Everything is normal today during the early hours of the morning. There's really no hint, no way of knowing, no anything that could indicate that CERES -- and thus Cerealia -- is about to irrevocably change. There would be birds chirping, if there were birds, but since there aren't any, there's just the constant sounds of a city in motion, humming with technology even that early in the morning.
And then, regardless of where you are or what you're doing or how early it is, everyone's CereVices flicker on to show a perhaps-familiar, perhaps-unfamiliar face.
Bellona Recreare, the business owner of Cerealia and CEO of CERES, stares at everyone with a flat, cold look. She doesn't seem happy.
(When is she ever?)  It has come to my attention that there has been industrial espionage and corporate sabotage in CERES' personnel. Such a thing will not be tolerated.
Due to this, Mosley's employment with CERES has been terminated. Please now direct any public relations questions to 1-800-7322934844444.
Good day.
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PHASE I [ 6 00 ] Bright and early, not long after that sudden announcement by Bellona, you may decide to go back to sleep, or you may decide to get up and go about your day (or you may not have woken up at all).
Either way, it doesn't matter.
Because your apartment is broken.
The entire apartment. The door is locked shut (and that sucker is solid metal so it might be time to try a window), the HOLO(gm) is flickering wildly between settings, and the blender is out for your blood. Anything technological in any way (that is CERES-brand or has been tampered with by CERES) will be malfunctioning in a way that comes across as... oddly malicious.
Now's a bad time for the late sleepers to realize that the beds, too, have auto-control tech functionality. Hope you enjoy that electroshock wake up call, or the fact that the bed could fling you totally across the room.
PHASE II [ 1000 ] The rest of the city isn't faring so well either.
The trains are completely out of commission; even if the doors do open, it's probably not a good idea to get on. If you do, it looks like the doors will slam shut behind you, and the train will go hurtling forward at dangerous speeds with sudden stops. Many of the shops can't be accessed at all, automated doors refusing to open, and worst of all, every single last piece of tech in Cerealia now seems to have the sole goal of Making Your Life Hard.
The Pleasure District is flooded now that the spas are broken, but hey -- at least the perfume ensures that water smells good, and it's pretty warm. That's good, right? Maybe go for a nice swim.
The CERES police bots are out of control, chasing people down to arrest them for imagined crimes (What do you mean you aren't a closet voyeur?), and heaven forbid you're around any of the auto shops when everything goes totally wrong. The auto-drive feature in many of CERES's cars seem to be a little... finicky today. It doesn't seem like anywhere in the city is exempt from this. Good luck.
And towards the end of the second day of this insanity, the train, with whatever unfortunate passengers are on it, will derail. It crashes into part of the shopping district, leveling buildings and leaving the wrecked overturn husk of a train resting there uselessly.
Suddenly, things don't seem so harmless anymore.
PHASE III [ 1100 ] Of course... you're CERES-owned too.
Your code, rather, is made and owned by CERES, and it's inevitable with the craziness going on that it would soon affect everyone's code as well. So as the hour approaches noon, a few unlucky souls may start to notice that things are just Not Quite Right with them. Their powers may be on the fritz, functioning entirely wrong or not at all, or even stranger -- fire powers turning into water, ice into flame, electricity brings mud. Your clothing might suddenly change when your coding glitches, or it might be gone entirely. You may suddenly have an uncontrollable urge to start singing, or frolicking. You may suddenly be wildly in love with the first person (or robot or mirror) that you see, unable to stop it until the odd glitching wears off.
And then, just like that, you're back to normal, if a bit more tired than before. How troublesome.
There are also moments where what appears to be an ID number appears on the back of your neck in glowing light blue numbers. Each of these codes is a 7 digit number, with an E at the front of the number. It appears that the longer you've been in Cerealia, the lower the number is -- like a brand of some sort. You may not be able to see it yourself with it on the back of your neck like that, but everyone else sure can.
PHASE IV [ 1645 ] And, just like that, on the last day of this madness, the city goes dark. The lights cut out. The technology shuts off. Every last robot in Cerealia is completely and totally down, and can no longer be booted up. Even when the lights come back on in a few hours... the robots remain dead.
Cerealia's a lot harder to function in without those handy dandy robots running the place. It's also a lot more desolate, and rather quiet.
Slowly but surely, the rest of the technology will boot itself back up towards the end of the last day. But the robots remain broken, and cannot be fixed. In fact, opening them up will reveal that nothing's wrong with them at all... they just won't wake up.
As time ticks by, it doesn't look like Bellona will address anything on the network about the events and all people are left to do now is... learn how to function again. Without any help.
BONUS [ ???? ] If you were a stupid brave enough soul to log into ViViD during this time (or were unfortunately glitched there, which could happen), you will find that ViViD is in... safe mode. It's struggling to boot up, and even when you finally enter, you'll find yourself wandering through skeleton levels of half-completed scenery and incomplete quests. There are readings in the corner of each level that can be seen now, one about Energy Gain and one about Energy Loss, and just as the gain goes up the longer you are there, the loss, too, rises. At first, it's fascinating, and it isn't particularly dangerous... but then it becomes clear that you can't actually log out.
