We Are Our Avatars (Discussion)

Well, in that case, time to reprise my role!

You are MONACA TOWA, a DISCIPLE OF DESPAIR. It's the only thing that MAKES SENSE in the world, really, after everything you've been through. Isn't that all LIFE is?

This place is definitely DESPAIR-worthy. A blasted out, deserted hellhole that looks like it's already seen a WAR. A real shame you MISSED IT, but hey, you can always REPEAT IT.

As you move through the LOCAL TOWN, which looks rather suspiciously like the LAS VEGAS STRIP but with more SCRAP METAL, you notice somebody on the street wearing a DUSTY SUIT crying out. It would seem that a THIEF (who is even wearing CAT BURGLAR GEAR) has stolen something from them! Looks vaguely like a MUFFIN.

>█

>>OBSERVE

I was gonna say one thing, but I didn't notice the cat burglar'd been caught, so that changes her response. She'll still watch now, but more just to wait for the guy who was robbed to cool down a bit.

Edited by Privilege on Aug 26th 2018 at 7:06:30 AM

>Monica: OBSERVE

You WATCH CAREFULLY. The CAT BURGLAR continues to run away, but is stopped when a STRANGE-LOOKING ROBOT wheels up in front of the CAT BURGLAR. You faintly hear it call for the CRIMINAL TO CEASE HIS ACTIONS IMMEDIATELY, while pointing one of its arms at them in a menacing way.

The CAT BURGLAR stops. You can feel the DESPAIR emanating from him - mostly that he is facing down something he thinks can very well KILL HIM, but also that he GOT CAUGHT. The MAN IN THE SUIT approaches the conflagration.

>█

>>WHEEL UP TO THE MAN IN THE SUIT

>>YELL "YEAH, GIVE HIS MUFFIN BACK YOU BIG BULLY!"

The robot's by far the most interesting thing in this situation, and griefing the cat burglar/upping the odds of a fight sounds fun and educational.

That said, if she can do this at the same time, she's going to PAY ATTENTION to the robot. What kind of tech it's fielding, what it's made out of, etc.

Edited by Privilege on Aug 26th 2018 at 9:11:34 AM

>Monica: SUPPORT MAN IN SUIT, INSPECT ROBOT

Being faced down by an ANGRY ROBOT, the PERSON HE STOLE FROM, as well as some WEIRDO IN A WHEELCHAIR is too much for the CAT BURGLAR to bear. The CAT BURGLAR chooses FLIGHT, and books it, the ROBOT opening fire with a MACHINE GUN on the CAT BURGLAR. Unfortunately, it seems to make the mistake of AIMING WHERE HE IS and not WHERE HE IS GOING, so the CAT BURGLAR is quite capable of DODGING THE BULLETS.

The ROBOT's arms are clearly concealing weapons. It locomotes by way of a SINGLE WHEEL, and appears to be made mostly of METAL. Rather than a face, it has a TV SCREEN displaying the image of a CARTOON POLICE OFFICER.

>█

>>CONCEAL EXCITEMENT, TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHERE THE THIEF IS GOING

>>SAY TO MAN IN SUIT "...Monaca didn't mean for it to happen like this..."

Edited by Privilege on Aug 26th 2018 at 10:14:53 AM

>Monaca: WATCH AND TAMPER

You watch as the THIEF disappears down the Strip, being chased by the ANGRY ROBOT following him. In the distance you can spot SEVERAL MORE activate, narrowing his escape routes down to a SINGLE ALLEYWAY.

The MAN IN THE SUIT stares at you for a moment, seemingly NOT COMPREHENDING what you just said. "...w... what?"

>█

>>REMEMBER THE ALLEYWAY FOR LATER

>>SAY TO MAN IN SUIT "...w-what is it? Did Monaca mess that up, too?"

>Monaca: SAVE

You SAVE the information into your BRAIN for later perusal.

The MAN IN THE SUIT is still very confused. "What the heck are you even talking about?" It seems he is having DIFFICULTY GRASPING THIS.

