natha: (Default)
ɴᴀᴛʜᴀ orbiters ❰ mod collective ❱ ([personal profile] natha) wrote in [community profile] elnyan2017-06-28 04:48 pm
Entry tags:

❪ 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.

coolerjunpei: (and *i* watched back to the future)

where's the pseudoscience behind the birds and the bees

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-04 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[This, truly, is their many-times-over hero: Junpei, upside down, trying to shake soup out of his ear and kicking his legs like that will help him right himself relative to this conversation. He's trying to right himself in a lot of ways, to be fair.]

Oh, thanks! That really helps! I can feel it seeping into my brain...
Edited (no, this icon) 2017-07-04 19:32 (UTC)
21stcenturyguy: (sigh)

There are snails involved. So complex.

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-04 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
That's supposing you've even got a brain... [He quirks an eyebrow to suggest that that's entirely too generous an assessment. What was Akane thinking? Well, even the most perfect siblings had to have some kinda flaw, he figures.

Aoi's is being too selfless and giving. He reaches out and snatches the back collar of Junpei's kinda nice t-shirt to give him a jerk in the right direction. See, he can help people. That's why he's goddamn Santa Claus.]


C'mon, there's gotta be showers or a decontamination room or somethin' around here. [Junpei will just have to seek a way in for a change.]
coolerjunpei: (1+1=2 is not that deep akane)

i mean that isn't NOT canon, kind of, sort of

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-04 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Shut up— [He has plenty of brains, thanks much. Filled with fun facts about logic principles and old movies, and the kneejerk (emphasis on jerk) instinct to make noise like he's Literally Choking when Santa pulls on his shirt. Warn a dude!!]

What, now you're helping? What a half-assed apology.
21stcenturyguy: (grrr)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-04 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[Just for that, Santa gives the shirt another tug to throw Junpei off balance. Fight me, McFly!]

I ain't qualified to give the kinda help you need, and who says I was apologizing for anything, huh? You're the one who was flying around like an asshole, kicking people.

[He crosses his arms over his chest, a gesture that emphasizes his totally cool arm warmers. He's never apologized for a thing in his life, and he'll be damned if he starts now for this loser.]
coolerjunpei: (022)

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-04 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[Whoa, there he goes, learning that it is in fact possible to stumble in midair, with your feet completely off the ground. This is why he didn't miss you, buddy. One of the reasons.]

And I was trying to apologize for that before you threw alien food at my head! [It's dripping sideways out of his hair right now, thanks to zero gravity. Gross!] Wonder if I can sign some papers to get you put back in a cryo-whatever...
21stcenturyguy: (upset)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-04 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, finish your own half-assed apology before you criticize anyone else's!

[Hmph. He'd just walk away, except the train wreck that is Junpei is more entertaining than anything else he's seen today. Its not like he's lonely or anything.

He shrugs, but his attitude falters for a second.]


You, uh, think that's an option? To go back into cryo voluntarily?

[He's not saying he's gonna, but depending on how long their hosts think certain siblings are going to be under, it seems worth knowing.]
coolerjunpei: (who's voting in the AB game??)

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-04 09:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[Drift away, like Junpei is trying to do to little success. It was a good... effort.

"Effort." Anyway, there's an awkward pause, the kind where Junpei realizes they're definitely both thinking about the same person for a single, terrible synchronized moment, here. Mm. He sighs, but it's short.]


Dunno. Probably not without making a real good case. [He's trying to be serious, but the momentum from that shirt-yanking still has him slowly tilting.] Look, can we talk about this somewhere else?
21stcenturyguy: (eyebrow raise)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-04 10:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well, silver lining to the awkward silence is that they've moved past this dumb idea that anyone's getting an apology.]

There's always blackmail...

[Its just angry muttering, Junpei should probably ignore it for purposes of plausible deniability.]

Fine. The secondhand embarrassment is distracting anyways.

