WEEK 4 DAY 5: MISSION

[wonderful_mods]

Mission: "Free Paulownia Mall from Noise."
Time Limit: Long
Noise Plane: Duet
Wall Instructions: Key wall in front of Paulownia Mall.
Wall Rewards: Hip Snake
Reaped Rewards: Hot Gaze
Mission Rewards: Choose ONE: 1-handed sword, 2-handed sword, Boxing Gloves, Knuckles, Axe, Hammer, Spear, Bow, or Kunai.

[Another day, another Noise-erasing mission. However, this time there is a definite cause behind the noise: Someone has been wreaking havoc in the Police Station, and the Officer there is really starting to get tired of not being able to catch the culprit. To get rid of the Noise completely, the Players will have to address this little problem. But anyone who helps will be rewarded with a weapon... apparently, some strings have been pulled in that regard. Could the higher-ups be planning something?]

Comments

[juuichi_yosamu]

[After several days of being completely and utterly AWOL, Grovyle is seated at a keywall once more. Let the others harry, he's worried for his friend and this is the best way to deal with that while still being 'active'.

Naturally, he's not as upset as the Flutters are about being on the Reaper side - he's his own natural weapon, and while he hasn't gotten any info about what the hell is coming in the next few days, he knows that it's something unpleasant... and that the Conductor seems to know what it is.]

[suicidoll]

(At the very least, there's someone else who's very concerned about everything that's going on in this place. After being so reliant on scanning to guide her around and help her fight Noise, she's become very aware of the negativity spreading everywhere. Whatever it is, it's growing.

Though blind, Kreutz is very much making her way over...but that's not without touching the wall, which of course has its typical defenses of shocking her back.)

...You'd think I would be used to this by now, but I guess not.

[juuichi_yosamu]

You've survived; that shows you're far more used to it than you let on.

Keep surviving, and you might be able to get back what you lost.

[He's not being negative, though all that noise around IS worrisome.]

Want past the wall? Maybe you and your partner [He knows she has to have one, the noise aren't going after her.] can explain to me what the hell has been going on in this place.

If you can't do that, prove to me that you've got what it takes to fix it. Ten noise, where I can see it.

[suicidoll]

(Kreutzer smiles lightly and nods. She knows it's Grovyle's own way of being supportive, so she's fine with it. She's not opposed to fighting noise, but Xion will hurt her if she gets caught in another fight it's not a bad idea discussing theories.)

Xion and I discussed the possibilities in great length yesterday. As foreboding as it may sound, we've deduced that this world may be reaching its end. No scans give direct answers, but there's no one defined source of the negativity and noise to accompany it.

[juuichi_yosamu]

[...Now that he thinks about it, this kind of negativity WAS reminding him of the world he came from. Maybe there was that much noise there, too. Nnh, that doesn't sound promising.]

What happens to us if the world ends while we're here? We're not part of this world, but we're trapped in it all the same...

[suicidoll]

My guess is we'll go down with the ship. We're not part of this world, no, but we're still in it. Being in a separate realm from the RGers will mean little if there's no world for the game to be hosted.

Ideally, the week will end before this world does; if the higher-ups are so intent on continuing this Game, they won't let it die here.

[juuichi_yosamu]

...How do you know this isn't their way of getting rid of it? It's been a mess from day one.

[He didn't like the implications here, not one bit.]

I don't think we can depend on getting out of here in time, Kreutzer. Whatever's going on, it's up to us to stop it.

[suicidoll]

...I don't know. It's an unlikely decision, but the Conductor excels at unpredictability. The Composer likely more so than him.

(It's unsettling, but even Kreutz can't deny the possibility.)

That's why I said "ideally." I don't expect convenience to work in our favor, especially with erasure as such a highly probably outcome. The best we can do is what we've been doing since the game started: our tasks.

[juuichi_yosamu]

There's gotta be something more. If we're being set up to take the fall with this world, "our tasks" aren't going to help save it, and may actually hasten the inevitable...

[suicidoll]

Perhaps that's exactly what we're supposed to do. Perhaps that's all the Game really is: a host to unwitting mercenaries who can manipulate the world more than anyone can in the RG.

[juuichi_yosamu]

...Then why exactly does it need us?

[Grovyle growls, obviously not liking the implications at play here. He takes out his keypin and brings the wall down.]

You're free to go.

[suicidoll]

(She holds her hand to her chest and stares down at the ground.)

How is a machine to work without any of its cogs? Business models always have executives at the top of the ladder, day to day laborers at the bottom and supervisors along the middle to keep everyone below them moving. It's unappreciated work, but without us, there is vacant space available only to the dead.

(With a sigh, Kreutzer looks up and nods, slowly advancing forward.)

But like any machine, it's modified easiest from within.

[invisiblefloatinghead]

[Well, that sure is a large, green lizard-thing manning a wall. The Professor's wondering if he made a mistake in wandering too far from Rin.]

Ah...I suppose you've got some conditions for taking down this wall?

[juuichi_yosamu]

["Large" is subjective, of course - he's still only about three feet high.]

A new player, hm? Let's make this interesting.

Bring me a 'Hot Gaze' pin. You should be able to get one around here if you look hard enough.

[Between Asakura, the Flutters, and Mewtwo, he's seen that there's been harrying going on, so why not send the newbie onto the front lines?]

I'll even sweeten the deal - bring it to me and you get to keep the pin.

[invisiblefloatinghead]

Hot Gaze?

[The Professor considers this. Anything related to fire or heat was preferable, given that he knew how to use that quite well.]

So I'll just find one? Or I'll have to fight something to obtain it?

[Because if it's the latter, he's got to run off and find Rin first. Wandering on his own was bad enough, he's not going to be stupid and go into battle against something he knows requires a second person to defeat.]

[juuichi_yosamu]

[A nod.]

In this Game, you shouldn't expect anything for free, especially Pins. Those are your weapons around here, I don't think Reapers would just give those up without a fight.

[invisiblefloatinghead]

[Stein returns that nod with one of his own.]

That it wouldn't be easy is unsurprising. I should be back shortly.

[And he'll leave, returning after an hour or so with a Hot Gaze pin if handwaving that is okay.]

Here. I believe this is the correct pin.

[juuichi_yosamu]

[Handwaving is fine, but if you want to use it you'll have to earn it legit~ Grovyle nods at the pin, before bringing down the wall and tossing a pin of his own towards the gentleman.]

Sure is. Wall clear.

Oh, and do me a favor - be careful. Something's not right in this city, or this Game.

[invisiblefloatinghead]

[That's fine! I'm still trying to get used to playing a Player and having to worry about this sort of thing. The Professor gives Grovyle a nod.]

Thank you.

[He seems a bit interested now, though.]

I'll be careful...I've weathered a few Crises in my time.

[And with his universe, that's saying something.]