estoria | « 003 ⇢ event003.exe »

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« 003 ⇢ event003.exe »

Who: Everyone ever.
When: OOC: 10/15; IC: 09/17
Where: Cerealia - all five districts.
What: Intro, murder bots, and fun for the whole family.
Rating/Warning: PG-13

//event003.EXE

Welcome to the CERES! You are now under arrest!

Did you think the glitches were over? Boy, were you wrong! Through the last remnants of the digital kerfluffle, the latest batch of recovered code has manifested in CERES' computer systems as the guilty parties. Yes, that's right, all incoming arrivals are now placed on the wanted list, accused of having committed the heinous crime of creating and releasing the gorg0n virus all over Cerealia. These vicious twelve have been working together all along and conspiring against CERES, and it's now up to everyone to figure out if the new arrivals are truly guilty or if they are as innocent and confused as they claim.

In the meantime, CERES has dispatched assassination droids to stop the accused and bring them to justice via disembowelment. So while CERES rushes to stop the droids from committing murder, characters are perfectly welcome to a.) soil themselves b.) fight off the droids c.) run while soiling themselves or d.) cry a lot. e.) ask for assistance!

"ASSASSINATION MODE: ONLINE
OBJECTIVE: ELIMINATE THE ACCUSED
TIMEFRAME: 24:00 HOURS

JUDICIAL UNIT-00345 DISPATCHED"

//SCENARIOS.EXE

PHASE I

[ 0001 ] It's a minute passed midnight, and the newest sets of recovered code are being spat out of ViViD and into Cerealia. Before the joyful reunions begin, an announcement starts blaring through everyone's computer screen, TV sets, devices, billboard screens, and so on. The image flashes with twelve names and twelve pictures along with a list of crimes each person has committed. They continue to flash again and again throughout the colony, alerting everyone of these heinous criminals. It's up to anyone if they want to engage them or stay far, far away from these perverts and miscreants.

As the arrivals begin to explore, they will see themselves plastered on just about every screen imaginable.

PHASE II

[ 200 ] It's still dark outside, hardly anyone out and about. It's the perfect time for an assassination attempt because that's when the information is received and processed by Cerealia's judicial system, but this isn't a job for any ordinary donut-eating cop. No, this is far greater than that. They bring out the big guns.

Twelve assassination droids, clad in armor and carrying katana, are immediately dispatched and sent to take out each of the accused at any cost. Characters are welcome to do any of the above choices while veterans to Cerealia can assist the arrivals, assist the droids, or just sit back and watch others suffer. It's completely up to you. They can also run into the droids on their search and try to interact with them.

PHASE III

[ 700 ] Your friendly CEO has finally gotten his ass out of bed, but by then, who knows how many people are left alive? After hearing of the kerfluffle, he decides to issue a cease and desist on the assassination droids, and instead, has his investigation units step in to confirm that the new arrivals are not guilty of any of the crimes and charges listed under their name. They will be pulled aside for painful, painful questioning before being released to explore as they wish.

To make up for all the damages and trauma incurred from the near-death attempts, Julius will also be giving the new arrivals a settlement of 20,000 credits each, so go out and party.

PHASE IV

[ 1200 ] By noon, the incident has been cleared up with little to no blood spilled (hopefully). New arrivals are welcome to explore and enjoy their new living arrangements or possibly lie in bed and just cry some more. Either way, welcome to the magic that is Cerealia. The CEO will announce that the last of the virus has been officially cleaned up and taken care of, and he'll be issuing a video with a public apology for all.

BONUS

[ whyo'clock ] Among the police droids dispatched, there will be a rehabilitative droid in a dinosaur suit, looking to cure the criminals of their improper behavior and their moral indiscretions through the power of LOVE and HUGS. It was developed after the researchers in CERES did extensive research on other worlds and found that this mystical creature was capable of creating worldwide joy and cheer. It will be chasing those who are on the Wanted List exclusively, but it will not stop at just them. Your character will be accosted and hugged whether they like it or not.

[ 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 intro post. For your convenience, we have compiled a post detailing everyone's arrival experience and a FAQ that should explain everything in more detail. Please read them thoroughly before playing. Thank you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[wow, talk about a whole lot of being a wet blanket about things. not that he isn't used to people doing this to him — it's kind of his life story that very few people will play along with him and his goading.

but he's not going to push his limits just yet. for all of his teasing and going to far, he knows better than to provoke a total stranger, wanted criminal or not. there's a time and a place for that sort of provocation, and this isn't it. instead, he'll just rest his hand atop the swords sitting at his waist and nod.]

