tdm 14

[hohnkai]

T E S T D R I V E

Survival is the exception "living is an act of courage." THROUGH THE INGRESS 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 rocky planet. Former crew of the Moira are there to greet you, and it’s a grim message they have to share. The Moira has crashed and is beyond repair, but there’s good news... the destination the crew has been heading towards for over a year? You’re standing on it. But before you get into exploration and survival, it’s best to deal with the effects of coming through a broken Ingress. ☄ slip and trip find your footing fast Coming through the Ingress has left your character with one of three changes - an age slip, a form of body horror, or an extreme weakness. The first, the age slip, will mean that the character is either older or younger and this change can’t be rectified during their first month in game. The second, body horror, comes in the form of an alteration to the character's body due to whatever they were carrying at the time they came through. If they were wearing a watch, it’s now fused to their wrist, clothes are permanent, knifes replace fingers, and many other alterations (anything goes) and it lasts the first month as well. The third, extreme weakness, can be a mental or physical decrease - weaker arms, legs, or the weaker ability to talk or do math. ooc: the choice of change is up to each player and this prompt can be game canon. ☄ introductions aren’t awkward as long as you don’t shake their hand too long A new planet. Physical and mental changes. Talk of a ship that crashed and a Hub that is home to the ‘creators’ of a technology you’ve never heard of. A lot is happening and the best way to sort through it is by getting to know the Moira’s crew. They’ll help you settle in and get you any care you might need, all the while informing you that the group is on its way to the center of the hub. Something that might seem mundane is an absolute necessity for survival. Ask a seasoned space traveling veteran for answers and guidance. ooc: this prompt can be game canon. ☄ dealer's choice just make the right one Characters have the option of coming through an Ingress that is any possible location on this planet. It can be inside a cave, at the top of a rock formation, etc. This means you can have your character have to climb or slide down, have them yelling for help, and have other characters see them and come to their aid. Your character's arrival is completely up to you, and since this is a unique situation that hasn't happened before, go nuts with it! ooc: this prompt can be 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

[otiosity]

Yes, please do. That personality flaw has kept me out of the lovely ladies club for far too long. Everyone shall be informed and no lady shall be left out.

[She likes the way this woman thinks! Not that Hawke sees herself as much of a lady but the idea that she could be if she wanted to to make a point is tempting. And at the other woman's agreement, they start moving. Slowly and a bit awkwardly but with good progress. Hawke does her best to find the smoothest ground possible because the ridiculous shoes Pepper is wearing but it's easier said than done.]

Good! "We" is everyone else who was on the same space ship that I was on before it crashed here. So you missed the most exciting part if you can believe it. We've set up a small camp down that way. They're the people who would hear screams and hopefully come to our dashing rescue if things go south.

[efficacy]

Well, that is a travesty. I'll be sure to start putting together an outline as soon as I can.

[ She's not entirely sure what she's even talking about anymore, but the point is she has your back, brosis. And perhaps she's excused if she's being a little ridiculous right now. Speaking of, excuse!! they're very expensive Jimmy Choos and only a little ridiculous. :( ]

Did I? I guess that's good news, at least. [ Stuck on board a space ship hurtling into a planet doesn't sound like a very good time. She glances over at Hawke with a look of sympathy despite her own distress. ] That must have been terrible. I'm sorry to hear it.

[otiosity]

Good. I have a list of people whose foreheads I'll stick it on.

[SORRY GIRL. Hawke thinks that any shoes that are not boots are ridiculous. Especially the ones with heels. At the look, Hawke gives a shrug with the arm that's not around Pepper's waist.]

It's... somehow not unexpected. Most of us managed to escape unscathed. Honestly, I'm just happy that another ship didn't end up crashing on top of us after we landed. That would be our line of luck.

[efficacy]

A stack of Post-Its would come in handy now.

[ Idle talk, but really those things would be perfect for any and all forehead-sticking purposes. ]

Oh. That's... encouraging. [ Or not. Like, at all. ] This sort of thing happens a lot, then?

