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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—
no subject
[ Human ages were tough for him to read, but this guy couldn't be that much older than Finn, could he? The keenness of his interest certainly doesn't hurt the comparison, and even that slight resemblance was enough to endear him to the kid.
The question of planet does throw him, though. He'd been asked about it his whole life and always gave the same answer: Magic! It made as much sense as anything else, and eventually became the closest version of true Jake knew. Having that truth so recently unseated was tricky to wrap his mind around. Easier to pretend the guy never asked. ]
What about you, is this your planet's ship? Or are you a hitchhiker like me?
no subject
[ if the paw comment is supposed to make him curious, that part's too normal for him so he just nods. hairy, dog-like buddies aren't a new thing in his book.
at the question, he shakes his head and looks up at the ceiling of the ship. ] No, not my ship. The Mantis is a lot smaller.
[ cozier, a new home. he glances back at his new acquaintance. ] I'm a hitchhiker too in this galaxy. I'm guessing you don't know much about where we are.
[ and then, because cal's not hiding anymore. not everything. ] I'm Cal.
no subject
... Sounds like it's yours, though. [ A note of new interest enters the dog's voice. This kid may be more useful than he immediately appeared to be. ] That's pretty handy. How much do you know about this whole deal?
no subject
cal nods at that assessment. ] Yeah, I came from my ship to this one.
[ this place is bigger than the mantis, less homey. cal already misses the sounds of his crew bickering and the bogling scrambling in the vents. ] Only what Viveca mentioned. We're looking for Orbs that are causing chaos cross the galaxies.
[ it's too familiar. ] We get sent to the worlds, have to fit in and find the orbs to stop whatever they're doing. The sort of thing you expect of galactic peacekeepers.
[ if you could call them that. ]
1/2
C'mon, buddy, I read got the same rundown as you! [Said as if he didn't absolutely need that refresher, which he did. Thanks, Cal.] I'm talking practicalities. Brass tax. Atmospheric pressure headache remedies. Tips on not freezing, or exploding, or going inside-out. That kinda space grease.
[Admittedly a broad topic, but when in Rome you want to get your advice from someone who's been there before.]
2/2
Name's Jake, by the way. [His doggy paw extends a little longer, stretching to reach him.] Nice to meetcha, Cal.
no subject
he offers a wry smile as he reaches out to shake the dog's paw, his grip firm and hands calloused.
the stretchy thing is getting less surprising at least! ] I don't think that was part of the welcome package, Jake.
You get used to the pressure after a while but chewing something always helps at first.
no subject
[There's a pause as they continue shaking, Jake moving seemingly on autopilot as he considers the boy (man? human) in front of him]
By the way, how old are you anyway? Like are you just a big kid? Or a small man? I don't meet many humans. [He blinks.] You are human, right?
no subject
it also reminds him they're still shaking hands so he, gentling, tries to stop.
except that question does throw him off a little. he guesses humans don't go all over the galaxies and not all species mix. so it's not a weird question, per say, but not one he's been asked before. ] Yeah, I'm pretty human.
[ 100%, actually. ] I'm eighteen. I guess a small man more than a big kid.
[ but way not to sound so sure there, cal. it's just that, well, he hasn't felt like a kid in a really long time. ] How old are kids where you're from?
no subject
Eighteen. Eesh. [That one's more for him than Cal. Eighteen was quite the age, in his memory.] Well, the only human kid I've ever spent much time around is 17, and barely a kid much himself anymore so... yeah, small man sounds right on the money.
[The mention of Finn is enough to stray Jake's mind back to his original purpose here.]
... You haven't seen a seventeen year old small-man-kid around, have you?
no subject
seventeen feels old enough.
but then he lifts a hand to rub the back of his neck, shakes his head. ] I'm afraid not. I just got here so I haven't seen anyone.
[ which is a lie, actually, but old habits to protect oneself die hard even when being friendly. ] Or at least, no one that looks around my age yet.
What's his name? If I do, I can tell him you're looking for him.
no subject
Dang, worth a shot. His name's Finn. If you see him around, let him know his big brother's looking for him, yeah?
🎀
Good luck, Jake. [ cal glances over his shoulder, thinking of heading back in the direction he came. maybe he'll meet finn there but the station's big enough that he'll focus on mapping it out first. if he runs into the young human along the way, he'll let the stretchy dog know. ]