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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! |
no subject
(Sora woke up, so Riku must have won that fight… and there is no way he didn’t pay a price in return, he’s sure… even if he never actually asked Sora about that.)
The bit about fake memories… that must have been DiZ’s doing, Riku thinks – he has no idea how the older man had planned to contain the Nobody once captured, it hadn’t been important to him, not then. Not after what he had learned from Naminé.
In any case, it doesn’t matter now – not when Roxas clearly knows him through more than just the echo of Sora’s memories within him.]
People that wake here… their memories don’t always match. The last thing I remember before waking up from Stasis, is preparing to intercept you in the World That Never Was.
[Which is exactly why he had asked that question in first place.]
no subject
[For a long moment, all he can do is stare at Riku with uncomfortable intensity. He's already heard from Sora that the sleepers' timelines don't always match up upon awakening, which makes as much sense as anything else here. (That is, not much.) Hearing that Riku is so far off track is another thing entirely.
Roxas' gaze sweeps over him, bangs to toes. Sure, Riku looks about like he remmembers, minus the part where he'd gone all tall, dark and creepy, but he hadn't expected anything different. How much could a guy change in two years? But if he's saying it, it must be true. Even if he wanted to lie to Roxas, Sora is whole other story.]
Wow. [He rocks back on his heels a little, hands flexing into fists and straightening again.] Well, you intercepted me just fine. But you lost the fight, until you weren't you anymore.
[His memories of those final moments are more sensation than anything else—surprise, pain and a desperate desire to breathe until everything went black.]
I guess you already know that, though. [Just barely, his shoulders shoulders slump as he forces himself to relax.] And it was a long time ago. Maybe a year.
no subject
He nods at what Roxas tells him – he and Sora have never talked about what happened in the future, not really, because Riku has no idea how to talk about what he knows, what he is certain will come to pass – what sacrifices it takes (took?) to wake Sora.
(He just knows that Sora won't take it well, not from him and not that other existences have to be sacrificed for him – Sora could never make a choice like that. But things being as they are… well, there really is no choice at all.)]
I didn't know… but I figured that that's what would happen, even before I left to confront you.
[That's exactly why he had taken precautions, why he had asked Mickey to guide Sora, Donald and Goofy… because the three of them would certainly need it and Riku wouldn't be in any position to help them, not while wearing Ansem's face.]
For what it's worth… I am sorry.
[Not about having to do what he did (was going to do?), but that it had to happen. Roxas and Xion… neither of them had deserved the cards they'd been dealt.]
no subject
But it's fine. Roxas didn't really expect anything anyway.]
How can you be sorry for something you haven't even done yet?
[The tone is slightly sharp, the question rhetorical, but part of Roxas wonders anyway. Can regret work backwards like that? How much of their encounter was planned, and how much of the aftermath done in desperation to buy time instead of being carefully calculated while Roxas was unaware?
Well, now's the time to ask, isn't it?]
Did you know what he was going to do to me before you came after me? To keep me trapped until Sora could wake up?
[He doesn't even want to put a name to the fake life he had in the digital Twilight Town. Even if he understands better why such drastic measures were taken, it would still be like dumping a gallon of salt into a wound.]
no subject
If he and Roxas clashed here and now… would he lose too? Riku doesn't really want to find out, admittedly. With Sora awake here, it wouldn't serve any purpose for them to fight anyway.
In any case, he figures Roxas has a right to honest answers – whether his questions are just rhetorical or not. Riku owes him this much at least.]
Because even if I don't know the exact events yet, I know what the result of it is going to be. Was, for you.
['The only real solution...is for them both to go away.,' is what Naminé had told him, but Riku isn't quite about to put it into those words. Especially since…]
It shouldn't have taken your life to wake Sora.
[Not Roxas' and not Xion's either. As for the other thing…]
I don't know what is going to happen after… what did happen.
[Partly because he hasn't lived it yet, but also because…]
Retrieving the memories from you and making sure that Sora wakes… that's Naminé's task. DiZ maintains the pods and makes sure that Sora doesn't wake before it's time… and I'm the one who keeps them safe.
[From the Organization and from the Heartless. And well, given the lineup of this particular team it should be obvious why Riku was the one to face Roxas.]
Between that and keeping track of your movements, there was never a time or a reason for me to ask what would happen once I got you to the mansion.
[He imagines that he would (did) find out once that was accomplished… but before that there was no point in asking about what-ifs.]
no subject
So it hurts to have it confirmed that Riku had made the calculation that his existence was less important than Sora, sure, but it's kind of satisfying, in a weird way. Like popping a blister.
He gives a sharp nod at the acknowledgment of the cost of it all. No, it shouldn't have. Because it was a life, shorter than most but real and full and his, and it wasn't worth less than Sora's, no matter how much the worlds needed him. It could have been the other way around.
But...it had to be Sora.]
Namine at least tried to tell me the truth, even if it wouldn't change anything. And you... [He shakes his head.] It's something, I guess. Because I'm not in the dark anymore. I know who Sora is, I've been in his heart and I know him. So I get why it was so important for him to wake up.
