( 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

[heisenbitch]

[ Jesse has just about got Ronan onto his side when he notices the smoke packets. And the blood.

...Huh? His eyes go wide with alarm. The fuck?! He's bleeding! ]

Oh, shit--

[ --But where the hell did that even come from?! He suddenly wants to throw himself back in surprise, but his hands are shaking Ronan, shaking him awake like they've got a life of their own. He hears himself urging at the same time: ]

Hey, hey, Ronan! Hey! Wake up, yo!

[ All while staring in wide-eyed bewilderment at the blood and the smokes. ]

[nightmarist]

[He's already awake, though it isn't obvious at first. Floating somewhere above himself, detached from the physical world while his body lies in a paralyzed state. All he can do is wait until his limbs become his own again.

Then, abruptly, Ronan's sitting up and sucking in a breath. His eyes dart all over the room before landing on the door.]

Am I alone?

[heisenbitch]

[ Jesse falls back onto his ass from where he was crouching when Ronan suddenly sits up. His hands slap onto the floor and he hurriedly scoots back a little across the floor, then freezes. His eyes dart wildly between Ronan's face and bloodied arms. ]

Just... just me, yo. Just me.

[ Eyes settling on Ronan's arms again. The cigarettes. Where the hell did those come from?! ]

Jesus. Y-Your arms, man...! Wh...?!

[ What the fuck?? ]

[nightmarist]

[Ronan looks down at his arms and grimaces. For the love of...]

I told you to wait outside.

[heisenbitch]

[ Jesse swallows shakily. Ronan's reply rebounds off his ears. He continues like he hasn't even heard him: ]

Dude, what the fuck?! [ Exclaimed at Ronan's arms rather than at Ronan himself. ] I was... I was j-just checkin' on you, and I swear to God, that shit just appeared, yo--!

[nightmarist]

Quit freaking out and go get me a towel or something.

[He has zero patience for this.]

[heisenbitch]

[ Jesse just keeps staring, dumbstruck, at Ronan's arms, at the cigarettes for a moment, before it registers what Ronan just said. He starts moving: quickly scrambling to get his feet under him, Jesse leaps up and charges for the door. He rushes back in about a minute later, a towel from a nearby bathroom clutched in his hands.

He hands it down to Ronan, though immediately takes a sharp step back the moment the kid takes it. Staring again. Just staring. ]

[nightmarist]

[Jesse's alarm isn't particularly surprising, even if it is annoying. Ronan simply goes about his business, mopping up the blood on his arms and dabbing at the places where it's soaked into his jeans.

Once he's (mostly) clean, the scars are apparent: running up and down Ronan's arms, ugly old records of near-death experiences. The knotted leather bracelets around his wrist do little to conceal them.]

Did the lights go out at all?

[heisenbitch]

[ Is he going mad? Did that really happen? Is he sure he saw what he thought he saw? Did he just somehow entirely miss the blood and smokes at first?! Nah, but that's impossible, because surely that would have been the first thing he'd notice. Shit. He oughta be used to weird shit happening on this ship by now, and yet every time something crazy happens...

He's still staring at Ronan, motionless and wary as all hell. ]

N...no.

[nightmarist]

[The flattest:]

Hooray.

[He picks up the bottle and immediately starts drinking again.]

[heisenbitch]

[ Nothing from Jesse for the longest minute or so. Finally, he moves from the spot, though, heading to the nearest seat with a dumbfounded caution. He slowly sits down on the edge of the seat, looking at Ronan's arms and the cigarettes and at Ronan himself with mystified eyes. ]

What... what happened? How did you...?

[nightmarist]

[Ronan says nothing at first. He takes another gulp of liquor before setting the bottle down, then reaches for his shirt. Once he's fully dressed, he sits cross-legged and hugs the bottle to his chest like a teddy bear.]

Nothing I say is gonna make sense to you. You saw with your eyes. Just believe them.

[heisenbitch]

[ He's trying to believe them. Still trying to comprehend how the blood and the cigarettes just came out of nowhere while wringing his hands together between his knees. If this kid wasn't creepy as fuck before, he's way beyond anything creepy now. Yet, Jesse can't help but start marvelling at the kid, too. Even if he can't work out what the hell just happened. ]

Holy shit, yo.

