« 001 ⇢ INTERLUDE001.EXE »

[reparator]

Who: Mosley and these unfortunate souls
When: OOC: 6/27, IC: 1/26
Where: CERES Research Tower
What: Mosley takes a few lucky souls on a tour of the CERES offices.
Rating/Warning: PG-13: Some violence, injuries and possible death.

---

▶ VIDEO.EXE | IC: 1/25

[ The broadcast comes bright and early for those paying attention to their CereVices; the man who appears on the screen is strikingly pale, white-haired and piercingly blue-eyed. He looks young, no more than nineteen or twenty and he's dressed in a crisp black and white suit. He stares into the screen for a long moment, long enough to be, frankly, just a bit uncomfortable.

And then white eyelashes blink and an awkward, unsure smile spreads across his face. He lifts a hand to fix his tie and speaks. ]

This is Mosley.

[ The smile drops, leaving him with a blank expression once again. ]

CERES has decided in a show of good faith to open our doors to you. I have been given the task of, [ He lifts his hands to emphasize with air quotes. ] "being your tour guide." If that is what I must do, so be it. The lazy worm does not get the apple, after all.

[ He looks down at the tablet on his desk, giving it a few taps and suddenly an icon appears on the bottom right hand of the video. ]

That link will bring you to a listing to make an appointment. You will be given a time. Show up promptly or do not, it is no matter to me. The tour will leave ten minutes after your given time and that will be that. Tours will only last a few hours so you needn't worry about the rest of your day. You will certainly return home in time to catch the latest episode of [ Air quotes again. ] "Banana is the New Black." I hear there's going to be a cliffhanger!

[ A pause and he looks oddly thoughtful. ]

I suppose you could also steal it off the internet? [ Blank again. ] Which would be wrong. Our lawyers will contact you if you do that. Do not.

[ And then another of those awkward smiles before quickly turning into something a bit startled and he taps his tablet again, ending the video. Replies to this feed have been disabled, unfortunately. Seems like someone isn't feeling very chatty. It's a miracle. ]

▶ ACTION.EXE | IC: 1/26

[ The next day, that Monday, those who take Mosley up on his offer will find that him standing there right in front of the main CERES office building, waiting. It’s with that same disconcerting smile that he unlocks the door and ushers them in.

Welcome, all of you, to our lovely CERES!

The group will find themselves standing in a lobby. Clean white walls and floors, a bright blue rug leading towards the elevators on the far wall, and a white reception counter. At the counter are two CERES robots answering calls and directing any visitors (though the lobby seems quite empty today) and on the wall behind them is a hologram of the CERES logo for all to see. Mosley stands in the center of the carpet in his usual suit and claps his hands together, putting on a smile. ]

Welcome to CERES.

[ And then the smile drops. Voice flat, he continues. ]

There has been... talk over the past few months that we at CERES have not been working 24/7 to help you, our clientele, return to your homes safely and soundly. There has also been... talk that we do not do anything. That this entire company is a farce, which is honestly quite hurtful to both me and the other hardworking staff at this company. Mr. Vincere had his way of running this place but Ms. Recreare is fond of a more hands on approach. We want to share that approach with you.

[ He spreads his hands to indicate to the building around them. ]

CERES has many fingers in many jars and they've all been sealed tight for a while. We would like to open those jars. So once again, welcome to CERES and please follow me.

[ After that, Mosley turns and begins to lead the group off. ]

---

▶ RUN.EXE | MOD NOTES

This is the event log for these sign-ups! Your groups have been sorted below; here are a few handy links for you:

Group 01 | OOC plotting
Group 02 | OOC plotting
Group 03 | OOC plotting
Group 04 | OOC plotting
Group 05 | OOC plotting
Group 06 | OOC plotting
Group 07 | OOC plotting
Group 08 | OOC plotting
Group 09 | OOC plotting
Group 10 | OOC plotting
There is no tagging order, so feel free to tag in whatever way works best for you as a group.

The tours will technically last 3 hours icly, but that may change as ic events happen; oocly, the threads will last as long as necessary, though Mosley will come and collect your characters if they are moseying around too long! There will be mod involvement in each of the tours.

If there are any questions, feel free to ask them here. You are welcome to plot with your groupmates by using the ooc top level comments linked above. Thank you!

Comments

▶ GROUP ONE.EXE

[complices]

. . . LOADING BANSAI KAWAKIMI.$$$ . . . LOADING FLYNN SCIFO.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING GINTOKI SAKATA.$$$ . . . LOADING JUDE MATHIS.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING MAYA FEY.$$$ . . . START TOUR.EXE. . .

