❪ test drive: #2 ❫ THE OVERFLOW

[natha]

ORIGINAL 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

[polkabrows]

[ she won't even give him points for trying. ]

I'm not asking you, I'm telling you!
You said it yourself, the world as we knew it is gone. It's over.
You have no reason to keep an eye on me anymore.

[underachievement]

[ Oh yeah this is beyond her current state. To keep herself from emptying it too quickly, she sets the bottle atop the console and puts her back to pod behind her. The speed at which David is accessing information isn't anything special but it makes her nauseous to look at, so she takes the opportunity to shut her heads and rest her head. One of two things is about to happen, which will mean either returning to knockoff Tolkienland below or getting her head cut off in space. Taking a deep breath that she expels audibly through the bellows of her cheeks, Jess floats along the surface tension of her buzz while wondering what her preference is.

When David pipes up, she resumes consciously treading; her eyes snap open, neck straightens, but she only watches him move about. ] Kevin Thompson, for the birth name. Or it's under Kilgrave.

[ Her sneer preempts his reaction to that. It is stupider than it sounds, no need to ask. ]

[paranoidactivity]

[ the first instinct he has is a jolt of panic, which is absolutely ridiculous. he had selected his username on a whim, because it matches his twitter handle, and he honestly could not be bothered to hide who he is. what are the odds, anyway, that the people who want to harm him (or, more importantly, his family) are anywhere near here? they're probably dead.

. . . and then he bothers to take the time to look at the username. ]

Alex.

[ he doesn't bother confirming. alex isn't an idiot. ]

c!!

[mmiab]

Rank. Hah! Been a while. Rank...

[ somebody's enjoying the turn of phrase a lot more than he's taking any time to be overly put off by the second hand lunch cast onto his plate with all the finesse of a preteen taking offence to broccoli. in fact, beyond that excited little mutter to himself, the Doctor lets the whole thing go without any real comment, leaving Roman to dish out the chips and asking for a portion of his own to go along with his... thing before he actually engages his kindly benefactor in any sort of conversation.

any sort of conversation in this case being the impromptu insinuation of one (1) odd, bow-tied individual into what otherwise might have been a peaceful mealtime spent taking in the sights. here he is, sitting across with a slap of plate to table, looking for all the world like the human being sitting opposite him is the most fascinating thing about the current contents of this entirely fantastical space station mess hall. ]

Earth. London, yes? 21st century. Early, I'd say, unless that's pristine vintage.

[ waves vaguely at the tracksuit with his space fork. ]

no problem!!

[underwhelms]

[ Subtlety is apparently not the route that they're going to be taking, and JJ just watches with his heart sinking into his stomach as Bakugou yells loud enough to wake the sleeping kelp, the pair of them alert almost immediately. ]

Trying to get help!! [ JJ shouts back, a little frustrated and not at all apologetic about the cone he'd thrown. ] You woke them up!

[ And he's just as thoughtless as Bakugou, the kleps' heads snapping up to attention toward JJ who's still precariously crouched in the tree. Having the animals focus on him gets him to swallow nervously, his hold on the tree tightening, body going considerably more tense and sweat starting to appear over his nape. ]

Can you distract them?

[ They might not have had the best of meetings, but he's not beyond reconciliation if it means he gets out of this alive. ]

[tailorable]

[ it's starting to become a thing that smart-dressed blokes speak to him. not, like, in passing or even to shoo him away for fear of their belongings getting nicked — just to chat him for no apparent reason. right. he doesn't mind it, per say, but it makes even less sense every time it occurs. he jumps just a touch at the slap and eyes the doctor warily.

maybe the end of the world's got everyone a bit sentimental. whatever. it's better than eating alone, he supposes. he takes off his white snapback, setting it on the table and carding a hand through his hair to muss it properly. that's good manners or something (losing the hat), as someone once told him. at least the mention of london, combined with the familiar accent, softens his expression. ]

This is pretty fresh for 2014, mate. [ is it... he points a chip at his dining companion. ] You look vintage.

[ old school professor-y. ]

1/2

[mmiab]

Yeah? Oh. Yeah. Well, can't help that. Some of these things have been in the wardrobe a while. [ flown through in a second, from surprise to the glance down at himself for confirmation to the agreement. he can deal with being vintage. vintage is good, right? anyway, more to the point, and wasting not a second between the end of that thread and this - ] 2014! London, Earth, 2014. Wearing an Adidas tracksuit in 2014. I love humanity.

