❪ 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

[ripvanwinkled]

[That joke should probably fall under the likes of the worst taste Snake has ever heard, but he's now? He's laughing even harder, like this is the best thing he's heard in awhile.

It probably is, but. He's never going to admit that.]

I suppose it's only appropriate I call you Jumpy, out here.

[coolerjunpei]

Hey, speak for yourself. [Who's doing sick slowmo backflips?? Not this guy. He tried that before and it didn't go well, so he's just drifting around, shoving other floating stuff to give himself momentum to try and keep up with Snake.

Basically: thank god Snake can't see this.]

If I start doing handsprings, I'll let you know.

[ripvanwinkled]

Oh, please do. I'd hate to miss out on your performing art.

[Performing art... Like Junpei is talented. But there's still food going around, and Snake finds this out once he's drifted into that neon green soup. His nice jacket...]

Oh-- well, this is the mess hall, I suppose. [At least his flips were cool!!]

[coolerjunpei]

[He is so talented, don't give him this. Junpei watches him drift into soup and winces for him, but he's like, twenty feet away still.]

Looks like somebody needs a hand now, huh? Just say the word. Offer's still on the table.

[ripvanwinkled]

I told you, I already have them both. [Just when Junpei might figure out which one is fake, he raises both in mock defeat. He'll never know!!]

I'll take your offer, then. If you can even come and rescue me.

[coolerjunpei]

[One day he'll know, goddamn it! Surely Snake has to... take it off sometime... Junpei would react with as much grace as one expects from him, so. Anyway.]

You're challenging me to come get you? [It's working, but shh.] Alright, don't make any sudden movements.

[Ha ha, jokes. Give Junpei a second to arrange himself next to something to kick off of and he will, sailing for Snake like some kind of edgy Superman in Vans. Supervans. What this all means is that his best option is to grab Snake around the waist at a literal 90 degree angle annnd now they're spinning again, great.]

[ripvanwinkled]

[Or he can like, ask him... That's always an option?? But like, not right now anymore, because they're spinning and Snake is laughing again.]

I would say you're my hero, but I don't think this really qualifies. [He places a hand on Junpei's shoulder, moving to readjust so he can take his hand again once they slow down.] You certainly must look the part, though.

[coolerjunpei]

[Look into your heart and imagine Junpei asking this question with any kind of tact. "Hey, uh, remember when some guy who wasn't you exploded? I guess you wouldn't, uh, anyway, I can't remember which one of his arms exploded specifically. Sooo..."

That aside: at least he's having fun instead of throwing out the insults again. Junpei makes a passing effort to reach for something still attached to the ground to hold onto as they drift by, but fuck it, it's not working. He'll try to be the one to smack against the first wall they bump into, for Snake's sake.]

Heh, yeah. You know me... [Give him a moment to realize his shirt is kind of awkwardly wet now, ew-] Ugh, I heroed right into your lunch stain. So not cool anymore.

[ripvanwinkled]

[Instead, Junpei will just spend all this time waiting until Snake takes it off. Okay. Because that's not super weird.]

You were never really all that cool in the first place, but if you insist. [He pats his arm, like it's okay, loser.] Though... I do appreciate you dragging me out here. So perhaps doing your laundry is worth it?

[coolerjunpei]

[Would he be Junpei if he did the normal thing? No. Endure.]

You asked. [He demanded a tour!!] But uh, you're welcome... I think. Let's try getting out of here first before you appreciate me too much.

[He could totally still fuck this up, is what he's saying.]

[ripvanwinkled]

You needn't worry about that happening.

[He is so rude... but it's still smiling, so it's fine. He turns his head to consider the room, but there's nothing to really do here... all his enhanced senses are useless in space.]

I suppose we'll just push off the next wall, then? I still haven't even eaten, you know, so if you have us run into another meal...

[coolerjunpei]

[Snake... dude... Junpei gives him a look - echolocate that ya jerk - before looking around at the floating food himself. Hmm, about that...]

