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

Entry tags:

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.

QUICK NAV

premise ● 
faq ●
world ●
map ●
reputation ●
npcs

taken ●
reserves ●
application 

calendar ●
hiatus/drops ●
modbox

[ FULL NAVIGATION ]

elnysa

nysalogs

nysaisles

nysaooc

elnyan

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Junpei isn't getting his hands on the donuts just because of that weak reply. Snake leans away with what's apparently Junpei's tray, holding the donuts hostage. Hostage is being like, just a few inches away from arm's length, but they're a hostage none-the-less.]

Oh, is it? When did you come to acquire such a high quality tray, Junpei? What makes it really yours?

[It takes him almost no effort at all to lean those few inches over and continue reaching for a donut, nice try. Calling him out like this, though? Can't they just live with the simple peace of knowing, and not acknowledging, that Junpei is a dumbass?]

It has my name on it, duh— Is that really important? Give it here.

[If Snake now has to remember Junpei is a dumbass every day for the rest of his life, Junpei has to too? There's only so much space he can lean before Junpei just takes the donut, so he's giving up by leaning back. But like, he's just resting his head on this pillow to show how disappointed he is.]

I'll have you know that I am not eating powdered donuts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So you're going to have stop being a nuisance and take me someplace else eventually.

Would a nuisance bring you food in the first place? I don't think so.

[The music is still playing, and there's the tray thing, but he did put in an effort of some kind. Appreciate him. He'll take the whole tray back, if Snake is just going to hug his pillow like that. Kinda weird.]

We'll go back to the cafeteria. Eventually. Just eat your donuts.

[Yeah, take that tray back. Snake will just feel around for another donut and go back to leaning on his pillow, resisting the temptation to lean back into the giant pile of them. He could be asleep right now? Ugh.]

And what is your plan until then? Listen to this... sensual spanish music? I didn't know this was to your taste, otherwise I would have requested my guitar.

[Junpei, with a donut halfway to his mouth, hears the words "sensual spanish music" and stops, thinks about it, and puts the donut back down on the tray. This is what the tray is for. He considers getting up and going to turn the music off, but then it would be obvious...

And yet it doesn't occur to him to whip out another stunning "are you interested in me????" Junpei Tenmyouji: Romance Expert.]

Oookay, well, forgetting about all of that: I didn't know you could play guitar.

[He's not asking the obvious question. He isn't. Tell him more about your music, Mr. Wonderwall.]

[Why is Junpei forgetting things... it is because he said sensual? It's an accurate description? He's still not fully awake, so he's just going to settle on the default: Junpei is dumb.]

I played the guitar quite well before I lost my arm. [Which one is it?? He's not moving either of them to make it obvious.] I'm afraid I was too frustrated in my youth to try again, and my prosthetic was not advanced enough anyhow... But I have played the harp more recently, and it garnered quite a bit of fans. I never thought to pick another instrument back up.

[Don't say sensual? It confuses him. Snake covered in pillows is the furthest thing from sensual anyway. Just let him listen to this sneak peek into Snake's actual Life and Day Job that he never knew about...]

Oh, uh... that's cool. [Should he extend some condolences about the guitar thing?? Snake isn't that kinda guy, really, so maybe he'll just extend some patented Awkward Junpei Silence(tm) instead.] Wait, so, are you famous?

[Has he been hanging out with a celebrity all this time?! Prince rating: going back up.]

[Junpei not making it weird about his car accident is already surprising him, but that on top of inviting him to talk about himself? That's enough to get him to sit up properly, and smile. Point to Junpei.]

Well, I don't know if I'd call myself famous. I never got the opportunity to publish my music in an official sense, but I'm sure my fanbase did more than just meet up at my venues. Perhaps there were people from places I couldn't imagine listening to my music from videos they've taken... That would be something, wouldn't it?

[But... he doesn't have that anymore. There was a moment he was about to go on, but it dawns on him that it's no longer a possibility, and his smile falters.] It was something.

[Oh, he's awake now. Points for Junpei indeed. Personally, he's awarding himself a point for apparently knowing the secret code to skip Snake's sad backstory level and get right to the dorky local celebrity part. Who knew it was so easy!!

But he's still thinking about the less-than-happy parts, rest assured. After all the games they've both been through, the things he's seen, the things that happened to Snake—something about Snake being even a fraction upset about his tiny fanbase disappearing is the saddest goddamn thing he's heard in ages. How dare this man?]

Yeah. Must've been good. [how dare he..... be sad.... unacceptable] Can't believe I'm friends with a celebrity.

[Please accept his weak jokes in this trying time.]

[How dare... Junpei be this dorky at his sadness? Snake hates that something that silly is what gets him smiling again. Just boost his ego a little and he'll be alright.]

Yes, you've bullied a celebrity into breaking his very important schedule. [to wake up in the morning, instead of just sleeping,] But I have to wonder... What have you been off doing, Junpei? I can't seem to recall what you did in the first place, but you had more knowledge than I anticipated.

Don't let the fame go to your head. Some of us still have to live in the real world.

[He says this as another dweeby joke, but like, it also hurts him... to say it... especially with Snake pushing for info about his own business right now. He doesn't want to be a downer any more than he naturally is, these days, but he might as well get it over with.

The abridged version, anyway. The Cliffs Notes.]

But me, uh... I was in school. Then I got in touch with Seven and did some... kinda freelance investigator stuff. You know he and Lotus are a thing now?

[Perfect, there is nothing else to learn about this story at all. How about those old people.]

