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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! |
3;
(But he still can't help but get his hopes up.)
The sound of a familiar voice doesn't quite jostle Prompto from his one-track-slime-mind just yet, however. With a chuckle, he trots over to the scruffy, waylaid man, reaching out both hands to scoop up one of the slimes. ]
Would you look at this lil' guy? Pretty cute, aren't—
[ But his words die in his throat, because at last he looks down to get a better look at the person before him.
He's unmistakable, of course, even if a bit older and unshaven. Prompto would know his face anywhere, whether he were forty or fifty years gone. However, recognizing Noctis does not make it any easier for him to understand the appearance of his friend before him. He's...did he wake up? Again? He's really got to stop taking this stasis naps on Prompto, but—
Why does he look so...changed?
Eyes wide and bewildered, he stares down at his best friend, still holding the slime between his hands as it playfully blows bubbles into his face. He doesn't even notice them. ]
...Noct?
[ The hell happened to him? ]
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except Prompto stops mid sentence, and though it takes a moment for Noct's brain to catch up with the present, he too finds himself reezing for a moment because wait a minute... Prompto is here too?! And looks like how he - no, not how he remembers last but before then and suddenly this is all even more confusing than he thought. He's not sure whether this makes it all more or less like a dream, but either way the way Prompto's looking at him...
Noctis attempts a smile, though worry and confusion furrow his brow beneath bangs in need of a good trim.]
Uh -- hey, Prompto.
[He ... should definitely say something else, right? Right. This is the ideal time to say something that would answer all the questions in Prompto's eyes and somehow magically make things not awkward, except he's pretty much drawing a blank on any other words... like... at all, because whatever memories he should have of this place aren't there, and as far as he's concerned, he wasn't sure he'd ever see Prompto or - or anyone else again. Just... give him a moment.]
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Prompto is no stranger to finding Noctis awake out of stasis once more. In fact, it's almost become hilariously (in a sense) commonplace, given this is now the fourth time it's happened. Each time Noctis has returned he's been without his memories of his previous times here, but he's never...looked like this. So much older than Prompto remembers him, and while it may have been a month or so since he saw him last, that sure as hell isn't long enough for his friend to have changed this much.
He doesn't know what to make out it—or rather, he can't even begin to make anything out of it. The slime wriggles in his hands, vying for some of his attention, but Prompto can't quite tear his eyes off his best friend, a thousand questions flooding his mind.
—But even as that tense, quiet moment passes, Prompto too dumbstruck to speak, something in him gives his mind a good kick. Some things never change, and Prompto reaches out to nudge Noctis's shoulder with a fist. Whatever the hell is going on here, whatever's happened to Noctis, he's still his best friend, his best man, and no matter how much time passes or how many times they go through this, he will always be happy to see him. ]
Hey. You forget how to use a razor, or what?
[ And that hair! Appalling. (Though Prompto's is a bit more subdued these days than Noctis may remember. The wife likes it when he wears it down, okay.) Still, no matter his appearance, he is an absolute sight for sore eyes, especially...with everything that's happened here recently.
Prompto could use a friend from home more than ever. ]
my apologies for the five thousand typos last tag. that'll teach me to phone tag! but hugs prompto!!
Hey - I didn't forget. Just ... trying something new. Besides, uh... [Noct pauses as he debates how willing he is to admit he's totally lost in the place and isn't even sure if there are any razors much less where they are.] it -- keeps my face warm.
[Y-yeah. That's it. And he doesn't think he looks that bad with it? He's not really spent a lot of time looking in the mirror, though.]
no worries! o7
—Well, he'll just have to figure out how to shake that feeling off, until they can properly catch each other up. Prompto has plenty to tell his friend, and if he were a betting man (and he is), Noctis has plenty to tell him, too. ]
That it, huh? Man, I can only imagine what Iggy would say... [ A snort of laughter. This is...surreal. ] It's...good to see you, man.
[ Like he wouldn't even know.
(Or maybe he does.) ]
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Noctis lifts his eyebrows, glancing away only because another slime jumps on his arm. This slime sizzles a little, so Noct is quick to dislodge it - or to try to, anyway. The slimes are kind of hard to pick up, but they're also sticky, so trying to push it off is a struggle. Still, he does his best, continuing looking back up at Prompto with a hint of slyness.]
