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» TEST DRIVE #001

TEST DRIVE #001

( 0 0 1 ) » WAKE UP

Were you asleep or were you unconscious? It doesn't matter: when you come to, there's an odd taste in your mouth and there's a low-level mechanical hum in the air. Your head hurts and you feel nauseous. You aren't anywhere you know: everything around you is metal, from the floor you lie on all the way to the ceiling. You are dressed in a jumpsuit you definitely weren't wearing before.

"We tried to save the world. I think— I think we did the opposite."

The message repeats on a loop. If you look for its source, you find a comms device on the floor next to you. The logo on its wallpaper says REVERIE TERMINAL. Upon closer inspection, you find the same logo on your jumpsuit.

Welcome to your new home. What choice do you have but to explore your surroundings?

( 0 0 1 . 1 ) » WAKE UP WHERE?
When you wake up, you find that you're not alone. But more importantly, you find that you're in a closet. An empty closet, bar you and your new companion. It's small, cramped, and there is no door that you can see. The ceiling is low, there is barely any lights, only some coming from the tiny flashlight clipped to your suit's shoulder. You cannot be sure that there is any air coming in to the room.

Are these grooves in the wall supposed to mean something?

( 0 0 2 ) » OBSERVATION DECK

There were no windows in the corridor you woke up in and no windows in any of the crew quarters you might have checked for occupants — but there are plenty of windows on the uppermost level of the station, deck 1. In fact, there are windows from floor to ceiling all along the circumference of the station's circular deck, and it's possible to walk along it all. What it shows is a strange solar system you've never seen before and a planet that might resemble one you know, but certainly isn't the same.

You're in space. You don't know where you are. Neither does anyone else.

( 0 0 3 ) » BAR

On deck 3, you find the bar. Tucked away from the crew quarters, it's dimly lit, there are bar stools thrown down on the floor and what looks like some very old drink spills, crusty and dark against the bar top. But there is alcohol here, or at least, what you think is alcohol, in bottles with faded labels, most of them indecipherable. Take a drink, get drunk, start a fight, or start a party? You're stuck on this station, might as well make the most of it, right?

( 0 0 3 . 1 ) » VIRTUAL
But the alcohol isn't even the most interesting part of your discovery (depending on who you are, of course). No, what catches your interest is a second, smaller room off from the main bar room, which looks to be some kind of arcade. There are a few VR sets lined up against one of the walls, and surely, they can't be working, right? Nothing is on this rust bucket. And yet, if you put it on, the display comes to life.

It's a pretty simple HUD, and when you move around in reality, you move around in the virtual world you've just entered. It's a luxurious world, full of brightly, saturated colors, making it just a little obvious that it isn't real. Ahead, there is a jungle, a temple, and a city. You can play around, slay some monsters, have some fun, but you can feel yourself growing hot, like the VR helmet is burning your forehead.

And when you try to take it off, you find that you can't. The HUD glitches, the sound cuts off to a blaring alarm, and an error message appears, in glowing, blinking red letters: FINISH THE MISSION. Will you, despite not knowing what the mission even is, or will you fight to get the helmet off?

( 0 0 4 ) » MALFUNCTIONS

(cw: body horror, bodily functions, gore, blood, death)

The fabricators function well enough, until they don't. One day, one moment, everything's all right — the food doesn't generally taste amazing and sometimes downright awful, but it's nourishing and filling no matter what your dietary needs — and the next, things go a little haywire.

In short, the fabricators are malfunctioning.

Oh, they're still producing food that looks and tastes much the same as before, but now there are some unexpected side effects.

NB: Characters may experience any of the following side effects: nausea ranging from slight to debilitating, the sensation of being happily and affectionately — but not overwhelmingly — drunk, bone-deep exhaustion and weariness that makes it hard to move, or repeated hallucinations of loved ones screaming for help, reaching out to characters and leading them down abandoned corridors or being killed by unseen forces.

The extent to which characters are affected is up to players, as is whether you'd prefer to play this more lightheartedly or tackling more serious themes. If the latter, please provide warnings in subject lines where necessary.

( 0 0 5 ) » NETWORK

The comms device you found next to you when waking up connects to a station-wide network, REVERIE NET. You have the option to post video, voice or text messages.

What will you share?

( 0 0 5 . 1 ) » NETWORK USERNAME
When you first turn on your communication device, it requests for you to pick a username to identify you on the network. It can be anything you want. However, as you try to input a username in your wristband to access the network, you get the following message, along with a small, but irritating, warming sound:

this username is already in use.

What does this mean? Is there other people around? Were there other people around?

( 0 0 6 ) » WILDCARD

The station features a variety of locations, from sleeping quarters free for the claiming to a dirty swimming pool and a bar that still holds alcohol (though some of the bottles seem to have been opened a while ago).

