❪ 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

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jamie fraser | outlander

[stripebacked]

training module two (branding)

[ He wishes he could say this was the first time he was bound and put before a crowd. It does not offer him even a lick of comfort to know that this isn't entirely real. Feels real. Or just maybe the memories of his recent time with Black Jack have blended together with this moment. His freshly mended hand. Scarred flesh. The patch cut out from his side that held a previous brand. One that chilled him to his very soul. Jamie's skin crawls.

For whatever discomfort he has on the inside the outside is another story. He remains stoic. Perhaps even angry. His eyes quickly fly around the crowd that's gathered. They go to look down the row of prisoners that wait with him. All of them waiting to become some sort of offering. Their skin marred. A piece of their soul being stripped away by this man. Man is too polite a term. Coward. That's what he is.

An escape alone would be too dangerous. He'd just as likely wind up with a blade in his belly. But the crowd is just thick enough and wild enough to hide their escape if he were to get someone to join him. ]

stasis unit

[ It's hard for him to stand him and think that on his first time awake he didn't know any of the things Claire told him about. He's still yet to meet Fergus, but he looks forward to that day. To looking the boy in the eye and seeing the young man that he grew to love like his own blood. He doesn't want to linger here for too long, but he wants to see them as well. His family. His sister. Ian. Their children. Fergus.

The only comfort he gets is knowing that Claire is here. Not among the pods, but she's safe elsewhere. Hopefully in Olympia. He can only pray that Peggy and Steve looked after her. They do not do well apart. Especially after what they've gone through. What they've yet to go through. His damaged and bandaged hand touches the pod of Fergus gently. Carefully inspecting the lad to make sure he's healthy. ]

omage (un; j.fraser)

I'm not certain of who is still here, but I would like to know if my wife is safe. Her name's Claire Fraser. She's been here for some time. If you have word please tell me.

omage | c.fraser

[nineteenfortyfive]

[She doesn't expect to see her name or that username on the network. Her hands shake so hard she can't type well, and it takes several attempts before she manages.]

Jamie? Oh my god is that youwhere are you

[... sort of.]

[stripebacked]

[ She's lucky that his sentences are no longer in all caps. When she first taught him it was all that Jamie could do sometimes. But he deciphers it. Really not complicated.

But knowing she's safe and she's speaking to him calms everything inside of Jamie for the moment. It's been a difficult time. ]

Aye. Christ, Claire, I was so bloody worried about you down there on your own.

I'm in the station. Where're you?

[nineteenfortyfive]

[She wants to ask what he remembers, hold old he is, but she supposes she can get all that in person.]

Go to the lounge ill be there soon

[stripebacked]

I'll wait for you there.

[ When he was here and she told him about what would happen to him he couldn't fathom how it would feel to have it all actually in his head. Every second of his time with Randall, but it's there now. It's all in there and it's difficult for Jamie not to relive every second of it. To recall things. Things that make him ashamed and bloody sick to his stomach. ]

And, Claire, I love you.

[ He finally starts to head towards the lounge. Following his wife's orders in this instance. When Jamie does arrive he sits on couch with his busted hand wrapped and resting on his lap. All he can do is wait for her. Hope that maybe some sort of peace can come from being here. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[He won't be waiting long. Moments after he sits, she's entering the room, looking around wildly for him. She spots him right away, drawn to that red hair that's so much more vibrant than she last saw him. It doesn't register right away that he's younger--it helps that he aged so well--nor does she notice his hand. If she did, it would be a dead giveaway to what point in his life this Jamie awoke from stasis.]

Jamie.

[In an instant, she's flinging her arms around his shoulders, pushing him back against the couch. She's lived two decades apart from him, survived, thrived on her own, but Jesus Christ did she miss him here.]

You're back. You're really back.

[stripebacked]

[ Jamie however does take her in as she moves towards him. Her face. Her hair. Her body. It's hard. Though her hair is a touch more grey than he last recalls. She's still just a beautiful as the day he saw her. But it's Claire and that's really all that matters isn't it? They're together. They're solid once more without the thread of Randall or the British looming overhead.

Time has passed here. But time has also passed elsewhere for her. The wheels in his head turning. He's far more aware of time now that he knows things like this can happen. After their last reunion. He's aware there can be quite large gaps. He wonders how big the gap is now? She must have lived beyond the time she last recalls. Or the memories were added? He's still hazy on how it all really works.

