❪ 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

[webdesigned]

It's not something anyone wants to imagine, yet it is far from the first time Peter has had to face a life without his family, or without someone he loves. It'd be an absolute lie to say he's used to it... but he at least has a practiced method of internalizing and ignoring that he's been using for years now. It's not so hard to tack his aunt onto that existing forced emotional distance.

"Sure." Peter struggles with never feeling like he does enough, and just a simple offering doesn't seem even close to helping this guy (that they just met doesn't seem to matter). He offers a small hint of a smile at the introduction. "Okay, Loras. Cool. Nice to meet you, despite the circumstances."

[reek]

[ Theon doesn't respond, not for a time. What is he meant to say? An apology doesn't cut it here. Finally, a message comes: ]

I never intended to harm anyone, Bran.

[ And that much is true. He never intended for things to get as out of hand as they did. He had hoped that the people of Winterfell would see a familiar face, that they would know him, know that he meant them no harm, and simply accept it. He had been foolish. When things hadn't gone as smoothly as he liked, he got angry and became someone he didn't recognize. ]

[wondie]

( it's not mean, it's simply requiring the Exile to do some exploration of her own first! Diana doesn't correct the distinction, though she wears a hint of a smile as she turns to go on her way.

they will see each other again, indeed. )

[triplerose]

"Cool?"

His brow furrows a bit. Loras doesn't quite grasp why the temperature or the weather is relevant to the conversation, but maybe it's just some strange new world thing.

[tightknit]

[ As if she were forcefully grabbed and thrown, Ryuuko is landing in the new overflow on her face, yelling all the while. She flips over to glare at the subject line and how offensive the lack of capilisation is... except she wouldn't care about that... actually, no?! She's mad! It should read RYUUKO MATOI | KILL LA KILL!!!!!!! instead! ]

You can't do that! [ Nobody should... isn't this against the rules somewhere... not like Ryuuko cares but it really shouldn't be possible?? ] I'm not gonna be thankful for something like this!

[ She's already on her feet, spinning to face Satsuki and rubbing her mouth where there is some dramatic blood. ]

I'm not gonna let you force me into a new top-level, Kiryuin Satsuki!

[ And she's winding up her fist... ]

[tightknit]

[tightknit]

[ ...there's no interim here because she broke the thread.

Guess there's no choice but to go back to the old one. ]

[laveers]

[ With a slight smirk, ]

Impatient?

[ It had taken them some time, but they had been sent in an attack. ]

[vorrutyer]

Oh, not just endure, but spread. Multiply.

[ Byerly laughs, shaking his head. ]

We come to a new planet, a place of unparalleled natural resources and beauty - and immediately the wormhole that took us there collapses, leaving us trapped and cut off from civilization and bathed with radiation and disease. But we endure for seven hundred years. Then we're rediscovered by the civilized planets - who promptly invade and attempt to crush our civilization using energy weapons while we've nothing but horses and swords. Yes, we're a miserable lot indeed.

[ He lifts the bottle in a salute to the enduring misfortunes that Russians are subjected to. ]

[guidetoblivion]

…To bring what?

[Run that by him again, because so far everything Riku has seen the Organization do seemed more aimed to unbalance the Worlds than anything else.

Riku studies the Nobody as he talks, frowning faintly – he has some insights in the workings of the Organization thanks to her, but those memories are fading and he isn't sure if he'll retain the information gained from those conversations in the castle of Hollow Bastion.

There is so much he wants to ask, but doesn't quite dare to just yet – he is sure the other will just stop talking if he appears to eager and forceful.]

And that's fine with you? Dying a pointless death?

[Because really… that's what it comes to, isn't it?]

[melodiouspacifist]

Balance. Like everything is a mess because darkness is going everywhere, but Kingdom Hearts will fix that. It'll make things whole again and then I'll get my heart back.

[Whether or not Xemnas is actually doing any of that, that's not what he says he's doing and Demyx can only refer to what he's been told. It isn't like he knows anything else about how these things work.

Depending on the question, Riku might get an answer, if it doesn't fall in to traitorous territory. He's deeply concerned about possible ramifications when Xemnas comes out of stasis. He dreads it.

