❪ test drive #4 ❫

[natha]

YOUR STORY BEGINS     The Storm came. You only remember darkness, but you don't remember much after that. All you know, perhaps, is that it was cold. You don't know for how long you slept, but the dreams were short, at least. You remember the expanse of stars and the universe that came in view. Every world and solar system ever known was displayed in your dreams in careful, pristine detail. You have also witnessed The Storm, which has devoured a fair portion of these galaxies. It was a dark, thick smog — ominous in appearance and ever foreboding. Your Earth and similar planets were immersed in The Storm. Somehow, you knew it would be the last you'd see of it. That was when she told you what happened, and how you could help. You knew that you'd be living somewhere new, even though you never asked for it. The details here weren't clear, but you knew you'd made a deal with Darma. Not long after, you'll wake at Thesa Station — your body is still cold. It all felt like a dream, but somehow, you knew it wasn't — now, will you keep that promise you made to Darma? PROMPT: THE STORM     CW: death You were awake on Thesa Station. But at some point you, like many other new arrivals before you, wandered into the Observation Deck. Ordinarily, this is where images of The Storm are replayed to remind Refugees of the fate they have escaped. The Natha Orbiters' technology has evolved. They are aware of your gaps in memory. You may have doubts of The Storm even existing, or of your world's destruction. Though they do not wish reliving those last moments on anyone, they have created an experience that will do just that. Before entering the Observation Deck, you are warned that what follows will not be for the weak of heart. As soon as you step in, you will find that the walls around you begin to transform and expand. Welcome to the Planet Cespi, in the Circinus Galaxy. Unfortunately, we were not able to save this world from The Storm's Consumption. These are its last memories. You are surrounded by blue, grassy hills as far as the eye can see and a pleasant breeze. The atmosphere is thick with a sickly sweet smell. Before you lays the scene of a quiet village, with its residents going about their everyday lives. You aren't alone, either, with an equally confused stranger (or perhaps you know each other?) surveying the scene. Then the world grows completely silent for a full minute. You and your partner are unable to make a sound, verbal or otherwise. Without warning, a deafening roar fills your ears and forces you to double over in pain. The villagers run out of their homes in a panic, finding themselves in just as much pain and confusion as you do. Where there was no sound before, now there is too much for a normal human body to process. Look up. An expanding mass of energy is swallowing everything you can see. It consumes the earth, the atmosphere, the depths of space — and it is getting closer. Your only hope is to outrun it, if you can. The people in the village certainly try to, racing past you. Their fear is very real. Their bodies are very real. You may be able to run from it for a time, only able to catch glimpses of this dark and sinister force swallowing everything and everyone. The earth rumbles and separates beneath you. Electricity surges through the sky, and then through your very body. You fought hard, but it is impossible to outrun the Storm forever. You too will be consumed. Your death is quick, but not painless. What were you thinking, before you took your last breath? You awaken back in the Observation Deck, next to your new friend. PROMPT: TRAINING MODULES     While it’s all nice and well to familiarize oneself with Thesa Station, it is most advised that new arrivals venture out a bit. Not physically. No one is quite prepared for that yet. However, there will be several virtual reality training programs set for those who dare to be adventurous. For those who aren’t and don’t dare, well — good luck, all the same. Once seated and appropriately strapped in, the system will automatically whir to life. 1. When you enter the Natha's newest program, at first nothing loads. You might think this is an error as you look around in apparent total darkness, only able to see your own virtual body if you look down, but soon enough a voice comes to life as if speakers have turned on somewhere. Long ago, the lands of El Nysa were dominated by the ancestors of the dragons who now live among the people, tamed. It was pretty dangerous! How about a little history lesson? And then the simulation comes to life— a. The lush lands that blossom to life around you all at once are real enough to make you forget you're in a simulation — at least for a moment. Those refugees who have been to the planet in reality before will find themselves in territory as unfamiliar as those who are brand new, as this simulation takes place far back in history. Instead of sprawling cities and civilizations, the most you'll find is scattered villages, many of them no more than nomadic campsites at best. You've been outfitted to blend in with the natives and these simulated people won't react to you as a newcomer, but as a member of their village. Are you a doctor, or perhaps a warrior? Maybe you're even in charge! But they want your