« 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

The truth hurts /claps hand on shoulder in a manly way

[spes_phthisica]

[Okay, the guy just yoinked the weird thing from him, which is rude, but also kind of funny. He's just... standing there with it, looking kind of ridiculous, and acting flustered isn't exactly making him any less funny. Which is why Souji is openly laughing at him now, and the look that last line provokes is seriously incredulous.]

You know, I really don't know very much about this place yet, it's true. [And what he's seen so far isn't exactly encouraging, he has to admit. And he's disoriented and still not in great health and more alone than he's been in a long time... but seriously.]

But while your concern is of course very sweet, I'm perfectly capable of defending myself - and I really don't see why walking around with a... thing like that would provoke an attack in the first place. That seems pretty silly.

[nostatus]

[ He might find the laughter a little bit familiar if he could push himself past the notion that the person in front of him is a woman. Unfortunately it doesn't seem like that's going to happen anytime soon. ]

Oi, you're a woman, right?

[ See, there we go, there's the misunderstanding, it's out there in the world now.. Sano is going to laugh at him later for sure.

And while he knows some girls can fight, this one looks traditional enough, even with the swords, for him to think it's more of a Chizuru case. ]

You gotta leave the defending up to us guys. This place is definitely worse than it seems, and it's not just cause of.. [ .. gaze sliding over to the stick, and he's quick to just throw it into a nearby trash can now. ] .. cause of those things.

[spes_phthisica]

[Oh. So that's how it is. Well, to be fair, it's hardly as if this is the first time this has happened to Souji. As a child, he was forever mistaken for a little girl, and even after growing up there have been misunderstandings of that nature. Especially since he, as his friends are so quick to point out, stubbornly refuses to wear anything which might signal masculinity to the casual observer.

Well, it's never the wrong time for a bit of a lesson, right? As Shinpachi throws the offending object away, Souji is quick to snatch it out of the air. Pirouetting where he stands, he'll use the momentum as well as Shinpachi's momentary lack of guard to lash out with his heel against the other man's knee, hopefully weakening his stance. At the end of the movement... well, at least that's not a blade against Shinpachi's throat? Although it's debatable if that is worse or not. And he still hasn't let go of his pig with the other arm.]

You should never let your guard down, you know. Firstly, because I'm pretty sure I've known some girls who, regardless of what they look like, might have used a situation like this to kill you. [A sweet little smile, but Souji's eyes are a lot sharper now.] And secondly, because I'm not a woman. Some people might take offense at this kind of thing.

[nostatus]

[ To Shinpachi's credit, he's a swordsman as well. Sure, he might not be the best in the Shinsengumi since he got to this spot through lots of training his entire life rather than being some sort of natural prodigy, but it still means that he's fairly used to having to jump into action after just a moment. The heel is still unexpected, but at least he manages to retain his balance at the last moment, grabbing the thing once it's at his throat, almost with perfect synchronisation.

Sure, his knee hurts a little and it's probably going to bruise, but whatever. He's had worse - even when his hand was cut open he hardly even blinked about it and just laughed it off. ]

You think I'm that helpless?

[ Good try, Souji, but you don't realise that what you have in front of you is actually another Shinsengumi captain.. ]

Don't underestimate me either just 'cause it's harder to tell the difference in some cases. [ HE'S ACTUALLY A LOT MORE EMBARRASSED ABOUT GETTING THE GENDER WRONG THAN HE LETS ON TO.. mostly since it isn't the first time this has happened. But whatever, since this person has technically threatened him now, he's moving into serious business mode. He's perfectly capable of that when he has to be. ]

[spes_phthisica]

[He hadn't been sure about the reaction, but it's not that he's disappointed by finding the other man responding so well. For a moment he holds the stance, alert and judging which weak points to exploit, but... well, he doesn't need to start a fight here. He has never been needlessly violent - although his definitions of what is needful are somewhat skewed - and he also knows he needs to conserve his strength.

And so he steps back, laughing delightedly, all trace of that sharp expression done. The first thing he will do now, too, is to rid himself of his less than traditional weapon. Honestly, it is really embarrassing.]

Well, I wasn't actually expecting you to be helpless - you really don't move like someone like that. [He makes a happy little sound, rocking up on the balls of his feet and looking at Shinpachi with something that looks a lot like appreciation.]