[ This time, awe is creeping into his voice. And then, suddenly, a laugh. Disbelief. Amazement. ]

Holy shit!

[nightmarist]

[Yes, it's oh-so-amazing. Ronan allows himself to be privately pleased with Jesse's enthusiasm for a moment before the dread rolls right back over him. This is not something he's ever allowed a stranger to witness, and it wouldn't have happened if Jesse had followed his instructions.]

Will you keep it secret?

[heisenbitch]

[ That laugh of Jesse's instantly morphs back into bewilderment as his eyes rake over Ronan and land on his scarred arms. They snap back up to his face at his question. ]

Huh? [ And then it registers what he was asked. ] Oh. Yeah. Yeah, man. Yeah, totally. I mean...

[ His eyes drift back down to the cigarettes. ] It's... It's-It's not exactly something I'd, y'know, want everyone knowin' about. [ Eyes settling back onto Ronan's arms. ] I mean, Jesus. Does... Does it hurt? Like... whatever the hell it is you did?

[nightmarist]

Sometimes.

[If they catch him. If they outsmart him. Ronan didn't cut his own arms like this, despite what most people assume.]

It could've hurt you, too. That's why you weren't supposed to come in.

[heisenbitch]

[ Even though he doesn't understand any of this, he doesn't doubt the kid telling him it could have hurt him as well. Still: ]

Dude, how was I supposed to know? Your warning was kinda cryptic, yo.

[ Too perplexed and mystified to argue, though, he immediately follows that up with: ]

...You're okay now, though, right?

[nightmarist]

[He's about as okay as anyone might be after killing themselves. Ronan purses his lips and says nothing, taking a drink from the bottle instead.]

[heisenbitch]

[ Jesse wrings his hands together again as he watches Ronan swig from the bottle, uncertain what to do, what to say. ]

D'you need, like... a medic or something? 'Cause I can call someone up from med bay if... y'know...

[nightmarist]

You'd know it if I needed a medic.

[Because he'd be bleeding out on the floor.]

Stop worrying. It's over now.

[heisenbitch]

[ He can't help it: there's a creeping part of him that's starting to feel guilty. The kid looks like shit, and sure, maybe this whacked out shit is something the kid is used to back in his world, whatever world that might be. The state he's in, though, because Jesse wanted cigarettes...

He rubs his hands together and looks down at them, elbows resting on his knees. ]

Shit, man, when you said six hours to get smokes, I thought you meant you were gonna, I dunno, just loot through people's stuff or something.

[nightmarist]

[Oh, motherfucker. Ronan's eyes roll towards the ceiling. He's going to have to do this, now. He's going to have to reassure this guy. He snaps it out:]

This isn't your fault.

[heisenbitch]

[ Jesse looks up at him. The snapped tone the kid uses passively washes over him. He doesn't say anything, just keeps watching Ronan in silence that's as mystified and awed as it is guilty. His gaze moves to the door, which is wide open; he gets up from the seat, crosses the room and shuts the door. Locks it, too, so no one can walk in.

He returns to his seat. He figures the kid will tell him to leave if he wants him to. If he doesn't, though... well, Jesse is just gonna sit here. Keep watch, just in case. He at least owes the kid that much. ]

[nightmarist]

[This bewilders Ronan on a few levels. He's not sure if the locked door is for his sake or for Jesse's. He doesn't know what Jesse sees when he looks at Ronan. Sure, Ronan's aware that he's frightening to people, although almost none know enough about him to truly understand why. He also knows that he's a sacred artifact: something that people have killed to obtain, if only for the sake of displaying him in a glass case. To Gansey, he's a marvelous creature. To others more enlightened, he's a god.

To himself, just a child. Just a schoolboy. Just an orphan.]

It would've happened without you.

[Are they clear on that?]

Either way, I needed to do it.

[heisenbitch]

[ Ronan asked if Jesse would keep this a secret; locking the door at least offers some secrecy, even if anyone who walked in now would probably just think they were drinking it up together.

He rubs his hands together between his knees again, understanding what Ronan is reiterating: it's not his fault. Sure. Okay. Jesse might finally look convinced but he's really not. ]

So, you... You gotta be passed out? To do...?

[ Eyes dropping to the cigarettes. That. ]