Test Drive #13.

[powersthatbe]

Welcome to the Synodiporia Test Drive Meme! Below the cuts there are two new prompts, and here are the prompts from previous test-drives, which you’re still welcome to use in this post. When you comment, be sure you specify what prompt you want to play with, and please put up your own threadstarter - it makes for a much more friendly environment that a forest of bare toplevels! OCs are especially welcome! Please take a quick look at our Directory & familiarize yourself with the concept and setting of the game before you jump in.

Our upcoming app round runs December 18th-31st. Our next Jaunt, Escape from Junkworld, is a space opera romp where humans, aliens, and androids work together on mysterious scavenged, malfunctioning ships to outrun an interstellar disaster. Our next Walkabout (a more casual alternative event, for those not interested in the Jaunt) will revisit Heartbreak Academy, a shoujo anime setting where high-schoolers use Social Technology to bring shoujo special effects to life, from glitter to roses, transformation sequences to sad rainclouds, these cartoony powers are at the height of education for those who want a career in media or diplomacy, or some other means of big-stage self-expression. Both Jaunt & Walkabout will begin January 7th & run for approximately six weeks.

Prompt #37 is set in the Escape from Junkworld jaunt, as an advance taste of the fun available there.

Prompt #38 is set in a created landscape within the Telepathic Network all Travelers can access, and features characters facing their inner demons and traumatic memories together.


Prompt #37

The Coronation's coolant system has sprung a leak somewhere in its kilometers of pressurized tubing - near enough to the diagnostic centers to short out the readouts, meaning half the crew is up to their elbows in the decking, ceramic floor plates scattered along the corridors like loose shingles, making traveling between workstations like a game of holy grail hopscotch between the tiles and the potholes they left.

Besides that, the leak leaves the entirety of the ship smelling like a cross between pond scum and burned espresso, and set the radiation alarms to a distracting buzz - not enough for klaxons, just a constant, low-level warning that set the teeth on edge.

In the ship’s simulator chambers, anyone visored and gloved to work in virtual space can ignore it - but the computer environment may experience glitches in its programs, whether functional or recreational. On the bridge, other systems are experiencing occasional failures - from sensor shadows hinting at unreal pursuit and activating automated combat routines, to the translators in the comm system shorting out and creating a momentary babel.

Meanwhile, between evacuating irradiated areas, crawling through the conduits looking for the problem to fix, or quietly shooing smuggler-snails full of contraband out of the way of the search parties, there’s something for everyone to be doing...


Prompt #38


Sometimes someone’s issues lead to them being swallowed by a dungeon in Liminal Space and forced to confront their darker side, their repressed issues - but you can’t always wait for an arbitrary interdimensional force to kidnap you. Here in the Mind Palace, the world is simply a vast, blank white space, and glittering glass cubes float in the air, each holding within it a freeze-framed memory of a traumatic moment, something you’ve chosen to face here together with your companions. Maybe only one of you is going through this gauntlet, or maybe you’ve opted to face your fears together, but whatever this captive image is, you’ll have to explain it or let it play out, and come to grips with what it means to you - whether a happy memory you’ve lost, something that makes you sad or afraid or angry, or even a piece of your past that had been buried or forgotten until now - there it is, in front of you, waiting.

What happens next?

Comments

Alexander Hamilton | Hamilton

[aimedhigh]

37

Alexander Hamilton doesn't have the slightest idea what's going on. All of this is strange and modern and -- once he's pulled someone aside to demand an explanation for all the frantic work and noise underway, it's a little understandable. Granted, he's never had to deal with the possibility of death by irradiation and coolant explosions, but hey, he's faced down a good amount of almost-dying in his time.

With the situation explained, military training kicks in. He is clever enough to know that he won't be of any use with the crew taking things apart -- so he opts for evacuation. "Come, this way," he offers to whomever he might be helping, not demanding in tone, but it's clearly an order. "We need to move quickly." Should his follower be a lady, he is likely offering them an arm at various difficult points. It may seem a little old-fashioned, but he is a gentleman, after all.

[volving]

Cass wants to be able to help with the crisis, but unfortunately she cannot punch it, so there's only so much she can do. She slips into an irradiated area to do a quick sweep for anyone who somehow missed the alarms and evacuation notices, and runs into Alexander on her way back out, having verified no one was left needing to evacuate.

She would've just passed him with little more than a nod, if not for the underlying current of confusion that's bleeding into all his movements. She slows, then stops, tilting her head slightly at him.

"You're... new," she says after a long moment.

[aimedhigh]

He would have given a slightly awkward if decorous nod back; he appreciates a young lady who can take charge in situations such as these. But since she mentioned it, he gives a slightly wry smile and a bit of a pained shrug. "Is it so obvious? I'm afraid you've caught me out, miss; I haven't the slightest idea what is going on, save that people must be evacuated."

If he's babbling a little, it's understandable. The last thing he remembers before arriving here was his duel, after all. Waking up in a spaceship was quite the shock.

[volving]

"You are..." she hesitates trying to think of the word, then shakes her head. Explaining to new people how she can tell they're new is difficult at the best of times.

Instead, she presses on, letting him know he doesn't need to wait any longer. "It's... empty. I checked." Her speech is hesitant in a way that suggests English isn't her first language. It's true, but not in the way Alexander will probably assume.

[aimedhigh]

He nods and follows along with her, movements unsure, like he's not certain where to set his feet. He walks (at least, for now), like a much older man should, almost painfully but not willing to let it hinder him in any way. They've work to do, though he doesn't understand it quite yet, and that is galling in itself; he likes knowing what's going on.

"You are certainly more sure of yourself than I," he says approvingly. He's more than used to that hesitance--he spent a good five years dealing with a number of primarily French speakers. In any case, he doesn't note it aside from mentally putting a pin in it, to come back to later. "My apologies," he continues after a moment, sheepish-sounding. "I didn't give you a name, I am Hamilton."

[volving]

Cass notices the way he moves. She can't pinpoint exactly why, of course, but it's not any of her business, really. Instead of saying anything, she falls back to walk close to him, so she can provide support or balance if he needs it.

"I have... been here for... a while," she says. Not here-here, but that's more explanation than she thinks she'd be able to do usefully for him at the moment. Maybe she's wrong, but unless he starts asking specific questions, she'll just make sure Steph or Tim or someone talks to him.

She looks up at him with a sort of bemused smile when he apologizes - it always strikes her as odd how focused people are on knowing each other's names. "Cassandra," she answers.

[howluckyweare]

Eliza has no experience that would happen in this situation - her skirts slow her down in the narrow passageways, catching on various bits of machinery (though she tears them free without particular care), and she has no sense of where she's going in this unfamiliar setting.

She stumbles through a doorway, catches herself on someone's arm... and looks up into a face that's familiar and unfamiliar all at once. He's a few decades older than the man she knows, but she knows him at a glance.

"...Alexander?"

[aimedhigh]

His heart fairly leaps in his chest when he sees her -- it always has, regardless of whatever else is going on, she is his little charmer, best of wives and women. All of that quickly turns into something more along the lines of shock, because logically, if he's here after dying, that would mean the same thing for Eliza. Granted, she is younger than the one he's just left, but he's not really thinking about that at this precise moment.

"Eliza! What -- how did you get here? You're alright? We must move quickly; I'm not certain what's going on except I've heard it is not wise to linger." The words fairly trip over themselves on their way out of his mouth, but he can be excused for that. Eliza is likely used to it, though it may take her some time to get used to an older and grayer husband who is moving suspiciously carefully as they walk, just as though he's been shot or hurt in some way he hasn't bothered to speak of yet.

[howluckyweare]

Eliza reaches for his hand, grasps it like his presence is the only thing convincing her any of this is real. She may not have all the reasons he does to question her presence here, but she has yet to receive a satisfactory answer to how or why she's here, and it is hard not to look at it all as some strange dream.

"I'm alright," she reassures him with a sharp nod and a quick smile. "I'm... confused, but I'm not hurt. Are you...?"

She searches his face for a moment, taking in the unfamiliar lines etched there, his faded hair, an unaccountable sadness in his eyes she's never seen before. Her smile slips into a concerned frown... but as he said, there's no time to linger. She'll have to ask her questions later.

"Let's go. Where is safe, here?"

[aimedhigh]

"I'm as alright as I may be," he replies, holding onto her hand like its a lifeline. It's not exactly an answer, but he will explain it all later when they're somewhere safer. "Just--" A beat, and he grips her hand harder for a moment. "Tell me you were alright, at home. The children, too?" He couldn't bear it if their children were left without both parents, he knows better than most what that is like.

There is concern written all across his face, for both her and the children; but it is tempered with disbelief and joy. He never thought he would see her again; at least not for a very long time. "It's not far, I know a place." He is intent on taking her to the place Cassandra showed him, with seats for them both to sit and try and make sense of all this. "Come, this way." He takes her arm and turns, perhaps resting a bit more of his weight on her than he properly should.

[howluckyweare]

Eliza leans in toward him as they walk, trying to offer him a bit more support without being too obvious about it - she knows his pride, and how reluctant he'd be to even accept the help, but if he's leaning on her as much as he is, she's certain he needs it.

But as focused as she is in getting both of them to safety - though she's not entirely clear on what the threat is - something he said brings her grinding to a halt, planting her feet firmly and holding onto Alexander's arm so he's forced to face her.

"Children? Whose..." Oh. She covers her mouth with her free hand, drawing in a breath. Eliza's not as sharp as Alexander or her sister, never quite so quick on her feet, but she's not a fool either. Someone mentioned when she first arrived that they all came from different places, different times... Now it makes sense.

"We don't have them," she says softly. "Not..."

Yet. Not yet.

[forcechanic]

Jaina is not exactly thrilled that she's been ushered toward evacuation. It's a mechanical crisis, she's in here element here. Sure she wasn't quite fifteen yet, but she'd been working on spaceship systems for most of those years. And on a notoriously malfunction prone ship, which had been a great way to learn.

Being a teenager who has just been ushered away from something interesting, there is a hint of a sulk on her face. "I still think they should let me check their coolant system."

[aimedhigh]

Well, it's a fair bet she likely knows a lot more about them than Alexander does. He doesn't have the slightest clue what a coolant system is or what it does, other than presumably cool things, but he keeps his hand at her elbow, gently ushering her down the hallway.

"I'm sure they've got more than enough people working at it, miss. Perhaps you might check back later and see if they've made any progress." His tone is slightly firm, fatherly-sounding. She's close to the age of a few of his own children, it is easy to slip back into old habits, even in a place like this.

Wash is also good with spaceships but WRONG JOURNAL

[forcechanic]

She doesn't miss the fatherly tone. Of course, she's always had a knack for persuading her dad to let her do things. Her mom was a much greater challenge on that front but her dad? Oh, she knew the tricks with her dad.

"I'm really good with these kind of systems though." Sure it wasn't the exact technology she was used to, but there was a logic to machines. Coolant systems had to work a certain way because the laws of physics required it. "I'd be way more useful in there than where they're sending us."

haha no worries <3

[aimedhigh]

See, with Alexander's children, it would likely be about the same -- he likes to be certain his children have whatever they desire. It's rather hard to say no, in that case.

"Yes, but you are not the captain, nor, I assume, do you know the captain. If you should apply to them, you might have better luck; but as that is not currently the case, I'm afraid I will have to advise you to come with me, miss." She could try annoying someone else into it, Alex might even help her if he sees what she can do. He's definitely someone to support 'annoying your way into higher positions'. It works, most of the time, even.

Re: haha no worries <3

[forcechanic]

"Ooor..." Because really, that put a pretty good idea in her head. The captain would know these systems well. And she could prove pretty quickly that she knew what she was doing, if she was talking to someone like that. So simple. Spacers all talked shop a certain way.

Or at the very least he was likely to be really busy and realize he couldn't afford to waste time arguing with her when she was ready to help. It was perfect. "You could help me find the captain."

[wickedestwitch]

Elphaba isn't exactly dressed for running around a spaceship, and while her boots are fairly sensible a long dress isn't.

"Ah, thank you." She's willing to grab an offered arm though, and that definitely isn't a green glove on her hand. "I'm missing my flying monkey however, have you seen him?"

[aimedhigh]

On the bright side, hers isn't quite as large as Eliza's is. He's not going to comment on the ...green-ness just yet, he certainly would never be so rude to a lady. All he gives her is a slightly startled stare for a moment, processing that, and then shakes his head.

"I am afraid I've never seen a flying monkey in my life, madam, though this place is strange enough that I would expect anything to happen." Like, perhaps, being brought back from the dead. And your wife being a few decades younger than you. In any case, he returns to moving them towards a safe spot, touching her elbow briefly. "Come, I have been told we must move quickly."

[wickedestwitch]

She knows that look, but if he isn't going to say something she won't call him out on it either.

"It's a bit of an Ozian phenomenon, I've found. You'd know if you saw him." She explains, letting him lead her along. "I hope you aren't pushing yourself too hard."

[aimedhigh]

He can be polite! To ladies, at least, most of the time.

"I expect I would, judging by the sound of him," he replies, a little wry, and then turns to give her a slightly startled look. "Do I look so bad? I haven't seen a mirror since before I arrived, but I didn't think it was so terrible."

[loyalrebel]

The man in white robes and brown leather looks almost impossibly more out of time than Alexander, if it wasn't for the short sword at his back he'd pass well enough as some sort of devout monk.

"If I was running away, I would consider it. I suspect someone, or something, is using this chaos to do something worse." Malik replied evenly, raising an eyebrow in almost challenge at the order. "Things are rarely as they seem on these things."

[aimedhigh]

"Perhaps," Alexander responds, drawing himself up with an almost imperceptible wince. "Or perhaps whatever we are aboard is truly having some mechanical issues. In either case, I am ill-equipped to help with either of those, aside from giving orders. It is dangerous to be here, sir, and I doubt your sword will do you any good whatsoever in this place." It's not running away, it's more a controlled evacuation -- and he sees the sense in those, having had to make quite a few of them in his time.

[loyalrebel]

"Swords do a great deal of good when someone decides to attack, they also do not require reloading like firearms. I also have a very good left punch." Malik replied, sounding more amused than anything. Mostly because the good left happens to be mostly because from the shoulder down the whole arm is a metal replacement.

"Giving orders is only as useful as the people giving or listening to them, and I have no reason to listen to you. I could, however, use a second pair of eyes. I will make a copy of the ship map for you once we get to a terminal I can pull it up on."

[aimedhigh]

"Very well, but I do not think you will have cause to use either of them in this chaos." He hasn't seen a thing to fight yet, after all, and he's been through quite a few passageways on his search for people to evacuate.

"I will admit to not being very useful in this case, but only because of unfamiliarity," he continues, a little disgruntled-sounding. "But my eyes work well enough. Let's be on our way, then."

[loyalrebel]

"I prefer being prepared and not needing something than needing it and not having it."

Malik seems to have some idea of where he's going as he takes the lead, half of which is being good at pretending he knows what he's doing.

"Best way to learn is to do, or ask. The yellow lines are for electricity, if they are damaged and touching metal it will hurt you. The pipes with the glowing dots are hot to the touch."