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

We can have dinner and sleep!

[You know. In the same bed.]

[ duct tapes him to the ceiling ]

Hrm... I guess that's our best option for now. We should start looking for a place that comes with a kitchen now then before it gets too late out.

[ And demon starts wandering the streets looking for DICC ]

[Luciel???]

Yes, and before our veggies get sad.

[He's going to hug onto Luciel's arm with a carefree smile.]

I'm so happy I ran into you. I missed you.

Missed me? Was I gone that long?

[ Is there some sort of weird time dilation effect between wherever they are now and their city...? He didn't think he was gone for that long, but maybe it's been a while.

He spares a glance down at Tristan, and resists the urge to squint.

It could have been also been, like, thirty seconds. You never know with this guy.

(Tellingly, he doesn't shove him off) ]

Yes! I counted to ten and everything. I called out to you too. I feared we would never see eachother again.

But I should have known better. You can't stop love, after all.

...............................

You counted ten...seconds. Actual seconds.

[ TRISTAN????? ]

Yes. I have become really good at math! Do you want a demonstration?

[Smiling.]

No I don't want a--come on! Ten seconds?! What do you do when I go out????

[ What does Tristan do when he goes out???? ]

I think about you. And dream about you. Do you want to know more?

[ He sort of does and doesn't?? Please, son, tell him you have more interests than just waiting for him to show up-- ]

No. Forget I said anything, let's just find a hotel.

[ okay no he has to ask ]

...What did you do before you met me?

[ This is something he probably should have asked months ago when they first met, to be honest. ]

I hope it has a nice bed!

[He worries his lip in thought.]

I loved a lot of people! Everyday I met someone new and it was very exciting. But I didn't love them as much as I loved you. One of the grannies told me that's because what we share is special.

[ ...Oh. That. Actually makes him pause a little, looking down at Tristan with a bit more consideration that he tends to. It'd be one thing if the dmeon said it himself, but for the neighbourhood grannies to say so too... Hm. ]

That right? What else do they say about what we...uh, have?

[He hopes that Luciel will keep looking at him like that. It makes his heart feel funny in a way he didn't think possible.]

That I should propose to you. So I propose that we share a bed!

[ Cute....that's so cute. If only Luciel could read minds and find that out, instead of sex things.

He's also not surprised at all that what they've said has gone right over Tristan's dead. This hopeless demon. ]

I'll order separate rooms.

Wait!

[He holds onto Luciel's arm with all of his demon strength, panic in his eyes.]

I won't hit on you when you're tired! Please let us share a bed.

Oof--

[ LAWD Luciel was not prepared for that, that nearly yanks his arm out of its socket??? He forgets how strong Tristan can be when he's serious about something. He's pulled to a full an abrupt stop, grunting in surprise. ]

Be careful, you'll rip a human's arm off like that! Geez... Does sharing a bed really matter that much?

Ah! I’m sorry, I’m supposed to be gentle with my lover!

[Tristan frets over Luciel’s arm, making sure it’s still securely attached. His hands that brush softly up his bicep and settle on his chest are an unnecessary bonus!]

Do you feel better now? And I want to share a bed to give you a good time!

[ Pls...enjoy daddy's tiddy they're p powerful. ~~not Chipp levels of powerful but~~ Luciel deadpans as his palsm come to rest on his chest...but again he just. Sighs. And reaches up to remove them. ]

Uh huh... And you're really going to let me sleep?

[He does enjoy them! They're strong and he's confident they could crush a coffee cup, and they're the perfect place to rest his head. Which he does as soon as his hands are removed.]

I will eventually!

"Eventually."

[ SIGHS. SIGHS SO MUCH. ]

What am I going to do with you....

What would you like to--

[Grooooowl.

Tristan looks down at his stomach with a confused face.]

[ THIS BOI-- ]

...........

How about we start with food first. Find a hotel, find a kitchen.

I am an expert at finding hotels!

[He places his hands back on Luciel's tiddies with a look of pride.]

As a matter of fact, I saw one back that way!

[ At this point he's just going to give up on the booba thing and let it go. Maybe if he redirects Tristan to something productive they will be able to accomplish more than being two weirdos in the street. ]

You did? Where?

Back that way. [Pointing behind them.] It had many rooms from what I saw.

...You really should think about letting them breathe more.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject