager, sorry excuse for kindling. resigned and reticent as ever, Hak moves in closer to Jae-Ha with a surrendered reluctance, mouth twisted into an annoyed frown as he pulls a blanket and some snacks out to reveal that the dried wood is most of what he's carried, tilting the bag open at an angle for Jae-Ha to see. )

It looks like we don't have anything long enough to keep anything propped overhead, so we're out of luck there.

( that doesn't stop Hak from moving to drape a blanket over Jae-Ha's shoulders anyway though ... ♥ )

Whoa!

[Maybe native Hak would look more attractive if he punched someone powerfully while saving a woman?? Just saying. Right now, though, he's looking even better, revealing all of that wood. Tinder.

He's busy pulling some of that out when Hak drapes a blanket over his shoulders, though, and that gets a surprised blink and a glance back.]

So you'll rush to give me this blanket? What a gentleman. [He laughs, but he's busy with the wood so he won't shrug it off yet.] We'll have to share it, but let's hope that we can start this first.

[His hands are wet and frozen from the snow, since he doesn't have gloves like an idiot, so he's struggling with this part.]

( no problem, Jae-Ha — Hak's more than prepared on that front, always preferring to keep his hands wrapped to handle his weaponry better. he only shoots an irate glance at the remark, quick and pointed as he elbows Jae-Ha to move over a bit. he sets aside his glaive and takes out a knife, tugging on the edge of the blanket taut to begin cutting out a patch from it. )

This'll take a few minutes, so maybe you should move around to keep warm.

( though most people have to work at creating friction for a good thirty minutes to start a fire with their hands, Hak is a special case, with speed and strength that far exceeded an average man's. he's sure he can get it going way sooner than that. after he's set the fabric down, he's making a nest of kindle atop of it, reaching into Jae-Ha's bag as well. )

Try not to talk so much this time though.

Trying to get rid of me already?

[There's no way he's going to stray from Hak's side in this harsh weather, especially when he's working hard like that. They're both still shivering, which is a good sign compared to not, but he doesn't want to have the guy overwork himself because he didn't say he needed help. He seems like the type.

So, leaving the blanket to him, he turns and moves around behind him so their backs rest together. Mutual support, and a warmth in the meantime. His foot digs idly at the snow beneath the rock, and he half contemplates digging it out... But he'll save that for a worst case scenario.]

I don't talk that much, do I? [He couldn't stay silent for even a minute, and he keeps looking over his shoulder to peek at what Hak is doing.] You're just unusually quiet. That cold, silent type. Girls really fall for that.

Do they, now? ( funny, Hak's never had interest in any girls. people tell him he's picky, but nothing's ever really drummed up his interest. he's tried to have someone ideal in his mind, but it's not like just any girl could ever live up to this dream person in his mind. it's a strange and useless to think about, so Hak's quick as ever to dismiss it. )

How do you know I'm the cold and silent type? Maybe I'm just the annoyed type. Around you. ( faux-cruel as the words may be, they aren't very barbed at all. maybe because he has to mutter it through steadied breaths as to not let his teeth chatter at all, and maybe it's because he's focusing so much on staying his shoulders.

or maybe because he likes this type of annoyance. he's carving and slimming down a piece of wood now, designated as "the drill."

anyway, this guy's back is warm. it's appreciated. )

Don't be like that, Hak!

[He laughs, nudging against his shoulder in his half turn. His back may be warm, but he doesn't sit still— and that's for a reason, actually. He doesn't want to fall asleep, or lose all of his energy. He's really feeling the cold, but he doesn't want it to show. They're both like this, after all.]

I know how to read a man's eyes. [His arms cross, to keep some warmth there, and his legs cross, too.] You haven't left me face first in the snow yet.

Oh, were you expecting that? I wouldn't want to disappoint you. Let me know when's a good time.

( Hak hopes the fact that he's fighting a smile doesn't seep through his words, mouth kept strained as he pushes the stick through the gathered bundle and makes his way about, doing his best to cause friction fast. he's good with his hands, luckily, and knows how to keep the stick perfectly still with no wedge to hold it in place. )

Hey, hey...

[Don't be rude?? His sassy response to that, and also his attempt to stay warm and fidgety, is to lean slowly more and more against Hak's back. He's trying to get him to hunch forward like this.

