( 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]

[ Okay, thinks Jesse. And, finally, he's actually a little more convinced. ]

Does that mean... you gotta have someone watchin' you when you sleep? All the time?

[ Sorry for all the mystified questions, Ronan. ]

[nightmarist]

Doing what I do uses a massive amount of energy. It doesn't matter back home, but I thought you should be nearby in case I started to make the ship's power systems fail. I can't stay awake forever, so it seemed better to figure out as soon as possible if it was gonna be a problem.

Usually, it's better for me to sleep alone. As far away from people as possible.

[Remember how he asked if he was alone when he woke? There's a reason.]

[heisenbitch]

[ Jesse may still have a somewhat dumbfounded, incredulous look on his face but it's sinking in what Ronan is saying. It's all starting to make sense now - why it mattered so much that Jesse woke him if the lights went out, why Jesse shouldn't have come into the room. ]

Mosta the crew sleep in dorms here, man. I mean, you probably got assigned a dorm, too.

[nightmarist]

Yeah. That's gonna be a problem.

[And he's not sure what to do about it, except... sleep as little as possible.]

[heisenbitch]

[ Jesse thinks for a moment, still absently wringing his hands together. ]

A few of the crew have got private rooms. Like, just them and no one else. Maybe... I dunno. You could talk to the captain? Or something? Tell him you gotta be on your own?

[nightmarist]

[Very quickly and firmly:]

No. No one can find out about this.

[heisenbitch]

Shit, man, you can't just, like, not sleep or whatever!

[nightmarist]

I'll figure something out.

[heisenbitch]

[ Jesse studies Ronan, thinking, leg jiggling up and down with nervous energy. He looks back down to the smokes. He's gotta do something after the kid made those cigarettes appear. Attention back on Ronan. ]

Well - look. I'm the janitor, yo. I work more 'round the whole ship than most people. Means I can find places. Y'know. That you could sleep. 'Til you figure out somethin' else.

[nightmarist]

[Ronan hates this. He doesn't want anyone's help. He doesn't want his nature known. He wants to fade out of sight and be left alone. For a half-second, he's nearly envious of Noah.

Before he remembers how terrible that really is.

Taking a swig of mystery liquor, Ronan looks away from Jesse. First to the far wall, then to the floor. He draws his knees up and sort of hunches further into himself.]

There's probably a closet somewhere.

[heisenbitch]

[ Maybe he should leave the guy alone. Maybe he should just leave altogether. He's not so stupid that he can't see the guy ain't comfortable or remotely happy. Why would he be? Jesse's leg keeps jiggling with that same nervous energy. ]

What if you just... I dunno. Tell the captain you're a real light sleeper or something? It ain't like you gotta tell him the truth.

[nightmarist]

That won't do anything and it'll just draw attention.

[He can go forty-eight hours, at least. Right? Maybe seventy-two. Maybe at some point he'll restabilize and not have to worry about waking up covered in blood or bringing monsters with him. Sleep like a normal person. Be a human.]

[heisenbitch]

Dude, at most, people'll just think you're an antisocial jackass who hates being around other people. Which, y'know. Ain't gonna be much of a stretch, given your already super charming demeanour.

[ It needn't be said that that last part is said with extreme sarcasm. ]

[nightmarist]

[That elicits one of Ronan's super-scary glares. He says nothing.]

[heisenbitch]

[ That look chills right through Jesse. His leg stops jiggling and without realising it, he shrinks back a little in the seat. The look itself is scary enough; knowing Ronan is capable of... whatever it is he's capable of makes him terrifying.

In a tone that makes Jesse seem suddenly small: ]

I mean, I'm just... I'm just sayin', yo.

[ He should probably just shut up altogether. He quickly looks down at his fidgeting hands. ]

[nightmarist]

You are going to keep this secret, right?

[Because it sounds like Jesse might do something stupid while trying to be "helpful".]

[heisenbitch]

[ Eyes snapping back up to Ronan. His hands spread out, like 'dude, seriously??' despite that chill still crawling down his spine. ]

I told you I would, didn't I?

[nightmarist]

You seem like the kind of idiot who tries to make things better and actually makes things worse.

[Ronan Lynch: heartless motherfucker.]

[heisenbitch]

[ That stings far more than it should. It's not like Jesse knows Ronan, but Ronan also isn't wrong. The look that drops onto Jesse's face might as well retort, "you know what? fuck you". ]

I'm not gonna tell anyone, alright?

[nightmarist]

[It's not that Ronan was trying to twist a knife. The truth simply comes out of him, cold and cruel. There is a reason everyone in his life speaks about Ronan's lack of a soul.]

Just making sure.

[heisenbitch]

[ 'Just making sure'. Sure. Whatever. Jesse slouches back in the seat and looks away, hands on his lap, thumbnail picking at his other thumbnail. Nothing but tense silence for a couple of beats, until Jesse finally returns his eyes to the packs of cigarettes. His thumbnail picks a little more insistently at his other thumbnail at the craving thought of lighting up. His body is practically screaming for a nicotine hit. ]

D'you smoke?

[nightmarist]

Not really.

[He's fine over here, nursing this bottle of whatever.]

Don't hold back on my account. I didn't make them just for you to stare at them.

[heisenbitch]

[ He's back to feeling like an asshole for wanting those smokes so bad after what Ronan did to make them happen. He's also still afraid of him, and pissed off at him for that comment Jesse knows he totally deserves. So, Jesse does nothing but keep staring the cigarettes until the craving for nicotine finally wins over. He pushes himself off the seat and approaches, warily eyeing Ronan. Crouching down, he picks one of the packs up. When he returns to the seat, he turns the pack over in his hands, studying it. Quietly puzzled all over again at how the kid made these appear out of thin air.

Jesse looks up at him, turning the pack over and over in his hands. He can never sit still, not even for five minutes. ]

Why'd you decide to do this? Y'know. [ Gesturing with the packet. Why'd you decide to do this for me, huh? ]

[nightmarist]

[Ronan's appraising eyes settle on Jesse again. He always looks at people for a little too long, stares a little too hard, like he's not only reading the surface but also seeing deeper. Which is nonsense, of course. Psychics exist, but Ronan isn't one of them. It's simply an impression.]

I wanted to see if I could still do it.

[heisenbitch]

[ Jesse would have asked why Ronan thought he couldn't, if he wasn't once again being stared at like that. Jesus, it makes Jesse so uneasy, makes him feel like Ronan can see under his skin, can see all the rot and filth and sickness that Jesse is underneath it all.

He focuses on flipping the pack open and inspecting the cigarettes instead, pulling one out, studying it, marvelling it, before pursing it between his lips. He reaches into his hoodie pocket for his lighter and when he lights the tip, he takes a long, deep drag. He slumps back against the seat with his eyes closed like he's savouring every molecule of nicotine filling his lungs. That sadist, Shepard is going to kick his ass for smoking. Whatever. Let her. As he exhales smoke into the air, he brings the cigarette back to his lips for another long drag. His leg has resumed its nervous jiggling, not that Jesse is really aware he's doing it.

Unable to stand the silence any longer, he opens his eyes and says: ]

Man, I haven't had a smoke in over a week. Maybe longer. Who the hell knows how time even works in space.

[ Well. Mr. White would probably know, or at least be able to explain it better than Jesse could ever hope to understand. Jesse quickly takes another long puff. ]