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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! |
NEVER BE SORRY
He grooms himself, but that's about the extent of it. He's never had to use his teeth like that, and while he almost pulls back and tells her no, he gets curious. It passes quickly, and he can't deny it does feel better. He'll remember that when they're back on El Nysa facing this for real, and not in a simulation.
They could leave at any time, but he'll be damned if he's not going to tough it out, so he rests his own chin on her head, just above her ears and huffs a sigh. He might have the empathy of a wet sock, but he knows when something isn't right.]
What's the matter, Ammy? You got something on your mind, too?
no subject
His question has her ears beginning to tilt back guiltily, but the instant the second one is asked, especially with that too tacked on has them springing back up. Of course she'd key in on this, on what might be troubling him. Is it only what occurred, despite it being out of his hands? Is he worried about something more, did something else happen while she was in stasis?
She doesn't lift her head for a moment, but she does groan quiet whines in badgering vocalizations to ask him these things. Hoping her inflection finds him. Hoping he hasn't forgotten that he was improving in what he could glean from her. If nothing else, she has the reverberations and sounds of someone concerned. Then, careful of him, slowly, she raises her head. Not too high, only enough to seek out one of his little hands to lick at the pad of it, cleaning and grooming again, idle and soft in her maternal instincts. A mother rubbing circles into a child's palm with her own thumb.]
no subject
That frickin' dragon worked us over. And Rasyc caused a lot of problems long before that. You missed something pretty bad, lady, but don't beat yourself up about it. [He dodges her tongue and lays the hand on the top of her nose, wrapping tiny human-like fingers around her muzzle.] Seriously. If I tell you what happened, you better not blame yourself, all right?
no subject
Don't blame herself. Does he know her this well? Had she spent enough time with him he learned she doesn't know how to not burden herself? There's a piercing sensation in her heart, because she wants to say she's thankful he notices things about her; and she wants to say, but she ought to be more than this. She ought to be capable of more.
All that she's seen, even before The Storm, mother that she is, to ever know she was powerless stays with her. She is good about not lingering over it, about moving forward to focus on what she can do now, or instead, but she lets it live in her as a reminder. As her inspiration, as ammunition, as drive to prove herself. I'm sorry, let me try better is the kind of thing it causes in her.
Her head is weighted in his lap, a deep, drawling whine rumbles over his legs. It's hassling, she won't. She means, she'll try. She means, she needs to be aware of things. Inching closer, she keeps her presence unavoidably close to him, too furred and warm and thumping heart to be ignored. She wants to know, Rocket.]
no subject
Awhile back, that Rasyc dude had his goons kidnap a bunch of us. They brought us out to some abandoned place up in the mountains, tied us up, and tortured us. I, uh... I haven't really been good in the cold since, I guess.
[It's not very detailed, but he wants to see how she reacts to that part first... and he doesn't want to overwhelm her maternal instincts.]
no subject
Listening, the more he says, the stiller and unmoving she gets. Her heartbeat increases, brutalizing, pounding without rest inside her, and though human ears wouldn't be able to detect it, he can probably hear it. And slowly, almost unsettling, all of the fur on her starts to rise, to stand jaggedly on end, perturbed. The sensation of her vibrates over him, like she might be clenching her shearing molars, as if she's holding back a contemplative and agitated growl.
In the snow, she has toes and claws splayed, and her thighs are tense with the urgency to spring up, but she doesn't move. It's as if she's readying herself to snap some invisible hand that might snake out of the air for him. Hasn't it been enough? He was tortured before. There's really no other way to describe what she's feeling: something seething, a god's wrath housed away, the love that usually dominates it, that she has for everyone, that she has for him trying to keep it sheathed. The guilt is there, gasoline under the fire of her fury, and she doesn't move because she has nothing to bite. She doesn't move because there's nothing she can do.
And, for the most sensible reason: she doesn't move, because he's here now. She tries to soften herself, her disposition, but she's angry, she's angry. She moves to rest her jaw carefully at his chest, to blanket him further, wanting to embrace him, and to hold him, and livid that she can't. And that she can't verbalize the words I love you, no matter if he scoffs or thinks they're stupid, so he can hear it, and know that she means it, and no matter what, and that she's sorry, she's sorry she's weak.]
no subject
Bastard's dead now, anyway. You couldn't get at him even if you wanted to, don't worry about it, okay? It was a whole thing, and besides... It ain't like you can control when they're gonna put you back under. Nobody can.
no subject
The snow, not violent but still tenacious, has coated them, and she takes a minute to shake herself free of it. Then rather groom what's sprinkled over him clean, she's nudging her head cautiously against his side, hoping not to cause pain, but to encourage him back onto his feet. They need to walk. They've sat here too long.]
no subject
God, it's good to have her back. He's still so closed off around everyone else, and Ammy's the one person he knows won't (and can't) talk about his being vulnerable.]
Yeah, this simulation sucks, huh? C'mon. Let's do something that don't involve freezing our asses off.