elnyan | ❪ test drive: #2 ❫ THE OVERFLOW

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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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[ A part of him wishes the Orbiters had been pragmatic. Get rid of the worst of the worst. If they knew so much about them couldn't they judge who was not worthy of this salvation?

But, he knows that he has a hard time being pragmatic so how could he judge.

With a shake he gives the man a smile as this white haired man gives him their name.

The longest, most obnoxious sounding, ass name.

His mouth opens up in slight pause but the smile doesn't falter.

But he has a response; ]

You're a noble, aren't you?

Pay attention to wha-- [And the academy award goes to...]

Wha--

What is that!? What is it-- how are you doing that!?

[CASUALLY BLAMES JOSH as he continues inching the flatbear towards the door -- seemingly picking up speed as it now moves all four limbs. It starts to scale up onto the door and along the wall, apparently aiming for the ceiling.]

Bet that's something you probably never expected to have to say to me.

[ alex does smirk at him in that moment because this is quite literally the most absurd things that has ever happened to her and she may or may not have caused the end of the world back home. if there wasn't the storm--they told her the storm wasn't her fault. and of course when you added up every other crazy thing that happened in the last two years? well, it was a wonder that they were sane or that they ended up getting any sleep at all.

and then alex just laughs. she can't help it, but she's really laughing and just shaking her head because she's already used up a whole month of 'oh my gods' in the first five minutes of being awake.

that said she knows it could be worse: at least neither of them are trying to eat their own arms off like the girl who had been in the cabin with Nic. Maybe they were tripping on whatever he had taken.]

[ percival knows that look.

he knows it very well.

it's pretty much the look most people give him when he's outside of whitestone, is what we're trying to say here. he's seen it before, it's not something that seems to make him bristle in any way, rather his shrugs and there's a faint look of amusement behind his glasses. after all, this isn't home. there's so weight to that name here. he chuckles. ]

Guilty as charged.

[ he waits patiently on the edge, leaning as far as he dares until linneus' grip forces him to tighten his own on the gun. percy can hear his heart pounding between his ears furiously as he brings both hands down on the shoulder stock of the gun and starts to pull him out of the ice as carefully as he can. ]

Hold tightly-- [ and another tug, and another, as he draws himself further back onto the steadier parts of the ice, doing his best to pull linneus up onto more solid ground. ] Easy... easy...

[ whether he's talking to himself or linneus is anyone's guess. ]

I'm not doing anything! Why would I want a rug to climb the walls?

[Honestly, what the fuck?? What kind of an accusation is that!]

Throw a stick at it, why don't you?

[But he just wanted some shitty snacks... there better be nugs in this cafeteria. Don't touch him.]

Mm... [sigh,] Don't waste your time.

[This idiot who doesn't know what a vending machine is probably shouldn't start picking up glass pieces. Joshua waves a hand at the mess on the floor and the shards promptly lift themselves up off the floor and float delicately into the trashcan that's been nearby this whole time. Tada.]

[ There's a grin in turn. At the very least this man seems pleasant and polite. If a bit a dower. That's not a huge problem to him really.

with the hand shake broken he goes to fold his arms and cants his head.]

All right, Percival. If it's all the same to you, you can just refer to me as Sen.

Less formal. [ Because being a regular person hasn't been a thing for him in awhile. ]

Yes, because a stick is going to be effective.

[--oh fuck it's on the ceiling now!! It moves to the center of the ceiling before hanging down, the top-side of the head facing the two and slowly starting to sway back and forth -- as if trying to gain momentum as it angles itself in Josh's direction. The creepy head lops back and forth, causing the poorly affixed jaw to flap in a bizarre biting motion.]

[...it's actually kinda disturbing. Mephisto didn't account for how much nightmare-fuel this thing already had even without moving. It's taking a lot of self-control here not to laugh.]

It certainly seems to be fixated on you -- are you carrying food or something?

She has to give him credit for jumping right into the deep end of the question pool. It's probably one of the first questions she'd want to be answered if she were in his place. For her part, Olivier doesn't even flinch when giving her answer, "You'll have to ask someone else - the only ones I know personally are the behemoth that tried to infiltrate Briggs and Bradley."

There hadn't been any sign that either one of those two was a shape-shifter. But then, what proof had they previously of Bradley not being anything other than purely human?

"I'm sure if anyone figured it out, it would be the Elric brothers. Or Mustang." That last is said with about as much enthusiasm as she can muster, but there's some hint of respect in the words. She may dislike the man but she had to give him that much.

[ Leaning over the table, her grimace did only a fair job at showcasing the extent of her anger. For a brief moment, she was smug in the fact that her words had unnerved him, but the smugness was quickly replaced by agitation when her original accusation was turned back on her.

The fact that this instance of Archer was previously unaware of her existence was a fact she had conveniently forgotten. Now, however, she sort of wished he knew of their past acquaintanceship. How he was the one who explained certain nuances to her about the subject of eroge. It was his fault she knew about these types of things at all! The only reason she seemed to fixate on it, was because it served to illicit a negative reaction from him.

Leaping over the table, she would make the move to corner him, much like a rabid dog. Her weapon had been reduced to only her flag, but that didn't mean she wouldn't try and skewer him with it. She had her control over fire still as well, and likely her prowess was at a naturally higher state than his, having a Master and all.

