( tdm 13 )

[hohnkai]

T E S T D R I V E

my evil twin, bad weather friend "I know someday I'll meet him, but I don't know where or when." 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. ) Every day, the ship gets closer to its destination: the Midway Hub. Answers as to how to the fix the broken Ingress and send everyone home are sought there. Your captains, both old and new, have been working together peacefully to make the trip a little easier, though events occur that are well outside of their control. After having made the last cargo supply stop at the Mini Colony, the Moira and its crew are on the last stretch of its journey. The Ingress, for the majority of the time, is left off and only turned back on during testing; that's when new crew and other items come through. It's October on the Moira, and it's been far, far too peaceful.. ☄ older and far less kind get clowned when I come around On one of the ship's many stops, a group of sentient, flying whale-type natives were stumbled upon. They were friendly, although unfortunately hunted for a substance they produce, and the crew paid a group of mercenaries to keep these beings safe. Now, early afternoon, red lights begin to flash, and Captain Ira makes an announcement. A gam of a less advanced sub-species of those gentle giants is in the ship's path, and crew are told to make their way to the Observation Deck, Tower, and anywhere else that affords them a view of space. When the beings move closer to the Moira, the captains send out non-explosive decoys that can be remotely operated by the crew—lead these beings away from the ship so that the Moira can safely pass through. ☄ graveyard smash i was working in the lab, late one night Let's set the scene. It's early in the morning. Those who don't sleep or sleep very little already know what's going on as they've been roped into helping by the Captains. Everyone else wakes to a surprise. Some universes celebrate holidays like Halloween or Samhain, and this one is no different. First Mate Egan's home is known for honoring the dead on October 15th of every year, and after approaching the other Captains, they've decided to celebrate it on the Moira. The observation deck is decorated with candles and lights, music playing in the background. Small gift boxes are left outside everyone's door; a MID message explains that each crew member is to put something inside and then place them on the observation deck. At the end of the day, each crew takes a random box. A device that alters the gravity around a single object is used to make drinks, food, and gifts and float through the air. Everyone is encouraged to relax and have a good time. ☄ section t unfinished business, that's what There are many locations on the ship that are inaccessible, either because they are locked unless crew have clearance or for some an unknown reason. Section T is one of those such areas. Crew are known to get lost in this area, and hear voices, among other things. Having this brought to the Captain's attention, an expedition of sorts ghost hunters in space has been organized, and anyone who wishes to join will be paired up and sent in with their MIDs on alert to track their paths. Not long into the search, it will become clear that something, or someone, is displeased with the large number of people wandering through. Some unlucky crew will stumble across an apparition and those who are luckier won't. It's relatively harmless, and appears to only seek to scare everyone out of Section T. 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

[cadeuces]

[ His reaction is answer enough, and her thumbs are quick to smooth over sleek metal digits as she draws his hands up between them and steps up a little closer. He sounds pleased to see her and that is all she could ever ask for. Her smile won't fade until she's picking up on that scrap of hesitation remaining, brows furrowing just the slightest as her head tips in silent question.

Honestly? She doesn't even know where to begin explaining all of this to him. Yet somewhere quieter, somewhere more private would be an immense beginning, so she's taking a moment to look him over— no denting or damage to his body armor, and he seems to be steady on his feet. No dizziness then, which is another plus, but the rest she'd have to ask. ]

Oh, give me a white coat and I'll fit in just about anywhere there are medical tools, no matter where in the stars you may find me. Are you feeling all right...? After the arrival, I mean. No dizziness, nausea, any residual pain or pressure?

There are private exam rooms just over here, if you're fine to walk.

[ Not like she'd be letting go of him in the first place, but she wants to make sure he's doing all right before she's tugging him off anywhere. ]

[fallensparrow]

[He catches her silent question, but a small shake of his own head is his answer: he's not about to get into it here. But he gives her hands a light squeeze to assure her.]

I was dizzy when I first arrived, but it has faded since. And I would appreciate the privacy, thank you.

[Compared to his behavior only seconds before, he's done a complete 180. But Angela is a doctor he knows and trusts, and she understands his body like no one else could. He doesn't have to be concerned with unnecessary poking and prodding. He follows her toward one of the rooms without complaint, chuckling as they walk.]

Did you ever consider that one day you might say something like 'no matter where in the stars you may find me'?

[cadeuces]

[ It must be... a different time; she won't think about his last appearance anymore. He's here now, and he's smiling for her, and that's enough. (She's always been able to hear it in his voice; they've been friends for... almost twenty years now. Even if she couldn't keep in reliable touch with him once he'd left, it hadn't changed their dynamic. She still has every inch of him mapped in her memory, remembers all his little quirks and changes in tone, his body language.

They'd once been necessary to communicate— the language of pain, first and foremost, but she began to learn when he was relaxing, when the pain was easing, when he was calm. Then, eventually, when he was happy, and when he's holding back laughter to preserve a joke. It had all been preferable to the bristling of anger or the slow curl of self-loathing that had sometimes overtaken him. She lets go of one hand and her touch slides up from the other, hooking her arm about his to guide him off to the side. ]

I'm glad; just in here then.

