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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?
solidarity
[It's the kind of question anyone would find conjuring an answer for somewhat frustrating after a while. Things are changing too quickly to follow just as much as they've stayed the same day after day.]
But since you asked, I'm looking forward to trying your coffee again. It'll be nice to drink something that isn't a sunflower frappe.
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[ If Miharu needs to rant, she'll listen. Sometimes it's better to let it all out than to let feelings build up inside. Haru's the same way, but to her relief, she's found outlets for her frustration in Fragment. ]
Or instead, we can beat up some monsters. [ Always good stress relief, in her book. ] Then we'll come back and enjoy my new brew.
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I should better gear myself, but I'm worried I might hold you up in that regard. I stopped playing for a while before...
[And, stupidly, she had not stayed away. Keeping up feels like trying to bail out a sinking boat.]
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[ She doesn't say what's surely on both of their minds, which is how much more dangerous it is now to fight alone. Haru worries even though she knows Miharu can take care of herself. ]
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Well. How can I argue with that? I don't have a counter.
[She could, and easily. Given that it's dangerous, someone with more to offer should be careful not to put herself in harm's way. But she's missed it, too - the closest it could be to spending time with someone.]
no subject
Thank you for indulging me.
[ She replies with an upturn of her lips. She means it. Dungeons used to never unsettle her, but since everything changed, she's found it comforting to have trusted company in battle. ]
You're also welcome to stop by for coffee anytime. The days feel so long now, but I find time passes quicker with friends.
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I'll be sure to stop in to see how you're doing from time to time. [Because the recreational areas are safe for now, she's been spending a lot of her time there, even the ones she doesn't particularly care to visit.] At this rate, you really will become a coffee expert... heh, I'm looking forward to tasting your next creation. That's why we should be determined to make it back here to meet again, isn't it?
no subject
[ Haru says with a laugh. There had been all this brewing equipment in the guild, so why not take advantage of it? With Fragment eating away at her memories, she can't quite recall what sparked her passion for it anymore, but she's glad Miharu looks forward to her drinks. That's enough reason for her to continue. ]
But yes, I'd like to meet here again. Maybe we could meet in the real world too, if possible, and you can sample my coffee for real.
no subject
[She can still recall a prior conversation, when Noir had first received her barista armor. Cast in the sick light of everything they've experienced, knowing how many people have been hurt by those armor sets, it just seems wiser overall not to bend to those pressures. And this way, it feels like there's something special and uniquely shared, even if it's only a small hobby. She sips at her coffee, making a concentrated effort to really taste it instead of letting it become the usual muted, muddy flavor.]
Mm, well, I'm in Japan. [Was in Japan?] I got used to most of the other players being in America, even if it's hard to imagine any of us are that far apart, now.
no subject
[ They were closer than she thought! Who knew? ]
My real name is Haru. Haru Okumura.
[ Up until now she had kept her personal information private, appreciating the divide between her online and real life identity. It was easier being anonymous and without any of the burdens attached to being Haru. However, now that the game blurred the lines between the two worlds, she finds herself wanting to share her real self with Miharu. ]
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Haru is from Japan, too; they might not even be from the same prefecture, but there's always the smallest chance she'd know her old name. She introduces herself the way she should.] ... Mishima. It's Miharu Mishima. It's delightful to officially meet you, Haru.
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[ She hopes she doesn't come off as too casual. She briefly considered addressing Miharu by last name, but this is how Haru refers to her friends. ]
Of course, I can keep calling you Scitalis here if you prefer.
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No, [she says a little too quickly.] ... I mean to say, Miharu is just fine. Scitalis was random... I just wanted a name connected with snakes.
[Though she doesn't explain why right away.]
I don't want to be remembered like that.
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[ She's always thought Scitalis sounded neat, though. Cool and mysterious, suited to Miharu. ]
Me neither. I would want to be remembered as myself. Though I want to believe that we'll all live and escape from here.
[ She doesn't want there to be any more deaths! ]
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[After a moment's pause, she figures this much, at least, she's ready to say.]
My father's surname is written using the character for "snake." I've always felt some attachment between in and my self, so I naturally sought out what I could. [There's still some part of her heart that feels that name is a part of her.]
Although I wonder how different the myself everyone's met here is.
i meant to come back to this earlier!
[ It seems the two of them have a good relationship. She's glad. Haru tilts her head, curious about Miharu's next words. ]
Do you mean you show a different side of yourself online?
dude everything happened so much
Something like that. When it comes to getting to know other people, it's never been something I have a lot of aptitude for. [She's been a pariah often enough - but it's never burrowed all that deeply under her skin.] There are fewer goodbyes that way, besides.
I'm not really sure, but I don't think I intended to make friends here, either.
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Well, I'm glad we met through the game and I hope we won't be saying goodbye anytime soon. [ Because the way Miharu talks about it sounds like she's used to it happening, sadly. ] If anything, I'd like to know more about you, Miharu-chan.
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I'd like that, too. Especially now that we're trying to hold onto what we have. [When tomorrow, something else could be gone.
Sharing these things doesn't feel like a waste of their possibly limited time.]
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Let me pour you more coffee. I'd like to hear about your life, what you enjoy doing, anything you feel like sharing.
[ Get ready for a nice, long talk. Even if they weren't on the verge of losing their memories, the opportunity to know Miharu could never be a waste of time to Haru. ]