[He can wander down the street, certainly, but... it's entirely possible he won't want to go very far.
The farther he gets from the circus, the more the people seem... aimless. There's less of them on the street, but there's something familiar about that aimlessness.
Just like there's something familiar about the void that seems to be covering the street.]
[Well, that helps confirm(?) some things. Just a couple of questions about the scene here:
1. Does the void extend to the buildings and other fixtures? For example, would there be a void-colored building or a void-colored lamppost, or does the landscape just completely flatten out so it's only an expanse of void on the ground? 2. Any particular features on the aimless people that stand out? 3. If he tries to make eye contact with one of the aimless people, do they react?]
[Alrighty! Also one more question about the aimless people, but do they all only wander in the direction of the void or are there people who are coming onto the street from the void side too?
Otherwise, either way, he's going to try and uh... place a hand on the shoulder of the nearest aimless person to try and stop them. He'll be on guard in case it looks like things might get ugly, but y'know.]
[He just gives one more glance at the void and the others who are still straying in and out--]
No.
[He has no proof and it's not like he's adverse to risk-taking, but trusting in something blindly like that... isn't something he's willing to do when they know so little. Turning back to the person:]
[Shin doesn't want to give this person false hope by saying he's left this place once before when they were by the museum area (probably), but neither does he want to leave them to just wander aimlessly into the darkness either.]
Away from that. [The void, he means.] Let's go.
[Okay, so with one (1) NPC in tow, can he get to the Museum District? Or are they gonna be blocked off by more void...]
There doesn't seem to be any void blocking them from getting to the Museum District - the only real hurdle is the walk, because that walk seems to reflect the actual distance between the campus and the museum. They don't seem to be all that bothered by the walk, though, as if they're just so relieved Shin is there they don't care about anything else.
When they get to the district, though... He'll be able to see void where the fog is back in the other(?) version of Estelline. Can't go any farther than that.]
...Do you know what's going on?
[They sound nervous, as if they've been working up the courage to say that the entire walk.]
[The walk is barely a stroll for him, so it passes by quickly enough. At least he can confirm the fog-covered areas seem to correspond with how things are demarcated here. As for the museum, does it just look like the one in the 'normal' version of Estelline then? Nothing like what they saw last Saturday?
As for NPC-san:]
Not yet. But I think I'm a little like you--I heard a voice before too, and then I ended up here, by the museum. [...] Do you know if this district was always open?
[The museum looks like the normal museum, not the spooky museum invested with ghosts.
However.]
No... But things here... they're constantly changing. Nothing ever looks the same, or has the same places, and I don't know why. The only thing that's stayed the same is the fair.
[Hmm, well that explains the Saturday stuff. Is there anything that stands out in the Museum District otherwise or is this a sign he should probably go back to the mall area? He’s really getting his day’s worth of exercise here at least.]
If it remains constant, it might be safer to remain there for the time being.
[Everything looks pretty normal! There’s nobody else near the museum right now, though, just Shin and NPC-san, so it’s probably time to head back.
He will note that the street seems to be getting even darker, even with the lights from the store and street lamps. NPC-san doesn’t seem to notice, though they are keeping as close to Shin as possible without getting in the way.
(They’re probably a little bit in the way.)]
O-okay… Are you gonna find a way out? For all of us?
Okay welp, back to the mall area they go. Someone's having fun messing around with the brightness settings though. He'll remain cautious in case a void suddenly opens up in front of them or something like that, but his pace will remain steady (even with NPC-san being kind of clingy). Can they make it back to the fair at least...?]
I can't make any guarantees. You've been here longer than me, and you probably know more about this city than I do. But I'm not going to lie down and die here, and I won't sit back and expect someone to come save me either. [A shrug.] If you're willing to take responsibility for your own lives, then I don't mind helping.
It might take a bit longer to get back with NPC-san in the way, but they do make it to the fair! No void.
Yet?
Hard to say.
NPC-san nods slowly. They still seem uncertain, but.]
I don't know if everyone... wants to be saved, but I don't want to die like this. I don't - I don't even know if they're dying, but whatever it is that's happening...
[They almost got so close to it... It's a scary thought.]
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The farther he gets from the circus, the more the people seem... aimless. There's less of them on the street, but there's something familiar about that aimlessness.