help, and they want it quickly: a dragon is coming. The dragon is larger than the mount-sized breeds that exist on El Nysa today — much larger. It's a good six stories in height, bestial, and angry. Maybe it's then that you notice the lands that surround you are littered with scars of scorched earth, some of them several yards across, and there's a reason these people don't live in one place for very long. But don't linger too long on the makeshift grave markers sticking out of the burnt countryside — the dragon is coming. b. If you're looking for something a little less violent, perhaps another area of the historic simulation will be up your alley. This one finds you on a cliffside, waiting among other villagers for an event the people are talking about in hushed whispers, some of which you can identify as prayer. When the white dragon raises its head up from the depths of the ravine, towering impossibly high over you and the others on the cliffside, it's no wonder most of the natives fall to their knees in awe and wonder. This dragon doesn't attack, only looks at the people on land with an ancient and strange wisdom. Then it speaks. Not in words, but the low rumbling sound that starts in its throat and becomes a full trumpeting bellow to the sky seems to have meaning, and somehow, you can understand its cry as it entreats the people to praise and worship. The natives around you are already starting to give offerings with their prayers, food and carvings and — blood? Is that someone's arm being offered up? That's different. 2. Let us now travel forward in time, shall we? a. The Olympian settlement around you is quiet — until the screaming starts. Guerilla fighters from Wyver flood the streets, knocking civilians aside and breaking down doors and windows when they find their way barred. They move methodically, advancing toward the nicer parts of town where the politicians reside and leaving terror in their wake. They're here for the politicians, people say. They're here to punish the people who made the decision to advance into Wyver in the first place. Blood for blood, as the saying goes. Where they'll be taking them once they have them is anyone's guess. A soldier emerges from a building, dragging someone in elegant clothing out by the hair. Looks like they've found one. Will you rescue them? Make a run for it yourself, lest you be mistaken for one of their targets? Or maybe they've already caught you and some other unfortunate Refugee who's been dropped into this simulation, and the two of you need to figure out a way to escape. b. CW: branding You find yourself in the midst of a bustling crowd gathered at the Temple of Thesa. Robed acolytes stoke fires on either side of the altar at the front of the temple, where miserable-looking people who seem to be from a village in Wyver await, bound in ropes. The priest, at the front of the crowd, picks up a metal brand from the altar and gestures for another acolyte to bring a prisoner forward. The crowd watches with interest as the prisoner is forced to kneel in front of the altar, their arm laid out flat on the marble surface. Another cry — "For the glory of Olympia!" — and the crest of the city is burned into the prisoner's arm. The crowd cheers, deafening the cries of pain. The priest ushers forward another prisoner, and then another. Is that a familiar face you see in the lineup, thrust into this bit of history by the simulation's whims? You have to do something. Or are you unlucky enough to find yourself bound? ...Well, hopefully someone else in the crowd has more scruples than this priest. 3. And now, the present. After all those enlightening scenes, the simulation finally brings you to a more quiet area of Olympia. You are deposited out somewhere in The Outlook, a place the very first group of refugees had to trudge through before they found their homes. You've arrived in the early evening — but sunlight is waning, and soon you'll be under a sky full of stars. Luckily, their old campsites aren't too overgrown. The intention here is to get you familiar with some of the local flora and fauna. What sorts of plants will you encounter? Do you find yourself under a Verillum Tree, suddenly compelled to be painfully honest and truthful in conversation with a complete stranger? Find yourself behaving erratically in the presence of Whistleweed? Or perhaps you'll have to break the spell of being trapped in a Vena Amoris' vines... with a kiss. PROMPT: STASIS UNIT     You have found the massive section of Thesa known as the Stasis Unit. There’s no special access required to enter 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: 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     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! An AC-length thread may be submitted for 2 NATHA ORBITER REPUTATION POINTS after acceptance here. Please submit by February 18th. We will no longer be providing overflow posts. In an event where the post hits CAPTCHA, players are advised to move threads to an overflow post on their character journals or create their own catch-all post. These threads remain eligible for REP. There will be an application cap of 60, and no reserves. Please read here for more information. QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[hedonistic]

