❪ 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

[meinwaifu]

It can be whatever you want it to be. To be an ally is to be an equal. Anything I expect of you, you are free to expect of me.

[It was notably different from what they had back on Assiah. Though he may have been their ally, he didn't see it as a mutual relationship, treating them more as pawns to be manipulated as he saw fit.]

[But here-- admittedly, he's curious to see how someone like Izumo might take advantage of such an arrangement. His offer is genuine, yes, but this is also most certainly a test to see how useful she may prove to be down the line, and whether it would truly be in his favor to keep her around.]

All I ask of my allies is that they do not betray me. Even should you find yourself in a situation where to sell me out would benefit yourself, you would not make that choice. Likewise, I would expect you to take care in who you choose to tell about this deal -- as I'm sure you can imagine how easily it could be exploited were someone to learn I'm bound to never tell a lie to you.

[There's an intentional choice of words here. Bound. It may not be a conventional contact, no, but even verbal ones were important to demons.]

[polkabrows]

[ it's a tall order to make, that level of loyalty. in truth, it's something she has to wonder if she is even capable of, given her history, her lineage.

but every time she thinks of the betrayals she herself has suffered, and feels the rise of bile in her mouth and white-hot hatred pool in her gut — she thinks she's certain she'd rather die than do that to anyone else.

even someone like mephisto.

but there are precautions to take. many of them. none of this is in ink, which makes sense, as tamers of all people know the power and limitations of it — but she must still be wise. she is no longer the scared eleven year old with her back to the wall. in this deal, she has control. ]

If we are to be allies, then we are equals, and the same is expected of you, right?

[ she turns on a foot then, meeting his eyes with her own. hers are a deep red, the color of her mother's blood. ]

You wouldn't betray me, not even for yourself.

[meinwaifu]

Had I any intention of betraying you, I wouldn't bother to extend such a generous offer as this.

[Bringing a hand to his chest, he meets her gaze with his own, green eyes calm but serious.]

Under no circumstances may I betray you. Under no circumstances may I lie to you. I swear to uphold these conditions for as long as you agree to remain my ally.

[polkabrows]

[ it's... a little too good to be true, to be honest. these kind of deals — there's always a catch, because life isn't that kind, or at least has never deigned to be so in her favor, and so she spends a good long time just squinting at him suspiciously, trying to find a crack in a mirror he's already gone and shattered in front of her. is there truly anything left to see if he's showing her all the flaws himself?

eventually, finally, she lets out a sigh. one heavy and weary and full of resignation. ] Fine.

[ it isn't some grand fanfare, her agreement, but that's just how she is.

after a moment, though, she quirks a brow his way. ]

What's the most embarrassing thing that's been done to you in your dog form?

1/3

[meinwaifu]

[Definitely too good to be true, though in this case it's more than just a intentional move to trick her. First and foremost, he needs to earn her trust -- and this was simply a means to that end. There was definitely a hidden trap within the stated terms of the agreement... but all things considered, he hopes there won't be a need to use it.]

Then it's a deal.

[And he grins-- at least, until she asks her question.]

[meinwaifu]

[.....no???]

[This is not something he wants to answer??? Why is she starting of with something like that!? Surely there are more important things she could be asking??]

[meinwaifu]

[Well, congratulations Izumo. You've managed to shame the demon right off the bat. It's pretty damn clear in his expression that he doesn't want to answer... especially given what his answer has to be. He can't lie...]

...being mistaken for a female dog by other, larger dogs.

[Please don't ask him to elaborate, he might actually die.]

[polkabrows]

[ truly, it's his own reaction that hers takes its cue from. she's not completely heartless, after all, and had he been less embarrassed, she might have even been horrified for him...

as it is, his current expression (combined with the somewhat dead-eyed look of a man starting to regret his choices just seconds earlier) is enough to get her coughing around a bubble of laughter. one hand comes up, demurely covering her mouth as she looks away, but it's too late, the damage is done. she's totally laughing at him. ]

I... see.

[ ...yeah no there's no way she can keep this up, she is going to bust her guts open soon at this rate. hastily, she turns around, beginning to walk out of the stasis unit. ]

Well..! It was a pleasure, but I should be going now... [ she makes it all the way to the door before she slows, lingering just at the threshold. what's this? could she possibly be apologizing—? ]

Sorry for, ah... putting the heat on you like that.

[ ...

yeah nope, not even close. she definitely splits after that, hand falling over her mouth again, and that's her muffled laughter trailing off after her. ah. ]

[meinwaifu]

[Oh my god???]

[He's just gonna let her go, not even raising from his spot on the ground in his little personal bubble of shame. But that last quip has him practically wailing--]

Don't say it like that!?