« 001 ⇢ INTERLUDE001.EXE »

[reparator]

Who: Mosley and these unfortunate souls
When: OOC: 6/27, IC: 1/26
Where: CERES Research Tower
What: Mosley takes a few lucky souls on a tour of the CERES offices.
Rating/Warning: PG-13: Some violence, injuries and possible death.

---

▶ VIDEO.EXE | IC: 1/25

[ The broadcast comes bright and early for those paying attention to their CereVices; the man who appears on the screen is strikingly pale, white-haired and piercingly blue-eyed. He looks young, no more than nineteen or twenty and he's dressed in a crisp black and white suit. He stares into the screen for a long moment, long enough to be, frankly, just a bit uncomfortable.

And then white eyelashes blink and an awkward, unsure smile spreads across his face. He lifts a hand to fix his tie and speaks. ]

This is Mosley.

[ The smile drops, leaving him with a blank expression once again. ]

CERES has decided in a show of good faith to open our doors to you. I have been given the task of, [ He lifts his hands to emphasize with air quotes. ] "being your tour guide." If that is what I must do, so be it. The lazy worm does not get the apple, after all.

[ He looks down at the tablet on his desk, giving it a few taps and suddenly an icon appears on the bottom right hand of the video. ]

That link will bring you to a listing to make an appointment. You will be given a time. Show up promptly or do not, it is no matter to me. The tour will leave ten minutes after your given time and that will be that. Tours will only last a few hours so you needn't worry about the rest of your day. You will certainly return home in time to catch the latest episode of [ Air quotes again. ] "Banana is the New Black." I hear there's going to be a cliffhanger!

[ A pause and he looks oddly thoughtful. ]

I suppose you could also steal it off the internet? [ Blank again. ] Which would be wrong. Our lawyers will contact you if you do that. Do not.

[ And then another of those awkward smiles before quickly turning into something a bit startled and he taps his tablet again, ending the video. Replies to this feed have been disabled, unfortunately. Seems like someone isn't feeling very chatty. It's a miracle. ]

▶ ACTION.EXE | IC: 1/26

[ The next day, that Monday, those who take Mosley up on his offer will find that him standing there right in front of the main CERES office building, waiting. It’s with that same disconcerting smile that he unlocks the door and ushers them in.

Welcome, all of you, to our lovely CERES!

The group will find themselves standing in a lobby. Clean white walls and floors, a bright blue rug leading towards the elevators on the far wall, and a white reception counter. At the counter are two CERES robots answering calls and directing any visitors (though the lobby seems quite empty today) and on the wall behind them is a hologram of the CERES logo for all to see. Mosley stands in the center of the carpet in his usual suit and claps his hands together, putting on a smile. ]

Welcome to CERES.

[ And then the smile drops. Voice flat, he continues. ]

There has been... talk over the past few months that we at CERES have not been working 24/7 to help you, our clientele, return to your homes safely and soundly. There has also been... talk that we do not do anything. That this entire company is a farce, which is honestly quite hurtful to both me and the other hardworking staff at this company. Mr. Vincere had his way of running this place but Ms. Recreare is fond of a more hands on approach. We want to share that approach with you.

[ He spreads his hands to indicate to the building around them. ]

CERES has many fingers in many jars and they've all been sealed tight for a while. We would like to open those jars. So once again, welcome to CERES and please follow me.

[ After that, Mosley turns and begins to lead the group off. ]

---

▶ RUN.EXE | MOD NOTES

This is the event log for these sign-ups! Your groups have been sorted below; here are a few handy links for you:

Group 01 | OOC plotting
Group 02 | OOC plotting
Group 03 | OOC plotting
Group 04 | OOC plotting
Group 05 | OOC plotting
Group 06 | OOC plotting
Group 07 | OOC plotting
Group 08 | OOC plotting
Group 09 | OOC plotting
Group 10 | OOC plotting
There is no tagging order, so feel free to tag in whatever way works best for you as a group.

The tours will technically last 3 hours icly, but that may change as ic events happen; oocly, the threads will last as long as necessary, though Mosley will come and collect your characters if they are moseying around too long! There will be mod involvement in each of the tours.

If there are any questions, feel free to ask them here. You are welcome to plot with your groupmates by using the ooc top level comments linked above. Thank you!

Comments

▶ GROUP THREE.EXE

[complices]

. . . LOADING ENGLAND.$$$ . . . LOADING JAUNE ARC.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING PEKO PEKOYAMA.$$$ . . . LOADING RIO KAMISHIRO.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING YANG XIAO LONG.$$$ . . . START TOUR.EXE. . .

---

[ One short painfully awkward elevator ride in which Mosley says nothing and ignores any advances for conversation later, the group arrives on floor 115. As they step out onto the floor, it seems pretty empty yet still in the same stark white polish as the rest of the building. The hallway branches out left and right, so far down that it's nearly impossible to see the end and each side has door after door after door. Above each door is something interesting: a date. ]

I thought it would be pertinent to start off with our history. CERES has been around for quite a while! While, yes, Ms. Recreare only recently purchased the company, Mr. Vincere was not the first owner either. CERES has had a colorful history full of successful and sometimes unsuccessful ventures and we would like to share it with--

[ He pauses, looking startled before a hand covers his face. Mosley takes a few steps forward before dropping to all fours and ... vomiting all over the crisp white floor. The weird thing about it is Mosley's vomit is not quite... normal. No, it's pure black and slick, like oil and it smells just awful. After he's done he rolls over onto his back, the black liquid a very creepy contrast to his pale skin. He reaches a hand up into the air and in his usual monotone, he speaks. ]

Help. Help.

[ Before anyone can react, a door bursts open down the hall, sirens blaring all around, and two CERES issue robots jog out holding a stretcher between them. With swift efficiency, they arrive at the group and lift Mosley onto the stretcher. In another moment, they pick it back up and with a nod to the group, run off down the hall and through a door. Once they disappear into it, the sirens finally shut off. This all happens within the space of about five minutes or so, leaving the group alone.

Well, aside from the vomit that is. The nearest doors read June X9%U, July X9%U, August X9%U and September X9%U. What will you do? ]

[beaconed]

[ Just... excuse Jaune while he's vomiting real actual vomit in the background - it isn't black or creepy or anything, it's only a lasagna he had from earlier.

But... that was gross as hell. Black vomit.

He came here to find answers about his friends disappearing: Pyrrha, Tenka, Weiss, Yata... but, whatever this incident triggered, he suddenly feels like he got more than he bargained for?? ]

[flaredo]

[ ... Yang was already crinkling her nose over black vomit, but with Jaune carrying on with the Puking Choir, she's flat-out--

... Ignoring him. SHE KNOWS HE'LL BE FINE, WALK IT OFF. ]

Sooooo... that was a thing. Since our tour guide just ditched us, I guess we're touring ourselves?

[ A glance at the doors. ]

By testing these doors out, probably.

[perfectstrike]

[Incredible. Jaune gets exactly one (1) glance from Peko -- just enough to determine that it's normal vomit and the black liquid isn't immediately contagious -- before turning her attention to Yang.]

I agree. If they are chronological... it may be best to start at the beginning. Or split up to cover as much area as possible before our "guide" returns.

[The dry tone to her voice suggests that she really doesn't have much faith in Mosley, or CERES as a whole. She's not just standing there, though; instead, she's pulling a tissue from her pocket and moving closer to the oil left behind, dabbing at the edge of it. Because clearly if it's not contagious, it's fine to take some with you?? Dangan investigative life, apparently.]

[unionjackoff]

[England has been wanting to get into CERES' facilities since he got here. though he is no fool. this is way too suspicious, could be a trap. and then Mosely does... whatever that thing was, and now he's gone.

he looks at the group he's been saddled with. all kids, a couple he knows. and he does not want harm to come to any single one of them. especially Jaune. poor Jaune]

I don't think we should split up. It's too dangerous. But I do think it would be prudent to start from the beginning.

[icefallen]

[...Perhaps he should get that black vomit thing checked out. A pre-existing medical condition, maybe? It doesn't look very healthy, at any rate.

Still, Rio is staring thoughtfully at the doors, considering how best to approach this before offering her thoughts.]

Would groups of two and three be more prudent, perhaps? Are we all capable of defending ourselves?

[Belatedly, she takes a couple pointed steps away from the black puddle, making a slight face.]

[beaconed]

If we stay together, we can fight off anything that comes at us better. But if we split up, the chances of all of us getting caught will be minimised.

[ Spoken like an experienced team leader, but completely impossible to be taken with any shred of seriousness as he wipes his mouth like he didn't just throw up lunch. ]

I mean, we are all planning on trespassing here, right?

[flaredo]

Well, yeah. [ Spoken in a tone that's a lot like DUH, as Yang taps a boot against the floor and studies the doors. ] But who knows how much free time we've got before he pops some nausea pills and comes back here? I know at least three of us can fight-- [ Rio and England, she's not familiar with. ] So why not do this?

We can pick a door to go in together, and depending on how that goes, we do the other doors in smaller groups, like she-- [ A thumb over to Rio ] said. That way, if nothing goes too crazy through that first door, no one's going solo, and we can get more rooms looked at.

But for now-- [ DRAMATIC FLOURISH AT JUNE. ]

Let's get going.

[perfectstrike]

That's fine.

[Peko pushes herself to her feet, wrapping the tissue around the small bit of black liquid she'd wiped up and shoving it deep into her pocket. Apologies if she smells a little bit thanks to that, but investigation's got to be done! Her hands don't stay free for long, though, one hand reaching back to undo the loose tie at the top of the bag on her back to draw a sheathed katana. Just in case.

She does nod toward Yang, giving the other three an appraising look. Yang she knows can fight, but the rest of them...? She has no idea, and her opinion of Jaune, in spite of his strategic thinking, still isn't very high thanks to that vomiting episode.]

The room labeled June, then?

[unionjackoff]

[well, it looks as if the kittens have claws. England feels... slightly out of place, as though he doesn't have a hold on everyone. he desperately wants to tell them to all stay outside, and that he will check out the rooms alone because he is the adult, but somehow, he knows that won't go over well.

at least he's good at trespassing. he's a great spy. and he pulls out his glock from its hidden holster, mostly to show that he's carrying, and that he's capable of holding his own, as well as protecting the others]

I'll go first.

[he doesn't even wait for the teens to agree or disagree, already making his way to the door]

[reparator]

[ upon entering the room, everything goes dark. The door shuts behind them, and then fades away as the room shifts into what appears to be a jungle instead.

It certainly feels real, even if careful inspection of the shift reveals it to be hologram technology--similar, but not quite the same to ViViD. Either way, when it is properly uploaded, it feels real enough; the atmosphere is muggy, the trees, moss and insects feel real to the touch, and they are definitely in the middle of a jungle.

And then, there's a projected voice, slightly mechanical due to clearly being a recording. ]

Interactive Diary Entry 1: Arrival at Tellus, June X9%U.

[ with that, it stops. For now, it seems that's all that's going to be said. ]

[beaconed]

[ Jaune opens his eyes slowly as they readjust to the new environment after being in darkness for a few seconds. Following that, he then hears the recording, easily grasping the current situation as he's a big fan of diary keeping himself. ]

Uh... guys...? I... I think we went back in time. [ Not quite. But... ]

I mean, Tellus is the planet we're on now, I know that much.

[ He feels one of the jungle trees with his hand... it feels so real. ]

[icefallen]

..."Interactive Diary"? Perhaps "back in time" isn't too far from the truth...

[Even the atmosphere has changed; Rio has to wonder if this is a mere static record of history, though, or if something a little different is going to happen. "Interactive" suggests that they're going to be the ones experiencing whatever it is that's been recorded here, after all.]

Do we have to do something more to trigger the rest of it, if it's a recording?

▶ JULY - YANG AND ENGLAND

[unionjackoff]

[England is surprised when the young lady links arms with him. Yang's a lively one, isn't she? he's not bothered, really. he's just not used to being touched by strangers, especially so amiably.

they will find out about Jaune's escapades later, probably. from one of them. he warns the other group to be careful, too, before opening the next door]

▶ CHECKPOINT THREE B.SAV

[reparator]

. . . OLD FILE OVERWRITTEN . . . CHECKPOINT #003 B.SAV . . .
. . . CONTINUING TOUR.EXE. . .

---

[ They walk through the door and they have all of a few moments to realize that they are in Cerealia -- or, well, the beginnings of Cerealia. It's still under construction, still clearly being built, but it is starting to resemble the city they know. There are no walls, however, and there is no platform in the sky. ]

July X9%U [ the diary starts like normal, and then...there is a tremor. It's just a minor one, hardly worth being concerned with, except that a few moments later, it happens again, larger.

The buildings sway. ]

Oh god oh god oh god I don't know what's going on, but I want to go home --

[ The diary cuts off just as the earthquake hits, splitting the street they're standing on in half, toppling buildings with a ferociousness that the tremors of before hadn't even hinted at.

It's one big, sharp tremor, and then with that, everything is quiet and still. ]

[flaredo]

[ Yang's already bracing herself, reaching out to steady England as the street sharply lurches and splits and she nearly loses her balance trying to haul him off to one side anyway. Hopefully that worked, because she's losing her grip on him when the buildings topple and only managing to wobble upright when everything stills. ]

Are you okay??

[ She didn't get crushed, there's progress. ]

[unionjackoff]

[the fun just never ends here in Cerealia! England keeps a hold of Yang and manages to stay on the same side with her when the street splits. thankfully, the earthquake doesn't last too much longer after that. his heart is pounding when the tremor stops]

I-I'm fine. What about you?

[flaredo]

Still standing. But it looks like staying on this side of the street's the way to go right now.

... I don't remember any earthquakes ever happening, though...

[ Come, brave comrade, let us traipse this quaky terrain. Once she's sure they're both steady, she'll start walking over uneven ground again. ]

[unionjackoff]

They must have been taken care of. [maybe earthquakes were bugs that were sorted out by the time visitors started being brought here.

he starts walking with Yang, now looking at the buildings, peeking in windows. everywhere he walks, England is careful, so that he is prepared in case there are more tremors] I'm also wondering about the aliens... the ones that are supposed to be taking over our worlds? The diary hasn't mentioned them at all.

[flaredo]

The flazzy-wazzies?

[ Yang, stop, you know what they're called. ] Maybe this is still too early for them to show up. It sounds like they're still having problems with... you know, the wildlife and natural disasters.

[ Monsters and earthquakes, oh my. ]

[unionjackoff]

[no they're flabébés]

I suppose. [huh, this building looks familiar] Sure wish we knew some dates, though. It would be nice to know how old Cerealia was, in relation to the alien invasions, and the present.

[reparator]

[ Ask and ye shall receive -- okay, no, just kidding, that would be too easy. But the diary does click back on, the intern sounding shaky, but otherwise alive. ]

We weren't expecting the earthquakes when we got here, but the planet seems to suffer from them a lot... or, something like that. I don't think there were any before we started building, but it may not have been earthquake season.

Ugh, I hate this place, I want to go home.

But either way, we'll just have to rebuild, I guess.

[ As for Yang and England, they seem to be stuck; they can follow the unbroken road, but the debris makes it incredibly hard to get anywhere. ]

[flaredo]

'Home', huh... I feel him on that.

[ And yet they're still stuck here. Yang sighs-- and then promptly grimaces as another bit of debris blocks her path. To backtrack and go around, or... ]

... You know, I could probably blow this up.

[ Yang, no. ]

[unionjackoff]

[England's been saying he's wanted to go home since the beginning...

but wait...]

You have the power to do that?

[England, no. don't encourage the teen to blow stuff up]

[flaredo]

Yep! You just put some oomph into it. And probably duck.

[ Debris does fly, after all, and she doesn't want to knock him out. That would be silly. ]