[ What charmed lives you guys lead! Is more or less the implication. ]

[otiosity]

All the time. It's sort of... imagine the worst that could happen in any situation and then double it. That's usually what's happening to us.

[Not that it's actually terrible ever single second but it's best to prepare people with the worst. They walk in silence for a minute or so before Hawke turns back to Pepper.]

I'm supposed to introduce myself, aren't I? Especially since we're getting all in each other's personal space. It does make sense to call someone you have your arm around something other than "hey you". I always forget these sort of things. At least my excuse is that I was literally raised in the woods.

[She shifts and offers the hand of the arm that isn't around Pepper's waist.]

Hawke.

[efficacy]

[ To be honest, Pepper was expecting the answer to be more along the lines of nooo, not at all, this is an isolated event and nothing more! and as much as she usually appreciates honesty and straightforwardness, now she's not entirely sure whether she would have preferred a little white lie.

Frowning slightly to herself, she mulls on that in silence until Hawke changes the subject. Oh. Pepper hadn't thought of introductions, either, and she usually -- again -- adheres to such courtesies. Well, this isn't a normal day by any stretch of imagination. ]

I've been called worse, but you do have a point. [ Taking her hand off the mabari's back, she shakes Hawke's with a small, crooked smile. ] Your name is Hawke and you were raised in the woods?

[ Little known fact about Pepper, she loves lame puns. Anyway... ]

Pleased to meet you, despite the circumstances. I'm Pepper.

[otiosity]

The two are surprisingly unrelated. It's more an ironic happenstance.

[At the name, Hawke tilts her head and looks the woman up and down like there's suddenly a spectacular new dimension to her that Hawke had never seen before. But based on everything she knows, the pieces are falling into place.]

Hmmm, you don't happen to be the same Pepper who Tony Stark pines for when he thinks no one's watching. Or that he thinks he has the subtlety to pretend that he doesn't miss you when he talks about you? The infamous and famous Pepper Potts. Please say yes. I'm going to get so many gloating privileges and the power to demand a raise.

[efficacy]

[ The other woman's sudden perusal is a little odd, but Pepper gamely waits it out. She doesn't expect what comes out of Hawke's mouth when she's done, the neutral expression on Pepper's face shifting to something more startled instantly. A peculiar cocktail of feelings pours through her at the news; surprise, dismay, relief and helpless endearment at the implication of pining, freckled cheekbones coloring slightly. ]

Wh-- wait, he's here too? Tony? [ That would be a yes, Hawke. :') ]

[otiosity]

He is!

We arrived here around the same time. I'm his bodyguard officially. Something like a friend more unofficially.

[Oh, she's blushing, that's so cute. But Hawke is a kind soul who won't comment on it.]

So basically when we arrive back, you ought to go on at length about how I did an incredible job of rescuing you and you would be a dead corpse with fancy shoes if not for me.

[efficacy]

His... bodyguard?

[ Pepper breathes a tiny laugh, amusement intruding upon every other emotion coursing through her. Tony had moved Happy, his bodyguard-slash-chauffeur back home, to work at Stark Industries security recently -- poor Happy had no longer been taken seriously by everyone else. What superhero had a bodyguard, after all? Plus, Hawke isn't exactly built like a bodyguard, but Pepper knows better than to judge a book by its cover. ]

Well! In that case, I'll be sure to gush properly to get you that raise. Me and my fancy shoes are very grateful for the timely rescue.

[otiosity]

Bodyguard. Which is just a fancy name for "go around and bother people he doesn't like and pretend its work". Then for some reasons, the captain decided to promote me officially to "Head of Ingress Defense". No one even asked me if I wanted to take on such a responsibility.

[The injustice! Hawke sniffs and then gives Pepper a sideways grin. She's starting to see why Tony likes this woman and perhaps a bit about why she puts up with him.]

