❪ 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

[willrevile]

Oh yeah? What might you do with me at a bar, Jack?

[ --is that necessary, Jim, really. Sure it is. Never a wasted opportunity, and after all, none of this is real. He smiles, somewhat dazzling with those bright blue eyes. (Or punchable, your call.) His position would be more 'paint me like one of your French girls' if it weren't so frozen in mid-flail thanks to the vines not getting with the program of how to properly arrange bipeds. ]

[selection]

[ this is dangerous — that sort of smile, that sort of question. it's dangerous, or it was dangerous in solo's world. there are desires that one can flaunt and there are desires one should hide and this very firmly fell into the latter category except under exceptional circumstances.

but things are different here, aren't they? ]

I might've bought you a drink, for starters. [ he says after a moment's consideration, voice a little lower but not so low to make plausible deniability impossible. ]

[willrevile]

[ Jim's from the 23rd century, and while it's not outside the realm of possibility for a man to have a negative reaction to another man's obnoxious flirtations, it isn't the first thought that occurs to him. And given that response, it doesn't flit through his head at all. ]

I'd like a drink a lot more than I'd like anything happening in here, [ he says, sounding entertained. He manages to get one of the vines behind his back, balancing precariously on the world's thinnest hammock, but at least he's no longer struggling to stay upright. Oof. ]

Almost makes a guy forget about the supposed destruction of all worlds. [ A bit dry, there. ] So. For 'starters'?

[selection]

[ solo is so wrapped up by vines that he can neither balance nor move. it does mean his position is far less precarious, at least, and mostly upright. whether that is better or worse than what jim is facing, he's not quite certain of. ]

I have to admit, I would, too.

[ only the briefest shadow across his features indicates that he's affected by the reminder at all. though - "supposed"? that may require investigation in the future. not right now, though.

right now, he continues on blithely, lips pulling into a smile. ] Well, yes. Though how to go from there would depend, of course. [ and before jim can ask - ] On the atmosphere and the music, on what we're drinking.

[ on how open jim would be to more, but solo is not quite willing yet to tip his hand in so significant a way. ]

[willrevile]

What's your preferred atmosphere? [ he asks, playing along because there's fuckall else to do. Maybe an idea besides 'shoot the plant' will come to him after a moment of perspective. He tilts his head, giving Jack (!) a searching look, deliberately exaggerated. ] You strike me as willfully high-maintenance. Like if there wasn't anything around but contraband rocket fuel you'd drink it, but you'd really rather be somewhere nice with champagne and.. top shelf cognac.

[ Somewhere up above, a bird flies by. It offers them no aid. ]

[selection]

Not a bad assessment. [ solo allows, the smile lingering. ] Top shelf cognac, or a good whiskey. Or a smooth red.

[ he considers for a moment, head tipped to one side. ] Surely enjoying the finer things in life is no crime.

[willrevile]

Not at all, [ comes with the suggestion of laughter. ] I'm one of those... cheap beer and well drink shots guys, only recently bothering with anything with a label.

[ It makes him think of Bones, ranting about his shitty taste in alcohol and about how growing up in I-oh-way has ruined his palate, shoving higher quality booze on him all throughout their Academy days. He pushes the memories away. ]

Good whiskey, in a nice bar. What kind of music?

[selection]

There are very few moments in life when cheap beer is the most suitable drink. [ when paired with certain foods, perhaps, or in certain parts of the country — but really, those moments are rare. solo will always go for top shelf if he has the opportunity. ]

Jazz, I think. Perhaps something more classical. Live piano music never goes amiss, but I am partial to French chansons while in Paris or Italian love songs while in Rome.

[willrevile]

I wonder how I got into such a nice joint, [ he muses. ] Must've been the uniform--

[ --another bird, this time launching itself from nearby, as if startled by a small creeping vine. Jim wobbles, but the vines take over, cinching him forward and pressed up against the other man. ]

Who programmed this?

[selection]

It's no suit, but it does fit your shoulders nicely.

[ and then jim wobbles and solo lets out an oof, a little exaggerated but not very. this new position is considerably closer than he expected to be to jim kirk, at least so quickly. he isn't complaining, exactly. at least not about the proximity. plenty to complain about when it comes to the plant. ]

Before you think to accuse anyone: it wasn't me. [ he'd lift his hands in a gesture of innocence, but he quite literally can't. so he just does a complicated thing to his face to convey innocence. ]

[willrevile]

I would never, [ he says, flashing him another smile. ] I think if you were going to seduce me, Mr Deveny, you'd have picked a classier virtual setting.

[ This is very cozy indeed, which could be awkward-- but Jim's been through too much weirdness for much of anything to be awkward, anymore, and Jack's been a good sport about gently flirting so far. He tips his head back to observe the woods around them: there's not a tree quite like this one in immediate eyesight, so maybe these have distinct territories. Hmm.

But do they think of them as real plants or as programs? He wiggles the toes of one foot, unseen, contemplating the level of immersion. Probably doesn't make much of a difference which is which. ]

[selection]

Thank you for realising as much.

[ he absolutely would have picked a classier virtual setting. he would have picked a bar not unlike the one he's just described, or perhaps a restaurant. something cozy and comfortable yet classy with high-quality food and soft music playing in the background. italian, he thinks. italian would suit the man before him. well. the man against him, really.

never mind that he didn't even realise these things could be programmed. he's going to pretend he knew that all along. thanks for the info, jim. ]

[willrevile]

[ He pulls his head up, hair falling over his eyes, his smile brief and lopsided (amused at something, maybe). ]

If you were a plant that grabbed warm-blooded beings and held them, didn't try to put them into any kind of digestive acid, and didn't constrict hard enough to do serious physical damage, what might you be after?

[ --is an awful chat up line. Very close, Jim looks at Jack's eyes (pretty, that one little speck of heterochromia), contemplating. ]

We have to be letting off some kind of chemical it likes. Or we have to be capable of it. I guess it could be psychic-- but we're in a simulation, so if it's something psychic, it has to be linked to something observable by the program. Maybe performative.

[selection]

[ they're awfully close. solo allows his lips to draw into a smile, expression curious, tone low: ]

What are you suggesting, Mr Kirk?

[willrevile]

Nothing specific, yet, [ is honest. ] Though from that expression I'm going to guess you're leaning towards a particular hypothesis?

[ Like, it could just be that it wants to slowly drain their life-force, and it hasn't started yet because it's saving them for dinner. Who knows. ]

[selection]

Oh, I wouldn't dare.

[ he is, in fact, leaning towards a particular hypothesis on account of wanting to kiss this man in front of him, but it's not the sort of thing he'll come right out and say. perhaps mr kirk will make the first move. if he does not, solo might grow reckless, or he might not. if kirk keeps looking at him in a way that's encouraging, recklessness is more likely than not, though. ]