estoria | « 009 ⇢ event009.exe »

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« 009 ⇢ event009.exe »

Who: CERES & you
When: ooc: 01/15-01/22; ic: 11/03-11/06
Where: Cerealia's Research & Technology District and Beyond!!!
What: Intro and Event log
Rating/Warning: PG-13 | possibly nsfw (please let us know if you need this rating changed, or you are welcome to continue any naughty shenanigans in a private log)

//event009.EXE

Always Believe in the Heart of the Cards Except When They Tell You to Kill People

Welcome to CERES Research Tower’s latest event! For all you new folk queuing outside of the conference room where you were just made to sit through a lovely power point presentation, you will be asked to stay a bit longer and test out some games in their Game Testing Center. It’s a giant space located in the basement level filled to the brim with cubicles for everyone to sit in and enjoy their newest array of pop-up games. The games themselves will be in holo(gm) form and will feature suggestions from CEO’s post, including a simplified, 8-bit version of Tetris, Baseball, Soda Smash, etc. Characters can control the game through moving their fingers and tapping them against the holo(gm) screens.

Surrounding the cubicles will be tables of food and more food for characters to partake in. It’s all safe this time. No mind-altering candy corn or gut-exploding Knight Burgers. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the party. For those who have been in Cerealia for a while, they should have received an invitation to the event and an offer of 1,000 credits just for participating. So come on down and bring a friend or ten! Meanwhile, CEO has a small welcome for everyone-

“Good Morning and thank you all for coming!

We have been expecting you. We hope you will enjoy what we’ve put together today. Ever since we got your feedback on << RAINBOW NARWHAL MELEE >>, we’ve been developing new games for all of you to enjoy. We’ve also tried to draw in some things from your worlds. We hope to hear more feedback from you in the future.

In the meantime, feel free to sample our food, generously provided to us by TGICERES, a moderately-priced family restaurant located in the Shopping District."

//SCENARIOS.EXE

PHASE I

[ xxxx ] Music lightly wafts from the speakers as the showroom opens. Julius Vincere, CERES’ CEO, delivers the opening announcement before leaving the room. He’ll be watching through all the video cameras placed around the room, so be on your best behavior! You will be guided to one of the many cubicles where you will sit and wait for a screen to pop up with a game. Once that game is defeated, another will pop up and another and another until your character gets hungry/has to pee/is so done with this shit.

PHASE II

[ xxxx ] Among the game rotations is a simple 8-bit fortune telling game starring Aria, the fortune teller. Come be enchanted by her mysterious wiles as she reads your future. She will do some 8-bit arm motions before summoning a ring of cards that will float around her. Characters will be encouraged to pick a card -any card. Once one has been selected, it will turn around slowly and unveil a card from the major arcana. Aria will then give your character their fortune, and that will be that. End of game. Onto the next!

PHASE III

[ xxxx ] You’ve left the testing center, and the evening has passed. As you wake up to perform your normal daily tasks, a niggling urge emerges at the back of your mind. It’s faint at first, just a whisper of a suggestion that pokes at your brain like a mosquito bite. However, that bite starts to grow bigger and become infectious. As the day wears on, you find that one little suggestion escalating. The next day is even worse. It starts to dominate your every thought, making you carry out actions you never thought yourself capable of. Who is this person in the mirror? Who have you become?

PHASE IV

[ xxxx ] By day three, the impulse is now a full-blown addiction. It’s set into your psyche completely. You’ve become something else entirely –the embodiment of the card. You will be acting out everything without anymore resistance, and it won’t stop until the clock strikes midnight. That’s when you’ll reel back to your senses, and when it’ll all have felt like the worst dream ever. Or a nightmare really.

BONUS

[ whyo'clock ] Among all the games present, there is also an 8-bit version of CERESLearn. Yes, you remember the magical game that won your hearts over not too long ago. It will come complete with the same rules. You choose a subject, you choose an 8-bit teacher among the three (Astor), (Hilda), or (UN-Zippy), and you watch them as they try to erotically teach you what you want to learn. Is that an 8-bit boob or her arm? Who knows? But beware… as you may remember, these teachers house a very terrible secret.

They will transform into an 8-bit giant bug that will chase around your protag as you guide them to run away with your finger, but you can also flick the bug on the holo(gm) screen to send them away for good. Those who figure out that little cheat code will immediately receive a special real-time shoulder rub as a reward from a robot that looks eerily like a carbon copy of their teacher of choice.

[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with trigger-y or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ]

//RUN.EXE

Welcome to CEREALIA's latest event and intro post. For your convenience, we have compiled a post detailing what's going on right here and feel free to consult the FAQ if needed. Please leave any lingering questions in the OOC post, and we'll answer them as soon as we can. If this post goes into overflow, we will make a new one to deal with the ever-hated captcha! Worry not!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ She walks next to Kaoru as they head to where the food is, skipping to a certain beat as she strolls along. ]

I'm guessing you're from Japan? I've never been there yet. And if this is all real, maybe I won't be able to in a long time.

I am, yes. [Kaoru seems pleased to have that recognized, though it can't be returned; Athena's homeland is a mystery to this Ye Olde Nerd.]

