[good morning! or afternoon. what the fuck time is it. it's afternoon, for our purposes. you're in the prism doing whatever it is you feel like you should be doing today.
whatever you're doing, though, you get a text:]
i was shopping! come to wunafo!
[an archway appears in front of you, grey and faded, and you walk through without thinking twice.
... you are in a city. for some of you, this might be a familiar city - bright and beautiful and loud. you feel a certain amount of affection for this place, for a home away from home. you are standing in the middle of a place you understand to be shibuya crossing, the central hub of your own personal world. it leads to a few different places - you can see in the distance a building that reads 104 in big bold letters. to your right is a bike path that seems to lead to a towering building named tower records, and behind you is a shopping center that seems inaccessible, at the moment.
all around you are posters plastered up on walls advertising the Reaper’s Romp. that sounds familiar, like you're here for that. and as all of you gather your wits and try to figure out what’s going on...]
REACH 104 AND COMPLETE YOUR TASK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN
[you check your phone. everyone but the three of you has been erased from your contacts, though there are a few blurred out names. you also have access to a notes app, a map, and another locked application.
[ Wow! Well, this definitely is a good place to go shopping. Garou's from not-Japan, so he doesn't seem all that uncomfortable at being plopped into Shibuya, though he does frown at the notification on his phone.
... He hates being told what to do. ]
What the hell is...
[ And then. Noticing that it's Emet and Estinien with him, he makes like a teenager caught in public with his parents and just marches off in the direction of 104 without another word. ]
You-- what do you think you are doing? If we are to be here, then we ought not separate.
[this background may be familiar, yes, but still a little odd... that sense of affection, though, of home, settles him easily enough. that feeling-- that's something he knows very well.
something had definitely started to shift in his form at first, but it settles. however, as he sets off after garou, there's a different alteration, a single strange wing forming. it's not feathered. it looks like it has like, an approximation of a hand on the end of it? this limb is basically halfway between a wing and an arm, black and shiny. it hovers like it sort of wants to reach out as he paces after him.
this works out, though, this seems to be the direction they need to go, so he's not stopping garou or grabbing at him. it's fine.]
[ He walks in through the archway without thinking, and the moment he walks into Shibuya Station right out into the Crossing is when he freezes like a cat and realises he's just made a huge mistake.
If this CYOA and weekly murders don't kill him, Aymeric definitely will.
And you know, Garou starts walking off. ]
N-now, don't go walking off so early. I recall you've been on one of these already, haven't you?
[ Gods. This is the most awkward group he could have ever imagined being alone together with. ]
you all make your way down the crowded streets - as you do, you see a multitude of people. a woman with long black hair and a kitty hood nearly rams into garou before continuing onward, muttering something rudely under her breath before flouncing off. a tall man with soft lavender hair winks at estinien before vanishing into the crowd, and emet gets a wide-eyed look from a boy with braided white hair before he scurries into a nearby cafe.
but none of those people are important. what is important is the teen standing against the lamppost right next to the 104 building. an older teenager, you think. it's difficult to say how old she might be given the way her purple skin crawls and shudders with every movement. her eyes are pure white, a glint of light flashing every time she looks at you, but the other eyes on her exposed legs and arms blink in different directions, a softer green. she appears to be judging you.]
Are you here for the task? [she asks, pushing glasses up her nose as she looks at them. she doesn't really wait, she just huffs and brings her phone up to start texting something. the same little ringtone happens on all your phones, and when you look, you see the following:]
LIKE A BOLT FROM THE BLUE... IT'S THE REAPER REVIEW! Are you ready for your trivia questions? Y/N
[you wander, for a while, in the direction of your marker. the city is quieter now, winding down for the day and heading into a lazy afternoon. people chatter excitedly to each other outside cafes, move in and out of stores with bags of groceries or clothes, hug each other - it's a genuinely human experience, walking through these streets. a feeling that isn't entirely your own curls up warm in your chest - a love, for the world around you, and a desire to connect. to be less scared of reaching out. you've been burned so badly in the past.
what's the point? why take anything seriously?