Knowing his words that ignited her wrath were also spoken because of his own asperity, a wicked grin spread across her features. A sudden interest garnered in that rage, prompted her to continue to press the matter.] HA! My character? Immoral as I may be, I'm not the one who takes pride in being a philanderer.

Must be nice, all that free time.

[ He's partly sarcastic, partly serious. But this guy must have a lot of time on his hands to be wandering around all the time!! ]

Huh?

[Hold on a second, he's distracted first by a single floating shard, and then another, and then he's noticeably startled as he jolts his arms backwards, holding the snacks still.]

Whoa! [What the fuck] Did you do that?!

[Don't jump when there's glass moving in the air......]

Who knows? Maybe it was the wind. [joshua] No, it was me. Surprised?

[...Is she...calmer? Resigned? He can still feel the sense of rage coming from her, but it's subdued now, as if she's realized something. Then again, what else could she feel after saying something like that? Already dead...

He looks to her in confusion, his head tilting to acknowledge what she was going to say. Th-??

It's gone. What was that she would have said? Thanks...?

That kind of thing...wasn't necessary, he would have replied.]

[ he stares at her for a long moment, and even looks incredulous at the laughter. laughing, in this situation, is hardly appropriate. . . . but then his own lips twitch, and he laughs too. it's far more subdued, and more of a half-grin than anything else, but richard shakes his head.

in disagreement. naturally. ]

I think, technically, we've already been kidnapped. [ in shrewd amusement. coralee hadn't exactly been kind in forcing them to get into the van, though richard was far more calm about it than alex was. knowing his kidnapper probably helped. ] But your point still stands.

Who wouldn't be surprised about something like that?!

[He's fine, he just jumped a little. He can't fully jump indoors and there's no wind either you sassy punk. He points at him with the box of crackers.]

What was that, exactly? An ability?

[ that was so the wrong look to give alex when she was laughing already, because it just made her laugh all the harder for it. but when he laughs, it calms her down a bit and she finally stops and takes a rather long breath that she releases in a sigh. she'd been about to take a sip of her drink when he'd mentioned their prior kidnapping so she was glad that she hadn't. somehow she expected that strand would never let her live it down if she'd ended up doing a spit-take on him.

and of course she chuckles again. ]

Oh my god, is it bad I wasn't counting that? It feels like it was years and years ago.

All of it feels like years ago.

[ it's a quiet admission, but richard has since allowed his laugh and smile to slip away back into his usual neutral deadpan. and he finishes his tea, clearing his throat before glancing around the cafeteria again. ]

We should explore and see if we can at least find anyone else we know. Or you know. [ most of the people he can think of are really alex's friends, and not his own. ] The more perspectives we have on what is going on here, the better off we'll be.

They tried. [ He raises his arms a little; it has a moderating effect. ] I don't know if they ever actually got them all. That's the trouble: you can never know what you're missing. [ True of his homeland especially, he thinks. ]

The striving can be a gain in itself, though. My father took me once, when I was little, and the shelves were twice my height. [ He hadn't thought of it in a while. ]

[ there's no small part of alex that hates how he hides his smile like a secret, but given everything that he's been going through in the past few days (or rather what had past for the last few days when they were home) and everything that she'd put him through in the past few months, alex really can't blame him. but she also can't deny that it was something he'd been doing since before he met her, and probably since coralee so she couldn't take all the blame.

still it was a nice smile and laugh and alex had made it her mission to make him do it more often after the night they'd spent talking after they'd been kidnapped and now it was something that she was going to double her commitment too.

but for now it was back to business and she nodded and finished her coffee. ]

If Nic wasn't one of the people to wake up then my next guess would be Amalia. But maybe there's someone else around.

[ alex wants to add that maybe the reason that he couldn't find coralee or charlie was because they were awake somewhere but that would only make things ten thousand times worse. ]

Did you want to go back in and see if we can find Nic?

The only thing I know about it is that our people can eat Earth food. We're um...not really scholars, so there isn't a lot written about planets we don't visit regularly. We're a warrior race.

[Not that Kale herself is a shining example of what a saiyan warrior looks like. She's not much bigger than Misa.]

T-that's a really good point.

[Kale's inwardly berating herself for not thinking of that, but she's at least trying to heed what Caulifla has been telling her for a long time - stop saying "I'm just", have confidence, and other very good advice that always sounds so easy in theory yet winds up being quite challenging for her in practice.]

Maybe they think that important people will be able to do more for them, even with their worlds destroyed?

[frankly, he'd much rather have something inconspicuous in comparison to some of the more colourful refugees this place has managed to amass. there's no telling how well the orbiters did their homework when researching his background, his real career and records if there was anything left from merlin's near magic working with it. but so long as there's no indication that his cover has been blown, he may as well keep it here--london not longer intact or not.]

Kingsman has been clothing some of the world's most powerful men and women since before even I was born--they were a well-respected name in London and I was terribly grateful for the opportunity to be part of it.

[now that he can get behind. of course he's been to the better parts of the united states--california, new york, but kentucky to visit a hate group wasn't high on the list.]

Down South, this time. Not my first choice either--but why didn't you have a choice in the matter?

[ Charles exhales quietly. He doesn't want to preach to Jean. It's not what she needs right now. He folds his hands on his lap, as he gathers his thoughts. Once, he spoke too loosely and easily. He no longer possesses that flaw. ]

I think they do care, but caring requires effort. Stepping forward. I can't speak for their intentions, but I think they're waiting to see what happens.

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❪ test drive: #2 ❫ THE OVERFLOW

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