I just didn't want me to think I was either, see? But now that we're both no longer misunderstanding each other in any way, that's fine, right? [And that is a rather pointed look, because it's not like he's forgotten about the mistake Shinpachi made. Or like he's going to let it go. Ever.] I'm flattered you think I'm pretty enough to be a girl, however. It's nice to meet you.

[nostatus]

[ Yeah, even as Souji goes back to a more normal level of.. existing, Shinpachi sure hasn't forgotten those movements just now. Maybe it's since he's dealt with Kaoru before, but cute girls who suddenly seem to be a little bit more than that leave a sour taste behind in his mouth by now.

And not just because of the embarrassment that's not being let go of right here and now. Oi... ]

Don't even start.

[ On the teasing about him thinking Souji was a girl thing.. just.. don't. Don't let Sano know. Sano won't ever stop laughing and he'll need a divorce. ]

Just gimme your name instead. [ You know, in case you turn out to be crazy and he'll have to keep an eye out for you. ]

[spes_phthisica]

[At the very least, Souji hadn't actually tried to seem like a girl, and had cleared up the misunderstanding rather quickly - maybe that will count for something. Though then again, the way he's still rather obviously laughing at Shinpachi, even if it is in relative silence, might mean he's not really gaining much.

Even as he gives the other man a frank look which clearly says that this is not the end of it and that he's exactly the kind of person who would tell Sano, he nonetheless sinks into a polite bow.]

Of course, how very impolite of me. Okita Souji, and it's a pleasure to meet such a gallant protector of women.

[nostatus]

[ ...

Yeah, okay, no. This is a double whammy he doesn't want to deal with right now. It's not like he's met alternative versions of the Shinsengumi before, but he does know that multiple worlds could cross over here, and that technically it should be possible for versions of them from different worlds to pop up, but..

Even if it makes logical sense, it's still hard to accept?! Seriously, Souji? Looking and acting like that? The making fun of him part is the same, but anything other than that..

Might as well put it to the test then, huh. ]

The captain of the first division of the Shinsengumi? [ At least it shouldn't seem so odd for Shinpachi to know that - he is fairly traditionally dressed today, even with his swords with him and all. He looks the traditionally Japanese type. ]

[spes_phthisica]

[Souji tilts his head and gives Shinpachi a very direct look, and then sighs, looking a little bit exasperated but nonetheless fairly good-natured about it. He's had some complicated and confusing conversations today already, and he might as well accept that this is going to be another one. Still, he manages to perk himself up quickly, nodding and smiling in his most accommodating fashion, while absently stroking the ears of the still agitated pig in his arms.]

That would be me, yes. Though there's another one running around here as well - I met him earlier, and while it was a rather embarrassing incident all around, he was pretty helpful.

[Yes, helpful. Although it could maybe be argued that he was being self-serving, in a way? Souji makes a confused little grimace, shrugging.]

I guess either you know my name from history, or it's something more convoluted than that.

[nostatus]

[ At least he met the other Souji already.. well, that might make things a little less awkward, even if it's still weird as hell to imagine this is Souji. Souji looking like a girl, he never thought this day would come.. maybe he should make sure to tell Sano and Heisuke before either of them accidentally hits on him.

... actually, that would be pretty hilarious. He's not telling them jack shit. ]

Something more convoluted, I guess. [ Especially since it means that this Souji technically knows him, too - just not him, not him the way he is now. If Souji is this girly in that world, who knows what Shinpachi himself is like. ]

I'm the captain of the second division of the Shinsengumi, Nagakura Shinpachi.

[ That should say it all, right? ]

[spes_phthisica]

[It's not like Souji is entirely a stranger to getting hit on by men, whether they think he's a woman or not. It's hardly an unusual occurrence for older men to hit on pretty young guys like him - albeit perhaps not for very long, since he's decidedly taken.

Now he tilts his head even further, mouth forming into an 'o' of surprise. Sure enough, he'd been prepared for the other Shinsengumi to be very unlike what he's used to, but nonetheless it's jarring to be proved so very right. When it came to the other Souji, it had honestly been a relief that they had looked nothing alike, for all the similarities that had become obvious soon enough. But this...]