... you want a point. a purpose.
eventually, you find where you're supposed to go. a teenage boy with long silver hair in a braid stands in the middle of the city, staring up at the sky.
[you wander, for a while, in the direction of your marker. the city is quieter now, winding down for the day and heading into a lazy afternoon. people chatter excitedly to each other outside cafes, move in and out of stores with bags of groceries or clothes, hug each other - it's a genuinely human experience, walking through these streets. a feeling that isn't entirely your own curls up warm in your chest - a love, for the world around you, and a desire to connect. to be less scared of reaching out. you've been burned so badly in the past.
what's the point? why take anything seriously?
... you want a point. a purpose.
eventually, you find where you're supposed to go. a tall man in black robes, purple hair in a braid pulled over his shoulder, stares up at the sky.
[you wander, for a while, in the direction of your marker. the city is quieter now, winding down for the day and heading into a lazy afternoon. people chatter excitedly to each other outside cafes, move in and out of stores with bags of groceries or clothes, hug each other - it's a genuinely human experience, walking through these streets. a feeling that isn't entirely your own curls up warm in your chest - a love, for the world around you, and a desire to connect. to be less scared of reaching out. you've been burned so badly in the past.
what's the point? why take anything seriously?
... you want a point. a purpose.
eventually, you find where you're supposed to go. a figure with silver hair and pretty red wings stands still, staring up at the sky.
Estinien returns, just totally stained in colour, expression somber -- but lily petals over his skin, small vines through his hair blooming through it, pristine white. He's frowning slightly, phone in hand, looking at the shark boy...
Making a slight face, like he also wants to give this boy a piece of his mind, but just holds up the green thing on his phone. Idk if it was just a flash or if there's an indicator but either way. ]
[emet-selch returns, probably with those color stains on him as well; his form is more shadowy, now, dripping blobs of black, a little bit melty. he still has his four glowing white eyes, the wing-arms, the spires of his crown... he's just less defined, in general.
he is doing great, obviously!]
Evidently so.
[here's the green indicator on his own phone if it's still there. hi. he's done.]
a blob of static sits in the middle of the street. it's shifting, stretching uselessly. it's trying. trying to make a form, trying to become anything at all, but it seems like it can't. it goes for a dog first, then a snake, then a dragon, and then - nothing. just a puddle of static on the ground, dragging itself to the yellow archway that appears in front of it.
[ Here they are, at Tower Records! Estinien is just trudging along this damned concrete jungle, hoping that their final task isn't too arduous, but he knows they might suffer anyway. Suffering is their wont.
But he pauses in front of this odd... static puddle. Well, it's kind of familiar to Bass in their early weeks, isn't it? He's on guard when the odd static begins to appear. ]
Who are you? Are you who we need to assist next?
[ ...He's not exactly hopeful for an answer, though. Eyeing the static just in case. ]
emet-selch is already hurrying toward the static, toward the symbols surrounding it. if any are at a safe enough distance he is arrowing them, stay the hell away from that BLOB.]
[ They manage to make it to the prestigious Tower Records, and Garou does raise a brow at the staticky blob going through blob puberty, unable to shift into a particular shape. He's prepared to let Estinien handle it when Emet gets worked up.
He doesn't stop him, too mellowed out from All That. He just walks over to the archway, curious to see if they can go through.
Hopefully the symbols are violent so they can fight their feelings out. ]
[you all blink, after your short breather, and find that you are in a park.
bass is also here, looking exhausted. he's curled up wherever emet is, leaning against his side. if estinien allows himself to be anywhere near emet, bass has a hold on him too, but otherwise he's just half asleep. garou is close by - not being touched, but absolutely within reaching distance. bass doesn't want any of you three away from where he can see you.
there's also card with three stamps on it in his hand.
... well, what are you supposed to do next? maybe ask bass? talk to each other? hmmm.]
