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City of Lost Characters Season 2: New Game+

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SushiKraken6414 Fool From The Depths from Somewhere...Nowhere....Wherever Since: Aug, 2022 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Fool From The Depths
#926: Mar 8th 2023 at 7:21:20 AM

Galo and Lio, The Anthill (Sans Ants)

Galo opened his mouth, as if about to say something...then closed it. He nodded solmenly. "Got it. Staying away." He walked backwards a considerable distance, Lio following suit.

Once they were fairly far away from the others, Lio let out a sigh.

"Galo...I appreciate you trying to help him, I really do. I understand that you want to help everyone you can, and I wouldn't have it any other way. But...that situation was extremely volatile. You could have ended up triggering his fight response, and getting someone seriously hurt." he muttered.

Galo looked down at the ground in shame.

"Yeah...I know, I know...it's just...he was clearly really freaked out, and I couldn't just leave him like that! I had to do something!" he groaned. "I...I get now that maybe that wasn't the best thing to do, but it was the only thing that felt right!" He let out a sigh of resignation. "I'm sorry. That was dumb."

Lio patted him on the back.

"Don't worry about it, Thymos." he said, just the hint of a smile forming on his face. "You did what you thought was the right thing to do, even though you knew it could be dangerous. That's the kind of bravery I've always loved. I just wish you would actually think things through for more than a second or two....but I don't want you to stop being you. You understand that, right?"

"Yeah!" Galo said, perking up considerably. "I totally got it! Just use my brain a bit more, but keep up my burning soul despite all odds! I can totally do that!" He pressed his fingers to his temples, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Maximum brain of ultimate Thymos-style forethought- ACTIVATE!!!

Lio couldn't help but double over with laughter, wheezing and practically crying as he guffawed and slapped his thighs. Eventually, he managed to recover from the fit of hysterics, standing back up straight and smiling.

"Man...you're really something, Thymos."

Galo gave him a thumbs up.

"You too, Fotia! And don't you forget it!"

Something's Fishy Here...
Oceanstuck Dark Sun, what choices have I...? from see handle Since: Feb, 2017 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Dark Sun, what choices have I...?
#927: Mar 8th 2023 at 5:03:13 PM

Atop an anthill

Lachesis was content to shut up and let Luna take charge, being that she didn't have any better ideas. Slowly, awkwardly, she sat on her staff again.

"So...anyone wanna be a passenger, once we know which way to go? ...Oh yeah, Donnie, did you figure out which way it is?"

Conveniently, if Donnie checked his device, he would notice that they weren't too far from the Arcade, and it was hovering a bit north and up from their current location. How long that would remain true was questionable, but it was something.

The Arcade

Each hero, besides having a guide on how they were to be played, also had a blurb giving a slight bit of backstory. Past the hero guides, there was also a condensed version of the history of her world from slightly before the Omnic Crisis onward...though of course, very little of it would be new information to her.

"We have no relation, no, though I am aware of its existence," TESTER told Cheetor. "To be technical, we are not information storage devices; we can simply access the relevant data instantaneously. The information is contained within the universes themselves."

"Of course!" said Greg to Buzz, flexing a bicep in an attempt to look cool. Mostly he just looked a bit silly, though. "You're Buzz Lightyear, the galaxy's greatest space ranger and Earth's coolest toy! Hey, which movie are you from, by the way? How old is Andy?"

T-shirt Guy looked at Greg as if sensing something strange had the potential to ensue, but didn't say anything for the time being.

Tabby too looked as though she realized whatever it was, but seemed more interested in adding to Mai's explanation. "Yeah, when you flip a bunch of similar-looking images fast enough, it looks like a moving object. Couple that with some well-timed noises and you get animation. Anime is a contraction used for animated shows from somewhere called Japan; somehow, I don't think it exists where you're from, Miss Zan the Bonebreaker."

Edited by Oceanstuck on Mar 8th 2023 at 5:04:46 AM

i guess you can watch me shitpost i guess
LilyTheLitten Inspector Irratino my beloved ❤️ from The Investigation Institute Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Inspector Irratino my beloved ❤️
#928: Mar 8th 2023 at 5:08:02 PM

Donnie, Finally Back on Track (somewhat)

"Well, according to my calculations the Arcade is..." Donnie looked at his device. "Just north of our current location, oh, convenient."