Go wild, but don't wreck the place. It's your home for the foreseeable future, after all.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Truthfully, Rogue used to be a person who judged others easily. Her world was black and white and she refused to acknowledge any shade of grey. Funny how much life can change a person. ]

Even more so when resources are finite. [ She takes another drink, pondering just how many of them might be here now, and what is available to sustain them all on the station. If the previous occupants left, it must have been for a good reason. And if they didn't leave... ]

[ and that's a good point too. he wonders if they'll still be here when they get through all of this booze. maybe they'll wish they had rationed it better. ]

Was trying my best not to be responsible, but thanks anyway. [ he wanted just a day to come to grips with this, to not worry about what's to come. but people keep rudely raining on that parade. ]

[ Okay, now she feels bad. Sorry? ]

You won't see me stopping anytime soon. [ To prove her point, she tosses back the last bit in her glass, grimacing slightly at the taste, then holds out the glass to him for a refill. ]

[ he nods his solidarity with her at that, leaning over to pour her a few more fingers. or maybe... a few more than the last time. ] Are we doing names? [ everyone seems to want that from him so he may as well preempt the whole annoying thing. ]

[ He earns a smile with that generous serving. A small smile, but still very much present, followed by a one-shouldered shrug. ] My name's Rogue, but I'll call you whatever you want, sugar. Or not, it's your choice.

[ sugar. he gives her a look, but it ends up more confused than truly offended. ] I think I like 'Sugar.' [ that doesn't mean he can't be a dick about it tho ]

[ Between that look he wears and his claiming the epithet she uses for just about everyone... she laughs. An actual laugh, accompanied by a broad smile, the both of them feeling so incredibly strange after such a long absence. It's only for a few seconds, but she almost feels normal. ]

Lord, I can't remember the last time I laughed. Thank you for that. [ She's genuine in her gratitude; she wasn't sure she was capable of such things anymore. ]

[ her laugh startles him, though he does his best not to let it show. it isn't an unpleasant sound by a longshot, he just isn't used to things like genuine mirth these days. go figure. ]

You're welcome, huh. [ frank ducks his head, trying to hide a smile that twitches up lopsided. he has his moments okay. though it's weird when he's not pretending and she still seems charmed anyway. ] Rogue. There's gotta be a story behind that. Unless you're a biker? [ he says it casually but he has a history of murdering bikers so she should probably say no ]

[ He tries to hide his smile but she still sees it. Just a glimpse, but enough to really be charmed. She won't call attention to it though - that kind of teasing can wait for when they know each other better. ]

Not a biker, no. [ Though she did used to drive one now and then. A lifetime ago. ] It's a long story. Short version? I'm a mutant, and most of us choose other names to go by. I chose Rogue. I can probably blame it on being seventeen and terrified of what I'd become, but it's who I am now.

[ She might not even tell anyone here her other name, she hasn't decided yet. ]

[ a mutant. he actually forgets about the alcohol, glancing at her sharply. it might seem like alarm or judgment but that isn't it. he's just maybe surprised she'd be so open with that in a place like this, or at all. the only supers he knew of liked to keep that shit on the dl. ]

You're one of those... freaks. [ he knows the word choice is the wrong one the second it passes his lips and he wrinkles his nose. it's clear that he's drunk now, but also there's nothing harsh about his tone. ] I mean, you know-- mutant. I guess. I know a guy like that. [ and maybe his language has more to do with matt than with any bias he might have against people with superpowers. which is actually pretty close to none, honestly. ]

[ Her expression sobers and doesn't reveal one bit the way his words sting. Despite everything, she's still stronger than that, a steel magnolia through and through. ]

Do you? Did you call him that too? Freak. [ She takes a sip of her drink and doesn't make a face this time. She can barely taste it now, everything feeling so distant. ] I've been called worse, you know. Especially by the people who locked me up for three years just for being different.

Yeah. [ he admits, looking pained a minute before shaking his head. ] But not because of what he– I shouldn't have said that to you. Sorry, ma'am.

[ they locked her up. how familiar. he shrugs, abandoning the bottle and moving to try and stand. he stumbles and very nearly falls, catching himself at the last minute on the stool top. wow, he didn't know he was that drunk. nice going, castle. ]

Should go and leave you to enjoy your drink. [ is that his voice?? wow yeah he's slurring ]

[ Something in her breaks a little. Has been broken, really, because she didn't used to be like this. She used to smile and laugh, used to keep her secret around others, used to care about her future. She just have the energy for it anymore, not today, but she does have enough to care about him when she sees that stumble.

Sighing, she slides off her own stool, leaving behind the glass and the foggy escape it promised. ] We all say things we shouldn't when we're drunk. Let me help get you somewhere, sugar.

