« 011 ⇢ event011.exe » OVERFLOW

[reparator]

Who: CERES & you
When: ooc: 03/22-03/25; ic: 12/09-12/10
Where: Cerealia's Entertainment District
What: OVERFLOW OF THE INTRO 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)

//event011.EXE The Gifts that Keeps on Giving ((You)) Nightmares It's been a whole month without any new arrivals. Who knows why? If you ask CERES, they won't bother with any in-depth explanations. They will simply claim that none of the code out there has been responding to their recovery methods, so they had to rework a lot of their technology. However, after several weeks of grueling work, they have finally experienced success! A fresh new batch of faces is coming in, and to celebrate their arrival and the real upcoming holidays, CEO Julius Vincere has arranged for a Christmas-themed carnival for all to enjoy. Those who arrive will wake up in Cerealia and be given a long, boring explanation and powerpoint as per usual before being ushered onto a bus (there is no escape. The robots will force you onto the bus one way or another). You will be unwillingly carted to the theme park where you will be immediately assaulted by a giant array of lights followed by several rides that you can enjoy. After you disembark from the bus, one of the snowman robots will be waiting to give you tickets to the rides and show you around as part of the Grand Opening. The amusement park will remain open for the rest of the month of December so anyone can visit as they please. The first couple tickets will also be on the house for new arrivals, but the rest will have to be bought with credits, so choose wisely! (Or try and sneak into the rides -- then face the wrath of the snowman robots and their snowman firearms :D) "☃ WELCOME NEW ARRIVALS ❅ YOU HAVE ARRIVED AT THE SANTASTICAL FOREST OF CHRISTMAS WONDERS ❅ PLEASE ENJOY ALL THE RIDES CEO JULIUS VINCERE HAS HAND-PICKED FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT ❅ WE WISH TO BRING YOU MERRY FEELINGS FOR THE HOLIDAY ❅ COME GIVE SNOWTRON 5000 A HUG ❅ WHAT? YOU DON'T WANT ONE ❅ BUT I WAS PROGRAMMED TO CONVEY HUGGING AS LOVE THROUGH AFFECTION ❅ PLEASE DON'T RUN ❅ COME BAAAAACK, VISITOR ❅"

//SCENARIOS.EXE PHASE I [ xxxx ] Do you like ferris wheels? This is an enchanting one where you get to ride around in a giant snowflake at a very limited speed. The wheel will turn excruciatingly slow before stopping abruptly, leaving you trapped at the very top. We hope you're not afraid of heights because you're going to be in there for a while! The windows on the snowflake will rapidly darken leaving you and your fellow riders trapped in the darkness. At that moment, you will feel something warm breathing down your neck and along the back of your ear. As you reach over, you'll feel like the chair underneath you is made of snakeskin, and a hissing sound will intensify as the "chair" squirms and as the breathing gets louder and hotter. Scrabble at the doors, fight your way out! Will you escape or not? Probably not, but the experience will last only a good five minutes before the lights come back on and before the ferris wheel starts moving again. The chair will appear as normal, and there will be no one else inside except any fellow riders who came with you. PHASE II [ xxxx ] If the ferris wheel didn't "do it" for you, then perhaps a fun house will? If you're a fan, that is! This Christmas-themed funhouse features a wonderful walk through a snowy forest convered in singing reindeer. The more you walk through, the more you will notice things like within the distorted mirrors, there will briefly appear strange specters. You will also hear a bunch of howling in the background, and while you may think that you're safe since they're trapped behind a mirror, you are very wrong. The lights will go out once more, and you will hear the mirrors shatter all around and feel yourself being grabbed and hurled to the ground. Whatever is coming for you is something you can't see, but it's advancing fast with impressive strength to hurl you back once more. You will feel pain erupt through your body before an engineer will appear to get the lights back on. Once they're back on, the reindeer will be happily singing, and all the mirrors will appear as they were before -unbroken. PHASE III [ xxxx ] After those interesting adventures, another option would be to simply visit the rocking santacoaster, a large, sprawling roller coaster that reaches 150 mph. You will be strapped into a sled and be shot through the tracks where you can scream and cry all you want except once you reach the tunnel, everything will come to a sudden stop (whiplash pending). You and the other riders will be in there for a few minutes, surrounded by a dozen santas as they start to fly out from the tunnel walls, carrying swords and swooping down to take a swipe at you. You better duck or be prepared to be cut up by their blades. The rollercoaster will abruptly resume, and when you reach the end, you might notice some bleeding, a little bit of hair missing, or some clothes shred up. If you ask the snowman robots about it, they will just shrug and claim they don't know what you're talking about. Please go enjoy a snowcone on the house! PHASE IV [ xxxx ] The Christmas whirl will be your last stop for the evening! This is a ride that goes round and round and round while tilting. Everyone will be strapped into it while standing up and forced to hold on as it spins, and somewhere in the midst of the spinning, the ride will suddenly malfunction. Yes, big surprise there! But it won't stop spinning. It will just be a rockier ride, and you will seemingly enter a new space where you will be among the stars and seeing planets all around you. Your own home planet will be amongst them before it breaks open like an egg and out crawls a friendly visitor. If you get bit by it, you will spend the rest of the day and night experiencing an array of possible symptoms, including: a voracious appetite, a fear of light, the urge to 'mate' with anyone who smells especially good, heightened senses, the ability to climb on all kinds of surfaces, irritability and crankiness... (( you don't have to experience them all. you can pick and choose which one you like. )) BONUS [ whyo'clock ] What's that jingling you hear in the background? Why, it's Santa Clause! Coming here all the way from the North Pole. The park will stop, and all the snowman robots will gather in the square, ushering along as many people as possible. Santa-Bot X-3 will be seated on his chair to welcome all visitors to sit on his metaphorical lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. He will then give them a nicely wrapped present and tell them that it's exactly what they asked for, but they can't open it until they get home. For those who can't wait and choose to open it quickly, they will get some nice treats from Mundus Caelestis. But beware! Those who do take this gift home will experience a weird after-effect as the lovely red and white toy will come to life on its own and hop out of the box that evening to try and violently electrocute the owner. The other one is completely harmless. [ 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 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!