>█

>>ASK AN EASY QUESTION: "What's your name?"

>Monaca: TEST INTELLIGENCE

You ask the MAN IN THE SUIT what his name is. "Uh... Robert. And you're... Monica, right?"

>█

>>SAY: "Right. Monaca is called Monaca."

>>ADD: "You're not from around here, are you?"

Edited by Privilege on Aug 26th 2018 at 11:22:41 AM

>Monaca: CONVERSATION MODE ENGAGED

The MAN IN THE SUIT scratches his head. "'Course I am! Are you?"

In the distance, the sound of GUNFIRE seems to intensify. That CAT BURGLAR is certainly STILL ALIVE, it seems.

>█

Edited by SpartyMcFly on Aug 26th 2018 at 12:58:27 PM

>>HALF-ANSWER: "Monaca is a little bit lost..."

>>TRY AND KEEP TRACK OF WHICH DIRECTION THE GUNFIRE IS COMING FROM

>Monaca: IT'S NOT A LIE IF YOU OMIT

The MAN IN THE SUIT gestures around. "Well, you're in the safest place in Nether Vegas right now - the Strip! One of the last bastions of real civilization in this literal Hell-hole."

The GUNFIRE is coming from the direction of the ALLEY.

>█

>>SAY: "It must be safe with all these robots. Are there more on the outside?"

>>START TO WHEEL FORWARD IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ALLEY

>Monaca: LET'S SEE WHAT'S GOING ON

"Nope! So far as I can tell, the Strip is the only place in the entire Wasteland that has Securitron defenses! Which is probably why it's... usually less violent than everywhere else."

The GUNFIRE has STOPPED. Of course, though, you still have that ALLEY saved in your BRAIN, so it's no problem to wheel on over.

>█

Heading to bed, so I apologize if the response to your next post takes a while

>>NOD: "Monaca understands now! It must be pretty scary everywhere else..." >>ADD: "What happened on the outside? Adults don't tell Monaca much." -fake pout-

>Monaca: APPEAL TO EMOTION

The MAN IN THE SUIT frowns. "We... really don't know. Lotta stories you hear. All of 'em seem to agree on one thing, though - there used to be a thriving civilization here. The Old World. Lots more people. Lots more greenery. Lots less radiation. And then they destroyed themselves. That's all I know, unfortunately."

This confirms that you are in a POST-APOCALYPTIC ENVIRONMENT. This MAN, despite being a NATIVE of the area, cannot recall how it was DESTROYED.

>█

>>GROAN: "...okay."

>>ADD: "...can you at least tell Monaca who the guy in the burglar suit was?"

Edited by Privilege on Aug 27th 2018 at 10:06:22 AM

>Monaca: GET MORE INFO

"No idea who! Just another scumfuck low-life who gets his kicks from being an asshole," the MAN IN THE SUIT GROUSES. "Don't know what's with the getup, either. He'd probably be more successful wearing actual armor and carrying a piece instead of trying that sneaky shit."

He looks over to the ALLEY. "Securitrons probably got him, anyways."

>█

>>LOOK AT THE ALLEY

>>SAY: "Monaca guesses you're right. He was a /really/ bad person. But..." -feigned pity look-

>Monaca: KEEP TALKING

"Well, I've got stuff to do. I won't stop you if you wanna go look in there. Take it easy, alright?"

The MAN IN THE SUIT leaves. You are with your thoughts as the SECURITRONS disperse from the ALLEY.

>█

>>STRETCH, BRUSH CLOTHES

>>WHEEL INTO THE ALLEY ONCE THE SECURITRONS HAVE PRETTY MUCH LEFT.

>Monaca: INSPECT

Yep. Dude was right. The CAT BURGLAR is quite dead at the moment. Oddly enough, though, most of his WOUNDS seem more like BURNS than anything else. Perhaps those SECURITRONS have ENERGY WEAPONS of some type?

In any event, the MUFFIN he stole is now lying on the ground. It is still FRESH.

>█