[Snake opens his mouth to say something the second investigator is said by Junpei, but he has to hold back because of his poor attempt at deflection. He doesn't care about Seven and he only spent one room with Lotus, sooo... He's not going to be subtle about the fact he just doesn't care.]

No, I did not know that. What I also didn't know is that you had an interest in the criminal justice system, Junpei. I can't imagine you were actually qualified... What on earth did you do?

[Okay first of all, he digs those boring old people in the way only the protagonist of a murder game can stay attached afterwards, so be nice. Second, rude, maybe he was qualified! No, he wasn't.]

Investigate stuff...? You know, people come in with stuff they want us to prove, or someone to track down. [He shrugs, and now he will make a good attempt to finish eating that donut he abandoned a few minutes ago.] Serious stuff.

That's really quite surprising, since you couldn't track down a better breakfast to put on this tray.

[Listen, Snake thinks this is savage. He's laughing to himself about it as he picks up his last donut, but it isn't at Junpei. He's actually enjoying himself again, sitting here talking to Junpei with sensual spanish guitar music.]

Well, I can't believe I'm friends with a detective. Would you have protected me from my overzealous fans if I'd hired you?

[stop thinking about sexy guitar]

I told you we'll go to the cafeteria for lunch. [Let him live. Anyway, this other thing that's mercifully a ridiculous Snake Thing and not Snake prying more info out of him—] And that's bodyguard, not detective. But I think I could make time for you.

[There it is. Snake is fully awake now, 100% propelled into consciousness by Junpei making special time for him. For this, he'll set aside his chest pillow and shirk a blanket. He's gotten Snake to be a real person again.]

Should I gain a following in this side of the universe, you'll be the first I ask. In fact... when I do. You should start preparing yourself. [He's already preparing himself by living with him, but like, whatever. Spend the most time with him.] Perhaps I'll find a substitute for guitar, just for you.

[Oh hell yes, he's leveled up?? Snake is a real boy again and it only took about half an hour. He'll improve his time gradually.]

Oh yeah? [Now that Snake's put away that hug pillow, Junpei slides the tray back over onto his lap so he can lean back on his hands and consider this perfectly normal life of just... hanging around while Snake plays music? It's better than the other jobs he's had even though it's totally not a real job, sooo. This dorky music stuff is making him feel better, thanks.] Do I get to make requests?

[Snake: playing acoustic guitar peacefully / Junpei: do you know any metallica]

[It'd be going too far to say Snake loves this tray concept now that he's awake, but he's not opposed to taking it back. This means he can eat his third donut while Junpei considers a life that isn't terrible. And Snake can consider new ways to keep it that way. Should he request a harp first? Should he start requesting something soothing so maybe Junpei will actually get some sleep? Maybe then he won't wake him at 9AM...]

I suppose you could... I can't promise you we share the same tastes, but I did not avoid the mainstream. [He probably learned Wonderwall just because it was a meme, let's be real.] Playing at home could be a private show. I wouldn't take that for granted, if I were you.

[He'll still wake him at 9am, he'll just be sleepier about it. Easier to convince to go back to bed. Pros, cons?]

Who said I'm mainstream? [Like, he is, he's a sponge for basic as hell pop culture, but who said!! While Snake talks about private shows, Junpei leans back even further, since apparently there's yet another stolen pillow behind him to dig his elbows into. Why is this here? He'll get to that.] And come on, don't lecture me about my special privileges before I even get them. I won't tell anyone about your private shows, cross my heart.

[Private show doesn't sound weird to him, it seems... Anyway, this pillow? Why? Explain.] You lined the whole bed with pillows.

[Please... Junpei liking the mainstream is the most obvious thing about him. He referenced the Matrix? A movie seven years older than him? He's thinking about Metallica?? Maybe Junpei was actually a weird hipster, come to think of it. Did he have a hipster blog...]

No one else was using them. [Snake fully believes this is all he needs to say? What's wrong with his bed, he wonders, sitting in three different blankets at normal room temperature.] I don't know why I wouldn't. This is how I rest comfortably.

[He had a blogspot? Definitely? It probably had a pun in the username and only had 5 hits total, ever.]

This is, what, where your knees would be if you were lying down? Your knees need their own pillow? [Snake is older than he thought... Anyway he's going to twist around just a little so he can fluff this pillow, but he doesn't know how to fluff pillows effectively, so he's just squishing it over and over. This is Luxury.]

I like to be... surrounded? I've always slept this way. [Snake isn't going to stand for this? The tray is just getting put down on the floor now so he could take his own pillow to fluff. Like, actually fluff, not whatever Junpei's doing.]

If you're going to insult my sleeping arrangements, I don't see why you're still in them. [Why was he fluffing that pillow? Because he's going to hit Junpei on the head with it. But not really hit, just sort of... drop it on him while he's still holding it. There, take that.]

[Snake is a child... Somehow Junpei doesn't expect to be gently smothered with a pillow here during their great bonding breakfast, so he makes a noise of protest... into the pillow, more or less, nudging it away from his face. Let him breathe.]

I'm here for donuts. [He's still like, half-smothered down here, a pathetic wee man squeezing a pillow to make a point. Luckily, Snake is blind.] It was a joke, Snake.

I'm well aware it was a joke, but it was in poor taste. My bed is my own business, and unless you plan to join me in it, I won't be having any of that. [Even if he's smothering Junpei with a pillow he took from his bed... It's fine. He'll just smother him a little more before he finally relents.]

You are not here for donuts, anyway. You could have eaten them before coming here and interrupting my nap. You just enjoy my stimulating conversation.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject