Entry tags:
❪ test drive #4 ❫
YOUR STORY BEGINS ![]() The Storm came. You only remember darkness, but you don't remember much after that. All you know, perhaps, is that it was cold. You don't know for how long you slept, but the dreams were short, at least. You remember the expanse of stars and the universe that came in view. Every world and solar system ever known was displayed in your dreams in careful, pristine detail. You have also witnessed The Storm, which has devoured a fair portion of these galaxies. It was a dark, thick smog — ominous in appearance and ever foreboding. Your Earth and similar planets were immersed in The Storm. Somehow, you knew it would be the last you'd see of it. That was when she told you what happened, and how you could help. You knew that you'd be living somewhere new, even though you never asked for it. The details here weren't clear, but you knew you'd made a deal with Darma. Not long after, you'll wake at Thesa Station — your body is still cold. It all felt like a dream, but somehow, you knew it wasn't — now, will you keep that promise you made to Darma? PROMPT: THE STORM ![]() CW: death You were awake on Thesa Station. But at some point you, like many other new arrivals before you, wandered into the Observation Deck. Ordinarily, this is where images of The Storm are replayed to remind Refugees of the fate they have escaped. The Natha Orbiters' technology has evolved. They are aware of your gaps in memory. You may have doubts of The Storm even existing, or of your world's destruction. Though they do not wish reliving those last moments on anyone, they have created an experience that will do just that. Before entering the Observation Deck, you are warned that what follows will not be for the weak of heart. As soon as you step in, you will find that the walls around you begin to transform and expand. Welcome to the Planet Cespi, in the Circinus Galaxy. Unfortunately, we were not able to save this world from The Storm's Consumption.
These are its last memories. You are surrounded by blue, grassy hills as far as the eye can see and a pleasant breeze. The atmosphere is thick with a sickly sweet smell. Before you lays the scene of a quiet village, with its residents going about their everyday lives. You aren't alone, either, with an equally confused stranger (or perhaps you know each other?) surveying the scene. Then the world grows completely silent for a full minute. You and your partner are unable to make a sound, verbal or otherwise. Without warning, a deafening roar fills your ears and forces you to double over in pain. The villagers run out of their homes in a panic, finding themselves in just as much pain and confusion as you do. Where there was no sound before, now there is too much for a normal human body to process. Look up. An expanding mass of energy is swallowing everything you can see. It consumes the earth, the atmosphere, the depths of space — and it is getting closer. Your only hope is to outrun it, if you can. The people in the village certainly try to, racing past you. Their fear is very real. Their bodies are very real. You may be able to run from it for a time, only able to catch glimpses of this dark and sinister force swallowing everything and everyone. The earth rumbles and separates beneath you. Electricity surges through the sky, and then through your very body. You fought hard, but it is impossible to outrun the Storm forever. You too will be consumed. Your death is quick, but not painless. What were you thinking, before you took your last breath? You awaken back in the Observation Deck, next to your new friend. PROMPT: TRAINING MODULES ![]() While it’s all nice and well to familiarize oneself with Thesa Station, it is most advised that new arrivals venture out a bit. Not physically. No one is quite prepared for that yet. However, there will be several virtual reality training programs set for those who dare to be adventurous. For those who aren’t and don’t dare, well — good luck, all the same. Once seated and appropriately strapped in, the system will automatically whir to life. 1. When you enter the Natha's newest program, at first nothing loads. You might think this is an error as you look around in apparent total darkness, only able to see your own virtual body if you look down, but soon enough a voice comes to life as if speakers have turned on somewhere. Long ago, the lands of El Nysa were dominated by the ancestors of the dragons who now live among the people, tamed. It was pretty dangerous! How about a little history lesson? And then the simulation comes to life—
2. Let us now travel forward in time, shall we? ![]() a. The Olympian settlement around you is quiet — until the screaming starts.3. And now, the present. ![]() After all those enlightening scenes, the simulation finally brings you to a more quiet area of Olympia. You are deposited out somewhere in The Outlook, a place the very first group of refugees had to trudge through before they found their homes. You've arrived in the early evening — but sunlight is waning, and soon you'll be under a sky full of stars. Luckily, their old campsites aren't too overgrown. The intention here is to get you familiar with some of the local flora and fauna. What sorts of plants will you encounter? Do you find yourself under a Verillum Tree, suddenly compelled to be painfully honest and truthful in conversation with a complete stranger? Find yourself behaving erratically in the presence of Whistleweed? Or perhaps you'll have to break the spell of being trapped in a Vena Amoris' vines... with a kiss. PROMPT: STASIS UNIT ![]() You have found the massive section of Thesa known as the Stasis Unit. There’s no special access required to enter this part of Thesa Station, but refugees are warned that it may not be for the faint of heart. Here, in large pods that nearly cover every square inch of the space, are all of the people the Orbiters have managed to rescue. Your loved ones, your greatest enemy, your next door neighbor — you might find them here. These people are in a state of deep cryosleep. Due to the damaging effects of The Storm, their bodies are not yet ready to be awoken. PROMPT: OMAGE
Upon receiving your mobile phone, you will be asked to set a username. Voila, you can now access the network! You can choose to send a message to the entire network, specific usernames, or you can try out the Orbiters’ service, Omage, which connects you to a random user. They thought this might be a good way for their new guests to make friends with each other...
Connecting to server... PROMPT: WILDCARD
You are welcome to write any scenarios in Thesa Station! Characters have been granted temporary access to the Observation Room, and are encouraged to study it carefully.
