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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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[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.
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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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Unequip your shoes. Let’s walk along the beach.
[ holding hands, of course ]
I think if you got your memories back, you would still have the experience you do now. If that makes sense? It would be complicated, definitely conflicting, but it could also help. Like a failsafe system within yourself.
And, uh, I think you always tried to believe in other people. You just didn’t believe in yourself - at all. So, yeah, you’d believe that I thought I meant it, while secretly thinking that I could do better.
Aaah, and then there’s me pathetically crushing on you. Something like that.
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More importantly:]
You are doing a lot, though. Staying with me even though...
[He tries to come up with a succinct way of putting it before just kinda gesturing helplessly at his own head. Memory confusion.]
...But, um... if you think I can still believe in you, even if I regain my memories...
Wouldn't I still believe you even if we did... you know.
Kiss?
[It's not the most graceful attempt to find a loophole but he is losing the fight against restraint, and badly at that.]
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on the other hand: nanashi. he’s holding nanashi’s hand, looking at nanashi’s pink-tinted face, listening to nanashi ask for… a kiss
(all the nanashis of the world, past, present & future - please remember deto did try)
man ]
I can’t win against you.
[ said with a small laugh as he pulls nanashi closer again. right now they are nearly the same height, perfect alignment for kissing. deto just needs to tilt his head, he thinks, tilt his head and lean in until black strands mix with white
the first kiss is soft, a careful brush of lips just to test the water. asking if nanashi is sure ]
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It's his first kiss, and there's a small apology to whoever he may be in the future for taking it... but only a small one. Surely whoever he was in the future would understand, if they really were one and the same. Like, what was he supposed to do? Not take the opportunity?
His memories are a mess but liking Akira is a constant. So, surely, surely that means that any version of him later would agree - there's nothing wrong with this choice.
His face only gets warmer once their lips press together, but it doesn't seem like such a bad thing anymore. He reaches with his other hand to capture Akira's, hoping to lace their fingers together and give both hands a squeeze, a reassurance. He wants this, this warmth and this closeness.]
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with nanashi - with yoshi holding his hands, deto can’t use them to tilt the other boy’s head for a deeper kiss. maybe that’s for the best, for both their first times. but deto does press harder, closer for a sweeter kiss, catching some of his breath
nanashi, nanase, nacchin, yoshi. deto wants to take all these names and wear them around, stamped proudly - possessively - on his jacket, as keychains for his backpack, stickers for his notebooks. show them to anyone who might have dismissed this soft and tender boy
show them how just one kiss from yoshi has made his heart race like crazy; show them why it means everything to have been picked by him ]
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It's so warm - his face, from the fluster, but also Deto's presence up against him, the air no doubt cooler thanks to the sea but not by much. The dusky evening light surrounding them feels familiar in a way - a safer time for him, were this the real world. A time where he wouldn't need to cover up, not as much as broad daylight.
If they could meet like this... kiss like this, in reality?
...Maybe returning wouldn't be so bad after all...]
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when he isn’t even trying. he has no clue, probably. that damn star on his cheek is out to get deto personally
he pulls back with a sigh, reluctance keeping him close, just a breath away from yoshi’s lips. their noses brush and he opens his eyes to will red ones to meet his ]
Okay?
[ now that he knows what yoshi looks like after being kissed, he doesn’t know if he could attempt to hold back again ]
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He blinks his eyes open again when the kiss is broken off - nearly nods at Deto's words before realizing there's not enough space, and opts to rest his forehead against the other's instead.]
Yeah. Really... really okay.
[His hands loosen around Deto's, but only to slide up his arms, forming a loose loop around his shoulders He doesn't get to go anywhere, at least not yet.]
...I liked it a lot.
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that secret star-shaped mole - it’s just another thing deto will keep for himself ]
A lot more than me?
[ teasing against his forehead. he’s trying to keep his eyes on yoshi’s, keep their gazes met rather than focusing on his lips - that small smile, the hint of teeth when he speaks. deto slips up a couple of times, but overall, doing well
he just wants to make sure yoshi is really okay. it seems so, that’s a relief ]
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You're a pretty important part of it. I don't think I'd like it nearly as much if it wasn't with you.
[To some degree, maybe? But it would say much more about how starved he is for affection than how much affection he actually held for this other hypothetical party.
Affection he's rather happily soaking up now, no less. Wanting plenty, but not desperate about it, comfortable as he is with assuming that Deto isn't planning to leave anytime soon, and certainly not without warning.