Comments

[invisibleair]

[ Things like this really excite Saber in a way that makes her probably seem almost childlike. It's not as if she would have seen a fun house anywhere in her life previously after all. And this is actually kind of fun for her.

She notices the way the other girl looks at her, but her focus is quickly taken by something else. But what is it...? ]

Oh. [ She can't help but take a few steps over to the other mirror, looking at how tall she looks now. ]

[ But she can't really enjoy it as much. Instead she merely speaks flatly, looking at Rei through the mirror. ]

Tell me, do you sense something strange?

[faithfulflame]

[The change in the woman's demeanor isn't lost on Rei. The subtle shifting of her emotion, the almost wary way she looks at the mirror. It's a clue that points Rei towards a conclusion. That she was being watched. She'd known, but she'd tried to shut out that sensation.

Because that meant there was going to be trouble. And she was just...not...in the mood for that.]

I do. Like something is watching us.

[invisibleair]

...Stand behind me.

[ Saber had never been given directions not to fight. And that strange presence she feels is unnerving. So she doesn't hold back. The room suddenly grows a little brighter, as she unleashes her mana, a blue glow bouncing off the mirrors, a strong wind blowing around them.

In a flash Saber is suddenly in a different outfit, adorned with a bright steel chestplate and pauldrons, holding an...invisible sword in her hands in a defensive stance. ]

Show yourself!

[faithfulflame]

[Rei does as instructed, and takes it as just that. An instruction, a command. It’s an odd feeling, but something about this woman reminds her of Mamoru Chiba, of all people. Though, that thought vanishes immediately when her spiritual senses start to scream! Saber’s transformation is blindingly brilliant, reminiscent of her own companions, and for an instant all Rei can do is stare.

That spell is broken though, when a skittering sound not far away heralds the approach of the creature. Refracted in the mirror, distorted by the light Saber is casting, Rei sees it for the first time. Something large, shaggy and brown. A demon, perhaps?]

To your left, look. Carefully though.

[invisibleair]

[ She might not have wanted to expose herself as a knight, but her identity was still guarded. And if someone or something is going to attack her or someone near her... Saber cannot abide. ]

What is it? [ She catches a glance of it, turning to face the direction. Her sixth sense for threats is almost precognition, she won't be defenceless not even in a hall of mirrors. She may not know which one is real, but she'd be able to defend at least. ]

[faithfulflame]

A monster.

[Her hands flick up in a warding gesture, a slip of paper appearing from up her sleeve, stiffening and casting a pale blue light into the dimness that isn't being illuminated by Saber.]

A demon, perhaps. It seems to be inside one of the mirrors, but I wouldn't count on that being the case.

[It skitters from one mirror to the next, an unearthly howling beginning to emanate from all around them. A cacophony of noise, an unholy wail of some fell beast...]

And...it sounds hungry.