---

What people don't seem to know is that CERES has many laboratories running round the clock to keep this colony sustained. Half of these things aren't even personally overseen by Ms. Recreare and I but by subsidiaries of CERES. One of these subsidiaries, GreenPRO, handles most agriculture related issues in the colony. GreenPRO is a stupid name, isn't it? I really can't stand those jerks from GreenPRO.

[ All of this Mosley has been saying as he leads the group out the building and through the research district. Anyone who tries to interrupt will be ignored and Mosley will just talk louder, yet still keep the same steady tone of voice the whole time. ]

Being on a planet that isn't entirely habitual for every species in our colony gives us a certain amount of trouble that we have had to look elsewhere for solutions to. Why we are the ones who have to solve these problems, I'll never know! GreenPRO offered the obvious: for us to grow our own food. Ugh, seriously, those jerks. This is why all the different species who settle on Cerealia are able to live a safe and healthy lifestyle just as they did before. Today I'll show you the greenhouses. Just so you know we're not poisoning your food and all! Haha, don't worry, that would be GreenPRO's fault.

[ And then he turns a corner and viola! The group will come across rows and rows of greenhouses, packed full with plant life and if anyone looks closer, they will spot vegetables and fruits of all kinds growing inside. Mosley leads the group to Greenhouse #3, opening the door with a key and gesturing for them to all go inside.

Weirdly enough, he locks the door right after everyone's inside. ]

Greenhouse number three, otherwise known as "the Fruit house" -- that's a really dumb name -- specializes in fruit from planets from all over the galaxy, including your own! Fruits that taste like the most decadent chocolates or the most rotten of eggs, it's always a gamble to try new things. Really, go try new things. I'll wait.

[ His face spreads into a smile and he gestures to the rows and rows of different colored fruit being grown around them. ]

Feel free to help yourselves.

[ Mosley will just stand by the door.

There are neat rows of plants, some familiar and some utterly alien, but the greenhouse is not that large it seems. However, towards the back of the greenhouse, the vegetation appears to get thicker and thicker, covering up the back wall distinctly and making it very hard to approach that side of the room. ]

▶ GROUP TWO.EXE

[complices]

. . . LOADING AI THAO KHA.$$$ . . . LOADING AURA BLACKQUILL.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING INTEGRA HELLSING.$$$ . . . LOADING LANCER.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING PEARL FEY.$$$ . . . START TOUR.EXE. . .

---

[ Mosley's going to lead them to the elevators now, pressing for one and watching as the numbers above slowly trickle down. ]

People always ask us "when will we see our worlds again" or "are you really working on restoring our worlds" or "when will I get my compensation over my world being destroyed." It's become rather tedious because as we have said many times before, we're working on it.

[ The elevator arrives with a ding and Mosley ushers everyone inside. He's a little more forceful to those who hesitate but eventually, everyone will be in. He presses for floor twelve. ]

For this tour, I have been instructed to show you exactly that.

[ The elevator doors close and they begin to move up slowly. Any attempt to engage Mosley in conversation will be ignored which actually makes this elevator ride slightly awkward. After a moment, a short jingle will begin to play and Mosley pulls a CereVice out of his jacket pocket and answers the call. ]

This is Mosley. [ . . . ] Oh. [ . . . ] That isn't going to work. [ . . . ] One would think so, yes. [ . . . ] I see. [ . . . ] Do you not have a daughter, Mr. Agao? Do you not care for her well-being? Her safety? If that is the case, then I do not see why you are failing on such a ... simple task. [ . . . ] I believe that is your fear talking, Mr. Agao. We at CERES do not tolerate fear, as you well know. [ . . . ] Ha. Ha. I will be in touch.

[ Mosley hangs up his CereVice and presses for floor ten a moment later, without looking towards the tour group. Eight... nine... ten. The doors open and Mosley steps off. He turns to the group. ]

Floor twelve will be of interest to you. Now if you'll excuse me, something's come up.

[ For some reason, the moment Mosley leaves the elevator, all of the lights on the numbers flicker off. There are only three lit up numbers on the elevator panel: 12, 22, and 40. Any attempts to press any other buttons won't cause anything to happen, and similarly, the doors refuse to open no matter what you attempt to do. ]

▶ GROUP THREE.EXE

[complices]

. . . LOADING ENGLAND.$$$ . . . LOADING JAUNE ARC.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING PEKO PEKOYAMA.$$$ . . . LOADING RIO KAMISHIRO.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING YANG XIAO LONG.$$$ . . . START TOUR.EXE. . .

