CYOA - W3

[afflictionmods]

ic date: friday, w3
ic time: 7pm - 10pm

Comments

[fabulation]

[ ...Well then. Not exactly his intention, but he'll just. Keep trying. ]

And can you tell me how you made yourself? I've never heard of anything like that being possible...

[afflictionmods]

It's - it's...

[Sorry, give her a moment.]

I had to. So I did it.

[She seems lost.]

Because you don't... You're real, but you don't fit here.

[fabulation]

Alright.

[ He says this, while being like :unsure: inside, but you know what, this is fine. ]

Well, no. This place isn't our home.

But my next question is, right now? Where are we, exactly?

[afflictionmods]

[Of course it's fine. Hasn't this entire circus been fine?]

You're inside.

[Which is a very helpful answer!]

But I don't - I don't - I don't know if you'll be inside for long. Or will you fall out?

[fabulation]

[ This has been a disorienting, strange experience.

So there is a moment where he goes quiet, but fortunately despite his time over at the museum, Xingqiu is a relatively calm person—more patient than most people can be, in certain circumstances. ]

I don't know either. It's hard to tell, isn't it?

[ ... ]

What is your purpose? What is the meaning behind all of this—being inside, that is?

[afflictionmods]

[It is. It is hard. She nods jerkily, but Xingqiu's calmness seems to be helping her relax.]

I'm... We're here to help you fit in.

[She takes a breath.]

You don't work the way this world works.

[fabulation]

[ That's...something. At the very least, Xingqiu will count it as progress (?) of some sort.

Though, the words are strange nonetheless and the way this conversation is going doesn't follow a linear kind of logic. ]

No, we don't. Though, the easiest answer for that is because we don't come from here. But, I imagine you might understand that.

[ He can't truly tell what she does or doesn't understand at times. ]

How are you to help us fit in this world, exactly?

[afflictionmods]

[Does she? Does she not?]

We can replace you. With the right version.

[:worry:]

[fabulation]

[ Debatable, from where HE'S standing, or perhaps not so much. ]

That's your idea of making us fit in? If you ask me, I'd have to say your idea isn't very...original.

[ Hah. Original.

That was a good one. ]

[afflictionmods]

[:worry:]

It's not my idea! I think. I don't know... All I know is it has to be true.

[fabulation]

[ Look, that was a good pun. No one can judge him for it!!

It is just too bad she could not see the humor in it. Alas, anyway... ]

So you're just certain this is a fact? Well, what else do you know is 'true'? As in...how this world works, exactly?

[afflictionmods]

[Everyone can judge him for it!]

You don't know? Can't you...

Can't you feel it? Everything going on around you?

[fabulation]

[ Wao!! ]

...What do you mean by that? I don't understand.

I've been able to bump into people, if that's what you mean.

[afflictionmods]

The way it gets cold... or hot... from the people around you?

You can't feel that?

[fabulation]

[ ??? ]

It does?

[ ...when he bumped into that person he doesn't recall feeling that. ]

[afflictionmods]

It's supposed to... That's what makes this world different. That's how the people are.

[She seems very, very convinced of this.]

[fabulation]

[ ... Which tells him like, not a lot.

Maybe. He does recall the marks do make them feel certain things... ]

Has it always been like this?

[afflictionmods]

Yes... For as long as anyone can remember, that's been what the people of this world can do...

[Which. Still tells him not a lot, huh.]

But it's... it's worse, isn't it?

[fabulation]

[ . . .

No, it doesn't. But, Xingqiu this time will simply tilt his head. ]

What's worse, exactly? The condition of this false world?

[afflictionmods]

The world beyond this place...

[She shakes her head, as if that'll help her sort through her thoughts.]

These people... they came in here, just like you.

[There's an attempt to gesture at the fair going on around them.]

But they're right in a way you're wrong. And everything is worse, which is how they ended up here. They're stuck here, but... you're not. So if you can be right but still be able to get out...

[She trails off for a moment.]

These people could get out too. Right? We can get out or... or we could get more people to come in...

[fabulation]

[ ... Hm, he thinks he can understand it. The people are trapped; it makes him think of those listless people shambling about. ]

I can tell you now that no one really wants to come and live in a place like this.

[ Just saying that as it is, but... ]

I don't think it's impossible for everyone to leave. We're trapped in some place as well, even before we came "here". So, if we could work together, maybe we can both achieve something we'd want.

Those of us who've come here just also want to go home, and you want to get out of here. Of course, in order to achieve those things, we'll need more information. Can you tell me if you've heard of any exits from here? And what exactly has been keeping them stuck here? As well as any details about how 'everything is worse'?

[ Xingqiu believes it can't hurt to see if this is an option. It does make him think a bit of business negotiations, but in the end, if they can help each other, maybe it can alleviate the situation somehow. Including them getting out of 'this' false place. ]

[afflictionmods]

I… haven’t heard of any exits… I’m s-sure one has to exist, but I don’t know how to find it.

[Though there is, of course, the possibility that there isn’t actually an exit after all.]

I haven’t been to the place outside, but some of the people here talk. They talk a lot, and some of them don’t seem to care that things are like this! But they say things about seeing things that don’t make sense, about how things seemed so terrible, and something pulled them in.

But they just think I’m strange, if I ask. They think all of us are strange. And they don’t care.

[fabulation]

[ A possibility that Xingqiu has eliminated from the equation kthx. ]

I think it's odd that they don't care.

[ Or maybe not, if they've escaped to this place in particular.

Whatever this 'false world' is supposed to be. A reflection of the world they were sent to, maybe? Tied by strong feelings, or...a presence that is responsible for pulling them in? ]

Do you happen to know what that something is, exactly? Did they say?

[afflictionmods]

[We appreciate the optimism.]

It's something that happens every year. This year is different but I don't... I don't know any specifics.

[She sounds frustrated, for a moment, before it fades.]

It seems like the longer people are here, though... the less they end up caring.

[fabulation]

[ He has to be optimistic or otherwise he will not return home. :( ]

I see. Well, that's quite unfortunate...for obvious reasons.

But, I've no intention in winding up the very same. Can you tell me if there are any places of interest we should look into? Or certain people...?

In addition, someone had left behind a toy of some sort, but it was in disrepair, so I have to wonder if there are others who may have kept their wits about them.

[ That's not exactly the phrase he'd be using if he thought the case. But Xingqiu found it and it stuck out in his mind, so he figures he may as well mention it. See if garners a reaction, jogs a memory. ]