⬣//GROWING WILDLY OUT OF CONTROL.

[cccorp]

>>Gathering // >>Waiting // >>Can't Return // >>It's Real

⬣//STERILE WHITE WALLS

September 23rd—conference day. In the hours preceding the meeting, beta testers are supplied with information on how to access the virtual conference room and offered a set of conduct guidelines. Testers are urged to read them thoroughly and instructed to sign their name on the bottom of the page to confirm that they’ve read and understand the following guidelines:

1. All questions will be addressed. Do not interrupt speakers or other beta testers when they are asking questions or having their questions answered.

2. Conduct yourself professionally and appropriately. Do not curse, shout, or otherwise engage in disruptive behavior. Violators will be muted and their speaking privileges revoked.

3. No eating or drinking. Keep your virtual space clean and free of debris.

4. Remain seated. Excessive movement or inappropriate behavior will result in restriction of your avatar’s movements.

5. PvP is disabled in the conference room. Weapons cannot be drawn and your Fragment inventory is unavailable during the duration of the conference.

Players are generously allowed one hour to filter in and find their seats, review the guidelines, and discuss the questions they’ve prepared with their fellow beta testers.

⬣//THE LOW RUMBLE OF DISTANT THUNDER

One hour comes and goes. The room remains occupied only by the beta participants, CyberConnect Corporation’s flashy logo spinning idly on the conference room’s 80 inch display. Restlessness begins to settle in, idle chatter turning to frustration as one hour becomes two. Still, no one from the Corporation shows.

The conference room remains devoid of purpose, some forty-odd people sitting alone in a sterile conference room, a locked room, should anyone grow so restless they try to leave. Any attempts made to break doors and windows will fail.

The door is locked, as are the windows, the world beyond their stark white blinds a slurry of purple and black. Thunder crackles in that dark, endless void. Even if you could leave, where would you go?

⬣//TORRENTIAL RAINS

It’s painfully evident after three hours of silence that no one from CyberConnect is showing up to the conference, but you knew that already, didn’t you? This mandatory meeting was fishy from the start, some would argue, while others may yet hold out hope.

That ends the instant anyone tries to log out and leave. Everyone who attempts to leave will be met with the same error Shoka was some weeks ago, but this time, the error is permanent. This time, there is no connection between mind and body anymore, and any attempt to “reach” your real self will fail.

You feel no one on the other end. You no longer feel the weight of your headset on your head or the keyboard beneath your fingertips. All your worldly aches and pains have drifted away only to find you here in your new reality, every sensation so real that Fragment no longer feels like just a game. Fragment is reality.

Three hours pass from the start of the conference. The boring white walls and rickety office chairs shudder and shake and give way to the Mac Anu everyone knows. You’re back where you started, more or less. What you do from here is up to you.

⬣//LOST TO THE TUMULT AND BEDLAM

Some menus remain online. Players retain the ability to send and receive friend and party requests, access their inventories, spells, and weapons, and so on, but a few notable items are missing.

Players can no longer toggle their pain sensors on and off. Every blow you take is one you’re forced to suffer through, and what’s more, your health no longer automatically regenerates when idle. You’d better keep a stash of potions or a pocket healer handy.

While you’re at it, try not to die. The sharp-eyed among the group may notice that the respawn information nestled in the menus is no longer accessible to them. The respawn counter now reads as a series of zeros instead of the typical 20 minutes. Now is probably not the best time to continue testing Fragment’s death mechanics, but nothing’s stopping you from trying. No one’s going to save you, either.

Good luck, players. The real test has begun.

>>Navigation

Comments

[gluttoning]

[There's a grogginess to Misteaks when he miraculously shows up for the conference, still favoring his left leg from time to time when real life and the game can't quite make up their minds on reality. It's tempting to turn the pain sensors off for a bit.

He's ultimately glad he doesn't when the conference starts to stretch on for too long, trapping them and morphing into something else, somewhere else. It's the first thing he notices, even while Swallow starts to verbally alert people about the log out error -- he can't feel his broken leg anymore.