[He snorts and holds out a hand. Junpei can grab it if he wants to or whatever, since apparently he's too much of a wimp to take being hauled upright by his shirt.]
coolerjunpei: (014)

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-04 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[There's no such thing as an apology between old... friends? Not quite friends? Sort of buds? Between people who met one time under a lot of stress and lying. Junpei's willing to let this non-apology go.]

You did this. [With all the pushing!! And blackmail slash gentle threatening usually works, in his recent experience, but perhaps not in space. Santa's on his own for that one.] Don't act like I'm the only one to blame here, wise guy.

[Ooh, burn. But fine, before he gets choked again by his cool new V-neck tee, he'll accept that passive-aggressive helping hand.] Let's hurry up and get out of here.
21stcenturyguy: (smirk)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-04 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, and it was hilarious. Forget your shitty puns. Phyical comedy is your calling.

[Aoi floats toward the door as he speaks those blasphemous words. He's kind of relieved to get out of the wardrobe. He doesn't want nasty alien food getting in his hair or messing up his clothes.]

Where are we going? The lounge, or do we need somewhere more private? If you're gonna keep complaining, we can head over to the airlock.
coolerjunpei: (003)

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-04 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[Okay, he's already changed his mind this is the worst. Or it could be worse, but a familiar face is a familiar face out here in the post-apocalyptic moon base timeline. The other post-apocalyptic moon base timeline.]

Having my brain boil out my ears in the void of space sounds way more fun than hanging out with you. [But uh, continue helping him out? Thanks.] How's that for physical comedy?

Just find me a towel and I won't really care where we go.
21stcenturyguy: (hmph)

Whoops, my phone autocorrect is killing me here

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-04 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
You're gonna have to suck it up, because I'm pretty sure there's regulations about what kinda trash this station can throw out there.

[He'll keep helping because otherwise they'll be there all day.][And there won't be a puzzle in sight. It's almost too easy. Although if they're going to talk about anything serious, they might end up wishing for some nice brain teasers to distract them.]
coolerjunpei: (taco bell doesn't CLOSE)

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-05 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
[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.]
21stcenturyguy: (bored)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-05 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
That's just the soup.Tough it out.

[Junpei will just have to take Aoi's insults with a grain of salt. He doesn't know how to do friendship. He's had Schrodinger's sister and...that's it.

The gravity in the hallways works, so there's that awkward, fumbling moment where Aoi has to regain his footing. He lets go of Junpei and rushes on ahead, because who's got time to be patient? He figures if he gets the damn towel, maybe Junpei will move on from the whole 'I threw soup at your head' thing. A guy can dream.]
coolerjunpei: (party time v-neck)

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-05 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
[Is this friendship even at all? It might be about 1/3 of a friendship. Lower. If he's being generous.

But alright, he stumbles after into the hallway and continues trying to squeeze alien soup out of his hair, following at a slower meandering pace as a result. Find him a towel and he might just be amicable, a little.]


Next time it'll be in your hair and we'll see how you like it.
21stcenturyguy: (hmph)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-05 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[1/3? See if he gives you anymore dumb, plot-relevant items, Junpei. Your bookmark supply is cut off.]

Touch my hair and die. [Seriously, depriving the universe of the beauty of Aoi Kurashiki's hair is an unforgivable crime against humanity.

Despite this grievous threat, Aoi ducks inside the shower module. He picks the rattiest old towel he can find with spiteful glee. Back in the hallway, he throws the towel at Junpei and then shouts a warning.]


Heads up.
coolerjunpei: (carlos u look............familiar)

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-05 02:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[1/3 deducted for saying his puns are shit, 1/3 deducted for throwing stuff at him so much today?? Maybe he didn't even want that bookmark! So there!

Or: just as he's gearing up to make some sassy comment about Aoi's hair, he gets whapped in the face with a space towel. Gee.]