Hopefully his skilled hands can put up with interference like this man child.]

( it's not like the interference is welcome, but it's met as a challenge regardless. the added weight isn't so bad, and while it causes his body to naturally yield to it at first, making him lean forward, it only helps him rub at the stick with more fervor, fueled by his annoyance.

and of course, just to prove how steady he can keep his hands during distractions and movement, Hak leans back against Jae-Ha with a forceful shove. )

[That's surprising enough that Jae-Ha lunges forward a bit.]

Oof!

[But he's quick to sit up straight again, eyes lighting up even if Hak can't see them. He loves a playful challenge. Leaning right back against him, it's a contest of strength! Of concentration! Of Jae-Ha wiggling a little to make it worse, and also get more warmth out of it.

He's a genius.]

( isn't he?

Hak holds back from reaching behind him and yanking hard on that ponytail, but files the note to do so away in his mind for just a bit later. the fire's more important, and any progress lost means starting from scratch. He cants his head to slot it to the side of Jae-Ha's in an unexpected move! Resting it back against his shoulder as he continues to rub-rub-rub, Hak gives an exasperated scoff, glaring up at the sky as he works. )

So I guess asking you to be less frustrating won't work.

I'm only trying to warm you up.

[He laughs a little breathlessly, watching the small cloud that comes from his lips as he does. He's stilled against Hak with that surprise move, and now they're both resting against each others shoulders, kind of, and he doesn't want to move away from that. It's a little warm, even as cold as Hak is, and as heavy as his eyes are starting to feel. He rubs his own hands together to try to fight it off.]

Is it working?

You'll have to try harder than that.

( okay, that finally gets a smile out of him, even as edged with annoyance as it is. he tilts his head forward a bit again, attempting to look ahead, lost in his own movements as he rolls the blades of his shoulders back against Jae-Ha. )

Don't fall asleep on me. It's almost there — I can feel it.

( his own small way of showing concern. falling asleep in this kind of chill is no-good. )

[Jae-Ha's head stays resting where it is, but he lets out a breath of a laugh at the warning. He's concerned. And it's a good reminder, a good way for him to blink more firmly and try to stay awake, to rub his hands together a little more.]

I thought you were the one falling asleep, taking so long. Are you just telling me that to keep me quiet?

[He's not shivering as much as he had been before, but he presses a little back against Hak. He doesn't actually try to distract him, this time. They need this fire.] How cruel.

( "taking so long?" he grits his teeth at that, suppressing a light chatter as he marvels at the audacity and impatience. yes, he knows it's teasing, but he's a little more susceptible to it getting to him with how worried he actually is deep down. not-so-surprise: hak is very fussy. )

Tsk, if I wanted you to keep that quiet, I'd welcome you to falling asleep and never waking up.

( he rubs faster, a bit more aggressively, feeling the heat between his palms rise. it really should be any second now. damn thing. )

For now, talk if that's what's going to keep you from becoming a liability.

Mm...

[Is that... more concern? Aggressive rubbing? Jae-Ha thinks for a moment and fades into rare silence. Now isn't a time to joke, but he does it anyway. His own hand motions slow into nothing, his eyes drift closed, and it should probably scare him that it's only barely faking it and that he could fall asleep at any minute if he gave in, but instead, he's waiting eagerly for a response.]

( he takes the silence as a form of defiance, however receptive he might be to getting some time to concentrate for once, but it goes on a little too long. never the matter, he'll just make a snide remark at him and engage in some verbal parrying and go back to being cranky about how exasperating Jae-Ha is, right? )

You're not dead, are you? My luck isn't usually that good.

( yeah, perfect. a remark that, if met with more silence, he will feel awful about! a brilliant plan by Friend Strategist Son Hak. he'll just continue to frantically rub, now switching in focusing between the smoke rising from the wood and attempting to listen for the sounds of Jae-Ha's breathing. there's no way he'll pass up a remark to fake-whine about how wounded he is... )

[It had started as a joke, at least. An idle thing that wouldn't last more than a minute. But time felt quick and slow all at once, a dizzy blend that let silence and Hak's work mix together until he didn't know how long it had been at all, and opening his eyes again felt like too much work.