[ Happy for Garou. Yeah sure Estinien can be within reaching distance -- or alternatively, Bass can idly have this big fat spaded tail that's made an appearance since. Estinien is just putting his pieces in mental order and sorting the situation. Nothing is real... at least, not the bad things, not the visions.
The injuries are very real, and the sooner they get out to get healing for Emet-Selch and probably Garou, the better. Estinien is doing swell in comparison, though mentally, he's a little frayed. Do you ever just have a talk with someone about the fears of relapsing and harming everyone you cared about and then you just get attacked again...
Anyway, after they've had what feels like a sufficient amount of rest, Estinien clears his throat roughly. He can speak, now. ]
Three stamps. [ Glancing aside at the card in Bass's hand. ] You wouldn't happen to know where is the last place we must be, do you? Or what lies in store.
[ Yeah, Garou is just going to sit here for a second, once again replaying the fight in his head and making suggestions to himself on how to do better next time. He should know better than to focus on one target when he's up against a group...
Anyway, he blinks back to the present when Estinien speaks up. ]
I heard people saying if you win the game, you get to leave? Haven't we won by now?
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whatever you're doing, though, you get a text:]
i was shopping! come to wunafo!
[an archway appears in front of you, grey and faded, and you walk through without thinking twice.
... you are in a city. for some of you, this might be a familiar city - bright and beautiful and loud. you feel a certain amount of affection for this place, for a home away from home. you are standing in the middle of a place you understand to be shibuya crossing, the central hub of your own personal world. it leads to a few different places - you can see in the distance a building that reads 104 in big bold letters. to your right is a bike path that seems to lead to a towering building named tower records, and behind you is a shopping center that seems inaccessible, at the moment.
all around you are posters plastered up on walls advertising the Reaper’s Romp. that sounds familiar, like you're here for that. and as all of you gather your wits and try to figure out what’s going on...]
[ your phone vibrates, and rings. ]
REACH 104 AND COMPLETE YOUR TASK
FOR A CHANCE TO WIN
[you check your phone. everyone but the three of you has been erased from your contacts, though there are a few blurred out names. you also have access to a notes app, a map, and another locked application.
well? what do you do?]
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... He hates being told what to do. ]
What the hell is...
[ And then. Noticing that it's Emet and Estinien with him, he makes like a teenager caught in public with his parents and just marches off in the direction of 104 without another word. ]
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[this background may be familiar, yes, but still a little odd... that sense of affection, though, of home, settles him easily enough. that feeling-- that's something he knows very well.
something had definitely started to shift in his form at first, but it settles. however, as he sets off after garou, there's a different alteration, a single strange wing forming. it's not feathered. it looks like it has like, an approximation of a hand on the end of it? this limb is basically halfway between a wing and an arm, black and shiny. it hovers like it sort of wants to reach out as he paces after him.
this works out, though, this seems to be the direction they need to go, so he's not stopping garou or grabbing at him. it's fine.]
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If this CYOA and weekly murders don't kill him, Aymeric definitely will.
And you know, Garou starts walking off. ]
N-now, don't go walking off so early. I recall you've been on one of these already, haven't you?
[ Gods. This is the most awkward group he could have ever imagined being alone together with. ]
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you all make your way down the crowded streets - as you do, you see a multitude of people. a woman with long black hair and a kitty hood nearly rams into garou before continuing onward, muttering something rudely under her breath before flouncing off. a tall man with soft lavender hair winks at estinien before vanishing into the crowd, and emet gets a wide-eyed look from a boy with braided white hair before he scurries into a nearby cafe.
but none of those people are important. what is important is the teen standing against the lamppost right next to the 104 building. an older teenager, you think. it's difficult to say how old she might be given the way her purple skin crawls and shudders with every movement. her eyes are pure white, a glint of light flashing every time she looks at you, but the other eyes on her exposed legs and arms blink in different directions, a softer green. she appears to be judging you.]