---

[ One short painfully awkward elevator ride in which Mosley says nothing and ignores any advances for conversation later, the group arrives on floor 115. As they step out onto the floor, it seems pretty empty yet still in the same stark white polish as the rest of the building. The hallway branches out left and right, so far down that it's nearly impossible to see the end and each side has door after door after door. Above each door is something interesting: a date. ]

I thought it would be pertinent to start off with our history. CERES has been around for quite a while! While, yes, Ms. Recreare only recently purchased the company, Mr. Vincere was not the first owner either. CERES has had a colorful history full of successful and sometimes unsuccessful ventures and we would like to share it with--

[ He pauses, looking startled before a hand covers his face. Mosley takes a few steps forward before dropping to all fours and ... vomiting all over the crisp white floor. The weird thing about it is Mosley's vomit is not quite... normal. No, it's pure black and slick, like oil and it smells just awful. After he's done he rolls over onto his back, the black liquid a very creepy contrast to his pale skin. He reaches a hand up into the air and in his usual monotone, he speaks. ]

Help. Help.

[ Before anyone can react, a door bursts open down the hall, sirens blaring all around, and two CERES issue robots jog out holding a stretcher between them. With swift efficiency, they arrive at the group and lift Mosley onto the stretcher. In another moment, they pick it back up and with a nod to the group, run off down the hall and through a door. Once they disappear into it, the sirens finally shut off. This all happens within the space of about five minutes or so, leaving the group alone.

Well, aside from the vomit that is. The nearest doors read June X9%U, July X9%U, August X9%U and September X9%U. What will you do? ]

▶ GROUP FOUR.EXE

[complices]

. . . LOADING FUYUHIKO KUZURYUU.$$$ . . . LOADING PHOENIX WRIGHT.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING RICHTER LAWRENCE ALCROSS.$$$ . . . LOADING XERXES BREAK.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING ZARA SKEENS.$$$ . . . START TOUR.EXE. . .

---

[ Instead of going to the elevators, Mosley veers right and heads to a door that leads to... the stairs? The stairs are equally white and pristine as the building but Mosley does not head up, he heads down. ]

Actually... I was thinking of doing something a bit different with this tour. I thought to myself "why bring you to things you've already seen, why not show you part of the mystery of this place?" We at CERES are quite known for our mystery! So, today we are heading to one of our containment facilities. Contain what, you may ask? Well, you will see. This facility in particular is quite old, so please watch your step.

[ As the group travels lower and lower into the building, the walls become less white and pristine and start to rust over and flake. It's a gradual shift but their walk is long and Mosley ignores any attempts to be engaged in conversation. Finally, he will stop at what seems like the very end, if the pitch blackness of the staircase in front of them is any indication. The walls are red and flaking and the building creaks with disuse.

Once in a while, there's a splash of water. If anyone of the group looks at the walls closely, they will be able to make out B89. It seems this building goes quite deep! ]

Oh, the light is out. When did that happen? I suppose I will have to go fetch a lightbulb, otherwise how could we see? How... unfortunate. Please wait here, as this will just take a second.

[ Mosley directs a smile at the group before heading back up the staircases they just came down. Two steps at a time, at that! He seems quite in a hurry to get that lightbulb. Of course, a few moments later, there's an ominous little click, and then all of a sudden, the stairs underneath their feet turn into what seems to be a slide, sending them hurtling down into the basement.

When they finally come to a (possibly painful) stop, they're in the darkness, the ground beneath them rough and dirty. The only light is a soft glow a few feet away, as if from under a door. ]

▶ GROUP FIVE.EXE

[complices]

. . . LOADING HAJIME HINATA.$$$ . . . LOADING JANE SHEPARD.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING KOTAROU KATSURA.$$$ . . . LOADING VECTOR.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING OZ VESSALIUS.$$$ . . . START TOUR.EXE. . .

---

[ Who needs elevators? It's off to the stairs with this group, with a soft, fond sigh of Ah, exercise from Mosley. He'll lead the group up and up and up while completely ignoring any attempts to chat. They're really going waaaaaay high up and even as they hit floor fifty-seven, Mosley doesn't even look like he's broken a sweat. In fact, his skin is completely dry! What's with this guy?

It's on floor seventy-three that he finally leads them off the staircase and down a hall. He'll turn around a corner after a moment to bring the group to a very odd sight. Two heavily armed robots stand at the end of hall in front of what looks to be a security gate blocking a door. Signs of warning litter the wall in every language, "AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY" and "TRESPASSERS SHOT ON SIGHT" while red flashing lights are placed every few feet. Mosley seems unperturbed. ]

Before we proceed with the tour, I thought it would be best to have you all go through a security check. After all, who knows what nefarious ne'er-do-wells lurk amongst our midst? What ills they may have wrought? Would you invite someone like that into your house? Would you?!

[ He looks to the group at that last question, eyes wide and a bit of a snarl on his face. It settles into his usual blank expression a moment later before he pauses suddenly in his tracks. They're only a few steps away from the robots but Mosley brings a hand to his forehead and looks troubled. ]

Oh... Oh. I should, ah. I should go. [ He turns to walk off before lifting a hand to them, holding up a finger. ] Wait here.

