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.

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.]
21stcenturyguy: (bored)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-07 07:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[Aoi rubs a hand through his hair. He's so nonchalant it hurts. It's cool that Junpei's chill about everything; he wouldn't blame him if Junpei hated him for the whole kidnapping and small bombs thing. If the rolls were reversed, Aoi would've been pissed, noble intentions notwithstanding.

Ok, so maybe Akane's taste in men isn't quite as horrible as Aoi initially assessed. Whatever. He's a chill 21st century dude, he can admit when he's wrong privately to himself without ever uttering the thought out loud.]


Yeah, well, I'm a mysterious guy. It's part of my charm.

[He'd say he doesn't know anything about Junpei either, except that Nonary prep had involved quite a lot of research on the various participants, and admitting to cyber stalking is not the best way to start a tentative truce.]
Edited (Phone tag typos say what) 2017-07-07 19:22 (UTC)
coolerjunpei: (god what the hell)

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-08 04:11 am (UTC)(link)
[You know, he's probably guessed at some of that stalking stuff... Like, he was kidnapped. One does not forget being kidnapped by a shady figure so easily.]

Charm...? That's not exactly what I'd call it.

[He means that in the nicest way possible, for real. The least hostile way possible. Kidnapping, bombs, elaborate lying and murder threats—all of that aside, Aoi is still abrasive. It's fine.]

Well, I guess we have time to, uh... [don't say "get to know each other" like a naive child, Junpei] ...talk more. Here.
21stcenturyguy: (bored)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-11 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
[Aoi raises an eyebrow. Not his fault that Junpei can't appreciate his unique brand of charisma. The lying and drugging kind. It's, uh, probably for the best.]

Yeah, I guess. Or we could...not talk. It's a lounge, maybe there's cards or somethin'?

[Like, bonding and shit is an option, but so's pulling teeth. You can, but it doesn't mean you gotta. Aoi rolls himself to his feet from his sprawl on the couch and looks around the room. He's never been good at serious talk. ]
coolerjunpei: (028)

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-11 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, uh, right now? I was kind of thinking in the future... [Are they... are they hanging out right now? Cards are better than awkward, prolonged silence, but Junpei would be pretty content to leave it at "I'm not mad right now" and escape this encounter.

But apparently not, so...]


There any board games you wouldn't kick my ass with? [gosh darn mastermind over there] Like, a give me a fighting chance kind of board game?
21stcenturyguy: (eyebrow raise)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-12 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
[He shrugs again.]

What, did I steal you away from some important pretend action-hero time?

[It's sarcastic, but his eyes widen a second later and he rubs his hand through his hair sheepishly.]

Guess I did interrupt your lunch. You can go back if you wanna. The gravity might be back on.

[There are no locks on these doors. If Junpei does stay, he's got a choice between Operation, Guess Who, and an alien-looking game called Gazorpazorpopoly. Only one of them is likely to end in murder.]
coolerjunpei: (003)

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-12 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
[Wow... he was just socially awkward and Aoi had to go and make it a whole thing. To Junpei's credit, he only looks back at him deadpan, and only briefly before he gets up with a sigh to come look at these alien games.]

Not that it matters to you, but I'm done with pretending to be anything.

[He'll say it until even he's convinced, so expect to hear that a thousand more times in the future. These games... he doesn't want to get murdered, and Guess Who might raise some suspiciously specific pointed accusations in the form of questions about, uh, cartoon pictures of strangers, so.

So check out Operation, hell yeah. He picks it up.]
They saved this from Earth? Really?
21stcenturyguy: (smirk)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2017-07-13 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Aoi smirks at that.]

Yeah, life's a lot easier when you just let yourself become a real disappointment.

[The world fucking sucks, so why waste time trying to be someone it deems acceptable, right?]

Maybe they use this to train little Orbiters on dissecting the people they pick up.

[There's not too much set-up required past pulling the board and the little tweezers from the box and dropping the little pieces in their holes. The little cartoon man stares up at them from the cardboard operating table in horror, probably because his life in in the hands of these two idiots.]
coolerjunpei: (mmmmmmmmmMMMMMM)

[personal profile] coolerjunpei 2017-07-14 07:23 am (UTC)(link)
[You know, that's not exactly what he meant, but it's not wrong... How uplifting.

He stares down at the game setup, wondering just how crap he's about to be at this game. It's been years since he played a game that didn't involve murder??]


You think so? Maybe they already poked around inside us. Moved stuff around, took a few extra kidneys...