ximiliugh | FEBRUARY TDM.

Entry tags:

! test drive

FEBRUARY TDM.

● ● ● T D M . 0 5

// PART I. rude awakening  

… What are you willing to do to erase your regret from existence?

The words ring in your ears as in the darkness of your dream, an ocean-deep blue glow hovers in front of you. Transfixed, you reach out to it... only to hear a different voice, a distant echo of cruel laughter, and with a sudden certainty you know — whatever you’ve just agreed to has changed everything forever.

It is to this laughter that you wake, and as it fades and your heart slows into something resembling a normal tempo, you notice something you should have noticed immediately: you are not in your bed.

1.0 White walls, clinical yet clean, sparsely-furnished rooms. You may wake in one of three rooms: a room with only one bed, a room with two beds, or a room with four beds. Those waking up in rooms with more than one bed notice that they are very much not alone. Perhaps the other occupants of the room are still sleeping, dreaming the same dream as you just did, or a regular one after returning to the station just barely a week ago … or perhaps you wake to the other person in the room watching you.

What you do is entirely up to you: yell in surprise when you wake to someone staring at you? Or maybe you’ll try to sneak away before anyone notices you...

2.0 Those with life-threatening injuries find themselves awakening in the infirmary, in a regular hospital bed. Most of their injuries have been treated, and any lingering illnesses or conditions will have designated medicine bottles on the table next to the bed.

White curtains surround the bed on both sides, giving an illusion of privacy. But is that a rustling sound you hear? Some footsteps? Perhaps you’re not the only one in need of some medical attention... or you've attracted the attention of those with experience in medical aid, and they rush to your bedside, surprised about this sudden new patient.

It is not just for your injuries that you may want some company, but also for leaving the infirmary — you can’t stay there forever, after all, and will have to make your way through the hallways of the station to the living quarters, and claim a room and a bed there.

Once you’re up, you may notice there’s something in your ear: an earpiece that, when you become aware of it, quickly runs you through the instructions for how to use the network, a recorded message by a female voice that explains exactly why you’re here… and leaves you with a map of the station.

TOP

// PART II. such a lovely place  

So what else is there to do but to explore? Best get to know what is now your new home.

3.0 When trying to decide where yo go, you may find your way to the armory, where you can try to work the machine there to make yourself a weapon — perhaps to replace one that didn’t come with you to the station… or maybe you want to be prepared for the future. The recently-returned team members will surely recommend having a functional weapon with you.

And speaking of weapons: to put it to good use, head to the training room, where the entire purpose is to provide you with a space to spar and train to your heart’s content!

4.0 After you’ve exhausted yourself training, it’s time to grab a bite. For that, you should head to the kitchen, which is equipped with all the basic appliances you might need, and ingredients for most regular dishes... and large amounts of chocolate. Weird.

5.0 A welcome reprieve to the cold, dark space that surrounds the characters can be found in the sunlight room. A skillful illusion surrounds anyone who steps inside the room: you can hear the trilling of birds, feel a light breeze caress your skin as you walk through a grass field. It seems that the illusion reflects the season — the leaves have fallen, a layer of white covers the ground, and the air is crisp and clean. If you follow the path, it leads to where a bridge rises over a brook that has now iced over — but maybe don't try your luck walking on it, as the ice may crack underneath your feet and you'll find yourself plunging into the freezing water.

Regardless of whether you like the wintery atmosphere, it is easy to forget you are in space at all. Perhaps that gives you comfort, or just makes you miss the real nature all the more.

6.0 If you’d rather choose tinkering over nature, the lab is guaranteed to provide you with some entertainment. Glass vials and jars of chemicals sit on shelves in a surprisingly beautiful display of colour on one side of the room, while the other side of the room contains stacks of boxes containing assorted equipment: cords, bolts, panels, buttons, gears, gadgets, gizmos, and thingamabobs. The downside is that the parts available seem to have no apparent method to their sorting. So get digging, and you may just find exactly what you need to make what you’ve always wanted to make!

7.0 If it’s items you’re lacking, though, some time after your arrival, the earpiece alerts you to a new message.

// VIVECA.AI

Hi, everyone. I hope you've had time to rest, and those new here have got acclimated with the station. Those who’ve been here for longer know the deal, but to the new arrivals: we've got new supplies on the platform. Hopefully you’ll find useful things there. If you made any requests for items, before, you should find them in a separate pile.

Indeed, the platform near the personal quarters is still whirring with power, and new items form neat piles on it. There’s clothes, shoes, dishware, skincare, books… even a couple of CDs, and a few cute stuffed animals. So sort through what there is and grab what you want, before someone else does!

