elnyan | ❪ test drive: #1 - the overflow ❫

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test drive

❪ test drive: #1 - the overflow ❫

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.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He'll accept this donut, but only because he (didn't) pay for it so he might as well get his money's worth, as if he had spent money. Shut up Snake.]

No, that's... It's telling you what kind of star it is. Like... not a pop star! You've really got ideas here, Space Snake.

You'd be a terrible pop star anyway, Space Star. No one would assume that.

[Snake's just going to shove his donut in his mouth to keep from laughing again, ignore this. He shouldn't be having such a good time over something so stupid?]

Here's an idea. Next time, we have a proper lunch, and we'll figure out a better name for you than Star. I hope you weren't going to use that.

You never know! [Don't be rude, rich boy. Just appreciate him and his donuts and get used to this life. Lord knows Junpei needs an adjustment period to space life.]

Oh—sooo you're not gonna call me Star? I feel kinda dumb for thinking you were into it now...

[Right in the feelings, man.]

Oh, has it hurt you right here? [There's a delay where Snake probably rethinks touching Junpei's chest, so he instead places his hand over his own heart in mock defeat.]

If you're truly into it so much, I'll keep using it. I must have inspired it with my gold star, after all.

[That Snake, almost making it weird! What a kidder!! Junpei scoffs, clearly offended Snake would take all the credit for his sick codename.]

Uh, hello? Earth to Space Snake? It's for a 5-pointed star. [See how pointedly he says 5-pointed. That's the way to do it.]

[He almost points out there can't be any Earth to Snake, but he doesn't. He holds his tongue like a good person.]

You can't have come up with that right away... It's alright to say it was my praise, Junpei, I won't shame you for it.

[Thanks for not ruining his life for the 80th time in the past year. He might not recover one of these days.]

What— You came up with Snake right away! I had plenty of time to think, anyway!

[HIS NAMING SKILLS... ARE GREAT??]

I'm afraid you have no way of proving whether or not you thought it first, so I can't believe you.

[TAKE THAT...]

I must say, at least it wasn't something like... your hand? That seems more likely.

[That's horrible logic and Snake should feel bad. Just like Junpei's feelings, which are hurt.

The long pause that follows that specifically specific suggestion is not telling, as such, but it totally is. Ahem.]

Uh. Well...

[Snake sits there for a moment, waiting for Junpei to continue his thought. Then he realizes there's nothing else to be said here. Then.

Then he knows.]

I was joking! You-- You aren't serious right now, are you? You were really going to have us call you Hand? Shall I call you that now, Hand?

[Oh my god, stop. He hears it now. Stop!! Things in groups of 5 are really hard to come up with on the spot!!]

There's no way you're calling me that after you gave up on Star. Come on! [Does he have to shake Snake into cutting it out? He nudges his shoulder a little, close enough.] 5 fingers! It works.

Just because it works doesn't mean it should, Hand.

[Snake is like, never letting this go. Never, in the history of him knowing Junpei, has he ever been this delighted to make fun of him.]

Perhaps you need a hand in naming, Hand. As it happens, I can lend you one...

Snake, come on... [His dignity is in tatters, here! Can he go back to being kind of pleased with his (incorrect) assumption that Snake thought Star was a good, cool name? That time wasn't so brutal.]

What's your big idea?

[Snake will like, settle on Star eventually... It's cute. But Junpei has made the mistake of putting him on the spot, thinking he'll win this argument.

There's like, a five seconds of hope before he crushes him.]

Well, a haiku has five syllables. Five common vowels... A pentagon has five sides, both things you should have learned in kindergarten if you weren't so busy sharing... The nickel is worth five cents, let's see...

[Ah, it's Happening. For another brief, shining 5 seconds, Junpei remembers he kind of liked these moments where Snake just started talking about his weirdly expansive fact knowledge. But it's very brief, and then he's embarrassed again.]

Okay, okay! Enough! Eat your last donut and give it a break! [Here, the package, shoved into his rude hands.] I'm not picking any of those, by the way.

