Recursion of Fate[TEXT] (HIATUSl)

[trulyElse]

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I am in awe of this literary spectacle. Bravo, sir, and encore!

>Liz: Are you, okay? Perhaps now is a good time to rest.
>Kaylyn: Enter --> Awake
>Chester: Observe

Seconding everything.

[mysticCharlatan]

>Liz: Are you okay?

Certainly. Why wouldn't you be? You are currently in the middle of a grassy island in the middle of a lake in the middle of nowhere and you are having a tea party with Chester, Sherlock Holmes, a Squiddle, a salmon in a tuxedo and Lindsay in an exceptionally frilly dress.

It's actually the last one that clues you in that you might be dreaming.

You try and remember what was going on before you fell asleep, but only bring back a blur. A sensation of falling, and the color orange, or maybe red. That's all that comes up.

But that's alright, you think as resign yourself to dreaming. You've had worse dreams.

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If the last update is equivalent of an End of Act, then this is something along the lines of a intermission. Don't worry, we'll get back to the important stuff, I just felt like being a little silly for a bit.

[Malrone]

My only suggestion other than "==>" for this intermission is-
>Liz: Ask how the Squiddle and Mr. Holmes met.

[mysticCharlatan]

>Liz: Ask how the Squiddle and Mr. Holmes met.

"Oh, its a funny story, now that you ask..."

Holmes and the Squiddle take turns regaling you with a grand tale, about a fated meeting in Andes.

"And then Watson says..."

You can't help but notice the glances between the detective and the cartoon character. Glances filled with affection and longing. A blush creeps up the Squiddle's tentacles.

"When that rhyno charged, I though..."

Since this a dream arising from you subconscious, an outside observer might wonder if your fixation with shipping is a tad unhealthy. Thankfully, within the dream such thoughts do not occur to you.

"And I'll never go to that museum again!" the Squiddle finishes, an ending that is perfectly logical when placed in context of the story.

[simon.clarkstone]

> Ask why that graveyard was filled with carvings of your friend Victoria.
> Check pockets; do you still have you controller?
> Ask (dream) Chester how he is doing with the climbing.
> Chester x Lindsay!
> Real Chester and Lindsay: feel this somehow.
((Edit: haha, that's 5 commands exploring the nature of such dreams. I only just noticed.))

>Liz: Try the chat options.

((It took a couple of minutes of reading my notes file in confusion for me to figure out that Kaylyn followed this command.))

((I am finding the number of characters a bit of a struggle, though that might just be me. You could give them each a mnemonic logo image before their narrative or something but I don't know if that would help me that much.))

[mysticCharlatan]

Yeah, sorry about that simon. When I first envisioned this, I was thinking of a drawn fan adventure, before I realized that I really couldn't draw.Didn't realize that it might be hard to keep track of who's who with no faces to put to names. Might as well check: is anyone else having trouble keeping track of the characters? That's a pretty good idea simon, anyone got any others?

And wow, I can't believe I did the wrong character thing again. I don't even have the excuse of similarly named characters this time. It's been fixed, but darn it if I'm not red over here.

[Xindaris]

Well, if character ID is the issue, you could color their narration with their personal chatting color to help. I do that in Airships Over Aranor, and they don't even have computers, much less a chat program in that one.

Edit for clarification: What I mean is, when a particular character is supposed to be the owner of the "point of view", or the "youness" of the adventure if you will, you write those lines in that character's color. The only real issue is if a given character has a color that's somewhat of an eyesore.

[Malrone]

I got a little lost earlier on as to who was who. Some more obvious differentiation would help.

>Liz: This is a dream, yes? Wellllll, miss, what better time to appreciate Chester than in a dream?

[mysticCharlatan]

>Liz: Appreciate Chester.

One of the wonderful things about a dream is that you can, say, ogle one of your platonic, opposite gender friends, who in real life you totally aren't interesting in that way, without worrying about the consequences. It helps that dream!Chester knows how to present himself.

Right now he is not wearing that silly lab coat that he insists on dragging around, looking like some modern day wannabe wizard. Here, he is dressed as a proper gentleman. He wears a proper outfit, something that is not too formal and not too casual, a simple collared shirt and black slacks. His hair is still untidy, because really, he wouldn't be Chester if that changed. His green eyes meet yours, and you are caught up in a moment that lasts for an eternity. He returns your gaze without reaction, as though waiting for you to make the first move. Waiting...

Oh nonononononononono!

There are some places where you will not go. Even in a dream.

>Chester x Lindsay!

The dream changes. The setting is more or less the same, but the more outlandish individuals have vanished. All that remains are you, Chester, and Lindsay. The latter two are currently in the middle of SLOPPY MAKEOUTS.

And you are fine with this. Happy for them, even.

Absolutely no sort of negative feelings at all.

The darkening sky and wilting plantlife are certainly not representations of your subconscious rebelling against this scene. Really, why would anyone think that?

