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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
well, listening to anthony lockwood is only sometimes one of her talents.
eventually her brain becomes accustomed to that smile and the static fades, lucy shaking her head like she can clear the fog. better the ghostly static than the flush she sometimes gets when he smiles at her. she opens the cabinet, pulls out a plate. ]
I may be used to you being strange in the kitchen but this isn't our kitchen, Lockwood.
[ perhaps a butter knife next time. ]
no subject
You know me, Luce. At home anywhere I go.
[ A quick, cheeky wink and then he goes after the cheese toast with the oversized weapon. It does make quick work of the hapless bread and cheese and even serves as a nice spatula when Lockwood executes a neat flip of his wrist and presents her with her serving. ]
Speaking of home and this not being home; how are you finding it so far?
no subject
she takes a massive bite out of the cheese toast when she's presented with it, still looking like a slightly lost and famished baby deer when she eats, it's her big round eyes. she chews thoughtfully, seemingly focused more on the snack than the question as she takes her plate and sits down in the chair next to the one lockwood had vacated when she'd walked in, dumping plate and book on the table. ]
Hasn't got a thinking cloth so I don't know what I'll do when I've grown cross with you and there's no Pitkin's in the cupboards. [ she misses portland row already and she is willing to be sullen about her own choices. ] I haven't decided yet.
no subject
Look at me, on a space station, away from my comfort zone, my area of expertise and my home, BUT EVERYTHING'S FINE!
...
She wasn't the only one missing Portland Row.
But he sets about giving the knife a quick wash, putting it back in the drawer and then coming over to sit next to her, aggressively projecting the air of it's all fine from every pore. ]
Perhaps we should suggest a thinking cloth? [ He's not being entirely factitious. ] It might be a nice way for all of us to meet one another. After all, everybody has to come through here at least once in awhile, right? [ Hey. If she's going to be her usual clever self and come up with good ideas, then he's going to support their implementation! ]
Could make up for the lack of Pitkins? [ Pause and then the cheeky smile makes an appearance. ] I joke. Nothing makes up for the lack of Pitkins.
no subject
she pulls a felt tip pen from the pocket of her shorts, clamps the toast between her teeth and uncaps the pen to write in her untidy half-cursive, directly on the tabletop.
I'm Lucy Carlyle and we need more biscuits
this is not a fact, but it will be by tomorrow the way lucy stress eats biscuits. she holds out the pen to lockwood, finally bites through the toast. ]
You're right, nothing makes up for Pitkins, but it's a start.
no subject
I'm Anthony Bloody Lockwood and I vote for Pitkins tea with the next supply shipment.
He adds a flourish at the end, then grins towards Lucy, caps the pen and hands it to her.]
Can't hurt to ask. [ A typical Lockwood -fakeittillyoumakeit- type statement. He sobers then and turns his attention to the remains of his cheese toast. ]
Have you tried any of the simulations yet? Get a feel for how these missions are supposed to go? I heard someone say there is a reference file, write ups of past missions and the like. Makes me wish George were here.
[ Because Lockwood is almost allergic to the idea of anything that smacks of research, doubly so for casefiles. ]
no subject
Between the two of us we can do, like... a fourth, maybe a third of what George could do. [ she is probably giving them more credit than they're due, honestly, she doesn't know what she and anthony can do from the ground up since the entire time she's been a portland row, george has already had the foundations built for them to figure the rest out together in the field. ]
Or. We could try one of those simulations. Do your legs feel less like jelly yet?
[ god, she is hoping the answer is yes because she doesn't actually want to study. maybe they can finally figure out a lettering system for their plans. ]
no subject
A fourth. If we're lucky. [ Lockwood may give George no end of shit, but he had hired the young man because George found the gold where others wouldn't even think to look. Their third member may not have a strong Talen for Sight, Listening or Touch, but he was gifted in the art of pulling the pieces together.
At her question he glances down towards the offending appendages, studying them as if they belonged to someone else entirely. ] Wouldn't fancy my chances for running, or rapier work but perhaps we can find a simulation that didn't involve fighting?
[Pause.]
Or running.
no subject
Maybe we hold off on the simulation room. Unless it's a leisurely stroll down the Thames.
no subject
Wait.
She and George are his disasters. Right. There. Better.
To be absolutely accurate he was shot in his shoulder, which is why it hurts when he laughs. The leg situation comes from the drop down the open catafalque, landing flat on his back. Of the two Lockwood's thinking he'd take the gunshot over the fall. ]
Stroll down the Thames? [ Is that a thing people do? He's not sure he sees it himself. ] Maybe we should try to channel our inner George and tackle those previous case files together. Between the two of us, I'm sure we can keep each other on track?
no subject
[ serious face, for a serious topic. ]
Are you absolutely sure you want to research and thus discover that it is possible to die of boredom when you haven't got a load of TV reporters to announce the discovery to? [ what a waste of easy publicity! his favourite thing! ] Maybe it's better to wait until we're home to subject me to research.
[ take! a! walk! with her! ]
Or at least until I've had a decent cup of tea.
no subject
Unfortunately she is also very good at neatly hemming in his regular routes of avoidance, unless he wants to be a complete shit, and he really has no reason to pull that ripcord. Conclusion drawn, he beamed at her and nodded. ]
Walk it is then! Though I fear we are still looking at the necessity for research, a lack of any good telly and well ... [ he makes a sad motion towards his tea mug. ]
no subject
[ sad tea is sad.
she stands, scoops up their plates and lockwood's dismal tea to sweep them to the sink. if she chugs the rest of his tea on the way, that is between her and the tea gods. she considers a moment, washing the dishes herself, she really does, but she's used to george's stress cleaning and she made a point to never give him less to stress clean so she abandons the dishes in the sink out of habit, striding back to lockwood. ]
Up y'get, jelly legs. I will suffer through research after a walk.
no subject
As she came back and poked at him to get up, he pushed up to his feet, getting circulation moving to those aching legs. ]
Anyone ever told you, you're a stern mistress Ms. Carlyle? [ Lockwood grins, as he's fairly certain both he and George have remarked upon it at times. She really does well at reminding them to mind their manners. ]