But I haven't even gotten to the root of unity, quintuple... It would have been so easy to call you Quin. [Snake says, but there's some immediate regret there. Quin? That doesn't sound right for this idiot at all, and now it's is too off-putting to keep talking about.

But since he has his donuts back, he's taking up the last donut to split it in half. It's a truce half. Take your truce half, Star boy.] For the record, I think I'm glad I know you as Junpei.

[Quin? No. That's a girl's name first of all, and also: no. Junpei scoffs, reaching out to take his donut piece and lingers there, sort of holding his fingers a little maybe, while he says this sentimental thing... Jeez, Snake.

This could be a nice Moment where Junpei thinks about their friendship and how much he really does value Snake, despite the unique circumstances of how they met- and he does!- but also, hold on.]

Uh, so, while we're on the subject, sort of... what's your actual name?

[Well, Snake was expecting some kind of awkward deflect into a subject change, so he's a little surprised. Now there's both sitting here holding donut pieces in contemplative silence. Wild.]

Asking my name on our first lunch? I think we're moving a little fast. But... ah, I suppose it's only fair, isn't it? After a year. [He's stalling with the obvious, because what if Junpei actually starts calling him Light? That's so... Hm.] My name is Light Field. Additionally, Clover is actually Clover.

[Is he actually stalling? What kind of embarrassing name could Snake possibly have that makes him stall this bad— Surely, it can't be that bad.

And then he says it. He says Light Field. And his sister is Clover Field. Holy shit, it's like the gift that keeps on giving? This is the most sass-able name Junpei has ever heard.

But he actually likes Snake, so after a prolonged pause, what he actually says is:] I think I'm just gonna call you Snake.

[Snake just sits here, waiting for his karma for sassing Junpei this whole time to come back and bite him. But like... It doesn't? Junpei's actually skipping out on teasing to be a nice person? This twist earns yet another laugh out of him.]

That's very sentimental of you, Junpei. I think I'll keep calling you that, it's much more personal than... Space Star.

[Snake is laughing again and every time he does, Junpei has a strange feeling that this place, all of this... maybe does have pros as well as cons? The fact that he can sit here and eat powdered donuts and hang out with Snake like a normal person for once is definitely noteworthy - and certainly wouldn't have happened before.

Maybe one day he'll even live down his horrible codename choices. It's good to have dreams.]

I don't think anybody else was going to call me Star, anyway. You'd have been the only one.

[Would it be worth it just to make fun of him?? Probably, knowing Snake. It's suddenly very important to his Normal People Operation that this nonsense conversation doesn't fizzle out with nothing to follow, so in the way that only Junpeis can-] Have you been to the cabins here? What's a step above first class?

[space live with him]

It would be quite hard to be a step above first class. If they're anything like the last, there'd be a princess bed. [There he goes, missing the point entirely. Let him take another bite of his donut and think about it.]

I have not been to the cabins yet. If you'd like to show me to them, I'd appreciate it. [Nope, still not connecting the dots here. Snake can be the dumb one?]

[Oh my god, Snake, just spend some time in the cabin with him. This isn't hard. Junpei will finish this donut while just looking at him, waiting... Still waiting.]

Yeah, I'll show you. You can poke around for yourself. [Literally poke. He expects it.]

[Still waiting... Snake is piecing this together like Junpei hadn't implied it at all. It's his own idea, obviously.]

Excellent. I assume it is a roommate arrangement, so perhaps... we'll be seeing each other? Or... living together. Would you like to live together, Junpei?

[Snake... God, now he feels awkward about it!! Why couldn't Snake have just assumed, like he assumes about literally all other things, and therefore spared them having to actually say words out loud?]

Not if you're gonna... [no, no, just go with it, Junpei. He clears his throat, like he definitely didn't just mutter pointedly. He didn't say a thing.] Sure. We make a pretty good team.

[Which has nothing to do with rooming together, but whatever. Whatever.]

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