Really? But you're so... tall! And big as well. [He reaches out and gives Shinpachi's upper arm an experimental poke, pushing himself up on tiptoes to somewhat even out their heights. Shinpachi is taller than him, that's just wrong.] I mean, I knew you'd look all different, but it's weird nonetheless, right? Ah, but it must be pretty strange for you too, huh? I'm nothing like what you're used to.

[nostatus]

[ .. wait, what's wrong with him being tall and big? He can't even imagine not being this way, and he's not even the tallest guy in the Shinsengumi by far, so.. what is this other Shinpachi supposed to be? Some sort of scrawny midget? Is there a universe out there where he's Heisuke?

That's a frightening thought, honestly. ]

I actually think it's easier this way. [ Although it sure explains that display of skill just now.. that's totally Souji, alright. There's only a few people who can consistently beat him in most spars, after all. ]

I mean, wouldn't it be a pain in the ass if you two got mixed up all the time? At least this way it's easy to keep you guys apart, 'specially for people who might not know either of you that well. [ Aka.. everyone for this Souji, and all non-Shinsengumi people for their Souji. ]

[spes_phthisica]

[Souji nods in absolute agreement, because this is definitely not something he would ever argue against. If the other Souji had been more like him, if they'd looked alike and acted alike, but would still have lives that differed... he shudders, not knowing what kind of words to apply to that thought apart from wrong.]

You're right, of course. This way, it's not like anyone is ever going to think we're the same person, even if we... have some things in common.

[Such as tuberculosis, he's pretty sure. Of all the things not to change...]

It's just... [He's interrupted by the bundle of pink adorableness in his arms attempting freedom, and obediently bends down to let him go. Now there's a pig sniffing Shinpachi's foot, while Souji stays crouched on the ground, watching him with wide eyes.] This makes it so hard to imagine what the rest of you are like. It's not just the height, you're... well, a bit loud, kind of. I'm used to Nagakura-san being the quiet one. Well, quieter. And when I try to think of Harada-san and Toudou-san and even the people that aren't here like Tetsu-kun and H- [-HAHAHA let's not even go there.] It just feels really weird.

[nostatus]

Well, I can't imagine me being any quieter than I am.

[ He's boisterous, okay, he's well aware of it, and it's the way he likes being.. Shinpachi can't imagine himself being any other way, even if he might be in Souji's world. ]

But even so.. no matter what we're like or how different we are, we're still guys of the Shinsengumi, right? We might've not really started off on the right foot there [ or maybe just a.. very awkward foot.. ] but just based on that fact, I know you've gotta be a good guy.

And Sano and Heisuke-- Souji, too.. they're some of the greatest guys I've ever met. So even if we're different [ and even if there's this.. Tetsu..? He doesn't even recognize that name, hence why he doesn't mention it ] feel free to come hang out with us any time.

[ He's bending down towards the pig now, like he's trying to make contact.. ]

It'd suck to feel alone in this kinda place.

[spes_phthisica]

[Souji looks a little bit dumbstruck for a moment, but then he beams as if someone just wired a thousand volts into his face and fitted him with enough lights for a Christmas decoration. Saizō, who had been backing off skeptically - probably contemplating serious biting - seems to pick up on the vibe and reluctantly edges closer to give Shinpachi's leg a friendly headbutt. Pretty hard, but friendly.]

That's very sweet of you. And... well, while I don't know about me being a good guy, I definitely follow the orders of some good men, and that's close enough, right?

[He's all too aware that by most people's standards, there is nothing inherently good about someone who can't tell right from wrong on his own, and who can count the times he's felt regret in himself on the fingers of one hand. But he does try to be kind and gentle, and to never do anything which Hijikata would disapprove of - too much - and that has to count for something.]

I'll gladly take you up on your offer. To tell the truth, I'm really not used to being alone, you know? It feels pretty awful. If Saizō hadn't come here with me... I don't really like to think too much about that. [He makes a small grimace, but that smile won't stay away for long.] But since I've gotten along with both you and the other one with my name, hopefully it'll work out with the other two as well.

[nostatus]

[ It's funny.. this Souji acts really different, yet he can see some of the similarities too. He knows that the Souji he knows never claims to be a good guy either - ever. Despite his intentions being on the right side most of the time, he's always throwing around death threats and acting like he's such a terrible guy.. seems like they're not that different in that aspect.

