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

[sketchycharacter]

[He hugs back, gladly, and pulls back to grin at her. Wow, things have clearly been extra-shitty lately, because it feels strange on his face.]

Pretty good, I guess, considering you were previously stranded on a spaceship with me. Jesus, it's been months—I didn't expect to see you again until we found our way home.

[nicearsenal]

Um, Nate, are you feeling okay?

[Do you see this very confused, borderline judgemental but not entirely unfamiliar look on her face, Drake? It's the face of someone who can't quite believe what she's hearing. You know it well.]

It's been a few days and we certainly weren't on a spaceship.

[sketchycharacter]

Uh, what?

[Now he's the one giving her a strange look.]

You got here the same time as I did, six months ago. Do you...not remember?

[Well, shit.]

[nicearsenal]

I think I'd remember a little thing like being on a spaceship and I'm telling you I've never been on a spaceship.

[She's going to laugh awkwardly as she presses the back of her hand against his forehead.]

Are you feeling okay? Scary Poppins' goons didn't get you with the same stuff they hit Charlie with did they?

[sketchycharacter]

They did, actually, but that was months ago. Even before the space kidnapping.

[He leans back on his heels for a moment, looking at her and considering.]

Well...shit. I heard the Ingress could spit people out for a second time not remembering anything, but I never saw it happen before. Damn. Is that really the last thing you remember, the Marlowe job?

[nicearsenal]

Yes, you and Victor were heading off to Yemen and I was sticking around in Syria with Charlie until we got the all clear from the doctors to fly back to London.

[All the while she's been looking at him curiously. He looks exhausted but there's something else and she can't for the life of her work out what about him seems odd.]

But that wasn't months ago, it was days if anything, you'd just given Elena a ring and-

[Ring. That's it. That's the odd thing. She brings her hand up to her collarbone, right where Drake's ring should be hanging around Nate's neck.]

- wait did they get it? Did they get your ring?

[sketchycharacter]

[Hooboy. All right, then. There's so much to explain and Nate is ready to do it, but he's thinking of explaining space—it doesn't really occur to him that Chloe might consider the pre-space stuff more important until she asks.]

That's a long story, but...yeah, they did. It doesn't matter, though. I don't need it anymore.

[Occasionally he reaches for it, feels its presence at his chest like a phantom limb. But not for an instant does he think it's more important than the ring on his hand; he'd make that swap again in an instant.]

Listen, Chloe, before I go into any of that, I owe you an apology. You were right about everything.

[nicearsenal]

Well of course I am, you've known me how long now and you've only just realised? I thought you were supposed to be a smarty pants.

[She pats his arm playfully, the joke a poor one designed to lighten a mood she's sure will gain weight, but then she looks at his expression and hers sobers. She sighs and draws her arm back, putting her hands in her pockets.]

I really hope you're not about to tell me someone else got hurt in order for you to figure that out.

[sketchycharacter]

[There's knowing it and then there's knowing it. The second one took longer.]

Well, Sully kind of got kidnapped, but if anyone got hurt it was me. After we got to Yemen, it got real clear how much I was screwing things up. You were right about me trying to prove something.

[But no one he cared about ever needed him to prove anything.]

[nicearsenal]

Wait a second, kidnapped? But you got him back, right? He's not-

[Well hasn't this whole operation just turned into one big crock of shit? Chloe takes her hands from her pockets and pinches the bridge of her nose.]

Okay. So I'm right, you were acting like a tosser, what happens now that we're in space?

[sketchycharacter]

[If she thinks it's bad hearing about it, she should try living through it.

He supposes she did, partly.]

Don't worry, things turned out all right aside from the space kidnapping part. And...that's the question, isn't it. [He sighs.] Up to now we've just tried to get by, see where the ship took us. Somewhere with a way to get home, hopefully. Crash landing wasn't part of the plan.

[nicearsenal]

It'd be a pretty shitty spaceship trip if crash landing was part of the plan. Maybe I should volunteer my services as a driver once they get the thing patched up.

[There are just too many things going on and her legs are starting to feel unreliable again from her standing unaided. She takes a deep breath and casts a look or two at the surrounding area; there's enough going on without giving Nate additional cause to worry and the last thing she wants is to look feeble.]

But on the bright side, at least nothing's on fire.

[Oh wait. Look who she's with.]

Yet.

[sketchycharacter]

[Hahaha, very funny. And...not inaccurate, it would be a pretty shitty spaceship. Rest in pieces, Moira.]

I resent that remark.

[Even if it is also inaccurate.]

In the six months I've been here, nothing has exploded in a way that can be directly traced to my actions. Just ask Elena and Sully.

[nicearsenal]

Nate, considering our relationship's involved magma, exploding cities, literal warzones and no fewer than two burning castles, it's not a question of if something's going to end up destroyed, it's when. Resent away, but it's an educated observation.

[No really, she loves you, but insurance policies need to start writing in Acts of Drake into their fine print and Elena and Sully would definitely-

Wait.]

...Are you telling me that Elena and Victor are here too?

[sketchycharacter]

[That's so unfair. Why does she have to be all entirely correct about things?]

Yeah, they are. Elena longer than Sully—she and I got here at the same time.

[Something he's immensely grateful for. They've been through a lot in space, but she's been a rock for him, and they're stronger for the experiences.]

[nicearsenal]

[Because she has your number. And it is fact. The sky is blue, water is wet and if Miley Cyrus came in like a wrecking ball then Nathan Drake comes in like a goddamn truck.

Anyway, considering when and where she's come from, the news about Elena has her feeling conflicted. Not for her sake (she's already making a mental note to go and track her down and check in on her friend), but for Nate's.]

I bet that was awkward. Are you two on speaking terms at least?

[sketchycharacter]

I—oh, right.

[It was awkward, mainly due to the fact that Elena had been from a week in the past. But that is...also in the past. Now they're on fucking terms.]

We're better than that. We patched things up.

[He holds up his left hand and gives it a little wave to show off the wedding ring.]

[nicearsenal]

[And here Chloe cracks a huge, genuine grin. Mate, she danced at your wedding and helped carry your now-wife out of a crumbling ancient hidden city of mythical proportions. She would have been fully prepared to step in here, but mercifully that's not the case.]

About bloody time. I guess that explains why you're looking so much happier, all things considered.

And how's Victor?

[sketchycharacter]

[He can't deny that, and he gives her a sheepish grin.]

Oh, you know, not goddamn thrilled about being in space. Feels the same as you probably do, just louder.

[He raises his hands in a what-can-you-do gesture and lets them drop.]

It is completely crazy. But I'd rather face crazy with friends than alone.

[nicearsenal]

Oh I bet, and I don't blame him. Still, at let least with friends you know what kind of crazy you're getting yourself in for, which is more than can be said for all this-

[Chloe turns to wave at the surrounding area, but as she puts her weight on her left leg to turn, it gives out under her and wobbles forward with a yelp.]

Goddamn it!