❪ test drive: #1 - the overflow ❫

[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 as you slept. 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 can help. You knew that you'll 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 was all a dream, but somehow, you knew it wasn't — now, will you keep that promise you made to Darma? PROMPT: THE MESS HALL     It's fascinating to the Orbiters how such a dull room can be turned around so completely with people in it. All meals are served by Roman, and while all the food is delicious, some of it is a bit odd. Is that neon green soup? That’s hideous. If you happen to be in the mess hall at a particularly unlucky time, you and the food will suddenly begin to drift. Someone’s got jokes, and they’ve turned off the gravity control. Now it’s just you, your fellow refugees, and the floating sea of food. Wait, did that person just chuck a pie in your direction? 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. Be advised, however, that participating in one of the training modules will start you off favorably with the Natha Orbiters’ in terms of REPUTATION. Once seated and appropriately strapped in, the system will automatically whir to life and the dense foliage and forestry of a section of El Nysa will open up. According to one’s map registry, it clear to see that it’s miles from the outer gates of Olympia, but not as far enough to venture into any other territories. So, in that sense, you’re safe. 1. Or you could have been, but unfortunately the wilderness is home to various types of beasts and monsters hailing from different universes and galaxies. On the bright side, perhaps one of them will be oddly familiar to you. Or maybe someone else who is currently synced is willing to give you that extra helping hand. Fortunately, if you’re powerless, there are options. From telekinesis to flight, there are strange abilities one can adopt and “test” out in the virtual reality. Granted, you’re only limited to one at a time. They say in the near future, some of you may be granted these abilities under certain conditions. But, please practice some caution. You aren’t alone in the system, after all. 2.. Who do you fight for, the VR system will ask you individually before you enter the module. The righteous Olympians, or the free-spirited Wyvers? Whatever your choice, when you enter El Nysa, you will wholly and truly believe your allegiance. A. Working together: You now have to suffer the consequences of your choice, as you and your partner have been captured by guards of the opposite faction. Now jailed and soon-to-be tortured, you must find some way to negotiate your release. Perhaps you’ll find some means to escape without detection. Maybe you’re the “fight your way out” sort of people. B. Facing your enemy: That person you stepped into the VR with? They’re out to capture you. Or maybe you seek to capture them. 3. When you enter the virtual reality, things aren’t exactly how they’re supposed to be. Maybe that’s natural, especially if this is your first time, but the problems here seem a bit more fundamental. Maybe you find yourself under a parental safety lock, and you’re suddenly censored. Exposed back? Censored. Body suit? Censored. Or replaced with a mascot costume. Worst of all? You can’t sign out. Not right now, at least. Regardless, whatever it is— ridiculous filters, body alterations, or even body swaps with other users... you are assured it’ll all be fixed with due time. Zasere sends his humblest apologies and promises no more wire chewing, or so the announcement states. PROMPT: STASIS UNIT     You have found the massive section of Thesa known as the Stasis Unit. There’s no special access required to access 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: HANGAR STATION     You find your way to the hangar station. Here rests are a factory worth of docked mobile suits. You recall how the Orbiters had previously spoken of a "space frontier," but only after seeing this you realize how real their words are. Most machinery have marks of wear and tear, assurance that they have indeed been used before, and an assembly of others are going through repairs and maintenance. No one seems to care that you've just strolled in. In fact, there seems to be a couple of the aircraft that beckon you to take a closer look. Maybe you’ll only look on the outside, maybe you'll be greeted by the hand of a mobile suit extending toward you and welcoming you to its cockpit. You go out and explore SPACE!!! Unfortunately, that mobile suit should have warned you it only had 20 minutes of flight time left in its system. Or, perhaps, you’re a particularly ambitious pilot and you’ve strayed past the designated perimeter. Either way, the HUD display is now blinking with errors, cropping up with a single message: DISTRESS SIGNAL. 1. You’re the poor sap who happened to chill around the Observation Deck. Unfortunately, everyone seems busy with the influx of mobile suits out and about, and the only one who can answer this distress signal is on the Navigation System, well, you. Hope you can figure out the controls fast enough. Guide the pilot back to the safety of the hangar using the most efficient route possible. Keen Navigators will find an instruction manual that provides a shortcut to automatically return a suit back to base. 2. You’re actually sitting in a two-seater mobile suit. Funny how that works, isn’t it? Maybe you were unwittingly dropped down a hatch, or dragged along for a joyride by your ambitious co-pilot. Either way, it looks like help is going to take some time... 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! A Training Module thread of AC length on the TDM may be submitted for 1 NATHA ORBITER REPUTATION POINT after acceptance. QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● world ● map ● reputation ● npcs taken ● reserves ● application calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[cariad]

Yeah. [He's not as sparse with words as he used to be, but he allows the relative quiet between them, letting relief seep into their fried nerves.

