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

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!4th wall

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

Knocking on the 4th Wall
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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

[ Real. He's real. He's undeniably, unmistakably real, solid and warm and strong. Safe. Korone buries her face against his shoulder.

She lets herself lean into this. Into him. Soaking up his — Sensei's, Macchan's, Dad's — scent and the sound of his chirps, the rise and fall of his chest as he breathes, familiarfamiliarfamiliar, letting them guide her back to reality one slow, faltering step at a time.

… Then she hears another set of chirps, and her feathers floof. Not so bristly as to read as alarmed (no reason to be scared, Macchan is here), but absolutely, definitely deeply surprised. Almost bewildered. She jerks her head up fast enough she almost makes herself dizzy, looking around, staring blearily as if from the bottom of a deep, deep pond — at …

…

… She knows that face. She knows that voice. She knows — she —

Forces his name out through the barbed straw of her throat, so quiet it's barely more than a whisper, ]

L-L … ott-?

[ Macaque glances over at the chirping too, less dramatically but his gaze piercing for one second only before softening. It's an attempt to exert some control over a situation that has to be confusing, to give her some comfort, to use what clearly works. Macaque can understand that. And this kid might be a visitor, and Choco knows him and they have some bond clearly, and it's a rough situation all around and probably this kid has no idea what he just did, so Macaque won't be making a thing of it. ]

[ If the kid sticks around, or makes a habit of chirping like that? Macaque is absolutely going to tell him to Not. What he just did, inadvertently, was steal something intimate and personal for his own use, and he did so without even asking. ]

[ But things are as they are so he keeps his tongue behind his teeth and just holds Choco until she's ready to move. ]

[When it comes down to it, Lott goes with what works. His usually means of trying to help didn't, so of course he went with what was. When it came to comfort, it all came down to mimicry anyway.]

[Its not like he really has anything of his own to use. Just all the pieces of borrows from those around him.]

[Shadows were not known for their ability to comfort, not for most people.]

[There is a pause in the chirps as she fluffs up, but no. No, bewildered is fine. She's panicking. Confusion was an acceptable reaction when it came to panic because then that stopped the spiraling with a distraction and made the sound again, edging closer.]

Hey Phi. [He holds out a hand to her.] I think its been a while.

[ Her feathers remain thoroughly puffed, and while she does lower her head back down to lean her cheek against Macaque's shoulder, she manages to angle herself well enough that she can still peek out at Lott.

Lott.

Some kind of clarity is beginning to break through the haze. "Some" and "kind of" are keywords. It's as hard and heavy going as moving, and her mental math — both literal, because he's asking her a number question, and less so, because Lott is here — is sluggish. So it'll, uh, take a hot minute or three before she manages to string together some kind of an answer, and even when she does manage that much … her words still don't want to work.

Korone closes her eyes tight and swallows back the frustrated tears that threaten to start prickling. Thunks her head down against Mac's shoulder.

But she does, after another moment, first manage to make the signs for "over a year," and then reach back out to Lott. Slow and clumsy, still, like someone trying to use a limb that's still half-asleep. ]

[ It's unambiguously a good sign that she's able to reach out to him. Macaque remains where he is, being her support for as long as she needs one. ]

She lost her words. I'm not sure if she did this with you, or if you know her signs, but I think she said something about more than a year.

--Here, let me...

[ He chirps some more: he's a friend, you're safe here, how long since you saw him?, what do you need? ]

You don't need to rush. [He sees the struggling. He doesn't need her to rush. She sees him and that is enough to settle the darker feelings that want to bubble under the concern and want to help.]

[She sees him. She will get there.]

[Then he sees the frustration and signs and]

[He huffs, though he's quick to take her hand when she extends it, squeezing it and some tension eases from his shoulders.]

Phi, ya forgettin' I was a mute? Though if ya knew how to do this when we met, I might have to be annoyed with ya. The hand signs are a lot easier to figure out then whatever is going on with sounds. Probably could have done a conversation sooner over the days of watchin' everyone's mouths.

Though I'm glad yer screamin' less now. Bein' frustrated ain't so bad. Take yer time, get yer head on straight.

Edited 2024-03-22 21:35 (UTC)

[ Macaque's chirps are easier for her to parse.

(It's getting easier, bit by bit, moment by moment, as the vice around her heart and lungs slowly starts to loosen. It opens up space for something uncomfortably like shame to bubble up alongside the frustration, but — Korone tries her very, very best to squash that, or at the very least to bury it deep, deep down where it won't sting so bad.)

Still … she does her best to listen to Lott, and she does her best not to cringe when he asks about her forgetting. It's a sore spot she tries desperately not to think too hard about. She burrows deeper against Macaque, tucking her wings in close and tight, and gingerly squeezes Lott's hand.

Chirps, soft and shaky, Tighter. Time.

Please squish the living daylights out of her until her brain fully reboots, please, okay, thank you. ]

[ Macaque squeezes her with both arms, using as much strength as he needs to be just shy of hurting her. He knows from experience that she'll want that. ]

She's asking for us to be patient with her until she gets her head together.

...Do you have a mark on you that wasn't there before you got here?

Still sensitive about the amnesia, huh? Sorry, I figured out I really like gallows humor, guess that's just me.

I know. Its hard to figure out it out when her whole body is screaming, but now the specifics aren't masked so hard. [He crosses his legs, still holding her hand, eyes looking her over. Taking in the differences, checking for injuries.] Phi has never been subtle in her feelings, I just ain't the best at figuring out the right kind of comfort. Holdin' hands has been the only consistent one with her.

I mean, depends how deep things get in the soul, but I couldn't see the multi-colored triforce on me before.

Edited 2024-03-22 22:05 (UTC)

She likes those sometimes. [ Just reassurance that this kid didn't do anything wrong. ] You're doing fine, she just got a lot of memories since you saw her last, that complicates things. Usually when she gets like this it's a tight embrace.

[ Macaque swears inside his own head. Another thing he'll have to break to them, but not yet. ]

I'm Macaque. I'm her parent. And you're Lott, I heard, and you clearly have vast experience with using shadow magic. We have that in common, I can feel what you do better than I can see it.

Hm. I can do that. I could do pretty expansive hugs if she wants. [Said the 4'6, lithe child.]

I'm Lott, her pack. I belong to her and she belongs to me. [Said with the most straight faced and matter of fact face.] And I'm a shadow, so I'd hope I do.

[And now he looks at Macaque and actually looks at him.]

[And frowns.]

.....you're not from Hyrule, are ya? Pretty sure we don't have yer species...

[ Size has no bearing on strength, Macaque knows this. He has no trouble believing it. ] And she might ask you to, but right now I'm more immediately familiar is all. Once her mind catches up I'm sure she'll want comfort from you too. [ For as long as you're here. ]

I'm from Earth, same as her, although different versions of it.

You've never seen a monkey before? [ "Species" is a bit odd as a question. He's gotten odd looks before, either from the ears or the fact that he acts more human sometimes than monkey, but never confusion about what he is. ]

I'm a jungle animal. I'm very old, was born with magical capacity, and I've learned human mannerisms, but at my core I'm still a monkey. That's where the chirping comes in. Because she's part pigeon now and birds chirp too, we understand each other in that way.

Edited 2024-03-22 22:54 (UTC)

Monkey person. We got bird person, sharkish person, rock person, but I couldn't remember ever hearing monkey person and I sww plenty diplomatic visitations.

Got normal monkeys, but no magic monkey person.

But yer not from Hyrule which is weird 'cause the only people I kind of like on sight are my owner and the princess and those who I am mostly sure are sharing their souls, just a different life. Even new pack members is just the idea of more, not them for themselves before I know 'em.

So yer weird.

Edited 2024-03-22 23:31 (UTC)

[ Okay first of all OWNER?? Not really Macaque's business but that is noted, that is SO fucking noted. He's Choco's friend slash pack member? so ergo by the transitive property of protectiveness Macaque's hackles are raised by that, but he covers for it perfectly. ]

[ He chuckles though. (Maybe the sound will do Choco some good but that's not the reason, though it is part of why he doesn't stifle the impulse.) ]

I can live with weird.

It's probably partly the shadows. Like calls to like. But I'm not made of shadows unless I use my magic, as you appear to be if I'm not mistaken.

[Everyone gets so mad when he says owner!!!]

Like I said, I am a shadow. I ain't being metaphorical.

....shadow magic isn't something many use. The Sheikah did, supposedly, but if any are around, they didn't make themselves known.