[ the joy inherent in that swiftly passed judgement probably sends some mixed signals, but he doesn't notice. he's just realised he's been called vintage by a young man from 2014 without any real hint of distaste, and that begs a question: ] —Sorry, important something before anything else -

[mmiab]

[ things suddenly get Very Serious. he straightens his back. lengthens his spine. reaches up and... twiddles his bowtie. ]

Bowties. Thoughts.

[cajolery]

[ YEAH SHE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT WITH NO EXPLANATION you're welcome Lukas... good thing he isn't the type to panic at things that are obviously panic-able.

Clair, for her part, lights up as soon as she sees him, rushing over to him with obvious excitement—and maybe even a little relief. She didn't know how much she missed having a familiar face around (well, one that wasn't asleep, anyway...) until this very moment. ]

Lukas! My word, I am truly... truly delighted to see you. [ She said that already but it's obviously true, judging by the way her eyes shine—she's made some friends and met plenty of new people here, but there's still something incredibly lonely about not having any of her comrades from home. ]

Oh, but I shall explain it all! Because of that dreadful Storm, the Orbiters have placed everyone in a sort of unnatural slumber, so that they may recover their strength. Thus, you have been asleep all this time—I fear I am the only one who has yet awakened before you.

[tailorable]

[ there are many situations in which eggsy has found himself the more exuberant half of a pair. and yet he's definitely fallen behind, losing his footing somewhere around humanity. he opens and closes his mouth at least once during the rapid-fire statements.

posh people are often So Much... but why not indulge him? as it happens, eggsy recently acquired opinions on bowties. he leans back, running a hand along his jaw and humming in a show of thinking. bit theatrical, really, but it seems warranted, given the serious tone. ]

Recently became a tailor's apprentice, y'know. [ Well. After a long pause — ] Very nice. Dapper, even. [ quickly. ] That ain't a clip on, yeah?

[ he knows that's less classy or something. ]

[mmiab]

[ Yes. yes yes yes yes yes. take that, anyone who's ever doubted him. he's not even just cool now. he's dapper, even. the answer seems to entirely satisfy him, face lighting up like it's Christmas morning, through he's quick to try and smother it down to maintain the legitimacy of the serious bow tie conversation when a very good point is raised. ]

Please. I tie my ties. ... Though I do tend to keep one or two around. Clip on, I mean. You never know when you'll see an animal with an unadorned collar.

[ and without further ado, there's a hand stuck out unceremoniously across the table. the highest test has been passed with overwhelmingly flying colours, and that means it's time for introductions. ]

I'm the Doctor. Congratulations on great taste.

[ adidas and bowties. this one's a keeper. ]

[worldlyafflictions]

Eh? Didn't I say why...?
Or maybe I didn't yet?

[She slapped him for it last time but well... it's still true. And there's no way she'll listen if he says he just thinks it's smart to stick together.]

It may have been a job but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy seeing you every day 💖

[tailorable]

S'pose I can allow a few clip ons. [ he winks, as if this is a conspiratorial concession. ] For dire circumstances.

[ he can't remember the last person who beamed at him like that. roxy, maybe, when they beat the parachuting record together. his little sister, too, when he finally came home.

it makes it easy to return the grin, despite his misgivings. it's not every day he hears that he has great taste, either, especially not when this very outfit had him sneaking 'round the back of an uptown club. not that he's self-conscious or the like — he remains cocksure on the subject of his looks and taste, but he likes having his beliefs confirmed instead of challenged, especially by someone ostensibly sharp-dressed (like Harry). he assumes "the doctor" is mainly said to match his description of himself as a tailor.

at least his cover isn't being questioned. ]

Same to you, doc. [ he meets the hand, shaking it firmly. ] I'm Eggsy. Eggsy Unwin.

[polkabrows]

[ sticking together is only beneficial if you can trust the people you're with.

and funnily enough, the slap was one of the last things she remembers. that doesn't mean she wouldn't mind a round two. he's lucky to have stayed away for now. ]

If I see you anywhere near me after this I will personally shove that foot further down your throat.

[vacuum]

[ ah, good to know she probably won't try to kill him??? ]

It's a fashionable style. [ he thinks she's referring to his weird asymmetrical mullet. He will defend its legibility as a fashion statement until the day he dies. It's obvious that she doesn't want to talk about the flower in her eye, and that's fine with him. He knows a lot of people with secrets they would rather keep to themselves. It's always better not to ask. ]

What, you have a problem with my hat? [ He'll ... also defend the legibility of his hat as a fashion statement until the day that he dies. ]

[blackeye]

[She stays and watches the last box crack open on the valley floor. She doesn't need to, she supposes - but still. It's reassuring. It's burning a bridge that needed to be burnt.

There’ll be consequences, of course. It's like Johnny said - there's no way they can sham their way out of this, so they're going to have to fight their way out of it. Start at the bottom, with whomever gave them these weapons, and keep on going as high as they need to go.