[ Then he takes off at a sprint down the hall. After a moment, he disappears around the corner and leaves the group alone with the security robots. While it looks as if the group is really just free to leave, if anyone takes even a step the red alarms suddenly start blaring and a large metal wall drops down at the end of the hall, trapping them in. After that the security robots point their guns at the group, starting to shout obscenities at them and all hell seems to have broken loose.

Except suddenly a panel on the wall opens up next to them with a large red button and a sign that reads PRESS ME over it. Even if there's no hint what will happen if they press it, it seems like it's their only way out of this situation. Will someone risk pressing the button or will you come up with a different plan? ]

▶ GROUP SIX.EXE

[complices]

. . . LOADING HAN SOLO.$$$ . . . LOADING CYNBEL LIGHTFOOT.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING MIA FEY.$$$ . . . LOADING MIZAEL.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING NICO DI ANGELO.$$$ . . . START TOUR.EXE. . .

---

[ To the elevators, with this group! Mosley doesn't even give them a speech, just ushers everyone into the elevator and presses for floor fifty. Soft music plays from the speakers as they go up and up and up and Mosley starts to sway to and fro along with the soft tune around floor six. As usual, any attempt to engage him in conversation falls on deaf ears.

It isn't until they're between floors twenty seven and twenty eight that the elevator suddenly stops with a jolt and the music cuts out. Mosley's eyes open and his brow furrows, looking up at the speakers before approaching the elevator panel. As he reaches over to press the help button, the lights in the elevator go out completely. He pauses. ]

Ah. It seems I'll have to take care of this myself. Someone help me up to that panel.

[ He gestures to a square panel on the ceiling of the elevator and Mosley will climb up on the shoulders of someone in the group. He gets the panel open a moment later and lifts himself up onto the top of the elevator. This is when things get... odd. Mosley flashes a very... off grin to the people in the elevator before pulling a heavy duty combat knife out of his jacket pocket. He approaches the wires holding the elevator up and begins to cut them.

Anyone in the group who attempts to stop him will just receive a foot in the face if they try to climb out of the elevator. More aggressive attempts will result in the sole of Mosley's shoe electrocuting the character, right in the face. Eventually Mosley's knife will cut right through the elevator wires and he hops out of the way pretty quickly as one... two... three...

The elevator wires snap and the elevator is sent plummeting down below, the last expression they see on Mosley's face being one of mild surprise. The group will just have to brace for impact because eventually they will hit the basement. Well, one of the basement levels. The elevator finally stalls out on B94 as read by the flickering screen on the elevator panel. This isn't even one of the listed floors but the elevator doors are open a crack, leaving the group to pulling it ajar. Miraculously, no one will be hurt aside from a few mild cuts and bruises.

The characters also might, luckily enough, find themselves with Mosley's shoe. It's his left one. A shiny black dress shoe, if anyone looks inside they will see a small button, pressing it will send an electric shock through the sole. You might want to keep it, just in case. ]

▶ GROUP SEVEN.EXE

[complices]

. . . LOADING HIMEKO INABA.$$$ . . . LOADING KOUSETSU SAMONJI.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING MYRIAM SCUTTLEBUTT.$$$ . . . LOADING TAKAMACHI NANOHA.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING RIBBONS ALMARK.$$$ . . . START TOUR.EXE. . .

---

People ask me "Mosley, did you ever think you'd find yourself working in the corporate sector?" And I have to say no, no I never imagined this for myself. Personally, I thought I'd take a crack at reality television -- that's where the real money is -- but I suppose this is equally as fulfilling.

[ Mosley has led the group to the elevators and is waiting for one to arrive when he just starts talking. He won't respond to any replies, just talks loudly over them until they stop even as the elevator opens up and he ushers them inside. ]

Then I think to myself, is this really the corporate sector? Sure, CERES has stock and money and ... whatever the else companies of this magnitude have but at the end of the day, this really is a family company, don't you think? Don't answer that, I wasn't talking to you. No, no, I really think we're just here to help. We're like... like a charity organization! We make homes for the needy. For instance, where were you all supposed to go, lost out there in the Nexus Code as you were? We helped give you a place to sleep at night and what's so wrong with that?

[ He presses the button for floor 124 and after that little speech, he falls silent and watches as the numbers slowly climb up and up and up. The elevator is actually rather fast so it's only a few minutes until suddenly they stop and Mosley leads the group out. They're in a large circular room, doors lining the walls all around them with odd symbols on each of them. The entire room is also made of wood paneling, a stark contrast to the white tile of the rest of the building. After a moment, Mosley pulls out a key ring with a ridiculous amount of keys attached. Forty-seven if one was to count. He picks one out at random and approaches the first door on their left. ]

I thought we would do a bit of light reading for this tour but I can't remember exactly how to get to the light reading room. I know what you're thinking, "Mosley, this is your headquarters! How do you not know every single room within it?" And it's hard, okay! It's hard and sometimes you just... you just wish you could take a break!

