tdm 16

[savmods]

test drive meme

Ingress travel can be disorienting, but there’s no need to worry! All side effects are temporary and lessen with each trip. Your body may experience several sensations at once: being pushed forward as if a hand is resting on your back, momentary and startling blindness, a gentle ringing in your head. You may have difficulty discerning whether it is hot or cold, but where you have been prodded is noticeably warmer than the rest of you. Some may suffer from dizziness while others are perfectly fine. You notice that the area you are in is filled with a soft cerulean light and feels slightly humid and dark despite the glow around you. Regardless of your current state, however, the stress of initial Ingress travel forces your body into unconsciousness.

Waking up is another story. Or maybe it isn’t.

You find yourself in a nondescript room; sometimes with others who have found themselves in the same situation, sometimes alone. A medical tech is always present to explain what’s happened before giving you some clothes, a TAB, and a guide that discusses things in further detail. This entire process also consists of a complete work-up of medical history and current health in order to obtain your signature—a specific frequency that will allow them to hone in on exactly where it is you’re from in order to get you back there.You spend your first week on the Ingress Complex while other accommodations and arrangements are made for you.

welcome to thisavrou

---

escoria

⋆ Escoria is classified as Exploration Class (EC), and travel through the Ingress is mostly smooth except for one issue: anyone with powers or abilities will find that the distortion between worlds has temporarily caused problems accessing them. Essentially, it has left all travelers depowered. Another similar issue comes in the form of the location of Escoria’s Ingress—seemingly in the middle of a vast ocean, the Ingress is balanced precariously on a set of buoys connected to a small floating dock. Once on this dock, it is clear there is no getting anywhere without some transportation. Testing the dark waters will find it unbearably cold, though not cold enough to form ice, and far off in the distance, between the mist and ever-constant gray light - where’s the sun? - some might even notice what looks like an island.

⋆ The boat that eventually comes to your rescue isn’t very big, one of a fleet used to transport visitors from the floating Ingress platform. Only a few passengers are allowed on each one--a maximum of six. The boat’s captain is quite insistent that each group remain small, handing out blankets to those who did not come prepared for the chill. It isn’t too much trouble as there are a great many boats and plenty of natives to pilot them. The weather is cool, the skies are dark with rain that might fall, but for now things seem alright. Leaning out on the rail, you might see some shark-like sea creatures breaching the surface to breathe. Of course, you might also see quicksilver figures darting underneath the water from the corner of your eye, which is then followed by a sharp rocking of the boat. Did something nudge the vessel? Maybe you ought to make sure people stay back from the sides in case they fall in...

⋆ Despite the calm appearance of the sky, the worst has happened. A storm hits at just the right time to drive your boat against one of the multitudinous reefs, roughly jarring its passengers, and then, the waves continue to batter the ship against it until it falls to pieces. You get lucky and find a piece of debris to hold onto to keep your head above the water until the storm passes, although it’s some time before even a calm comes. Once it does, you have to deal with the facts: you’re stranded with minimal supplies, all alone except for the other people who were on board with you when the ship went down in the waves. And what’s worse, the water isn’t getting any warmer. What do you do to survive until help, hopefully, arrives? Will you make an attempt to swim to shore or wait for someone to send another boat?

⋆ The few who manage to weather the storm and make it to one of the few islands of Escoria are, indeed, lucky. What lies beneath the surface of those dark waters is much more dangerous and deadly. Distant cousins of Thisavrou’s native Gorgona of Region Four, these nameless creatures are ruthless as they hunt. They slither the shallow surfaces of the reefs spread out across Escoria, waiting for even the slightest ripple of water to alert them to their prey. At first, looking into the water reveals nothing. Then, the closer these things come to the surface, the faster it begins to change and look as if something familiar, something you long for is calling to you. It can be a person, alive or dead, or it could be something intangible like a goal waiting to be fulfilled or an object waiting to be touched. This is how they lure the unsuspecting below the surface, and once they have their claws in you, it’s very difficult to escape. The urge to be with them is impossibly strong regardless of the fact that no one can hold their breath for that long or survive the deep cold of the water for longer than a few minutes.

Your only chance of escape? Someone who might have noticed that you’d suddenly slipped under without a sound. Or, if by chance, you manage to snap off a piece of the coral in the reefs. It changes with the shape of the holder, and that, if you’re lucky, might be the very weapon that saves you.

