Seasons Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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seasonsgreetings2024-03-15 12:11 am
seasonsmods) wrote in 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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".
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.
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no subject
At the question he comes out of his guilt enough to shrug his shoulders at Eren, one hand coming up, palm upraised. He doesn't know; why would he? Eren elaborates, though, and this time Bertholdt's expression turns into one of genuine confusion, then surprise.
The same last name... it shouldn't have even been a consideration and never was for Bertholdt; just a coincidence from Eldian forefathers. No one escaped Marley's confinement unaltered; no one came outside of Paradis and lived to tell the tale.
And yet, Eren says his father came from Marley. At Eren's age, he can see some resemblance to Zeke, though it isn't immediately apparent.
"That... should be impossible," is what he says, though the uncertainty around his voice makes it clear he doesn't think Eren is lying. Marley would cover up the loss of the Attack Titan, though, wouldn't it? Revising their own history so no one would know. The only people who could would be the Warriors at the time, and eventually the memory would no longer be passed on.
Did Zeke tell him, that day, if he survived Levi, or was it something his father left behind for him? Bertholdt doesn't ask, instead shaking his head a little.
no subject
"It should be," Eren said, "but it's not. My dad escaped from Marley after Zeke sold him and his wife out. His wife turned into a titan for good, but…someone on the inside gave my dad the Attack Titan."
He doesn't really need to go on from there. They know Eren has the Founding Titan; that's why they want him. The Attack Titan, well…he's not certain how long it hid outside of Marley's control. Since before Grisha had it, must have been, but that part is fuzzy for him. It doesn't matter.
"Obviously Marley wouldn't want any of that getting out. They only told you what you needed to know. And inside the walls…we were lied to for a hundred years. You know that already, right? You knew we didn't know shit. We didn't have technology like you did in Marley. We stayed in the dark and we would have died like that, like animals in cages. Instead, I set us free."
That's an oversimplification of the hell that Eren will bring to the world. He knows that. He knows Bertholdt might hear the truth of the future from Reiner. Why overload him with it here and now?
no subject
Bertholdt's eyes weren't truly opened until Paradis. To live in the ruin of what you created, to see a snapshot of life one hundred years ago. To see the animals trapped in the dark, as Eren so aptly put it. He could not other them for long, in the muck and misery. In the shadow of a man who hung himself, whose story they stole for their own needs.
To find a monster, they became monsters.
"We didn't --" He starts at first, then stops, closing his eyes for the briefest moment before he continues. "No one had made it inside. We didn't know what it was like... but we knew what it was like after we broke down your wall."
For now, he assumes 'setting them free' means what he did in Shiganshina; Bertholdt's death to save Armin, the fact that there was no opposition to them leaving the walls anymore. Eren achieved his goal of cresting the top of those ruined walls and breaking free.
(The truth is so much more horrific. The truth is no worse than anything else Bertholdt has ever done. What is a million people trampled to death when Bertholdt has wiped an entire city off the map?)
He does not apologize, though his tone is undeniably somber. Apologies would change and mean nothing no matter how sincere.
no subject
Ultimately, though, Bertholdt isn't who he's angry at. He can never forgive what happened when they were children. He doesn't know how. He doesn't care to learn. But if he can accept Reiner, maybe someday he can accept Bertholdt too.
For now he softens only slightly, at war with himself and his hatred.
"I know," he finally says, and it isn't derisive or a challenge. It's just...the truth. "How could you know? You were kids. That's all."
It isn't forgiveness, but he really does get it. The world was so much worse than any of them dreamed, in Marley or Paradis. It's worse even than that thanks to Eren. He has never been sorry for the world. He doesn't care if it burns. All he wanted was freedom, a clean slate outside the walls.
There was never any such thing.
And now there's...this, a boy long dead and one who has outlived the time allotted to him, stolen two years he won't have at home. He can't and wouldn't give Bertholdt's time back, but if he stays here, can he also be something different? That's a nice lie Eren tells himself, tells Reiner, that they can choose to be something else here. He wants it to be true.
"I've spent a long time away from that hell," he says. "And I'd rather die than go back. The stakes aren't the same here."
That is also a lie, at least on some level. For Eren, the stakes are the same. Save his people at any cost, even if that cost is the world. He has no idea what amount of stolen time they get to have here, but he'll fight with all he has to keep them here and safe and whole. He includes Reiner in that calculation; eventually he has to include Bertholdt because Reiner does.
no subject
In part because he must live with it, and also a tiny, manipulative part that knows Eren does not kindly view those with shaken convictions. Better to remain as he is now, potentially an enemy, than be seen as any weaker.
The statement of spending a long time away from hell - home - matches with what Jean had shared with him earlier. That they are all from different points, that they can be stolen but just as easily returned without any memory of being here.
He does not deny that some tension eases from his shoulders, though, when Eren says he'd rather die than go back.
"I don't want to fight if I don't have to," Bertholdt admits again after a long moment. No, he doesn't want to fight; he will if he has to. Just as Eren will not fight him right now, but might want to.
"I don't know how long I have here," He continues on, almost grudging. "I don't remember arriving here; if I don't have a body to return to, then this is all pointless anyways."
no subject
For now, that unsteady truce holds.
"I don’t know. Anyone can disappear from this place without warning. Death here doesn't matter, seems like. I knew that before I ran into you. All we can do is move forward for as long as we're allowed to."
Eren learned that idea from Reiner, but these are still Eren's words, his stubbornness. He never liked admitting they have no choices, but this is out of their control. Bertholdt will stay or he won't.
Eren can't find Armin's sort of freeing nihilism. Armin realising nothing they did mattered had been eye opening for him. Eren can't do that. He so desperately wants everything to matter here and now, where the future remains unknown and unseen by him.
"You're here now," he finally says with a shrug. "It's up to you what to do with it."
cw: talk of suicide (not active), tentatively sets this before reiner
Bertholdt would almost thank Eren but something about that doesn't sit right - withers and dies, sour, in the back of his throat before the thought is even fully formed. He has no reason to thank Eren for anything, and the feeling is mutual.
Instead he exhales a little bit, unsure if it's a dismissive statement or a continuing one.
"We don't really have any other choice," is what he settles on. Drown in despair or revel in it, but they have to keep living - if, morbidly, even death is not an option out for anyone. His expression softens after a moment, though, despite being in front of Eren.
"I don't want to waste it," is what he settles on. Eren as good as confirmed he and Reiner still talk, so he looks at Eren directly. "I spoke to Jean, earlier. He mentioned Reiner and Annie were here so - if you see them..."
He's such a brat I'm sorry (I'm not sorry)
He knows he has been/is/will be a slave to that ideal, like Armin said. He's seen himself admit it. But Eren here and now can't and won't.
"Giving up is a choice. Just a shitty one," he says instead.
Reiner. Fuck, what is he going to do about Reiner now? He was so scared of losing whatever it is they have that he's overreacted about it before. It's a weird sort of hypocrisy, as usual. That thing between them was never in danger with Armin being here and it won't be with Bertholdt being here. Eren has barely grown out of being an insecure kid, though.
"I see Reiner all the time," he says. "If I see them, what?"
he's a perfect angel - said no one ever
The point, of course, that Bertholdt does not take anything in a way that will make him really angry. He's been controlling how he felt for a very long time now.
That doesn't mean there's not the slightest hint of annoyance. He doesn't know the relationship between Eren and Reiner, just yet. It's always been intense, a stronger thing than his and Eren's even before the revelations, but Bertholdt feels secure in knowing he is important to Reiner.
Tell him what, like he couldn't guess.
"That I'm here, waiting. He'll figure out the rest." He says it measured, calm, confident without being overly so. There are so many things he does not know about this Eren that is older. So many things that Reiner has learned about their future, what happened after Bertholdt died. He's confident that Reiner will show up, sooner or later.
no subject
I'll mention you to him after he fucks me next time, he almost says. It's such a near thing. His mouth opens and he has to snap it shut again.
Making choices to be a slightly less terrible person is hard, actually! He manages it for now, swallowing that sentence and any other stupid ass thing he might have said. This kind of restraint won't hold forever. Like so many things, it's only for now, a choice Eren manages because he wants to this time.
"If he hasn't found you by then," Eren says instead, almost dismissive. He might even mean it, if only because it tears Reiner up, what happened to Bertholdt, being here without him. He might not mean it, because he's Eren and he takes his hurt and anger and insecurity out on other people. Everyone eventually gets caught in his destruction, even people he cares about deeply. Especially people he cares about deeply.
"Good luck fixing that wall," he says, a barb on purpose, as he turns to go. For Eren, it's barely anything. It's not even actually scathing.
no subject
(But what had he been about to say?)
He pushes it down, and aside. Feeling guilty for Eren is a black hole that one will never crawl out of, if they're not wary. The on purpose barb, about the wall, is almost a comfort. Something intentional, personal, but that he expected.
"Thanks," he says, just a hint of sarcasm in his tone despite himself - but he doesn't try to stop Eren or follow him. He doesn't offer a rejoinder, and if they have nothing
to be sad to say to each other, he lets him go.