A part of her knows she might not like what she finds when she's all said and done with this. A louder part of her knows she'll have all the time in the world to worry about shit like that when it happens. Idly, she pats her jacket - the sawn-off is still there, loaded and ready. She’ll need it.

Enough wasting time. That blizzard is riding their ass, and unless they want to become popsicles they need to get out of Dodge sooner rather than later. She glances over her shoulder, then hops up into the wagon, sifting what boxes they've left in her bid to get to the driver's seat.]

Okay. We've still got a half-hour or so lead on it. [She takes up the slack in the reins.] We haul ass and we can get there and find shelter before it gets dark.

[A crack of the reins, and then-]


[-she starts awake, abruptly enough that she bangs her head on the bottom of the bunk above her.]

Ah. Jeezus-

[She bites her tongue to hold back a string of profanities - it comes out as a quiet hiss between clenched teeth, instead. That’ll be a lump tomorrow.

She swings herself out of the cot and plants her boots on the floor. The telepathic burst from Sael hits like a rolled-up newspaper across the back of the head, but she compartmentalizes it for processing later. Right now, she needs to find her team, to orient herself.

It helps that there’s a familiar face in the cot adjacent to hers.]

You too, huh?

[vacuum]

[ He doesn't actually know anything about driving a wagon, so this just adds more frustration into the equation. ]

I could throw you off that cliff if you piss me off enough. [ He ... probably won't do that. Or will he? He doesn't murder for petty grievances but he also knows that this is only a simulation, so there wouldn't be any actual, dire consequences.

They're done sorting out the food, so Chuuya shrugs Jae Ha's hand off his shoulder and shoves him in the direction of the wagon. ] Go. Get in the wagon. I've wasted enough time because of your annoying conscience.

[ He would have just delivered the weapons if Jae Ha hadn't sabotaged the whole plan. ]

[mmiab]

[ and a good shake, too! the grin comes back firm and fast, pleased to make new acquaintance— pleased really, underneath it, to find the sort of human he might once have bumped into while running too fast from something stupid along the pavements of good old London town. the planet might be swallowed, but it isn't gone. not all of it. not yet. ]

Eggsy! Good name. You're a practical pass the parcel, you are.

[ ... he means a gift within a gift within a gift. and for being such a gift, for being and in doing so providing more reassurance than he could possibly know, the Doctor thinks he ought to start giving in return. ]

How's this, then, eh? Not a bad first space station as first space stations go.

[sharpestsword]

As much as I can be. I was beginning to think I'd be alone here.

[ By now she's come to expect dreams like that. It's not often enough to be a problem. Perhaps something to do with stress. Focusing on him helps ground her thoughts. ]

[vacuum]

[ Zero imagination would be right. He's very task-orientated, and it doesn't make any sense to chase something that might not even exist. ]

And if it doesn't exist after all? [ Then they'll have trudged through the snow in ice-cold temperatures for no reason! ]

[tailorable]

[ obviously, he doesn't fully grasp the meaning, but the suggestion that he's a gift is really — well, it's something. a bit flustering and odd, so he decides to nod in acknowledgment rather than address the remarks.

instead, he peeks at the window and expanse of stars beyond it, visibly awed. ]

Yeah. [ a sideways smile. ] Pretty sick, actually. Like a video game. [ space is cool!! ah, well. ] Discounting the circumstances that got us here and all. [ the end of the world is... less cool. wait a moment. he lifts his brows. ] You seen other space stations or something?

[chickenhearted]

It's... a long story.

Waver Velvet. Likewise...
You're not from THAT Matou family, are you? [ you know, one of the top mage families which means she's probably better at magic than he is anyway >:I ]

[sharpestsword]

Julieta Juris. And you are?

[ Not lost then. Maybe he's here for the same reason she's here. She wouldn't mind that. Her attention turns to what he was looking at before she distracted him. ]

[cykedelic]

[ Well, she can definitely already tell he doesn't believe her. She can hear that in his voice. ]

Well, you'll never get anywhere in life without a few risks. It's worth the gamble.

[chickenhearted]

[ Whatever the case, Waver is grateful for him, even if he doesn't show it that well.

He crinkles up his nose, watching the other close the box. ] No kidding. [ How do you think it felt picking it up and smelling it!

He looks at the hand formerly wearing the plastic bag and lifts it to his nose, smelling it briefly. Okay, the smell didn't transfer over. It must just be stuck in his nose. He folds his arms across his chest, tucking his hands under. ]

Hmm.. I don't know. But it's probably only going to get colder. We should hurry up.