[Masaoka's bound to notice soon enough how it's not just relief--Kagari actually seems happy in a way he never did in Japan. There was always that layer of anger, of misery lurking right underneath the skin. Kagari was always someone right on the precipice, grasping and clawing for any shred of joy while the ground beneath him kept trying to crumble and send him over into the abyss.

Things aren't ideal here; there's political tensions brewing that Kagari can't begin to understand, a pressure to establish a loyalty where none exists. There's having to learn how to actually function and survive when his day-to-day living expenses aren't actually covered. There's the outright primitive state of technology down in El Nysa. And yet...

Freedom, as it turns out, makes it all worth it.]

What would you like? That god guy'll make you whatever you're in the mood for.

[shashka]

Oh, it's a small place. I'm sure we'll meet in person, eventually. Until then, I guess I can say it's nice to talk to you Alexander.

[motivation]

then i hope you never ask anyone to sing duets with you

[icingonthecake]

Hey, that's--! ... Okay, actually that's a valid point. Fine, you win this round.

Riku gestures toward the pod, and for a moment Axel can't quite get his body to move. He just stares at it for a long moment, and then Riku's movement draws his attention. The younger man says nothing, just turns to leave, and Axel finds himself strangely compelled to, well, say something. What the hell is this? Gratitude? Ugh, isn't that like a feeling? That can't possibly be right.

Maybe it's just the idea that you're supposed to say thank you when someone does something for you. Right, that has to be it, it's just obligation. Not a feeling. He doesn't actually feel grateful that Riku was decent enough to set aside their differences and do this for him, that would be absurd.

Still, that compelling instinct, or whatever it is, is still there, and Axel grits his teeth.

"Hey." He looks toward where Riku is walking away, waiting for a moment. Whether Riku stops and turns around or not, Axel wrangles for only a moment before managing to get his tongue to work. "Ah... I... appreciate this."

It's not quite a thank you, but he really can't remember the last time he thanked someone, anyway. He can't feel thankful as it is, but he can appreciate the fact that Riku did him a solid, right? Ugh, whatever, emotions, no emotions, it's all too much of a headache. Either way, he's said what he wanted to say, and once Riku's out of sigh, Axel turns back toward the pod.

Roxas. Roxas is inside this pod, sleeping. Whatever happens now, whatever the people of this station are up to, Axel can at least hold onto the knowledge that Roxas is here and he's safe. And... maybe Xion is, as well? He glances at the pod beside Roxas', then takes a deep breath, raising his hand toward the glass. There's only one way to find out, after all.

[eaudevamp]

[ Reign had only been here about two or so months, but he'd heard tales from those who came before him. Or sickness and attacks, or how both factions were at odds with each other. With the building tension, he didn't know what to think about living this new life. ]

Luxury is always nice. In moderation, at least.

[ He threw a grin at Chuuya. ]

Previously, yes. But I've recently got a new addition to my little household. Oh, let me show you his picture.

[ With an excited glee, Reign fished out his phone from his jacket pocket, tapping the screen a few times to bring up a photo of his pet. ]

Cute, isn't he? I've yet to come up with a name for him yet, though I've a few options in mind already.

[eaudevamp]

[ Most people would have reacted the same way Peter did. A pity that they weren't in person, or Reign would have the privilege to hear the other's laughter.

Now this time was Reign's turn to blink at the name. At least, the surname. Now the network username made sense. ]

the pleasure is mine.
the family name. are you of noble birth? or merely a namesake?

[revlon]

[ Peggy shoots him a look — it's not necessarily sharp, or nearly as telling as a quirked eyebrow, but it is firm. And a little critical. (Just a little.) ]

Mr Stark, [ she begins lightly, ] If you're at all familiar with my record then you surely know I share your wariness. Governments and organisations have leaders with agendas which, as we all know, can change in a heartbeat. The only people we can count on with any certainty are the ones we know. Now, do I trust the locals above or below?

[ She glances askance, but no one is sitting near them at all. The place is nearly empty because of the late (early?) hour. ]

I haven't been given a reason not to. [ Mostly. Aforementioned "tensions" aside. ] But that's not the same thing. Understood?

[vulpining]

If the tail and ears didn't give it away, then I'll confirm your suspicions — yes, I am of the vulpine persuasion! But —

[ She wags her finger teasingly, turning to walk backwards with her hands behind her. Despite her next words, she's painfully sweet with her tone. ]

Some things are better left until our social rank is better, you know? It adds to the mystery we find ourselves in!

sorry for the wait!

[bornofgods]

[ If not for the earth-shattering descent into the ground, Ozymandias was prepared to send another vertical stripe of damaging light starting from his head, then going down the length of the dragon's body. However, the fact that the weight of the beast upon them would mostly kill even him, Ozymandias instantly turns on his heel and runs in the opposite direction. The dark intensity of dragon's shadow increases upon the pair, the certainty of their shared horror clear.

Despite the fact that Ozymandias is a being with a set of self-serving morals that is very likely to break his promise as long as the situation suits him, there is nothing immediate to be gained by leaving Nami in the dust. With no guarantee that she will be able to run away in time, his hand moves forward to firmly latch onto her upper arm. Unless she avoids his overture and prefers to make a timely run of her own, Ozymandias will begin to forcefully drag her in the direction of his choosing.

