altimit | catch all >> august

It's not half-empty if it's half-full instead. Very wise, Master.

[ hani smiles back at fandaniel, eyes dancing. yikes!

sadness, depression, annoyance, anger - those are tricky emotions for hani to feel. in theory, they understand what those emotions entail. and while they're sure there's value in them, they do wonder if it isn't exhausting to be Like That all the time. of course, humans don't have on-off switches, but... has fandaniel tried hani's tried and true method of only vaguely feeling things? it works, guaranteed.

well! they can only hope fandaniel will be able to get some beauty rest after this run. ]

Aw, we're almost done? So fast! [ is this what a speedrun is like? but they still have four bottles of whiskey and three cocktails left??? ]

[ Makes sense. Creature encounter or chest, it seems to be one or the other. Fandaniel only gives a sigh over how the rest are acting and after another step, he does get the item reward pop-up. Thank god, except for the one glaring dilemma of— ]

...the stats of this are terrible compared to the set's tome. [ If anything can get him to heave a second sigh right on the tail end of the first, it's that, but he equips the new weapon regardless. ] I suppose there's naught to do for it. I do need to test it, though. I need to make sure this one doesn't scream as well.

[ A quick glance is shot back at the rest of the party. He'll settle on Tylor. ]

Tylorific? Could you be a doll and drop party for a moment?

[ It makes sense for Fandaniel needing a target, but Oriade is also aware that Shadow Warlocks have AoE spells, so he will be standing faaaaar from Tylor and a bit behind Fandaniel. His defenses are puny. Sorry, but not sorry. At least Tylor was fully healed by Hani, so he doesn't feel like he has to worry much. ]

Oh, okay.

[ Annnnd he drops party with a smile! Taking a few steps from Hani, he at least equips his spear to casually lean his weight on before playfully asking --- ]

Be gentle with me, okay?

[ But the stats on his Lord Partizan special set as it shifts to look bulkier are... really good. The horror show book might've hurt, but good luck puny tome. ]

Just a moment.

[ wow, only justy? no fair. but hani shrugs, pats justy's back and moves away to give the two of them space. as they do, they open their in-game browser and type in a couple of words.

then through their mic, a song plays. it's not a battle theme, but it's remixed like one, so they thought it was fitting. ]

Alright, we're ready. Go!

[ Oh god, so it'll be to remixed techno j-pop that Fandaniel dramatically flips his new tome open in on hand and directs it Tylor's way. ]

Unfortunately for you, I only know how to be rough.

[ Look, even in this miserable state, he can't let something that cheesy pass him by without saying it. That said, the tome may not be comparable to the weapon from the set, but it is still one for a Level 25 Shadow Warlock. ]

BiJuk Rom!

[ Oriade was wise to back off. He did go for the area spell and a wind whips up sharp leaves to cut at Tylor! Best of all? No screaming this time. He's free. ]

Edited 2023-08-13 23:13 (UTC)

[ This is so weird. If anywhere, he did not expect to hear this song in the middle of Fandaniel trying to test out his weapon against Tylor.............. ]

Damn, he's getting unleashed now.

[ The leaves whip up harshly enough to the beat of techno that Tylor shuts his eyes against the assault, shielding his face as foliage slices at his armor and bared skin. He takes the hit directly, chunking his health. He coughs as it finally dies down, waving a hand like he's clearing smoke. He is clearly scratched up, new lines of white on his black armor. But he isn't dead. ]

Ow, you weren't kidding. That really hurt! [ Doing nearly half his HP with a single aoe isn't half bad! ]

I'm happy you've learned more than that flimsy fireball, but is your mood any better?

[ He sounds concerned as he takes casual steps toward Fandaniel. ]

[ master fanny danny likes it rough. hani will note that down. tappity-tap-tap.

then they're stepping toward justy, hand raised for a healing cast except - ]

Ah. I can't. [ no party = no heal. hani lowers their hand, a rueful edge to their smile. ] Well at least, Master looks younger by the second.

[ Flimsy fireball... ]

I really should keep going and kill you.

[ But he won't. None of them needed to help him and yet, they did, so rather than another PK attempt, Tylor gets an invite back into the party. Ping! Party invite pop-up! After that, the new tome weapon is shut and put away. ]

I suppose this is the part where I say I owe you all one for the help. Just try not to use a favor on something ridiculously stupid, hm? [ And then he's shuffling through screens to find the one that leaves the dungeon, only to pause before actually ditching them. ] By the way...

Has anyone else found something strange with their level cap reward gear?

[ Since Oriade is still behind Fandaniel and the others are a bit far away, he ponders on what to do. Should he just log out? He knows there won't be any rewards for him at the end. That would probably draw more questions.

So. ]

Mine just doesn't fit right.

[ He shrugs.

If any of them are the type to forage through forum posts, they'll see that he was lying and that it's a little worse than how much hes downplaying it here. ]

[ Tylor will probably use that favor on something stupid, if he ever uses it at all. But Tylor continues his stride closer to Fandaniel as he shuts the tome. A friendly distance for menu flipping to leave the area. Not that Tylor is in any hurry. ]

Well, mine is pretty awesome. Is that strange?

[ He glances to Hani, showing off his armor as it shifts when he starts flipping through his weapons quickly to show off the changes. For a moment he is That person in the party, blinding everyone with the speed at which he switches them so his starry armor and weapons of light change form. ]

[ hani does follow the forums because they're nosy like that. but they're also the type to accept lies to their face with a smile. oriade is safe from being exposed, but there is a steady glance his way.

just for a moment because then they're distracted by justy, clapping at his awesome armor. as far as they're concerned, justy is using his gear in the best way and should be encouraged to continue! ]

Mine has anti-aggro properties. That's the term for it, I think.

[ they also shrug. nothing too strange there. ]

[ Fandaniel looks between the three of them as they rattle off — and show off — their own gear. He's silent for a time after, considering... what to even say. His own set, apart from the book, is fine. It's pitch black and absorbs any light that hits it. The hood obscures his face entirely when up, though it's still down currently.

The book, however... that damn book... ]

The tome from my set screams every time I use a spell.

[ There. There it is. The book screamed, though no one else would have heard. Only him, apparently, although at least Hien had confirmed he wasn't just going mad. ]

[ Fucking yikes, man. That curse was worse than he thought. But he feels like just any scream wouldn't really affect Fandaniel all that much. Annoying, but still usable.

...

He doesn't like this. ]

That's some weapon you got there. The hell.

[ The talk of a screaming book pauses his blinding display for him to comment on. ]

Oh. I see. So that's why you were in such a bad mood? That would be pretty annoying.

[ a beat. ]

Well, I sure hope the new one works better for you.

Screams are a little strange.

[ just a little. hani looks at everyone, gauging their reactions and finally settling on fandaniel. ]

I might be wrong in saying this, but I just don't see... hmm. Well, let's say I was surprised by how - [ they huff a laugh ] - decidedly, angrily eager you were to get rid of it. When you could have just thrown it away? Or perhaps not? So... it's more than just mere screams, isn't it?

[ to be clear: ]

I'm not asking for details about the screams. But if the real question is whether or not this game has been strange in an almost unnerving sense? Yes, I would say so. After all, what kind of game company knows your address without being told? Arrives at your door without being asked. Installs strange programs on your computer without your consent.

[ but they're playing the game anyway. ]

[ Hani must be spot on because the smile that slides across Fandaniel's face is not a kind one. It's viciously fake and doesn't reach the otherwise blank stare he pins on Hani. For how silly they are, their sense of observation is awfully keen. ]

Did you know? I never even signed up for this beta. [ All he got was the email from them prompting him to claim his spot well after sign-ups closed. That should have been the first red flag and yet he, too, still decided to play. ] But you happen to be right, Tabibito. The screams are... hm... personal.

[ He'll leave it at that. ]

[ Oriade stays quiet after Fandaniel mentions that. He could talk about his own bonus gear too, but he really doesn't want to. He would rather take the secret with him to the grave. It's just one secret he'd rather not give up, unlike his address which is probably on the internet for reasons that aren't as quite alarming, so he never found it strange that people just knew where he was.

However, Oriade feels unnerved when Fandaniel mentions the screams—personal screams. That's fucked up. Downright malicious.

...

They're still playing the game anyway.

He doesn't have anything useful to add to the conversation, so he keeps quiet and to himself. ]

[ Tylor is quiet while Hani goes on, but it's impossible to tell by looking what gears are turning, if any. Even when he looks to Fandaniel as he responds. Oh, personal? He can't help but wonder what personal would even mean to a guy like this. Usually, he'd just ask, but he'd been so excited to be in game he'd assumed everyone had signed up just like he had. Or, mostly anyway.

Ever the optimist.

He considers two of them friends, one admittedly moreso, and Oriade seemed nice enough, so he tries to use a braincell or two despite the eerie vibe the others are cooking. Hands raised with palms facing Fandaniel, he eventually tilts his head into the path of that scary smile.

This subject is only tangentially related to his degree, but in the silence left by Oriade, he rambles a little-- ]

Hey now, they probably just wanted to balance out the beta testers, right? You know, make sure they didn't wind up with a beta full of only people that are likely to sign up for this sort of thing in the first place? Companies sure do love their wide demographics.

[ He crosses his arms, hand on his chin, and sounds way too unconcerned about all of this. ]

But, with all these different things going on--it almost feels like they're testing stuff for other games out on us too, doesn't it? [ complete with spooky intonation: ] Like a horror game that plays sounds effects from your mind.

[ A blink. ]

Oh. Actually, that is pretty creepy isn't it?

[ hani casts a fond look at justy. ]

I do think Tylor-kun is right in that they are testing for other things. [ less games, and more like experiments?? otherwise, why would the pain receptors be enabled - ] I guess we shall see!

Oh, I never signed up either. [ and as far as they can tell, only a handful of players actually signed up. ] But I'm glad to be here anyway. I like spending time with you all.

And this mystery is interesting enough for me to stay.

[ Considering he works for a whole-ass government, he could easily rattle off a long list of nefarious purposes behind such a realistic VR experience, but! That isn't his job. He's not here for government purposes, just for gaming ones.

Although, there's no way CCCorp wasn't aware of that. Why invite him if they were up to something shady? Food for thought, he supposes. ]

I admit I am far too offended to throw down my VR set and leave after this. I want to find out who it is who thought this was funny...

[ And make them regret it. Wrap his hands around their throat and squeeze until the light in their eyes goes out and— ah, that's a poor train of thought, even if it would be cathartic. That, too, he isn't about to share, so he simply gives his head a tired shake and pulls his hood back up. ]

But as Tylorific said, it is creepy. Let us hope that is all it remains; creepy and unwanted, but not dangerous. That said, I do believe we are done here.

Yup. We sure are. Bye, guys!

[ Oriade will leave first, running past everyone to get out of the dungeon. Why such a hurry? Hm. Well, no matter. Everyone's done! ]

catch all >> august

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i used his most punchable icon for you

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