I think he was just grateful it was more dignified than the goatee you had last time I saw you.
[The goatee is fun - don't get him wrong. And he's proud of Prompto for finally being able to grow facial hair! He remembers the laments of their teenage years... But ... it was just funny that of all the beard styles to choose...
In any case, the slyness is short-lived, and Noctis finally has dislodged enough slimes that he feels he won't be an avalanche of sticky when he stands up. So, he does his best to clamber to his feet - he'll accept a hand to help him up, if Prompto offers!
And if Prompto does, then once he's on his feet (and ok one slime made the leap to his shoulder while he was getting up, but this is fine; it's not the one that was sizzling), he wastes no time in doing something he kinda wishes he'd done before the end: he pulls Prompto into a hug. One of those close, one-armed kind of deals, where he leans his head in and claps his free hand on Prompto's back, while he grips Prompto's hand solidly with the other.]
It's ... good to see you, too.
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Even so, when Noctis starts to stand, Prompto absolutely offers him a hand up, and doesn't hesitate to pull his arm around the other in the same moment Noctis does. Odd comments and odd appearance aside, Prompto couldn't be happier to see his friend again, especially now, of all times. Things have been...well. Noctis has surely seen the frozen dragon outside the windows of the Station, and that speaks for itself. There's so much Prompto has to tell him, but that will come in time. For now...
He's just relieved and overjoyed to have his friend back. With any luck...maybe he can hold onto him a bit longer this time. If nothing else, Alisaie is going to get an "I told you so" out of this. ]
You're...kinda slimy, dude.
[ But he's still hugging him anyway!!
And his curiosity gets the better of him, so he asks: ]
What was that about me...having a goatee? You dreamin' in that stasis pod?
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Probably.
It's kind of dry in space, so the slime should help moisturize. Or something.
Not that Noctis is thinking about skincare right now. Nah, he's just super glad his best friend is here, and despite the complaint about the slime, he clings tightly for a few moments because gods... Between The Storm and the weirdness of waking up here and that dragon, it's just... it's nice to have someone familiar. To know some things, at least, aren't lies.
Eventually he lets go a bit to look at Prompto.]
Was I dreaming? More like did the stasis pod make you forget? You totally had one last time I saw you.
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...A question for another time. ]
Hey, I didn't let myself go that bad after getting hitched! I think you're -
[ He stops mid-sentence, eyes flickering warily up to meet his friend's. ]
...Wwwwait. You...do remember being here before, don't you?
[ Maybe he shouldn't have just assumed. He hasn't the other times he's woken up, but it would sure make things a lot easier if he did remember. But if he doesn't -
Welp. ]
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Before?
[He echoes the word with slow uncertainty.]
No...? What do you mean? How ... how long have you been here? And what was that about getting hitched?
[How long has Noctis been here and not known about it? When did Prompto get married?! Was it to a girl? A guy? How did he ever work up to that?!?! Or did she ask him?
And wait, was he there? Oh no... He was there, wasn't he? But he's forgotten and it's like learning about these years of life he missed all over again and there's a bit of a cold queasy feeling in his stomach.]
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Prompto can see the mental rabbit hole Noctis goes down through his expression, but it's not hard to guess where his thoughts have gone. That's a fairly big bomb to drop on your best friend out of the blue under normal circumstances, but with all the timey-wimey business and the Storm on top of it—
They've got a lot of catching up to do. ]
...We, uh...we should probably sit down. You hungry? Food here's—well, kinda weird, but there's usually some good grub. Nothing Ignis-quality, but we gotta make do, you know?
[ Prompto rubs at his neck with his left hand, and he is definitely wearing a wedding band. Surprise! But that's far from the only thing he has to tell Noctis about. He's been awake from the beginning, for a full year now, and with everything that's happened, it feels like it's been five times that long. It's...a lot to burden his friend with all at once, and that latent instinct still nags at him to put it off, to focus on something better and brighter on the heels of the tragedy of losing Eos. But Prompto has grown in this time, too—he's learned that sometimes, things are better faced head-on, and there are things Noctis shouldn't find out on his own, or on accident.
Gives him an excuse to gush about his wife again, anyway. ]
What d'you say? Wanna grab a bite?
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Noctis stares at Prompto and then at the wedding band as it glints in the light and then back to Prompto again. Too many competing thoughts race through his mind and push each other out of the way, so he is left just kind of nodding.]
I ... y-yeah.
[Sure. Lead the way, and Noctis will follow like a dazed lost puppy.]
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But first thing's first. Food! Prompto leads Noctis towards the mess hall, hands in his pockets as they approach the cafeteria line. ]
Can't really go too wrong here. You got any special requests, Roman can make 'em. Heh, he won't even make you eat any veggies...
[ He's doing his best to remain lighthearted, though he knows how overwhelming this must be. ]
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It's the little things. Got any non-salad recs?
[That said, he's out of it enough he'd probably eat a bite or two of even carrots without tasting it right now.]
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Pizza. It's the cheese-is-still-melting kind of pizza. The real good stuff. I might be talkin' myself into it, too!
[ Even though his stomach is full of butterflies right now, he can't say no to a slice. He grabs one from a hot plate and waits for Noctis to make his selection before heading back towards the seating area. ]
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Oh man.
[It smells so good now that he steps up to it, and ... yeah ok, he's getting a slice too. And something to drink and then following Prompto back.
Once they're seated, the smell of the pizza is enough to actually break through the awkwardness and the lack of appetite because it's cheesy and greasy and comforting, so he takes a bite... and maybe kind of groans a bit. This is really good pizza. It's not Iggy's cooking, but he doesn't even want to think about how long it's been since he's had pizza.
He closes his eyes a moment to savor it. Just ... give him a sec. It's literally been over ten years. Bahamut doesn't serve pizza in the Crystal.]
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Not that that makes it any easier to approach, considering...the gravity of all this. Hopefully poor Noctis won't be so tired after all this that he has to sleep for several days straight. (He probably will anyway.) ]
So...I've been here about a year. Crazy, huh? The others have come and gone a bit—you've come and gone a bit, too—but me...for whatever reason, I've been awake since this whole...Natha thing began.
[ Well, him and Ardyn, but, uh. He'll save that for later. ]
Time...works weird here with stasis. The last thing you remember from home probably isn't the same as what I remember, and if you go back to sleep, there's no guarantee you'll remember this place when you wake up again. Some people go back to sleep and actually feel like they're going home for months or more, only to wake up here again.
[ Yeah, it's a lot to take in, and it's hella confusing. Prompto only remembers all this because he's seen a lot of it firsthand. He stops there to take another bite of pizza, and to give Noctis a chance to collect himself. ]
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That's... pretty weird. Crazy's kind of an understatement.
[And he's seen a lot of crazy lately. But still... The wonkiness of time makes sense in light of, well, all this. He fiddles with his cup, trying to make sense of all of it and failing. This is just...
But what Prompto says about people going to sleep and waking up again...]
How... many times have I, uh... forgotten?
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...Three times, now. [ But he's quick to chase these words, before his friend can start feeling too regretful, talking with both hands. ] B-but it's not your fault. There's nothing anyone can do about it. It's just...part of being here.
[ A sucky part of being here, but it is what it is. Eager to clear the air a bit: ]
You've never come out so scraggly-lookin' before, though.
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But Prompto's remark on his scraggle luckily diverts his thoughts from turning too hard into alarming places, and he self-consciously strokes his beard, managing a weak smile.]
It's not that bad, is it?
[He takes a deep breath and lets it out, dropping his hand back to his lap and letting his gaze slide off to some distant point off to the side.]
Honestly, getting a hair cut has been the last thing on my mind for... a while. [He finds himself idly playing with the ring, silent for a few moments as he contemplates exactly what he can even say to Prompto.]
I... don't know what the last thing you remember back home is, but I'm guessing whatever it is was something that for me was about ten years ago.
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Prompto's eyebrows fly up, a look of shock and dismay written upon his face. ]
Ten years? You're pullin' my leg. You - you gotta be.
[ Prompto could scarcely think what Eos would be like ten years in the future from when he last saw it, considering how bad things had been. And Noct had been taken by the Crystal. Did that mean...
He really would return? But not for ten years? ]
What...what's the last thing you remember? From home?
[ He has to know. He isn't sure he wants to know, but he has to. ]