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Seasons Mods ([personal profile] seasonsmods) wrote in [community profile] seasonsgreetings2024-03-15 12:11 am
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Event #7: Knocking on the 4th Wall (Inside the Metaverse)



Knocking on the 4th Wall
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION





Prelude (Pre 4th Wall)


On March 14th, everyone received a message. The Research Center is ready to try another test to find ways to beat the Darkness. This time the test is not done with the robots that were previously used, but instead everyone who volunteers will be participating in a virtual reality simulator. They're asked to come over to the Center on March 15th.

The researchers will explain that the purpose of this simulation is to see how several fully powered power holders fair against the Darkness. They have gathered enough data on it and the dark energy in general to determine the effects it will have on nature, monsters and wildlife if the barrier is taken off. This is the only safe way to actually test their theories.

After all the necessary explanations, everyone is asked to log in to the metaverse. Anyone logging in may notice that there are a lot of glitches as they enter.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, anyone looking at any kind of a screen (their own device, television, a digital advertisement, etc.) will have their mind sucked into the metaverse, due to the virus residing in the program. Their bodies will be left in a sleep-like state wherever they may be.



Wrong Turn at Albuquerque


The Research Center staff intended for all otherworlders to start near the Research Center so they could get used to the metaverse in peace. There are no natives in the simulator, so testing out powers around the city would have been safe as well. However, because of the glitch, people can appear anywhere, either in the city or anywhere on the segments (save from the one closed off location).

Sometimes the scenery and items in the world glitch a little bit, reminding anyone that this is the metaverse. Except the glitches weren't meant to happen. Luckily they're all mostly aesthetical, but some items may work differently than they should. You have a spoon? It actually works like a fork.

Luckily, this doesn't mean they will be without any items. They can open a menu with the device on their wrist that lets them get anything at all from Riki's Rewards during the simulator without any cost. They can think of this as special opportunity to test out all kinds of items before buying them, as they work exactly the same as they would in normal space.

For some reason, the Shady Shop also appears in the menu. That was not anyone's intention as the items are, well, shady.

Other than the two shops there are basic potion and magical item menus that people can use where needed. Even vehicles, such as airships can be summoned through the menus for easier traveling in the segments.

Some might find the glitches concerning and wish to return and tell the researches about them. The problem with that is is that clicking "Log Off" won't do anything at all, even if it's supposed to boot someone out of the metaverse. But that's not the end of the strange things going on.


You're in the Metaverse Now


Along with the otherworlders that were participating in the test, others start to join in as well due to unforeseen circumstances. Luckily, they have the same "settings" as everyone else, so they're not completely without aid wherever they end up in. They also have all of their powers unlocked for the duration of their stay in the metaverse (including all animal transformations).

As part of the strange glitch going on everyone also has access to any powers from previous worlds, if they have experienced other places before. It would seem the powers can also be shared through the item inventory, should anyone want to temporary use another world's abilities. This is possible with even a person's native powers.

And as if that wasn't enough, people who weren't on Ellipsa start appearing as well. Anyone who doesn't currently have a body on Ellipsa has a mark somewhere on their body, signaling that they're just data. This mark is somehow related to the characters that has it and emits a faint light.

All of the people who are just visiting will also be able to enjoy the metaverse the same way as anyone else. They have been sorted into a Seasons and have access to full powers - and the same item inventory. All that's different from the others is that they have no physical body to return to in this world.


Communication is the key


During the metaverse adventures, people are able to communicate through their devices, but the messages will not go out to the "normal" network. So the messages are only between those in the metaverse, but at least the network works the same way as it would in the "normal world".

Happy communicating.




It's Getting Dark, Too Dark to See


The goal of the metaverse is to have a safe environment to test powers against the Darkness. All of the barriers have been taken out, except for the one surrounding the city of Nightwake. The city acts as a safe haven to anyone who needs a break or doesn't want to fight.

Everyone is encouraged to go to where the barriers used to be and use their full, unlocked powers against everything and anything the darkness throws at them to see how well they can fight against it.

Thanks to all powers being unlocked, destroying enemies powered up by the Darkness is a lot easier, but pushing back the approaching darkness still needs something more than just raw power. Though with enough power holders of different seasons working together and crossing the different seasonal element streams fusing together different elements from each season in a single attack, it's possible to halt the advance, much like a barrier would, for 24 hours.