When they are in the clear, he rubs debris from his eye and ventures back to examine the dragon's health. The reptilian creatures' stare carries an undertone of sorrow against the base notes of anger, muted only by the damage taken by the pair. But if his heart would deign to bleed for anyone, it would not be such a force of wanton destruction.

He unleashes another attack, aimed at the weak point of the dragon's head, immediately seizing this moment of opportunity to more permanently decease their enemy.

After the ringing sound that his magic brings, the low rasping of a beast struggling, comes silence. If Nami was to pay close attention to detail, she would realize that Ozymandias is feeling a bit tired, having passed his newly enforced boundaries. Eyes twitching, muscles relaxing as his body feels distinctly heavier, he glances from the dragon, and back towards the girl, fighting against his newly tired state with confident bluster. ]

... Is that all?

[bornofgods]

[ Folding his arms over his torso, the extent of Ozymandias' small pool of patience wanes. There is an almost absurd amount of options at his disposal, though they pale in comparison to his previously unlimited arsenal of capabilities. ]

Must you make me detail every possibility?

[ Sighing, he thinks of revoking the offer if it bothers her so. However, he has resistance to that concept... if he can do something that would allow them to achieve a certain victory, Ozymandias will, regardless of the hopes and desires of others.

... He's just that considerate. ]

At most, I will ensure that your attacks are more powerful, that your defense is strengthened. I can also provide you with a degree of magical subsistence-- not as much as I could before my world collapsed, but that should be enough.

[bornofgods]

[ Ozymandias provides a few good choice nods at the knight's assessment. At least he wasn't descending in excess amount of flattery, or making displays of arrogance.

Instead, something on the opposite scale appears to be happening: he fretting over the pharaoh's well-being, at his 'failure' to fully protect him. As the taller man lowers into his kneeling position, Ozymandias narrows his eyes. ]

Rise. That you failed in your quest to achieve perfection does not matter. I was slightly injured against a beast who likely fell entire armies in his time is inconsequential. Remorse is unnecessary!

[ The younger man takes another step of his marred foot, furthering examining the damage. It will take him awhile to offer a helping hand upward, but if Reinhardt struggles too much, Ozymandias will cave and provide some threadbare assistance. ]

Besides. As you can see for yourself, I am not as fragile as a human.

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Oh no...that’s way too cute...Chuuya thought that Daifuku was just an oddity, but apparently tiny animals are a thing here, and Chuuya loves it. Imagine tiny horses, or tiny lions, or tiny hippos, or -

Oh. Right. Reign is still talking to him.]

How about Apollo? I dunno why, it just sounds cool.

[The cutest giraffe ever deserves a good name!]

You gotta let me pet him sometime.

[chikachika]

[ It's certainly a lot of clinging, not quite what Chika had been expecting, but not quite unwanted either. Chika squeezes back, trying her best to console the other girl, making it clear that she's defintiely here, and definitely real.

For now, anyways. ]

Yep, it's really me, You-chan! I'm right here with you.

[ Laughing a little (to hide the sadness that's starting to well up in herself already), Chika tries to reassure her best friend, wondering just what happened to You in the meantime... ]

[inacan]

[ And Tony - Tony just smiles. ]

So, what you're saying is, you agree.

[revlon]

I'm saying a few months isn't enough time to learn every nuance of a different world, let alone understand it.

[ Culture is so varied. And there are already so many layers to this one, the greatest foundation built on — well, not a lie, but an omission of truth is the same thing to a woman in her field. The locals believe Thesa is a moon meant to be worshipped and the Natha want to keep it that way. The Natha want to save them and help this world.

It sound so simple and life rarely is. ]

So we may as well enjoy our cheeseburgers in the meantime.

[inacan]

A born diplomat, I see.

[ Tony's heard some of the stories but it's very impressive to see the legend in person, so to speak. And he feels less resentment towards her than to Steve. Peggy is simply someone to be admired.

He just takes another bit of his cheeseburger. ]

[shikomizue]

[Then it was a compliment - or at least Takasugi will regard it as such.

Even if he knows there's nothing of substance between them, two strangers inflicting themselves on one another for lack of any other way to crawl out of their skin.

Monster piques Takasugi's interest more than persecution, and it's with that word that he settles more comfortably in his seat. Side pressed into the table, he turns towards his companion.]

Are you a monster?

[He raises his glass and drinks, a momentary lapse between the two actions - as if he'd nearly forgotten to partake.]

[shikomizue]

[When the man with his shoulders set passes, Takasugi turns to fall in step. He passes by his comrades, who have finally found cause for silence. Is it the death cry of the door's hinges or the confident hostage walking passed that finally stunned them speechless? Takasugi doesn't bother discerning.

He's more interested in the clamor at their door.

The chill he feels is a result of more than the expanse of ice gnawing through the door. With the fight - one sided though it may be - breaking out so dynamically, he doubts he'll need to draw his own weapon.

Not that Takasugi is disappointed at that.

Soon his companions come gawking, standing a safe distance behind him as the captive lays waste to their pursuers. One after another they fall, motionless or shaking in the freezing air. Yet none flee - bound by codes that would deliver them as much or more suffering should they abandon their mission.

Seems there's a need for him after all.

Carefully stepping over a swath of ice, Takasugi kicks one of the felled soldiers onto his back - sword drawn, he presses it to the man's cheek.] Get up.

[The soldier does as told, hand drifting none too surreptitiously towards his weapon. Takasugi swats it, the side of his sword cracking across knuckles.] Deliver a report.

All of your men were wiped out by a fighter commanding ice and dagger.

[A cohort of theirs, as it appears...

The soldier is hesitant, but turns to rush down a side street, away from the conflict.

With that, only a few stragglers remain to be put down - and Takasugi will wait at the entrance to the shack for their captive-comrade's return.]

[happylocksmith]

Yeah, I'm here. And I think it's OK for us to be confused, it's pretty confusing stuff, right?

[And it's not like there's anywhere else that he wants to be where he can go to right now. If he'd known he'd never see it again, he would have taken a bit longer sitting on the beach on the play island, watching the last sunset with Riku and Kairi.]

I guess there's only one way to find out. I'll meet you there!

I'm on mobile today so I hope you don't mind prose!

[icingonthecake]

Axel stares at the screen for a moment longer before turning off his phone and shoving it into his pocket. This whole situation is bizarre, to say the least, but he guesses things could definitely be worse. He's got no idea what Sora's on about, but if the kid wants to play friendly-like, he's okay with that. If there's one thing he's learned about Sora in the brief time he's been around him, it's that the kid really has no nose for subterfuge at all.

He makes his way to the cafeteria, musing absently on how this whole place reminds him a bit too much of the Castle That Never Was. Most people would probably take a bit of comfort in the station resembling 'home', but the castle has never really felt very much like home. It's where he sleeps, it's where he reports in for work, but given the options, Axel would much rather spend his time in Twilight Town. The cafeteria is broad and just as sterile as the rest of the station, white lines and clean angles, and it's mostly empty, it seems. Well, at least they beat the dinner rush, he guesses.

Grabbing a chair and spinning it around so he can sit backwards, he folds his arms on the back and rests his chin on them, awaiting Sora's arrival.

[semblant]

[A slight chuckle placeholds an actual response. Innocuous as this guy may be, he's defaulting. It's like when somebody makes a self-deprecating joke and instead of laughing, all your friends respond with concern.]

Don't be absurd.

[He'll help himself to a second sip of that awful swill.]

Is that what I look like to you?

[happylocksmith]

Master? Who, me?

[Sora points at himself again, this time with wide-eyed disbelief and incredulity, and then he does yet another double take.

Let's just... give him a couple of moments to process here.

Okay.

One: the wrecking ball in armoured form is not about to attack him and that Is A Good Thing. Sora is going to do his very best to keep that particular status quo up.

Two: the suit of armour somehow knows who Riku is and Sora's reaaaaally hoping that their first encounter went more smoothly than his did.

Three: the suit of armour apparently thinks he's a Keyblade Master.]

You got it all wrong, I'm not a Master yet. I mean, I almost was but I wasn't- I'm not there yet. But I'm gonna be! Just you wait, next time I'll pass that Mark of Mastery just like Riku and we'll both be Masters together and stronger than ever by the time we stop Xehanort.

[rosebyanyother]

I'll look forward to it then.

[Why not?]

It's nice to talk to you, too.

[eaudevamp]

[ Then Chuuya should see Linneus's pet as well! A tiny llama. How cute was that?

Reign hummed at the name, nodding. ]

It does sound cool. The name of a god. I'll add that to the name list.

[ That had Reign smiling widely, utterly elated. ]

I will! You should come and visit me some time once you're down on the planet with the other new refugees. I'm sure he'll love to meet new people as well.

[earthy]

[Terra's going to need a moment here, too.

Riku told him Sora is a Keyblade Master? Sora's telling him he isn't one (yet)? He took the exam but failed it somehow?



... 'I'll pass that Mark of Mastery just like Riku and we'll both be Masters together'???]

Riku is a Master?

[?????????????

One of these days, Terra's face will get stuck with this super confused look on it.]