Mm, that's right. It must look pretty obvious... there aren't many around here who dress like this, after all.

[A killjoy with Saitou's voice, it was inevitable that he would be a wet blanket to Souji. But it is obvious, and yet still such a strange sight to Sousei. Hm. A proper samurai...

But if they're few and far between, he supposes he can just accept it as it is and not question it too hard. Maybe. Rather, he has 100 questions and they're not getting any clearer, so this is one of those things he'll just have to take as it is.]

I see. [Then he supposes proper introductions should happen.] I am Abe no Sousei. And your name?

[too many killjoy toriumis, why this...

of course, this means there's really no end for sousei, souji's going to bother him til the end of time. you know, and then go back to the shinsengumi pad and bother saitou to the ends of the earth.

in any case, the name doesn't ring any bells. he never knows what to expect with that sort of thing anymore, given his past experiences in haven with the sengoku guys. still, he's got no qualms with giving out his own name easily, considering it'll come to light sooner or later.]

Okita Souji. [of course, this is the moment when he eyes sousei curiously, looking for any hint of recognition in the name.]

[It would be strange if he didn't recognize the name, all things considered. After all, it's only been 9 scant years since the Shinsengumi came to an end, and two years since the abolishment of swords. That said, his surprise is rather muted, as his expressions tend to be; there's a very slight arching of his eyebrows as he takes in that information.

It explains the man's samurai status, and the way he holds himself, and his skill, certainly.

It doesn't explain how he's here when he should be dead, but...Sousei is sharp enough to realize that if he's here, there's no reason why they couldn't have gone back a handful of years for the Shinsengumi.]

...Is that so. [It does explain a lot, though it's...a little confusing, how to react to something like this. But he should probably move on before he lingers all too long and makes a bit show of it.] You have been here longer than me. How long has it been?

[well, that's all the reaction souji really needs to confirm that sousei knows exactly who he is. it doesn't confirm very much else at all, of course, but it doesn't really need to, either. his name likely speaks for itself, as is usually the case when his name is recognized.

no use in dwelling on or questioning it further. if sousei has more to say about the matter, it can be discussed then. for now, he'll work with the shifting topic at hand.]

Mmm... about a month or so now. Something like that. [he hasn't really adjusted to the notion that he can keep exact track of those things now that he's not in haven anymore. souji got used to not having a proper calendar and guesstimating.]

["Something like that". Hm. Well, a month is hardly ideal either way, though also not particularly surprising. What a disaster. If anything, his expression and his tone both grow flatter, because--]

So we are brought here against our will to "help" an utterly incompetent organization with a poorly explained goal.

[Is that about the gist of it.]

Mm, that's what they're telling us, isn't it? Though I guess it's your choice if you want to believe it.

[because honestly? souji doesn't. of course, after dealing with the shitfest that is the yao corporation, he'd be hard pressed to trust any major corporation, especially when they can deal with universes, dimensions, and all that nonsense. as far as he's concerned, it's all a farce, a front to cover up whatever their real plans are.

and he's sure they're not good.]

[Haven would make anyone paranoid...though Sousei is no stranger himself to untrustworthy and corrupt groups in charge, so it's not a stretch for him to consider that they could be lying to them as well.]

What a troublesome situation.

[A situation he is...really not happy about at all, but then, he can just join the club. That and the assassinbots.... Sousei glances down at the wreckage that was an assassinbot, and barely restrains a sigh.]

There may be others who cannot defend themselves. Do you intend to cause trouble as well, or are you simply here to watch? [QUITE BLUNTLY, REALLY... just so he knows, before he goes off to save other people.]

I'd only planned on passing through.

[at least, that had been his plan when he left the apartment.] I didn't realize they'd be so ambitious this evening though. I guess I wouldn't be doing much of a good job if I let innocent people die, right?

[it is the one thing souji's fairly particular about. he has no qualms taking down enemies, people who deserve it. but he does have protecting citizens in his job description, despite how often he's willing to joke around about killing people. he's gained a bit of a conscious to not just go recklessly slashing away.]

[... Hm. Well, it's true that the Shinsengumi had been a...police force, of sorts. It's also true that their reputation was that of more of a group of thugs than anything.

Sousei's quiet for a moment, eyes on Souji, before he nods shortly. He does believe that he means what he says, and the more swords on this task, the better.]

Very well then.