And his question makes Demyx grimace, because why did he have to put it that way? Riku isn't wrong, but things weren't supposed to be this way. A loss was meant to be an accident, something having gone horribly wrong except that they'd been dropping off for awhile now, and the disaster at Castle Oblivion, Roxas' defection and Axel's own dubious agenda has made things go completely nuts.]

I...no, but he must have a reason. I mean...he has to, uh, I can't- [He clears his throat]

He must think I have the best chance.

[But some part of him thinks that isn't true. Even if he's not as poor a fighter as he pretends to be, he knows from meeting Sora he's outmatched.]

It doesn't matter. Turning my back on his orders will have me die even more pointlessly.

[Riku doesn't think Xemnas is the protective type does he?]

[daemonized]

I see.

[Then he'll just casually drop that branch of the conversation as well.]

Are you much like a cat, then?

[gekkajuu]

[Villains have their monologues; heroes have their announcements. That's just the way it is. Atsushi, who's neither of those things very much, has no time to spare for words, too nervous - and also too driven. Maybe his opinions on right and wrong aren't quite the same as Reinhardt's, but Atsushi is just as determined to Do the Right Thing.

And so he tries, fighting enemies left and right. At least a few of them are scared of his appearance - silly, when Reinhardt is literally and figuratively the larger threat - which helps him along for a while... until they decide to target him first, it seems. Fortunately Reinhardt saves his ass, or whatever other body part might have suffered from an arrow. Atsushi's arms and legs can even deflect bullets when transformed; the rest of him, not so much.

He only nods in response. Proper thanks can wait until later; this is the time to get the job done, and Atsushi's brow furrows, focused as he is on that one task.] Yes! [Playing backup as much as possible, Atsushi knocks out another terrorist, and gives one of the ones he'd knocked down in his initial exit from the box a solid kick to keep him down a little longer when the guy doesn't seem inclined to give up the way he should.]

[decisions]

[ that's a terrifying quirk, especially if taako and his sister are anything like vex and vax.

but yeah he's definitely harshing on the magic missile idea. that's dumb why you gotta be so destructive says the man who blows shit up with gun powder and screams "your soul is forfeit" while laying bullets into someone. nbd nbd... ]

Popsicle stand... [ squints. whatever. ] Wait a minute, selling your blood? Who are you even selling your blood to?

[ please no vampires please no vampires please no vampires... ]

[decisions]

I'll not be cooped up while someone else goes and has all the fun. While I enjoy my work, I like getting some fresh air once in a while, believe it or not.

[ percy says this almost immediately, voice just as muffled by her shoulder, if not more so now by her hair. it's almost instinct now, strangely enough, to hold her closer, to let her settle the way she does against him. like there's nothing odd about it, like he isn't even an ounce uncomfortable with it at all. he laughs a little bit.. ]

Though getting caught in a complete white out like this isn't exactly what I had in mind when making this trek.

[ there's a soft sigh there, the kind that might be accidentally too close to her skin, but he's too cold to really care about how close he might be to basically burying his nose right into her hair. she's practically burrowing into his coat okay. ]

u3u

[unprays]

Yes... I suppose you're right.

[ she must be — for a moment, Sansa looks at Ros, the clothes she wears, considers her words carefully. ]

How advanced was your world? I have heard of places with this... technology, they call it. Devices you can use for travel, for communication. Even the thing they give us, to talk to one another... in Westeros, we sent letters by ravens.

[unprays]

[ her gaze follows the gesture, looking down at the planet below, feeling the same sense of awe as she always does, up here — who would have thought she could one day stand here, among the stars? ]

Yes, for two months, now. My family has a house there. [ she pauses, thinks. ] Do... do you have any siblings?

[inaurare]

[he nods, carefully patting himself down. Of course there are no extra weapons - their no-kill instructions were specific. And besides, Linneus wouldn't want to. It's just he feels, suddenly, he ought to be better on his guard, even with Reinhardt ahead of him.

The cave... is probably not warmer, it's just out of the blizzard a little; enough that Linneus breathes a little sigh as they step in, muffled by his glove.

Softly, peering around the other man-]

Anything...?