Due to the barriers being off, all creatures are stronger due to the Darkness's influence. Even creatures that normally have no danger level can now at least do Dark damage. Some Slime especially may seek vengeance.

Unfortunately, due to the weird glitch in the system, everyone inside the metaverse is able to feel pain when they originally weren't supposed to, to make the experience safe. It feels very real, and there's a chance any non-lethal wounds will appear on the person's real body.

Effects of "The Darkness"


The Darkness is slowly expanding from all sides. Very slowly, at a snail's pace. Everything it touches turns into black sand, before transforming into something different. Some may even recognize the things that rise from the sand, as they're monsters, fauna or people from their own world, made into more twisted forms. They may even be creatures from a popular media from back home... or at least, someone's home (players').

If a Power Holder walks into the Darkness, they won't immediately turn into anything. Instead the transformation is slow and painful. Leaving the area will stop the transformation, but any damage already done remains. If the person changes completely, they might lose their sense of self completely and attack anything in their sights.

What they turn into depends on the individual (player's choice) and the only way to reverse the changes is to die. Luckily that isn't permanent even in the metaverse. The person just gets booted out, but can re-enter anytime they want to (or in this case; is forced to). This was told to anyone before entering the program, so they could go all out and test limits as much as they want.




Wait... Did I Save?


A screen appears either when someone dies or gets forcefully booted out of the metaverse. It has two options: Remember or Forget.

Clicking "Remember" will automatically save everything that happened into a person's memory and proceed to boot them out. Clicking "Forget" will lead the person to a series of "Are you Sure" pop up windows. As the very last resort, the window suggests an option to only partially forget events that transpired in the metaverse. Choosing to still forget everything will make the person wake up from a long, dreamless sleep. The memories erased cannot be found later on, as they have been completely erased from their metaverse-selves. Even someone telling them what happened won't sound familiar.

This option is also available for any visitors during the time they're visiting. Whenever they die they get booted out and can be immediately returned to the metaverse (by the power of players) with or without their memories, depending on what they chose.

Of course, anyone can then tell the person about the very crazy stunts they made the last time they were in the metaverse. They could be complete lies, but they wouldn't have any solid proof, other than "I would never do that".

Time to Say Goodbye


Finally, on March 31st, a message comes from the outside. It's telling everyone stuck in the metaverse that they can finally leave out of their own will and stay out this time. People can then choose to leave immediately be pressing by pressing the "Log Off" button on their screen or take a moment to say goodbye to the temporary visitors of the metaverse.

The screen asking if someone wants to "Remember" or "Forget" appears, once again. This time the Forget option is even more insistent on asking if the person is sure about their choice, especially since the memories that are erased can't be taken back later.

Once everyone who exists on Ellipsa has returned to their bodies, the metaverse will be shut down. All visitors have been booted out and returned to where they came.



OOC TIPS


• Ask 4th Wall related questions here. Read the 4th wall FAQ before asking them.

• You don't need to comment on the plotting post to participate & anyone can participate in the 4th wall (there's no separate invitation needed). However, if you wish to app in later, you need an invite if you're not a friend of the mods.

• This post is open to tag and top-level by everyone! Those arriving for the 4th wall can write 4TH WALL or VISITOR on their post and/or link their top level here!

Check the Opt-in top-level if you're considering bringing in a character that already exists in the game.

• Smut is not allowed on the event post, so if your thread is heading that way, please move it to a separate entry (like to your musebox or characters' journal).

• Remember to content and spoiler warn as necessary!

• Reminder to players in the game that this month is Activity Check-in month and check-in ends on March 31th, at 23:59 PST.






code bases by tricklet
bluediligence: (Lost your teeth in a prison fight.)

[personal profile] bluediligence 2024-03-18 09:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm, uh -

[ Staring. She is staring. Or more like gawking, really, once she's skidded to a stop and wheeled around, eyes wide as saucers and practically sparkling. ]

Y-Yeah! Thanks to you! Oh my gosh, wow, what was that?!

[ Is this person a yokai? It'd make sense ... ]

It just - you just ... and they-! [ CLAPS HER HANDS TOGETHER ]
bluediligence: (SCREE)

[personal profile] bluediligence 2024-03-18 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Saved-! ... by the ... uh -

Pinecone? Noodle? Pinecone noodle lady? Many-legged?? ... WHO JUST GOT LASERED REPEATEDLY TO SAVE HER SORRY ASS??! Aaa! ]


What the-

[ AAAA? ]

A-Are you okay?! That was — um, super cool, thank you so much, but, uhm, lasers?! Molten metal?!
marvelloussky: (I won't let you do as you please!)

[personal profile] marvelloussky 2024-03-18 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
That was Dragon Slaying magic! Even if these aren't real dragons, it still works enough to knock them off balance!

[As the robo-dragons start to get up, the girl takes an impossibly deep breath as rocks form in front of her and break apart into little pieces.]

Sandstorm of the Sky Dragon!

[She exhales a whole tornado, which catches the sharp bits of stone and crashes into the robo-dragons, shredding them to pieces.]

Are you hurt at all?
itsamoray: (48)

[personal profile] itsamoray 2024-03-18 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[Normally, getting up in his personal space when he was feeling testy was a one way ticket to making him snap, but the way she did it so casually threw him for a loop. There was a solid moment where he just stared at her, processing just what was going on.

It sounded like she might know Jade, which would be useful, but if so then she’d clearly gotten them mixed up, which is annoying.

But also if this was true then Jade had some chick that was all up in his business clinging to his arm, and if so then he Needs to Know so he can bust his brother’s balls accordingly.

So he’s just going to tilt his head and keep staring at her to see if she catches on that she’s got the wrong Leech. Probably not too difficult once the dissonance, from seeing Jade’s face doing not very Jade like things, sets in.
]
wroughtandtempered: (we all know)

[personal profile] wroughtandtempered 2024-03-18 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Uh.

[ holy shit okay Eve, get it together, even if that's a surprise not-your-girlfriend you were heroically rescuing it was still a good and necessary save. she wiggles the rest of the way free to shake herself and— ohhh hello she got more than a little singed, didn't she, ow. ow ow ow.

sheepishly: ]

...I've had worse? [ worse that is maybe going to include Donnie being Unhappy At Her. fuck. ] It's fine, I'm armored and I heal fast. You okay?
bluediligence: (I had a hard time learning to hammer.)

[personal profile] bluediligence 2024-03-18 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She is so very similar to Choco Korone, and yet different in so many ways as well. From the obvious — like her longer hair and lack of glasses — to her fashion choices, lack of scars, and even her body language. Korone's almost always on alert, carrying with her a subtle tension and a readiness to act with a split second's notice. This girl …

She's not completely oblivious, but neither is she carrying the weight of years of deep, horrific trauma. ]


"Why not?" is always a correct answer to the question, "Do you want parfait?"! [ The other correct answer is heck yeah I want parfait. ]

You, um, might need to point us in the right direction though! I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole - [ an expansive gesture ] situation.
datingsimp: (1.)

[personal profile] datingsimp 2024-03-18 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[Tristan smacks Luciel's chest in excitement and pulls him by his arm.]

Wonderful! I can't wait for our romantic date!
kaientai: (171)

[personal profile] kaientai 2024-03-18 11:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm sure they're just as grateful for the help as I am. The fact that we can keep looking for more trouble proves your hard work pays off.

[ There was also a time when he was the only person she trusted, so Ryouma couldn't be more proud and happy to hear it. ]

I wish I'd been here a year ago, but I'm glad you had a chance to make some good memories without me always hanging around, too. Everyone deserves to do that.
kerontribution: (loved that rascal Puff)

[personal profile] kerontribution 2024-03-19 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
They would have been good memories with you there, too. All Oryou's friends would like you.

[Or otherwise they have terrible taste and wouldn't be Oryou's friends.]
kaientai: (081)

[personal profile] kaientai 2024-03-19 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
Really? It's not super common where I come from, so I'd like to meet someone with it who wasn't me someday.

[ He feels he needs to distinguish that it needs to be a different person because he's definitely met another version of himself once. ]

As far as I know, "digital" usually refers to computers, which makes sense even if how I ended up inside one in another world doesn't.