They can probably get used to having another Souji around, he figures. Might be good for some variety. ]

I don't doubt it'll work out, they're both great. Sano and I are a lot alike, but he's.. I dunno. He's really good at listening. I'm sure people'd say he's less of a hardass than me too. [ Shinpachi laughs. From his attitude you probably wouldn't call him one, but he's so ridiculously stubborn when it comes to morals... ] And Heisuke's the friendliest guy I know, seriously. He could probably make friends with rocks if he'd try hard enough.

[ Glancing back at Saizō, since it makes him think-- ] I'm sure he'd like this little guy here too. Heisuke's got a pet.. uh.. robot crocodile, I guess. He's pretty fond of it, so maybe they can have playdates or whatever.

[spes_phthisica]

[They do seem pretty different, but he had also gotten the feeling from the other Souji that somehow, there were things about them which would probably make it easy for them to understand each other. Without asking, the other man had given him space, known better than to pity him or fuss over him - as if he knows, perhaps, how important every bit of self-reliance can be to someone like him. Like them?

He listens attentively, eyes wide and his expression rapt and fascinated. Because these people are the closest thing he has to any kind of normality here, the closest thing to home, really, and that makes him all the more curious.] It sounds a little bit like the two of you are changed around, how strange. I'm used to you being the listener, and him being the one with the quickest temper, see? [He looks almost alarmed.] Please don't tell me that he's short instead? [Seriously, stop this madness.]

[He smiles a bit wistfully at the description of Heisuke.] But Toudou-san liking cute things seems completely like normal - though I don't know if he's the same about cute people, I guess. And being friendly, too. At least before... [There is a definite shiver of discomfort there, a moment where Souji's eyes flicker away, before the smile is dragged back like a shield.] Well, nevermind.

[nostatus]

[ He's not sure what exactly causes that discomfort in Souji - and he doesn't really want to assume. Maybe their circumstances are different in that world, and maybe Souji is from another point in time entirely, but.. well, for Shinpachi that discomfort would mean the moment Heisuke almost bled out in his and Sano's arms, that moment when he chose to become a monster in order to live on.

Something he doesn't want to talk about either, honestly, and there's something a little wistful about Shinpachi's smile as he straightens himself, a hand landing on Souji's shoulder. ]

He's friendly. Here, too. [ Heisuke doesn't remember a few things him and Sano do.. but that's fine. Keeping it that way. Shinpachi doesn't audibly add a "don't worry" to that, but it's sort of implied in his tone.. real Shinsengumi men don't call each other out on their weaknesses, right. ]

And as for Sano.. well, he's taller than me, and he has this huge problem with his temper where he's punched Heisuke across the room more than once just for running his mouth. [ He just laughs though.. NORMAL DAY WITH THE BAKA TRIO... ] So he might be more familiar than you assume. Maybe we're all pretty similar, just with emphasis on different parts of us, yeah?

[spes_phthisica]

[No, Souji hasn't quite reached that point himself yet - and in his world, it doesn't end quite as well either. No, the discomfort has a lot more to do with Heisuke's decent into depression after Yamanami's death - and there's something Souji doesn't want to ever think about at all - and subsequent deflection from the group.

But wow, that really does sound a lot like home. Maybe it's a bit silly to be so utterly relieved to hear something like that, but the fact that Those Three remain rather alike no matter if a few things are switched around is actually incredibly comforting. Finding common ground with these men feels important, and there is definitely some tension running out of those incredibly thin and probably pretty frail-feeling shoulders, even as he reaches out and rests a delicate hand on Shinpachi's shoulder in turn, smiling back.]

It sounds a lot like it. I know a certain someone definitely has a tendency of talking too much at home as well. [Seriously, some of Heisuke's prattling sounds borderline suicidal at times.] And, well, that's what it felt like when I was talking to the other Okita-san, as well. Like we're different, but not where it really matters. [His free hand darts unconsciously to something that looks rather like a faint blood stain on the front of his yukata. Not exactly what he meant, but it does explain some likeness.] So even if I won't be among people I know for a while, at least it'll still be like being among comrades, somehow. The kind of people I'd fight alongside, definitely.