[ Angela's only glad she'd been here to help him. He's led into the small exam room and she shuts the door behind them with her placard on the outside, going so far as to lock it before gesturing to the slightly more comfortable chair on the corner and going for the rolling stool to pull up. ]

Did it sound too romantic? "I saw my chance and I took it", right? Now, where would you like me to start? I don't have too much information on this place, but I have been here for a couple of months. My favorite aspect, though, is having Jesse here. He's grown quite handsome!

[ The rest... well, she didn't need to overwhelm him right off the bat and he also wouldn't really know the rest, and she doesn't want to put too much on him and make him anxious. She'll see how he does with the other information she gives him, and give him the time to speak if she wishes before jumping into examining him. He can make the first move on that front. ]

How have you been?

[fallensparrow]

[Genji is quickly distracted from the idea of starting in on the physical at mention of that particular bit of news, perking up at the name.]

McCree is here as well?

[His tone is one of tentative excitement, for much the same reason as he hesitates around Angela. The gunslinger is another of the scarce few that Genji could count himself close to in his days at Overwatch, and another that he hadn't treated how he should have. That, on top of his abandonment of Overwatch, makes Genji somewhat nervous of meeting Jesse again. He's not sure how he'll be received.

He can only hope it'll be half as well as Angela has received him. Which, speaking of...]

I have been... well. I am a new man now. [And there's a happiness, a joy there in his voice that wasn't present before, couldn't be. As soon as it appears he tones it down.] But there is something I need to do before I speak of my time away.

[He dips his head low, a contrite gesture, taking Angela's hand in both his own.]

I need to apologize to you. The way I treated you was terrible and inexcusable. And I need to thank you, both for the second chance you gave me and for never leaving my side, even when I was at my worse.

[cadeuces]

[ She knew it'd strike a nice chord and his (tentative, even so) excitement leaves her smiling wide and resting her fingertips gentle at his knee to lay down a tether between them. She'd always been careful with him even when she knew he was no longer in pain; by then it'd only become habit. A handful of years wasn't enough to sway that. ]

He is; what he's been doing is an entirely new story, but he's doing well. Wouldn't you know it, he's even sweeter than before, too.

[ Angela's sure she knows exactly what his worry is, can see it in the way he sits stiff and his hands brace on his thighs, head slightly lowered. ]

He'll be so happy to see you, Genji. As soon as I clear you from medbay, I'll call him down. I won't be able to leave for a few hours, but he can come see you.

[ His voice leaves her heart swelling and she's glad down to her marrow to hear that tone in his words, that humble happiness as he announces himself. The progress he's made. She's absolutely beaming to hear it and the moment he's reaching for her hand she's using both of hers as well, just taking the moment to soak up his joy and the ease with which he reaches for her and she wishes she could... spend more time here. Listen to everything. Yet he has something else to say and his head dips down, and her smile fades to something inquisitive, inviting. ]

Genji... [ Her brows draw up and she gives his hands a gentle squeeze, rising from her seat just to sink one knee on the edge of his chair and guide his hands to her back. So she can wrap her arms about his neck and hug him 100%. No one's allowed to be sad in her medbay!! ] You don't need to apologize; there's nothing to forgive. The way you'd acted all those years ago was part of the process. You were in pain and your life had changed so drastically— I understood that from day one. I'd been ready for it. It wasn't my first, fifth, or even tenth time in such a situation.

[ And she punctuates with a little squeeze, settling into him easier. Which isn't to say she'd ever done anything nearly so drastic for anyone else, nor had it been in such uneasy terms. But she had done plenty of cybernetic prosthetic surgeries and the like, and they were never easy. Genji just... had happened to be less so and far more severe. All those hours in surgery, vitals dropping often, and the worry in the days that had followed when the trauma could have been too much for his body to recuperate from— Angela had been terrified.

That he woke up at all was reason enough to forgive him any of his future transgressions. He had survived. That was all that had mattered. The life dropped into her hands in sharp little shards was carefully reassembled and tended to with all the care she could muster. And he had lived. ]

You're absolutely welcome; it was my honor. And I'm so glad you've made use of this chance— you seem much happier. More at ease with yourself.

[ Her voice softens with the statement, warm and thankful and so, so grateful for what she can only hope is acceptance. She won't let go of him until his grip loosens. ]

[fallensparrow]

[She catches him, of course. Genji is sheepish about it for all of a second, but it's quick to fade under her reassurances. He trusts what she says, and more than that, Genji can't shake his excitement anyway. The circumstances may be far from ideal, but having both of them here is a boon for Genji that he never could have expected to have again, short of answering the recall Winston had put out. And even that wouldn't have been a guarantee.