While he's relatively composed during the ensuing panic, outside very pressed insistence to those he knows to absolutely NOT try to test Swallow's theory, there's a wired energy, an anxiety, to how his jaw clenches and his muscles stay tense. He doesn't look surprised. He just looks like he's biting back the urge to be completely and utterly furious.

1)

[For most of the first couple weeks, Misteaks can be caught in the kitchen of Fandom Foodies often, trying to use up the ingredients he has to increase their public stockpile. Everything he makes is marked as a public item, so any guild member or visitor can easily snag anything he's made. There's a lot of Honey Sesame chicken, a lot of desserts of various stages of success, and just some basic attempts at more American food outside the realm of the craftable recipes. Eggs and bacon. Fried chicken. Grilled cheese with tomato soup. Barbecue pulled pork. He tries, to the point that he starts to look a little exhausted by the end of the week. But he'll always be welcome to have some help.

2) - CW: ED DISCUSSION POSSIBLE IN THIS PROMPT

cw for overeating and overexercise below the cut, click to read

[It's when Misteaks is not at his guild that things seem a bit dicey.

One can catch him at odd hours of the morning or evening, disappearing into buildings or alleys or past the space of the Chaos Gate in Lumina Cloth. Always after visiting a food vendor, always after ordering an obscene amount of a dish. Does he go back to his guild? Nope. He almost always vacates the premise, sometimes not being able to help himself as he pulls a food item out of his inventory and snacks as he walks with an energy that doesn't really show either hunger or enjoyment.

Or, in interim, one might notice him instead out in the open spaces of the beach when everyone else hasn't woken up, doing laps in the waves or push-ups out on the sand -- or running laps around Mac Anu when the clock tower shows it's 4am. Didnt you just see him at 11 last night? Does exercise even serve a purpose in this VR environment? Apparently it does to Misteaks, who by the end of the week has an almost religious dedication to a fitness schedule normally meant for offline only.

At least his legs are working?

One can try to wave him down for either bad habit, though he doesn't seem to be in the mood to stop either right away and may very well ignore any first attempts at conversation with little more than an apologetic glance... but insistence will at least get him to pause, stopping and looking at his new company with a tense annoyance Misteaks normally doesn't carry.

This had better be important.

3)

[At odd times of rest near the very end of the week, when seeing Misteaks at rest either in the guild or out in the city, there's a chance one might see him draped over by one Mithrun1 - spread out face-first on top of him like a nonplussed feline or, perhaps, just a drunk and confused starfish. Either way, the Edge Punisher looks to be either very asleep or close to it. If Misteaks catches someone trying to come up to talk to either of them, he'll gesture with a hushing motion first, voice kept quiet.]

Hey. Sorry. I'm busy right now. [Look how busy he is, being a pillow.] Any chance you could you do a favor for me?

4)

[Wildcard, plotting post is here as needed or just holler if you want anything specific! Barrett can be found out snowboarding, swimming, playing with his English Lab on occasion, or just busily trying to keep things moving in Fandom Foodies.]

Shoka, 9-23

[gluttoning]

[As promised, he'll be waiting at the outside of the Chaos Gate in their favorite windy question mark town by the end of the day on Saturday. He'll nod at her approach, a tension in his expression as he looks over his shoulder.]

Hey.

You mind if we take a little detour?

[threatmewted]

Works for me. Where to?

[gluttoning]

Mn... [Gently thinking as he pulls up the keywords for the gate.]

There's a mall with an arcade now. Been there yet?

[threatmewted]

Not yet. Might as well check it out, I guess.

[gluttoning]

Me neither. Most of the newer stuff I just haven't touched. I wonder how much got found while I was out.

You into games at all? [Time to pull up ΔEdgy Youthful Hangout... this seems like a very normal dungeon title.]

mithrun 9-23

[gluttoning]

[It's later at night, after he's finished speaking with Shoka, that Barrett goes to try and hunt down Morgan.

Do you have some time? We need to talk.

I'm heading to Mac Anu. Chaos Gate. Can you meet me there?

It's a quick message, sent when many other American-bound characters are likely to be getting ready for bed (or trying to, anyway, given the events of the day). But Barrett won't respond to any texts back, instead waiting at the Chaos Gate with the same wired energy that had held him the entire conference and afterwards.]

