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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
He feels it again now, an echo, but he doesn't know if it's because of his empathy for Yzak's position or his own sadness for losing Blue, another bright star in his life.
His eyes threaten to fill with tears, but he breathes through it. That and the urge to take the other man in a hug. ]
... But it worked. [ As if that's some comfort. It is, in a way. ] I'm so sorry.
no subject
So he did. And he won. Or he thought he won. He barely got to let that feeling sink in, barely got to enjoy the taste of a life that he never wanted to hope too hard for and realized he wanted more than anything before it was ripped away from him like a sick joke, mocking him.
His mouth twists into something of a sardonic smile. ]
It worked. And it still ended the same way. [ Blue is still gone. Which means if he's back in his universe (because that's how it goes and once upon a time Yzak wanted to look into that, too, speak to Sabriel, ask her more about Remi's magic to travel from world to world and the notes she obtained, but now he's lost and he's failed so he should have known better than to even consider the thought) which means he's still dead. Same end result, as if he didn't need to give up his arm and a chunk of his lifespan in the first place. And now those are gone, too, an additional fuck you to really make it stick and he's even less whole than he'd be if he still had them.
And speaking of it again doesn't hurt any less despite the time that's passed, the pressure deep in his chest squeezing, threatening to pull all of his breath away as though it all happened merely moments ago. ]
... Yeah.
[ Is the only reply he can muster to Finn's 'sorry', eyes still downcast to the snow. An acceptance and a thank you, appreciated, despite it feeling like it barely helps or changes a thing. ]
no subject
Finn's problem is that he was never able to give up on hope. Hope is the only reason he's survived this long. Without it, he would have been dead years ago. Even though it often fails and the pain feels like more than he can bear, he can't just let it go. ]
We don't know that. The orbs are powerful and behave in strange ways. Things could have changed in his home. We don't know.
[ The not knowing feels worse, and the notion probably doesn't help, but it's something. Finn can't stand by and let that slim hope go without a voice, not right now. But Finn is clearly not convinced of anything good, not by the way he wrings his hands together. ]
no subject
[ And some future that turned out to be, he almost wants to add. He didn't even get to really enjoy that feeling of no longer hurting, no longer feeling feeble and simply waiting for the inevitable. He'd given up so much and had been so careful not to burden either one of them for that sake. And... ]
And not to mention ... if there some possibility to, I told him he could come with me when we were finished here.
no subject
[ Never minding Blue's regret, because Finn can't say he's surprised that Blue decided to let go of his.
There's still so much he'd like to point out, not the least of which that Blue could return to the station someday, but he's not sure if that sort of hope would be welcome. If Yzak's pain is anything like Finn's own regarding Jim, it wouldn't help much.
So he shuts his eyes and breathes out, not quite a sigh as much as forcing the tension away. ]
We can't know the future. And in this place, we can't know the past... [ But, again, it's not a sentiment that helps himself much. So he opens his eyes and- He shakes his head. What is, is. ]
Were you heading to the kitchen?
no subject
Wouldn't that be nice. [ If what he did changed things. There's a very obvious, biting sarcasm to that, making it clear that he doesn't hold much hope that some ripple from their actions here may have done something that could lead to a path where he could actually be happy. ] But unless we can figure out some way around it, we won't know any of it, once this is over. [ Which was also on that little, stupid, optimistic list of his. When he learned about striking a separate deal with an orb. If, somehow, he could accomplish that, then maybe ... maybe it was somehow possible to avoid the chance of retaining no memory of this station and their missions, and after learning of Remi's presence on Xrisora ... maybe even a way to leave their mission behind them and not have to return from where they came from if they didn't have a reason to.
But with Blue not even here to make that choice, what good would it do now if it were even possible? Grief's twisted into bitter pessimism that's clear in his voice. Though despite it all, nothing extinguishes that desire he feels in the core of his heart to find a way and make it possible no matter how much that pessimism attempts to crush it down out of fear that something like this will just happen to him all over again. And he's barely dealing well with only this, after all this time.
...
He hates this.
He hates speaking of this.
He doesn't want this.
He feels a dull roar begin to work its way through every nerve of his body, threatening to consume him. So he speaks of something else - anything else, to keep it at bay. ]
The kitchen? [ It's not a yes or a no, but he asks: ] Why, are you hungry?
no subject
But right now isn't the time for that discussion, he thinks. If he can come to Yzak with answers, then maybe- Maybe. It's all something to think on later.
At the moment, he wants to try helping in a different way, which is basically just fixing what he'd just stirred up. ]
Yeah, a little, and you were walking this way. Thought I'd go with you, if you want. [ Not to continue this conversation. ] I can cook something if you're hungry, too. Pancakes?
no subject
[ He doesn't mind company. He actually prefers it because despite everything he's always been the type to get so easily lonely.
At Finn's offer, Yzak gives him a bit of a look. ]
I know how to cook! And I can do it just fine like this. [ He gives a wave of his hand, motioning toward his pinned up sleeve. ] Pancakes will do, we can split the work.
no subject
[ Finn feels chastised immediately because that's just what Yzak's tone does to him, but he really wasn't angling for that. And, honestly, something about the situation is funny to his mind. So he huffs a laugh, shakes his head, and turns towards the kitchens. ]
All right, fine. Just hope you guys haven't rearranged everything since I've been gone.