Just like there's something familiar about the void that seems to be covering the street.]
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1. Does the void extend to the buildings and other fixtures? For example, would there be a void-colored building or a void-colored lamppost, or does the landscape just completely flatten out so it's only an expanse of void on the ground?
2. Any particular features on the aimless people that stand out?
3. If he tries to make eye contact with one of the aimless people, do they react?]
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2. They're hard to focus on, just like the schedule on the bus stop and Xingqiu's face.
3. They do not.]
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Otherwise, either way, he's going to try and uh... place a hand on the shoulder of the nearest aimless person to try and stop them. He'll be on guard in case it looks like things might get ugly, but y'know.]
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The person he touches comes to a halt, and they turn to Shin silently. This close... he can see there's a spark of life still in their eyes.
They don't make any effort to pull away from him, but they seem... confused. It's barely noticeable, but it's there.]
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Can you understand me?
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Yes. Who... who are you?
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[Just going to look over at the void to punctuate the point.]
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I heard something... telling me that it could help... That it could fix everything, and then... I ended up here.
[Which... certainly sounds familiar, doesn't it?]
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Have you been able to leave this place?
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[For a moment, they look afraid, but that fear fades quickly enough to something hollow.]
There no way out. Nothing I want could be worth it, right? But I can’t leave. I’ve seen some people wander off and they don’t come back…
But I don’t think they made it back.
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Are you talking about the ones who walk into that void?
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No.
[He has no proof and it's not like he's adverse to risk-taking, but trusting in something blindly like that... isn't something he's willing to do when they know so little. Turning back to the person:]
Will you come with me?
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Slowly, they nod.]
Of course... but where are we going?
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Away from that. [The void, he means.] Let's go.
[Okay, so with one (1) NPC in tow, can he get to the Museum District? Or are they gonna be blocked off by more void...]
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There doesn't seem to be any void blocking them from getting to the Museum District - the only real hurdle is the walk, because that walk seems to reflect the actual distance between the campus and the museum. They don't seem to be all that bothered by the walk, though, as if they're just so relieved Shin is there they don't care about anything else.
When they get to the district, though... He'll be able to see void where the fog is back in the other(?) version of Estelline. Can't go any farther than that.]
...Do you know what's going on?
[They sound nervous, as if they've been working up the courage to say that the entire walk.]
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As for NPC-san:]
Not yet. But I think I'm a little like you--I heard a voice before too, and then I ended up here, by the museum. [...] Do you know if this district was always open?
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However.]
No... But things here... they're constantly changing. Nothing ever looks the same, or has the same places, and I don't know why. The only thing that's stayed the same is the fair.
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If it remains constant, it might be safer to remain there for the time being.
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He will note that the street seems to be getting even darker, even with the lights from the store and street lamps. NPC-san doesn’t seem to notice, though they are keeping as close to Shin as possible without getting in the way.
(They’re probably a little bit in the way.)]
O-okay… Are you gonna find a way out? For all of us?
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casually punts NPC-san out of the wayOkay welp, back to the mall area they go. Someone's having fun messing around with the brightness settings though. He'll remain cautious in case a void suddenly opens up in front of them or something like that, but his pace will remain steady (even with NPC-san being kind of clingy). Can they make it back to the fair at least...?]
I can't make any guarantees. You've been here longer than me, and you probably know more about this city than I do. But I'm not going to lie down and die here, and I won't sit back and expect someone to come save me either. [A shrug.] If you're willing to take responsibility for your own lives, then I don't mind helping.
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npc-san criesIt might take a bit longer to get back with NPC-san in the way, but they do make it to the fair! No void.
Yet?
Hard to say.
NPC-san nods slowly. They still seem uncertain, but.]
I don't know if everyone... wants to be saved, but I don't want to die like this. I don't - I don't even know if they're dying, but whatever it is that's happening...
[They almost got so close to it... It's a scary thought.]
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Anyway, if they can make it to the fair, then let's keep racking up those steps to see if there's anything up by the mall.]
...Yeah.
[He can't really provide words of comfort here, but.]
What's your name?
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[That shouldn’t be such a hard question to answer, And yet.]
I don’t remember.
[Hm.
They can skirt around the edges of the fair, at least, but the mall doors are locked. Seems just the fair is open.]
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