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⬣//SPREAD, CONTAMINATE, ERADICATE
You've had a chance to adapt to your new circumstances and make peace with what your life has become… hopefully. If you haven't, don't expect life to get any easier.
A few things have changed in recent days. Healing no longer works as effectively as it did in the past. If you're in the habit of behaving recklessly, don't expect one of Fragment's few healers to pick up the slack. Broken bones will now remain broken no matter how many healing spells are cast on your shattered limbs. Damage to organs can't be repaired with the wave of a wand.
What's more, HP and SP restoring items have gotten harder and harder to come by. Potions are no longer available for purchase at generic NPC shops and gatherable items needed for crafting have become fewer and fewer in number, limiting your item making options. If you've gotten into the bad habit of injuring yourself heedless of the consequences, it's time to rethink your lifestyle. Playtime is over.
Think of the three core memories that have formed and shaped the person you are today. Some will think back fondly on family and friends while others have been jaded by the ill treatment they've received from important figures in their lives. In any case, it's of little concern to you now. One of those three precious memories has vacated your mind, taking with it a vital piece of you that you can no longer get back.
You may choose one of the three key memories listed on your application to be taken away from your character. Choices are limited to the memories supplied in your application and additional memories submitted for the previous memshare event or not eligible for convenient plot-induced memory loss. Choose wisely, because you aren't getting it back.
And Sky Fish, and Disco Knives, and Evil Armors…
Has anyone noticed the monsters around town lately? Which town, you may ask? The answer is all of them.
Monsters have invaded Root Towns in large waves, attacking anything and everything in sight. Any lovingly crafted signs or other furnishings you've erected around town are easily torn to shreds and destroyed by the monsters who have come to roost in your once safe Root Towns. On the plus side, PvE and PvP has now been enabled in all Root Towns, which is excellent news for those who wish to combat the monster invasion and those who can't seem to help hurting themselves and others.
These monsters range in level from 50 to 75, and while many of them can be defeated with a bit of ingenuity and teamwork, some of them boast impenetrable shields that no regular attacks or spells can break through. They are also immune to status/potion/armor effects.
When in doubt, turn to your fellow players for support. There may be some among you who know how to deal with these impossibly strong monsters, but there's no guarantee that they'll want to help you.
A lilting, boyish voice sings to you in your sleep. His voice sounds familiar to you, tickling your heart like a call from an old friend, but this is no friend of yours.
"You had every chance to abandon this world and return to your own. What stopped you? Was it ego? Hubris? In any case, it's too late for regrets now.
They say the world is what you make of it. Doesn't the same hold true for reality?"
The voice will periodically visit you and your sleep, but the moral of his message never changes: you did this to yourself. You were trapped here because you chose to look the other way. If anyone is to blame for the current situation, it's you and you alone, but there is a̸̬̲͔̘͈͚̠̫̘̬̗̖̋͑̉̓̿͛̈́̋͐̃̾̈̕̕ͅń̵̩̱̠̫̖̬̲̻͉̝̈́̀̀̚͜͜o̴͍͎̣͔̤̝̲͍̺̿̒t̴̨͚͓͍̜̮̥͊͑̿̈́̉̂̐͜͠͝h̷̨̨̦͕͖̙̞͙̗̗͎̬͛̂̾̋̅͜͜͝ȩ̸͎̭̙̜̯͎̯̳̮̘̲͒ȑ̸̡̧̢͓̠̦͙͇͍͎̭͑̈́̓̿̓̅̑̅̌͑̈́̕͝͝ ̴̧̼͕̟̬̰̞̮̗͔͈̬̙͍̈́̀w̵̗̖̩̘͇͖̲̩̫̣̗̙̲̌͜a̷̛͎͋͑̃͛̆̈̋̑̋͠y̴̡̬͕͈̗̫̯̟̯͊͐̌̀̐͑͘͝͝.
Another h̶̦̘̤̘͐͑̿̂̏̎͋͝o̴̧͖͚̖̜͓͂̏́͒̑̈́͝͝p̶̡͙̏̉̿̎̀̑́̈̆͌̉e̷̡̡̦̣̯̘̺͍̟̰͍̤͛̀́̚͝͠. Will you heed that voice and call to it?
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W-well...
You're probably the closest person I have here, or... Um, if my memories really did get messed up-
[A beat. And then:]
...Probably ever?
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You don’t have to force yourself or anything. It’s not like I really have any experience with this either.
[ which sounds a little off, but he can’t place why ]
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I definitely don't remember any experience.
[Even with all his memories of having friends.]
...But... I don't mind learning?
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Er. Don’t… tell me if you somehow remember that you do. I’ll get jealous. I think.
[ if nanashi ever said he liked any of those trash assholes deto’s never met,,, ]
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[And like
does he really think the Nanashi he spoke to before was someone in a healthy, committed relationship,,,,,]
And we drifted apart anyway. So... it's definitely just you now.
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We’re friends, and we should probably stay friends for now. Even though I definitely, definitely - [ he takes a breath ] - like you. I hope that’s obvious by now. But, uh, this is a lot for you, isn’t it?
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...Yeah. I don't... really know what's going on with me right now.
[As much as he feels like there isn't anything, the forum posts are clear evidence otherwise.]
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[ he doesn’t know if there’s a wrong or right answer to this situation ]
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Is he allowed to just bury his head in Deto's shoulder for a moment?]
I still don't... really want to go back. If all that stuff's true.