TOP

// PART III. study aboard  

Eventually, you’ll find yourself at the doors of the the simulation room — it has been equipped with a new simulation to take you through possible mission-like scenarios so it’s best to prepare yourself and see what it has in store for you.

8.0 The doors slide shut behind you and the room goes dark. Small pinpricks of light will start to build on each other until you’re surrounded by grey skies overhead and grassy green lawns, a row of old stone columns lining your vision. It seems you’re in a courtyard of some kind, but that’s not all. Something tugs at the hem of your sleeve or nudges at your leg, a warm presence that feels comfortable and ultimately very familiar. They look up at you, or maybe they meet your eye-level, a creature that varies in size, shape, colour, and form depending on what reflects you best. This creature, known as a compalion is a physical manifestation of your spirit or soul and will stay by your side on this journey.

You can stay here and get to know your compalion, or you can take your new companion and explore the campus. Because, if you do move forward past the line of columns (a hallway it turns out), you’ll find that the small cluster of buildings forms an academic campus of some kind.

NOTE: Your compalion will adhere to the following rules.
a) They cannot go any further than a few yards away from their person; the further the distance, the more painful the separation will feel.
b) Your compalion will shift into one form throughout this simulation and can be any creature that best mirrors your personality.
c) They can be as small as a flea and as large as a small elephant; get creative!
d) Whether they speak to you in your native tongue is entirely up to you (some speak, some don’t)
e) Basically daemon rules apply.

9.0 While it might seem like fun to spend hours just exploring the old buildings with your compalion and any Orbers like you that you might bump into along the way, it’s important to remember that you have a goal to achieve: follow the clues and retrieve the orb. Your compalion might offer an idea or two for where to go, or it may just be voicing the thoughts in your head, but it’s not a bad thing to follow your heart (or your gut) as it were. You might find that the rooftops of the campus buildings are easily climbable to get a good vantage point of your location. (Just be careful not to slip and fall! The height from here is quite dangerous.) A clocktower stands proud in the distance among a cluster of other campus buildings, marking the time.

Inside, you might be led down dark stone halls and into a series of classrooms: including reading quarters, study rooms with old leather couches and warm carpets covering stone floors; lecture halls with stiff wooden seating and individual desks to match, a chalkboard with indiscernible scribbles half-wiped away; and a laboratory that deals with something a little less modern than you might be used to, or perhaps with its twisty vials and bubbling potions, it suits you perfectly. There is the large library filled from floor to ceiling with books beyond imagining.

If you look out from the tall arch-shaped window from a classroom, or if you’re outside and you tilt your head up to the sky, you might notice that the sky appears to be darkening further, growing heavy with what is inevitably an oncoming rainstorm. If you’re inside, it might be best to stay indoors; if you’re outside, perhaps it’s time to find some shelter. Or if you’re determined to find that orb outside, risk you and your compalion getting wet.

● ● ●

N O T E: Additionally, there are three personal tasks provided to each character as they enter the simulation. In-game, each character will be given one task. For the purposes of the test drive, we’re leaving it to players to pick a task for their character and run with it.

A Team up with another Orber and their compalion to find the orb's location.

B Climb into the clocktower and ring the bell.

C Explain your best theory regarding your compalion’s manifestation to a fellow team member.

TOP

F Y I

• TDM threads can be considered game canon so long as all parties involved agree to it.
• This TDM covers the month of February.
• TDM threads can be used as samples for apps. In fact, we encourage it!
• Reserves are currently open!
• Apps open February 24 and will remain open until February 28.
• For any questions regarding TDM, please direct them here. For questions about the game, please refer to the FAQ.

FOR SOME FUN:

Have a clue for your upcoming mission:

▶ NAV

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He can't help it, that defiance makes him smile broadly as he wipes his sleeve across his face to rid it of those tears. Yes, in spite of nearly every card in the deck being stacked against him, Law is alive. Law is alive, and Rosinante finds he could not be more proud of the boy. ... Man. Going to be hard to get used to that.]

I want to hear all about it. Law, it's - I've heard a little, but it's not as real as seeing you here. There's two people here from our world, but nobody told me - I mean, look at you!

[Not the most coherent sentences as his mind rushes faster than his tongue can keep up, but he's reached out a hand again, this time in wonder as he touches Law's cheek. There's not a trace of white.]

