❪ 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

[thetaintedsorrow]

Huh????

Listen, I’m pretty sure I’ve never met you.

I just got here, so I dunno what you’re talking about.

[gekkajuu]

[Is this a trick...? But Atsushi thinks they'd come to an understanding, way back when: there's no need for subterfuge... probably.]

You really don't remember?

I got a cub that time.

[thetaintedsorrow]

Listen, kiddo.

I dunno what kinda sexual innuendo you’re peddling here with that cub thing, but I just fucking told you.

I. Don’t. Know. You.

[gekkajuu]

There was no innuendo! We didn't do that kind of thing!

[And how bad would it be if they had, and Chuuya didn't remember that? But Atsushi figures that Chuuya had gone back to sleep. He's seen stories on the network of people not remembering things, or coming back with new memories.]

Maybe you don't remember, but we do know each other. You were with the Port Mafia, and then you ended up here. We talked once or twice.

[thetaintedsorrow]

You’re serious, aren’t you?

[How does he know that Chuuya was in the Mafia?

Unless...

Hang on. Nakajima...Atsushi Nakajima...

OH. OH SHIT. How could he forget that name??]

Weretiger???

[gekkajuu]

That's me.

[And that answers his question. It's as expected - but that's not reassuring so much as worrying.]

If there is anything I can help you with, I'll be glad to do so. In exchange, I'd appreciate it if you respected the authorities of this planet as much as possible, and try not to hurt anybody.

You may not remember, but that was what we agreed on before.

[More or less. It's not a lie in that it is how Atsushi remembers what happened, but whether it's the objective truth may be doubtful.

That was a very different time anyway, much less on the verge of war than the planet is now. Atsushi has toned down his would-be demands accordingly.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[God...usually Chuuya can handle anything anyone throws at him, but after seeing that simulation of the Storm, and knowing that Yokohama suffered the same fate...

It takes a toll on a guy.]

Why don’t I remember you?

[gekkajuu]

Being in stasis can do strange things to a person.

[Atsushi has also heard that people are sometimes taken from slightly different realities, but he doesn't want Chuuya to immediately dismiss their past understanding, insignificant as it was, by deciding that the Chuuya whom Atsushi had met was someone else altogether. Not that Atsushi expects them to stay on good terms, but he'll try for that anyway, if he can.]

Akutagawa was here, but he's gone back to stasis, too.

So did Dazai-san.

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Oh...he’s had yet to visit the stasis chambers...

He’s happy to hear that Akutagawa is alive at least, but...]

Dazai!??

Good fucking god, I’ll never escape that bastard...

[Grrr. At least he’s asleep. Chuuya won’t have to deal with him now. Good.]

Look, I’m not gonna go on a rampage or something. If I agreed to that in the past, then I’ll keep my word.

[gekkajuu]

He's asleep now, anyway.

[Atsushi isn't sure what exactly happened between Dazai and Chuuya in the past, but he definitely noticed a certain animosity. Still, he's not picking sides in an argument that's not his own. He knows that Dazai is -... Well, Dazai; he can definitely understand that Dazai could rub people the wrong way. For that matter: Dazai often seems to go out of his way to do just that...]

Good.

[That's not... technically what was promised, Atsushi doesn't think... but he'll take it all the same. Maybe he's a terrible liar, but he can at least try to withhold the truth, if it'll help keep the planet more peaceful.]

Maybe it's for the best that you don't remember, since a lot has changed on the planet since I last saw you.

But I'll just leave you to find your own way and form your own opinions.

That said, I am perfectly willing to answer any questions you may have, once you've found your footing a little.

[thetaintedsorrow]

[While he doesn’t exactly like the tone that Atsushi is taking with him right now, he has to admit that the guy has guts. And, as implied, the kid knows way more about this place and the happenings within the planets than Chuuya does.

And for some reason he’s willing to help...]

Why are you going out of your way to help me?

The Mafia made your life hell.

So why?

[gekkajuu]

The mafia doesn't exist here.

As far as I'm concerned, you're just another person who has lost their home and their friends.

[Admittedly, it had been a little different with Akutagawa, but Atsushi never had such intense and personal clashes with Chuuya. Things like feeling offended or holding on to pointless, displaced rage served no other purpose than to exhaust him.

Atsushi really doesn't have the energy to hate everyone who's ever wronged him.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[..............

Good god. What a goody two-shoes.

Chuuya can’t say he doesn’t appreciate it, though.]

Thanks.

What should I call you, then?

I’m assuming Jinko is out of the question.

[gekkajuu]

[Honestly, Atsushi wouldn't mind being called jinko, but he prefers it as more of a "job description" and less of a name.]

Either Nakajima or Atsushi is fine. Most people here aren't big on using family names.

You can contact me this way. I live in Olympia, in case we ever need to meet in person.

You'll come to find out what that means soon enough.

[Politics. What a hassle.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

Right. You can call me Chuuya, then.

[He GUESSES he’ll let the lack of honorifics slide.]

Can I ask you one more thing?

[gekkajuu]

[This conversation... is going pretty smoothly? Atsushi is a little proud of himself.]

Yes, Chuuya-san?

[Shhh, you still get an honorific, Chuuya. You may have been an enemy, but you're still a senior, anyway.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Hehe, now he likes Atsushi just a bit more.]

Do you want to meet? Like, in person?

I dunno why, but I feel like that’s something I should do.

[gekkajuu]

[It shouldn't make Atsushi nervous, but it kind of does, even if he can't pinpoint why. Still, he's taken the first step; he may as well continue with the second.]

I'm still on Thesa, if you want to meet right now.

[thetaintedsorrow]

Great.

I’m going to the stasis pods.

I haven’t been, and I need to see it.

[gekkajuu]

[It's true that everyone should see the stasis pods, and yet... something about the way Chuuya says it makes Atsushi think that the mafia, unlike most, isn't underestimating the experience. And it's absurd to feel any empathy for someone who no doubt has done a myriad bad deeds in his life, but Atsushi can't help briefly feeling something like it all the same. The stasis pods are like living graves, after all. There's always hope that the people in them will wake up, but Atsushi knows it's rare - and he knows people can go back there.

But people do need to see the stasis pods - and even if they didn't, Atsushi can't make Chuuya's choices for him.]

All right. I'll head right over.

Please wait for me, if you get there first.

[Another pointless thing to say; yet more of that empathy that he should do without. But how could Atsushi not feel for a new arrival? He's been in that position.

He doesn't run or anything quite that dramatic, but he walks to the stasis room at a decent speed all the same. If Chuuya isn't there yet, Atsushi will wait at the entrance.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Of course Chuuya has been though his fair share of tragedy in the Mafia, and he’s seen dozens of men mowed down (on both sides) right before his eyes. He’s absolutely no stranger to death and loss, but can the stasis pods really be called either of those? It’s like existing in a limbo between death and life, with no guarantee of truly experiencing either. It’s both a blessing and a curse, Chuuya thinks, and when he arrives outside the stasis room he’s greeted with the sight of Atsushi already waiting for him.

He stops right in front of Atsushi, looking as stoic as possible to brace himself for what he might find inside.]

Hey.

[Chuuya doesn’t know exactly how to greet Atsushi; old enemies are a bit more difficult to deal with than casual acquaintances, after all. Even if Chuuya never did bear a personal grudge against the guy...

He finally settles for offering a handshake, eyes dragging over Atsushi’s form all the while; so this is the weretiger everyone was making a fuss about...

He doesn’t look intimidating at all.]

[gekkajuu]

[Wow, excuse you, Atsushi is totally -... Okay, maybe he's not very intimidating, the way he stands there, very clearly trying to keep from running away. Well, that's exaggerated, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel overwhelmed by Chuuya's presence. Short or not, the guy's self-confidence is through the roof, almost like a huge aura surrounding him. It would have been easier if they'd met as enemies here, too; if they were doomed to fight. But they're not, and that leaves everything up in the air all over again.

OH GOD HE'S GOING TO -... shake his hand. Right... Atsushi can do that. After a slightly panicked glance at Chuuya's hand, he extends his own to shakes it. For all his flaws and nerves, at least his grip is fairly solid.]

Nice to meet you... again, I suppose.

[This was even more awkward than he'd imagined... Maybe he should just get the worst of it over with.]

This way. I don't know everybody's location, but I know where to find a few people we both know.

[Dazai and Akutagawa in particular. Most of the Agency is there; most of the mafia probably is, too, but Atsushi hasn't bothered looking too hard for them.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Chuuya won’t say that he can smell fear, but he certainly can detect a hint of nervousness in Atsushi’s mannerisms, and he’s surprised when the kid doesn’t just straight up run away instead of actually shaking his hand. But shake it he does, and Chuuya doesn’t send him flying like he very easily could, because as amusing as that would be, Chuuya isn’t keen on making enemies his first day here. Especially not when Atsushi has given him no real reason to be malicious.]

Right.

[Chuuya follows along without a fuss, looking a bit solemn as they enter the stasis room. This will be Chuuya’s first visit, and honestly he’s a bit speechless when he sees the sheer number of pods. He knew that the Natha had been collecting lifeforms from various planets to save them from the storm, but holy shit that’s a lot of sleeping people! How are they ever going to find anyone they know...?]

Lead the way.

[gekkajuu]

[Okay. So far, so good. Chuuya seems to be showing him a bare minimum of respect, and that's a hell of a lot more than Atsushi ever counts on. Atsushi gives a solemn nod in reply, appreciating Chuuya's attitude in general. Lead the way, Atsushi does.

Even with everything going all right, Atsushi's thoughts are racing. What if this is some kind of trick, after all? What if Chuuya goes nuts and tries to destroy the whole Armed Detective Agency? He doesn't seem the type to kill people in their sleep, but who really knows with the mafia? To be as safe as he can be, Atsushi walks them to Akutagawa first. Better to get the first emotions over with on a former ally and gauge Chuuya's reaction than to take him right to Dazai and risk whatever.

Atsushi stops in front of the pod with Akutagawa.]

Here. He was awake for a while... I think a few months?

I'm not sure how long exactly. You'll understand that weren't very close.

[thetaintedsorrow]

[If Atsushi voiced those concerns Chuuya would just look at him like he’s crazy; he would never kill a sleeping person, nor does he have any motivation to now that the ADA and the Mafia are no more. Nearly everything he’d done was because of some kind of order given to him, and the only personal grudge he bears against the ADA is entirely Dazai-related. Killing the agents while they’re helpless holds absolutely zero appeal to him.

When they find Akutagawa Chuuya’s stomach sinks through the floor. Maybe they weren’t exactly close in the past, but seeing someone as proud and fierce as Akutagawa trapped like that...sleeping so peacefully...

Chuuya removes his hat and places it over his heart in respect.]

Yeah. I know you two don’t get along. I don’t blame you.

[Akutagawa isn’t exactly friendly, after all, and considering Atsushi’s relationship with Dazai, well...

Anyway.

When Chuuya finally glances back up he notices a few of the other Port Mafia members sleeping in their pods, including Kouyou...]

At least they’re safe.

[He places his hat back on his head to hide the expression on his face.]

Where’s Dazai?