FINAL OOC NOTE
These threads may be carried over as game canon if players choose! Players are encouraged to submit TDM threads as application samples, but they are not required. Please direct any OOC questions to the questions thread below! An AC-length thread may be submitted for 2 NATHA ORBITER REPUTATION POINTS after acceptance here. Please submit by February 18th.
We will no longer be providing overflow posts. In an event where the post hits CAPTCHA, players are advised to move threads to an overflow post on their character journals or create their own catch-all post. These threads remain eligible for REP. There will be an application cap of 60, and no reserves. Please read here for more information. |
no subject
I'm finished when I say I'm finished.
[He glanced at the guy, raising an eyebrow slightly. He shook his head, wiping at the blood trying to drip off of his chin.]
You do you, pal. You want a show, go for it.
no subject
[ His glance to the blood on Rumlow's sleeve is impassive. ]
Don't mind if I do.
[ His body folds — becoming less of a presence. That's not a secret here, he's no socialite to obscure himself with vapidity and the distractions expected of a man of his class. No, Bruce is a predator. He doesn't often get to wear it like this, and sees no point in hiding it or downplaying it for Rumlow's sake. ]
no subject
He finally grunted, ran a hand through his hair to smooth it back from falling into his face. He stepped away to begin the simulation again, not bothering to throw himself at The Storm but raising his arms out from either side of his body and letting it roll over him and eventually drop him to one knee.
It was never a quick matter to experience death, to be picked apart one piece at a time and then slammed back together when it ended. He panted hard, shuddering and the bleeding renewed from his lip, but maybe - just maybe, he knew what he had to do. Likely the audience helped distract part of his brain focusing entirely on the simulation.
He looked back at the man folded down on the floor, forcing himself to his shaky knees.]
Well?
no subject
[ No mockery to be found here, just calm observation. He's still, like he's simply watching it rain outside. ]
Well?
[ Even, laced with subtle amusement. ]
Do I get a penny for my thoughts?
no subject
He set his hands on his hips, ignoring his fingers clenched and jumped, forcing himself to approach the other man. His knees nearly gave out a few times, forcing him to lock them with each step and giving him a wooden gait.]
Depends on what currency you consider a penny.
no subject
Oh, I'm afraid whiskey won't cut it.
[ Amiable enough. Both Bruce's hands are out of his pockets, empty. There are knives in his sleeves, and he's always primed, but he isn't looking for clash right now. ]
I am a fan of candor. How about one question each?
no subject
He nodded, wiping at his bleeding lip again, accepting that booze wasn't the answer. Good, he liked a clear head anyway.]
Fine, one question. Was that yours? [And this one his?]
no subject
If that one was yours.
[ But ultimately, that told either of them nothing, so it would be discarded. He hums. Like a yawn, to show teeth. The single eye of something awake, and lazily stretching its leather wings. ]
Do you come with a leash?
[ Any other day, from anyone else, it might have been debonair, a careless flirt. But it's quiet, said not like a secret, but like becoming aware of another presence in the room, when one thought one was alone. ]
no subject
And he was fine with those being their questions. As much as learning about another person might benefit him in future, moping at the blood continuing to soak his chin took priority.
At the question, he snorted and gave the other guy a once over. Could hold his own in a fight, he decided.]
I hold my own leash unless you've earned the right to hold it and better... letting me loose from it to do your orders.
[Well, since they were on the questions, he paused in scrubbing at his chin with a sleeve and considered for a moment.]
What makes you fight?
no subject
[ He tips his head, then, ]
Survival.
[ Every moment of every day, against whatever would have him, against whatever it brought down on him. He didn't have a chance at life, whatever wrought was snatched in fragments. ]
no subject
He raised an eyebrow at the reply, but he slowly nodded. It was an acceptable reason to fight.]
You must be on the defensive much of the time. Means you're constantly under attack somehow.
[He wondered how much of those attacks were personal and not from an outside source.]
no subject
[ Understatement of the year. One wonders why nobody in Gotham ever seems to move away. ]
no subject
[He wondered if this guy would actually answer. He was over the one question quota after all, and they hadn't agreed to more than that. Seemed legit to be refused and then they could go about their business otherwise.]
no subject
Another day.
[ The man is bleeding, and calculation aside, Bruce prefers sealed wounds to open ones. ]
First aid kit is at the end of the corridor.
no subject
Nice talk.
[It was like talking to Rollins, only this guy was less willing to smash his skull into railing at present. Clearly they would need to get to know each other better.]
What would I need that for? Can't bandage here and no point tending to the mess until it clots.
no subject
[ He approaches to a polite distance, hands still empty. A little wry, ]
For future reference. I'm nice like that.
no subject
I was always told to watch out for the nice ones. They have something big to hide.
no subject
Sound advice.
[ Since he hasn't exactly been the chattiest of people. But, there's one last thing, ]
Alan Foster.
[ It is a name. It doesn't matter that it's a lie, that it's told as easily as breathing. The truth of him is spelled out openly. ]
no subject
He nodded his head to the name, accepting it easily. Names didn't make a person in his books; they were just identifiers.]
Rumlow.
[Alan hadn't earned his first name. It was a soldier thing.]
no subject
I'll be seeing you.
[ Keeping an eye on him. ]
no subject
If you're lucky. Or unless my heart explodes ruining myself in simulations.
[He waved the other guy off, returning to his own business.]