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SPRING TDM.
● ● ● T D M . 0 8
The words ring in your ears as in the darkness of your dream, a teal glow pulses, slowly enveloping you. It is not a feeling of comfort that surrounds you, though — as a distorted voice whispers in your ear, you feel it: cold dread, and a sudden certainty that everything is about to be irrevocably changed.
It is to this daunting realization that you wake, and as 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 a few days 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.
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.
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.
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.
With an illusion so authentic it may leave you longing for some hot chocolate, 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 As you wander back towards the common areas, you may notice a room off to the side. The room takes up a chunk of the common area, and on its unassuming door is a little plaque that reads, 'The Ximusic room'. Should you enter, you will find a sound-proofed practice room that contains — yes, you guessed it, band equipment that even the most musically inclined should be satisfied with. So pick up an instrument, saunter up to the microphone to belt out your favourite tunes, or take a seat at the side of the room and enjoy others' playing.
8.0 If it’s items you’re lacking, though, some time after your arrival, the earpiece alerts you to a new message.
As you make your way to the platform, you'll see there is nothing amiss in the neat piles of items 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!
(CW: POTENTIAL BODY MODIFICATION)
Whether you’re a quick study and you’ve become settled into life on the station, or you want to get the full lay of the land (in a manner of speaking) first, if you decide to explore the hall past the control room, you’ll eventually come across the simulation room.
Step past the threshold and the doors will slide shut with a quiet woosh. Nothing suspicious; nothing to worry about. But before you can really get a sense of your environment (a grey, large-ish empty room, no furniture, no discernable objects to provide markers), the room goes dark, and then … there’s really no other way to describe it: the room transforms.
You find yourself in a club. The music is upbeat, loud, but not too loud. Down a short flight of steps flanking the bar and seating is the open floor with more tables and booths bathed in a warm, dim glow of light, and at the very end of the room is a stage with its bright spotlight showcasing its performers — though, at the moment, the stage is empty.
9.0 When you take a step forward, you’ll feel a presence gently push at your chest or your shoulder — a tall and jovial man resembling a well-dressed bartender from the top up (the rest of him appears to move along wheels) approaches with a tall flute glass in hand. Its contents are sparkly and blue.
Will you proceed? Please respond ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.”
There’s something a little strange about his voice, a cadence that doesn’t sound quite natural even when the simulation is so realistic otherwise. Once you’ve given your consent, the bartender continues.
10.0 It seems the bartender wasn’t lying. Once you’ve allowed the drink (tasty, sweet-but-not-too-sweet, effervescent, with light notes of your fondest childhood memory) to settle in your stomach you might experience a myriad of effects on your body, ranging from a change in skin colour (pink? green? blue with spots?), an additional limb or two (or three), a tail or wings, or cybernetic parts such as lie-detecting eyes or a tongue that can uncover truths and lies in others. If you happen to find another Orber within the room and both of you have consumed the offered drink, you might find yourself experiencing a full bodyswap.
None of the changes are painful; if anything, they might not even be noticeable until you look into a mirror, look down at your limb-in-question, or your companion points it out.
11.0 The moment you approach the stage, a performer will appear as if out of thin air and begin to sing, her voice strong and smoky and melodic. Her enthralling performance could put you into a trance, but you have an orb to find and a personal task to accomplish, so it’s time to put your best foot forward and do a little investigating.
Talking to some of the patrons might prove fruitful as some of them are convinced that the stage has never sounded or looked so good, like there’s something giving performers that extra oomph that no one can explain. It might be wise to wait until that last performance before you sneak up there — or maybe you want to do a little snooping around now, you know, while everyone’s distracted. Strategize with your fellow Orbers and uncover the location of this hidden orb.
● ● ●
N O T E: The effects of the drink and the level of changes your character experiences is entirely up to you. Patrons of this fine club won’t bat an eye if you look a little like them.
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 Say the opposite of what you mean during the simulation.
