⬣//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

[dissimulative]

... I want you to be happy.

[ Some warmth returns to his voice, no longer cold and sharp like a serrated knife. He quietly breathes out and squeezes their hands. ]

You're my Emil. No one else's. And if you're mine, you deserve to be happy. I won't let anybody let you think otherwise.

[insinning]

[ Oria's. Just Oria's. He tips his head up and kisses Oria's cheek. The shaking has ebbed, but he's tired. He's so tired.]

You're always so good to me.

[dissimulative]

It's called "supporting who you love", though you're familiar with it too.

[ Oria gives him a short kiss. ]

Neither of us are saints. We're human like everyone else—we can be happy, sad, angry... we have emotions that we go through too. But towards me, you're kind and sweet. You're also very violent when you're shoved off the edge whenever Kromer is involved. You don't have to like every aspect of someone, so that's why I think this is more important rather than liking someone just because they're sweet to you:

[ There's a small smile on his face—warm and brimming with affection, but most of all, his truth. ]

This is why I'll accept you for everything that you are, Emil Sinclair. We can share the burden together and support each other. It'll be hard and frustrating at times when we can't provide each other with permanent resolutions, but we can support each other until one will be made.

[ Despite his ever-dwindling optimism and empathy, Oria is still, to the core of his existence, hopeful and a little optimistic. The two have been forcefully suppressed, but for important things like this, he thinks it's okay to let them free. ]

Because you're important to me. I love you.

[insinning]

[Sinclair feels his eyes go hot and he nods, leaning forward to bump his forehead against Oria's. His throat feels tight with all the things he doesn't know how to say. He doesn't know how to give voice to every fear and regret awakened anew. But Oria is here, and Sinclair will protect this with everything he has]

I love you. So much. [ He kisses Oria again, short and sweet] I'm so glad to have met you--

[ And that was his other thing. There would always only ever be 'Oria Severine' for him. No one else. Is it too soon to know that? Maybe, but most likely not. He can't ever imagine feeling this safe and loved by anyone else]

[dissimulative]

[ The two definitely met at a business party, but Oria thinks it was from how Sinclair followed up at the mixed school event and how they got closer to each other while playing this game that made the possibility more real. Sinclair had helped him with so many things and Oria feels that a weight has been lifted from him. It's a part of the reason why it hurts him when Oria can't do anything about Sinclair's problems. Even so, he won't give up in trying to make Sinclair feel better and hope that his words will get across to him. It seems to be doing well already, but it's still ultimately up to Sinclair on how he wants to live that life. Oria can only guide and provide him with comfort when things start looking south, but he can't make decisions for him. He can't... use as much of his selfish justice with Sinclair. ]

I'm glad to have met you too. So, let's get out of this game together and support each other when things get hard.

[insinning]

[ Oria already has done so much. Just being there, listening, pulling Sinclair back when he felt like he was going to fall through the abyss. Most of all, Oria never once tried to take his choices away from him.]

Yeah. Together.

[ Despite everything, he manages to smile. He kisses Oria again, willing it all to come true]

[dissimulative]

[ Oria returns the kiss and squeezes their hands tightly once before one of his hands let go and the arm wraps around Sinclair's torso to pull him closer inside the jacket. ]

[insinning]

...this jacket really is nice...

[ Sinclair sighs, resting his head against Oria's neck as he snuggles closer again.]

[dissimulative]

Yeah, isn't it? I'll wear it for you more often if you want me to.

[ Not to mention that Sinclair is sitting on Oria's legs only with leggings instead of the usual pants. And that baggy top? It's been hiking up ever since Sinclair sat on his lap and Oria is trying not to mind that too much. ]

[insinning]

[ Sinclair wasn't really in a state to notice before, but he certainly notices now with bright interest. Hm. His hand settles on the hem of that top]

This too...

[dissimulative]

[ Oh.

With how Sinclair is so close and says it like that, his face turns a little red. His face doesn't usually get like this, so enjoy that, Sinclair. ]

Oh, well. It comes with the outfit, so...

[insinning]

[ oh?

Sinclair's expression brightens with keen interest, studying the red of Oria's face. He moves a little closer where possible, letting his hand rest just where the shirt really begins to ride up]

It suits you. Is it all comfortable?

[dissimulative]

[ Thanks, he's mentally screaming on the inside. ]

... It's my first time wearing something like this, but it's not too bad to get used to.

[insinning]

[ Sinclair slides his hand up further, just beneath Oria's shirt]

Mm. I like it on you. Especially since...I can do this.

[ His smile turns mischievous and he digs his fingers in a little for a tickle attack]

1/2

[dissimulative]

[ Oria's entire body tenses up when he feels those fingers trying to tickle him. ]

Ah--Emil! Hey!!

[dissimulative]

Wait! Stop tha--

[ Oria ends up laughing because he sure is ticklish! He ends up shrieking at some point and tries to squirm out of his reach, but he can't really do that with Sinclair on his lap and inside his jacket of all places. ]

[insinning]

Don't feel like it.

[ Sinclair's smile widens and he becomes merciless, staying firmly put on Oria's lap as he digs his fingers in a little more. He sure is enjoying Oria's reaction]

[dissimulative]

[ Oria is still laughing and eventually starts wheezing. God. His stomach hurts? How dare he. ]

Help!! Emil is tickling me, but I didn't do anything wrong--

[ He wants to stop laughing now he's dying on the inside ]

[insinning]

Mm, so you're saying it's fine if you did do something wrong?

[ He's having fun but he'll stop, since he does like Oria breathing normally. For now. ]

[dissimulative]

[ Oria tries to catch his breath, wheezing several times, coughs off to the side, but gives Sinclair a smug grin anyway because this is who he is. ]

I have never done anything wrong in my life--

[insinning]

[His hand? Still under Oria's shirt. His eyes narrow thoughtfully]

Is that right?

[dissimulative]

Ah, well...

[ He is sweating bullets here. Help. That top might as well be a regular shirt by now from how much it's raised!! ]

[insinning]

Hm?

[ Sinclair makes a prompting noise. Give a satisfactory answer and his hand will leave Oria's shirt.]

[dissimulative]

[ ... ]

You reeeeeeally wanna touch me so bad.

[insinning]

[ What is that tone....]

I do.

[ ???? ]