[invisibleair]

[ Saber has no idea what sort of ability Rei may have, but if they are both under attack, then she can trust her for the time being. ]

I will take care of it.

[ She may have an invisible weapon in her hand, but Saber is strong. Strong enough to dart forward, slicing a handful of mirrors in a downward arc as her sword cuts through them like paper. ]

[faithfulflame]

Will you…

[Rei’s about to say something sarcastic when suddenly Saber’s moving, slashing through the mirrors. The shards of them fall to the ground with a resounding crash, tiny fragments of glass showering all around the knight. The beast howls again, but it sounds more like a laugh than pain.

The lights flicker, dimming down to just the pale shades of the light cast by the pair]

…that won’t work, it’s not in the mirrors. This is a trick!

[And then the creature springs, coming at Saber from behind like a living wrecking ball. As it passes by Rei, it’s foot darts out and knocks her down. Are the reflexes of the King of Knights good enough to avoid the supernatural speed of a demonic sneak attack?!]

[invisibleair]

[ Saber is light on her feet. As soon as those mirrors are down, she spins back to face Rei. She told the girl she would protect her and that means keeping her close and under watch until they find the enemy. And at least with some mirrors down they can try to pick out the monster's real location.

...Why do things always attack in a hall of mirrors? ]

A trick? [Hearing that, and the sound of something coming at her...Saber spins once more, bringing the flat of her blade in front of her to bear the attack. She's fast, faster than the monster, but only fast enough to block, skidding back on the ground from the force of the attack. But she's undamaged, trying to shove it away. ]

Are you hurt?!

[faithfulflame]

[Rei rolls to one side, getting clear of the creature that's slamming into Saber. The beast whips to one side, roaring as it melts back into shadow.

The girl hops up and pulls out a small object. There's no choice now but to reveal herself as Sailor Mars. This thing is gunning for both of them, and there's no way out of this.]

I'm fine. Stand back and I'll deal with this.

[She raises the object high...prepares herself for the transformation...

And then the lights flicker back on.

-blink-

-blink-

The mirrors are back to normal, the reindeer are back to singing their chintzy tunes...]

...Again...?

[invisibleair]

I will not!

[ Saber is not one to be protected, or to stand back at all. She is a Knight, she protects young girls, it's like their thing! She probably forgets that some girls are actually magical girls who can shoot fire and stuff, or really she just hasn't run into too many of them who are very good in a physical confrontation.

So she's just about fuming when suddenly the lights turn back on, and nothing is broken, and it's all back to normal. ]

Is this some kind of illusion or magecraft?

[faithfulflame]

[When the lights return, Rei’s arms lower and she glares all around, her sense sweeping back and forth. She doesn’t feel anything out of place, anymore than usual at least, though Saber is kind of a bright beacon of ridiculousness.

She lets out a long held breath, the tension leaving her shoulders entirely as she slumps forward and pockets the o-fuda and the Mars Crystal.]

That’s all it was to begin with. Another illusion. Can you feel that thing anymore?

[Saber’s anger is, for all intents and purposes, wasted on Rei. She knew what she was doing, the Knight so very clearly didn’t. Not everything could be hit with a sword, as Haruka and Minako had been forced to realize on more than one occasion.]

Because I can’t. And something like that should leave behind a trail of taint, I would think. It didn’t.

[invisibleair]

No, I cannot. [ Lowering her own weapon, she isn't so quick to return it to the ether to be summoned again. She's still uneasy about there being no danger. ]

This is not the first time I have been set upon by some illusion that appears from nowhere and then disappears all the same. I can only conclude this is another of CERES games.

[ Back at one party she had been attacked by a giant chainsaw wielding man...who turned out to just be an incredibly realistic illusion as well.

And she really liked solving her problems with her invisible sword! ]

[faithfulflame]

[The girl sighs, almost a growl, and looks at one of the reindeer with a gaze that could melt steel.]

I take it you've been here longer than a day then. I assume this has occurred before. [A statement, not a question, but there's a query there. She'd like information, and another thought occurs to her.]

Are you injured?

[invisibleair]

I have been here almost a month, since they told me my world had been destroyed.

[ Saber softens her stance, letting her sword down until she feels safe again. And then in a less obvious display her armor is gone, replaced with the usual shirt and skirt she wears, as if she weren't some kind of magical knight girl.

That question to her injuries only makes her narrow her eyes at Rei. She doesn't like being worried about like that. ]

I am unharmed. What of you?

[faithfulflame]

[And Rei will never not worry about someone who was just hit by a living juggernaut. The fact that Saber is standing is proof she's tough, but there's tough and then there's foolish pride.]