You can't exit Safe Mode at all.
Slowly, it feels as though you can breathe less and less, that the empty walls of the level are closing in on you... and there's nothing you can do. Unless you are or find a particularly genius hacker and they can access the source code and find the exit buried inside that code within the next few minutes... there's nothing to be done.
And then everything goes dark.
You'll wake up the next IC day, with those same energy readings marked on your wrist like some sort of bright blue digital tattoo. When you wake in the mornings, it will read at 100% and slowly go down during the course of the day until you sleep. It will fade after three IC days.
And from now on, ViViD always has those energy levels in the corner, even when it's fixed. They always seem to be recording you, every time you're in ViViD. Strange.
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
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no subject
[Maybe not Arnold. But then, he's the Terminator.]
Suramar, you've mentioned before. What...[She stops talking and looks at him. Curiosity settles on her face, and then amusement.]
You're only fifteen thousand. and you barely look thirty. I'd say you've aged well.
no subject
My people are ageless, do you have any idea how many years it takes for us to look this old?
[He huffs and after stealing one last glance at his reflections, goes back to walking with her.]
no subject
I don't, actually. I assume at least ten thousand years though.
[Since you are, in fact, older than the hills themselves.]
I think you're handsome for a man. And I mean that.
[Even though you like girls, Rei?]
no subject
Yes, I remember being popular with women before my imprisonment. All but one anyway. Hardly matters, with any luck I'll return to how I was... eventually.
[Totally not pouting now. He probably wouldn't look like this if his life didn't suck, and his life wouldn't suck if it weren't for his brother. Then he had to wonder if his brother looked younger than him. Hopefully not if he still had all that terrible beard. It looked like moss was growing on his face.]
So you were going to ask something about Suramar?
no subject
Suramar, yes. [Let's not talk about him and women. That's really kind of an awkward thing for a girl a few eons his junior, and a gay one at that.]
What's it like? What made it so beautiful, when you compare it to Cerealia?
no subject
I... it is hard to describe to one who has not seen it...
[He thinks a moment. Imparting memories wasn't beyond his abilities, he did it to the demon hunters he trained. And as he was now the magic would be pure arcane, no risk of causing harm to the priestess unintentionally. He could probably figure it out. He smirked a cocky little smirk.]
Come here, I can show you.
no subject
Alright. I'd...like that, actually. What do I need to do?
no subject
[He glanced around and picked up a rock, and knelt down to draw a circle of magical runes. Even without his "special eyes", he could predict the flow of magic well enough. A few words in the arcane language, and the runes lit up a faint purple. Illidan stood up looking quite pleased with himself. Ten thousand years and he's still a master of the arcane. Or perhaps it was just his addiction to magic shining through, even in his current state.
Either way he guided Rei into the circle, and with one final word of magic, Rei would see some old remnant of Suramar from Illidan's memory. Obviously it was a city of wealth and power- and a gross overuse of magic. Canals ran through the city, and it was obviously a city where aesthetic appeal was Very Important to his people. Probably not surprising given that, at the time, they were a race of ageless immortals with nothing better to do.
The glimpse into the old city ended as abruptly as it started. It has only been a minor spell, just enough to get the job done. But hey! She wasn't a sheep!]
...Well?
no subject
Stepping inside the circle she frowns as she waits, but she's patient and it's not at all like she has long to wait. In some ways she's reminded of old Venice, or of some of the areas surrounding the palace in the Sea of Serenity. Turning back to him when the vision's over, she steps clear.]
It's...impressive. I've seen few places like that, ever, and all of them in my past life. Your people built that, with...arcane magic? Or was that constructed by the druids? It's no less impressive, either way, but...wow.
no subject
My brother was the only aspiring druid at the time among my people, and he couldn't stand the city. He lived in some mudhole outside the city, in Val'shara.
[Of course he didn't put as much venom as he wanted when he brought up his brother's residence. As barren and ridiculous as he found it, he had spent many happy mornings there with Tyrande and his brother, drinking honey wine and playing various games.]
I cannot say how the city was built, such happened so long ago that the story has been long forgotten, but it was maintained by arcane magic. Even the citizens could wield the magic to some degree. The Well of Eternity was not far away, and we were close enough to draw upon its power without so much as a thought.
no subject
Is that what caused the schism between your people and Kael'thas's?
no subject
There was always a schism between the "highborn" and the rest of our people, but originally, we were all the same race, however they were of a higher caste.
[He idly conjured a small bit of magic and let it weave about his hand, leaving a faint trail as they walked.]
However, the Quel'dorei did not live in Suramar, they lived in the capitol, Zin'Azshari next to the well itself, and lived within the palace of Queen Azshara. Thus they were the most gifted with magic, and rarely bothered themselves with the outside world.
That does not mean that adept sorcerers could not surface outside of the Quel'dorei's circle of course.
[Not so subtle bragging there.]
no subject
[Rei's quiet for several long moments, listening to his story. It's not that difficult to imagine, really. It reminds her a little bit of...]