Yamagi's been reluctant to leave Shino's side at first, but he's already lost him to the bustle of the station, and the sheer joy of life in Shino's voice, eyes, and veins is too great to contain, to powerful to keep to himself, locked away from potential and imaginary harm.]

Shino's here with us, too.

[He turns his wrist enough to squeeze Eugene's hand back, wondering if the blood thudding in his heart could carry his pulse all the way to his fingers.]

[otrazhenie]

[ There's something about his expression that tugs at Elena's compassion for others. The surprise that's there, maybe, something in the lines of his face giving her the impression that he's not used to this. People caring. It reminds her a bit of how Damon used to be, actually, which just ratchets that compassion up to 11. ]

I think we all are. None of this is easy to take in. [ A pause, then a smile. ] I'm Elena, by the way.

not gay enough tbh

[speeds]

[ Time slips away so easily when you have so much of it. When you've lived it, and probably have many more years of it in the future. The silence of the stasis area is actually calming more than anything else, but that peace is quickly ruined by Lance's interjection.

It's more startling that he's started chattering away about being startled when Edward hasn't moved in hours. ]

Sorry, I didn't realise anyone else was in here either.

[ Despite not being at fault, mind you, he keeps his manners. ]

Should we start again? I'm Edward Cullen.

[ The smile he gives him still is a little solemn to fit with the room they're in, but at least it's polite enough for a greeting. ]

[suffusive]

[ The word amuses her, so he doesn't feel too odd for saying it. He glances away from her, into the dark greenery surrounding them, and his smile thins. As charming as this swap is, it does put them at a disadvantage for training. Things tend to grow perilous in these simulations.

In truth, Newt doesn't often enjoy them, particularly when they prove manipulative (supplanting false loyalties in his head) or terribly violent. Sometimes, he's fortunate enough to encounter the creatures native to El Nysa.

Only sometimes. ]

Until then, perhaps we should swap wands.

[ who knows what they might find, after all. ]

[presses]

... ( surprise halts the warmth in his smile, braking to befuddled loss. his fingers twitch for a moment, his own heart racing at the pure ... happiness he sees in Yamagi's eyes.

it isn't anything he's seen in years. )

You knew?

training 2a

[speeds]

[ Each tap on brick, on bars or even on the ground takes time and effort yet nothing seems to follow the actions. It takes a long while for Merlin to actually come to any conclusion about an escape route from here, and instead of contributing (not because he's unhelpful, but he isn't sure what grand master plan the other will come up with on his own) he watches quietly.

When the time finally comes, he isn't surprised by the conclusion so much as the fact so much time was wasted on it. ]

It won't work.

[ He doesn't say why, though the simulation definitely makes it harder to use his own abilities as normal - it's a little different in here. ]

But there might be a way of bribing them.

[ He indicates to the guards walking up and down the halls. ]

[cariad]

[The last time Shino's carried him just like that, arms under bony knees and yelps against a bare chest, Yamagi is fresh out of a shower, pants just barely pulled on--and into the Ryusei-Go's brand new cockpit. Back then, when the indignation has worn off, crowded by embarrassment and mortification, he knows he's going to replay that moment for the rest of his life.

Reliving it is another mater entirely.]

You have quarters allocated to you already? How long have I been out?

[How long have you been back to life?]

You're enjoying this, aren't you?

[rhygret]

[ Padnora's a little bit of a special case in that regard: humans arrived during a ten-year winter (or thereabouts), and when everything thawed and the local fauna came out to play it...just started killing everyone. And never really stopped. ]

Yeah I'm not so sure about that. You want to go ahead and try making friends with a Rakk Hive be my guest, those things are HORRIBLE.

omage

[rhygret]

You’re now chatting with RHY5-W1NZ... Say hi!

Oddly? Maybe a 5 or a 6. Being in space is pretty normal back home.
The living aliens thing is new though, they tend to all be dead back home.

[cariad]

[The disappearing act of Eugene's smile is something he misses entirely, muted euphoria running through his veins, instead. There is softness in his eyes seeping into guarded emptiness.]

He woke me up like some Snow White. Oh, it's the other way around, isn't it? Back from the dead and didn't have the decency to let me find him first.

[rhygret]

[ Mercy's got him pegged on the earnest part. Rhys isn't exactly the "covert" type. He's got zero combat training, zero gun skills, and honestly zero stealth skills. They guy's a (former) desk jockey and he is admittedly only slightly better prepared for this place simply because the planet he came from before this was just so, so much worse.

He will take a normal-enough-looking woman with a gun over the masked Psychos back home any day.

Rhys swallows and laughs nervously. ]

Rhys--I'm Rhys, and if you could just maybe not? Point you gun at me that would be awesome. I'm just trying to finish the weird training exercise they gave us, same as you.

[ He assumes that's what she's doing here anyway. She's not dressed like the locals, so surely she's one of the inter dimensional refugees like the rest of them. ]

[coolerjunpei]

[Calling him human garbage is a little harsh, dude... And yet he's not even going to bother objecting. Insulting his puns was a much bigger offense.]

