awakening

[deceptura]

wake up.

When you wake, you'll find yourself laying on a cold, hard sidewalk. The gentle sound of rain fills your senses, and you can feel your clothes, damp, clinging to your skin. The sky is still a little bright, but it won't be for much longer. The sun is setting. You rise, and pull the hood of your top over your head to shield you from the rain. The clothes you're in will keep you safe and warm from the cool, rainy weather.

You survey your surroundings. You only vaguely remember where you were before this, and not much else. Though you also remember the gentle voice in your head that offered you an opportunity you didn't want to pass up: The chance to remember who you are.

And perhaps that starts here and now, in this strange futuristic city you've found yourself in.

Not long after you get onto your feet, a screen -- a hologram, for those who would be able to recognize that -- pops up in front of you. A soothing, calming voice speaks to you:

Greetings, [name], and welcome to Harmonia. My name is Abby and I will be your personal assistant. We will be making our way to the DICE building at the heart of the city. I have connected you to your other associates in the instance where you must communicate with them. Please listen and watch carefully as I will be providing you with directions to the location.

Suddenly, the screen changes to a navigational system of sorts. Those who aren't familiar with technology may be at a total loss, bu Abby is here to help.

Directions may be as follows:

Head 40 feet north and make a right onto Cygnus Bridge. After the end of bridge, turn left.

And for anyone who defies Abby, they'll be met with something cryptic. Something worrying.

Something dangerous.

You will follow these instructions if you value your life.

Comments

[philoxenia]

[ she... you know, she isn't sure she wants to follow those instructions, actually. something about it makes her feel deeply uncomfortable, and she spends a while intentionally not going to the bridge. unfortunately, apparently abby has something else in mind. ]

... "If I value my life"?

[ something in her wants to follow those even less, then! ]

You know, something a little less threatening would help here....

audio

[eyeshadowing]

Is it a threat, though?

[ yuri. stop menacing people over voice chat. PLEASE. ]

Or is it a warning?

permathat!

[philoxenia]

[ it's good for her. builds character or something like that ]

Whatever it is, I-- [ don't feel like following it sounds terrible petulant. is she an irritable person? what's going on here? ugh, she hates not knowing who she is. ] I just think she could have worded it better.

audio;

[flameandash]

[Time to be incredibly unhelpful!]

Why, are you scared of what the disembodied robot voice could do?

permathat.......

[philoxenia]

.....

[ um. ]

No.

[ convincing! ]

[flameandash]

[Ahahaha oh man.]

It's okay if you are! Nobody's judging.

[Lies, lies, lies.]

[yuanqi]

Haha! Are you sure? That's what I would say when I'm for sure going to be judging~

[ game recognises game. ]

[flameandash]

Are you saying you're judging her for being scared?

[Don't call them out like this.]

Assuming she is, anyways.

[philoxenia]

[ WOW. she feels attacked. ]

I'm not scared.

[ that's exactly what someone who's scared would say. ]

[yuanqi]

No judgements here! There's no shame in being scared! People can get used to being scared. Isn't it natural to feel that way when things are new?

Besides, people are most likely to notice what's familiar in others, even without realising it..

[ which is to say maybe everyone here is scared and should just own it, certain judgy people included. ]

[philoxenia]

[ ....... ]

... I suppose so. But if you don't remember anything, doesn't that make everything new?

[ and is she the only one whose memories are all messed up? ugh. she hates this, actually. ]

[flameandash]

[...]

...Probably!

[They sound amused, but they know she does have a point.]

But, hey, you're not the only one who can't remember anything! So don't feel too bad~

audio

[rupturingheaven]

Not exactly enticing, is it?

permathat

[philoxenia]

Not particularly...

[ ugh. this is actually the worst? she's gonna follow abby in the end because she is a little-- a lot worried, but right now... ]

I just don't appreciate how we're expected to follow a voice without any other information.

[rupturingheaven]

It's pretty suspicious.

[... She says, despite actually following the instructions...]

Do you think we'll actually get answers or this is just some sort of elaborate trap?

[philoxenia]

[ there are a few moments when she's quiet--you could hear a pin drop. ]

... I hope it's not a trap.

[ she's going anyway because she doesn't want to know if abby will make good on that threat..... ]

[rupturingheaven]

I hope it's not either, since we're not exactly being presented with any other options.

[She's going to be super side-eyeing Abby, even as she's following directions.]

[philoxenia]

I'm sure "Abby" wouldn't agree... but the choice is between "obey" and "die," it seems.

[rupturingheaven]

... So we're not being presented with any other options.

[... Byleth...]

[philoxenia]

... Not really, no.

voice

[tsunotarou]

Did ABBY threaten you?

[Because Malleus followed the instructions and is now at the bridge, and it's not so bad really.]

permathat

[philoxenia]

Um.....

[ ..... ]

She just said I should follow the instructions if I value my life.

[tsunotarou]

That.... Doesn't sound too friendly.

[Specially not when Abby was so friendly to him?]

Did you follow instructions then?

[philoxenia]

... Currently, I'm not.

[ which might explain a couple of things! ]

[tsunotarou]

You should make your way to whatever it is they want us to go.

[Could help.]

Maybe we can get some answers.