[Not a single white patch left on him, nope. They've been replaced by various patches of black instead! Law has so many tattoos. At least no none of them are on his face? And unlike when he was a fussy little kid, he doesn't reject being touched. If anything he leans into it.

That said, it seems Law did not grow out of his habit of assuming The Worst, because the news that there's other people from their world here is received with a look of concern, as if he's just assuming it's going to be Enemies. Why would it be anything different? Even worse, it could be Luffy.]

Who's here?

[Here, hold on, where'd that shoe get set down - aha. Might as well get that put back on while they talk.]

Portgas D. Ace, and someone from Wano named Yamato.

[Neither are anyone he knows especially well, and so he says nothing more about them and instead waits to hear what Law has to say. He trusts Law's impressions far more than the little he's heard from the other two about themselves.

Though Yamato at least doesn't seem capable of telling a single lie.]

[Well he relaxes like, halfway. On the one hand, Firefist Ace isn't an issue. A little surprising, sure, given he's also supposed to be dead, but it's hard to really be surprised by that when he's standing here talking to someone who's supposed to have been dead for longer. Yamato, on the other hand...]

I haven't met either of them but I know who they are. Firefist Ace is the older brother of Strawhat Luffy, whose crew I've made a temporary alliance with.

But Yamato is Kaidou's son. So that could be a problem.
[He opens his mouth to say more, but then realizes he doesn't really want to get into how much trouble he's gotten himself into. Really, Corazon was a marine. He got Law away from Doflamingo probably in the hopes that after he was cured he'd stop pursuing the life of a pirate. Not only did Law do the opposite of that, but now he's in the midst of taking on one of the most dangerous crews in the New World.

So he thinks better of it, his mouth settling into a grim line. As if Corazon isn't going to ask why it's a problem.]

[Every moment raises a hundred new questions, that's for sure. The revelation about Yamato's relationship with Kaidou is something he particularly hadn't expected, though. Yes, the horns, but that seems to be their only point of resemblance.

So the shock fades quickly, and is replaced by a frown. He's found Yamato to be by far the less concerning one, but then maybe the whole heart-on-the-sleeve act is just an act. He knows deception as well as anyone.

He finishes lacing up his shoe, then finally stands.]

Maybe we should continue this somewhere less... Open.

[Because yes he could absolutely shield their conversation from anyone around, but it might be more comfortable to talk elsewhere anyway.]

I have a room here I don't share with anyone.

[There's going to be a lot of reevaluation. It'll be fun for Law when he learns Ace is as much of a Problem Child as Luffy. In any case, Law doesn't need to be talked into trying to be covert. He straightens up, still putting forth a concerted effort to remain composed. It's not too difficult because frankly it still hasn't fully sunk in that Corazon is here, alive and definitely not a hallucination or anything. Give him a while. He's certainly not going to let his composure crack now that he's been reminded there could be other people around.]

Given I assume the World Government doesn't have jurisdiction here and there's no Poneglyphs to fight over, I can't imagine there's any real reason for concern but you're right, it's better to err on the side of caution.
[He holds out a hand, with a somewhat skeptical glance.]

Are you going to be able to make it back over the bridge without falling over or should I do it for you?
[He's had his bird dad back for all of five minutes and he's already being mean.]

[Poneglyphs? What the hell has Law gotten himself into?

He's letting a lot more show on his face than he usually does, even around people here who he has come to trust. He purses his lips and then settles for something more guarded, at least for now. He trusts Law entirely, absolutely - or, he trusts the little boy he used to know, and hopes that whatever has occurred since then won't give him reason to change that. He's still cautious in all things otherwise, always has been and always will be.

Apparently Law is still an obnoxious little brat at heart, though. He rolls his eyes just a little at the hand and walks on forward under his own very competent power, thank you very much.]

I'll have you know I've crossed that bridge a dozen times without problems! ...But - hey. That thing you did back there, where you got my shoe back. Was that...?

[From petulance to grinning enthusiasm in a matter of seconds.]

[Law is a punk and this is an immutable truth that no amount of trauma or maturity can cure him of. He follows after Corazon, not going to argue but definitely keeping an eye out in case he ends up being all talk after all. But that enthusiasm is infection, particularly because he admittedly has a fair amount of pride in his devil fruit abilities. He'd been given them thanks to Corazon's sacrifice, so he'd put his full effort into mastering them and using them to their full advantage. So he'll flash one of his cocky grins, before generating the small beginnings of a Room in his hand before expanding it outwards.]

