⬣//A WHOLE NEW YOU.

[cccorp]

>>Premise // >>Introduction // >>Party // >>Zelkova Corner

⬣//CONGRATULATIONS! YOU WON! 🙂

On a day like any other, you're checking your email when one in particular catches your eye. We invite you to Fragment, the subject line reads, and the sender is a name everyone is familiar with: CyberConnect Corporation.

It doesn't matter whether you signed up for Fragment's closed beta months ago or simply found the mysterious email sitting in your inbox. The fact remains that you are one of the select few chosen to participate, and in a word gone fully digital, you can't afford to turn down such an opportunity.

Those who accepted the invitation were given much more than a free pass to beta test the latest and greatest MMO. Upon confirming their participation, employees of C.C. Corp arrive at their homes and outfit them with top-of-the-line internet — a must to play such an advanced game — a brand new PC, and a state-of-the-art VR headset created by C.C. Corp themselves specifically for this beta test. You may call it excessive. They call it necessary.

Welcome to The World's first event! Your plotting post is here.

⬣//YOUR ADVENTURE BEGINS SIMPLY.

When the morning of July 29th rolls around, you're finally able to access Fragment and create your character. By default, your avatar resembles your real world appearance, but naturally you're able to fully customize your look from head to toe. Want green skin? You got it. What about twintails that stretch down to the floor? You won't have to worry about those clipping through your armor in a game as advanced as Fragment. The sky is truly the limit!

Once you've settled on your avatar's appearance and class, you log into your home Root Rown: Mac Anu, a city forever at twilight with a series of canals snaking through it. It's done up in a series of flowing banners and balloons, glitter and confetti carried along by a gentle breeze you can feel along your cheeks.

Players are given some time to wander around the Root Town and acquaint themselves with the feeling of being fully immersed in a digital fantasy world, but after some time, a soft, playful voice echoes all across the Root Town.

"Hi, everyone! It's time to begin! Meet me at the Chaos Gate!"

When everyone gathers for the meeting, they're greeted by the cheerful face and pitchy voice of an enthusiastic young boy. Unlike you, a level 1 newbie without a single GP to your name, targeting the boy reveals a few things: his name is Zelkova and he's level 100. Huh. Is he cheating? Maybe he's someone important?

In either case, you'll have your answer when Zelkova begins to speak, sweeping his arms out wide to greet all the new beta testers.

"Welcome! I'm Zelkova. I'll be your point of contact during Fragment's closed beta! Before we start celebrating, let me give you guys your armor and equipment. You can't fight monsters without that stuff, huh?"

With a wave of his arms, a table pops into existence before Zelkova. Sprawled out on the table is an immaculate collection of... shabby level one weapons and equipment. Yikes. What, did you think you'd be fabulous from the jump? That's not how MMOs work!

Zelkova encourages everyone to step up and grab the set (or sets, if you're an Adept Rogue) to outfit themselves.

YOUR NEW ARMOR AWAITS.

Blade Brandier: Rusted Blade Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn Boots

Twin Blade: Railroad Spikes Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn Boots

Wavemaster: Splintering Rod Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old Shoes

Macabre Dancer: Paper Fans Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old Shoes

Edge Punisher: Yaoi Oar Helmet Worn Armor Frayed Gloves Squeaky Boots

Flick Reaper: Farmer's Sickle Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn Boots

Harvest Cleric: Magical Girl Stick Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old Shoes

Lord Partizan: Stop Sign Helmet Worn Armor Frayed Gloves Squeaky Boots

Shadow Warlock: Travel Pamphlet Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old Shoes

Steam Gunner: Water Gun Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn Boots

Tribal Grappler: Fishticuffs Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn Boots

It's... not very impressive, sure, but beginner sets in MMOs never are. Better get dungeon crawling if you want to step up your glamor game.

"Well, that's all the boring stuff for now! This is an exciting opportunity for us all, so why don't we start the beta with a proper party?"

⬣//PARTY LIKE IT'S Y2K.

What better way to celebrate your acceptance into Fragment's prestigious beta program than a blowout party? Every inch of Mac Anu is decked out for the occasion, and once everyone has picked up their armor, Zelkova's armory disappears to reveal a vast banquet table piled high with food, drink, and party favors.

There's cuisine from every corner of the world just waiting to be devoured, and what's more, you'll taste the food like you're really eating it! Zero calories never tasted better. The drinks work much the same way, and there's even alcohol that will get you drunk in no time flat. Take it easy on the cocktails!

