❪ 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

[tailorable]

[ he plops a fry into his mouth, considering the information. ultimately, his expression brightens. ]

California, huh. Cool. [ that's pretty lush, at least in the movies. ] Never been to America.

[ a touch wistful. he supposes he never will go, now that earth has been destroyed and all. ah, best not to dwell on it. after a few more fries, he answers the unspoken question. ]

London, England.

[figureitout]

[ his own smile turns a little dimmer, too — it's hard not to think of it, how neither of them would ever again have the chance to see their own homes, or visit any countries they'd never been to before. ]

... I could've guessed, from the accent. But I've never been to England, either. [ but so that the topic wouldn't be too depressing: ] Man, am I glad to meet someone else from Earth. I was starting to think everyone here's either from Your Standard Medieval World or Sci-Fi Flavor Of The Month.

[tailorable]

Right? It's mental. [ he leans forward and lowers his voice. ]

Met a girl in the VR with super powers. Proper unexplainable abilities. [ he won't say her name (he isn't a rat, after all) but an oblique mention to drive home his point should be enough. ] Another bloke was doing magic. [ a pause for emphasis. ] Wand and everything.

[ he falls back with a sigh, like the very thought of the madness takes his breath away. ] Ain't ever seen shit like that before.

[ maybe it wasn't real — the powers or the people. Eggsy's own backstory had been partly falsified, though much of it rang true. he wonders if Stiles' experience was the same. Charlie's had been close enough, if he was telling the truth. ]

[figureitout]

[ his own expression turns into something more serious, something that speaks of focus and a spark in his eyes that means he's not only listening but placing the information on a mental map of sorts, a chart, something that he's started keeping a track of since waking up here.

who people are... what their abilities are. what kind of worlds they come from, which worlds are (were) real. he may never have made it to the FBI, but Stiles still has the mentality for it...and where Eggsy says he's never seen something like that before, Stiles thinks, yeah, wish I could say the same. ]

You sure it was real? I mean, it was the VR. They falsified our thoughts and memories for it, they could do that for powers. [ he means it, too — he knows he isn't going to trust his memories of the VR. but, because trust is built with truth and Eggsy is one he wants to keep in his corner, he lowers his voice too, reaching for some more fries so it doesn't look like they're sharing anything but the most trivial information as he says, ] But even if it wasn't real there, it sure as hell is here. Maybe your world didn't have stuff like that... but mine did.

[tailorable]

[ oh. this is a secret — one that he feels privileged to be told, as if it's an invitation to a private club. Eggsy doesn't strike everyone as trustworthy, really, but he treats the trust he's given like a precious, breakable thing. he schools his expression into neutrality, though his brows still arch sharply.

after training at Kingsman, he knows what lies look like, how they sound, generally speaking. Stiles doesn't seem to be lying. ]

Shut up. [ equally low-voiced but bright in his delight and curiosity. ] Are you, y'know. [ he makes a vague gesture to Stiles. y'know, something else. supernatural or whatever. he holds Stiles' gaze, eyes intent on him. ] I've never gassed anyone up. Won't start with you. [ an emphatic nod. ] Swear down.

[figureitout]

[ trustworthy is a quality Stiles rarely assigns to people, especially not after just meeting them... but he's fairly sure that even if he's wrong in this, talking about his home isn't going to be a bad thing. not when they're already surrounded by strange individuals with different powers.

he nearly laughs at Eggsy's half-question, barely there in words yet still a real question, and him truly thinking Stiles might have some powers is as depressing as it is flattering. he notes the promise with a nod before responding, voice wry, ] Nah, I'm as human as they come. But... my best friend's a werewolf. My other friend's a banshee, and one's a kitsune. One was a hunter.

[ he makes a point to keep looking at Eggsy, eyes serious — he knows how it sounds. but even now, there's not one hint of wavering in his tone, and he knows if Scott was awake right now... he wouldn't hear anything wrong with his heartbeat. every single thing he's said is the truth. ]

[tailorable]

[ there's some relief that Stiles is human, too, if only because it keeps he and Eggsy at the same level. throughout the light explanation, Eggsy is very visibly thinking, taking mental notes and filing them away to discuss with Harry later. a werewolf, right, that's doable — a thing in loads of films and shows on the bbc. banshee is in the lore and myths of Ireland, vaguely familiar, so he can parse that easily. kitsune is beyond him, definitely, but he assumes it's another magical half-human half-creature type situation, following the trend of the prior two designations. the most striking thing is that Stiles ensures he prefaces any supernatural descriptor with the mention that these are his friends. not beasts, no, but people grounded in tangible personal connection.

it's A Lot to handle, but Eggsy keeps pace remarkably well. not his first rodeo, in some respects. he narrow his eyes a fraction. ]

Hunter, like, somebody who goes after your friends?

[ like boys in barbours with gun dogs going after game, except people fall on both sides of the equation, in this case. ]

[figureitout]

[ out of everything he says... the most important is the fact that the people he speaks of are his friends, were his friends before ever being anything else. friends, pack, first and foremost. (that is an addition he's keeping to himself, so far — being a human member of a werewolf pack is usually more than most people can handle.)

at the question, Stiles breathes out something like a laugh and nods. ] Yeah. Her family's been doing that for generations. I mean, they don't hunt anyone who's not a danger to people... but not all werewolves or other supernatural beings care about the well-being of people.

[tailorable]

[ Stiles says it like it's kinda obvious, as if he's talking about the odds in footie or a shitty housemate. not all werewolves care. like people, Eggsy reminds himself, before the idea of distinct supernatural sensibilities regarding life and death overwhelms him. ]

Right. [ processing and finally. ] There's nothing like that in my London — that I know about, anyway. [ he didn't know about Kingsman until recently, after all. ] But there's some...bonkers stuff, I guess you could say. [ for a moment, he hesitates. ] We had a bit of a doomsday situation right before I woke up here.

[ a "save the world situation," he wants to say. in fact, he wants very badly to repay Stiles' gesture of trust with one of his own. I'm like a spy, he might whisper, only better. However, with a sharp pang, he remembers Harry's words in his study, spoken on their last, good twenty-four hours together. a gentleman's name should only appear in the newspaper three times in his life: when he's born, when he gets married, and when he dies.

vague references to the incident will have to do for now. ]