He would have stopped if he registered that comment, definitely. That and the smoke would be enough, they could joke, laugh, maybe he'd get hit. But as he forces his eyes open just part of the way, he can't make his thoughts move any faster than this. Like he's underwater, or in a dream.

He lets out a slow breath and a quick hum in his confusion, trying to communicate all of this with none of the effort. His lips and fingers are turning a little blue first.]

( that's more than disconcerting. Hak shoots a glance over his shoulder, hurriedly and worriedly. ) Jae-Ha? ( the smoke rises more thickly, friction sparking from the increased frenzy of his movements. ) C'mon. Cut it out. ( faster, faster, he can't lose that imminent spark, can't lose his progress -- but he can't lose Jae-Ha either. he's always been lonely in Olympia, always been a stranger, and now he's found someone he feels something with, even if the connection is strange and strained. )

No way, I'm not going to let you do this to me.

( and there it is: the moment the tone of his voice wavers with emotion and an indignant anger at Jae-Ha abandoning him like this, a spark ignites into a flame. it's enough for him to carelessly, quickly turn his torso, grabbing Jae-Ha and cupping the back of his head in one hand, his chin in the other. he's seconds away from having the guy halfway resting in his lap. )

Jae-Ha! Wake up, idiot. ( he smacks his cheek -- then backhands the other, eyes widening a bit, his own fog in his mind clearing considerably as he sobers with fear. ) Wake up!

[There's movement, and he feels something warm. A brief thing across his cheek... But then the backhand really stings, and his purple eyes open slowly, returning him to consciousness. It would all be very touching if he weren't wearing that perverted smirk that he is now.]

You have such strong hands, Hak... [It hurt so good.

The blue isn't spreading, at least, so hey! He's alive. And just chilling here in Hak's almost-lap hoping for another slap.]

( while he doesn't slap him again, he does finally pull at that stupid mulletrattailponytail of his, yanking on it as hard as he can as he scolds through clenched teeth: )

You ass. ( and, with that, he'll give him a shove right back, pushing him down in the snow. there, that's plenty of moving around for you, Jae-Ha. )

Pull something like that again and I won't check before using you as firewood.

( never mind that he's quickly working on shuffling the wood to help fan the flame and spread it, keeping his back turned to Jae-Ha while he waits for his heart to calm down. that wasn't funny. )

[He faceplants into the snow, sputtering and immediately shifting to push himself up and out of it. Freezing!! Ah, but he's alert enough to brush snow off of himself and shiver violently.]

Haha, Hak, don't be like that! We're both alive, aren't we? Look, you got a fire started.

[His words are still shaking slightly with his shivering, and so he loops an arm around Hak's shoulders, leaning close so that their cheeks touch. Hi.]

Were you really worried? Well, I did almost die.

( hi indeed. )

And you would've been dead weight to me. ( a violent shrug of his shoulder, still refusing to meet Jae-Ha's eye. well, it's a bit hard anyway, what with that cold cheek touching his. he's determined to focus on this fire, pleased with how the fabric has helped the wood stay dry and how much more quickly it's spreading. the boulder is providing good cover after all. )

I couldn't really care less, but since you're alive ...

( and as he says that he's pressing a hand between their faces, shoving at his cheek to breach that closeness a bit. no, he's not blushing... but only because it's too cold for his blood to rush like that. )

... You can at least make yourself useful. ( with that, still staring only at the fire, Hak huffily extends his arm and holds out the blanket, trying to "bring" Jae-Ha in to wrap up with him. it's strange and random, but the thought occurs to him that he wishes Jae-Ha were a small red-headed woman, that way they could fit more easily... )

[You get that traitorous thought out of your meta text, Hak, this is Jae-Ha's AU time. The tsun is familiar, somehow, and he doesn't seem to mind it at all. If anything, it's the offer of that arm and blanket that surprises Jae-Ha. He actually looks off guard for a second, but it's not as if Hak is looking his way, anyway. He was actually that worried?

Expression softening, he moves closer and comically wraps his arms around Hak's middle, hunching enough to press his cheek to his shoulder.]

Am I useful now? [He's trying to be annoying on purpose, at this point.]

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