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AUGUST TDM.
● ● ● T D M . 0 3
… What are you willing to do to erase your regret from existence?
The words, when they die out, leave you in emptiness — despairing, all-consuming, the kind that invites only the worst thoughts. What have you done? What have you agreed to do?
But then, from the emptiness, a golden light shines, and as you reach for it —
you wake up.
1.0 Perhaps it was less the golden light in your dream and more the insistent feeling of something metallic poking your side repeatedly, making beeping noises… wait, beeping noises?
When you look down, you’ll see a small robot staring at you and looking less than happy (maybe it has something to do with your disheveled state, maybe it's still mad about having to clean up after a certain pizza-induced mess). When you get up, it unleashes a series of beeps — and then furiously starts to scrub the floor.
Yes, the floor — instead of waking up in a bed, you find yourself lying on a hallway, white walls and white floor surrounding you. You don’t have long to stare at the minimalistic look of everything around you before the little bot starts poking you again, the word MOVE blinking across its visor.
So better get out of its way! Perhaps you’re on the hallway on your own and leave on your own… or perhaps there’s someone else, sleeping near you. Maybe do them the courtesy of waking them up before this little angry bot does! Or perhaps you’re the poor soul still sleeping and needing a rescue before the beeps make it to you.
2.0 If you need a visit to the infirmary, the situation may be more dire — perhaps there’s blood on the wall that you wake up against, your clothes may be dirty or ragged… whatever it is that has happened to you before waking here and has left you injured, it sure doesn’t create a reassuring sight. Best get to the infirmary as soon as possible.... with some assistance, perhaps.
Once upright, 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 The most pressing question that you might ask yourself is: but where will I stay? The question is answered once you walk through the winding white corridors to the common area. Behind it, there are three types of rooms: those with one bed, two beds and four beds. The rooms are clinical yet clean, and sparsely-furnished — and most importantly, most are occupied. So be prepared to get some roomies!
4.0 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!
5.0 After you’ve exhausted yourself training, it’s time to grab a bite. For that, you should head to the kitchen, which… seems to be filled with a lot of leftovers: takeout boxes with an assorted collection of pizza slices, kung pao chicken, lamb curry... not to mention the entire tray of chocolate brownies. Feel free to eat your fill — or if takeout isn’t your cup of tea, open one of the large fridges to pick fresh ingredients and make your own lunch.
6.0 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. A new addition is a flower garden where there once was a meadow — now, roses, camellias, lilies and dozens of other flowers sway in the wind, all varieties in their own flower beds, with a winding path of stones leading through them. The path leads to where a bridge rises over a sparkling, babbling brook.
Here, 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.
7.0 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!
8.0 If it’s items you’re lacking, though, some time after your arrival, the earpiece alerts you to a new message.
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!
(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 If you’ve been given a particular body change that might aid you in this mission, do not use it to your advantage.
B Team up with a fellow Orber to uncover the hidden location.
C Get up on stage and put on a performance during the simulation. Your song choice will determine the outcome of success in your investigation.
F Y I
• TDM threads can be used as samples for apps. In fact, we encourage it!
• Reserves are currently open!
• Apps open August 27.
• For any questions regarding TDM, please direct them here. For questions about the game, please refer to the FAQ.
FOR SOME FUN:
Have a listen for some clues about the second mission.
(Hint: there are four clues in total.)
no subject
Finally, someone with muscles who puts their mind to use too. Brother could learn a thing or two from you.
[She jokes, flashing him a grin as she loads his bulky arms up with an assortment of weapons. She's in the middle of strategically placing an axe so it won't cut into him when she pauses midway and glances up at his face. It's impossible to hide the curiosity from her voice.]
Is Redwing here with you?
no subject
He grins easily at her, though. ]
Oh, it's real hard, though. Takes a moment to switch between the two. You know what they say about multitasking...
[ He's standing patiently still while she's loading up his arms. Thankfully she's trying to prevent slashing him open in the process. Really, much appreciated. ]
Got here with the full decked out suit, bells, whistles and all. Redwing's currently pestering Bucky.
[ He cocks an eyebrow, imagines she'll be pleased to hear that. From what little Sam knows about Bucky's relationship with Wakanda, he's gotten the impression the bionic staring machine is fond of the princess and Ayo, given everything they did and the time they consequently spent together. ]
no subject
Sergeant Barnes is here?
[Of course, she keeps it formal to try and not let some of that excitement show. The last thing she wants to look like is T'challa's kid sister that trails after the Avengers. But her asking about Bucky over continuing to discuss Redwing is evidence enough.]
no subject
[ Sam cocks an eyebrow. Oh, sure, he knows that's officially Bucky's rank and file and whatnot, but good grief. ]
Yeah, the crusty old barnacle is here. Both of us were part of the first shipment.
[ Sam shifts the weight in his arms a little - not because it's too heavy, just because it's a lot and he wants to maintain a good grip on it. Shuri gets a cheeky grin, teasing all the more for her feigned nonchalance. Oh, he sees you, kid. It's endearing. Warms his heart for Bucky, too. ]
You wanna ditch me to go say hi? Promise I don't mind. I'll only cry a little.
no subject
She doesn't though, because her need for scientific improvements and to keep her mind busy wins out over social situations right now. She's new here and can't go slacking on the job just because she wants to see an old friend.