---

OUT OF CHARACTER INFO

FAQ | LOCATIONS | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS | NAVIGATION

For mature or graphic content, please label.For questions, please direct them to the FAQ or the Feedback page. Any scenarios listed (unless otherwise indicated) can be used as game canon. As always, be kind and have fun!

Comments

Matt Holt | Voltron: Legendary Defender

[tookashirototheknee]

I. Exploring the Complex

[This is... not what he'd expected. Then again, he hadn't come to expect much after a year and a half of various captivity. Going from work camp to cells to an experiment table and back really took it out of him.

He's given clothes, which he puts on almost without thinking, tossing his slave rags in a corner. If he's here, he's going to explore. It's not long before he's wandering the complex, peering into doors and rooms curiously. Apologies if he's in yours.]

II. Escoria

[Now this is more like it. Planetary exploration, a hint of danger, and new things to explore and find. Matt's in his element, taking notes, testing a few things here and there... until he starts looking into the water.

Curious. It's his house back on Earth. And there's Katie in the yard stargazing. And dad coming home with Shiro. All he'd have to do is take a couple steps forward, and he'd be home. Everything would be peaceful again. Just one more step. Someone might want to grab him.]

SCREAM HI I mean 1

[im_a_leg]

[Hunk is making his social rounds, heading back from work, when he spots a dead ringer for Pidge. He's about to go and tap her on the shoulder when he realizes that it's ...... not Pidge

No way

No way.

Hunk clears his throat.]

Uh.. dude. You're not Pidge's-- uh, Kate's brother by any chance, are you?

[tookashirototheknee]

[He's startled for a moment, instinctively pulling back from the sound before he takes a breath. Wait. That guy's a human. He hasn't seen another human since the Arena. And then. Katie. His eyes widen and he nods.]

Yeah, I have a little sister Katie. Do you know her?

[There's a hopeful look in his eyes. It's been so long.]

[im_a_leg]

[Hunk just... stands there for a second. He can't say anything. Then he breaks out into the biggest grin and laughs, stepping forward to scoop the guy up into a hug.]

Oh man, she's gonna be so stoked to see you, man. She's been searching pretty much all of space looking for you. We were buddies back at the Garrison but now we fight bad guys in giant robot lions in space. Kinda a long story.

Oh! Shiro's here, too. He is also gonna be wicked happy to see you.

Name's Hunk, by the way.

[tookashirototheknee]

[Ok, overload city. Matt freezes for a moment, eyes widening, but manages to hug back. And then everything processes. Katie. Takashi.]

Katie's here? And Shiro's here? He's alright? I'd heard rumors that he died.

[That day sucked. He doesn't remember much of it.]

Uh... sorry. I'm a bit muddled at the moment. It's been a long few months. I'm Matt, but if you know Katie, I'm sure you know that. Good to meet a fellow Garrison kid, and especially a friend of Katie's.

[im_a_leg]

[Hunk promptly lets the poor guy go, grinning and scratching at his cheek a little.] Heh. Sorry. I get excited sometimes.

Yeah, he's totally fine. I mean he's had some bumps, but he's actually our leader! Kinda like team dad. We all have a house here, and you are totally gonna live with us, yeah? We have the space for sure. Did I mention that there's real food here? Because there's real food.

Oh yeah, I found your photo when I was snooping through her diary. She's been pretending to be a guy for awhile and I thought she was you in the photo. Totally thought she was .. her girlfriend? Your girlfriend? Whatever, it's all a little weird.

Everyone here and on the team calls Katie Pidge, so don't let that throw you. Your sister's a total genius, by the way.

[tookashirototheknee]

[Matt can't help the stupid fond look on his face.]

I always told him that he's a great leader.

[A pause, as if he's remembering how to do things, or processing Hunk's information.]

Well, uh, if you don't mind me living with you, I wouldn't mind people I know, and I'm sure I could be of some help. Doing something.

[He looks confused for a moment.]

Wait. Why was she pretending to be a boy? It's not as if she couldn't get into the Garrison on her own, even if Dad and I weren't a factor. She's fucking brilliant. And I'm surprised you still have your hands if you were rummaging in her things.

ii NO MATT STOP D:

[shadowblends]

[This isn't his first time on Escoria and honestly, it's also not the first time he's asked himself why he came back here, but he knows. Being a teleporter is helpful in situations like this, which means as long as boats continue to get lost, he'll come back whenever needed to help search and make sure people don't remain gone.

Or, in this case, end up falling into the water.]

Stop! [he exclaims, reaching out to take hold of Matt's shoulders, backpedaling a few paces to keep the both of them from ending up submerged in the icy depths below. He tenses when he notices that he's impulsively touched the stranger though, withdrawing and attempting to bury himself into the oversized hoodie he's wearing.] ... it's not safe.

[tookashirototheknee]

[Just that touch startles Matt out of his thoughts. That's not home. He hasn't been home in years. Turning, he blinks a couple times, letting out a long breath.]

Oh... thank you. I, er, wasn't paying enough attention.

[shadowblends]

[As Matt turns to face him, the blue boy shoves his hands into his pockets, suddenly glad that he'd tucked his tail beneath his jacket and decided to wear shoes. (It was too cold without them, honestly.)]

You're welcome. The water is rather cold, so I imagine you wouldn't want to fall in.

[tookashirototheknee]

Yeah. Um. Especially considering it seemed to be trying to draw me in.

[He glances over at the water for a moment, wincing, then turning his attention back to the boy in front of him.]

I'm Matt. I don't think I've seen you before.

[shadowblends]

It has a habit of doing that. There are creatures that attempt to drag you under. I'm not sure why, but it's best to not--

[Matt looks away and Kurt pauses, hoping that he doesn't have to reach out again to keep him from trying to go in. He breathes a sigh of relief and straightens, iridescent eyes flickering beneath the dark of his hood, past the bangs attempting to obscure his face.]

That's because we have yet to meet. A pleasure, Matt. [His fingers twitch in his pockets, like he wants to offer a better greeting, though his hands stay put.] My name's Kurt.

[tookashirototheknee]

That would be an interesting way of catching prey, dragging it under with visual hallucinations. Difficult to control, but doable, I guess.

[He pauses, thinking for a moment, then finding his manners. He's curious about the person in front of him, but considering he's spent months with violent purple space cats, he's not too surprised.]

Good to meet you, Kurt. Sorry for rambling off there. What're you doing here in this particular spot?

1

[shiro2hero]

[He's in and out of the Ingress Complex on a regular basis these days. The dubious benefit of being a space taxi driver -- he'll call it a shuttle pilot, though, because that sounds way, way better. Regardless, this particular run involves some cargo.]

[No problem. Better him than one of the smaller drivers.]

[He's got a big package hoisted over one shoulder when there's a brief flash of a face out of the corner of his eye. Oh -- wonder what she's doing up here --]

Checking on the Ingress tech again, Pidge?

[tookashirototheknee]

[At first he doesn't react. That's not a name he knows. But after a moment of not paying attention, he realizes he's being addressed.]

Sorry, I'm not... [He turns around, finally, and his eyes go wide, a combination of surprise and relief and excitement. He swallows, trying to find his voice, which comes out really small.]

Shiro? You're...alright? And...you're here? I...really hope I haven't lost it enough that I've progressed to hallucinating.

[shiro2hero]

[It takes all of half a second before the voice registers. Before he stops walking right in his tracks. He doesn't know if the feeling in his chest is hope or anticipation or panic or what. But it's cold, hot at the same time, something squeezing while he tries to tell himself this is his imagination. Nothing more.]

[And then he turns.]

[He turns and it's like time hit a screeching halt. All he can do is stand there, staring. The box over his shoulder takes this moment to abruptly fall out of his suddenly limp grasp, scraping across bare metal. He's not armored, not today, and he's abruptly conscious of the alien sound of metal fingers flexing.]

[That's. Not Pidge.]

... Matt?

[tookashirototheknee]

Hi. Um.

[He just stands there, feeling very small and very out of place next to Shiro, who seems to have gained about twenty pounds of muscle since he saw him last, as opposed to himself, who has lost about that much.]

[There aren't any words that are coming right now. What is going on with Shiro's arm, what did they do to him, but he's alive and he's here, and that's what matters, right? He just stares, starting to shake a bit as his emotions begin to well up, remembering the last moment he saw his best friend, and the moment he thought he'd lost it.]

[Eventually, after a long moment, he finally finds his voice again.]

you're... here.

[shiro2hero]

[Hi.]

[Just that. Just that one simple word. From a ghost. Pidge... she'd told him they'd found out her brother was alive, but this is wildly different. This is actually seeing him. Actually looking into the face he'd last seen collapsed on a floor.]

[Looking like he'd betrayed him.]

[They're both standing there, stunned. And at the back of his mind he just keeps thinking he needs to tell Pidge, he needs to tell her, call her. She needs to be here. She deserves to be here. He shouldn't be the first person to see...]

Yeah. I... yeah I am.

[The words are woefully inadequate. Ghosts of what he wants to say. Of what he should say.]

Katie -- she's here, too. [That, at least, he manages to scrape together before the weight in his chest gets too choking.]

[tookashirototheknee]

[Matt can't talk, can't move, can't think. It barely registers what Shiro's saying. He's not sure what he can say, what he wants to say. Everything is a mess as he stands there, in the middle of a hallway, looking up at the person he last saw being pulled away to what he was almost certain was going to be his death. All because he couldn't handle a fight. It was his fault.]

[He tries to talk, but he can't, words gone, especially as he just stares at Shiro's right hand. He did that. It was his fault that his best friend is now... whatever he'd consider himself. Swallowing, he tries to find his voice, but it cracks, still quiet.]

um. good. Is she...alright? They didn't get to her, did they?

I. BECAUSE *SCREECHING*

[pidge_out]

[There are still days when Pidge actually goes out to look at the Ingress, just to see if there's anything new to learn about it. Half the time there isn't, and she kind of just ends up talking to a few of the engineers about what its recent behavior has been like. That had been the plan today, and she'd actually kind of been looking forward to it.

She definitely doesn't expect to see a familiar face as she heads in that direction.

There's no way she could mistake it for anyone else. Searching for the names and faces of her missing father and brother amidst alien crowds, video feeds, and prisoner lists is something she does without even thinking about it. But this... This is the last place she expects to see Matt.

Pidge halts immediately, eyes wide as she stares at him in disbelief, her heart pounding in her ears.] ... M--Matt..??

[tookashirototheknee]

[That voice. Matt freezes in his tracks and turns, a smile cracking across his tired face, as he steps toward her. He's thinner than she'd remember, weaker, and definitely slightly older-seeming.

His smile, however, is pure Matt. He holds out his arms to her.]

Katie! I... are you alright? What are you doing here?

[pidge_out]

[At first she's really just... frozen in place. Her feet feel heavy and her head is spinning and this exact moment is all she's wanted for the better part of - fuck, it's been almost two years since the last time she saw her family now. That realization is almost too much in and of itself, and there are so many questions to go along with it all (Is this real? Is he really okay? Have we actually found him? Am I hallucinating? How did he get here?) that Pidge can swear the ground is just falling out from beneath her feet.

And before she knows it, she's launching herself at him for a hug. He looks so tired, so thin, and that scares her, but it's okay now because she can bring him home and help him bring some color back into his face. It's okay because he's safe, even if they're both stuck in this weird new place... But they're together. And that's a start. Besides, Katie looks pretty different herself. She's Pidge now, short messy hair and baggy clothes with a replica of her brother's glasses on her face. She doesn't look as soft anymore, not after the time spent training at the garrison and fighting the Galra almost everyday. So much less girly-looking than Matt must remember her.

She starts crying as she clings to him, even though she really is trying her damnedest to hold it back.] W--When did you- Are- Are you okay??

[tookashirototheknee]

[Katie. His bouncy, cheerful, excitable little sister, now older, wiser, and... looking frighteningly like himself. He wraps his arms around her, and just holds her tight, trying not to cry himself, but failing, a few tears falling in her hair. No matter how she looks now, she's still his family, his dearest sibling, and he adores her. There are so many questions he wants to ask, so many things he's missed, but he has no idea where to start.

It's a long time, even after she asks the question that he can find his voice, cracking from the tears that are still coming.]

Okay is relative, but I'm here, and you're here, and that's all that matters. I haven't been here long.

[pidge_out]

[That answer has her nodding vigorously, even as she presses her face against him just to convince herself further that this is real. Her brother is here, and alive, and she can hold him and feel like a little kid again, like she's home again and bugging her dorky big brother to tell her about space for the millionth time.]

I- I knew you guys were alive, I knew, the whole time, th-there was no way it was a-an accident like they tried to tell us... [She manages to get the words out through her sniffles and hiccups, and fuck she can't stop shaking.]

[tookashirototheknee]

[He has so many questions, so many things he wants to know. Why does she look like him? Why would they say it was an accident of all things? How is Mom holding up after everything? But for now, the most important thing is Katie. Questions can wait.

He pats her hair, like he'd done many times after scraped knees or mis-steps, shushing her quietly.]

That's because you're smart, Katie. I've got you. Get it out. I'm not going anywhere now, ok? I'll stay here as long as you need me to. Ramble if you have to.