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Alright, I'm giving the coloured text idea a shot. Gives me one less thing to loose track of in this crazy ride. Let me know if it helps or just gets annoying.

[Malrone]

>Liz's Internal Battle: Manifest as the end to the intermission.

[mysticCharlatan]

Liz's Internal Battle: Mainfest

It's supposed to be like this.

That's what you've told yourself for years. Ever since it became obvious that Lindsay had a thing for Chester. They've been friends for years, and a boy and a girl cannot be friends for that long without something developing. It's against all laws of narrative. The childhood friend needs to have a shot, needs to take the chance with the object of her affection. You can't get in the way of that.

It's supposed to be like this.

The dream changes. Lindsay dissappears and is replaced with Victoria. That works. The new girl, you think as the sky continues to darken, as the slightest drops of rain making themselves known on your skin. That has precedent. She comes along and changes everything he knows, everything he once believed, and draws him in. It's a story just as recognisable, just as iconic. Something that works.

It's supposed to be like this.

The dream changes again. Now Victoria dissappears, unreplaced. As the rain begins to fall, there is only you and Chester. He looks at you as though expecting something.

Something you can't give.

Because this? This isn't suppose to happen. There's no story, no precedent, nothing. Why would he choose you when he has someone else? You have nothing to offer, nothing worth bringing.

And he knows it. That's why, in a flash of lightning and a crash of thunder, Chester disappears. You stand alone in the torrential downpour, with the grass inexplicably brown and dead around you.

This is how it's supposed to be...

[trulyElse]

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Whoa. Melodrama done right. I mean, good GOD.

> Mood: Swing.

[Malrone]

How it's supposed to be? My dear Liz, every student knows that the hero, when faced with a fate they despise, no matter how tragic that hero is, will rail against that fate and undo it!
This is your dream. Be the Hero.

[mysticCharlatan]

>Mood: Swing.

Your name isn't Mood, and you would be swinging if it wasn't raining buckets right now.

You are currently a eleven year old boy playing in the rain. You know, running around, splashing in puddles, kid stuff. Your PREVIOUSLY OWNED RAIN GEAR is not doing the best job of keeping you dry, but you really don't care too much. A little water never hurt anybody.

You are currently in a SMALL PARK, and you appear to be alone but you can't say for sure since you only got here a few minutes ago. There is a large field that has presently been turned into a quagmire of mud and large puddles, and a PLAYGROUND containing the standard amusements: SWINGS, a JUNGLE GYM, a LITTLE TUNNEL, and a SLIDE.

So, what's your name little fella? And what are you going to do next?

Inventory:

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Second Hand Clothing, Previously Owned Rain Gear

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Right after attempting to deal with the problem of character confusion, and here I am introducing a new one. Well, technically this isn't a really new character...

[trulyElse]

> Mood Raines

[Malrone]

>child: Be named Jon
Who needs the park when there are puddles?
>child: Splash

[mysticCharlatan]

>Mood Raines

I thought we just established that your name isn't Mood! I mean seriously, what kind of name is Mood? Sounds like something out of a bad JRPG.

>Jon

You are now Jon. What, a last name? Err... Raines actually.

You are now JON RAINES. It is hard to tell much about your appearance from an outside observation because you are currently covered in mud. Thankfully, you do not need to observe yourself to know what you look like. For example, you know that you have brown hair, which is something of a mess right now, not that you really care, and that you have identically coloured eyes. The jeans you are wearing are faded and have a hole in the right knee, while your tee shirt... okay, to be quite honest this tee shirt has been through enough that you can't really remember what colour it was to start out. It seems to have settled on grey, now.

>Jon: Splash.

You see a puddle the size of a small lake (at least it looks that way to you) and dart towards it without any hesitation. Upon reaching the edge, you jump, catapulting yourself as far as your legs will take you. Your landing displaces a large amount of water, and you would be soaked if you weren't already. It did help clean you off however. Not that you care about that. You are having what is colloquially known as "a blast".

[Malrone]

>Jon: Find a friend

[mysticCharlatan]

>Jon: Find a friend

You look around. Playing in the rain is fun and all, but being all alone in a park like this can get a bit lonely. Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be anyone here. Maybe your new friend is hiding?

You check the tunnel and are legitimately surprised when you discover someone there. Your first thought it was a homeless person, but a few key details make things a bit more interesting.

First of all, it is a teenage girl. Techinically, that doesn't disqualify her from being homeless, but it still defeats the image of a hairy old guy.

Second, she has vibrantly green hair. Not exactly something you'd think a homeless person would bother with.

Third, she has a sword, something no homeless person has a right to own.

Finally, she's bleeding from somewhere on her left side.

Well, you wanted a friend. Beggers can't be choosers.

[trulyElse]

> Jon: Apply completely unforeshadowed medical knowledge toward treating your new friend.