[To save the worlds, be hero, do the important things that Roxas had never known about. He takes a breath.]
But you have no idea what it's like to see your friends run through you, and find out everything you've ever known is a lie. It was wrong. Not even Sora was worth that.
[He'd rather have been a prisoner, bound and penned in and knowing he couldn't affect his own fate. Being lost would be easier than doing the losing.]
no subject
Calculations and plans made, it's really almost more Naminé's judgment than Riku's, but well… since Riku was its executor, he will gladly take the blame. He can't say what was kinder; the ignorance that they had forced onto Roxas or letting him know the truth like he had with Xion… both options had their own kind of cruelty to them, but Riku knows that they had been short on time... which is probably part of why DiZ had designed that particular cage.
Roxas now seems to know more, seems to be somewhat at peace with the important parts of it.
Riku just tilts his head at that last accusation though, thinking back to the memory of the Islands, to the disappearing forms of Wakka and Selphie and Tidus, to Kairi fading away without even saying a word, to Zexion's cold hard truths (or his versions of it anyway)…
He is more familiar with what Roxas is describing than the other thinks, but there is no point in telling him that now.
So, instead he switches topics.]
What are you planing to do now?
this is now the timeline that never was
It doesn't happen, and despite everything he finds himself respecting Riku a little more.]
Dunno. Live, I guess. As far as Sora and I can tell, the Natha just split us in two again like it was nothing, so there's no danger there.
[To him, to Sora.]
It probably sounds dumb, but I never thought much about what I wanted to do after I found him.
[All he really wanted to do was be happy with his friends. That would have been enough.]
no subject
Circumstances being what they are or not, nothing changes what happened (will happen), and Riku can acknowledge that maybe they should have tried harder to find another way… even if the acceleration of the memory absorption through Xion hadn’t exactly allowed them much time.
The end result is that two existences were sacrificed for another, and it’s not fair to either of them. (It’s an unfair world they live in.)
He just nods at Roxas first words, it’s good to hear that there probably won’t be an issue about either Sora or Roxas suffering through their separation. Then, he can’t help but laugh lightly but not unkindly at the second part because:]
It doesn’t. I never thought much about what I wanted to do after waking him either.
[Apologize maybe… Riku had thought the few times he dared to daydream about being there to see Sora wake both in the mansion and later in the stasis unit; but when the reality of Sora waking had caught him on the wrong foot, he hadn’t had the slightest clue what to do with himself.]
You’ll figure something out. The world below the station is a pretty interesting one to settle in with plenty danger and opportunity alike.
[If Roxas wants to find out who he really is beyond his connections to Sora, the Organization and the Keyblade, well… Nysa will likely give him the opportunity to.]
no subject
He's never dwelled on it, never had time to dwell on it since learning who he really was, but looking at Riku now, Roxas can't help but think that once upon a time, Riku had technically been his best friend. Before he'd stopped being Sora.
But that was a long time ago, and after three hundred and sixty-four days of his own life, he can't ever go back to being Sora, no matter what had happened to his body. None of them can return to those times.]
Doesn't sound that different from the worlds I visited before. But I wouldn't mind getting to decide for myself what to do there.
[He doesn't know how aware Riku was of his daily routine back when he was with the Organization, but it's not a secret that he did what they told him to do in the end.]
Have you figured it out for yourself?
no subject
(Before he had seen Xion try to fight him and Axel for her decision, to protect them by giving up her own life… a decision taken from her with her loss of that particular battle… but at least it had been informative in it's own way; had confirmed Xion's thoughts on her fate, and the ever so slightest contrast between Roxas and Sora.)
Now that Roxas is truly his own person and there is no harm in letting him run free… who are they to another? Riku supposes that time will let them figure that out too.]
Oh, it's a little different than that… but you'll find that out yourself.
[He knows enough of what Roxas did for the Organization to make that judgment at least. As for himself… Riku thinks for a moment, then nods.]
Somewhat, I like to think. …Of course, that was before Ysverai nearly destroyed the planet. Whatever will happen now… I guess, that things might be different when the Natha awaken the world from stasis again.
no subject
But among other things, time has brought him patience and a determination to find his own way. Riku's right. He will find out for himself. He doesn't have to wait for someone else to tell him anything ever again.]
What are they, really, that they have the power to do something like that?
[It's half a rhetorical question. Riku might have more experience living here, but he has a feeling that doesn't come with a lot of hands-on interaction with the Natha.]
no subject
I don't know; none of us do. The Natha so far haven't really deigned to share anything about themselves, their powers or the Storm.
[Which is really one of the things that makes Riku wonder… given the nature of the Storm, wouldn't it be better to share their information with the refugees, so they can combat the Storm together?]
no subject
[Not that the castle had ever really been home. And he trusts the Natha slightly more than he trusts the Organization, if only because they didn't start out by betraying him. But that line
of thought is personal, irrelevant to what's happening now, and absolutely not something he wants to get into with Riku of all people.]
I guess it is, for now, whether we want it to be or not.
[He can think of better places for a new home. But he can also think of worse ones. He gives Riku a nod and start to turn away.]
I'll see you around, I guess.
[It's pretty much inevitable.]