Her eyebrow arches and she plays at leaving by turning and walking off. But within seconds she's laughing and shaking her head.]
I wouldn't want to make another grown man cry. Erik was enough for one day.
[Did she actually make him cry? Nope.
Is she going to tell Sam Wilson that she made him cry? You bet.]
no subject
He laughs at her pretend exit, eyes crinkling at the corners. ]
We can consider the tears downpayment on properly thanking you for my gear.
[ His expression sobers at the mention of Erik though, one eyebrow pulling up slightly in question. ]
Already met up with Gold Panther, huh? How'd that go?
[ And if he looks a little worried at that, it's only because he doesn't know all the details - just enough to have an impression of things being more than just messy. ]
no subject
Ah, so he has brought my stolen work here with him.
[And she's not bitter about that in the slightest. Nope. Not at all. She doesn't mention their relation, at least not for now. That's a complicated matter at best, and Sam doesn't need the emotional baggage of their family dropped at his feet.]
That is...concerning.
[Erik is a powerful man even without one of her suits. And she distinctly remembers how challenging he had been to fight while wearing one, and isn't looking forward to potentially needing to subdue him again one day.]
no subject
Stolen, huh? Yeah, he's got a getup much like your brother. Seems to have some resentment towards you guys, too.
[ To put it mildly. Erik's also less than impressed with Sam's entire... well, everything, including the 'freebies' from Wakanda as he put it. ]
I may have mentioned the Outreach Program. He may not have taken that well.
no subject
He is our cousin. One that should have been a child of Wakanda.
[She lets that hang there, sighing sadly as she ducks her head. The wrongs her father committed, she and her brother have paid for. The resentment is warranted, even if she wishes it wasn't that way. ]
But it is important you do not let him know you are aware.
[Because she's half terrified of what Erik might do to her for telling and is half tired of cleaning up messes and she doesn't want to rock the boat when it comes to the man that N'Jadaka may grow into and become.]
no subject
Your father killed his own brother.
[ Oh yeah - Erik dropped part of that bomb. 'Oakland's where the king murdered my father. Stuck his panther claws into his chest and left him there to bleed to death.'
No wonder Erik's strung like an exposed nerve, like a wound with jagged edges that don't quite heal right. He grew up a black orphan kid in America when his birthright was to be a Wakandan prince. The implications are staggering - for the way Wakanda used to be, for the way it is now, for what has shaped Erik's perspective of it all.
But for the young woman in front of Sam, too, and with his hands free Sam reaches out, curls a hand over her shoulder and seeks er eyes with his. 'cause right now, he's not talking to Erik, or to T'Challa, he's not talking to the representative of a country, princess or not. Sam knows a little something about worshipping your parents, and knows a little more than something about growing disillusioned with your country. ]
You okay?
no subject
I am here to fix what I'm sure would be my father's biggest regret.
[Or what she desperately hopes was her father's biggest regret. Not the murder of his own brother, though she's sure that must rank highly. No, the abandonment and isolation of an innocent child couldn't be the regret she undoes either. Though she wishes it was her place to do so. All Shuri can do is complete missions here and obtain orbs with the others so she can try to prevent Erik from dying in Wakanda, and hopefully get him to see reason to working with her brother rather than overthrowing him. It's all a gamble, but it's worth it to her.
And yet, she can't openly admit it's her only real regret. It's too personal.]
Not many have the opportunity.
[So is she okay? Not completely. But she's working to ensure that it will be okay. Not just for herself, but for Erik too.]
no subject
Hope you don't mind me saying, but I sure as hell see your brother in your. Or maybe I got it wrong, and we're all seeing you in him?
[ He smiles, gives Shuri's shoulder a squeeze. ]
Listen, this place is gonna try to test you and wring you out. See how far your willing to go to get what you want - and how many necks you're willing to step on. Same goes for all of us here. I know you can fight, but I hope you also know you got people here. We take care of our own.
no subject
[She had still been a child when T'Challa had taken her to California and even now as a very technical young adult her mother insists she remain protected. Wakanda is a safe place for her, and being so far away from home unescorted for the first time is a little overwhelming.
She's trying not to let it show. But in that moment, she felt so young and unsure and she was positive Sam could read it in her expression and posture.]
I know I can depend on you, Sam Wilson.
[And Bucky, of course. She never had a doubt either would do whatever it took to keep her safe.]
no subject
Puts one more person in his vicinity he'll try and see through this to the best of his own ability. ]
So, you currently leaning more on nervous or excited 'bout that? 'cause lemme tell you, growing up I wanted nothing more than to leave the nest, and when I did, I thought I was gonna lose it with anxiety.
[ And he can tell she's overwhelmed, unsure, but he'll let her play for bravado if she'd prefer. The out's perhaps a little obvious - but it's her choice how emotionally vulnerable she wants to be with him. He wants her to know fear and anxiety are nothing to be ashamed of, though. ]