Are you here for the task? [she asks, pushing glasses up her nose as she looks at them. she doesn't really wait, she just huffs and brings her phone up to start texting something. the same little ringtone happens on all your phones, and when you look, you see the following:]
Are you ready for your trivia questions?
Y/N
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[ your phone vibrates, and rings. ]
REMIND
OR FACE ERASURE
ESTINIEN
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what's the point? why take anything seriously?
... you want a point. a purpose.
eventually, you find where you're supposed to go. a teenage boy with long silver hair in a braid stands in the middle of the city, staring up at the sky.
all you can see around him is noise.]
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EMET-SELCH
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what's the point? why take anything seriously?
... you want a point. a purpose.
eventually, you find where you're supposed to go. a tall man in black robes, purple hair in a braid pulled over his shoulder, stares up at the sky.
all you can see around him is noise.]
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GAROU
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what's the point? why take anything seriously?
... you want a point. a purpose.
eventually, you find where you're supposed to go. a figure with silver hair and pretty red wings stands still, staring up at the sky.
all you can see around them is noise.]
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REUNITED
the shark boy from earlier is sitting where you left him! he looks up at you as you approach, but there's no smile. just a solemn look.]
... Yo. Done?
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Estinien returns, just totally stained in colour, expression somber -- but lily petals over his skin, small vines through his hair blooming through it, pristine white. He's frowning slightly, phone in hand, looking at the shark boy...
Making a slight face, like he also wants to give this boy a piece of his mind, but just holds up the green thing on his phone. Idk if it was just a flash or if there's an indicator but either way. ]
Aye.
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he is doing great, obviously!]
Evidently so.
[here's the green indicator on his own phone if it's still there. hi. he's done.]
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[ your phone vibrates, and rings. ]
REACH TOWER RECORDS
[when you arrive here, you find... something.
a blob of static sits in the middle of the street. it's shifting, stretching uselessly. it's trying. trying to make a form, trying to become anything at all, but it seems like it can't. it goes for a dog first, then a snake, then a dragon, and then - nothing. just a puddle of static on the ground, dragging itself to the yellow archway that appears in front of it.
around it, symbols appear:]
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But he pauses in front of this odd... static puddle. Well, it's kind of familiar to Bass in their early weeks, isn't it? He's on guard when the odd static begins to appear. ]
Who are you? Are you who we need to assist next?
[ ...He's not exactly hopeful for an answer, though. Eyeing the static just in case. ]
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[their BLORBO.
emet-selch is already hurrying toward the static, toward the symbols surrounding it. if any are at a safe enough distance he is arrowing them, stay the hell away from that BLOB.]
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He doesn't stop him, too mellowed out from All That. He just walks over to the archway, curious to see if they can go through.
Hopefully the symbols are violent so they can fight their feelings out. ]
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REUNITED
bass is also here, looking exhausted. he's curled up wherever emet is, leaning against his side. if estinien allows himself to be anywhere near emet, bass has a hold on him too, but otherwise he's just half asleep. garou is close by - not being touched, but absolutely within reaching distance. bass doesn't want any of you three away from where he can see you.
there's also card with three stamps on it in his hand.
... well, what are you supposed to do next? maybe ask bass? talk to each other? hmmm.]
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The injuries are very real, and the sooner they get out to get healing for Emet-Selch and probably Garou, the better. Estinien is doing swell in comparison, though mentally, he's a little frayed. Do you ever just have a talk with someone about the fears of relapsing and harming everyone you cared about and then you just get attacked again...
Anyway, after they've had what feels like a sufficient amount of rest, Estinien clears his throat roughly. He can speak, now. ]
Three stamps. [ Glancing aside at the card in Bass's hand. ] You wouldn't happen to know where is the last place we must be, do you? Or what lies in store.
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Anyway, he blinks back to the present when Estinien speaks up. ]
I heard people saying if you win the game, you get to leave? Haven't we won by now?
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