[tablescraps]

( Barrett gets a quick message back, not long after he'd sent it - a simple All right. - and nothing particularly more engaging. If they were meeting now, he could ask any questions then.

Mithrun arrives... within a period of time. Considering Mithrun had replied quickly, one might infer his delay in actually arriving is because he got lost locating the Chaos Gate of the location he was in. But, eventually he does, and he warps in near the Gate itself in Mac Anu. Basque at his heels to act as an external force of common sense, he takes a quick glance about before he locates Barrett quick enough - he's hard to miss.

He trots over to him, gaze casting up. )

... Where did you want to talk?

( Not directly in the Gate plaza, he's guessing. )

[gluttoning]

[There's an instant relief in his eyes when he spots Morgan, though it's hardened a bit behind the tension of their situation, his hand lifting to briefly rest against Morgan's arm before turning to give Basque a pet. Good dog. Good, good dog.

Without looking up from the dog:]

Have you been to all the special areas yet?

[tablescraps]

( Mithrun isn't happy, exactly - once the hubbub began over the log out issues, Mithrun slipped off from the group to get to checking a couple things. For reasons relating to his own glitched death, HP regen is one of the things he ended up getting around to testing on a small scale; his HP is presently a couple points off full - and this time he's taken notice of the fact that it hasn't ticked up again.

"Not happy" is an understatement, but he isn't the type to lash out - even though his vibe seems latently peeved (just like half the other people in the game right now, presumably). This situation, if indefinite, interferes severely with his revenge timetable.

He watches Barrett pet Basque. )

Yes. I've tested the limits of what can be found in each location, where applicable. ( Unsurprisingly, it's mostly just been invisible walls and no particular discoveries. ) Why?

2

[justonezero]

[-Oh! There's someone else awake?!]

Heeeey!

[Waving cheerfully as Misteaks runs his laps.]

[gluttoning]

[He's not expecting the voice to pipe up given the time, so he does start a little trying to locate the newbie cleric. But he'll give a hesitant wave back, seemingly not willing to slow his pace.

There's nothing really worth exercising over in Mac Anu - those strength stats aren't going anywhere. Maybe he's just blowing off some steam.]

Didn't think people would be waking up yet. [It's slightly winded.] Isn't it still early?

[justonezero]

I think it's probably daytime for me?

[Probably... what is time anymore.]

I slept earlier, so I've been awake for about six or seven hours, I think. But now everyone else is asleep...

[gluttoning]

Huh. Where do you usually live?

[Maybe he's been out longer than he thought.]

2

[threatmewted]

...Whoa. Think you got enough food yet?

[She sees that order getting heaped on and... dude, that's so much???]

[gluttoning]

It's for later.

[The response comes almost too fast, like a kneejerk, not even bothering to look back at Shoka as he abruptly stops his order and pockets the huge stack of food back into the voidspace of his inventory slots.]

...Didn't know you were there. Sorry. I can get out of your way if you need the vendor.

[threatmewted]

Like when later?

[But she will approach, seemingly intending to get some food for herself.]

[gluttoning]

...Just later.

[Clipped.]

The chicken at this place is really good, if you haven't tried it yet.

3

[legendofthelion]

[Dehya crouches down with a wan smile, keeping her voice just above a whisper.] Of course. Whatcha need?

[She doesn't think much about Mithrun sacked out onto him. This is hard for everyone one, so she's glad to see people relying on each other.]

[gluttoning]

[His smile is a grateful one as he adjusts slightly in his seat, holding Mithrun still as the smaller man hums tiredly.]

Basque and Licorice ran off while I wasn't looking. They're still here in town somewhere... probably... [The sound of distant barking echoes, and Barrett just gives a nod that reads "yeah, see, there you go.] I just need to get them back here where I can watch them.

Would you be able to take a look? They're both pretty big dogs.

[legendofthelion]

[She looks that direction, raising a brow.] Oh, yeah. They got leashes on, or... do you have them?

[She'll manage but the "wrangling them back" portion will be much more difficult if there's nothing to wrangle them with.]

09/29

[tablescraps]

( Following a certain conversation...