His gaze does, however, drop - expression bashful.]
...Even if my memories go back to normal or something... I don't think you have to worry about getting rejected.
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…Funny. I’m only interested because it’s you.
[ arms pull him closer in for emphasis. open, clumsy affection readily given to the only person who draws it out of him.
he doesn’t think he’d noticed anyone else enough in any way to be interested in entertaining the idea of kisses, virtual or in-person. ]
You should, though, reject me if there’s an option that makes you happier in the future.
[ despite his words, nudging yoshi’s face up with his nose, intense puppy love for this white rabbit before him. and when he does raise his head, deto kisses him again, warm, warm, warm. ]
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The loop formed by his hands breaks apart again as they rest on his back instead, voluntarily pressing up as close as he can against Deto's own body. He's perfectly happy to be in Deto's arms right now over anyone else - demands it, even.
The kiss is just as warm as the embrace, but it could be even more, couldn't it...? He's predictably inexperienced beyond what he's seen in media, but that's enough to have him tentatively parting his lips; an offering, an invitation.
He wants, wants, wants, and there's nothing holding him back from asking, not right now.]
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the sound of his breathing, through his nose he learns, between each sweet taste of yoshi’s air. the sound of his rapidly thrumming heart, of blood rushing to his ears - or is that from the waves around them brought in by the gentle breeze?
it’s hard to think; he feels full of - yearning hunger. does yoshi feel what he feels? would he mind? with that, he parts his lips a little more, slips his tongue inside, seeking a reply. asking for a real taste
can he? ]
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As though to prove his affection in some way, he shifts slightly, tilting his head for better access - fingernails digging in lightly into Deto's back, seeking as much contact as he possibly can. Soaking it all up as though he could imprint all these physical sensations on his very body, to carry the feelings with him no matter what memories or future awaits him.
He's stopped apologizing to his future self. If anything, his future self should thank the him of right now, for doing everything he can to sear this moment safely into their memories.]
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a quiet moan when their tongues meet. he hasn’t yet, however, figured out how to say yoshi’s name like this. which touch, which way should he curl around the other boy to say it. say yoshi, come here, come in to me, too
but he knows, now, what the other boy tastes like. doesn’t think he’ll ever forget. and knows this is the way he feels in deto’s arms: his firm waist, slim but definitely a boy’s; where the small of his back starts and ends; how their chests meet and the specific warmth of that touch. which should signal to him too close, back off - but with yoshi, there’s the constant thought of not close enough, a need to be closer still, so that their heartbeats can blend
(and they could, couldn’t they? later, his mind chants. later, it promises. later, deto will ask)
even if his memories get scrambled like yoshi’s, one kiss and deto would know, he’s sure. for sure. this is the boy his heart wants to beat for ]
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He's made many friends and drifted away from the exact same number over time, but there's a special warmth in his chest now that's just as new as the rest, not full exactly but growing with each moment longer spent in Akira's embrace. A part of him, selfishly, wishes they could stay this way, locked together in this world, unbothered by the what-ifs that surround reality (and what-if, indeed, this is just a sweet dream compared to the real world...?)
But it's selfish. And though his memories are by all accounts scrambled, he isn't so far gone that he could put himself before everyone else in Akira's life. And if that means they have to stay in different worlds...
...
He decides to shove the thought from his mind for now, though Akira may notice an uptick in intensity just then. Best to enjoy the now while he can, regardless of the future and who he may be.]
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and his brain might not be working, but this avatar is…. equally and unfortunately as slotted in the “healthy teenager” category as his real one
deto has to pull away eventually, panting ]
Remember when I said you should reject me? Don’t. [ against his lips, allowing himself a couple more lingering kisses between each word. ] I was being stupid. If you kiss someone else like this, I won’t be able to take it. Don’t like any other guy, or girl, or - [ in-between, undefined ] No one else, just me.
Okay?
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Good. Looks like the message was received.
He's laughing into the kisses that accompany Akira's words - chases those kisses with a couple more, himself, before he responds.]
I won't.
It'll always be you.
[Simple as that.
...No matter where their separate paths lead, his heart has been well and truly captured.]
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Just you.
[ echoing his words from earlier, somehow more certain now ]
Once I decide on something - important, that’s it. I’m all in. I’ve been… all in.
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...]
Even though I haven't decided what world I want to live in...?
[He thinks... he can probably handle heartbreak if that means he gets to have this right now. The present matters more to him than a future obscured by too many questions to count.
But that isn't the case for Akira, is it?]
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