Still, maybe you're not feeling adequately dressed for the occasion. Never fear! There are a set of armor skins to pick from. Feeling a bit peckish? Dress up as a vegetable. If veggies aren't your style, how about this sleek little number? Those are just a few of the silly party costumes available for the occasion, and when it's time to depart, Zelkova will graciously allow you to keep your favorite skin to wear whenever you please.

Finally, don't forget to pick up some party favors! There's a foam weapon that, when equipped, takes the form of your class' weapon of choice... but what does it do, exactly? Well, hit another avatar with it and find out for yourself. There are also an array of paint ball guns, nerf guns, and water guns for use in Root Towns. Pick up one of each! Be the annoying friend no one wants to invite on a dungeon run.

Before you leave, Zelkova hands you a Greeting Card that can be emailed to anyone on your friend list. "Try sending it to one of the new friends you made today! I promise they'll love it! Oh... but be careful not to accidentally send it to someone too."

⬣//ZELKOVA'S QUESTION CORNER

⬣ Zelkova, this level one armor sucks! I want better stuff!

"Don't worry, new player! Better equipment is a button press away! Well... after you earn it. Why don't you give Area Exploration a try?"

⬣ I'm a social butterfly ready to spread my wings and take flight on the winds of friendship! Can I start a guild?

"Heehee... About that! This is a beta, you know? We're still getting stuff ready! Maybe if you wait patiently, you'll be able to form and join guilds in... a week from now. While you're waiting, make some friends! You'll need guild members!"

⬣ I hate walking! My feet hurt! I want something that will do all the hard work of moving around for me!

"What? Your feet hurt...? Turn off the pain sensors in your feet! As for alternative travel methods... well, there are "those"... Oh, that's a great idea! Give me some time and I'll see about finding some Grunties for all of us!"

⬣ How can I communicate with other players? I want to stay in the loop!

"Great question! That's what the official forums are for! You can ask for help, search for parties, share interesting discoveries you've made and just about anything else on your mind! Give it a try, but be careful: the head admin is kind of a grump... but you didn't hear that from me, hehe!"

"That's all for this week's edition of Zelkova's Question Corner! If have questions you'd like to ask me, send me an email any time!"

>>Navigation

Comments

[weaseled]

[Ah. Is this a child? Child-coded?? Yael's answer would've been a lot more frank if he knew for sure, but instead, he errs on the side of sarcasm.]

Dunno. What's it look like to you?

[weaseled]

What, like real life?

[Oh? A callback to how they supposedly saw each other in real life already?!]

If I see some girl shoving fish on her fists in a grocery store, I'm calling the police. Consider this your warning.

[tablescraps]

( Oh...

His good eye opens very slightly, blearily, after a moment. )

... All right. ( A beat. ) Do I have to remain sitting...?

[regressive]

[ He holds up the Yaoi Oar with a line face. ]

This is my weapon.

[weaseled]

[..........Fucking Christ, Man. Where does Yael even begin? The red flags are mounting all around him, but Yael realizes this is the kind of person he can't just ignore either. God damn it, Mithrun, you weirdo.]

...Fine. Why don't we get away from this party first? When you're all done merrymaking, meet me on the other side of town.

[With some fumbling and delay, Yael manages to send Mithrun a friend request so he can easily track him down later.]

[weaseled]

[This girl is well and truly beyond help already, isn't she? She is, and yet.

And yet.

Yael sighs heavily through his nose, staring pointedly at her. Let him make one thing very, very clear:]

Nah, not interested. Don't even try to push yourself on me, got it? And if I see you doing it anywhere else, I'm reporting you. Don't be an idiot.

[Please, Aoi. Love yourself a little.]

[weaseled]

[YELLS

He's going to place a modicum of faith in Hector and take him at his word, his handshake just as firm here as it is in reality.]

I'm holding you to that. Still, you don't mind if I invite some "friends" along, do you?

[dapples]

[ OH.................. oh. ]

Ohh...! [ ...... BY CHOICE, OR-? Well, if that lineface is anything to go off, he doesn't seem too happy about it. Should he say anything? Does he know what it means...? ]

Now there's a word I recognise ...

[ Because he's a librarian. Obviously!! Why else!!!!!!!! ]

[secondthoughts]

[ There's a strength to Hector's grip, too. He knows how much a handshake can mean, and it's his subtle way of telling Yael he can trust him. ]

I don't mind, no. The two of us aren't much of a party on our own.

[ hope uve kept party comp in mind, yael ]

[tot]

Are you saying that you don't think I could hit you from this distance?

[ how dare he not trust her gamer aim?? but hopefully yael wasn't looking to get a reaction of disappointment from uta because he's not going to get one. if anything its relief?? she hadn't even considered it but.

thanks. she's polite enough not to call him out for being an "old" man. ]

But I wouldn't want to send the wrong message either.

[fluorite]

Hmm. Well, that isn’t our problem, now is it?

[ If people want to partake in underage drinking, that’s their decision. People do it all the time in real life anyway. ]

[fluorite]

[ they’re huge dorks ]

I wonder if the items will be themed… or if there will be different types of weapons here versus other towns.

[fluorite]

Focus on attacking? Sounds easy enough!

[secondthoughts]

Yes. You can only get up when you're confident you can stand without falling over.

[ He'd normally say walk, but he literally just watched Mithrun almost plank fall, so he's lowering his standards. ]

First, concentrate on sitting up on your own.

[ He'll slowly remove the hand he had settled on Mithrun...? ]

[regressive]

Saves me the trouble of explaining it to you.

[ Why edge punishers have to be punished this way? ]

Most people don't seem to be familiar with it. [ What does it say about him? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING according to Joonghyuk himself. ] Maybe they didn't use Boys' Love for a reason.

[ Well, that one is a bit more direct. ]

[fluorite]

[ He laughs softly. ]

I don’t want to think about it too much, and I know I will the moment I log out.

[ Like… what are the effects on his brain chemistry if he feels drunk when he logs out? Much to think about. ]

[fluorite]

See? I knew you would understand.

[ He didn’t, actually, but he’s amused anyway. ]

It’s low stakes combat training… well, with magic included.

[dapples]

E-Ehehe, perks of working a book shop I suppose ...

[ It's certainly a thought! One that Bramb might be thinking a little too deeply about. Blame the alcohol. ]

Perhaps it's the nature of the weapon. "Yaoi" is more explicit as a genre, whereas Boys' Love has more focus on relationships and emotional intimacy. With the weapon being rather risqué in design ... the explicit word might be more fitting.

[ ... ]

But if it's a useful weapon to you now, then...! It'll serve its purpose! Most being unfamiliar with it is bound to be reassuring. But for what it's worth, I don't judge you for it in the least.

[tablescraps]

( Hey now, being weird isn't a red flag, surely,

He's ! when Yael concedes, however. )

All right. I will.

( It takes him a second, but he gets that friend request accepted. His second ever friend...

And unfortunately for Yael, Mithrun Will wrap up soon enough, once he's cycled through all the activities at least once. Yael will not be free of this digital coil just yet.

He sends a message to portend his coming. )

I'm on my way.

( Now, one may consider that this would be a relatively quick affair - maybe a little inflated because no one's used to navigating Mac Anu yet.

But the minutes pass and pass... And pass... And become a little too many...

Mithrun is definitely actively and rather briskly moving through the town, and he can definitely see the indicator suggesting where Yael is. Unfortunately, he's going in circles, getting lost in ways not even conceivable to the designers. Sometimes his indicator suggests he's in the canal, somehow, but not on any gondola.

He'll get there eventually. It'll just take some time, if Yael would rather wait. )

[regressive]

I wanted to try something different from the games I usually play. Besides, the technology seems impressive. I mean... you can explore the whole world without leaving your home. Some people can't travel freely.

[ For example people who have to take care of their younger siblings. ]

What's your reason for being here?

[fluorite]

[ He shakes his head. Wow that list is concerning and he wonders about her access to some therapy. ]

There’s nothing wrong with you. I only like men.

[ Some things are just that simple! ]

[fluorite]

You should try it. It’s a lot of fun.

[ He opens up his inventory screen so he can brandish his own nerf gun. ]

They’re easy to aim too, which is good practice for combat in areas.

[tot]

[ perfect. a business run by two internet celebrities; what better way to start off something like this? especially considering that people aren't exactly Aware.

that said, she'll just nod in agreement. ]

Definitely. I can see a lot of people flocking to this once the beta is opened to the public.

[ and since they're still pretending that they don't know who the other is, she'll raise a hand to her chin and do a ""think"". ]

I think it's hard to say which ones I haven't played but— [ cue copyright friendly versions of wow, guild wars, and runescape being mentioned here. ] —are the ones that I've spent the most time in. How about yourself? It sounds like you've played plenty of games yourself.

[fluorite]

[ Fai pretends to be hurting right up until Furin is in front of him. And then, he stands straight up. ]

Good work~

[fluorite]

A lot of people were making a fuss over the upcoming beta, so when I saw the email, I thought I’d take them up on their offer and join. Might as well get in on it, right?

[ He finishes off with a shrug. There’s definitely a lot more to his decision, but the finality of his tone gives off the impression he won’t say more than that. ]

And yourself?