Mithrun arrives at Mac Anu's Chaos Gate... eventually (as Barrett might expect at this point), dressed, this time, in his light armor skin (he also has a mood ring equipped). While any and all food items have been safely deposited in his inventory, the scent of meat clings to him faintly still - suggesting one reason for his delay. Assuming Barrett arrives first, he sizes him (and his armor) up as he greets him. )

... Are we eating before or after?

( Picnic crew is giving him Area run trust issues!!!

Anyway, Mithrun doesn't seem, at a glance, frustrated or anything - but the air around him runs a little taut, a little peeved. Not at Barrett, but at things in general - the news Barrett brought not really helping much - though this is something, probably, most beta testers in Fragment can relate to right now. )

[gluttoning]

[Ah, there he is.

Barrett's lounged by the gate with a pastry in his hand, mowing it down with some speed as he watches the milling of the NPCs, an unsettling light scene of people under the malaise that hangs off the recent news. Spotting Mithrun, he hums a greeting with a full mouth, quickly popping the rest through his teeth and trotting up to meet him.

His armor looks like it's been through hell and back, worn tattered and pitted. The lance is the only exception - a bright white, just like the blade of the lilies spear, kept tucked against one arm.

His brows raise at the new look, giving it a once over. The thigh gap between fabric and boots gets his eyes to linger a bit, warm and distracted, before pulling himself back with a shake of his head.]

Mn. I kind of want both. But I don't want us to be without it after.

Your new skin looks nice... [And the scent... he knows that. His stomach react before he does, like the low rumble of an animal waking from a nap - if he takes mind to the noise, he doesn't show it.] Heh. I can tell where you've been. I'll be thinking of those skewers for the whole dungeon.

[He'll nod towards the gate proper, holding out his free hand. To take? To guide? It isn't clear, but it's up to Mithrun on how to read it.]

You know keywords better than I do. Is there anywhere specific you want to go?

[tablescraps]

( The armor's familiar, but he's guessing that's the lance that completes the bonus - familiar, but not quite the same as the last. A lily theme again, he guesses, and this doesn't really endear it to him.

If Mithrun notices the faint lingering in Barrett's gaze, or even notices where it lands, he doesn't react or remark on it. (He doesn't notice.) If anything, it's good news they'll be starting with the run first - that's always seemed more sensible to Mithrun. Dungeons aren't exactly light post-meal exercise. )

You like it?

( The skin and/or skewers. Whichever.

He considers Barrett just devoured a snackie just now... and reaches into his inventory with one hand as he takes Barrett's hand in the other. Handhold it is. And he produces a skewer with the other! )

I have a max stack of skewers. You can have one now.

( He's not intending to feed Barrett a max stack of skewers, he just didn't know how many to bring, so he picked max.

He'll start toward the Gate if Barrett hasn't already started on guiding him there, and he'll set about selecting the keywords he has in mind. )

I don't have anywhere in particular I want to go. But there's an effect that I think makes you feel nice after.

( The "I think" isn't that he doesn't know what the effect does, but that he's not sure about how to emotionally regard the effect. But he thinks it's positive regard??? Or, at least, it might be for Barrett? Get this boy some confidence.... )

[gluttoning]

[At the very least, the current spear doesn't look like it has a theme. It's just Very White, very clean, an intense contrast to the rest of the set.

Barrett's entire face lights up as he happily takes the snack, a laugh that comes out so lightly it might as well be a giggle. Snack... :D

The handhold is welcomed as the Lord Partizan gently grips Mithrun's palm in his own, having no issue with the other man taking the lead and opening up the keywords. It means he can focus on eating his snack.]

Mn. You look comfortable. And... [Hm. How else does he even put it? Aesthetic isn't really something he thinks of or cares much about, so the words don't come easy. Eventually, he just shrugs.] I don't know how to describe it. But I think it looks good on you.

[A nice effect... He isn't sure how many nice effects he's even run across. Maybe that one special animal they kicked for extra money? He can't really say that made him feel nice, though, so... maybe not that.]

Sure. If it's a good effect, maybe it will make the dungeon easier to get through. I wouldn't want to have snacks after that if I knew I was going to insult you the whole time.

[The skewer is nearly cleaned off, though he does take one of the last pieces to hold it up for Morgan as he works on the keywords.]

Do you want it?