( tdm 12 )

[hownkai]

T E S T D R I V E

leavin’ on a jet plane "Don’t know when I’ll be back again." ABOARD THE MOIRA The Ingress has pulled you in. Your body experiences 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 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. Once equilibrium has been reestablished, you will notice you are standing on a long platform and that the room is filled with a soft cerulean light. It's slightly humid and dark despite the glow around you, and nothing is familiar. Shortly after, you are led out and toward the medbay. Inside this room, you are given a physical scan and offered a contract to sign that states you are now part of the crew of the Moira with a specific job. Any questions you might have would be answered in a straightforward manner as well as an explanation about how the Ingress, the thing that has pulled you onto the Moira, is broken and bringing people here unintentionally. This process also consists of a complete work-up of medical history and current health, and afterwards, you are given your MID, a device that is integrated into your hand or wrist with only the slightest pinch. From there, you are guided out of the medbay and to your living quarters. Whether adjusting to space travel has been difficult or not, there is always something to be done. From working to leisure, the Moira offers a multitude of opportunities to get to know your crewmates a bit better. Exploration of the ship is highly encouraged. You may notice a slight change in the artificial gravity every once in awhile; however, more noticeable changes can be found in overall morale of those of the crew. ☄ on your own There are plenty of other communal areas on the ship to explore! Pick a place, and see where it takes you. ( These scenarios can be used as in-game canon. ) The day begins normally. Or almost. The Moira has accidentally fallen along the trajectory of an asteroid barreling its way through space. While most things like this are not uncommon, and the ship is far from any potential danger of collision or risk of debris damaging the exterior, there is something particularly odd about this specific occurrence. The rock itself appears to give off a strange light that is both eerie and alive. Often, if looked at in just the right manner, it will shift colors; so, while one person sees one side of the spectrum, someone else could see something entirely different. At first, things continue on as they usually do aside from the glowing asteroid alongside the Moira, but as the hours go on, that does not seem to be the case. ☄ the hours are breathing resignedly beneath the sky the melancholy waters lie With a rather open view of stars and space, thanks to the skylight above, the pool in the rec area suddenly comes alive beneath the light of the asteroid filtering in. Perhaps it’s some natural response to the chemical composition of the water, or perhaps it’s magic. Yet, regardless of the explanation, those who happen to take a dip suddenly find themselves plagued by despair. The depression and melancholy are not subtle changes either; it slams into you with great force, like a punch to the gut. The longer you remain in the pool, the deeper it grows, like an all-consuming paranoia that settles into the back of your mind and causes your heart to grow heavy. These strong feelings will eventually fade if you choose to leave the pool and dry off, but as long as you remain damp from the pool, those emotions will continue to linger. Even after you’re completely dry, there will be no mistaking just how intensely you felt or why. There is no explanation and might not be. Would you dare a second swim to test whether or not it was a fluke? ( These scenarios can be used as in-game canon. ) ☄ those who have crossed the eyes are not here, there are no eyes here The walls are shrinking in. Every room you step into feels much too small, like there isn’t enough room to even breathe. A crowded place becomes startlingly empty, and no matter how much you run, how much you explore, there is no one there to comfort you or answer your calls for help. Hallucinations run strong between the lulls of obscene loneliness or claustrophobia, and exposure to the glow of the asteroid is really the only thing to thank for that. You’re desperate to claw your way out of the ship—open the emergency hatch in the Cargo Bay, bust the glass of the Observation Deck. What’s worse is that it’s not just you. It’s catching, and the fear of being next is very real. It feels like you’re being watched, that everyone around you is looking and seeing everything you are. Or are not. The only way to make it stop is to admit that you’re afraid of being seen, but who, in the deep madness of the self, has the courage to ever admit the truth? ( These scenarios can be used as in-game canon. ) ☄ the sun in flight rage, rage against the dying of the light Something has drifted its way onto the Moira from the outside. Unlike the faint luminosity they give off, they suck up all the light around them, making them the only source to see by. From far away, they are just flitting balls of light, but if you get close enough to inspect them, they are mean. And have sharp, sharp teeth. Go poking, and they will bite you before trying to fly away while taking that only light source with them. The option to avoid them is quite easy if you’re not the curious sort, but without them around, it will be impossibly dark. As the asteroid moves on in the opposite direction of the Moira, these light creatures begin to dissolve and fade away with it. However, a word of caution: their bites glow. If you don’t manage to find the one that bit you and capture it between your hands, the bite will become a permanent glowing fixture of your body. ( These scenarios can be used as in-game canon. ) OUT OF CHARACTER INFO FAQ | LOCATIONS | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS | NAVIGATION For mature or graphic content, please label. For questions, please direct them to the FAQ. As always, be kind and have fun!

Comments

[lostsymmetry]

<Welcome to Domesticon warranty and recycling center #127: Keeping your Domesticon products efficient, so you don't have to be. This is the automated system administrator.>

[...and that prompt, he doesn't get to cancel. Whoops. There's a beat of hesitation, and the AI continues.]

...Never did get around to that, actually. Washington, huh? Cool. That's an Earth reference, right?

[lostsymmetry]

Makes sense.

[Not that he's managed any real sort of look around. The camera checks both ways, but at least for the moment, they seem to be clear.]

What kind of model are you, anyway? That was some, ah, quick improvisation.

[Frisbee. Combat. It is impressive that she thought of it... even if it's at least as baffling. What even?]

[sparkwhisperer]

I'm afraid with your history that just isn't possible. You defected, Deadlock, that isn't something that I can just turn a blind eye to.

[Tarn passively gestures to him, knowing full well that he's not in any condition to fight Drift. But, that doesn't mean that he wont find a way to blackmail him eventually. It just may take a bit of time.]

You must take responsibility for your actions

[a_shadow]

She presses the soap into his hand, then steps back to get out of the spray of water. "I had to get your attention," she says unapologetically. It's his own fault for being a brat about it

[avicula]

We could ask for a map.

( it's a decent enough suggestion, but dutch isn't inclined to trust anyone here just yet, and that means she'd be double-checking any map provided by someone here, anyway.

so - ) Or make our own.

[yorisearching]

[There's no point pretending to be other than digital when she's been clumsy enough to make it obvious how the power drain affects her; the captains of the ship already know. Yori hopes her new acquaintance isn't the type to use it against her.]

I'm only a program. I was written to analyze code or data and warn my User of errors.

[She quirks a small, pleased smile toward the camera, not taking her eyes off the ends of the corridor. The compliment applies to both her function and her free choices.]

Learning to defend myself and others is more of a personal goal. Something I wished I could do back when the disappearances started and my home system lost all its freedom. Anyone caught wasting energy on inefficient processes such as friendship would be taken away and deleted.

[Memory darkens her expression. This voice speaking for a system doesn't sound anything like the arrogance of the MCP or Sark, but...]

I hope your system and those aboard ship are a little kinder to programs.

[beside_myself]

Church huffs and rolls his eyes - but he's just playing, a tiny smile on his face. "Words work too," he mumbles, starting to lather up Tex's body with the soap.

[a_shadow]

"Mm, occasionally." They had definitely just experienced a situation where words were the last thing they needed. She had learned it was better not to tell him about his previous stay on the Moira—and she is determined not to say a word about it from here on out. Ever.

She smirks down at him as he begins rubbing the soap on her. "By the way, if you want to check out the classroom with me, you can worry about looking into your own job until later." Not exactly an invitation, but the spirit of it is there—she doesn't want to part from him. Not after what they've shared and the connection they've made today.

[beside_myself]

Church glances at her and quirks an eyebrow. "What, are you allergic to asking?" He teases, his face morphing into a grin.

[psychadrellic]

[Ashley Williams...? He has no idea how common or uncommon those particular names are, but based on the things she's said, and based on the information he's been gathering since arriving here. Well.]