Hey, I think my brain is boiling out already. [Just wait, he'll stick a finger in his ear next. Classy. Classy and not listening.]

[rhygret]

[ Awww look at them planning a bunch of arson, they're like best friends c: This is what teamwork should be like: Rhys talking and people listening! Not like back home where half the time people walk out of the room while he's still speaking. ]

Uhh, yeah! It's a great plan. [ He came up with it??? ]

First we'll hang tight until the guards do their rounds. I'll lure them in by faking an injury with my superb acting skills, while you jump them and grab their weapons. We take the keys, get to the roof, tip over one of their signal vats into the hay below, set it ablaze and ride off into the night, two newly-freed men.

We return heroes to our people, and everyone throws a huge celebration in our honour!

[rhygret]

Me? No. Or well. Not technically? I did help find and open one like I told you before when you were being a bit of a dick.

Seriously who is this? Vaughn? Fiona??

[suffusive]

[ the british-ness is oddly reassuring, actually. he didn't fare particularly well in new york, after all, and this ship is predisposed towards americans.

being dutch is an experience not too unlike being newt, if altogether lower to the ground. still, he has to wonder if she can feel the crackle of magic on his fingertips. he doesn't like the thought of traversing these forests without access to his wand. ]

Might be a test. Or simply a — [ he pauses, attempting to think of what the orbiters or muggles might call it. ] — glitch. Yes, a glitch.

[ look, he's a teeny bit proud of himself for remembering. ]

[unprays]

[ the man she looks at seems both old and young at once — too young to be this boy's father, she thinks, yet too old to be his brother. perhaps people age differently, in other worlds. ]

You must be glad. They're all safe here.

[ or so they're told, in any case. she, too, hopes that her family will wake... but those who are now awake woke like she did, not in these pods but rather in their rooms. she wants to believe, but Sansa is long past blind belief in the words of others. ]

private ;

[codecs]

[ Oh, now they're talking. For a nerd, Hal is in-tune with the idea of networking; how else could he have made Philanthropy an internationally-recognized, if unofficial, NGO?

He reads over this text carefully, taps his chin, and gets to work on shifting this conversation to as private a server as he can find. It's not easy (the technology is still new), but he has his homeworld laptop to facilitate the process just a bit.

His reply comes after a 5-minute delay. ]

we can figure something out.
still, i'm gonna have to make sure you're reliable. no hard feelings.
background checks are a little difficult to do around here.

[codecs]

Overwatch... I've never heard of it. Really drives the 'other worlds' thing home, huh...

[ He laughs a little, scratching at his chin to dispel some of the awkwardness that he feels about the whole affair. With that done, he shakes his head. ]

But— no way! Most of the people I know are agents, too. It almost feels a little bit like home, hearing you say that you're one.

hal 'otacon' emmerich

[codecs]

(( continuing threads from here! feel free to use any of those prompts to start new threads here, too. ♥ ))

[vacuum]

[ Being free is pretty damn sweet. Chuuya feels his hands and the rope burns around his wrist. He then cracks his knuckles. ]

I know exactly who took my knife. [ The expression on his face, the way his lips curl in both spite and some excitement, seems to imply his intentions for that particular person. ]

Since you helped me, I'll do you one in return -- I'll get us past these bars. [ Chuuya walks toward a section of the wall that is built out of bricks. He then kicks hardly at that section, activating his power so his kick becomes heavy enough to bust through the bricks. idk animes are ridiculous i'm sorry ]

[stabilis]

If you've avoided the existential questions up until now, you've been doing space wrong.

[ On that note, though. ]

Where are you from?

[codecs]

me? i'm from the planet earth. (i've never had to say this before— sounds weird, huh.)
you said you knew japan, though, so i think we're from the same world.

more specifically, i'm from the united states. the year was 2009.

U KNOW IT

[unprays]

[ no... most would not expect it from her, she is well aware. but then, most would not suspect anything of her life, of Westeros, of King's Landing. they would not know she has better reason than most, to wish some here never wake. ]

They could, [ she agrees, her quiet, demure voice entirely at odds with the topic of conversation. ] But if you choose to do something about those who wake before they can... [ they will not have time to stop you.

after a pause, she adds, ] There are some who sleep here who my brother will not let live, if they wake. [ and judging by the tone of her voice, the slight sharpness hidden within, she isn't exactly inclined to stop him. ]

[vacuum]

[ he has no idea he is talking ... to a raccoon. ]

What? You see this shit all the time?

[speeds]

[ Yes, Sansa. That's it. 100%. ]

It was... one of the conditions. [ The only thing he'd really wanted, outside something a little more difficult to obtain. Impossible, really. Yet, he doesn't elaborate further. ]

Isn't that the reason why you came in here as well?