18 Games Played | Video

[gamerrep]

[Chiaki was sitting at home playing a very hard game. She appeared to be trying to shoot everything on the screen, but so much was going on it was hard to tell how well she was even doing, but her score kept going up and up. Chiaki herself for a change wasn't solely focused on the game itself. After all how else would this have been turned on.

She soon found herself speaking while playing the game at the same time, still slowly getting her level up.]

What happened in Attleton was.... interesting to say the least. Confronting one's fears... [She paused to finish the level before moving on to the next level. She was still multitasking.]

It's hard to face something like that. I found it hard to but... it also helped me learn something. That... I should confront my fears even though the person I had to face is terrifying and... insane if I had to put a word to it. But I also have learned to move forward, to keep moving forward even if those I care about most aren't here anymore.

[Her usually straight lined face slowly changed to a smile.]

It might not happen overnight, but I will keep moving forward and doing my best. Keep creating the bonds that I have with friends that are still here and have hope that no matter the tough times that may happen, that we will all get through it.

[She finally finished the final level and the score above appeared to be the perfect score.]

On that note... I am wanting to do something that isn't game related. I have a few ideas, but I want to know if anyone wants to do something as a group or not?

Comments

[rando_dork]

[Gwen's not going to touch the whole facing fears thing. That... Wasn't something she really wanted to think about going through herself at the moment.]

A few ideas? Like what?

I might be down to join.

[gamerrep]

Well like going to New York subarchway, maybe taking in a show and going around the park afterward for a picnic. Something like that.

[It was just an idea that popped in her head, she figured she would think about it more.]

[rando_dork]

There's a New York sub-archway? Woah. That's where I'm from. Let's go check it out.

[It probably wasn't her New York. She knew there were countless worlds with their own New York, but it was worth a shot to check it out.]

[gamerrep]

Yeah, someone I cared about took me there once.

[But she knew she liked it there and so if she could take others there for a fun day out she was going to keep doing it.]

But yes, we should check it out. Find fun things to do and make a day of it.

[rando_dork]

Awesome. Central park is always pretty good. We can swing by there. Or we could check out and see if there are any good bands playing at a club or something.

[gamerrep]

I never thought to check out good bands my first time there.

[rando_dork]

Well we're going to have to fix that this time around, aren't we?

What did you do the first time?

[gamerrep]

Of course.

As for the first time, we went to various places and checked out some shops. But nothing like live bands or anything.

[rando_dork]

Ah. Gotchya. So you got the tourist experience. When we go I'll show a bit more of the cities personality.

So long as it's not totally different from my New York. I've seen one or two that are definitely not the same thing.

[gamerrep]

Pretty much, but it was my first time there so I didn't mind that much.

So there have been different Nee Yorks? In what way?

[rando_dork]

Nothing wrong with doing things the tourist way. You gotta start somewhere.

Kind of? Alternate worlds were kind of a thing back where I'm from. I've been to one or two and it's weird. Mine just seemed to be a lot more colourful than the others I've seen. if that makes sense.

[gamerrep]

It doesn't make sense to me, but I will, however, take your word for it.

[mortal_son]

[ He couldn't remember it before, but. His response is thoughtful, a little quiet. ]

"Two in harmony surpasses one in perfection."

[gamerrep]

[She paused for a moment.]

Is that a line from something? Like a speech?

[mortal_son]

Stupid school motto.

[ Frowns a little. ]

Point is. You're right.

[gamerrep]

Oh, I would have never guessed it was from your school.

[she guessed that one because why would you quote a random school motto? She smiled slightly regardless.]

I see. I like to hope I am right, but with someone saying that... I guess it is true.

[mortal_son]

[ When your stupid school motto drove home the point that making friendships and bonds with others only made you stronger, of course. Never mind that Shinjiro didn't really pay much attention himself to that kind of thing.

He saw the value in it, all the same. ]

... You're all right after all that, then?

[gamerrep]

Yes, I mean what happens will always be a part of me, but pushing forward is always the best idea.

[She gave a small smile.]

So of course. I am also going to do my best to create lifelong bonds with people here.

[mortal_son]

... You're right 'bout that, trust me.

[ Nods. It's what he's been saying to Akihiko for ye- well. The Akihiko from his time, before he came here. Recently, he had to stop being a hypocrite, and follow his own advice. ]

And, if it ever happens again. No knowin with this place, if it will. But, if it does? You'll have people you trust in your corner.