I suppose no matter how real it is, we'll likely be here for a while regardless. [CERES. There's a little bit of irritation there, despite the continued smile.]

Do you intend to visit? I hope that you find it enjoyable once you get there... [And then, casually:] In my time, it's unusual to see visitors from outside of the country, but I've heard that traveling is much more accessible in the future.

In your time?

[ She tries to figure it out on her own, poking at her lone moon-shaped earring as she thought to herself. ]

Oh, like, because the worlds- [ She cuts herself there, unsure of what words to say. She didn't want to say anything about worlds being consumed. It just seemed so dark, just even the thought of saying it made her feel like a bad person. She waves a hand dismissively, just letting the subject pass. ]

Anyway, I think it's interesting! I'd love to try the cuisine. We have Japanese restaurants, but I bet eating Japanese food in Japan is better. And I have a friend who's very interested in Japanese culture. He calls himself a samurai.

[ Let's just leave the word "Twisted" out of it. Don't wanna make a bad impression. ]

[Kaoru can tell she more or less figured it out regardless of her letting the topic drop, so drop it does. There's only a nod, and then a pause as Kaoru grabs another napkin to set the glass of water down on once they finally reach the dining tables.]

I must say that even now, the food from my homeland remains my favorite.

[Food from the future in general just doesn't sit well with Kaoru, who hadn't ever seen canned or processed things until arriving in Cerealia. Most things seem to have a funny aftertaste because of that, which makes the dining experience pretty unpleasant on a whole.

Looking interested at that, though!] My... He sounds like he must be an ambitious man, then. Not everyone is well-suited to such a title.

Ambitious. [ She repeats the world, trailing away from the conversation into her own thoughts, but she quickly jumps back. ] He's got a code of honour, amongst other things, that's for sure.

[ Athena casually grabs a plate and looks at the food that's served. She just wanted a light snack - the heavy stuff can come later during dinner!

As she puts a couple of triangle sandwiches to her plate, she looks at Kaoru and asks: ]

What year are you from?

[ That makes her double take. ]

That sounds weird to say out loud.

Most samurai worth their salt do. [A nod!

Kaoru doesn't grab anything, but seems perfectly content to continue the conversation despite that (and despite being the one to ask her to tag along for snacks in the first place). The double-take has one hand raising, politely muffling the gentle laugh that follows.]

It's bizarre, isn't it? But a person adjusts quickly in this situation. As for me, the year was Keio 3. 1867 by your calendar, I believe.

[ Athena makes a mental note of it, but the time difference quickly hits her. She didn't have time to do the math, but she knew that the difference in time was at over a hundred years. ]

Wow! That's really crazy!

[ And while she's new to this whole place, at least she's familiar with most technology. The holographic screens aren't new to her, nor are the other electronics. But for Kaoru... Athena starts to feel bad for her. The transition must have been really difficult. ]

If things get confusing for you, just ask! I'd be happy to help. [ She says this with mild concern, although maybe she should have been more specific that she wanted to help out with the technology. But helping out in general is good, too. ]

[That statement earns Athena a light and chiming laugh, which Kaoru politely muffles behind a sleeve.]

That's a very kind offer to make, miss. I've been fortunate enough to meet and continue meeting so many people who don't mind donating a little bit of their time to show a person how to use a microwave.

[A little bit of a self-directed jab there, but Kaoru can roll with the punches and totally understands exactly how fish-out-of-water someone from the 1860s is in comparison to most others.]

I've had a few months to adapt by now, but I'll keep that in mind. If there's anything that I can offer you in return...? [Trailing off, both brows arching inquisitively.]

[ She takes a small bite from her sandwich, as Kaoru talks, but keeps her focus on her companion. She's not uncivilised by any means, so she chews and swallows before talking again. ]

Offer me, for what?

[ Things get a little bit difficult for everyone, and this wasn't a favour of any sorts. She's not at all baffled by the question, but she wants to drive it home that she's there to help people who are in need. ]

Have people been asking you to do favours for them?

[ And while they only just met, she can't help but get ahead of things. It's just how she is. ]

[That's so out of the blue that Kaoru looks visibly confused for a second before pinpointing where the worry here is coming from. Ah - wow, a person who doesn't actually expect repayment is pretty rare, even if it's just for a little extra help. This is like running into a shiny pokemon...

The question earns her a headshake, the smile remaining in place on Kaoru's face.]

Not at all. I simply enjoy returning help where help is given, so if I'm able to offer something in return, I'm glad to do it.

[And generally speaking, it tends to work out pretty well! Kaoru trusts the system of "I scratch your back, you scratch mine" better than the one that relies on the notion that people will help out for free when help is necessary.]

[ Well, it will make Kaoru happy, then who is she to refuse?

She does think about it for a moment, and wonders what's something that she could respond with that isn't too difficult. Making Kaoru ride a unicycle would be a challenge, or even asking to wear a fake moustache the whole day might be too much. ]

Do you want to become friends? [ To her, they're already friends, but saying it out loud to confirm isn't such a bad idea. ] That way, we'll just get to help each other out no matter what.

[FRIENDS...