Seriously? [He says this muffled into the towel before pulling it off his face to dry his hair.] Glad to see you're as pissy as ever.
21stcenturyguy: (bored)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-05 06:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, one of us is the same...

[He probably shouldn't bring up the subject of "what have you done since last time I saw you" considering that he'd driven into the sunset with Junpei's crush and left him in the Nevada desert last time around. But Junpei's less dumb-ass shonen hero now, and he's learned to dress himself, and Aoi's kinda curious.]

What about you? You wake up on the wrong side of the space pod or something?

[He rubs his hand over the back of his head like he's bored and couldn't care less about the answer.]
coolerjunpei: (what's he doin)

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-05 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[All things considered, Junpei was doing better at this not-being-bitter thing for a little while, after everything. To go from really feeling like there was a chance to make things right in the world to the world being eaten by space clouds is... jarring, but as for everything else... well. Santa- Aoi- whoever he is, he's not the ideal person Junpei wants to share his past year with. Seeing Snake again had been nostalgic, but then again, Snake hadn't left all of them stranded in the desert.

So, instead.]


Grew up and got over myself. [He finishes this with a gesture at his New Look, not because it means anything that he wears v-neck shirts now, but because this is his limit of opening up.] What do you think?
21stcenturyguy: (sigh)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-06 01:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[Aoi shrugs.]

Good change. You're less embarrassin' to look at now.

[People skills, who needs 'em? Cool people die friendless and alone.

The door to the lounge slides open as they reach it. The couches aren't as nice or as plush as the ones on the not-Gigantic, but Aoi drops onto one in a sprawl anyways.]


Ok, this is probably as much privacy as we're gonna get. We can talk or whatever.

[There's a non-zero chance that the participants of the Second Nonary Game might've had some unanswered questions.]
coolerjunpei: (ok!!!! it's not blue!!!)

"non-zero" har har

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-06 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[This from a dude who wears arm warmers unironically... Please. Junpei sits heavily on a different couch, thanks much, and for a moment just looks across the room at the opposite wall. Hmm.

There are plenty of things he could ask—no matter what the past year-and-change has been like, the events in Building Q really didn't leave any closure. Not the kind he would have liked to have back then; and it feels like much longer than a year has passed, too. But when it comes down to it now, the hour, the opportunity - he draws a blank.]


Well, uh... What the hell?

[Genius. Give the man 9 points.]
21stcenturyguy: (picture)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-07 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
[What? He didn't seem to mind arm warmers when June wore them. Way to have a double standard there, champ.

Aoi's expression goes even more stubborn than usual.]


Look, I know what happened in Nevada was some fucked-up shit. But we did what we had to to save Akane. I ain't gonna apologize for it.

[He crosses his arms.]

If you want revenge, fine. Do your worst.
coolerjunpei: (014)

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-07 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
[That's 100% different. And come on, did anyone actually complain about saving Akane? Ever? No. Junpei gives him a look for that, brow furrowed. "Saving Akane" has never been on his list of complaints...]

Why? It's not like anything worse can happen than what already has.
21stcenturyguy: (hmph)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-07 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
[Aoi shrugs, but Junpei's obvious indignation over the idea that saving Akane was a burden...it makes Junpei seem cool like less of a loser in his mind.]

Pretty sure things can always get worse, but whatever.

[Of course, that's just his personal experience, but it's been pretty formative.]

So, what? We stay outta each other's way and wait for Akane to wake up?
coolerjunpei: (031)

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-07 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
[Give him his whole 9 points just for this, obviously.

He doesn't say anything to that first comment—he has enough secondhand memories of being literally murdered to agree, but like, he doesn't want to share... So Aoi can continue to think whatever he thinks about that, it's fine.]


Seriously? I don't hate you, you know. Hell, I probably would've done the same thing. [...Not very well, but he'd give it a try. Never mind.] After all that, I guess I still don't know anything about you.

[So - awkward? Leaving him in the desert wasn't cool, but he can objectively understand it, at the very least.]

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