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Entry tags:
❪ test drive #6 ❫
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YOUR STORY BEGINS  The Storm came. You remember darkness, but you don't remember much after that. You don't know how long you slept, but the dreams were short. You remember the expanse of stars and galaxies in your direct view. Every world and solar system ever known to man was present in your dreams in careful, pristine detail. You also witnessed the Storm, which has devoured a fair portion of these galaxies. Your Earth and similar planets were assimilated by the Storm. Somehow, you knew it would be the last you'd see of your world. That was when she told you what happened. You knew that you'd be living somewhere new. The details weren't clear, but you knew it was a part of a deal with the entity known as Darma. Not long after, you'll wake at Thesa Station. Your body is still cold; it all felt like a dream, but somehow, you knew it wasn't —
CLEAN-UP CREW  While everything has wound down significantly from the strife and destruction of battle, the frozen image of Ysverai, the massive, rotten dragon, and the hole he tore in El Nysa's sky, on several screens of the station is a constant reminder of what took place. New and old refugees alike will notice that prolonged exposure to these images will leave them with a disquiet that gradually builds to actual pain. The discomfort starts from a crawling sensation, insects over skin, and gradually becomes unbearable. They will begin to hear the cries of Ysverai’s pain and suffering, first whispers, then echoes, then wails. Even after Refugees tear their eyes away from this footage, a strange itching sensation remains beneath their skin for several minutes. The dragon isn’t a matter for them to deal with, however. Darma made it clear that the Natha will find a solution. For now, everyone is encouraged to assist in the clean-up of the cities currently frozen in time. However, in interest of the current events and the fact that the refugees still have much to prepare for, they will be offering this help remotely. Several stations are set up where refugees can remote control drones to map out areas and pick up some of the lighter weight debris. Those more well versed technology are encouraged to assist those who may be having trouble getting started with the unfamiliar Natha tech. It seems like it’ll definitely take some getting used to, though. On the bright side, they’re pretty durable drones so if at first you don’t succeed, press the next button? To keep morale high during the clean-up efforts, one of the Natha have set up large hoops around dumpsites and a scoreboard program in the control room, though there's no sign of any directions or rules to be found. That's right, you can play a mechanized version of… some sort of game while you're helping clean up El Nysa. Just make sure you don't get too carried away with competitive spirit! For those looking to pilot something more heavy-duty, there are also cockpits set up for remote control piloting of basic mecha. These are very similar to the VR simulations offered on the station. However, they will not work without a partner. To be able to successfully move one of these, two refugees will be required to connect their minds and pilot in tandem. This may be a daunting task, but with the extensive structural damage to the cities, it's a necessary one. Piloting will require trust and cooperation to make it through. The more connected the pilots are, the more agile and powerful their mecha will be. For those who can’t seem to get on the same page, coordination will be a pipe dream. PROBLEMS WITH THE SHIP  By now it’s likely clear to all refugees, new and old, that for all that they may appear to be infinitely powerful, the Natha Orbiters have been shaken by the recent events on El Nysa. The details of Ysverai’s revival were somehow obscured from their view, and while they’re focusing their efforts on the planet, certain… abnormalities again begin to arise on Thesa Station. The most prevalent of the problems plaguing the Station are the malfunctioning doors. Walking through a door that should lead to a bedroom or kitchen (or, for the truly unfortunate, a toilet) will suddenly take refugees somewhere entirely different and possibly even new. And while this may lead to some accusations of breaking and entering, at least these mishaps can be quickly rectified by an apology and a hasty exit. That is, unless the door refuses to open again — the locks also seem to be malfunctioning. Still, those that find themselves transported somewhere familiar, though off-limits, should consider themselves lucky. Thesa Station is far more vast than most refugees are aware, and some of them might find themselves wandering into a uniquely sticky laboratory. This area appears to serve no purpose other than to house dozens of slimes. These slimes appear not only in a variety of fun colours, but with a variety of not-so-fun abilities ranging from harmless (spitting bubbles) to deadly (spitting fire). Regardless of what abilities a slime possesses however, they are all relentlessly friendly, and characters will need to be careful not to accidentally bringing one out with them once they manage to escape. Unfortunately, that’s not the only situation to escape from. Whether it’s in the mess hall or the bathroom, many will find themselves suddenly rising off the ground. … with everything else in the room, too! It seems like gravity control is also on the fritz. Fortunately, most open spaces aboard