[ he frowns when she gets up, wishing he could rewind. but she's better off away from him, he's already hurt her. he'll do it again. that's all he does is hurt people - it's all he knows how to do. ]

Don't have anywhere else to go. [ he says as if he's just remembered that's why he was drinking himself to death here. he has a white-knuckle grip on the chair in order to keep himself upright. ]

[ If all he knows is how to hurt people, then they'll just have to teach an old dog new tricks. ]

I think somewhere with a bed is gonna be better than here. You need to lie down before you hurt yourself. [ Stepping closer to him, she offers an arm and shoulder, careful to keep her bare hand close to her side. ] At least let me help you get part of the way. I'll be worried as hell if you don't.

[ That's right, she's not above guilting him into letting her help him. ]

[ he shakes his head, then immediately regrets it, squeezing his eyes shut as the room spins around him. when he blinks his eyes back open she's close and offering to support him. he wonders if she has some kind of superstrength because otherwise this is a very bad idea. ] That... the guy I told you about. He runs around in his pajamas beatin' up muggers and shitbags and bullies, you see. He's the freak, not you.

[ a reassurance she doesn't need, especially not from him. but he had to say it before taking hold of her. frank manages to pry himself off his barstool and drop a heavy arm over her shoulder instead. he's trying to remember which way he should go, picturing the paths he's already traveled, but eventually he just lets her lead the way, trying his best not to put too much of his weight on her in the process. ]

[ She glad he doesn't argue further on the matter and instead puts an arm on her shoulder. It's not his full weight, she can tell, but even the weight he does let her take on is almost too much, she's so weakened from her years of captivity. But there won't be a word of complaint from her, and she just puts more focus into keeping them both steady. ]

I used to run around in a leather suit with a bunch of other superpowered people. [ Keeping the conversation going is half because she genuinely wants to and half because it's a good way to keep him conscious until they get to the crew quarters. ]

[ frank shuffles along, having to put way too much focus himself on not collapsing on her. it's obvious from a few steps that she is not a hulk type, which only makes him curious about what her powers could be... he smiles at her admittance, even while he checks to make sure his dogtags are safely under his jumpsuit with his free hand. ]

Then I take it all back, huh? [ a beat - his right foot seems to drag a second longer than his left, barely noticeable with how much of a mess he is right now especially. ] Nah, I tried to help him once. The Devil of Hell's Kitchen. What a name for a Catholic.

[ She's a little surprised he hasn't asked any questions yet. About why she used the term mutant, about what her powers are. Maybe he's just too busy remembering how to walk to put his foot in his mouth again. ]

Sounds like he took that whole sinning thing pretty seriously. [ She's not overly religious, if he couldn't tell. ]

[ that gets a snort ] You've got no idea, lady. [ except when he offered to kill the blacksmith with frank. "just this once," he'd said. just this once we do it your way. he swallows, his stumbling more pronounced for a second before he gets both his feet under him again. when did he get this wasted what the actual hell space booze. ]

So a superhero team, huh? Is that why you're saving me? [ even after he went out of his way not to deserve it ]

[ It's a good thing she's doing a sight better than him or they'd both be sprawled on the metal floor by now. She tries to take more of his weight, slipping an arm around his waist in an attempt to keep him steady, but he's so much bigger than her that it'll probably fail miserably. ]

I retired from the superhero life when I became a prisoner of war, sugar. I'm saving you 'cause I've got a soft spot for growly guys with rough edges.

[ he is trying really hard not to crush her okay!!! it's just not easy right now. he sure has been drinking for hours on no food and no sleep, and no water like a champion. this is going to suck tomorrow. ]

What... what war? [ he gets out, already sure he won't recognize it. no one's recognized his yet, after all. ] ...I'm not growly. [ he kind of growled that ]

[ She makes a mental note to find him the next day and force some water into him. Food, too, if she can manage to find anything even slightly nutritious. ]

Don't worry, sugar, I actually find it endearing. [ He's not the first to charm her by being a growly grump. ] We called it the Sentinel War. Giant robots hunting down mutants after the government decided we didn't have the right to exist anymore.

[ Funny how easy it is for her to talk about all of this in the past tense. Like they'd already lost and the war had been over for years. Though, in a way, it kind of had been for her. ]

[ he doesn't want to be endearing!!!! but he's listening carefully to the rest, a familiar rage boiling up through his core. by the end, he's standing on his own, as if propelled by anger alone. and really, that's frank in a nutshell. ] Genocide. [ a simple confirmation. this is why he doesn't trust governments to do fuck all. ]

[ Tough shit, his gruff ways are endearing and that's all there is to it. Even more so when she takes in his reaction to what she's said -- he's so like Logan in that moment that it hurts. ]

I'm not sure they'd use that exact term, seeing as they didn't even consider us human. But yeah, that's what it was. [ A beat of silence, then ] We were losing when I was captured, and things didn't get better after that.

» TEST DRIVE #001

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