[ Dramatically, Mosley throws himself at the nearest wall and pillows his head against the wall, shoulders shaking as if he were crying. There's a soft click a moment later and the floor panel underneath Mosley's feet slides away into the darkness. He looks down underneath him, eyes going a little wide and with a soft oh, he plummets below. The panel slides back in place after a moment and the keys fall neatly on top. That was a bit awkward.

Now there are only doors and the keyring. What now? ]

▶ GROUP EIGHT.EXE

[complices]

. . . LOADING MANFRED VON KARMA.$$$ . . . LOADING SCHRODINGER.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING SOUSEI ABE.$$$ . . . LOADING TOUKA KIRISHIMA.$$$ . . .
. . . START TOUR.EXE. . .

---

[ This group is going to be lead not out the building, not in an elevator, not up the stairs but through a set of double doors down a hallway to their right. Windows line the walls of the corridor Mosley leads them through showing scientists (or people in lab coats with goggles) conducting many different experiments. Not all the scientists are human, nor are they all robot. Some are entirely different species altogether! (Please don't stare at that man's tentacles, he's very shy.) Meanwhile, Mosley talks. ]

Science! It's a wondrous thing, is it not? How the universe is made, how the universe is unmade. Explanations for how things work that isn't some bullshit stupid piece of shit nonsensical deity. I mean, honestly! How am I supposed to believe there's some supernatural force in the fucking sky that controls everything we say and do?! That's illogical is what it is! There's no sense to that!

[ He's just going to stop and kick at a conveniently placed trash can, sending it crashing through one of the windows and scaring all the scientists inside. It skids across one of the lab tables and leaves a trail of fire in its wake, sirens going off as the entire room is drenched in water. One of the scientist's skin suddenly puffs up into spikes. Mosley doesn't address any of this, just stops to adjust his tie and lets his expression fall blank again. Back to the monotone, he leads the group around a corner (away from the fire and chaos) and continues heading to a set of double doors at the end. ]

Today, we will be doing some science.

[ Through the double doors, the group is lead into a room with rows of tables in which beakers and computers and all sorts of science-y stuff are spread about. There's chalkboard on the other side of the room that has little drawings of an eye, a nose, an ear, a hand, and a mouth. As each tour member enters the room, Mosley hands them a lab coat. ]

Please put on your lab coats. You don't have to but if you do not put on the lab coat, you can just get out. But then you'd miss all the science! Please put on the lab coat.

[ After that, he spreads his hands to gesture to the entirety of the room in front of them. ]

Now do some science!

[ That's all the instruction he's going to give, apparently.

Should the characters look around, they'll find lab tables with strange chemicals on them, panels filled with buttons covered in odd symbols, and a control panel of sorts at the far end of the room. That aside, they're simply surrounded by glass and the scientists that are hard at work. ]

▶ GROUP NINE.EXE

[complices]

. . . LOADING ATHENA CYKES.$$$ . . . LOADING BULMA BRIEFS.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING MARIAN HAWKE.$$$ . . . LOADING MUTSNOKAMI YOSHIYUKI.$$$ . . .
. . . START TOUR.EXE. . .

---

Waste. Do you know what waste is? Waste is unforgivable. Today, we are going to emulate waste. We are going to be the waste. We here at CERES have to appreciate our waste because what happens when too much accumulates? You destroy the planet! This isn't even our planet! So we sympathize with our waste, we appreciate our waste, we love our waste. We also recycle!

[ Mosley leads the group to the stairs and proceeds downwards. It's a short trip, only two flights to a level named B02 and opens up a door to a murky looking hallway. The lights flicker, the walls are kind of green, a water bug runs across the floor. This is definitely the basement. He beckons them forward to a set of red metal doors that reads WASTE MANAGEMENT above it.

As they enter the room, one thing becomes clear: it reeks. There's a few dumpsters around the room, a pile of trash bags and some janitor robots milling about. One of them waves at Mosley. He waves back. He leads the group to a large metal chute running from ceiling to floor in the corner of the room. With both hands, he pulls open the square door in the middle of it. The opening is big enough to fit the average human. ]

This is where we're going! You'll have to go down first, unfortunately, but I promise your landing will be soft. How else are you to fully embrace the feeling of being trash? You have to be the trash! Be it! Or get off my tour! I'll meet you right after.

[ He looks so pathetic and pleading that it really would be a shame to turn him down. Hopefully everyone takes him up on his offer and if you do, you will be, well, sent down the chute. The ride is actually kind of long, about ten minutes of sliding but each person will land someplace soft, just like Mosley said. Unfortunately, that soft landing is just a pile of trash bags in a larger dumpster. To the characters' right will be the incinerator, probably a bit too close for comfort. The rest of the room is pretty run down (and still smells god awful) but interestingly enough there's a huge door making up the wall to their left. There's a chance you can get out that way.

If they don't take up Mosley's offer, well, he'll be pushing them into the chute. Off you go!

If instead, you opt to wait for Mosley it will be obvious after twenty minutes or so that he's not showing up. He seems to have abandoned the group to their fate in a pile of trash, with a single door showing the way out, and a lit incinerator to one side. ]

▶ GROUP TEN.EXE

[complices]

. . . LOADING CINDER FALL.$$$ . . . LOADING KYOUKO KIRIGIRI.$$$ . . .
. . . LOADING OONA.$$$ . . . LOADING ZERO KIRYUU.$$$ . . .
. . . START TOUR.EXE. . .

---

[ Mosley leads the group into the elevator without a word and after a few moments of just awkwardly standing there, watching the numbers rise up (they're going to floor 137 apparently), he finally speaks. ]

I like the ViViD, I do. It's a very unique invention and allows us to achieve things beyond our wildest dreams. [ He pauses, seems like there's going to be a but following. ] But does it really do... much? Surely there's other more intuitive inventions. No offense towards the late Mr. Sergej but frankly, I've seen better. If I wanted to play games that were the equivalent of the latest CereVice app, I would just use my CereVice. All this virtual reality fuss is more sad escapism that's ruining the younger generations. This is why Ms. Recreare has the right idea, being so old and all.

[ He finishes with a short nod and oddly perfect timing as the doors to the elevator slide open. There's a reception desk with a robot behind it and a brightly colored walkway in front of them. Across the top, there's a sign that reads "WELCOME TO ViViD HQ" and Mosley just gives a short sigh.

He leads them straight, ignoring the wave of greeting the receptionist sends him (the group might notice the crushing disappointment on the robot's face) and down the brightly colored hallway. The walls are decorated with promo pictures of various ViViD stages but the fanfare comes to an end as they hit the end of the hall. It branches out in three different ways in front of them, decor returning to the crisp white of the rest of the building. Mosley takes a left and pulls out a keycard. ]

We'll be doing ViViD history today, I suppose. Still rather boring in my opinion but it's on the schedule. Really. ViViD history, is that the best we could come up with? Ugh.

[ With a flat expression, Mosley leads them to a room with a sign that reads PROTO-ViViD and he swipes the keycard through the lock, opening the door. The door swings open but suddenly Mosley freezes in place. He peers suspiciously into the room, and then very suddenly and abruptly steps back.

There's a jaunty wave as the doors shut, separating the characters from Mosley. And then there are the words --

Uploading into ViViD. Welcome to ViViDBeta.

As if being uploaded into any ViViD session, they're uploaded entirely, ending up on a grassy hill with a sprawling, quaint landscape spread out before them. Unlike most ViViD Sessions, there's some odd displays at the top of the "screen" (the sky, for the characters), which read: Energy Levels: 99% and Success Rate: 99%.

Well. What now? In the distance, there's the noise of what's certainly some sort of monster, and in the other direction, there seems to be a town, nestled at the foot of a mountain. ]

[beaconed]

[ Just... excuse Jaune while he's vomiting real actual vomit in the background - it isn't black or creepy or anything, it's only a lasagna he had from earlier.

But... that was gross as hell. Black vomit.

He came here to find answers about his friends disappearing: Pyrrha, Tenka, Weiss, Yata... but, whatever this incident triggered, he suddenly feels like he got more than he bargained for?? ]

[flaredo]

[ ... Yang was already crinkling her nose over black vomit, but with Jaune carrying on with the Puking Choir, she's flat-out--

... Ignoring him. SHE KNOWS HE'LL BE FINE, WALK IT OFF. ]

Sooooo... that was a thing. Since our tour guide just ditched us, I guess we're touring ourselves?

[ A glance at the doors. ]

By testing these doors out, probably.

[madhatted]

[ "A bit different" was more or less the first clue that this wasn't going to be the standard tour. Break is naturally paranoid, but also definitely the sort of person to investigate curiosities, even if it may not seem like it. His odd personality tends to cloak that fact rather well. So, really, he should have trusted his instinct at the first statement that seemed off, and certainly at the second of a mysterious missing lightbulb (not that Break could exactly tell), but.

Hindsight is always 20/20, as the saying goes.

Break is about a half-second from suggesting that they all leave when the floor goes out from under him, and that one red eye widens in distress, but he's also wild and ready to fight. It's the sort of thing naturally ingrained into him at this point, but much less so when he has no footing to speak of. He simply holds his cane close, then rolls as best he can when the bottom of the slide suddenly comes, though it's not exactly pleasant. It might seem odd that he would hold onto the cane with such dedication, but considering the sword inside it, he's hardly going to let it go.

Though still, half-landing on it winds him, so when he hits the ground, he chokes out a strangled noise, then coughs bitterly as he tries to regain his breath. He's an old man and not used to this sort of rough treatment...!! ]

What—

[ —Happened, but that too is broken off by a cough. The darkness isn't any different for Break, but he still reaches out to grope in the darkness to try and better figure out just where they've landed, since he has only sight and sound to rely on.

...If he gropes you, sorry. ]

[perfectstrike]

[Incredible. Jaune gets exactly one (1) glance from Peko -- just enough to determine that it's normal vomit and the black liquid isn't immediately contagious -- before turning her attention to Yang.]

I agree. If they are chronological... it may be best to start at the beginning. Or split up to cover as much area as possible before our "guide" returns.

[The dry tone to her voice suggests that she really doesn't have much faith in Mosley, or CERES as a whole. She's not just standing there, though; instead, she's pulling a tissue from her pocket and moving closer to the oil left behind, dabbing at the edge of it. Because clearly if it's not contagious, it's fine to take some with you?? Dangan investigative life, apparently.]

[mermaiding]

[This had to be the most boring tour of her life-- not that she usually went on tours, but if the were like this than she wouldn't be signing up for any others any time soon.

She actually deeply considers just walking away, consequences be damned, but she kind of like Mosley. He seems about as enthused about the tour as she does. (She wonders about that robot receptionist. Did it have a crush? Was she supposed to find it as cute as she did? Maybe something could be done...)

Well, until he suddenly separates from them and they find themselves in ViViD, which is the last place Oona wants to be since the last time nearly cost her a trip to the hospital (which was the part she was mad about--not the wounds she sustained, but the fat she nearly had to confront the Worst People Ever aka doctors.]

Should have known.

[Said totally deadpan, though she looks around in mild interest.] At least it is more exciting. Maybe can kill something. Monsters over there? Should fight.

[FINALLY SOME ACTION maybe. Oona certainly looks pleased at the idea of spilling some blood, glancing eagerly at her companions.]

[bewrightback]

[Phoenix landed right on his belly in an undignified heap. He had a feeling that something would go wrong on this trip, but the chance of finding out more about their situation and about CERES seemed worth it. Things seem to have gone awry much sooner than he had expected.

He crawls along the ground for the moment as he tries to squint and figure out his surroundings. He probably hears some of the others, but he manages to avoid being groped as he tries to call out.]

Mosley? Hello?

[Then, in a quieter tone.]

...Is everyone alright?

[Kuzuryuu seems like a tough kid, but he's still a kid. I hope we're not mixed up in something too horrible ...I'm worried about Zara, too.]

[dereban]

[oh god, why does Mosley talk so much. she's definitely paying attention and recording all of this on her CereVice for the newspaper (and for her own, more personal reasons) but hearing him drone on like this is kind of bothersome, in her opinion. well, at least she's not alone in this adventure. but seeing as she's partially here for answers, she might as well ask the important questions]

Seriously? Are we in a cartoon or something? That was a rather dramatic exit.

[yes. clearly the most important questions.]

[cardboard_journalism]

[Well, if he WANTED to talk on and on, Scuttlebutt wasn't going to stop him. She would keep her tape recorder on and simultaneously take notes with every word he said

--though Scuttlebutt didn't know shorthand, so how much she would actually get written was up in the air.]

Right, right...! How hard for you... do go on...

[only to eventually gasp as he plummeted]

Kaaaaaahk!

[unionjackoff]

[England has been wanting to get into CERES' facilities since he got here. though he is no fool. this is way too suspicious, could be a trap. and then Mosely does... whatever that thing was, and now he's gone.

he looks at the group he's been saddled with. all kids, a couple he knows. and he does not want harm to come to any single one of them. especially Jaune. poor Jaune]

I don't think we should split up. It's too dangerous. But I do think it would be prudent to start from the beginning.

\o/

[bakudanma]

<sub>[ Whoever is fortunate to walk next to Katsura this entire time will probably notice that the samurai seems quiet. Unsually quiet. His gaze is focused as he mentally takes notes of everything. Walking up the staircase is no big deal to him, even though he was wearing baggy clothing-- his blue kimono and haori over it. Katsura lacked his sword on his person this time, much to everyone's surprise who knew him, but he did carry two metallic timer bombs on his person.. conveniently placed next to his actual balls... you know.. stuffed in his fundoshi. Amazing.

By the time they have reached the top of the stairs, Katsura is sweating, but his posture nor his expression waivers as he sees the guards down the hallway.
When Mosley starts going off about never-do-wells and whatever, Katsura casually agrees.

