seasonsgreetings | Event #7: Knocking on the 4th Wall (Inside the Metaverse)

Entry tags:

!4th wall

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Likely so, yes. Don't worry about learning it, just enjoy the ride. Some tech is fun. ]

[ Macaque pauses, almost certainly tellingly. ]

Wukong would be a better vessel for that particular message right now. You arrived at an interesting time. [ "Interesting" here being code for dramatic and traumatic. ]

"Oh? ...Are things not well between the two of you?"

Edited 2024-03-15 20:56 (UTC)

[ He takes a quite long drink before he answers, draining the glass. ]

I wouldn't say unwell. I'd say that a lot happened and we didn't get a chance between then and this glitch situation to address it.

Bottom line, I was a damn fool and fixing me took some drastic measures. [ He will just pour more wine for himself, not that it'll help any. Debates stealing the good shit from Saya, decides it would be too obvious what a mess he is. ]

"Sounds like you made a mistake. A large one. But MK helped you fix yourself. Do you wish to talk about it?"

There's not a whole lot to say. I broke myself, and to fix me a group had to go diving into my soul.

Yeah, it's as invasive as it sounds. Not that I'm complaining, it's my own fault.

"Invasive indeed. It would be likely they would learn a lot about you and your past. Your feelings. How are they taking what they discovered?"

That's exactly what they are. Memories, feelings, all those things I try to keep mostly hidden.

It's hard to say. I was pretty out of it when we got through. Dissociation is a normal part of it, we found that out the last time I had to participate in one for one of my kids.

And by the time I started feeling like myself, I got pulled in here.

"So you had to delve into one of your children's souls. That could not have been easy either. No time to recover. I am sorry, brother." Azure poured himself and Macaque another glass of drink.

"And how are you faring now? You are less guarded. I can read your emotions from your face and your body. That was not something easy to do before."

We didn't know that's what we'd be doing at the time. We were trying to help her magic because it was under the thumb of someone else. But there we were, so I didn't have time to think about anything other than helping her.

I'm still sorting my feelings through, quite literally. What they were doing in there is piecing my emotions back together. So things are still settling.

"I do not fully understand but it sounds like quite the experience," Azure admitted. "So you are putting your own feelings back together. And have you discovered anything new? During the process?"

It's nothing you're missing, understanding these things isn't easily done with words.

Nothing new. Mostly that old things I thought I had buried weren't quite as covered over as I thought.

"And now that they are unearthed?" He probed gently.

[ Macaque sighs. ] I wish I knew. It was a lot about my past before Wukong. Our falling out. My death.

The Lady Bone Demon holding me captive.

You know, uplifting stuff. And everyone had to trudge through it.

"Things you wished to spare them from. But now that they know, perhaps, it can be for the better. You do not have to hide those things from them. At least, that would be how I would look at the situation."

[ Macaque is quiet for a long moment. ]

I imagine that this would look very different from your position. You rejected Heaven, they didn't reject you. The Brotherhood revered you. The one time you weren't given the attention you craved was Wukong.

Do you know how I learned that I could manipulate shadows? I spent so much of my young years alone that it was the only thing I could talk to. Wukong was the only one who ever accepted me, until he didn't. Now MK and Red do, and my children, and one other. New connections. Strong ones, or so I like to think. But the fear is always there.

That sort of trust, that the people I want to love me actually will, isn't easy. I'm working on it, but the fact remains.

Azure's eyebrow twitched at the attention he craved from Wukong. He took a deep breath.

"If you love them. You accept them and they accept you, perhaps them learning more about you will only increase their acceptance. The fear is natural, brother. But allow them to help you overcome it. Be open to that," Azure said softly.

[ Macaque has a shocking amount of sympathy for Azure and that little reaction to the mention of Wukong, despite the vast gulf between their experiences of acceptance overall. Being rejected by the one you love sucks, and in their cases it was the same person. ]

Maybe. Thankfully I know that I have no right to run from them, or I'd at least be considering it. [ They did all that to help him, after all. He's not about to use that as a bludgeon. ]

"Good. Knowing MK, he would hunt you down. As would your new children. They wouldn't allow you to escape so easily. Where Peng failed, they would succeed."

However did I come to be surrounded by such incorrigible youths. [ Which isn't really a question. His fondness for Wukong is all the evidence one needs that he quite likes incorrigible. ]

"Chaos begets chaos, brother," Azure said fondly. "I love him too, you know. Wukong. I love him too," Azure admitted.

"Whatever happens, I hope you are both happy. One way, or another."

I'm not blind, Azure. [ Of course he saw it in everything Azure dd back then. ] Maybe I shouldn't have been so territorial over him, but he was all I had. All I'd ever had.

[ Was that fair, possibly not. But Macaque doesn't think he can be blamed for not wanting his mate and the only one he'd ever loved to be closer to someone who was jealous of him to the point where he'd been actively rejected. ]

I think I am happy. Not only because of him, or the kids. There are others. My younger self would have called this an embarrassment of riches.

Azure chuckled. "I should have better accepted what was in front of me," Azure said softly. He should have. He knew he should have tried to accept it back then. Instead he took small moments to try and push. To see if Wukong would let him in, would relent, and if he could get what he wanted. He never did.

"I am glad. Would your younger self have realized the gift your new happiness was?"

My current self does. [ His demeanor softens substantially. ] This place is a lot of things, but I think it's been good for me.

"Congratulations, brother. I am happy for you," Azure softened himself and nodded. He poured more drinks.

"A toast. To future happiness."

[ Macaque blinks, his smile soft and sad. ]

I'd feel callous about accepting such a toast, given your circumstances.

Event #7: Knocking on the 4th Wall (Inside the Metaverse)

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