It sounds something like my own world's past. In my previous life. Before...before the war the ended it all. My people, and those like us, lived on the moon and other worlds. Away from Earth. We kept to ourselves, and they feared us for our divine power. But that didn't mean that they weren't capable, themselves. Humans accomplished much.
I've always thought that hard work and natural talent could overcome heritage, because of that.
no subject
Do not be so quick to compare your kind with the Quel'dorei as they were in my youth. While young Kael's ancestor may have defected from Azshara eventually,the Quel'dorei were the ones who summoned the demons to our world in the first place.
[But now he's interested, his people were a race that worshipped a moon goddess after all, and while this was likely a different moon all together, it still made him curious.]
But what of your people? My people have always been closely linked with the moon, our powers tend to wane when it is hidden by the day. Did your people have any such effect on the humans world?
no subject
[She's never really talked much about her people though, and she's happy to change the topic as she steps into one of the shops.]
No, not really. Our powers, at least, those of the royal families, come from our hearts. We don't have a beating one, but rather a crystal sometimes called a Star Seed. Each one could have become a star, but instead ended up being drawn to certain people. Only our bloodlines can use them, and they ensure our rebirth and agelessness.
I'm not personally from the moon, my past self grew up on Mars, another world. But my family worked with the royal family on the moon, and I was a part of the royal guard for their princess. My lover, as you know, was much the same. As was Ami, and Makoto. We were the inner sanctum.
no subject
[It sounded more like an oversight, than willingly summoning an army to destroy your very people. Rei did not need to know the more graphic crimes of the highborn though. The War of the Ancients was a bloody war that was best left in the past, at least to those who did not have to fear the Burning Legion.]
Quite an interesting form of immortality. I am familiar with soul stones to prevent death, but those have limits and costs. It is fascinating to hear of something similar, only as... a more natural codependency.
[And here, at his core, Illidan is something of a nerd when it came to magic in all its forms. He wanted to learn everything he could about it, always had. He was distracted from the thought though, as much of a nerd as he was.... just what sort of clothes did these people wear? He found himself stopping to just stare at what he thought looked utterly ridiculous.]
...none of these clothes look terribly mobile...
[He grabs a pair of jeans from a shelf and frown at them. It certainly did not feel very comfortable either. Once done touching the thing, he tossed it back onto the shelf sloppily.]
no subject
It's a bit more complicated than that, but so long as our planet lives, so will we. They're a kind of essence, I guess, and they're bound to the planet. We'll forever be reborn, even if our enemies do manage to kill us. It's not something we can really...stop or control. But I won't pretend I'm not comforted a little by being immortal.
[It gives her untold lifetimes to pursue her own studies, her own powers, and magic and self improvement. She was very much a nerd herself, interested in all sorts of things. If she'd been in a world like his, she'd definitely have spent her youth studying too.]
They're not really all that mobile, but they aren't as restrictive as they look. Those are meant for work, more than anything. They're hard to rip, and I think originally made for miners.
[She goes over towards a collection of much more modest dresses and picks out one.]
You might want to check to your left. The athleticwear should have something labeled sweatpants. They're a lot more comfortable and meant for movement. They'll probably fit you better than what you're currently holding up.
[She then disappears into a changing room. Follow and fry.]
no subject
[At the mention of his pants he scowls. THIS AGAIN?]
There is nothing wrong with my trousers.
[Yanks them back up again. There. They are fine.]
no subject
At least put this on so they don't fall down until you go back to your normal self. I don't want to see your backside.
[Really, truly she does not.]
no subject
Why is it every conversation we have seems to make it back to my trousers...
[He huffs and grumbles, and tries to undo his regular belt, but it's still stuck. Probably what he gets for having a ten thousand year old belt he accidentally monstered into.
He's just going to put the other belt on top of it. S'fine. He's probably going to break it when he transforms back anyway.]
no subject
[The saga of the trousers hadn't come up that much lately.]
Thank you though. That's a good bit more reliable than constantly pulling your pants up.
[And she really, really doesn't want to see the rest of him.]
Anyway, that's settled. Are you feeling...alright? Any ill effects from the shift in forms, you think?
no subject
[Gawd, she made it sound like she thought his trousers were going to up and run away on him. She was beginning to sound like either Tyrande, or his mother. He wasn't sure which likeness unsettled him more.]
Nothing I didn't expect. A headache I can only assume will continue to get worse, and lethargy from the fel withdrawal. With any luck I will at least recover my artifact to sate it if I do not revert to normal soon.
no subject
Did your artifact just vanish along with your wings and things?
[Did they really want that just...rolling around town. I mean, it'd be kinda weird, a crazy demon skull and all.]
no subject
[He's personally not liking any of those option. He wants his the thing back, because reasons.]
At the very least it is not as potent as when I first discovered it, so even if it is out there, we will likely not see anyone suddenly becoming demons.
no subject
[Frowning, she starts walking out of the store, ignoring a police-bot that bleeps at her for stealing.]
I think the best thing for now might be to get to the gardens and stay away from any of these robots, if you're not worried about the skull.
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