[ Ending up inside computers in his own world is something that can and has happened, so it's mostly the world-hopping that's strange. ]

I guess that explains how I can suddenly turn into animals.
dreamsofwings: (101)

metaverse later; i will not apologise for him bc you already know what he's like

[personal profile] dreamsofwings 2024-03-19 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
Eren would like to think that he has a better handle on time, on the way things are, the disconnect between then and now that threatens to dislodge him sometimes. That's only lying to himself, though. Anytime something happens, it kicks him off kilter again, and he hasn't been exactly fine since they reached the basement and the floodgate of his memories started to pour out.

The truth — that time and being out of sync still affect him pretty deeply — is very obvious today. Sure, this is some, what, some fake place? He's not entirely certain how it works. He was an idiot to get involved in anything that wasn't quite real to begin with, but that kind of thing has never stopped him before.

Here, though, seeing Bertholdt Hoover at a destroyed wall is incredibly jarring. Of all the fucking people to be fixing a wall

Not like Eren has any room to talk. Sure, he shored up the walls at home. Then he tore them all down a few years later. He doesn't really have any ground to stand on talking about destruction. He can live with being a hypocrite.

He reaches for anger. He finds it, of course; there's always some seething rage inside Eren. He's been angry all his life. Nothing has ever cooled him, not really. He can tamp it down or find ways to direct it, but he can't move on or forgive things, so he's always just angry.

But he's not really angry at Bertholdt, not anymore. It's been years. Lifetimes. Hours. He understands what they were trying to do. He understands fighting like hell for people you love, making terrible choices.

A half-acknowledged memory tugs at him, Bertholdt, his mother, the day the walls came down.

He rejects it. He's not ready. He tries to remember when they are. Bertholdt, seventeen forever (because of me, Eren thinks, because of Armin, because of us). Eren, on the cusp of twenty-one, an age he never imagined he would see. There is a gulf between them now, a bigger one than before.

Here and now, he tells himself. Even if this place is fake. Even if Bertholdt isn't real, won't stay, it doesn't matter. It feels real enough.

They don't have to be enemies, if only Eren can find a way to be something different.

He tells himself to not be too big of a dick because Reiner loves Bertholdt and Eren…well, put a pin in that because we don't do feelings here. Unfortunately, Eren is still Eren and he can't just be a normal fucking person so the first thing he says isn't very nice.

"Must be weird building a wall instead of wrecking one, huh?"
noodleboi: (LE GO!)

[personal profile] noodleboi 2024-03-19 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
MK nodded and opened his mouth to say something when he heard Wukong's voice. He grinned and spun around. Oh he was so happy. He didn't know that Monkey King signed up for the simulation!

"Hey, Wukong! I did! Meet the Great Sage Tripitaka! From another world! Tripitaka! Meet my mentor, Sun Wukong the Monkey King! Great Sage Equal to Heaven!" MK said with a triumphant tone and a big grin.
uncylion: (This can't be)

Re: Segments

[personal profile] uncylion 2024-03-19 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
Azure hadn't realized who had joined the battle. He spun around as the creature died to see who had come to his assistance. His eyes widened as he saw who it was.

"...Wukong," He said softly and just stared.
goeswest: (prayer towards the night sky)

[personal profile] goeswest 2024-03-19 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
Wukong may not look the same as Sanzang remembers him, but he's a shapeshifter - the exact looks aren't important. She'd recognize the Vibes anywhere, though.

"Wukong! You're really here! I missed you so much!!!"

And here come the happy tears. Sorry, this one's a crier.
conceptheart: https://twitter.com/XIAOJIAJU/status/1553681242876674048 (27)

[personal profile] conceptheart 2024-03-19 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
They are imprisoned. They wish for freedom.

[His flair for melodramatics also started young. He's also continuing to pout and look generally displeased.

Gonna do another little leg shake.
]
happydreamed: neutral (träumst du mit mir heut Nacht)

Kantera | END ROLL (Imeeji CRAU) | current character

[personal profile] happydreamed 2024-03-19 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
[A: the fun powers: around Ellipsa]
[Kantera has a little blue dragon perched on his arm! It seems different from the kind that gets summoned from a necklace, at least in part because there's no danger around.]

Oh, I have missed you, Periwinkle. What a shame that I don't think you can stay.

[He's also sent texts to his friends and loved ones, though only those in the simulation would have reached them, asking them to come by and help him test out some powers.]

[B: the Bad Power: summer segment, tw: gore, body horror]
Ah...