Yeah, this stuff all looks like it missed the memo the day God created good food. [oooh BURN no one will ever serve Junpei in this mess hall again] Maybe there's a vending machine somewhere.

[ripvanwinkled]

[Wow, don't give him that while he can't see!! He can probably feel the judgement, though, because he's returning the look with one of his own.]

Yes, my favorite part about old sci-fi films are the vending machines extraterrestrials have on their ships. But I suppose if there is no better... [this is a terrible lunch date]

[coolerjunpei]

[Hey now, doesn't a bag of chips sound way better than soup other people have touched with their whole body? Snake!!]

What would you rather have: that gloopy stuff from that old movie where they escape the computer simulation, or... some Oreos?

[ripvanwinkled]

[Give him like, a minute to process Junpei's actually making a stupid reference. It wasn't an invitation to make a stupid reference? This is exhausting.]

I didn't really like Oreos. [Now he's just being difficult.]

[coolerjunpei]

[This time, Junpei actually physically stops moving, since he was going to helpfully push them off this wall, but now he needs to be totally still while he stares. They're no longer friends.]

Seriously? How do you live like this?

[ripvanwinkled]

I ate the cookies that came in the fancier packages. [Pepperidge Farms... he ate a bunch of milanos... he's a spoiled rich boy, don't look at him like that??]

Healthily?

[coolerjunpei]

[Pepperidge Farms isn't fancy you rich fuck. That's like a dollar more.]

Well, come on, we're going to find some space Oreos and have a damn good time celebrating space.

[Real goal: liquor, but he'll settle. Now he will shove off the wall.]

[ripvanwinkled]

What am I going to do with you? [He sighs, but he remains attached to this boy because he doesn't want to be forever floating in food hell. That, and he has to brace himself for when they're out of gravity. So just get used to him holding his arm.]

That's rather optimistic. Is that all it takes for you to have a good time? Eating Oreos?

[coolerjunpei]

After all of this? I'll take what I can get.

[All of this, from space to DCOM and all the way back to their great first meeting in the Death Ship (Not). But he won't get too Serious right now, since sooner or later they'll drift toward the door and the inevitable gravity return.]

Get ready to land in 3, 2... [now!!!!]

[ripvanwinkled]

[Where's the 1, Junpei?? Snake stumbles upon landing, pulling on Junpei's dumb not invisible leather jacket so he can stand up properly. But like, it's fine, he'll play it off as adjusting his collar.]

You might just be the most sub-par guide I could hire. [He's not paying him, but like, whatever?] But let us find a... space vending machine?

[coolerjunpei]

[He didn't even want to do this? He could have saved them the trip and the soup everywhere, but no, Snake had to drag him around. Just like old times.]

It's time to space party. [Rather: it's time to walk completely normally around these space station halls, looking for anything that appears vaguely like a vending machine.] What are the odds of us both turning up here, huh?

[No for real what are the actual numerical odds—]

[ripvanwinkled]

Is it really all that surprising? We weren't very far apart as far as locations go, and we were all connected to one another from the beginning. [Surely these aliens were like "yeah, they've seen some shit, let's get the whole set." That's logical.

He doesn't want to think of his sister being on ice, Junpei, find this stupid space vending machine.] Technically speaking, they have pulled us out of billions of people... We've caught a lucky break, for once?

[coolerjunpei]

[Just take the wind right out of his sails, that's great... He loves that, for sure. If Snake wasn't holding onto him he'd have to take a moment to stop and seriously squeeze his shoulder and tell him to lighten up a little, but luckily he's prevented from doing this.

Vending machine quest continues...]

Yeah... That's what I was trying to say. [spoilsport] Sooo we're celebrating. Come on, at least smile.

[ripvanwinkled]

[It's fine, Snake will just squeeze his arm once he realized he's been a total buzzkill. Sorry, you amped up little loser.]

I must say, I was not particularly happy until they said you'd already woken up. Better your company than Seven. [He will just smile because he's mildly insulting one of their mutual friends. It's fine.]