Be sure to point out how expertly I avoided large rocks that could damage said fancy shoes. He cares about that fancy shit. It's another feather in my cap.

[efficacy]

That sounds exactly like something Tony would do. [ Deadpan, because... y e p. ]

I promise. Maybe you also fended off some fearsome creature and found me some water? It was really quite impressive. Don't worry, either way I'll make you look good.

[ She has lots of practice with PR and putting a certain spin on things, Hawke is in good hands! ]

Are we far off from the camp, do you think?

[otiosity]

Ah, you truly are an incredible woman. If you ever break up with Stark, you have my number. I mean you have everyone's number on the little... MID. [Yes, she is going to hit on her boss's girlfriend because it's a beautiful chance to flirt with a beautiful woman and also to be very annoying to her favorite boss who dresses like a metal man

She shifts her grip on Pepper to try and keep her straight as she gestures with her shoulder to the left near the edge of the hill they're making their way down.]

No, it's just over that hill. Don't worry, I'll deposit you in good hands. I'm quite good at this helping people thing, I'll have you know.

[efficacy]

[ She laughs softly at that. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship!! Pepper deeply appreciates people who can both give Tony a hard time when needed (and when strictly not needed too, tbh) as well as look after him. ]

You'll be the first to know. This is very memorable as far as first impressions go, after all, so you're definitely in the lead.

[ She's glad to hear they're getting close, staggering slightly on her heels with a little oh! before finding her feet again on the rocky ground. ]

Huh-- Hawke to the rescue, is it? This kind of thing happen a lot to you?

[otiosity]

Oh good. I like to make an impression. Doesn't even have to be a good one. Just an impression is all that matters.

[The camp is visible up ahead. A small cluster of tents and lights and the forms of people moving about it. It seems haphazardly put together. Which fits with the story that they were only recently marooned here.

Hawke nods with a slight exasperation as they enter the camp border and she looks around trying to remember where the medical tent is before heading in that direction.]

Oh yes, it's always "Hawke, my secret-mage child has run off to join the circus, rescue him won't you?". "Hawke, there's a dragon killing everyone in my mines, can you kill it?" "Hawke, I'm a potions salesman and yet I can't be arsed to go collect any herbs myself, do it for me won't you?" It's "Hawke this, Hawke that", all the time.

[efficacy]

Smart. Set the bar low enough and you don't have to worry about disappointing anyone.

[ Pepper gives the other woman a wry little glance and a smile. Mostly she's just teasing, but this self-deprecating humor and devil-may-care attitude of Hawke's have her wondering if maybe she has a point. She also thinks she sees now why Hawke and Tony are friends.

She's glad they're finally at the camp, though, finding the ground a little less liberally littered with rocks-- due to the higher foot traffic, she imagines. The camp obviously hasn't been there for very long, that's clear. ]

...Wow. Sounds like they keep you busy. Are you just the only person with any sort of capability whatsoever where you're from? [ Because it sure sounds like it!! ] I hope dragon-killing et cetera comes with compensation to match, at the very least.

[ Save Hawke from the woe of looting crates for torn trousers. :( ]

[otiosity]

You think my thoughts exactly. How uncanny.

[Hawke is 100% serious and so doesn't mind the jab. That is sort of her way of going about things. Unfortunately people still manage to be disappointed and to demand further things. It's the worst.

Then she gives a shrug.]

Perhaps. Or maybe the only one gullible enough to keep agreeing to all these tasks from strangers. Perhaps I ought to start a suggestion box and draw one randomly each day.

[efficacy]

I've been accused of doing that before.

[ Mostly by Tony, of course, because figuring him out is far easier than he'd no doubt like it to be. ]

I'll try to curb the habit. As satisfying as it can be, nobody likes a know-it-all. However-- a suggestion box might not be such a terrible idea.

[ She squints at the cluster of tents ahead, vaguely making out a few details that hint towards this being their destination. Probably not a moment too soon. ]

This here is medical, I presume?