[It's rare to see the pieces of a body. The Explodie that caused this has already left, so it can't have been that recent, but the nature of Ellipsa means that corpses only last for half an hour before dissolving into dust. And isn't the metaverse specifically supposed to immediately log someone out on death?

Kantera's head is fully separate from his torso, and the rest of his body is similarly fragmented. So it may take a second for someone to realize that those groans are coming from him. His eyes blearily track your approach.

He's not, in fact, dead. You can thank(?) Heroes Never Die for that.]


Help... me...

[C: wildcard]
Edited 2024-03-19 01:59 (UTC)
sangreine: crying :: sad (in grief)

B

[personal profile] sangreine 2024-03-19 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
[ Saya had chased down the creatures that ultimately did this a short distance away, though she hadn't known what happened exactly, all she knew was that the unmistakable smell of her husband's blood was clinging to them. She makes quick work of the things and races back, only to find-- ]

[ She falls to her knees at his head, understanding exactly why he's able to be still alive. Shaking hands pull his head into her lap. ]


H-hang on sweetling, I'll find someone...

[ Just gotta fight through the PTSD. ]
happydreamed: dark smile (und es gibt kein zurück mehr)

[personal profile] happydreamed 2024-03-19 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh, she's crying. He needs to comfort her, but his hands are a foot away from him and won't move to hold hers. He tries to smile for her, strained though it is.]

Don't worry, I'm sure... there's someone...
monoceroscaeli: <user name="amayaicons-anime" site="tumblr.com"> (24)

[personal profile] monoceroscaeli 2024-03-19 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
[Childe has to take a minute to sigh- making the kids back at home wear boots outside in the snow was way easier than what this would be. At least Tonia, Anthon, and Teucer could feel how the cold bit at their feet, but he's not so lucky here...how do you tell a puppet that shoes are necessary...]

It's not like that. In fact, not having them restricts your own freedom. There's a lot of places you can't go inside of without them on. If you want to give them true freedom, you'll have to pick out a pair of shoes. If you don't like the boots, we can find a different pair, maybe ones that let your feet breathe a little more.

[Don't make him tap the no shirt no shoes no service sign!!!]

How does that sound? I think I remember your brother wearing something more traditional to Inazuma, how about that?

[He's totally pulling the brother card on him here...]
sangreine: crying :: sad (just one)

> Red Son next

[personal profile] sangreine 2024-03-19 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ She progresses quickly from just crying to outright sobbing. But she does use telekinesis to pull his various... pieces... close and arrange them in proper order. ]

I'm here, okay? I'm not going anywhere. I know it hurts.

[ Her shaking, bloody hands pull out her phone and she texts Red Son, the only other Spring user who she's sure is in here. ]

Emergency, come right away. [ Attached is a map pin from out in the segments. ]

[ She can't fall apart, but she's coming unglued quickly. In the meantime she just curls over him and kisses his face and cries and wishes she were on sIV. ]
roundandaround: Shameless smile. (smile smile smile)

A

[personal profile] roundandaround 2024-03-19 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
Wow! I didn't know you had another pet!

[Rinku waves at the little dragon and smiles.]

I didn't get to bring Mecchan in with me... I hope he's not crying in the facility with all of us sleeping.
happydreamed: smile (zum eignen Strick)

[personal profile] happydreamed 2024-03-19 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
Periwinkle is a power I had in Tokyo-F, actually.

[Periwinkle chirps happily at Rinku and flies over to land on her shoulder instead, nuzzling at her face.]

I'm sure someone is looking after Mecchan while we're gone.
roundandaround: Excited gasp. (whoaaaaaaa)

[personal profile] roundandaround 2024-03-19 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
I hope so... I should have gotten a petsitter, but I didn't think we'd get stuck.

[She coos and pets Periwinkle with a finger.]

A power? Like a summon?
happydreamed: smile (denn meine Träume kreisen)

[personal profile] happydreamed 2024-03-19 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
Correct. He responds to my instructions and can complete small tasks for me. -He also can change size, and before I could fly with spring powers I used to ride him.
roundandaround: Looking behind her, dressed as Kotori from Rewrite. (it's definitely a dog)

[personal profile] roundandaround 2024-03-19 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
Wooow! I wonder how he got here? I heard people who went to other worlds before this one got their powers back, but I don't get how. Maybe since it's a whole "metaverse" thing, you turn into what you think of yourself? But someone else said that might not be it either.