[He'll at least expect Souji to do that much, if only because he thinks it's safe to assume that everyone else dislikes their captors just as much as he does. And, because clarity makes everything run more smoothly--]

I intend to find those who cannot defend themselves and see to their safety. It is difficult to estimate how large a force was sent against us.

I should be doing the same really, don't you think? I'm sure at this hour, some of our more capable people are probably sleeping.

[there usually aren't many people out on the streets at this hour; he knows, since he often patrols it. being somewhat nocturnal gives him that much of an advantage. in general, he's really not into the notion of people being brought in to this city and then getting killed by machines of the city's own doing.

he's had enough of that kind of bullshit. even if souji weren't already the type that helps in his own way, past experience makes him a little more prone to cooperate. even if he speaks of things lightly in tone and sounds very casual about it all, there's an ire that remains beneath the surface.] It probably isn't that many, though. They don't seem to be looking for a lot of people, and too many would make a lot of commotion, don't you think?

[It's worth noting that this man seems to take this sort of work seriously. Maybe he shouldn't be surprised, coming from Okita Souji, but all he has to go off of for that is rumors and very recent history, and Sousei knows better than most how recent history can be muddled by the teller.

Nonetheless, he does think Souji is right in his assumptions, and Sousei nods simply.]

While it was no match for me, the creature was skilled. [Just....not Yamainu level skill.]

It would seem likely that they sent a smaller, highly skilled task force, rather than a larger force.

[That still means they're not sure how many exactly, but...at least it might make it easier to chase them all down, instead of trying to fight off a veritable army (which Sousei has had plenty of practice with as well, but it sure would be tedious).]

It's less of a creature and more of a machine... but mmm, I guess semantics don't matter much. You'll probably see a lot of things like that here, machines that can be that way.

[technology is crazy, sousei. even souji really only had a barebones idea of some of the tech they encounter, but he knows for sure that the assassin bots aren't living things at all, so they're not really creatures. best to start off with the slight derailment to make that point.

if this had been someplace else, he may not have made a point of it. but all of tellus is so mired in the advanced (and bizarre) technology that it really can't be avoided. even stuff he's never wanted to understand are things used on a daily basis.]

Still, it doesn't matter much. It looks like whoever sent them out underestimated their opponents. Really, if they can't do the job right, why even bother? [at least when the shinsengumi got sent out for smaller jobs like this, they came back mostly alive.]

[How the hell is a humanoid, walking thing a machine--

But he knows Souji has no reason to lie about that, so while it's a little hard to wrap his head around, he can't really deny it. Especially with how slamming his sword into it had felt--as if he'd tried smacking his sword into one of those metal-cast trains, for some reason.

He acknowledges that information with an unhesitating nod (he can go back to being baffled and confused on his own time, but not now) and turns his attention instead to that comment.

...Well it's true.]

...We should not complain about our enemy's stupidity, if it makes our path easier.

[Though there's kind of the implication there that he agrees.

They're dumbasses.]

Easier? I guess, though I imagine it would be easier if they weren't causing the hassle to begin with.

[not that souji really minds fighting, of course. but fighting soulless robots just doesn't have the same appeal at all. it's not even that they're all that much tougher or more skilled, but there's no personality to the fights at all.

as far as he's concerned, it makes them not even worthy of the blades they wield, even if it seems that they're built for that express purpose. future technology is a strange and mysterious beast that he still doesn't care to understand... even if he's gotten moderately better with some aspects of it as of late.]

It's troublesome either way, when they're obviously pinning wrongful blames anyway. [souji may not know much about hackers and viruses, but he knows it's weird technology shit and from the obvious reactions here, sousei wouldn't know enough about that stuff to be a guilty party. he's also doubting little girls are in on the gig, too.]

[Still easier, even if it is their fault...but that's hardly worth nitpicking. He's used to things being troublesome, even if not like this. It's hardly worth complaining about now. (Most people probably would complain, but you know.)

Sousei does narrow his eyes at that, because that's the part that truly bothers him. All of these accusations, all without a shred of proper justice attached.]

...It is troubling, that they may accuse people of crimes such as these without a shred of evidence.

[...]

Also, it is pathetic and inept.

[Tell us how you really feel, Sousei.]

You won't get an argument from me there.

[he looks over to a nearby screen that's still cycling the supposed wanted to list. he doesn't really recognize any of the faces as people who were here in the city; sure it's a big place, but people like them were small in number. the natives (if that's even what they are...) are sort of strange an inhuman-like to souji.

it's probably not that surprising — new faces arriving periodically isn't a new concept to him these days, and it's already happened once before. but this is one hell of a start, if all the accused are new as they claim.] Maybe someone needed a scapegoat... maybe the ones responsible for whatever needs a wanted status pulled it off. Who knows?