Of course. It's a bit like yours in that I can only affect things within this field. I threw up a Room and scanned for your lost shoe and when I found it, I just switched its placement.
[He offers another demonstration, making a sharp upward gesture towards a nearby snowbank, causing it to surge into the air like a cresting wave, before crashing down the next moment when he dispels Room.]

But like you thought, the surgical applications in the hands of someone with proper medical training are something else.

[He watches the snow with no shortage of awe, now that he has a moment to fully appreciate what's happening. There's no wonder the ope-ope fruit had such a price tag - not that he doubted it deserved it, and honestly, if the Barrels Pirates had wanted to negotiate a higher price they may well have gotten it.

Well. If they'd been able to make the exchange, of course.]

It's incredible. I knew it could do a lot, but I hadn't quite pictured that.

[He says, gesturing at the collapsed snow.]

I can't think of a better person to have it.

[Noooo not compliments!!! He looks away, tugging his hat down as he does.]

You're as annoyingly positive as ever.
[HMPH!!!! STOP IT DAD I'M TRYING TO BE GOTH.]

... You and Strawhat-ya would probably get along.
[What a horrible scenario.]

Is that why you allied with him?

[Okay, that's just straight teasing, since he doesn't know much at all about this Luffy fellow. But Law made that too easy.]

[WOW!!!]

Of course not. I picked him because he's the only person who'd be dumb enough to agree to my plan while also having enough strength to actually accomplish it.
[HMPH HUFF. Then he gets a bit of a thousand yard stare.]

.. Now my only concern is that if I actually survive all this he's not going to leave me alone.

[If he survives? What about if any of it happens at all? His minimal understanding of forked timelines and alternate worlds, things he's learned about here, suggests that in some world Law will of course carry on with everything he's talking about. But the fact that Law is here now means that he's seeking to change something.

Rosinante has his guesses, but again, this just isn't the place for so personal a conversation. So he nods along like he understands, because for now it's enough to get the gist.]

You'll survive.

[If any of what it sounds like he's been through has been half as dangerous as Rosinante pictures it, then he's convinced of that. Law is nothing but tenacious.

At the far end of the room, the door out finally becomes visible. He'd get the handle, but instead he trips and faceplants into the snow again.]

[Oh right he probably shouldn't be openly vaguely suicidal towards Corazon. Which will be hard given his attitude has been "if I die, I die" for years now.

In any case, there he fucking goes. Since he's not falling on a hard surface, Law just lets him fucking go. That said;]

... I suddenly feel like I aught to examine your brain later given how many times you have to have fallen on your head at this point.
[Do You Have Head Trauma. Meanness aside, he'll help dad up. He's still of course, not nearly as large, but the size difference has shrunk considerably. And then, a little softer;]

I am trying to be more careful with the life you gave me. So don't worry.
[Emphasis on trying.]

[There are very few times he'll allow anyone to help him up, mostly because it happens so often that he gets tired of people running over to check on him. Law, as in most things, is an exception. And the novelty of him being tall enough to actually offer some kind of assistance is kind of fun. Rosinante just tries not to lean too hard on him and knock the both of them over.

That quiet little admission makes him pause with his hand on the door. He looks down at Law, wondering yet again what the hell the other man's life has become, but a blush creeps onto his cheeks anyway. Only a handful of months ago, he'd been thinking there could be some chance still that Law could grow up, move on, and forget him, and clearly that fear was unfounded.

It makes him want to dive in for another hug because the emotions are just all over the place right now, but he resists and instead rests a hand on Law's shoulder, covered in soft blue feathers.]

I want to hear all about what you've been up to. C'mon.

[And so he'll lead the way down the hallway, less foreign to him now with all its strange metal surfaces. His head just nearly brushes the ceilings.]

[Listen we all make exceptions to our rules for family. If someone else tried to put their hand on his shoulder unprompted they'd find it rearranged on a different part of their body.]

I'm not sure if you really do.
[TIREDLY.... The chaos that his life has been lately.]

How long have you been here, anyway?

[He counts the months for a second, then frowns. Longer than he'd thought, actually. Time passes too quickly when they're all kept so busy.]

Eight... No, nine months now. But most of that time wasn't here on the Ximilia, it was off on trips to other worlds to recover orbs. We don't have a lot of downtime.

[Suits him well enough, though. After a while of staring at the walls, he's itching to get back out there and make some progress. The weeks in between are necessary for rest and organization, but not much else as far as he's concerned.]

Armory's down there, by the way. In case you need anything else.

[Just a quick mention as they pass it by, but he nods to that intensely oversized sword Law is hauling over his shoulder.]

That looks like quite the weapon, though.