The issue?

"...it also has considerable altitude over us."

He looked at the others. "I have my shell, Lachesis has her...flying stick, what have the rest of you got?"

"Look inside yourself and to the stars; there, you will find your answers."
TheFullestCircle Since: Jan, 2017
#929: Mar 8th 2023 at 6:18:58 PM

Chimneyfoot, The Sapient Bug Area (2023 Fell Down a Well)

Chim was in the process of continuing to back away from any possible combat when that weird moth dude from earlier showed up again and started talking to him as if they were good friends. "Yeah, hi, moth-dude, it's me..." he mumbled noncommitally. "I made the map, yeah..."


Wasp, Star Building

"HEY!"

Wasp was too busy being angry to fully appreciate how Stocking had managed to deliver the sentiment "we mean you no harm" in the most aggressive way possible. He angled his body to reveal his rather large stinger, and stared at her directly with pure fury in his eyes. "NO ONE SAYS THINGS LIKE THAT TO ME! I WILL KI—" And suddenly, he stopped.

His body language changed completely. He looked significantly more relaxed, and the mushrooms on his head seemed to go nearly rigid.

"I apologize." The voice that came out sounded almost nothing like Wasp's did; it was more monotone, it didn't have that buzzing quality, and it sounded vaguely feminine. "Your actions made perfect sense in context. My host is angered easily, and he rarely carries through with his threats. He will not harm you."

"My name is Vivian, and my host is Wasp. It is a pleasure to meet you." Vivian held out a hand for Stocking (or whoever, really) to shake.

Suggested wine pairing: pinot noir.
TheStarscream759 from Maidenhead Since: Dec, 2017 Relationship Status: I wanna know about these strangers like me
#930: Mar 8th 2023 at 6:30:34 PM

The Arcade
It turned out yes, apparently these people knew who Buzz was and the Space Ranger could see that he was trying his hardest to impress him but what he said next really confused him. “Well I…am glad I’m recognised even…outside my own world…apparently. Um just a few questions though: who’s Andy and what do you mean by ‘Toy’? I mean I understand you are a bit starstruck but I’m not…a toy clearly.” Buzz then responded trying his hardest not to be harsh with this kid. While at the same time, making it clear he didn’t understand what he was saying.

Obviously Greg meant well but he was clearly mistaken.

Edited by TheStarscream759 on Mar 8th 2023 at 2:30:43 PM

Korodzik Since: Jan, 2001
#931: Mar 9th 2023 at 4:25:35 AM

Anthill
Flightless
Narancia looked towards the talking turtle and shook his head. "I can't fly myself," he said. "My Stand can fly, and I guess it could carry someone really light, but no way I can help bring any of you people up there."

EchoingSilence Since: Jun, 2013
#932: Mar 9th 2023 at 6:54:34 AM

Star Building

Hunk nearly drew the Lightning Hawk, only to hear the different voice. He chose not to comment on it and continue on with his previous line of logic.

"Vivian, alright." Hunk said. "Good to know about your host, we're just grabbing this building here to turn into a base of operations."

kagescorpionakki Breath of the Sun from Long Ago Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Breath of the Sun
#933: Mar 9th 2023 at 2:36:52 PM

Stocking, Star Building

Predictably, the wasp continued to bitch at them, even pulling out his stinger to attack. Stocking shifted her stance, preparing to avoid his sting and decapitate him in response, when the wasp suddenly stopped and spoke in a different voice.

Hesitantly, Stocking slung her sword over her shoulder and used her free hand to return the handshake. "Stocking Anarchy." She replied. "Thanks for being more reasonable than that asshole."

The term used made her curious. "So he's your 'host', huh? Are you a demon, or is this more an alien parasite kind of deal? And why do you let him talk, anyway?"

What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?
AllHailThrall For the Horde! from Somewhere (It’s Ben 10) Relationship Status: Longing for Dulcinea
For the Horde!
#934: Mar 9th 2023 at 5:48:42 PM

Shantae the half-genie hero - the Arcade

Shantae just looked confused at the conversation that had begun. Something about anime and moving images, meanwhile the others were talking about toys and someone named Andy who Buzz didn't know. She also noticed that no one had answered her regarding whether or not they had recognized her, but it didn't particularly matter to her.

"I guess you guys don't know if I'm—" she started to say, when she noticed a familiar face on the cover of a book she saw. Her own face. She pushed one of the books aside, noticing the word "SHANTAE" in big yellow letters with a red bubble around it. Shantae gazed at the cover, blushing shyly. "It's... my world is... named after me?" she asked, cheeks flushing.

I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.
Cutegirl920fire Player 222 from the Squid Games (Five Long Years) Relationship Status: Paris holds the key to my heart
Player 222
#935: Mar 9th 2023 at 9:15:27 PM

Daisy Buchanan, Inside the Arcade - What's a video game again?

Daisy was both disappointed and relieved that she and Brigitte were from different worlds. At least she doesn't have to worry about Brigitte disappearing from existence if Daisy manages to do some major social changes back in her time. She listened intently when she heard Brigitte mention about wanting some history books to teach her about something but the engineer changed topics quickly after a book with a simple but sleek logo on it caught her attention. Daisy watched Brigitte flip through the book, muttering about how it's a video game shooter.

While Daisy still didn't knew what a video game was, she spotted Brigitte's eyes widen upon seeing a picture of a short man with a big beard that seems to be dressed like a mechanic.

"Do you happen to know this man?" She asked Brigitte. Daisy could decypher that the man meant something to Brigitte or at least she recognized him.

Edited by Cutegirl920fire on Mar 9th 2023 at 9:16:33 AM

CG for short
Ore-O Unbroken Bond from Alrest (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#936: Mar 9th 2023 at 9:42:01 PM

Nia, Arcade: Curiosity Gives the Cat an Ambiguous Existential Crisis

Just then, at the sights and hearing of the others talk about "games", "anime", and "books", her ears perked up. Curiosity seemed to overtake her as she asks the normal-looking people, "...Is there one about me?"

A part of Nia wanted to know what's going to happen, but at the same time, she's scared of what she might find out. She'd wonder if every part of her life and every act is meant to happen by some outer force beyond her comprehension or if she has free will and all of this just simply happened just because. All these thought swim in her head as she looked at the others here and wondered if the same is true for all of them. Nia's not the philosophical type, but all this talk about "fiction" does put things into perspective. She just hoped that her hopes are hers and not just planted in her by someone she cannot perceive.

"I treasure every day with you, darling." "No need to be so sappy, love." "You know that's how she is, Nia." - AU!Pyra, Nia, Mythra
FirockFinion THE SLORG! from The Red Desert Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
THE SLORG!
#937: Mar 10th 2023 at 1:57:24 AM

Brigitte Lindholm - Grön armor - Inside the Arcade - I had a dream, and you were there, and you were there!

Brigitte was snapped out of her gawking by Daisy asking her a rather expected question. The engineer looked over, still feeling kind of shocked, and nodded. "That's my dad," Brigitte answered simply, turning her gaze back to the book. "I knew he was in Overwatch, so I know he fights and all, it's just... Weird to think that somewhere out there, people are playing a video game as him- and it's not just him too," she went on, remembering the cover of the book, so she started flipping through pages quickly.

"Lena, one of dad's friends from Overwatch, I met her when I was little," Brigitte continued, flipping to the page for Tracer. "Reinhardt, he became my godfather after he saved my dad's life; he's also my mentor... Angela, another of dad's friends I knew when I was little," she said, showing the pages for Reinhardt and Mercy. She flipped forward some more, then stopped. She let the book rest on the counter, taking her shaking hands off it and backing away a step. Large letters at the top of the page spelled out the name, 'Brigitte'.

"... Guess I should've expected that," Brigitte muttered after a moment, her hands still trembling as she stared blankly at the book.

You are reading this.
MystyGlyttyr Bitch pills from Ship's Harbor Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Crazy Cat Lady
Bitch pills
#938: Mar 10th 2023 at 6:33:12 AM

Confrontation, heading towards the Arcade

Bucky watched Garo and Lio back away at the orders of the strange woman who had appeared previously, which seemed to ease his tension somewhat. He did glance towards Luna, sizing her up, and maybe there was a look of concern on his face, just for a second. However, he didn't move towards her, glancing back at Donnie, then back to Luna, taking in a long, clearly nervous breath.

"...I can climb. And carry at least one other person. Two if they are able to hang on without requiring more than one of my arms."

Easing back into life one step at a time
secretlyasuperhero someone from somewhere Since: Mar, 2016 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
someone
#939: Mar 10th 2023 at 1:59:18 PM

Lunafreya || Anthill, With Hill || Also tempting fate but in a funnier way

Luna watched as, it appeared, everyone took her "advice" and backed away. The brief look she got of Lio and... was the name said Galo? suggested that they were hurt but understanding. A far more genuine reaction, that suggested that they had truly wanted to help.

Good.

Pryna stood next to her as Umbra popped back into existence, the two dogs greeting each other with a touch of their noses.

"I would not wish to burden anyone," Luna said, even as she began to lean, just a little more, on a nearby tree. "However, if the Arcade is above us, I have no way to get up there. Umbra and Pryna will be fine to get themselves there."

[TOP SECRET]
Alleydodger Since: Jan, 2012
#940: Mar 10th 2023 at 6:35:28 PM

Zan, Arcade

"Hello." Zan replied to the greeting from the armoured man, finding the appearance odd and the colour a little jarring. Regardless, it looked tough and protective. "It is wise that you do. I am Zan."

The explanation of a video game was interesting, even with its obvious simplicity. Moving pictures that could be controlled through some device was a novel idea, at the very least. Even if it didn't appeal to the warrior all that much.

She took Nia's offered hand, dwarfing the gloved limb within her strong grip as she shook 'gently'. The grip still firm but not painful as she looked down at the curious woman. "Hello, Nia. Those ears, I've never seen a being like you before. Are you an altered human, or something else?"

The half-orc made a mental note to approach this Lio as soon as possible, after hearing what Mai said. They would definitely be an ally in her plans, and she appreciated the guts it took to attempt to burn this place down.

"No, it doesn't." She confirmed to the girl sitting down. "The Iron Division has powerful technology, but never a need for such a thing, I assume. Not even the demons, with all their excess, bothered with it either. Though some would create it in some twisted way if they knew it existed, I don't doubt." The horned woman frowned, memories of a certain succubus and her lavish home coming to mind.

GameGuruGG Vampire Hunter from Castlevania (Before Recorded History)
Vampire Hunter
#941: Mar 11th 2023 at 3:04:24 PM

Mai Shiranui, Arcade

After hearing Shantae and Nia's statements, Mai decided to wander off and head over to the shelf of strategy guides that Brigitte was next to. She seemed to be reading one of them. Mai checked out the magazine rack. Of course, one of The King of Fighters strategy guides would be right in front of her. Mai frowned and took it, which described a game called The King of Fighters '97.

Mai thought that was an odd title, but she flipped through it... Ah! This refers to the tournament where Orochi was resurrected and threatened the entire world. Her teammates for that particular tournament were Chizuru Kagura and King, and... There her team was! Chizuru, King, and... herself. Orochi was also listed as was pretty much everyone who had participated in this particular tournament.

She glanced over at what Brigitte was looking at, and it was herself in one of these magazines. Mai put down the magazine to show off the page with the Women Fighters Team of Chizuru, Mai, and King.

"I have to admit that the people who made this game really captured my beauty," Mai chuckled nervously.

Edited by GameGuruGG on Mar 11th 2023 at 5:16:08 AM

Wizard Needs Food Badly
Oceanstuck Dark Sun, what choices have I...? from see handle Since: Feb, 2017 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Dark Sun, what choices have I...?
#942: Mar 11th 2023 at 5:44:43 PM

Star station

Akechi looked to be repressing a grimace for a moment, though it was gone fast enough that one would easily miss it if they weren't paying attention. "...Nice to meet you too."

Frosmoth was not so gracious.

He took cover behind the tree root again, letting out a loud squeak. "Aah! He's possessed! Oh god, please spare me pleasepleaseplease—"

This didn't seem all that inspiring to the detective, who was glaring at it with a 'well, this isn't gonna go well' sort of look.

Atop an anthill

"Oh, don't sweat it," Lachesis said to Luna. "If I didn't want people getting on, I wouldn't have offered. And besides, I'd think it'd be more of a pain if you tried to follow us on foot and got split up by something."

She stopped and counted the number of people there. "...Lessee...I can carry about two, Donnie one...uh, Guy Whose Name I Still Don't Know can take one or two...Lio, was it? made a giant pole so maybe he can make wings to carry one. Can you? I don't know the limits of your magic. The dogs can handle themselves...That leaves Mr. Agreste, Teemo, Narancia, and Galo. So...might be tight, but I think we can manage? Staff is first-come first served, by the way."

The Arcade

"Well, you are the player character," said T-shirt Guy to Shantae. "The game is kinda about you."

"Huh?" Apparently Greg was a little slow on the uptake. "Uh...you're an action figure. Y'know, from the Toy Story series? Oh, wait, is this another 'spaceman' episode?"

Tabby was now snickering unhelpfully to herself.

"What? What's so funny about my confusion?"

She continued to laugh a little harder.

"C'mon, Tab, you can't do this to me! Explain yourself!"

Tabby did not stop laughing, but did manage to gather herself enough to give a proper answer. "The TV show, Greggino! He's from the TV show, or maybe the Lightyear movie, I don't know, I haven't seen it."

Greg went red with embarrassment. "...Oh. Well, you coulda told me that a minute sooner."

"Sorry, sorry," Tabby said, not that she had stopped laughing just yet.

"Nngh..." Greg whined. He turned to Nia, clearly wanting an exit to this exchange. "Um...if you look in the guides a bit, you should find one. Supposedly, there's one for everywhere."

i guess you can watch me shitpost i guess
TheFullestCircle Since: Jan, 2017
#943: Mar 11th 2023 at 6:53:31 PM

Wasp/Vivian, Still the Star Building

"I am a parasite, but not an alien one. I am a fungus of the genus Ophiocordyceps, the kind that roots in the brains of insects. I just happened to root in the brain of a rather large one," Vivian said, gesturing to her (well, Wasp's) body. "And I would describe our relationship as more of a commensalistic one."

"And as for your other question, I 'let him speak' because NO ONE is gonna control me!" The active persona switched mid-sentence. The voice swiveled, the body language adjusted, the mushrooms went limp. Then, everything abruptly went back as Vivian took back over. "Specifically, when I first infested Wasp, he could regain control if he experienced a strong burst of emotion...usually a specifiHEY! What's that supposed t*ahem* The situation has become more fluid since then, as you just saw," said Vivian.

She then turned to Hunk. "If you're doing something with this building, then we will be out of your way. Again, I apologize." With that, she stepped out of the way of the door to let them through. (She didn't leave, though.)


Chimneyfoot, Kinda Feeling Like He's Stopped Being the Important One in This Scenario (2023 Is Someone's OC In The Year Continuity)

Chim, noticing the unexpected lack of violence, leaned over to Akechi and said, "Hey, man, I think this might be our cue to make like trees and find a different location to be in."

He then looked over to Frosmoth's hiding spot. "Hey, moth guy! What was your name? Ice Moth? You want to come hang out with us?" He was starting to develop a bit of a soft spot for the moth; he reminded Chim of his roommate back home. (Not that he particularly missed home, mind you; he'd spent far longer in weird places before and almost preferred some of them sometimes. He just liked people who act like people he liked.)

Suggested wine pairing: pinot noir.
Ore-O Unbroken Bond from Alrest (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#944: Mar 11th 2023 at 9:30:02 PM

Nia, Arcade: Schrödinger's Catgirl

Nia was mentally grateful her hand wasn't utterly squeezed by the so-called "Bonebreaker". The last thing she wanted was a demonstration of Zan's title on her. She looked at the half-orc with a bit of confusion and replied, "Altered? Well, I am a human. Just a different kind. Think of it like two Volffs in different environments. They're similar, but they got different traits to make them fit better in those places and stick out from each other."

Now, the next order of business. She walked over to the guides and stepped back to see the huge list of names. For some odd reason, she decided to go for the guides that start with "X". She looked through a few of them: a group of armored humans attacking otherworldly creatures, a comic-like game about an amnesiac agent, several games about mutated people, and finally, a familiar set of books with the name "Xenoblade Chronicles".

She looked at the first of the lot, which had a red sword-like object and a mechanical giant looming overhead. She flipped a few pages and didn't notice anything that jumps out at her, except a picture of a certain Nopon hero told her that she's on the right track. She looked at the next book, denoted with an "X" with a machine and a few people overlooking a cliff. Same deal as the last, only it's even less familiar to her. Still, the images of Nopons were at least encouraging.

And then, she went over to the book of "2" and her eyes widen in shock. There it is. The World Tree, the Urayan Titan, Rex and Pyra, Shellhead (her nickname for the man in the black cloak) and Pandoria, and lastly, her and Dromarch. She took out the book and read into it, her eyes widening and her muttering out loud, "Bloody hell..."

The book had plenty of information on her and her friends, their favorite items, what Blades are recommended for them. She looked at the section covering herself and her ears shot up. Then she looked at another part of the book and her hands were trembling before she closed the book. Nia isn't sure whether to show off the book or to put it back in its place, but seeing herself in some sort of book about a game made her ask the question out loud, "...Am I real?"

The existential crisis has now fully settled in.

"I treasure every day with you, darling." "No need to be so sappy, love." "You know that's how she is, Nia." - AU!Pyra, Nia, Mythra
minseok42 A Self-inflicted Disaster from A Six-Tatami Room (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
A Self-inflicted Disaster
#945: Mar 11th 2023 at 9:49:11 PM

Sayaka

Arcade

Sayaka took a more careful look at the book with a picture of her. The title said 魔法少女 まどか☆マギカ (Mahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica), and there was a picture of Madoka in her magical girl outfit.
"Madoka is a magical girl? But, why?" she said. She opened the book to the chapter about Madoka. It said that she was the protagonist of the anime. However, strangely, the part about Madoka's wish and her powers was blank. Sayaka turned the pages, moving to the next chapter, titled 'Homura Akemi.' There was nothing new to learn, and the sections about her wish and powers were also blank. Sayaka flipped the pages, comparing their chapters with her own. In the chapter titled 'Miki Sayaka,' it clearly said that Sayaka wished to heal her friend and love interest Kamijou Kyouske's hand, and as a result, she had the power to heal herself and others.
She slightly blushed upon seeing that it was written, in an encyclopedic tone resembling that of Wikipedia, that she was in love with Kyouske. Out of embarrassment, she closed the book with more questions than answers left in her head.
When she heard Nia ask if she was real, she could not help but think of the day Sayaka first met Homura Akemi, another magical girl who transferred into her school. That afternoon, Madoka, her friend said that Madoka met Homura in a dream. Sayaka laughed and thought that Madoka was acting like an anime character. Little did she know that Madoka was indeed an anime protagonist.

Edited by minseok42 on Mar 11th 2023 at 10:52:12 AM

"Enshittification truly is how platforms die"-Cory Doctorow
FirockFinion THE SLORG! from The Red Desert Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
THE SLORG!
#946: Mar 12th 2023 at 6:44:23 AM

Brigitte Lindholm - Grön armor - Inside the Arcade - Existential crisis? My favorite!

Brigitte glanced over as another lady (Mai) walked up and showed off her find of herself in a different game guide, pictured alongside a couple of other ladies. "It does look rather like you, yeah," Brigitte said, unsure of what else to say. She glanced over her shoulder as she overheard a snippet of a conversation not far away.

"Well, you are the player character. The game is kinda about you."

A couple other people had a back and forth about someone being from a television show, or a movie. Then the girl with cat ears in the jump suit went looking through the guides, and evidently found herself as well, based on the way she wondered if she was even real.

Brigitte still had a rather thousand yard, lost look even as she turned her attention back towards Tester. "What is all this? What does it mean?" the engineer asked, gesturing with her hands as she felt desperate for an explanation, an answer.

You are reading this.
Cutegirl920fire Player 222 from the Squid Games (Five Long Years) Relationship Status: Paris holds the key to my heart
Player 222
#947: Mar 12th 2023 at 10:59:45 AM

Daisy Buchanan, inside the Arcade - Mr. TESTER, why are people having existential crisises now? Will I have my own soon?

Daisy noticed Brigitte's wide stare of confusion. The flapper looked around and noticed Mai and Nia being confused about appearing in these so called "video games" — still doesn't know what video games are. Unsure what to do, Daisy looked over the shelves that Brigitte was looking at.

