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⬣//A WHOLE NEW YOU.
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.
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.
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.
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 BootsTwin Blade:
Railroad Spikes Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn BootsWavemaster:
Splintering Rod Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old ShoesMacabre Dancer:
Paper Fans Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old ShoesEdge Punisher:
Yaoi Oar Helmet Worn Armor Frayed Gloves Squeaky BootsFlick Reaper:
Farmer's Sickle Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn BootsHarvest Cleric:
Magical Girl Stick Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old ShoesLord Partizan:
Stop Sign Helmet Worn Armor Frayed Gloves Squeaky BootsShadow Warlock:
Travel Pamphlet Tacky Hat Light Robe Light Gloves Old ShoesSteam Gunner:
Water Gun Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn BootsTribal Grappler:
Fishticuffs Leather Cap Ugly Cuirass Deft Gloves Worn BootsIt'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.
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, 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!"
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[ He is definitely doing that nyoro~n face right now, complete with the hand gesture. The good old 2000s. ]
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He has no idea of nyoro~n memes but this mun does. There is just a palm on his face. ]
...you seem like quite the handful.
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[ He knows it's not a compliment and grins, but it's definitely less biting than, say, when an old fogey tells that to him. Ganymede is safe from being excessively sassed at, for now. ]
How's your game experience so far?
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Time to roll with the punches. ]
It's just the first day, so I'd say 'still assessing it'. I haven't run into any dire situations or anything that looks uglier than it should be.
This seems to be in the test phase, so maybe I'll give it more time.
...And yours? I'll give extra points if you have something notable to say besides the food.
1/2
[ He laughs. But well. Ganymede has asked for it, and therefore, he shall receive. ]
The way you can toggle pain sensors and stuff at will is really incredible. Sure, it might just mean that the feature gets shut down when you turn it off, but making it so that we can feel pain in an online world is already surreal. It's definitely the kind of innovation that will change online games if it really gets implemented, changing from people sitting on chairs and mashing at their keyboard and mouse to putting yourself into the game itself and playing it with neural controls instead. And this sort of technology will make headway into other areas too, if this turns successful.
[ He sounds kinda smart and calm! And like he's leading a business conference...? ]
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[ Calm and intelligent demeanor ruined. ]
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Ah, first impressions indeed aren't always indicative of one's whole personality... ]
Neural...controls?
[ HELP he was not a science major at all. ]
I guess realism is pretty important to you, in that case.
[ Which, Ganymede supposes is what the other was getting at, and might not blame him. But he hadn't thought so far into the potential futures of such innovative technology either. ]
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[ He stretches his arms up to, well, stretch a bit. ]
Like how I can do this.
[ He lightly taps Ganymede's nose. Boop. ]
You can't do that in games normally because they would have to make a specific function for it, but I can do it here without that.
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[ There is freedom in a world like this, without having much history of the previous one being brought into it by play.
A lot of freedom indeed.
...
Fancy wording aside, he just watches him stretch, and then he gets surprised tapped on his nose and his expression goes into a complete !! as he raises his hands to his booped nose. ]
...And I can see you're enjoying this aspect of the game quite a bit much. No matter what kind of reaction you might get from other people. In various different respects.
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[ It's their selling point!! ]
Since you look like the kind of person who'd rather sink into the wallpaper than talk to other people with a smile.
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Though at the other comment he is just going to let out a small snort. ]
...I wonder where you got that idea.
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[ Well, gee. Wonder why. ]
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It takes more than that to get me to smile.
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[ He doesn't seem too deterred at least, and that's because-- ]
You look at yourself in the mirror every day. You must be used to seeing beautiful faces.
[ terrible ]
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He has probably at least also been eating between bites, so he settles down his mostly finished food. But, he does pointedly brush aside strands of his golden hair in a manner that might be slightly prissy-like. ]
Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.
And I do. I have to look good before going out into the real world, after all.
[ ... ]
And speaking of going out into the real world, I have things to do. If you need me for something important, you know my username.
[ He's setting his plate down, and heading on off to attend to other matters. ]
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Anyways, the request will be accepted at some point!! ]