[Malrone]

>Jon: Inquire name; Ask if she needs help.
>Kaylyn: Try not to be the injured animal in a corner.

[mysticCharlatan]

>Jon: Apply medical knowledge.

Medical knowledge? Really? Your eleven. A bandaid is the extent of your medical knowledge.

>Jon: Ask if she needs help.

Well, you can't have your new friend dying on you. You resolve to do what you can, even if that is simply poking her shouldler to wake her up.

Dialog:
"hay"
"hmmm..."
"hay mis."
"..."
"wayk up!"

Her eyes quickly open, and she looks around frantically.

"KAYLYN!"
"aah!"

She rises up fast, apparently forgetting that she had fallen asleep in a place designed to force children on there hands and knees. Her head hits the top of the tunnel hard, and she returns back into a sitting position, dazed. Slowly, she seems to get an idea of where she is. Her eyes settle on you.

"who are you?"
"nayms jon. hoo ar yoo?"
"...Jon?"
"bulkrap"
"what? oh, no"
"i'm Victoria"
"nies to meechya"
"likewise"

Slowly, she begins to rise again, careful of the ceiling this time. She steps out into the rain, takes to steps, and stumbles forward, barely braking her fall with her right hand.

"hay, yoo need sum help?"
"i'll be fine"
"yoo dont look it"
"go away"

She gets up again, or at least attempts to, but eventually decides to settle on a sitting position again. She closes her eyes, and for a moment you think she might be trying to go back to sleep.

"yoo cant nap in the rayn"
"i'm not trying to"
"then wat ar yoo doin?"
"go. away."
"ladee, yoo need a docter"
"what I need is quiet"

You close your mouth. Maybe you should just go, but this girl seems way to interesting to just ignore. You sit down a little bit in front of her, mirroring her position. After a few moments, she cracks open an eye. Then she sighs, hanging her head.

"where are your parents?"
"not hear"
"what are you doing here all alone?"
"sittin"
"where are we?"
"in the rayn"
"...what. is. the. nearest. address."

You can hear her stress levels rise with each word she speaks. You figure now is a good time to stop being annoying.

"spring and ferst"
"..."
"alright kid"
"jon"
"be quiet"
"jon then"
"if you're not going away, then help me up"
"we don't have far to go"

You help the girl up, letting her use your shorter frame as support, and then the two of you begin to move. You are on her left, getting a little bit of blood on your rain jacket. In her right hand, she listlessly drags her sword, leaving a trail in the mud to compliment the occasional drop of blood.

Well, you were hoping something interesting would happen today.

[Malrone]

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Derp. *Now* I mix up a character. :P

>Ill-matched Duo: Seek aid. Find it.

[simon.clarkstone]

> Ask where she is going and how she got here and what happened to her
> Head over to the house of the guy who talks like this.

((I just recategorised some notes, as I realised this person must be eeternalSolitood, not the person Victoria was phoned by earlier.))

[mysticCharlatan]

>Jon: Ask where you are going, what happened, etc.

The two of you hobble along, occasionally stopping for Victoria to give you directions. Eventually, you get bored and decide you want to know more about what's going on.

Dialog:

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"wear ar wee goin?"
"a friend's"
"somwun i no?"
"i sincerely doubt it"
"so vikkee"
"please dont call me that"
"wel viks not a gurl naym"
"Victoria"
"fien"
"wat happened to yoo?"
"i'd rather not go into it"
"it got sumthin too doo with that sord?"
"...no"
"i thingk it dos"
"please be quiet"
"hay, is that a foan?"
"yes"
"hoo ar yoo callin?"
"a friend"

>Ill matched duo: Seek aid.

Damn it to as many hells as Chester can name, this kid doesn't shut up. You are beginning to get the feeling that he's being intentionally annoying. You don't know why you had to get help from him.

And yet you did. Maybe it even had to be him. You've never known anyone named Jon, and yet the name has come up in your visions. You wonder if this kid is fated to be caught up in whatever is happening to you and your friends.

Speaking of, it's about time another one of your friends was involved. You'd rather find Lindsay, she has more medical knowledge, but as far as you know she's at Chester's house and that's too far to go in your condition.

You look at your phone dumbly as you walk, ignoring the protests of your body for using your left arm; you are not about to put your sword down. You try and recall his number...

Nothing. Blood loss must have done more to you head than you thought. Fine, you just go into the history and find it.

Phonelog:

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"...Hello?"
"hey"
"oh hello Victoria"
"listen, do you still want to keep me alive today?"
"What?"
"Oh no."
"What did you do?!"
"not me"
"doesn't matter"
"i'm headed too your place, get whatever you can ready"

You hang up. You know its wrong of you to call and make him worry like that, but right now you don't have time to calm him down. As it is, you were having trouble concentrating on a conversation and staying upright at the same time.

You've got to hurry. For everyone's sake.