That could be it. If yer charming shadows regularly, I ain't above feeling that kind of instinctual pull. As existing, no one orders me around.

Edited 2024-03-22 23:46 (UTC)

I can feel that, yes.

I have no intention of trying to order you around. For one, she'd be pissed. For another, I can make my own shadow clones for whatever I need. I would only mess with you if you gave me a reason to, and with our mutual care for Choco -- that's what she goes by these days, Choco Korone -- it would have to be a very good reason.

I can't speak to any charming effect. If there is one, it's not intentional. I can control shadows but it's an active process, I normally have to do it on purpose.

[He shrugs, though there is a slight edge of there being an Air to it casualness.] And you couldn't anyway. I'm not bound to the rules like most shadows. Anomaly and all that. Only thing I couldn't break on my own was being attached to my owner, but dimensional magic has changed that.

Shadows have things that they like. Positive emotions are rare, but there is always like. Like and....let's say devotion. You get some shadows to listen, then it would mean her likable to 'em.

[ Macaque finds himself idly wondering if he could do that if he tried. He won't, but purely as a thought exercise. ]

I haven't experienced it as devotion, but I've only ever been on this side of it. I've never doubted that the shadows could turn on me if I misused them, so I have taken care not to. [ Shadows were his first real support, friends one might say. He always treated them with respect accordingly. ]

[The consequences would be quite bad regardless.]

Yer not a shadow. Yer a full person with the full range of emotion naturally. Shadows are generally very....base in how they exist. They know what they like and what they don't. They take on the things their owners hide. But they can bear it because unlike their owners, they can simply be those things without them getting over complicated.

It's why a lot can take the usual ignoring. Not always, but most do.

But ya take care of them?

[ This heavy pause brought to you by a very recent heart game. ]

Shadows were the first things that accepted me. Since, as you pointed out, and you don't know the half of it, I'm not a normal monkey. They took care of me when no one else would.

So yes, I take care of them in return. Or I try to. They're not some tool to me, although they do answer my call... it's more intimate than that. And that word even feels a little inadequate, but it's what I've got at hand that fits best. It's a unique sort of bond that isn't so easily described.

[Lott puts his chin in his hand, studying Macaque a few moments. Then his eyes drift down, the color vanishing from them, leaving just white behind as he looks at the shadows around him.]

Even a shadow whose become bitter and hateful to their owner, the sort of shadows evil beings like to use in dark magic assassination attempts, still feel devotion. They cannot deny the want to be close. Even if that close is a blade to the heart.

To be seen.

All shadows want to be seen and if you can make a shadow feel it, they will give that devotion to you too.

There is no word for it. Love is closest.

[ The shadows around Macaque are close to him in a way that defies visual appearance, attentive and waiting. Devoted is indeed the word. They call to each other even when Macaque isn't using them directly. It is a mutual devotion however, nothing one-sided. Lott will probably also see Macaque's huge avatar, or echoes of it, and the power behind that which the shadows lend him. ]

I suppose it is closest. [ He won't argue the point. ]

[ Macaque creates a clone out of one of the nearby shadows and it rises off the floor in front of Lott, it's purple glowing eyes looking him over with curiosity. Not a trace of threat or animosity. As Macaque said, like calls to like. A few more clones peek over from various points around the room, not getting too close. Just observing, listening. ]

[Shadows are powerful things, when given the chance to shine. Lott knows that better than most. The Dark Mirror allowed him to exist in the World of Light, but where as Vaati was given power from it, Lott was left to stand on his own. Not even offered power in a last ditch effort to stop is owners.]

[He had caused a lot of damage with his own hand.]

[He glances around at the clones and then there is a snicker. There is no sound though, just the motions of it, blackness covering his form. He waves his fingers teasingly at the shadows. Why are they so shy?]

[ They're not shy, they're waiting for Macaque's command. And Macaque wants to make sure it's clear that he's not making a threat of any kind, plus there's Choco's state of mind to consider, so he's being overly cautious. ]

[ The shadows smile with glowing purple grins, and approach Lott, hands raised. They want to touch, but only if it's okay. ]

[Shadow figures, but also, he's a tease.]

[Shadow extends his free hand because he's not letting go of Korone's. This physical and body language are a lot more clear than sounds and it's good to check the shadows truly are happy with Macaque's attention. If they're happy in general.]

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