[Sousei, as well, turns his gaze to the wanted list. He's silent for a long moment (likely because Tenka's face appears on that screen, and it's one thing to be accused as a criminal, it's a very different thing to see your dead partner's face on the accused criminals list) before Sousei very firmly shifts his gaze away, focusing on what's really important.

Focus, Sousei.]

If they have brought us here merely to make us into scapegoats, they have sorely underestimated us.

[But then, they both already know that. It's not like that robot had been much of a threat, and Sousei highly doubts it would have posed any more of a threat to Souji.]

... It does not matter at this moment. [There are more important things to focus on, probably. Honestly, if Souji was anyone else, Sousei would ask him for a status report, but... asking a captain of the Shinsengumi for basic information seems somehow a little wrong. Disrespectful...? Something along those lines. Regardless, wasting Souji's time doesn't appeal to him, regardless of the fact that they're basically defending different ideals in their times.

It doesn't matter here anyway, does it?]

You know the layout of this city better than I do. Do you have an idea of where the others would congregate? [If they can track down the assassinbots, it'd probably be more efficient than just trying to defend everyone.]

I don't think they'd bring anyone here just to be the scapegoats... more like they're using the fact that you're here now piss CERES off. Something like that.

[it's not exactly as if souji can say for sure. he can really only piece together things that sound plausible based on the situation and his own experiences — from kyoto and haven alike.

in any case, sousei is right. it's probably not important — whatever the reason is, it's still a pain and an inconvenience... and a shitty scare tactic, at best. it's unlikely and of the residents are going to believe that these people are the cause of whatever's been going on. all it's going to do is make a panic with the assassin robots. so souji is content to let the absurdity of things slide to try and figure out what comes next.]

Mm... there are buildings with housing in them. At this hour, most of them are probably sleeping... aside from people like me and whoever else just arrived, it looks like. I can't say much for where they'd be, though.

[...Right, okay. So the robots are targeting the people who are "criminals", obviously, if the way this one wanted to take Sousei's head off explains anything. And those are the people whose positions they don't know.

And they have no idea when the assassinbots will get there.

And some of them can't defend themselves, probably.

This is a bullshit mission and he doesn't like it.]

... I see. The robots are likely still in pursuit. [So still outside.

He'll take it. Might as well start walking, since it's pretty clear that they've got a wild goose chase on their hands.]

This is ridiculously inefficient.

Would it be all that exciting if it were efficient? That may be expecting too much, either way.

[okay, so maybe it's more of an annoyance than anything resembling exciting. he's not really disagreeing about the inefficiency either. souji... souji please. maybe he's just a little bored for his own good and the wild goose chase for robots sounds like a pretty good way to kill time.]

I guess we'll just have to look for the others that they seem to be seeking out. That'll probably lead us right to them in a hurry.

[Exciting........really, souji. Really. Nobody's got time for things that are exciting. The look he gives Souji is flat and unimpressed and probably reminiscent of another funsucker samurai with the same voice.

He just can't help it.]

... "Exciting" should not be our first concern. [HOW BORED ARE YOU, SOUJI...]

Though I suppose it will be exciting enough soon. [Once they hunt down and murder those robots. Because he's simply nodding in response to that suggestion, starting off at a brisk pace. Back towards where he started, and then onwards from there--it's doubtful everyone else got too far in that brief amount of time.]

Ah... you really remind me of someone what you say things like that.

[all the similarities to saitou are not going to go unnoticed. you can't just bear that sort of resemblance to his best friend and expect him not to point it out. ...not that he's terribly forthcoming about who he means specifically, but that can come up if it's questioned. in any case, he's giving a nod of agreement as he keeps pace with sousei's walking.]

From the looks of it we'll have a long night ahead. Getting to do something other than patrol the area doesn't sound so bad, though.

[...???

He's not used to reminding people of someone else. That comment is strange enough that he ends up arching an eyebrow despite himself, tilting his head slightly. What...?]

... Is that so. [But he won't question it further, since there are more important things to worry about.]

There will be time for rest later, once our opponents have been defeated.

Lucky for you that I'm usually on night patrols, hm?

[since he's definitely wide awake and on top of his game. it's probably not too bad to have okita souji as his best on your side when you've got assassins after you. and of course, he doesn't seem the least bit worried or concerned about it. he's totally ready to go off and patrol the streets with the same calm that lead him to sousei in the first place.]

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