I'm fine. Not a bruise on me. It just clipped me, that's all.

[Folding her arms across her chest, she adopts a more relaxed, if somewhat petulant stance.]

Who are you, and...what...exactly was that display there?

[invisibleair]

[ Saber is full of foolish pride, but she's a Knight and a King, and the strongest class to boot. So she is pretty sure she deserves her pride. ]

I am Saber. [ That's not a name. ] I am a Knight, and a Servant.

Were you about to cast some sort of magecraft?

[faithfulflame]

Saber. Servant of...what?

[Well, she sure seems confident. Rei gives her an odd look, confused.]

And Magecraft? No. That wasn't...Magecraft. That was just the power of my faith.

[Which is probably the simplest word to describe it, anyway.]

[faithfulflame]

[Well that…was probably the rudest thing Saber could have said. It was not only an insult to Rei’s ability, but to her religion as well. One of those scrolls reappears in her hand, stiffening and gleaming again as she turns it over in her fingertips.]

You can believe as you wish, Saber-san. But you would be wrong. My faith has seen me through worse things than simple dark spirits.

[Sniffing disdainfully, the teenage priest regards the other coldly. Her tone is just as icy, brittle and hard. Knighthood she does understand, her fascination with history and old tales painting a portrait of it for her, so it’s hard to keep the barbs out of her words.]

Though whatever you may believe, you’d be better keeping that to yourself. I thought knights were supposed to be chivalrous and show courtesy, particularly to women and servants of faith, not insult their beliefs and skills based upon false supposition. Or do I misremember?

[invisibleair]

[ Yeah it had been rude. But she has had VERY bad experience with a certain man of faith lately. And honestly, in her world, there was magecraft, not magic. At least not of the religious miracle kind. ]

I will take your word for it then. I have never seen faith wielded as a sort of magecraft or magic before.

[ She is a little surprised to see the scrolls appearing, but does not move in any sort of defensive manner. She does bow her head though. ]

I apologize for having misjudged you and your ability then. You are not wrong, I am bound by honor and duty to a code of chivalry.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei’s eyes soften fractionally. Only just, because that’s still barely an excuse. Faith was, as far as she was concerned, a part of knighthood as much as anything else. In service to God, and while Rei was not necessarily a devout Christian, she had attended a Catholic academy and the faith of her homeland by no means precluded a belief in others as well. To hear faith so questioned by one claiming knighthood was a shock.

Her words are crisp, deliberately matching the antiquated cadence of the blonde woman. It’s easy, memories of Princess Mars addressing her subjects bubbling to the surface, and her posture is more like that of her past self. A martian princess, a warrior, a knight in service to the Queen of the Silver Millennium in her own right. These memories were not uncommon, but were rarely a comfort, given how that time had passed]

Be mindful of that inexperience, then. I know nothing of your world, but you know equally nothing of mine. [A beat.] But no matter the form or the world it comes from, magic? Magecraft, as you put it, is an expression of the wielder’s faith. You can’t do such things unless you believe in them, and in yourself. That is faith of the inward sort. You’ve seen that, if you’ve seen magic at all.

[Folding her arms, the young woman continues, eyebrow arched.]

As surely as you put faith into your sword, or in this…Master, I put mine in myself. I would not question your skill at swordplay, that would be unforgivably rude and out of line, and it undermines a solidarity that we need in a place like this.

[Her arms relax now, falling to her sides and she sighs.]

Just…remember that. There’s no reason to insult one another and bicker. What’s done is done, I forgive you, Sir Knight.

take 2

[invisibleair]

Servant of my Master. I am her sword now.

[ She doesn't want to explain everything, not to someone she has only just met. ]

I have not seen anything like that before. But we should attempt to leave here before it happens again.

[ Saber looks left and right, trying to ignore the mirrors now, closing her eyes to find the exit. ]

Come this way. [ Apparently she wants to lead. ]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei can feel the woman's irritation, but she's not sure of the cause. Regardless, getting out of the fun house seems like a good idea.]

Of course, lead the way.

[invisibleair]

[ The cause is she is a knight and doesn't like to be told to get behind anyone! But as annoyed as that made her, she is able to keep it inside for now, leading the two of them through the fun house, no longer stopping to enjoy the mirrors. But she is glad to be in front, as she should be, leading the vanguard. So to speak.

Eventually they return back into the cold air outside, to where Saber turns to face the other girl, with her hands on her hips. ]

You seem capable as a warrior. But I could have handled that beast. If it were real. [ She doesn't want you to think she's weak, Rei! ]