[personalwar]

It had always been Reinhardt's choice to remain a part of Overwatch over the years (in fact, he'd basically been forced to retire), and yet here 76 gets to see how his life might have turned out if he hadn't decided to pick up his hammer and become a Crusader. Some of the younger members of Overwatch might still have a chance to make something of their lives, but instead they've decided to revive the very organization that landed them in trouble in the first place.

If Lena and Winston get arrested for violating the Petras Act, is that on him? It's a question he's asked himself countless times since the recall.

Letting the simulated people take the trunk off of their hands is not something that 76 is too concerned about, and he waves Reinhardt off. Once it's set down in the camp, though, the world around them starts to break down, and soon enough they're back in Thesa Station. Not that they ever really left, but even 76 has to take a moment to accept his new surroundings.

Reinhardt's there with him, and this is the part he hadn't really prepared for. Isn't it up to the Orbiters to explain everything? Why does it have to fall to him?

"You're a long way from home," he says at length. "I'm sure they'll explain everything soon." They better, anyway.

[originallutece]

Well. I advanced it considerably, frankly. But in general . . . people communicated using devices, yes. Telegraphs, but written letters delivered via a postal service were fairly common. Horses and carriages are fairly common ways of travel. But we had nothing like the devices they use here.

[And boy, is she eager to get her hands on it.]

. . . but. We were unique in that we had the ability to suspend objects in midair.

[objectionattorney]

Yeah, kind of is, isn't it?

[Phoenix's gaze, however, remained absolutely transfixed on the sight before him. Casually looking up to admire the stars and planets that had surrounded them. It was all so horrifying, and yet all so beautiful at the same time. How many people get a chance to see something like this?

He suddenly found himself relating to an old case from a year ago. Their world was destroyed, but what of those who weren't in it? Was Starbuck all right? He can suddenly understand all him and Apollo we're attesting to in regard the the stars around them.]

It may seem useless maybe, but it also shows how important it is that we made it here I think. We can still make a difference Miles. As long as we're alive.

Here, come sit down. I'll go get that bourbon you were mentioning.

[decisions]

[ percy’s face contorts a bit in confusion as this is explained to him, but he takes it in stride, well, as much stride as he can. but when the snow parts, almost effortlessly, at the laser’s heat, paving a line through the snow despite the storm, he paces over towards it. ]

I most definitely can’t imagine anyone coming back from that. You could cleave a man right in two with that kind of weapon. [ he turns a bit more, hand on his chin. it’s freezing sure, but there’s nothing that warms a body a little like genuine curiosity, the thrill of something unseen. actually, no that’s bullshit, it’s still cold, but percy’s distracted for the moment, who cares about the cold right now. ] It’s absolute genius, really.

[decisions]

If we're stripping down the formalities, Sen, [ he tries the name out briefly, giving it a nod as if it even needed approval. it’s certainly not one he’s bound to forget any time soon. ] then Percy will do. It's what most of my friends call me.

[ there. it'll be a good start. ]

Besides, I doubt nobility means much in a place like this.

[ not that he won't try maybe later on to see what kind of persuasion rolls he can make ok. ]

[moneytwin]

Given you're almost as pale as this storm, you'll have to forgive me if I had some doubts, darling.

[ She definitely smiles behind his coat, relaxing further when he does. She probably shouldn't lower her guard this way, shouldn't take for granted that he means her no harm. But his arms are around her, leaving her skin tingling for reasons unrelated to the cold, and she can't help but feel content to be there. ]

Ah, so you just expected a quick hop, skip and a jump, and then a leisurely walk home? [she shivers as his breath brushes along her neck, and she glances over her shoulder at him, lashes fluttering] Well, the white out isn't going anywhere soon. We should probably make ourselves extra comfortable.

[..by sitting. Honest.]

[decisions]

[ don't make me turn this ice rescue around

it takes just a little bit more maneuvering and tugging, and for a moment percy half panics inside as some of it looks like it might give again, but miraculously holds. he pulls once more before he finally can reach out with his other hand and grab a fistful of his jacket, pulling him closer and onto the much more stable ground, far from the quickly buckling ice. ]

Can you stand?

[ he braces himself a bit on a knee, offering out an arm to grab onto regardless. ]