Didn't Mosley already know he was a malicious person? He couldn't understand why he was so easily brought here even after Zura has threatened them. Oh well. It is their loss. ]</sub>

Ah, yes. They should be strapped to the chair and forced to watch horrible anime against their will.

_{[ He follows along, walking light on his feet. When Mosley makes his sudden exit, Zura's eyes grow slightly, but he puts his attention back on the robots.
A large silence floods over the group before Katsura speaks again, absolutely poker faced: ]}

—This is nothing like the chocolate factory I was promised. I didn't even get a golden ticket. I'm going to sue.

[glassy]

[ cinder's expectations for the tour had been set staggeringly low. whatever reassurances of smooth running had been obviously a lie and cinder wasn't a hopeless fool. add to that the various glitches and this attempt to save face was... weak. ill-planned. but amusing. cinder has always enjoyed witnessing the crumbling of an empire and this was close enough hence her inevitable participation.

but boring had the initial tour been, now that they were immediately in vividbeta... internally, she echoes the statement of the woman speaking up beside her. michael bluth voice: i don't know what i expected. at least, on her person, she was able to fight unlike her previous accidental venture into the virtual game.

with equanimity, cinder eyes the distinctive rumblings of a large sounding creature then to the town set opposite from it. it's clear to her that neither are good choices and unless mosley wishes for them to stand in their places, equally dumbfounded then that's his prerogative. ]

I'll join you. [ cinder is always eager to acquaint herself who are eager to resort to action, then she throws a pointed look to the rest. ] But I think it's best if we split up. Two to the town by the mountain and three to what could be a fight. [ she glances at their monotonous host. ] Unless, of course, this is meant to teach us about ViViD history and Mosely will simply get us out of here like a good tour guide?

[ obviously, she doubts he'll be of any use but it's a mild way to express her distaste. smh. ]

[zombiedude]

[It had to be elevators. It just had to be elevators. Nico is disliking this place more and more.

He might look a tiny bit uncomfortable as the group steps inside but he does his best to hide it, tucking himself as much into a corner as he can so he's able to see everyone easily with no one behind him. At least they're going up. It's more like going to Olympus, he thinks to himself, even though he still doesn't enjoy being in small spaces due to being trapped for eight days in a jar that he barely fit into and almost suffocated to death inside.

When Mosley starts trying to cut the cables, Nico is absolutely one of the people trying to stop him, so he ends up getting electrocuted in the face and landing on his ass. He originally went on this tour in an effort to get some more information, but he's starting to regret it now.

The elevator falls (Nico may or may not let out a scream when it does) and when it finally comes to a rest, his expression looks green and a bit panicked. He stays sitting where he is, eyes widening when people move to pull the doors apart and opening his mouth to make a noise of protest, but he cuts himself off before he inwardly admonishes himself for panicking in the moment. These aren't the Doors of Death, he scolds himself with a slight scowl. Tartarus is not on the other side of them. These don't even look anything like them, and the Doors are back in Thanatos' control. Get a grip on yourself. You'd only be seeing them again if you were dead, and you're not.

... At least he really hopes not.

He gets to his feet, still looking very much on edge but more ready to help out now however he can.]

[harepiece]

[HE DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS EITHER?! And he's also not savvy enough to understand that reference, someone buy him those books stat...

Instead of appreciating that timely joke, he just looks wary and confused, and who is the first person to move and trigger the alarms and the security door?? Probably Oz, honestly, but that's neither here or there now. Now there's just rudeass angry yelling robots and a big red button and no tour guide.]

I don't think we should stay here—!

[A truly wise observation. He doesn't think they should press the big red button either, though?! He's side-eying it, but not moving any closer. Instead, it almost looks like he's preparing to drop into a fighting stance, because his shonen status leaves no room for the flight part of the fight or flight response.]

[emotive]

[O...Kay then.

She hadn't had a chance to talk to Mosley back when the new CEO announced herself. He seemed polite enough and hey, he was letting them take a look at the CERES facilities. It was a good a chance as any to see why the management has been letting things go to the dogs as it is... Aaaand of course thing start to go wrong the moment they stepped into the elevator (and probably even before that).

Ai looks around incredulously as the lights begin to flicker off.]

I'm usually more optimistic than this, but would it be too much to say that we're trapped?

[feytality]

[So far, Maya's just been cheerfully bouncing along, refraining from trying to interrupt (...more than once), looking at and listening to everything with interest and curiosity. It's almost like she cares about something boring like a greenhouse!!]

[She notices him locking the door, but her sunny attitude doesn't slip up one bit.]

So it's just fruit that's grown here, huh? No other plants or anything?

[Totally innocently, while she slowly gravitates towards the back wall, poking an occasional weird-looking fruit in the process.] How much do you know about GreenPRO anyway, Mr. Tour Guide?