the station have a small control panel that can correct these effects. The only problem is getting there. Hopefully at least one of you refugees took that anti-gravity safety course. SUMMER TURNS TO WINTER  The news that the refugees should begin preparations for a return to El Nysa may come as a surprise given that the planet still remains frozen, but it appears there is one community that has somehow withstood Darma’s intervention: an area known as Nadril where time continues to flow freely. Not much information is available regarding this destination, other than the fact that it is isolated, and, more importantly, that it is cold. (Maybe characters should consider the malfunctioning thermostat plunging the temperature to below zero in certain areas on the station as preparation for their upcoming journey!) There are other resources available for those itching to take action, of course. There will be a new supply pack delivered to each room containing gear meant to withstand freezing temperatures — both clothing and storage gear to keep water rations from freezing. Characters will also be alerted to new training programs available in the VR room that are designed to assist with survival in the snowy regions of Nadril. The training programs will consist of a variety of tutorials that will assist in winter survival. Naturally, there will be courses on how to start fires, find food, and build igloos to withstand the frigid temperatures, but that’s not all. Due to the Natha testing their systems, there will occasionally be strange occurrences. For example, refugees may experience a snowball or two pelting them from out of nowhere, or they may suddenly find themselves being cloaked by a snow yeti costume, amongst many other inconveniences. Hopefully that doesn’t detract from the lessons to be learned here, as some of the training programs can include extreme weather survival, including the perils of snow storms or avalanches. SOCIAL-LINKED(in) By some miracle, there are still some quieter parts of the hall. This may be an appropriate time to check out your smartphone. Aside from the expected "Omage" app, there seems to be a new one called Social-Linked. There, you may find a profile waiting to be posted. The app allows for the user to fill it in, but there is also an auto-function! upon pressing it, it will generate a shockingly-honest answer based on the Natha's observation of your history. Roman will be your only friend in this app, with his very own profile: STASIS UNITS  During this time of crisis, the Natha have done their utmost to ensure the safety of those in cryosleep. However, due to the nature of recent events, they will be asking some refugees to do a quick check on some of the pods in the stasis unit. While they are definitely looking for any damage that may have occurred over these past few weeks, they also seem interested in getting a deeper insight into some of the occupants. On each control panel for the pods, there's a new application, asking observers to add notes and commentary — the Natha are looking for a more personal understanding of their sleeping occupants. Refugees are tasked with providing evaluations of the sleepers, based on both their knowledge of those from their homes and on what they can observe just by examining them in their repose. The application asks for how useful you think the pod's occupant would be in a crisis, what their skills are, what their best feature is, if you'd take them with you for a long walk on the beach, and so on… And, of course, all answers must be recorded out loud. Anyone passing by could overhear these evaluations, flattering or less than. FINAL OOC NOTES
As always, feel free to wildcard prompts within Thesa Station!
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. New players may submit an AC-length thread HERE from this TDM for 2 Natha REP. In addition, old players who have not submitted rep for the Hour of Ruin log may also submit a TDM thread for 2 Natha REP. The due date for submission is July 15 11:59 PM EST. For this application cycle, there will be a cap of 60 and no reserves. Applications will be open on July 9 12:01 AM EST and end on July 13 11:59 PM EST. Thank you! |
social | un: carter
Check, check, check. And so: ]
Sergeant Barnes, as I live and breathe.
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[ Sometimes his mind feels so splintered that he's not sure he's really Bucky anymore. There are things that slip in and out of being familiar to him at times. Oddly, it's easier to sound like the old Bucky through text, even if Bucky never had access to this kind of technology back then.
Maybe it gets him out of his head a little. He doesn't know. There's still a lot to wade through in there, but he remembers the easy cadence of the way he used to speak. It's still in there, even if he's a little more stiff at times and his accent still disappears when he's less anchored down to Bucky. ]
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Well, I'm certainly not a missus, the last time I checked.
[
oh god can she even joke about that what if he tells steve???]Miss Carter will do fine. But I think you've more than earned the right to call me Peggy.
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[ The woman who wouldn't dance with him. It had stung then, but the memory makes him smile now. She'd managed to be coldly charming to him. He probably could have learned a thing or two from her back when that stuff had mattered to him more. ]
I should probably warn you my memory's not what it used to be.
