selfconcept | for trollophoroi, threatmewted

[ Fandaniel might be familiar with the punishment room with its bleak vibes and oppressing atmosphere, but welcome, Swallow. This is where people go to be punished by the Head Administrator. There are small craters and there might be even more than when Fandaniel last came here! The holes bear no plot significance. They're just there.

Hien, this time, doesn't even bother sitting in that half-chair. He stays standing. While people may have gotten used to him being non-expressive, monotone, cranky, or resigned, he's none of that here. He's here with the full authority as the Head Administrator.

Fandaniel and Swallow are separated by an invisible wall. This is very much a PvP zone, but will he allow the two to attack each other no matter what the reason? No. Spells won't reach past the wall. No matter how far the other walks in the room, the wall will be there to separate them. ]

Really reckless, the two of you. It's as if you think actions don't have consequences.

Well, sorry for trying to get out of this stupid, buggy-ass game!

[ Fandaniel isn't surprised at where they end up. When he isn't in trouble, it's the white room. When he is, it's this room. He does quirk an eyebrow at the new holes scattered around, though. He wonders where those came from...

Ah, but Hien is scolding them and he turns to look his way again. The response is about what's expected as Fandaniel scoffs. ]

And just what consequence could killing someone in a game have?

[ He expected this response, so this is fine. He probably wouldn't believe it either, so he'll just make it very clear: ]

First of all, both of you. If anything spoken in here gets out, you will be severely punished...

Amon. [ He looks at Fandaniel. ]

Shoka. [ Then he turns to Swallow. ]

All communications are cut from this room. You cannot message anybody, so don't even try.

[ He hopes that with their names out like that, they can assess the gravity of the situation, even if it looks like it was nothing. Just a harmless test, right? Well, apparently not to this guy who's looming over with personal information and whatnot. He keeps his expressions limited--stoic as possible while also trying to be threatening. He speaks in a lower and quieter voice than usual.

And he'll continue without hearing a response from either of them. ]

Swallow mentioned that she was unable to log out. You know better than anyone what happens when someone is PKed.

Players who are PKed while they are unable to log out are at risk of irreparable bodily harm.

So yes, Swallow, you would have left the game, perhaps forever. And what you just attempted, Fandaniel, is manslaughter.

[Holy shit. That name drop already silenced her, but the rest leaves her staring wide-eyed in shock.

If he'd actually hit her...

If the plan went off without a hitch, she'd have...]

-What the hell?! Where do you guys get off making a game this dangerous?!!

[She's pissed, voice practically a snarl.]

Zelkova told me it was fine to test. Does anyone over there know what the hell they're even doing?!!

[ Hearing his actual name like that does indeed confirm just how fucked up the situation has become. That's some heavy news to hear. If he had gone through with it... if Hien hadn't stopped them...

Shoka isn't the only one to erupt with anger and Fandaniel does as well. ]

You tell us that after threatening us if we tell everyone else?! Are you insane?! How does it cause irreparable harm?! This game knocks us out every time we die already! Is that causing harm as well?!

[ He closes his eyes for a moment and slowly reopens them. He sees their angry expressions. It's fine. He's used to this. Just talk like he always has. ]

If I didn't know what I was doing, I would have left you two alone.

[ He says that in a tone that suggests Swallow and Fandaniel to shut up or he'd add something they both might not like even more than this. ]

When you die while in a normal state, it's about as harmless as someone flicking your forehead.

[ It's one question answered, but that's all he'll answer. ]

So, keep your mouths shut. I would recommend against going to Lumina Cloth for the time being, Swallow. [ As there's literally an event made for killing other players right now.

And yeah, looks like someone found out he's insane. Finally. /s(?) ]

[Oh my god.]

That's it? I could die playing your stupid game and your only advice is "then don't get killed?!"

[ Shoka and Amon: Never Shutting Up. ]

In a normal state... How is the state Swallow is in even possible? [ He's still mad about this but he's going to try and reel in the yelling now that it's out of his system. ] Just how deeply does this game tap into our nervous system?

[ To Shoka: ]

Aren't you supposedly good at playing games?

[ aka git gud, Shoka. And to Fandaniel: ]

I'm sure you can figure it out on your own. You're a smart boy.

[ The hood of his cloak casts a shadow over the top half of his face, but they can see him smile a little. It's absolutely cold in here. ]

Again, if you talk a word of this to anyone else, I will personally show you the consequences myself... and you wouldn't like that. Goodbye.

[ And just like that, the two will disappear from the punishment room and reappear in Mac Anu. It's sweltering hot. ]

[ And just like that, Hien dumps them into the heat wave that is Mac Anu without any further explanation. Fandaniel was already raising a finger to point at the guy and continue yelling and— ]

Don't you—! [ Oh. They're... no longer in Hien's punishment room. He lets out a noise of frustration. ] That absolute prick! Don't talk about it?! Like hell I won't!

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

She's was already trying not to panic but wowee she is so close to panicking so much right now, it's taking everything she's got to even maintain a little semblance of calm.]

I can't believe this... can't someone, like, sue them into the ground or something?!

Ah, perhaps? I am a biologist, not a lawyer.

[ Shoka already knows his real name so he may as well add that in, too. ]

But I get the distinct feeling they covered this in the absolute tome they made us all sign. [ Calming breaths, calming breaths. He isn't the one in real danger here, so he, sadly, has to act like a Real Adult now. He hates that. ] Swallow...

[ He will be polite enough not to use her actual name, at least. ]

You told someone you were in the US, yes? What part?

[On one hand this guy is a known griefer on the other like. What else is she supposed to do here.]

...California. Don't you dare doxx me after just- after all this.

Oh, for the love of... I am not going to doxx you.

[ Not without permission, that is. He begins pacing about, a hand to his chin in a thoughtful way, talking as he walks and thinks. ]

But I do have a colleague in California that is also playing this game. I could make him go check on you if needed, although I imagine a number of others from there are in the beta as well.

[ Maybe someone she would trust more than, well, this asshole right here? ]

[Giving out her address to a rando is the last thing she wants to do but... what other choice does she have?]

...I'll wait around a little longer, and if I still can't log out, we can try messaging your colleague.

Of course. If it does come to that, I assure you, he is far friendlier than I am. I myself am in Japan, so you can be sure that I haven't the means to randomly show up myself.

[ Except when he's in California for a week soon but... look, he pretends to be a proper human being in real life, okay? ]

Do you want me to stick around while you wait to see?

I mean, if you want? Don't think it's going to help it fix itself, like, faster or anything.

[She'll just open up her menu, see if there's anything new there- oh.

Wow okay that forum post exploded with people worrying about her, apparently.

...Weird.]

[ No, he doesn't think so, either, until it, like, does, actually. Surprise.

But until then, he'll send her a party invite and add while she sorts through the forum eruption, ]

Let's at least step into my guild. The heat wave hasn't touched those.

[ Mac Anu is toasty even for him, dressed up like he's ready for the beach as he is. ]

[Blinking at the invite before accepting it.]

...Okay.

And, um... thanks. For trying? There's no way you could've known, so...

No, there isn't, so I imagine we can at least be thankful Hien intervened. Not for anything else, of course, but...

[ Man, he did not feel like becoming a real murderer just then. Anyway, he'll lead the way to the @ home entrance and since she's in his party, she's able to enter the Telophoroi tower along with him.

It's definitely one of the creepier decor options, all metal and red lighting and jagged shapes, like some kind of villain's lair. There's also a meeting room! With equally edgy thrones as chairs. The only thing that breaks up the weirdness here is the extremely busty giant Lamia Assassin plushie from the carnival games seated at the head of the table.

More importantly, it's also cool in here. Air-conditioned guilds for the win. ]

[Wow, this décor sure is... something.

You can see from her face that she's trying very hard not to comment on it out of politeness to him for helping her out so much but damn is it a struggle.]

...Thanks. It feels way better in here.

[She can just ignore it and look through the forums, it's fine........]

[ Decor chosen specifically to elicit such a response but that's fine. He'll take a seat and kick up his feet while they wait.

After a few minutes... ]

Are you going to tell anyone?

...No. But I think I'll strongly suggest my friends quit the beta.

[But she can't just completely ditch them knowing what she does now, either.]

Of course.

[ Sensible thing to do. ]

I am not sure if I will or not. I am not convinced that Hien is malicious in his actions.

[ He's helped Fandaniel as often as he's punished him, to be completely honest here. ]

Though CCCorp... Between this and what happened to that Ganymede player, I can conclude they either did not test this technology thoroughly enough prior to the beta or they simply did not care about the more dangerous results.

This is seriously like, a lawsuit just waiting to happen.

[Though hopefully it doesn't as a result of anyone actually dying.]

Someone was saying he suddenly fell in love with a guy because of the game, too. If that's true... what the hell is this game even doing to our minds?

[ Or maybe someone will die! Exciting. ]

I encountered a debuff that made me depressed for twenty-four hours as well. [ As if he wasn't already that, geez... ] What it must be doing is stimulating the brain to produce the required amount and type of chemical to alter our feelings or to convince us that we feel hot or cold or wet or anything else of that variety.

[ Look, he did say he was a biologist before. ]

[He did so it makes sense he'd actually have some insight into this.]

...Doesn't this feel, like, crazy unethical?

Unethical? Of course. Corporations like this are unethical all of the time and I highly doubt the technology they're using is well-known enough for anyone to ban or regulate it yet...

[ So it's a Wild West of full sensory VR. ]

In any case, should you manage to log out, make a note of how you feel immediately after and throughout the next day. That may help narrow down what might have happened on our own end. [ A pause, a thought, and then, ] But I am no doctor, so there is only so much I can explain. If you feel too poorly, I would urge you to go to urgent care.

Edited 2023-08-13 05:19 (UTC)

Lawsuits. Waiting. To happen.

[Sigh. Pulling up the log out button and beginning to just, tap it every so often to see if it'll stop erroring out.]

I'll be sure to, yeah. And I'll take the rest of the day off from gaming just to make sure nothing's weird.

[ So many lawsuits but that's that. Fandaniel will return to scrolling through the forums instead, waiting to see if she'll manage to get out of here, and when she finally does pop out of existence, he'll send a note to his inbox: ]

Logged out or dead???

Logged out, thank god.

[ Now there's a relief. ]

Good to hear it. Have a nice day off from the most unethical beta test ever~

Pffft, yeah.

You too.

for trollophoroi, threatmewted

8/12

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i replied to the wrong thread b/c i'm a dumb

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right after gay baby jail / august 12

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me saying we can wrap up the thread but then i remember

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