Well, the les downtime there is, the sooner we can collect these orbs to get our end of the deal, I suppose.

[Frankly he's still somewhat skeptical of this deal because it seems like it's offering a lot. Anyway with the intention being directed towards Kikoku he nods and says matter of factly;]

It's cursed. But mostly I just need it to facilitate some of my Room techniques.

Edited 2022-02-22 02:38 (UTC)

[Oh, just casually carrying a cursed sword around. That's cool, then. He'll just stare at Law for a second, then shakes his head and fumbles in a pocket to find a cigarette.]

And how'd you come across a cursed sword and decide that's what you wanted to carry with you?

[How many levels of concern does he have to go through in a short span of time?]

[He does it for goth cred points. Also me crying because now I have to make a bunch of stuff up because Oda just threw the fact that it's cursed at us with no explanation. Law thinks for a moment.]

We found it while exploring an island shortly after entering the Grand Line. I picked it up because Shachi and Penguin were afraid of it, and when it didn't curse me I figured that was a sign.
[The wording makes it sound like he did it for their sake when really they had been begging him not to touch it and he did it to bully them. Anyway.]

The size isn't really an issue for me since I don't really use it like a regular swordsman... The fact that it intimidates people is useful too.

[Ah, yeah, don't we all just pick up terrifying cursed swords to see what they do? That's normal.

No, actually, Rosinante probably would have done the same, but he'll admit that only to himself.

And he really shouldn't find the whole thing endearing, but he sort of does. What, was Law ever going to grow up and be a normal kid? Living past the age of thirteen doesn't suddenly undo everything else he's been through - and does a D ever live a normal life anyway? Hm. Well, maybe plenty do and nobody ever hears about it. Meanwhile, Law is just who he is.]

I'm... Glad it didn't curse you? It sure looks cool. So, who are Shachi and Penguin?

Two of my crewmates. They plus Bepo and I are the founding members of the Heart Pirates.
[It's only after he says it that he realizes it's going to be immediately apparently to Corazon what his crew was named for. Whoops!]

They're too loud and none of them are particularly competent but they're loyal and good natured, I suppose.
[He's trying to make it sound like he barely tolerates them but it's Law so obviously the fact that he said anything positive at all means he cares about them a lot.]

Edited 2022-02-22 18:42 (UTC)

[Rosinante hears the commentary on his crew, but his mind is still stuck on what he named his crew. In trying to light the cigarette he'd retrieved a moment ago, he instead lights his finger while he stares, then yelps with a wince and sucks at the burned spot, leaving the cigarette to be flung to the floor somewhere (and perhaps it's best he didn't light it, since who knows where it has rolled off to).]

Heart pirates, huh?

[His ears are burning too, but that's not because of the lighter.]

[Law is glad to see that this man is still accidentally setting himself on fire as well. Not. But he can't even focus on that because he has to be fucking embarrassed about this instead. It's clear that the reason he's still doing the hat look even after all these years is because he needs it to shield his face when he Has Emotions In Public. He's tugging it down and turning red himself.]

It-it's a crew captained by a doctor, it's a perfectly logical name!!
[HMPH!!! WHATEVER!!! IT'S NOT LIKE EVERYTHING HE'S DONE SINCE YOU DIED WAS FOR YOUR SAKE OR ANYTHING!!!! Law's lucky I'm not taking him from Dressrosa so the back of his fucking shirt would tell on him. As if his embarrassment doesn't give him away in any case.]

[Given Rosinante keeps so much so close to his chest here, even now after most of a year, he doesn't argue and doesn't ask further about it, at least not while they're on their way through the corridor and into the lounge. There are always a handful of people here curled up in blankets reading, or playing cards or watching movies. Not the place for anything remotely personal.

It's not much farther on before they enter a hall of doorways, and Rosinante opens one up to let Law in. Clearly there ought to be two beds here, but instead the frames seem to have been removed. It's just two mattresses laid out on a diagonal given that's about the only way Rosinante could fit something semi-comfortably in the space. It's neat, though, otherwise. A small desk (with no chair, just a pillow, because his knees would never fit under the desk otherwise) sits in a corner with a few books and some makeup on it, and the closet has a rack of clothes accumulated from various worlds when he found things that actually fit.]

I'll tour you around the rest of the station later if you like but,

[He snaps his fingers to shield the room from eavesdroppers, then carries on. Just nicer to have the extra layer of privacy.]

For now this is probably better. ... Law, how long has it been for you?

● ● ● T D M . 0 5

F Y I

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject