[open]

[selfconcept]

Who • Head Admin
What • A chance to see the Head Admin "in-person". May be cranky. Caution advised.
When • August 5-11
Where • Lumina Cloth
Content Warnings • Possible PKing (with player permission)

[ Any time between August 5 to 11, you may see a figure clad in a long black cloak with the hood up to obscure his face, either standing at random spots of the city with his 5' 10" height or sitting on a bench, being slightly less menacing. He stands out in a certain way, because his presence alone might be a little unnerving. He resembles what you would expect out of a grim reaper sort of existence.

Yet, if you check his character information, you'll see his level, class, equipment, and a very "friendly" blurb. A level 100... Harvest Cleric? Surely, that shouldn't be too scary to deal with, right?

Anyway, here are your options:

I ► You're here to talk about that weird quest. He will reject any attempts at being given the quest item. May straight up PK you without hesitation either way.

II ► You want to fight him. Maybe you want to launch a surprise attack on him or just straight up ask for a PvP round for whatever reason. Lumina Cloth is pvp-enabled for the entire root town, after all.

III ► You're not sure how to approach him, but you can hear him mumbling about a potato...

IV ► You want to talk to him about something else.

Wildcard ► Hit him up in-person or his inbox with whatever you'd like! I do want to note that every single in-person interaction has the possibility of him trying to PK you because he's a cranky and violent guy--yes, even prompt 4. If you would prefer not to get PK'd, please let me know in the comment header in advance, so that I can avoid that while threading with you! You can put anything you want under wildcard, including dragging him to the amusement park, but will he agree? Fuck around to find out.

He's just here to vibe. There will be no plot-relevant things here. ]

Comments

IVish (do your worst, Hien, he might just come back!!)

[worldbent]

Not getting enough sleep?

[On the list of beta players one wants to hear from, "0koto" is probably pretty low on the list. Last week he was dropping infinite cake on the ground in Mac Anu in an attempt to test the game's memory limit; this week, after a hard period of grinding up to cap, he took a few days to log out and is only just popping back in upon the update.]

[(What's he been up to offline? Oh, who knows. The CC Corp team that installed his hardware might have some things to say about that.)]

[Matoba slips into a seat on the bench next to Hien, irrespective of the other's obvious grumpiness.]

The new city looks nice. Ever been to Kabukicho?

(thinking)

[selfconcept]

[ Ah, yes. 0koto. Hien has seen him trashtalking(?) CC Corp, but he doesn't care about that. If he did, he would have done something about the posts right then and there. He barely lifts his head up to glance over at him, his dull expression unchanging along with the grumpy demeanor. He seems like the nonexpressive sort, at least on his face. ]

No. Were you gonna compare Lumina Cloth with such a place?

[worldbent]

Something like that.

[Matoba glances over at the bright lights inviting players into the casinos.]

Places to waste money come quickly along with any new social spaces, don't they? [He turns back towards the other and leans slightly, as if trying to glance into his hood.] In-game currency only, right?

[Mercifully, they are in a pre-microtransaction hellworld!]

[selfconcept]

Mm-hmm.

[ He turns his head to look at Matoba. Does this help, dear sir? His eyes are black and so is his hair. Nothing really unusual. ]

Places to waste money have plenty of incentives for people to stay willingly. With that many people in a single place, that would indeed... be called a social space.

You look like the type of person who'd gamble to prove a point.

[worldbent]

[Definitely looks like he needs some sleep.]

Actions speak louder than words, as they say. [Is that meant to be an agreement with Hien's assessment?] That's why so-called "pleasure districts" are always lively places of business. There's a lot that can happen when someone gets loosened up.

I guess that's a sort of addictive behavior, too. [He thinks back on his conversation with Mithrun, who had suggested the ability to drink oneself silly with no adverse effects.] Just like the news has been saying.

[selfconcept]

Of course. It wouldn't be addictive if it didn't feel good.

[ Biggest brain betrayals. ]

But addiction has been around regardless of technology. New things are always scary to the general public until there's knowledge about it. So they'll shame it. There will be things like that, and much more to come.

[ His black eyes continue to stare at Matoba's face before Hien decides to lean back into the bench's backrest again. ]

Are you here to take me out?

[ What kind? He'll leave that up to Matoba. ]

[worldbent]

Oh, I'm sure. Politicians will always need something to rally the public against when elections come around, and you're an attractive target as any old one. [Actually, maybe it'd get some heat off his back, lol.] If anything, this just opens up more options for everybody.

[Truly, he doesn't disagree. But convincing oldtimers that this sort of tech was the future and was something to take advantage of before the competition did was easier said than done.]

[Continuing to contemplate that to himself, he glances over to Hien with a small smile.]

I'm not really looking for dates. [Unfortunately for everyone involved that's an answer for both sides of that question.] ......But if you're interested in business, I'm listening.

III

[dapples]

[ were his ears deceiving him or-- ]

Did you say something about the Potato Pets I saw in the news?

[selfconcept]

[ That nonexpressive face of his? Immediately scowling at the mention of politicians. That grumpy vibe around him as increased to something like hostility that isn't sure what it should be directed towards, but it's not at Matoba. At least, not yet. ]

There's no business to talk about. There's nothing you want that I have and vice versa.

[worldbent]

[Oya, oya?]

[Matoba doesn't comment on the vibe, mercifully, but his eye lights up a little with his smile. But he's always smiling, it seems like. Maybe it's nothing.]

That's too bad. [A beat.] Haha, well, other than my test data, or I wouldn't be here.

I wouldn't put yourself down like that, though, Admin-san. [Matoba stands, smoothing the lap of his kimono automatically. Probably not necessary in a character model, but it seems like something he's used to doing.] I'm sure there is something I would be interested in from you.

[Even if he isn't willing to pay for it. Yet.]

[selfconcept]

Hm?

[ He lifts his head a little to look at Brambles. His face... well, he definitely seems tired. Cranky too, despite not being very expressive. It's definitely the vibes. ]

Yeah. Tryna figure out how to stop my dog from eating them.

[dapples]

Aww...! Hehehe!

[ he giggles! ]

You can't place your Potato Pets on a high level so they can't hop up and reach?

[selfconcept]

And that would be?

[ He's aware that the timing is bad, or else Matoba probably would have brought it up already. At least that gets him to calm down a little. He'll put himself down all he wants, thanks!! ]

If you never ask now, you might never get it in the future.

IV time to test the limit of his cranky

[gluttoning]

[If Mister Administrator has spent any time the last couple days around anywhere that sells food, then the ginger that currently walks by shouldn't be much of a strange sight, even with an armful of creampuffs.

While Barrett does give the cloaked figure a glance, he doesn't think much of it, checking back down at his wares instead--]

Ah.

[A sudden stop, as his brow furrows like he has discovered a serious problem. His mouth thins.

Carefully he plucks up one of the cream puffs, looking almost a little sad, before glancing behind him at the stranger.

Level 100.

...

Eh. He holds it out anyway.]

I got one too many of this flavor. It'll ruin it.

You hungry?

[selfconcept]

Then they just collect dust.

[ It also seems lonely? He will never admit he has Feelings about potato pets. God. ]

My dog is obsessed with potatoes. It's unreal.

[selfconcept]

Mm?

[ Oh, it's the guy that really likes eating like several other people do. Thankfully, Hien is one of them. He takes the cream puff and quietly eats it, but it really looks as if he just swallowed it whole without chewing. ]

It's good. Thanks.

[ He tilts his head up to look at Barrett's face. His own face looks tired and nonexpressive with short black hair and black eyes. But perhaps with that little cream puff, he views Barrett better than most of the beta players. Congratulations! ]

Mr. Misteaks. Are you here to explore?

[dapples]

I suppose that's true! Wouldn't want your pets to get all dust.

Haha, same with my dog! Any vegetable and he's all over it. He's more of a rabbit than a dog at times.

[worldbent]

Is that so? Well, since you asked; I don't have any particular needs at the moment, but that sort of thing changes rapidly.

Interesting information is always useful. [A pause, his cat-eye resting on Hien's dull one. All of their appearances were chosen, which meant they all had their reasons for choosing each element.] I don't mean about the game, per se.

This time, I didn't approach you with anything but curiosity in mind, though. Don't read into it too much.

[selfconcept]

That's unfortunate. Here I was, thinking I was special.

[ His tone of voice sounds absolutely dead for that. He absolutely doesn't mean it, and seeing that smile of Matoba's almost makes him squint. He doesn't enjoy smiley types... ]

I'm just someone who keeps the unruly ones in line. Nothing more, nothing less.

[ A bold-faced lie. He doesn't seem to care about that. ]

So I can't see why you would be curious about me. Please understand.

[selfconcept]

[ Okay, that makes Hien make a Face. ]

A rabbit dog... What the fuck.

[ But he won't condemn the dog. It's a dog. It has no sins. ]

Does it also eat grass?

[dapples]

[ NODS! ]

He does! He loves chompin' grass when I take him out the back garden. I once asked the vet if I should be concerned but all she said to me was, "dogs just fancy a bit of salad now and again!"

I

[threatmewted]

[She's in her Blade Brandier gear today, hello.]

Wow. Who'd you piss off to get put on NPC duty?

[selfconcept]

... If she can call that salad, I hope your dog has a better salad in the future.

[ Poor dog, is what he's thinking. ]

Do you have one? A potato pet.

[selfconcept]

[ Hello, blade!Swallow. Hien just fixes her with a look before getting out his staff. Is this a warning? Yes. But will she heed it... ]

[dapples]

I'll do my best to get him the top quality greenery.

[ he laughs! ]

I don't, actually! But I really love potatoes. I'd love to make one after reading that article!