Well, it's not surprising that a person with Athena's cheery and outgoing disposition would be so quick to make them. Kaoru hasn't even been talking to her for a half-hour yet and that already seems like an accurate assessment to make.]

Ah... It wouldn't be troublesome to you? I wouldn't mind being your friend, if it isn't.

[But this is fine in its own way, even if it's a little unexpected. Despite how hesitant Kaoru's words are, the tone used seems to suggest that it's not an unwelcome offer.]

No way, not at all!

[ She won't force to be friends with Kaoru or anything, because that would just be wrong, but she would definitely love it if Kaoru welcomed her as one. And it was nice that she wasn't rejected for even suggesting it. Maybe it was going to work out, after all! If Athena wanted to be as successful as she was back home, she'd want to be surrounded by good people. ]

I love being with people. I won't let you down!

[That earns her a short but pleasant laugh, and Kaoru's free hand rises to politely stifle it.]

My... Then I'm certain that you won't have too much trouble here. The city's population has been growing steadily ever since my own arrival.

[Plenty of people to chat with and befriend!]

[ As cheerful as Athena can be, that sends her back to reality. There's always good out of making new bonds and all, but she can't ignore the fact that there are much bigger issues than crime. This was just over the top. ]

... That means more worlds are getting consumed. [ And she doesn't look pleased about it. ] It's- It's awful.

[ If she had a handle of things better, she would have sounded more upset, but those were the words she could think of at that moment. ]

[That gives Kaoru pause briefly, because it's easy to forget that not every newcomer arrives with the same INCREDIBLE PARANOIA and sense of distrust that Kaoru did. After another few seconds of thought, the careful statement that follows is a simple:]

If one were to believe that what they have said is all there is to this.

[Which isn't true in Kaoru's case, but it also isn't something that would be a good conversation topic when they're being monitored by the CEO himself, so the explanation doesn't go any further.]

Many people make the best of what they have here, and it seems a relatively sustainable method.

[ She nods at that. ]

I get it. And besides, we should all do our best, no matter what. [ She pauses to let out a sigh. ] But we don't have much choice... I mean, it's the truth.

[The smile present becomes a little wan.]

At least there are plenty of people that you can turn to. A situation like this would be nearly unbearable alone, I would imagine.

What was it like for you when you got here, Kaoru?

[ It might have been too privy a question, but even a general idea would give Athena a better image how she would cope with it starting today. ]

[It doesn't seem to bother Kaoru, at least, who sets down the glass again. Talking while gesturing is a little difficult when trying not to spill water at the same time...]

When I first arrived, there were already many citizens here, but they seemed much more well-adjusted. I believe that my group was the first to be pulled directly from the "code" that they mention... There weren't very many of us, either. I would say no more than twenty or thirty? Getting to know each other was much easier, but it was also a little scarier, I think.

[ She tries to remember how many of them there were when Athena found herself here, but she was too dazed to be able to do that. Although, there were probably the same number of people. ]

I think it helps that people get brought in here by groups. And the people who would be coming in now, they won't have to worry much about being lost or anything, because there's already people here who know what they're going through.

[ At this point, she's mostly just musing to herself as she tries to plan out what to do next. What was next, after she steps out of the research center?

Athena looks at Kaoru curiously. ]

Did you just start going to work or to school after that? That's kind of what they want us to do here... aside from the games thing.

[Even though Athena's mostly just thinking aloud, Kaoru nods along in quiet agreement anyway. Since they had more or less been starting from scratch, it had been pretty chaotic. Small, but still chaotic. Not to mention the visit from Julius and those damn plague burgers...]

Yes, I began to attend one of the jobs that was listed for me. I'm a little too old to attend the school... [This said somewhat sheepishly.]

It was a difficult adjustment to make on top of everything else, but being able to settle into something like a schedule made things a little easier to handle. The predictability was nice.

[ Sounds about right, that should have been how it was. People just needed to be familiar with the environment and it won't be long until they're back on their feet. ]

I guess we have to feel somehow thankful to the CEO for the schedule and the money.

[ And while Athena didn't really want to ask for too much since she didn't want to come off as annoying, she couldn't help but ask another question. ]

Oh, and, I know you didn't get this kind of treatment, I guess; but are there any things that newcomers like me should know?

[That just gets a soft hum from Kaoru, presumably of agreement. The topic is quickly left behind though, considering there's some definite dislike for the CEO present.

As for the question, Kaoru just raises a hand and waves it in polite dismissal.]

It's fine; if I can make the transition easier for anyone else, I'd be happy to. As for that... Mm, to be honest, their presentation covers a lot of the basics. You should take care with your electronics though, since they have trouble with viruses at times. It seems there may be a group opposing them as well who try to undermine their efforts. Things can become a little dangerous in those situations...

Viruses, huh? That's no good. Here I was thinking we won't have trouble with that. Things seem so advanced here.

[ She pulls out her own Cerevice and flips it around in her palm. ]

And if there's rebels here, too, that's even worse. Things don't sound as easy now. [ She sure hasn't given up yet, but she looks like she's about to slump over with her expression. ]

« 009 ⇢ event009.exe »

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