[ Then again, she's got to be in her 90s, so his might be better than hers, holes and all. ]
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He could also mean that his memory isn't what it used to be after HYDRA. She's aware of that, too. Either way: ]
I won't hold it against you, and neither will Steve. He'll be glad to know you're awake. And so am I, as it happens.
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[ Sure, they had said loved ones were in those pods, but Bucky doesn't really let himself expect good things anymore. Even when they happen, there's another shoe waiting to drop, right? Maybe he's gotten a little too used to the realities of living on his own off the grid for so long. ]
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That was nearly a year ago, now.
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Can I meet you in person?
[ There's a part of him that's not going to believe that either of them are here until he sees them both. ]
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Landmarks?
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[ And true to her word, despite all obstacles in the form of malfunctioning doorways, she does make it to the mess hall in under fifteen minutes. She's aware that the man she's looking for will be sporting a metal arm and will look a little older than she remembers (although not by much, same as Steve); Peggy, by comparison, is infinitely younger than he should remember.
She wasn't even at the peak of her career when she woke up on Thesa, just shy of thirty years old. Her hair and makeup are immaculate, she's dressed in a smart blouse and trousers, heels clicking as she strides into the room. She is a little worse for wear given the chaos on the planet below, right hand bandaged and in a brace and superficial injuries healed or healing throughout; most telling, perhaps, is how sharp her gaze is as she scans the room for him. And once she spots the man in question, she breaks into a smile and crosses over to him. ]
Bucky, [ she says, careful not to move too suddenly like reach out for a hug or even a handshake. She'd like to clasp his shoulder, but she'll curb the impulse. ] It's so good to see you.
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She's as gorgeous as ever, vivacious and sharp looking. It had never really been a mystery to him what Steve had seen in her and not just her looks. Bucky knows that she's smart and ballsy, too. Hell, she's probably just as crazy as Steve is.
For all the beauty she retains, he thinks he must look like a mess, stubble on his chin and messy hair even if you manage to ignore the metal arm. When they'd known each other, Bucky had been polished and handsome in a way he doesn't think he could even remember how to pull off now. He's too rough around the edges, frayed in ways that can't entirely be fixed, even if someone did try to give him a makeover. ]
Peggy.
[ He smiles at her, small but warm. It's not a fake smile or one where he's trying to ramp up the charm, either. No, he's just genuinely happy to see her here like this. It doesn't really matter how it happened. ]
You look good. Really good.
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Only because you did me the courtesy of waiting a few days for the cuts and bruises to fade. But never mind that.
[ The dragon can wait. (God, what a thought.) It's gentle, how she does finally reach out to rest a hand on his shoulder, the one in a brace to his metal arm. It's unflinching. She's seen it before, accepts it as a part of him. ]
You look as though you could do with a meal. Of course, I could be projecting. Join me?
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I'd love to.
[ There's something in his voice, a little more emotion than he usually lets through. Hell, it's probably more than he usually has. He can almost lose himself and pretend they're back in the war like this and who would've thought that that would be a preferable place for him? By the time they'd met, he'd already been a POW once. ]
I'm always hungry.
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She does understand. ]
So am I. Roman can whip up a passable cheeseburger if you're specific enough with him. Shall I handle the ordering while you find us a table? [ Peggy wants this to be as comfortable and easy as possible. ] Then we can catch up properly.
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[ He smiles and starts to move away so he can find them a quiet table to talk at. One where they can see the room around them, because he's only grown more hyper aware and paranoid since she'd last seen him. Maybe he's not being chased here, but he still feels a lingering sense of paranoia and a need to stay alert. He'll look for one at the edge of the room where between the two of them, they'll have eyes on the entire space, because maybe he doesn't trust her implicitly, but he trusts her eyes and her skills.
He trusts her taste in food, too. The idea of something as normal as a cheeseburger sounds amazing right now.
By the time she finds him at the table, he's rubbing at the stubble on his jaw self-consciously, elbows on the table like he's never had manners a day in his life. ]
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Having her back to a wall and eyes on all the exits is an old habit and one she's glad he indulges. ]
Here we are, [ she says a few minutes later, bearing a tray of two plates with burgers and fries. ] I thought a milkshake may be a little indulgent, but if you fancy one once we're through here, I won't say no. [ Then, almost teasingly, ] Elbows off the table if you please, Sergeant Barnes.
[ She's clearly in a good mood. Warmer than she was during the war, more at ease. It may be because she's around a man she trusts to watch her back, a man she knows Steve trusts with his life, but it's also because there's no pretense here. She slides in to sit across from him, albeit a little gingerly, given how she's still recovering from what happened on the planet. Seems she's always a little banged up these days.
There's a stretch of comfortable silence before she breaks it with a question that could be prying or simply innocuous: ]
How are you?
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He'd noticed the brace and he sees the injuries now, eyes narrowing, but he'll ask her about it in a minute. First he has to answer the world's most loaded question. ]
I'm in one piece.
[ He offers a little one-shouldered shrug. It's the right shoulder, she might notice if she's looking for such details. The metal one is held a little more stiffly in his mannerisms.
Is he good? Certainly not, but he's alive and he's not being controlled by HYDRA. He figures he could be a lot worse, even if those words are still floating around in his head. He's alive. Steve and Peggy are alive. That has to count for something to make it better than bad. ]
How are you?
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When he tosses the question back at her, she smiles briefly, picking up her burger with two hands. ]
In one piece. [ What was that about cheeky? She takes a bite, careless of the lipstick she wears, and chews only for a few moments before adding on through a full mouth: ] Though it wasn't easy, given the situation with the dragon.
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He picks up his own burger, takes a bite and has to answer with his own mouth full. ]
Did you just say dragon?
[ Because Bucky, former heavy reader of fantasy pulp novels, has all attention on that little detail right now. ]
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[ She's been awake nearly a year and has had time to adjust to the idea of dragons, at least as far as miniature ones or the understanding that they once roamed El Nysa in the past. They aren't just myth and legend here, although there is a distinct overlap in how fantastical the world is, but rooted in history and the foundation of the native culture — particularly to the south, in Wyver.
But resurrecting Ysverai had been... something else, altogether. Something she, admittedly, didn't think was possible even with the magic rampant in the land below. And the destruction had been as horrific as one can imagine, if not more so, even with surviving the war. ]
The political climate on the surface is a long story. But as best as I can tell it, a man sought power or revenge — likely both — and used magic to raise a dragon from the dead. But he couldn't control it and it spent three days on a rampage through both cities. It was catastrophic and there was no stopping it. [ She sighs through her nose, takes another bite of her burger; continues. ] That's why we're all up here. Ordinarily, we live on the planet. But as Darma said, they've effectively stopped the clock down there until they can repair the damage. That was last week.
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The taste of the burger is almost sour in his mouth now, like his body is punishing him for not being there while others--Steve and Peggy--were risking their lives. He doesn't want to fight without a good reason to, but that's as good a reason as he can think of. Having Steve's back has always been enough of a reason for him. ]
Okay, so there was an actual literal dragon. Are you--Is Steve okay?
[ Because if anyone is dumb enough to get eaten by a dragon, it's Steve. Between the three of them, Peggy's the only one with half a brain for staying alive and she's sporting her own injuries. ]
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He's fine. [ It's a quick reassurance, no falsehood in her voice. ] We're both fine, I promise. A little worse for wear, but we focused on the evacuation efforts, rescuing anyone who was trapped in the rubble, that sort of thing. The dragon wasn't going down easy, even with magic, and believe it or not, we know how to pick our battles sometimes. [ Peggy smiles for a moment, almost wry. ] I'm a bloody good shot, but not that good.
[ Don't be too generous with the credit, Bucky Barnes. Peggy has been getting into a different sort of trouble on El Nysa and she'd kept it from Steve for the better part of a year to boot. But that's later. That can all come later (if it ever comes at all). ]
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Or maybe it's not that cruel. He can't imagine letting his ma see him like this. She'd look right into his eyes and know about all the blood on his hands. He doesn't think he could survive that.
He shakes the thought. It's not something Peggy should have to deal with. He should focus on her and Steve. ]
I'm not sure if I believe it. Steve's self-preservation instincts are almost non-existent on a good day.
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How else will he get the job done? [ Her expression softens, all teasing aside. ] It's a good thing you're back, then. Someone has to keep him in check.
[ Because God knows she could be charging out there with him, shoulder to shoulder. ]
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