And of course, as always, she is so forgiving. Genji understands that that his recovery process was hardly unique, that people in pain, both emotional and physical, have a habit of lashing out. That Angela must have seen such time and time again in her line of duty. But he still feels terrible for it, and he's incredibly thankful for another second chance. To make up for the ways he hurt her, specifically. He's quiet about that, of course, knowing what she would say about that line of thought.

Instead he says, in a tone that's incredibly fond,] You haven't seem to change at all. I am relieved to see it.

[People like Angela were one in a million, and Genji is truly blessed to have her in his life. And now, back in his life as well.]

I am. And I would be glad to tell you about my time away. [A squeeze of her hands, before his voice takes on an amused tilt:] But perhaps once this physical is taken care of?

[Get formality out of the way so there's more time to talk.]

[cadeuces]

[ Angela would always catch him. She'd been forced to learn his "language" when he had attempted to hide his pains or skip out on physical therapy, or he didn't follow recommended care. Genji may have given her his fair amount of grief, but he had still been dear to her. He was still her friend. Her arms slip from about his shoulders and she draws back from the hug to seat herself back on her stool with her hands in his, hearing the fondness in his voice as he speaks of her. ]

I'm as stubborn as ever, no? Though I promise I'm not immortal; I've changed a little.

[ She had lost people dear to her, after all. And she had some part to play in what Gabriel is now. Six years away from her loved ones, minimal contact, Jesse having left her without a trace. They're not easy things to recover from, but she had done her best. Sometimes that's all one can do. His further reassurance that he's doing well and that he's happy is a balm, and her smile only widens and warms further, squeezing him right back. ]

All right, if we must. May I get your helmet and chestplate off?

[ Her hands slip from his and she moves to wash her hands, don gloves, and get everything needed for a very routine run of his vitals. Listen to his breathing and his heart, get his blood pressure, check for any damage from the pressure and arrival— any damage to his ears or burst vessels in his eyes, then check his limbs over and ensure no fine damage was hindering his processing or sense of touch. ]

[fallensparrow]

[He nods, moves into the process of removing the requested pieces of his armor as she prepares to check him over. The sounds are so familiar from his visits to her in the past, it's somewhat comforting at this point. Once his his helmet comes off she can see the amused look on his face for herself, a curl of his lips that comes with an ease that could never have happened before. It's a far cry from the trouble that weighed him down before.]

I never would have thought I'd see you putting off checking the health of another.

[Of course it's because he hasn't shown any urgent need for it, and this is the first time they've seen each other in... years, so it's nothing more than a tease. He's excited to catch up with her as well. Easier to do that with the necessities over with.

Not that they can't talk during it. Case in point, as he revisits a different topic - ]

Then I suppose it is more accurate to say the best parts of you haven't changed.

[The open fondness in his voice is reflected in his smile, nothing but warmth and affection.]

[cadeuces]

[ Her laugh is soft and easy when he's teasing her and she returns to her seat, warming her stethoscope in her palms as she's always done as she refuses to take her eyes from his face— entirely too fond, really, but it is so good to see him, and with the soft amusement there, it's an expression she's never seen on him. It suits him well. Everything about his new demeanor and outlook suits him— everything she knew he could be and more. With the chestplate off she reaches over to maneuver off the back piece as well, fingertips passing over his skin and pleased to see that the scarring hasn't tightened; still elastic and flexible. ]

I'll admit, I had a bit of catching up to do with you first before running headfirst into an exam. Deep breaths for me, dear.

[ The warmed end is pressed to his chest between slender fingers, her hand even warmer where it flattens against scarred skin and she closes her eyes to focus on listening, passing it over from one lung to the other on each set of inhale-exhale, then she's moving it to his back for much the same.

When she finishes and he's speaking again, her smile turns to something humble and she inclines her head in "defeat" before moving in to place a friendly little kiss to his temple once she's checked his eyes and turned his head to pick at the framing and check his ears as well. The smooch was in exchange for that warmth in his voice (and a distraction as she slides the blood pressure cuff up his arm, nestled higher than usual to reach his flesh-and-blood arm followed with the stethoscope pressed just below it as it begins to inflate.) ]

That is kind of you to say, Genji. You're going to make me blush!

[ She already is, really, the faintest dusting of pink rising to her cheeks, but it's elation more than anything. This couldn't even be classified as "flirting" for him; it's entirely fond and reverent, and she honestly isn't entirely sure how to handle it other than "with grace and humble deference". It would take some getting used to, this calmer and happier Genji, but she is looking forward to it with all her heart. Her attention turns back to measuring his blood pressure, which has always been something of a chore when done manually, but she can't trust the readings of his suit just yet. She'll compare her findings after to see how accurate his systems still are.

When it finally deflates, she slips it back off his arm and nods with a tiny pleased hum, glad that nothing has shown up yet. So far so good. Now she can move into checking over his body, head to toe. Opening panels where she can, getting a look at the readings and checking him over thoroughly (still, non-invasively). ]

I am so glad to see that you have changed; it seems as though it's been for the better. How have you been? What have you been up to?