But she comes at Jamie like a runaway horse. He doesn't have time to warn her of his hand before she's on him. Arms locked around him and his body hitting the back of the couch. She knocks the breath out of him, but also his hand aches. More than aches. A sharp pain shoots through and though his arm is around her he lets out a pained sound. He doesn't push her off, but he certainly doesn't sound as happy as he actually is. ]

Easy, Sassenach. [ He tries to pull back a bit to free his trapped hand. He gets enough distance to liberate it before looking at her once more. ] Aye. That I am.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[No need to push her away. She's pulling back, falling into place beside him on the sofa, and her eyes settle on his hand. One twenty years healed when she last saw him, and one perfectly intact the last time he was here. Now? Now, the hurt is fresh. She goes pale as a ghost as it dawns on her.]

Oh, Jamie.

[Wentworth was decades ago for the both of them, but still a sharp, crisp memory. A thing that will stay with the both of them until they die. She knows how young he is now, and that makes her head spin more so than it did before, but all she can do is focus on him. Gently, she reaches out for his hand.]

I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?

[stripebacked]

[ When she looks at him he doesn't have time to really think about how old she could possibly be right now. He doesn't have time to examine her hair or the small differences in her face. Because when she looks at him he sees the recognition in her eyes. The way she pieces together his injured hand to the time frame that she's more than familiar with.

He's not sure what that look is, but it makes Jamie shift. If he didn't have the knowledge of what happened to them in Paris already he would have said pity. There's a difference between knowing these things and seeing them. Seeing the look in her eyes. He wonders how she'll take all of this. ]

No. No ye didnae. [ This was Randall's doing. Any residual pain from the hand lays squarely on that man's shoulders. Not hers.

But Jamie lifts his good hand to cup her cheek. His fingers brush over her hair. ]

Claire, yer hair.

[ Is he changing the subject? Maybe. Just because he knows doesn't mean he's perfect. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[It's so difficult to think back to that time after Wentworth. He needed to heal, body and soul. Body was easy--soul, not so much, and Claire wasn't the wife he needed her to be at the time, so wrapped up in trying to change the future. And for what?]

It's a long story. [She has several long stories for him. Her head tilts, leaning into his palm, though her eyes remain on his face. Less lines. Darker shadows around his eyes and the hollows of his cheeks. In time, they'll fade.]

You remember being here, then? Everything from before?

[stripebacked]

[ Knowing your face doesn't automatically stop it from consuming you. It doesn't mean that you'll emotionally be ready for what it holds. Jamie can try and use the knowledge he has to fight through this fog, but there's no telling where he'll come out. Or even if he will. All he can try to do is believe in his wife. Believe in the future she told Jamie about beyond Paris and Randall. The way they mended back together stronger than before.

But she brushes aside his inquiry about her hair. Now is not the time or the place for long stories. Especially ones where he knows time has passed. She's closer now and still. It gives him a chance to really observe his wife's face. See the changes. His wife may have aged, but it's difficult to say by how much. Her hair says one thing, but her face another. ]

Aye. I do. [ He nods. He knows what she's truly asking him. Beyond the obvious. She's asking if he remembers what she told him. About Paris and his journey towards righting himself in the wake of Randall. ] All of it. Have ye been alright? [ His eyes searching her face. ] Na one's tried t' harm ye have they?

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Always looking out for her. She could be offended that he assumes she'd be harmed the moment he's gone, but... that's what tends to happen. She'll have to tell him about the Ramsay mess later.]

I'm all right. Promise. [She wants to touch his face, but she remembers how her touch would sometimes startle him. So, she settles for touching his arm, well above the injured hand.] I had a short trip to stasis. Well, short on this side. It was... quite longer for me.

[She smiles. Every molecule in her body wants to kiss him but she holds back.]

[stripebacked]

[ He knows more than most she's capable of looking after herself. But after his time with Randall he doesn't want to leave her safety to chance. Especially here when things happen so quickly. There's no telling what could have happened to put her in danger. As much as he hates to admit it, but danger has followed his wife more than either of them likely care to admit.

Jamie is is keenly aware of where she's touching right now. He tries to relax and remind himself that there's no reason to get tense, but it's difficult. Instead he just takes note with a subtle shift of his gaze before finding her face once more. Listening to everything she's saying. ]

I hadnae noticed. [ His fingers toy with her hair softly. He knows that it wasn't this grey before. ] How long was it?

