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Entry tags:
❪ test drive #4 ❫
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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—
2. Let us now travel forward in time, shall we?  a. The Olympian settlement around you is quiet — until the screaming starts.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... 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. |
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There is the slightest quirk of her mouth in response to his stutter into silence, a hint of her affection for the young man she'd come to view so favourably showing in her eyes. She had not hoped...Not that anyone truly wished this experience on others, but Ysayle had missed him in her time here. Getting to know his twin hadn't lessened that.
Something cold and faceted is placed into his hands. ]
Present this as others have, then we can away.
[And talk elsewhere. her voice is lowered; they are still getting looks, after all, and even if this is a simulation, better to feign obedience to the circumstance than stand out more than he already does.]
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It seems to work, as it keeps most of the people from glancing at him any more.
And then he arrives back at where Ysayle is, still clearly a little thrown off by her presence, but he glances back one last time at the dragon and its people, before turning back to her. ]
That seems to have allayed their concerns, for the most part. [ He's sure there are still a few uneasy about him, but that's fine. ] Let us quit this place.
[ He says that last bit with some slight haste to it, as though he'd like to do it soon so that he can ... talk to her. His eyes certainly bare his feelings clear as day, at the very least — many conflicting feelings and curiosities. Nervousness, excitement, sadness. How exactly does one deal with seeing a dead friend again? ]
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The gem is as solid and real looking as the people and the land and the village and the Twelve damned dragon around them. It will disappear into the annals of time along with this event, but until then, it is accepted as a gift as was intended and her shoulders relax. It seems that the Dragon AND the people here are willing to let the matter lie..
The boy's voice draws her back to herself, and she nods wordlessly in response. She motions with a hand for him to follow, before moving away beyond and behind the nearest huts. They can return another time to indulge in interactive history lessons. The exit to the simulator is not far, and the portal out makes itself known quite quickly.
Ysayle steps out first, moving from grasslands and village into the station proper. As whole, hale and hearty as the last time the younger Elezen saw her prior to Azys Lla, not disappearing like a ghost in the machine..
She turns, and gives him a small but genuine smile. ]
Hello, Alphinaud.
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But when he steps out and sees her still there — healthy and seemingly unharmed, even — his breath hitches and his eyes widen. Her body, her smile, her voice — it's all truly there.
And before he knows it, his eyes are watering. He's emotional, okay, just like any teenage boy would be upon seeing their dead friend alive and well. He cared a lot for her, thought of her well past her death. ]
... Ysayle? Truly—?
[ Sorry he's choked up enough to not be able to speak well. Even if she weren't real, he'd still be just as overwhelmed to meet her, surely. But for all his emotions, he's still got curiosity and confusion mixed in there, because he genuinely can't understand how she's here. ]
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[ The circumstances are overwhelming enough even for those inclined to fight the whims of fate and follow the path walked by the Warrior of Light; she cannot blame him -one usually verbose- for struggling with words. She can feel the telltale prick behind her own eyes as she looks down at the younger Elezen, clearly no worse for wear from his extended sleep within the pods.
She does not regret the choice she made at Azys Lla, and it does her heart good to know that Alphinaud survived the events that followed. Alisaie had said as much, but.
Slowly, she offers him her hand, for confirmation as to her state of living. ]
I know not the magics involved in my life being...not so much saved as salvaged, and brought here, but I do live. It..it is good to see you.
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But he brings his gaze to the hand she's outstretched, fixating on it for a few moments as he listens to her talk. Then he glances back up at her face, before reaching his hands out to grab her hand, his breath hitching as he finally has concrete proof of her existence in front of him.
In that moment, he's utterly incapable of holding back any tears he has, and he hangs his head so as to obscure his eyes from her view with his bangs, as the tears fall down his cheeks. It's obvious enough that he's crying — what with the tears falling to the ground and the telltale change in his breathing pattern. But he feels better keeping his eyes out of view regardless. It's just how he is.
Finally, the fingers he's so gingerly holding her hand with squeeze a little — some form of comfort to him — as he forces himself to speak. He can't very well remain silent. ]
I-It — It is good to see you ... as well.
[ He can't get out much other than that, sorry. He'll talk more at her when he's not trying to keep from sobbing. ]
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But she had never believed there would be a time that anyone would weep tears for her, and her own heart is moved to see them here. ]
And see me for a while longer you shall now that you're awake.
I have been told that you, and Estinien, and the Warrior of Light succeeded where I could not. I could not have been prouder to hear it.
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Quietly, speaking through the tears. ] ... Would that you could have seen it. [ He wished so much at the time that she could have seen what was happening. And though things remained rocky for a while, they're at least moving in the right direction. But, of course, from here, she can't see any of it.
And then he shakes his head a little. ] You succeeded along with us. You are full deserving of that pride as well.
[ Everything she contributed was important, and though she was not able to see the end of their struggles, she deserves to know that she was just as much a part of it as anyone else. ]