❪ 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]

[ izumo, of course, had anticipated some resistance. that's usually how it goes with any of her interactions (gee, i wonder why), but there is something obviously comical about his particular brand, what with the way it twists her lips and all. ]

Relax, Romeo, there's no Juliet here.

[ she turns the fruit (?) over in her hand, idly squeezing it in some places, like one might when deciding on produce at the grocery store. ]

Everything else here looks like it belongs in a playdoh factory. "Goo" isn't really my thing. I just want to make sure I'm not getting tricked here.

[ among... other things...

look, izumo doesn't actually believe it could be poisonous, but given just how many different beings are being housed here, she's also not entirely sure this thing won't taste like shit. so she's like 99.9% sure he won't die on her if he tries it. and if he does, well... the medical bay is right there, isn't it? ]

[figureitout]

Yeah, well, maybe there's no Juliet but there definitely could be a Mercutio.

[ shhh that comeback totally makes sense in his head.... he sighs at her second remark, though, because it's not like he can really argue the point. ]

I'm pretty sure goo isn't anyone's thing. [ with another sigh, heavier, more exaggerated this time, he reaches out and takes the maybe-a-fruit from her hand. ] Okay, this is so my one good deed of the day. You better write the most beautiful memorial speech for me if I die, Brow Girl.

[ with that, he takes a bite of the blue monstrosity. ]

[polkabrows]

[ in the short span of time between "brow girl" and the bite, izumo's face manages to go from pale white to bright red in 0 to 60. ]

E-Excuse me?!

[ she very nearly slaps the fruit right out of his hand, on the off-chance it's actually delicious, because she very suddenly decides he doesn't deserve such goodness. luckily, she doesn't, but she is definitely Not Pleased in his general direction. ]

If you're going to call me something, call me by my name!

[figureitout]

Wh —

[ her suddenly raised voice is enough to make him swallow the bite he took, nearly choking in the process; he coughs and coughs, his face about as red as hers, though for a different reason.

when he finally manages to wheeze a breath, he looks at her like he's not entirely sure she's for real. ]

Well, that'd require for you to actually tell me your name, wouldn't it!

[polkabrows]

[ she watched him choke on that fruit and did absolutely nothing to help him... #stonecold. ]

If you wanted my name, you should've asked for it!

[ except he didn't want her name, he didn't even want to eat her dumb blue fruit, this entire interaction is actually all her fault but whatever, whatever.

she slams a hand on the table and stands suddenly, her long hair swinging out on either side of her. ]

Never mind all that — is it good or not?

[figureitout]

[ trust me, HE NOTICED. the only reason he isn't surprised is because most of the girls he's had the privilege of knowing so far are just as stone cold. ]

Don't you know it's polite to actually introduce yourself first, Princess? Instead of, you know, commanding someone to taste-test your food.

[ just. sayin'.

only, she slams her hand on the table immediately after this, and he actually startles enough to jump on his seat, ready to defend himself or maybe apologize for calling her yet another nickname... except. oh, she's asking him a question.

and, here's the thing: he could answer. he could say that yeah, it's okay, that it tastes roughly like orange and mango mixed together, but instead he grins at her, raises his eyebrows. ]

I don't know, why don't you taste it yourself if you're so eager to find out... Princess.

[polkabrows]

[ did you ever stop to wonder why all those girls are stone cold, stiles... maybe the common denominator here is you.

anyway, izumo can barely think of a proper response to this... this sheer audacity. she certainly isn't helping her case here, in the way she seizes up and huffs in response, but part of that is her own bewilderment. she's been called a wild number of things in her life, ranging from some stupid pg nicknames to something that would definitely garner a if this were ever in daytime television.

but princess?

as someone who's had to fight tooth and nail to get where she is — no, her mind is quick to remind her, where she was — she very nearly laughs at the absurdity of it all. ]

What are you — twelve?

[figureitout]

[ shhhhhh get out of here with your logic!!

he pauses to think that maybe, just maybe, he might have been better off being a little bit more polite, if only to show her that at least someone here can be... but admitting that would be A Bad Move, at least in his mind, and so he only shrugs. ]

And a half. [ right, and that's it, the last of his smartass responses. this is a girl, after all, rude though she is... and she did ask him a question. ]

Here. [ there you go, Izumo, have the fruit held in his hand, the fruit where he's already cut away the piece where he bit so she can have a non-contaminated rest-of-it all for herself. ] It's actually not bad at all, and judging by the fact that I still breathe and all, it's probably not poisonous, either.

[polkabrows]

[ to stiles' credit, he relents enough to actually not be a total brat about things, never mind that izumo sort of started them off on this wild roller coaster ride. so when he relaxes, so does she, at least enough to take the fruit from him instead of like... snatching it out of his hands or something.

carefully, she turns it over, nose wrinkling slightly as some of its juice spills onto her hand. she definitely doesn't look like she 100% believes him about the taste... ]

It's still pretty early, [ she eventually says, tone light, ] it could be a slow-acting poison.

[figureitout]

[ ........................

why. why is this always his life. she could sound a little less hopeful about this!! but he shrugs, his expression half-casual, half-pointed. ]

Well, I guess we have no choice but to sit here and wait. [ a mock-thoughtful pause. ] It's too bad, really, you having to wait to eat it... it's actually really good. I might get one for myself, seeing how if it's poisonous I'm going to die anyway. [ he pushes back the chair to get up, though pauses again. ]

Do you want something else? You know, just in case I keel over and you decide not to eat the fruit thing.

[polkabrows]

[ she reaches for a napkin — except she didn't think to get one before so she's actually going to reach for his, which just so happens to be situated right between their trays anyway, so who can prove it's not hers. no one, that's who.

as she wipes off her hand, she gives him a fairly flat look. ]

Who's to say you won't keel over before you even get back?

[ no no, she'll have to do it herself, of course. she's already moving back towards the aisles of food. maybe there's another fruit-like thing that looks a bit more trustworthy that she missed the first time around... ]

[figureitout]

[ at this point, he isn't even surprised when she takes his napkin — he considers making a remark about it, but thinks better of it; it's not like he was using it, anyway.

and just like with the napkin, it's not a huge surprise that she opts to go herself, instead. he rolls his eyes and nods, as though that's about what he expected, despite him actually trying to be helpful, jeez, it's like she's purposefully trying to be as prickly as can be —

but his nodding comes to an abrupt halt as he grimaces at the strange feeling in his throat. ] Ugh, what is it now —

[ — is about as much as he manages to say before he starts to cough. and cough. and cough, closing his eyes as he tries to breathe in the middle of the coughs that are harsh enough to make him shake and reach for the table for support. ]

[polkabrows]

[ she gets about two feet away before the coughing suddenly starts, prompting her to turn back around. she watches how each cough racks his body, each one seeming to get stronger and stronger, with less and less time in between them.

there is a drop of cold dread that falls into the pit of her gut, but she still edges out a light scoff. ]

Very funny...

[figureitout]

[ he'd almost forgotten she was there. when she speaks, he turns to her, eyes watering, waving with the hand that isn't leaning on the table towards where there's multiple jugs of water set on a table near the food aisles. water, please is the rough translation of that — he can't manage to form actual words from the coughing.

it's too bad the gesture is vague enough that it can be taken to mean just go get some more food, or maybe run for your life before it gets you, too... ]

[polkabrows]

[ now she was really starting to get nervous, unable to keep the concern from knitting up her brows. she edges a few inches closer, hands absently coming up in response to his own flailing ones. ]

Hey.. C-Cut it out already, it's not funny—