There, a book caught her eye. Its cover showcased a dislocated feminine face pasted over the dark blue skies of a bright city. Nude women were in the face's irises, giving it the look of highlights. Then, Daisy read the book's title and author.

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Daisy became curious, being well familiar with Gatsby's name to say the least.

"Someone wrote a biography about him?" She thought out loud.

She opened the book and flipped to one of its first pages.

ONCE AGAIN TO ZELDA

Daisy muttered to herself, finding that name rather peculiar but assuming it belonged to someone close with the author. She went on to read the first few pages of the novel. Told in a first person POV, it drew Daisy in with its eloquent diction and vivid imagery. She noted how dear Gatsby already was to the narrator just by the second page alone. As she continued reading, she made a stunning realization.

The narrator was her cousin, Nick Carraway.

She was only a quarter in the first chapter when she made that realization. It puzzled her quite a bit as the author's name on the cover clearly was F. Scott Fitzgerald, not Nick Carraway. She even looked back at the cover to see if she misread his name, but nope, she didn't. It was F. Scott Fitzgerald this whole time. Now she's truly confused.

Did Nick change his name after leaving New York? Did a friend of Nick decided to publish Nick's novel? Or was it...

Oh. She and everyone else from West and East Egg may have been fictional this whole time. Daisy didn't want to linger on that conclusion in order to try avoiding the same existential dread that has hit Brigitte.

She turned to face TESTER.

"Sir, looking at the dread my friend has, what is going on?" She then showed the novel to TESTER. "Who is F. Scott Fitzgerald and what he has to do with me, my husband, my friend, my cousin and Mr. Gatsby?"

Edited by Cutegirl920fire on Mar 12th 2023 at 11:04:44 AM

CG for short
AllHailThrall For the Horde! from Somewhere (It’s Ben 10) Relationship Status: Longing for Dulcinea
For the Horde!
#948: Mar 12th 2023 at 11:10:19 AM

Shantae the half-genie hero - The Arcade

Shantae blinked in confusion a few times, as the young man with the t-shirt explained. Or rather... didn't really explain but just sort of said she was the "player character?"

Shantae's breath became ragged and she looked around at some of the others. Nia had walked over to a book and looked in utter horror... questioning her own existence. She noticed Sayaka having similar reservations, while Daisy, who she had not noticed enter, beginning to interrogate TESTER. Shantae blinked, grabbing the book with her name and face on it. She flipped through it, and sure enough, it explained her earlier exploits in great detail, talking about one of her first major adventures— a story of how she had saved Scuttle Town from Risky Boots by collecting four magical stones. But it was talking about it as if it had never happened— if it was just some story.

Shantae's hands trembled and she dropped the book at her feet. Stumbling slightly, she looked around, indeed seeing absolutely no one like her in the entire arcade.

"No... is it... am I... did it not..." she gasped. "No, I did it! It happened, it's real! Unless... unless I?" She looked at her own hands, trembling. She bent down, reaching for the book, and then stormed up to the desk. She slammed the book onto the counter, pages open to a big picture of her.

"And what does this book have to do with me?! It's talking about me as if I'm not real!" she demanded to one of the screens, any of the screens.

I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.
EchoingSilence Since: Jun, 2013
#949: Mar 12th 2023 at 11:32:44 AM

Star Building

Hunk chose not to comment on the fact that the giant wasp was still here. "Thank you," he said stepping in.

The interior was just like he last saw it... minus the makeshift barricades and hordes of undead. He continued forward and saw on the front desk, a map of the building, that'd be useful.

He called out to the others. "We'll have plenty of rooms and a cell block prepared, as we are the first I will let you all pick out your desired locations."

LilyTheLitten Inspector Irratino my beloved ❤️ from The Investigation Institute Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Inspector Irratino my beloved ❤️
#950: Mar 12th 2023 at 11:38:14 AM

Donnie, Now Apparently a Living Uber

Donnie sighed. He didn't particularly enjoy people riding on his shoulders (April got to do it, but April was a lifelong friend so that was different), but he supposed he had no choice in the matter.

"Alright." There was a click as his shell took on jetpack form. Or, well, beetle wing form, in this case. "If you are one person and do not weigh too much you are permitted to climb on."

Maybe then they could reach the Arcade. And get some answers.

"Look inside yourself and to the stars; there, you will find your answers."

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