❪ 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

[adisaster]

[ The sparkliness immediately catches his attention and it actually takes him a second to answer, pausing in the motion he was doing with his cup -- his eyes widen and light up with interest, looking over them with an apparent ... greed, really. He doesn't bother hiding it. ]

Drinking, plainly.

[ Because that should be obvious, duh? Less obvious was what this creature in front of him was made of. ]

And you -- I have never seen anything like you before. The way you glimmer ... You look as if you would belong in my treasury.

this is already everything i wanted

[diamondize]

Drinking? [Dia tilts their head, before making a noise of understanding and nodding.] Oh! Right. Eating and drinking is important for your type. [You know. Living. Organic...type.

They pause at the--compliment? It's probably something of a compliment right?--and look embarrassed, waving their hand dismissively.] I think I'm the only one of my kind awake right now... There are surely more interesting ones than me. [Humble, at least. Though his words remind them a little of the Lunarians which is... less good.

Still, Dia doesn't really have much to feel fear over normally, so they don't really have an instinct against this either] But thank you, I think. I'm Diamond.

#saveDia

[adisaster]

[ Well, it doesn't take a genius to rub two brain cells together and quickly come to the conclusion -- this is an actual diamond person in front of him. He could only really speculate as to their true nature, if they don't need to eat or drink ... Are they something like a magus' familiar? A homunculus?

Gilgamesh's curiosity abounds and he rises. There's a noticeable small>clinking sound as he does, his gaze still intent on Diamond as he steps a bit closer. ]

The only one of your kind ... ? Ah, but it's difficult to picture one more brilliant than you. You can almost compete with my own radiance.

[ It's high praise for Gilgamesh but the tone is more like evaluating an art piece than genuinely complimenting a living ... being in front of him, even if they weren't human. ]

Were you constructed, or born of something else?

[diamondize]

[It's probably a good thing that Dia doesn't know enough to take offense to that--and the fact that they hear praise like, 'your brilliance is blinding' often enough.] I don't know about that... [He hasn't seen Bortz in battle yet, after all. Their smile wanes a little, but they keep a pleasant expression nonetheless.]

Hmm... I suppose it's a little of both? Sometimes a new one of us will be found fully formed, and Sensei or our doctor will help smooth us out. If we break apart, new pieces have to be added. [They laugh a little, looking sheepish.] But organics don't work like that, right?

[adisaster]

No -- "organics" are born from a coupling of man and woman. Though organic beings can be constructed ... They often do not have human hearts.

[ He's stepping close enough it's veering very quickly into personal space invasion territory. Seeing them both so close together, his golden armor and Diamond's overbearing shininess, might almost be blinding if they had any onlookers. ]

Your mannerisms, though ... Your speech -- they all seem very human. Did this "sensei" teach you such things? It's quite convincing.

[ Diamond likely doesn't have the context to realize Gilgamesh's tone is very "oh, how cute, it think it's people". ]

[diamondize]

[Diamond considers for about half a second before they clasp their hands behind their back lightly and widen their stance a little, silently holding their ground. Flashy and gold though he may be, Dia isn't about to let themselves get intimidated. He's no sensei, after all, so Diamond's reasonably sure if this turns into a threatening situation that they can hold their own.

Why does something about the flashiness make her think of the Lunarians...? Hm. ItsAMystery.jpg

They still keep up that pleasant air though! Dia does feel a bit of pity for the eyes of anyone who might see the lights shining through the trees though. The light reflecting off their hair and hitting his armor is almost painful to them too at times.]

I'm not sure... He taught us everything we know, so I suppose we picked up mannerisms from him and each other. Is it strange?

[adisaster]

[ Gilgamesh seems pleased even as Diamond's stance grows more defensive. It interests him that they seem to have a sense of self preservation, a doll at least aware enough to know when there's a threat present. So whatever society they were from it couldn't have been entirely peaceful. ]

It sounds like your master has quite a fondness for his creations. How fortunate for you. Others would have been far less kind.

[ He raises his hand up and since Diamond didn't step back, he's easily close enough to try to take their chin between his thumb and fingers, tipping their head up if they don't move away from that motion. ]

[diamondize]

Sensei loves us, and we love him very much. [There's no hesitation here, it's just fact. It's why they're all so willing to overlook most of the mystery surrounding him, after all.

Again they don't move away, just looking curious and a bit confused when Gilgamesh takes their chin. This close he'd probably be able to tell the 'skin' is just a powder, and there's no give to it. They're fairly cold and solid, though somehow, uh, blushing? A little?? How is this a thing they're roCKS fuck logic i guess]

U-um...? Is there something on my face?

[adisaster]

[ He notices the powdered finish, rubs his thumb thoughtfully on the bottom side of their chin as if to check if it would rub off. He can imagine this was "sensei's" work as well, or at least his idea, dressing these gems up to look human. What a facade.

His hand moves, tipping their head from side to side as if to examine how the light refracts through them, how it's blocked by the powder. The blush is very human, and Gilgamesh smiles sharply. ]

I think I shall keep you. Tell me, do you keep your sentience when you are shattered?