Commander. Is that, by any chance, formerly Gunnery Chief...?

[The amount of unbelievable things he continues to encounter just keeps getting bigger. He never knew the woman, but he knows that one of Shepard's comrades, Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams, was killed in action, a couple years ago, on Virmire.

If this is the same person....Well.

When she moves to sit up, he reacts accordingly, shifting his own weight to better support her through the motion.]

As far as I can tell, my faculties are intact. However, based on what I have learned since arriving here, I am beginning to suspect that you may be remembering things which I have not yet experienced.

[Or things he won't ever experience...at least, not unless Williams somehow pulls a Shepard sometime in the near future and comes back from the dead.]

[psychadrellic]

[Mostly with Shepard...the Shepards.

Interesting.

That does narrow things down a bit. And even if he can't figure it out on his own, he has no qualms about asking Shepard. Or Tali. Perhaps Tali, first, if possible. He would prefer to acquire more information on the pair of Shepards before encountering one or both.

Thane isn't the type to insist on continuing a conversation when one of the participants is clearly ready to end it, so he nods, and gives a slight bow.]

I see. Thank you for the information; I'll let you get back to work.

[a_shadow]

"I'm not going to tell you what you should do," she says dismissively, as though that's what he said. "Want to go to work? I'm not going to stop you." She's enjoying him rubbing his hands on her, and she wriggles a little, pressing into it with each part of her as he moves—a set of movements that sort of resembles a sensuous dance, in a way.

[beside_myself]

"You wanna ask and you know it," he teases, running his soapy hands over Tex's thighs, then ass, the back up to her shoulders. He didn't think she would react so positively to just simple touching.

[a_shadow]

It's been so long since she's been touched, considering she hasn't slept with anyone else since Church had disappeared. It feels good, and she's only wanting to encourage it. When he returns to her shoulders, she moves in closer so that he's hugging her.

"And I know you want to come, so I don't really need to, do I?" she says, tweaking his ear with a light pinch of her fingers and a small tilt of her head. She knows it's the kind of thing he'd do, to refuse to come because she didn't ask, but she doesn't think he'll actually carry through with it if she ended up needing to call his bluff on it.

[liberaltus]

Well I can't be fussed too much, can I, I'm beginning to feel fetching under your gaze. [Referring to the intense way Adam is staring at him. Of course he knows it's concern and interest in the effects of the glass and the circumstances surrounding what had happened.

Still, Dorian does have to tease, it's just the natural order of things.]

I'm sure glass structures are very modern, sadly we still use wood and stone in my world, but it certainly stands the test of time. [Structures from the Imperium are still standing thousands of years after they've been built, not a thing changed.

One thing Dorian can be grateful for is a drinking companion who can keep up, there's more wine where that came from. Granted for his part Dorian is more for savoring his wine, not that he's sipping it daintily.] I'm sure you would have no shortage of patients to admire you, but to answer your question, I do not think they've made much headway in the glass catastrophe. I'm hoping it is just a temporary affliction.

[Not unless someone is keeping it really hush as to not get anyone's hopes up. Dorian's hoping for progress soon, however, because protecting his neck is becoming a pain in the neck.]

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

[God Tarn don't make movements it makes Drift twitchy. He manages to stop himself from going for his swords again, at least.]

Leaving the Decepticons was the best choice I'd made in millions of years. I'd do it again in an instant, no regrets. We live in an age where Megatron himself has realized how terrible the Decepticons have become. You're fighting a losing battle, Tarn.

[Maybe taking jabs at fucking Tarn of all people wasn't the best choice but god he's already sick of this shit.]

[psychobabblery]

[Sorry, she doesn't glow, though with the bright orange she's yet to change out of, that might not count for much. She tilts her head and watches the jelly chase scene ensuing down the hall. Not a very good view, much too dim, but it's enough to get an impression and those light beams aren't hurting, either.]

You might want to watch out for the teeth during your target practice.

[fibrosis]

[ he inclines his head a little bit. ] Sounds like fun. I'm in.

[ granted, he's also going to ask for a map. he doubts she doesn't intend on the same despite the phrasing, but the most telling thing would be whatever differences show up between either potential version. he isn't sure whether or not he trusts this place yet, but then again he's been having issues with trust and faith lately anyhow. ] Any points of familiarity so far?

[serialtagger]

[ Bystanders oh shit- uhm. Yeah, Delsin skidds to a halt and stops firing for a second, or even several seconds to look the girl in bright orange over. So far the lightshow doesn't seem to bother her...? Which... he's assuming is a good thing for now. His hand's still glowing and ready to fire, light radiating up his arm in steady waves. He considers toning that down, but hey, it's a light source that's neither a jellyfish nor in the process of being eaten. ]

Seriously? [ Sighs, shakes his head. ] Guess I should've seen that coming.

[ The dubious up side? The jelly isn't really going anywhere, slowly starting to absorb the light Delsin has left along the hallway. He just scowls at it as he spots it. Beamspam doesn't seem to have done, well, anything. ] Those teeth scaled to size, at least? I mean, being in space, I'm willing to suspend a lot of disbelief.

[psychobabblery]

Yes, I'm afraid so. We could hardly have mysterious floating objects without those.

[That's how zoologically dubious creatures roll. Speaking of which, no, she's not particularly alarmed by the whole laser light show he's got going on. So long as he keeps the beams pointed away from her eyes, we're all good. Besides, if she wants to know, she'll figure it out eventually.]

They leave some of the glowiness behind as a gift. Magnanimous little things. As far as I can tell, the glow just... glows. Try not to get bit anywhere you'd miss.

[sardonical]

[ Stiles gives him a look like he's talking to the homeless man trying to convince him that the world is ending. ]

No, I haven't been to space before. I'm seventeen. I was in high school.

[ He sounds completely unimpressed. ]

[hatesimprovising]

[ The next automated message gets a far more suspicious squint. This is definitely weird, and it definitely feels like some sort of malfunction on the AI's part. The hesitation that follows only points further in that direction, as far as Wash is concerned. ]

Yeah, it is.

[ But he's hardly interested in focusing on his name or the origins of it, sorry computer. His interest in you is far greater. ]

So you don't have a name, is that what you're saying? Don't people have a tendency to give names to sentient beings? Even ones they put in charge of a facility?

[ All of the universes he's met artificial intelligences from since arriving on the Moira seem to be that way, so if this one really doesn't have a name, it's the odd one out. And an odd one it truly does seem to be. ]

And what's going on with your automated messages? Don't you have any control over them?

[sardonical]

Stiles. Everyone calls me Stiles.

[ His hand starts to twitch rapidly and he can't tell if it's good or bad that the nervous energy is going somewhere. ]

So... we're in space.

[ And his skills with girls haven't improved. At least there's one constant. ]

[sardonical]

[ Stiles somehow manages to not point out that she's probably smarter in a situation like this than Scott is. Having Scott would still be easier somehow. ]

Sometimes other people help, but you might count as two teen-aged werewolves where the planning part is concerned.

[ Oh, right, because they've got two brains here and zero brawn. Hopefully they won't have to fight anything, but that's just not been Stiles' life experience lately. ]

[hatesimprovising]

Well, maybe Hallucination Church would be less sarcastic. Geez, you try to offer some good advice, only to get this kind of thanks? Church officially earns his first sour look from Wash, who proceeds to huff an irritable breath.

"I'm not trying to make you feel welcome. I'm making sure you know what's important." Essentially: do not trust this place or really anyone at all. Crossing his arms over his chest, Wash's eyes narrow and his gaze remains firmly attached to Church. "But if you'd rather go into this trainwreck unprepared then please, be my guest. Just don't come crying to me when you wind up dead again."