❪ 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

[colorature]

_{[Definitely babysitters.]}

Amshel is still asleep, but Solomon's awake. I don't know where he is right now though.

_{[Probably off being a weirdo creep somewhere...]}

[eaudevamp]

And you still want me to be your mate...? What if Solomon doesn't approve of me?

[ Because she seemed to think highly of their opinions, despite being her servant. ]

[colorature]

Then you won't be.

_{[Blunt as ever. That said, Reign you shouldn't be indulging her...run away...]}

[eaudevamp]

[ Well, that was a relief to hear, and to know that she wasn't going to insist on choosing him. Reign didn't know if he was even ready for fatherhood. He enjoyed sex too much to want any parental responsibility at the moment. ]

Good, good. I don't think I'm ready yet either.

[ Glancing around the mess hall again, a soft sigh escaped his lips. ]

If you're not going to drink, you might as well clean yourself up. Walking around like that is going to frighten people.

[colorature]

So?

_{[Why would she care whether or not she frightens someone? Not only that but if she's already this messy...]}

I'm still hungry. There isn't a point in washing up yet.

[eaudevamp]

[ Reign debated with himself whether to share this information, then sighed inwardly. Might as well let her know some alternative options. ]

If and when you go down to the Nysan Isles, specifically in Olympia, I heard there are some people in the red light districts who offer their blood. Sometimes in exchange for services.

[ A shrug. ]

It's where I go to when I got sick of synthetic blood. Of course, the blood is given voluntarily and with consent. [ He couldn't emphasise that enough. ]

[colorature]

_{[It's useful information that she eagerly files away for later. She has no idea where this red light district would be, but maybe Solomon would be able to figure it out.]}

So they'll give me their blood if I ask? That's convenient.

_{[Which means she won't have to kill them.]}

But I'm hungry now.

[eaudevamp]

[ Already regretting his decision for sharing that detail with her!!! But Reign knew that sooner or later, she'll find out from someone or caught rumours of it. Might as well let the cat out of the bag first. ]

And if they consent, because they also have the right to refuse you due to personal circumstances. [ Such as they'd let another vampire-like being drank from them earlier.

All right, back to the issue at hand... ]

Well, you wasted your food source, synthetic it may be.

[ Looking pointedly at the mess she made. ]

[colorature]

What do you mean they have the right to refuse me? They're food.

_{[Uh, yeah...sorry Reign. Humans = food to this girl here and you're going to have a hard time teaching her otherwise.]}

That isn't blood and therefore isn't food. I wasted nothing.

[eaudevamp]

[ Ugh, she had a point, because prior to the events with Jack and Humpty Dumpty, Reign too had treated humans as food source. But his thoughts in regards to that had slowly changed while being in Nysa.

He had a feeling that even moving a mountain would be easier than convincing her otherwise. Another sigh, regretting with every second. ]

If you clean up as soon as possible, I'll take you to the red light district.

[ No, Reign, do NOT give her Pandora's Box!!! ]

[colorature]

Okay!

_{[Instantly her mood turns to something cheery, that is, until she realizes she doesn't know where Solomon is. How is she supposed to clean up if he's not around to help her? Not to mention he'd probably frown upon her being taken somewhere by a stranger...which reminds her she doesn't know his name.]}

Take me to my chamber and help me clean up then.

[eaudevamp]

[ She was rather lucky that Reign was sort of used to being ordered around by someone who has a more dominant presence, which she was giving out quite nicely, despite the now cheery attitude. But Reign knew how quickly she could turn around and bite.

Either way, he gave her a small smile and took her hand in his, giving the back a chaste kiss before placing it on the crook of his arm. ]

Very well then, my lady, please allow me to escort you. Could you point in the direction of your chamber, Miss...?

[colorature]

Diva. My name is Diva.

_{[Ah. She's happy. This is how she ought to be treated. It's nice to know someone who easily knows their place.]}

What's yours?

[eaudevamp]

Such a beautiful name, befitting of a diva, Miss Diva.

[ She certainly fit the diva-esque attitude as well. ]

I'm Reign Fear, currently at my lady's service.

[ He chuckled softly, leading them out of the mess hall and towards the direction Diva pointed at, not really minding the strange looks they drew. Reign could just say it was tomato sauce or something. Chaos of the kitchen. ]

[colorature]

_{[Yeah just...she's going to soak up the compliments. It's different, y'know, being complimented by someone who has no true loyalty to you. She hadn't sired him, after all. He has no reason to be nice or polite, but seems to recognize she's deserving of respect and reverence. Puffing up, just a bit, there's a bit of spring in her step as they make their way toward her room.]}

If I am your lady am I to be your Queen then?

[eaudevamp]

[ With the change in mood, even Reign was feeling a tad more cheerful. Reign wondered how old Diva truly was.

Her question drew a hum from him, tapping a finger to his lips. ]

If you want it that way, then all right, you shall be my Queen as well, Your Majesty.

[colorature]

_{[Don't ask a Lady her age...not that Diva really knows how old she is exactly.]}

Then it's settled!

_{[And because walking with her arm in his is taking too long, she'll just grab his hand in hers and drag him in the right direction. The faster she cleans up the faster she can eat, after all.]}

[eaudevamp]

[ If she didn't know her exact age, it wasn't her fault! Although Reign suspected she likely was older than she appeared, which seemed to be the case for their kind, one way or the other.

Diva's enthusiasm took Reign by surprise, laughing softly as he let her take his hand, his long legs thankfully helping him catch up with her. Once they reached her chamber, Reign headed straight for the bathroom. ]

I doubt we could get the stains off your dress, but go ahead and remove them while I get the water running.

[colorature]

_{[While Reign decides to run a bath Diva wastes no time to peel herself free from her dress, stepping out of the garment and kicking it off to the side. She's stark naked once she does so, not caring in the least about her nudity, moving to step into the bathroom after a minute or so.]}

Will it take long to fill?

_{[Don't mind her...being naked...]}

[eaudevamp]

[ Perhaps Reign shouldn't be surprised, since he'd offered to help her, and assumed this included bathing her as well. It was almost calming for him, where other vampires from his world would have looked down upon his submissiveness, Diva didn't seem to mind, which was an added point for her.

He blinked at her stark appearance, though he quickly snapped out of it as he shook his head. ]

It's nearly done, my Queen. I just need to make certain the water's temperature is to your preference. Would you like it cooler or warmer?

[ Whatever she wished, Reign was ready to do her bidding. As for himself, he had already removed his jacket and vest, his sleeves folded up, and gloves removed, ready for her next command. ]

[colorature]

_{[His submissiveness is appealing, if only because of its familiarity. While she did have to answer to Amshel and Solomon in certain ways, she was ultimately their Queen. If Reign wanted to look to her as a means of keeping busy, she'd boss him around as much as she pleased.]}

Warm. Nice and hot.

_{[And just because she can, she moves to sit on the edge of the bath, crossing her legs, wiggling her toes absentmindedly.]}

Are you good at washing hair?

[eaudevamp]

Very well, Your Majesty.

[ Reign made quick works to bring the water's temperature up. Though he (and the vampires of his world) didn't like heat, this was for Diva's sake. He tested the waters, nearly scalding, but not too burning, and deemed it good enough. ]

Ah, urm... I've never washed anyone's hair before except for mine. But I assure you that your hair will end up super soft and smooth to the touch!

[ He even angled his head a bit so Diva could reach up to run her fingers through his hair and experience it for herself. ]

[colorature]

_{[Well that's what she likes to hear. Considering she was pretty put out earlier, Diva's mood has improved dramatically. Baths are always nice things to have, after all.]}

I've a lot of it, so you better do a good job.

[eaudevamp]

Worry not, my Queen, for this servant of yours, Reign, has the best combs and brushes for your hair as well!

[ It seemed that Reign was enjoying this entirely too much as well, which was likely due to Diva's improved mood. Once the tub was filled, he grabbed certain bathing products and placed them within reaching distance, then gestured for Diva to enter the tub, one hand held up for her to hold for support. ]

Now then, let's get you cleaned up.

[colorature]

<sub>[Happy to be helped into the bath, Diva wastes no time sinking into the water, knees out as she submerges herself. Only everything from her nose up peeks out of the water, the bath full of her hair, looking more like black tendrils than anything else.

Don't mind her as she...soaks for a moment.]</sub>