[nineteenfortyfive]

Twenty years. I'm fifty, now. [At least she hardly looks it. Claire still manages to look bashful, looking down at his hand instead of at his face. He's so young. Practically Bree's age--and Christ, however does she explain all that's happened? It was difficult enough before with only a few years between them.]

I could be your bloody mother.

[stripebacked]

[ She had been worried before when he was here. Worried about the age and time that lingered between them. She had been older then before. But Claire's always been older than him. Not quite this much, but it's never been something that's spooked Jamie. If she thinks that for a moment after everything they've gone through and will go through that he'll shy away because of twenty-seven years? Maybe she bumped her head a bit?

Jamie smiles just a bit and shakes his head. ]

Ye arnae my mother. [ His fingers move from her hair to brushing under her chin. Forcing her gaze upwards to look at him. ] Ye are my wife. [ The age won't suddenly start to bother him now. He'll catch up. ] My bonny and very young looking wife.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Whatever it is between them, time nor age does anything to dampen it. Randall? Well, he's done a number to Jamie, but Claire already knows she's much better equipped to help him through it. She smiles as she looks at him, hand leaving his arm to gently grasp the fingers under her chin.]

I missed you terribly, James Fraser. Don't you dare leave me again.

[stripebacked]

[ He'd rather worry about her. Being here by herself. Whatever she went through in the twenty years as well. He doesn't dare to ask her just yet. Once they're truly alone then they can talk about it. She can maybe tell him bit by bit. If she chooses. It's probably quite a bit for her. ]

And I missed ye, mo nighean donn.

[ Jamie nods his head. His fingers haven't pulled away. Maybe because he saw her reaching before she made contact. ]

Never. Ye have my word.

stasis

[triplerose]

[ Loras has not forgotten Jamie. The kindness the man had shown him on that first day as refugees in Olympia would be something Loras would remember always, and he'd missed - in a way - having Jamie there when he got himself stuck in a drinking contest only last month.

So it's easy to understand the way a smile comes to his face when he sees the man. Loras' sister may be gone, but he seems to be gaining friends back in her absence. ]

Jamie! You've come back.

[stripebacked]

[ When he sees Loras it's a strange thing. To remember someone so vividly here, but have no recollection before being awake. Whatever those pods are capable of is strange. Nothing he's ever experienced. But there is Loras. One of his friends from his very first day. He recalls the cruel things written and put on them. He wonders what would be written about him now.

Jamie has never been the type to share what's bothering him. Claire explained him before he left about his time in Paris with her. Keeping everything inside of him. All the misery and the pain that Black Jack inflicted on him. The shame that came with the small moments of pleasure that were bestowed upon him. It's difficult to fathom at times that he's still on his feet.

But he boxes up the agony that Randall put him through and smiles at the smaller man. He doesn't expect to see him quite so soon, but it's still a nice surprise. Something other than his memories to keep him company. ]

Aye. I have. Cannae say I missed this part though.

[ The pods. The still faces. It's comforting, but at the same time strange to see his sister so still. ]

[triplerose]

[ His smile falls. That was tactless, he realizes, so he bows his head in apology. ]

I can imagine. I'm here on poor terms, myself. But seeing you has certainly made it a happier experience.

[stripebacked]

[ It's not the worst thing he could say to him. He knows it was simply excitement. Jamie's not bothered by it. He does understand that Loras is probably here to visit someone. It makes his face fall for a moment.

He stares at him for a brief moment before nodding. ]

Yer sister then was it?

[ He remembers Loras telling him about her. ]

[triplerose]

Oh - Yes.

[ He's really quite touched, honestly, that Jamie seemed to care enough to remember that, all things considered. ]

I suppose there are worse things that could happen. Seeing you've returned certainly softens the blow.

omage | un: carter

[revlon]

James Fraser, as I live and breathe.
Claire will be glad to see you.

[stripebacked]

Mistress Carter.

[ It's good to know familiar faces still live here. Looking after his wife. ]

Not as happy as I'll be to see her.

[ Wentworth and Randall have taken their toll. ]

Is the Captain still here?

[revlon]

He is, in fact. We've gotten our own place so you don't need to worry about us scandalising you any further.