But you want to, don't you?
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Yeah. [ deto does. there’s his sister, his mom, his friends. someone else pops into mind but they slip away before he can recall their name or their face ] There’s stuff I wanna show you outside, that I can’t do here.
And. [ a little laugh that rustles nanashi’s hair ] I wanna see you.
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[It sounds so lonely... Especially if he really doesn't have anyone else.]
...Wait for me? So I can think about it.
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[ he sounds confused - oh ]
Okay, I definitely can’t last that long without seeing you. Let’s be real. If you multiply how much I think about you with how many days are in a year, do you think I’ll come out of it sane??
[ he’s a teenager. get real ]
The year thing was the time I was asking you to wait before moving ‘cause you said you might, not how long we’d have to wait to see each other. I’ll come see you before then. Often.
But I’ll wait for you anyway, whatever you decide.
no subject
He needs to bury his face in Deto's shoulder again real quick but this time it's because his face is going red rip.]
O-oh...
W-well... I think I can handle that, then.
[He can't remember ever being so disliked, but he can't remember ever being so fiercely wanted, either. His face is so warm //////]
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[ deto gets just the briefest glimpse of nanashi’s red face. damnit, it’s too cute. he’s so cute
he wasn’t lying before when he said he didn’t have any opinions on pink or red, but on nanashi, he suddenly has all the opinions. like, gold stars on both colors. deto wants to do something about it, hold onto it somehow, so his hands grip nanashi more possessively than before
he’s not leaving this boy alone ]
And, just to be clear, when you’re done deciding, and the wait is over, I’m going to - uh, I’ll tell you how I feel - properly. And then I’ll ask properly, too. Okay?
no subject
So instead he just. Nods into Deto's shoulder. We're really solving it over here. (Solving what????)]
Okay.
[...]
But... you're making it really hard not to say "I'll go with you" right away.
[His head's a mess and he knows it, but that part feels clearer and clearer the more he thinks about it, the more he hears Deto's voice, feels the vibration of the sound on his very skin.
Is he just like this in real life too? ...It's hard to imagine he wouldn't be.]
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[ it’s just in deto’s nature to be frank, honesty (sometimes tactless) laid out in every word. in this case, he thinks being honest would be the best way to support nanashi ]
Let’s talk about something else then? And let me know when to look.
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[Flustered - his face is totally still red, he can feel it.
That leaves other topics though... Ummmm.]
-Was there anything you wanted to do? Since we're at the beach.
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but now that nanashi knows his feelings, hm. there are a couple of options in mind, but deto aggressively crosses out the very first one that pops up. and the second one, a variation of the first. and the third, what’s the difference between this and the first anyway? it would be so easy, he’s this close to nanashi, if the other boy looks up - hell, if nanashi looks at him with those pink cheeks and red eyes he’d be done for
so he’s not going to look
but option four should work?? maybe four-point-five ]
Want? Well, two things. First… [ his voice softens ] Akira. That’s my name. Deto Akira.
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Still, the names do bring him slightly out of that, because he can recognize the importance of it.]
...You made a pun? [It's cute... there's a little laughter in his voice, realizing that.]
Yoshi. I'm Nanase Yoshi.
[774. Easy enough to remember.]
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[ staring at the installation screen, all the program updates ]
The other obvious option was… kinda…
[ well ]
Anyway… the second - [ he doesn’t continue, doesn’t say anything at first. his right hand drifts from nanashi’s arm, sliding down. down past the flared sleeve, past the skin of his wrist, grazing his palm until their fingers brush lightly, loosely aligned. deto curls his fingers just slightly. ]
Yoshi. Can I?
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[Okay. Okay, he can do this, his face is probably not so red anymore-
........
That's his hand.
Akira... wants to hold hands???
...
Yeah, he's just going to give up on trying to survive this without a red face. So, that's exactly what Deto's treated to when he finally looks up again and nods.]
...Yeah.
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deto immediately covers his mouth before he can do anything dumb like kiss nanashi during the mental gymnastics of losing real (?) and gaining fake (?) memories. now really would be an awful time
he mumbles: ]
… Try not to look at me too much right now. I’ll kiss you.
[ but even as he says that, long fingers slide between nanashi’s to take his hand. he’ll take this, thanks ]
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You're saying that like it's a bad thing.
[Which. Under the current circumstances, probably? But it's getting harder and harder to argue against it.]
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Ease up on me, I'm trying to be a gentleman, so that you'll say yes later.
[ also, squeezing their entwined hands with a soft smile, as he more seriously adds: ]
... If you get your memories back tomorrow, I don't want you to think that I only wanted to kiss you because - [ he shakes his head, smile turning wry ] - this version of you is better or something. And I don't want the you now to think that I'm kissing you while thinking of a past version of you. That I want him more and I'm. Settling. Because I can't have him anymore.
Sorry I didn't want to bring it up again, but... let's wait until you decide, so that you know for sure - with absolute certainty - that I'm not gonna change my mind about you.
no subject
He listens as Deto talks, nodding once it comes to an end, giving his hand another squeeze as he keeps his head down.]
...Yeah, I know. I believe you.
[His voice is warm with affection. ...Would the him previously have been the same?
...]
...Do you think... if I got my memories back, I wouldn't anymore?
Believe what you said just now, I mean.
[Had he been hurt so much that he'd distrust those words...? He really has no way of knowing.
They're the same person, and yet, the Nanashi that wrote such lonely things is completely foreign to him.]
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