B Create a scene with an unsuspecting teammate.
C Get up on stage and put on a performance during the simulation.
F Y I
• TDM threads can be used as samples for apps. In fact, we encourage it!
• Reserves open February 19!
• Apps open February 24.
• 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 about the upcoming mission—
Steve Trevor | DCEU
Ohh no. No no-
( Steve mutters to himself, turning a slow circle in the common area and looking about as lost and out of place as any man can be.
His gaze darts over the white walls, the windows filled with darkness. )
This is insane- this is–
( He clocks an Orber at the end of the broad corridor, weighs the risk, and heads for them. Have a possibly familiar-looking American wearing WWI German officers' duds hurrying right up but just keeping his distance, and demanding answers: )
What is this; are we really in space? ( A Look crosses his face, that of a sudden, despairing revelation. ) Are we dead?
5.0/6.0
( Everything gets a once-over, the various rooms of the station investigated with a close eye. The lab holds his interest longer than most, possessed of some sick fear that he'll find Dr. Maru tucked in a corner somewhere under her green chemist's bonnet, tinkering away at her terrible formula.
Instead it's just messy, idly so as the spaces of brilliant minds often are, and no gas canisters in sight.
Anyone in there will get him sidling up to them, interested: )
What are you working on?
( Later, Steve steps out into blustery cold and a sudden snowfall, so shocked he has to take a second to catch his breath.
Winter sparkles as far as the eye can see, running in drifts of white to snow-capped trees under a cloudy sky.
Glancing back behind him to the lab, he looks again to the snow, the accumulation of silver flakes decorating his coat, his shoulders. )
Oh, I am way outta my depth here.
Wildcard
( ooc: lmk if you have any questions, Steve will be p much everywhere and into everything! )
5.0; labs
what he has on the table in front of him is a robot; the cleaning robot that goes around and picks up dust and debris off the floor. he's fiddling with one of it's wheels and stops as steve slides up, offers him a soft smile. ] Just fixing up this little guy's left wheel.
Looks like someone stepped on it earlier and it's been struggling ever since. [ not that the droid -- cal's not sure it's actually technically a droid -- said so. he's just watched it wobble along. ] Guess some people aren't used to helper droids around.
no subject
( clearly he means the little... automaton? he's working on, as Steve steps around to see from a better angle. )
no subject
1.0
no subject
...What?
( it's completely true, but excuse you sir, Steve is grappling with an existential crisis or two. )
1.0
Well, it can't be space, can it? I think I'd know if I fell asleep in a rocket ship.
[ how else would someone end up in space?
to cover all the bases, he pats his body too, like he's checking for injuries. ]
No bullet holes in me either, so not dead. But, you know what, it probably wouldn't be a bullet that gets me. Poison — always figured it'd be poison. Easiest way to get a guy like me. Big eater. Can't help it. Just pour it in a good pot of chili and you'd take me out — [ he slaps his hands together. ] Just like that. No fuss.
[ ... ]
What were you saying? [ that's right. ] Are we dead? No. No, I don't think so.
6.0
When he hears the door slide open, he glances back. He watches Steve turn, turn front, and back again. It takes getting used to, Steve. )
You're not alone. As familiar and real as this feels, I've never found myself in a place like this. In space.
( He has been in simulated, mythical environments. But, no, never space. It's like something out of a TV show or a movie Dean might like. And what he doesn't. The SciFi genre is vast. Like space. )
1.0
It's not Steve. Not mostly, at least. She'd react that way to any new orber who came in with that level of intensity. The military uniform doesn't help.
The question, though, unbalances her more than aggression would have.]
Space, I can confirm. As for being dead, I couldn't say. Are you?
[Her tone implies it's not out of pocket to ask, at least.]
1.0
[Here's someone who seems to be taking this whole situation seemingly in stride.]
Space, I admit, is new. Not someplace I thought I could be kidnapped to.