[gamerrep]

Right.

[She paused for a moment, she was, in fact, trying to think about what the next thing she was going to say would be.]

Do you have goals whole you are here?

[mortal_son]

Uh.

[ The question caught him off-guard. He could answer her honestly, because she had seen his own fear, but he hedged instead. Shinjiro still didn't really want to talk about what happened with a stranger - and unless they remembered the Shadow thing, and were frightened about a repeat performance, he didn't think he owed her a reassurance.

Still, he answered with a touch of honesty - ]

Just. Figurin out how to live a normal life. I guess. Without any of the sh- ... stuff that I dealt with at home.

[gamerrep]

And I hope that you can figure that out. I will believe in you for that.

[She seemed quite honest as she spoke, putting her thumb up with a smile before lowering her hand. Chiaki knew what her own goals were as well, but she knew it will take a while to maybe achieve them.]

Maybe you could explore the big city subarchways while you figure it out.

[mortal_son]

Thanks.

[ He did a lot more exploring when he first got here - but by now, he'd settled into a routine. But it wasn't a bad idea, to keep looking around. ]

Yeah. Least the ones which are open to everyone.

[gamerrep]

There are some which aren't open to everyone?

[She had been aware of those that might not be, but she hadn't seen any that were no others allowed.]

[mortal_son]

Uh. Yeah.

[ Looks off to the side a bit. ]

Trust me - if they say an archway is off limits, they've probably gotta good reason for makin it that way.

[gamerrep]

I will keep that in mind, make sure I know before randomly going in any.

[Which is rare, she usually plans things out before doing anything.]

[pianola]

What did you see?

[ A pause. ]

... You don't have to say.

[gamerrep]

See? You mean my fear right?

[She shakes her head slightly.]

No... I will say. After all I've been open about what happened to me... I should be open about the details of that.

[pianola]

Yes.

Only if you want to, Chiaki. I understand it is very personal.

[gamerrep]

There... was a girl at my school. Not a very nice girl.

[She only really remembers her from talking during the whole game situation she had found herself in.]

I mean two people I was close with and cared about were the ones that pushed me toward where I ended up, but... She was the one who talked to me while I had to face dangers such as spikes stabbing me in the leg and foot, to rocks being hit against my face. I even had to escape from a rolling bolder Indiana Jones style.

[She paused, it was obvious she was shaking a little bit as she spoke, but after a moment she took a small breath, trying her best to calm down. She had confronted her fear, she was nothing to her. With these thoughts in her mind she seemed to calm down a little bit.]

She was the reason... I died. She was the reason I could no longer see my friends, play games with them again... Or even go back home. So... she is my fear because of all those memories of her smiling and being so happy as I went through the worst moment of my life.

[pianola]

[ Dorothy's eyes widened.

Based on what little she knew, she had thought those dangers were part of these 'games' Chiaki had mentioned before ... up until she said that she'd died.

She remembered the cruel smile from Alan Gabriel. The narcissistic manipulations from Alex Rosewater. Even Angel's playful selfishness, even if she ended up being kind after all.

Having someone blithely, even happily, witness your suffering was ... worse than someone hurting you in anger or fear, really. ]

... I am sorry.

It sounds like she enjoyed watching you suffer.

[gamerrep]

Considering everything she did, I wouldn't be surprised if she did.

[Because she didn't understand the why behind it all. She wasn't aware of the other motive behind it all.]

But... I now promise that I won't let it get to me.

[pianola]

[ Her expression is blank, calm, but she's remembering a time when she wasn't. ]

... Sometimes, we can't help if something bothers us.

It's not about if it 'gets to you'.

I don't think.

It's about what you do in the moment.

[gamerrep]

You mean if you're in a situation it all depends on the actions you take. Like if you're in a tough situation you can use falcon punch and it all works out.

Like that, right?

[pianola]

... Perhaps.

If that "punch" was the right thing to do, and not merely reacting out of fear.

[gamerrep]

If you are defending someone punching helps and isn't out of fear.

But I get what you mean otherwise. I was just using it as an example though.

[pianola]

I see.

Your analogies aren't what I'm used to. It may take me a moment to adapt, at times.

[gamerrep]

I'm sorry. I guess using video game references is not the best idea.

[pianola]

It's fine. I don't mind it.

This world is very different. There are many things I am adapting to.

[gamerrep]

Even after a year there are things I am still adapting to, it's fine.