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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! |
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Whoops.
You's right.
There's a pause while Yoshiko realizes her mistake before she goes back to screaming through the door. "I'll push and you'll pull! That's better!"
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She grabs the handle with two hands. "Okay, ready? One, two-- three!"
She turns the handle and tugs with all her might--!
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The door flies open. Since she didn't have as good a grip on something as You did with the handle, Yoshiko wipes out a bit and eats floor. She doesn't seem to mind, though. When she looks up, she's definitely a bit bruised, but the sight of You there, of someone she actually knows on this stupid spaceship, is enough for Yoshiko to hold off complaining just for a moment.
"You-chan!" she happily exclaims as she scrambles up to her feet, giving You a wide smile in the process. "I didn't know that anybody else from Aqours was awake!"
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And that is unmistakably Yoshiko Tsushima. You just stands there, stunned for a moment. Yoshiko's wide smile is met with You rushing her and clinging to her in a fierce hug. "Yoshiko-chan-- it's you, right? It's really you, right?!"
Yeah, she's starting to cry.
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"It's Yohane..." she can only say, a bit shocked and confused as You starts to cry. Odd hugs and now crying? What the heck's going on? "You-chan, are you okay?"
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If the younger girl were perceptive, she might notice that You looks older than the last memory she might have from back home. Not by much, but older nonetheless; her face is a little slimmer, she's perhaps grown one final centimeter more, and her hair is longer now, down below her shoulders.
"You're the first one to wake up," she says in between wet sniffles. "It's been just me for so long."
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Which means she was probably awake for that dragon attack. Almost instantly, Yoshiko's stomach sinks a little more. And she thought she was having problems adjusting.
"O-Of course I'd be the first to wake up!" Yoshiko says, giving You a weak yet triumphant smile. "Yohane cares about the mental health of all her little demons. The, erm, the dark powers of the netherworld spoke to me in my sleep and told me Little Demon You needed assistance that only a fallen angel can bring."
If she's deliberately silly, if she deliberately does her Yohane thing, then maybe it'll cheer You up. Maybe it'll help take some of the sting off of the fact that You's been here, by herself, for so long.
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"Ha..." she gives a little weak laugh at Yoshiko's absurdities. "Yeah, that... that sure sounds right for Yohane, doesn't it?"
She can at least appreciate that Yoshiko is trying. "How long've you been awake for?"
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But the longer she stays here, the harder it gets for Yoshiko to pretend that this isn't real. She's really here, on a space station, with actual dragons, wizards, and slime monsters for her to deal with. A part of Yoshiko just wants to complain that she's a normal girl! This fallen angel stuff is just an act! She doesn't really believe in that stuff, why is she here in the first place?! But she knows it won't help.
At least You's here. If she's going to be dealing with all this weird crap, at least she's doing so with a friend.
"...is it true what they said about our world?"
That's the part she can't believe the most. That their world would just be destroyed.
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"...yeah, I think so," she answers, quietly. "I mean, there's no way to check, is there? But everything I remember..." she trails off.
It's all gone. Uranohoshi, Uchiura, her beloved sea, Chika's family ryokan, Japan...
"--but! Everyone's safe, you know? Everyone we know is safe up in the pods!" she hastily adds, as though trying to cheer her friend up.
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As You tries to cheer her up, Yoshiko nods a little. "I looked around when I first woke up. Zuramaru, Ruby-chann, everybody else, my mom..." And now that's hitting her as well. Sure, Yoshiko and her mom argued but everybody argues with their parents! She still misses her and didn't expect to see her mom stuck in one of those pods like this.
Still, she doesn't want to dwell on this. After all, You's still all weepy and snotty. She's gotta cheer her up.
"Then it is decided. I shall have to perform an arcane ritual to wake them so it'll be more than just the two of us!" Despite the fact that Yoshiko's trying to talk the talk, her expression clearly states that the world being destroyed rattles her more than she wants to admit. "Little Demon You, do you have any incense?"
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She bites her lip, glancing away. "...besides, do you really think you could do something like that, Yoshiko-chan?"
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"And it's Yohane!"
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"Maybe it is," she relents, "but I still don't know where we can get any incense. If we were still down in Olympia, that'd be one thing, but up here?"
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"Is Olympia the planet we're orbiting?" Yoshiko asks. She's gotten the cliff notes of why they were here but there's still a bunch of terms and a bunch of details that she's shaky on. Heck, she doesn't even know if the space station is orbiting a planet. She's just assuming it is because that's what space stations do.
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Slowly, she lets Yoshiko go, having been just discreetly touching her this whole time, like she's been afraid the other girl might vanish. "You wanna... find a place to sit down? I can tell you what's been going on."
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"I know a bit about everything. There was that dragon and we're in the spaceship because of the dragon?" She's not 100% sure on her logic and it shows. "And we don't know how the dragon was able to be alive in the first place."
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And hesitantly, she reaches out to take Yoshiko's hand. It feels nice just to touch a friend of hers.
And to find a place to sit, quietly.
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"Hey, You-chan...how long were you here by yourself?"
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It takes her a few moments before she answers, and it's clear that she's not sure what to tell Yoshiko before she settles on the truth. "About a year, I guess. Maybe a little less?"
That'd explain her changed appearance.
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Yoshiko knows that it's not her fault that she didn't wake up earlier. But a little part of her can't help but think it is her fault.
"W-Well you don't have to worry about that anymore!" Yoshiko starts, grabbing You's hand a bit tighter. She yanks it somewhat, trying to pull You over to look at her. "After all, Yohane's here! And I'm not going to abandon one of my little demons!"
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Then she sees the look on her friend's face, and... oh.
Her first reaction is a smile, an honest, relieved one. Even if she's still ridiculous, she's still Yoshiko, and it's her own unique way of showing she cares. "...thanks, Yoshiko-chan. That... it really means a lot," she says, and slowly but surely, there are tears welling up in her eyes again.
Which means it's not long before she throws her arms around Yoshiko's shoulders. "I-- I'm really glad you're here!"
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"I'm sorry I didn't wake up earlier," she admits. Even though she didn't know how or why she woke up now in the first place, the sentiment still stands: You shouldn't have had to go through all this by herself.
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"It's okay," she says into the embrace. "It wasn't your fault. I don't blame you guys for any of it, you know?"
"It's just... way different here than back home."
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Though, You pointing out how different it is than back home makes Yoshiko realize...she still doesn't know what sort of problems this place has. It might be painful and it might be traumatizing, but she's got to at least ask,
"What sort of things happens here?"
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good wrap-up point?
works for me!