[ You know for scientific reasons. ]

[diamondize]

[Their eyebrows raise in alarm. Keep them? Oh boy. This guy is like the Lunarians.] So long as my head is still attached, but it's very tiring. [They smile thinly though, the hands clasped behind their back moving to the hilt of their sword.]

But I would advise against keeping me. I think Sensei would be quite upset--and my partner, too.

[adisaster]

Oh? And are they here to stop me?

[ Gilgamesh looks amused, noting the way Diamond's hand moves back for their sword. If he feels threatened or deterred by the motion he doesn't show it. ]

I was merely thinking, you'd be easier to handle in pieces. But I could store you as you are as well. You wouldn't lack for company - - I have a countless number of gems in my treasury.

[ Even if they're not really the living, talking sort. ]

[diamondize]

I won't lack for company out here, either. [They'll not answer that 'are they here' question because...Fuck you Gil, YOU DON'T KNOW, OKAY.

?? ??? Countless other gems though? Dia pauses mid-pull away, brow furrowed as they frown.] Gems like me? [Or more like the jewelry they've seen around? Non-sentient and lifeless? While they're preeeetty sure it's like that, Dia wants to make sure there's no brethren secretly trapped in this treasury thing they might have to rescue, just in case.]

[adisaster]

Well, they're the more stationary sort ... Are you terribly picky about the distinction?

[ Maybe Diamond would like hanging out with them anyway? Gilgamesh doesn't know how speaking gems work. And looks side to side, around them, as if seeing for any lurking sensei or other gems waiting to save them. ]

Regardless, if I chose to take you now it doesn't seem as if there would be anything to stop me.

[ Diamond included. Gilgamesh clearly isn't daunted by what sort of fight Diamond would put up by themself. ]

[diamondize]

It would get awfully lonely. [Despite their pleasant, easy-going tone, Dia goes to take a step back, trying to ignore the feeling of sardonic amusement that lances through them. Geez, Bortz and the others weren't even around and still people were underestimating them.]

If it's all the same to you, I'd rather stay out and about. I would really rather not have to hurt you. [If only because he's organic, as far as they know, and Dia's been rather reluctant to cause damage to them-- they don't recover nearly as quick and easy as gems do, after all.] And there's far too many things I haven't seen yet to be satisfied stuffed up in a treasury somewhere!

[Think of all the puppies they haven't fluffed yet, Gilgamesh. Think of the puppies.]

[adisaster]

[ He doesn't step forward now, as if something Diamond has said truly has made him change his mind. And again, he doesn't seem scared at the implicit thread if he did act. It's more like ... he's starting to feel a bit mercifully. There's a desire to covet, there, certainly, but ... ]

It is very human, to desire new experiences. You are not content with what you already know?

[ Diamond's sort seemed to be more and more human and less like the homunculi Gilgamesh were aware of. Strange, considering that the biology of a homunculi far more closely resembled that of a human's than whatever held Diamond together. ]

[diamondize]

[It's a curious reaction, but Dia doesn't mind that he's stopped. The question makes them pause, chin tilting up in a sort of quiet determination--or maybe defiance?]

I haven't learned nearly enough to be satisfied. This world has many things I haven't seen or experienced; it'd be a shame to be stuck somewhere stagnant and never get the chance. [Their smile turns a tad bitter, or maybe sarcastic.]

I can't improve if I'm standing still.

[adisaster]

A commendable attitude, for a gem doll.

[ Apparently that's what Gilgamesh has decided Diamond is, in his mind. Not human, not a homunculus either, but still very clearly constructed and formed by another living being ... A doll was a suiting descriptor. ]

I wonder what drives that curiosity in you. A soul you possess, perhaps?

[ And it maybe less relieving news ... ]

I shall withhold claiming you until you have reached your peak. It hardly seems fit to take you now, when even you admit you haven't experienced all that you can.

[diamondize]

A soul? ['gem doll' okay, fine, whatever, they can deal with that even if that attitude of his is kind of...grating. Wow. Dia can't recall the last time they actually felt this sort of indulgence, like putting up with a particularly spoiled child. (Not that...Dia knows what a child is but. you know.)

(Also, accurate description of Gilgamesh, though.)

Either way, that commentary makes them pause, considering. A soul? Who knows. What was a 'soul' exactly? Dia can't say they have much of an idea, but apparently it's something most...things have. An organic trait? Or was it like their inclusions? Hm. If only Rutile was here to examine the matter.]

...That's kind and generous of you. [And an honest relief; Dia really didn't want o have to fight him.] Thank you. [The sword, which they had started to draw a little, cicks back into place.]

[adisaster]

I am kind and generous when it is deserved. You will have to prove yourself as worthy of my treasury when the time comes.

[ In a way it is actually fairly generous for his standards -- he's not terribly specific about at what point he would come to take Diamond away, at what point they would have the knowledge he'd deem neccessary to be worth having. But that's fine by his own standards, too. It's not as if either of them would lack for time -- Gilgamesh can only imagine the length of their lifespan, if they don't have to eat or drink like a biological being would.

He does watch them put the sword away, amused. ]

Are quite skilled with that weapon of yours?