Aria of Unease

[a_gentle_boy]

[voice]
It's a lie!

[Though his voice trembles, it carries conviction.]

They already did this last time!  It's just reusing an old story.  When we were trapped in Westport... there were graves with our names on them then, too!  And I'm still alive!  We all came back just fine.  Whatever's really going on, this is just another twisted way to lower our

Comments

[nothing_is_grey]

I heard it quite clearly and that is the point we should focus on first. A virtual reality would explain many things.

[a_gentle_boy]

We've already had a lot of evidence for it. There were those fliers handed out around town...

I'm worried that an enemy seems to be acknowledging it, though. I'm not sure what it might mean.

[nothing_is_grey]

There have been many implications of various things yes, though this narrow at least my suspicions down.

That is an important matter to consider. I am also curious what they meant by "your persistence in denying that which we aim to achieve," knowing that may give valuable information.

[a_gentle_boy]

If the aliens are really another group just like the Russians... But that's ridiculous. Mayfield can't have alien enemies; it doesn't make sense....

But this was almost like how the Russians introduced themselves, too... Kidnapping us.

[hwamei]

[ How Lucas sounds right now convinces Taiwan enough. She nods and closes her eyes until he finishes... wait. ]

Virtual reality...

Come to think of it, the way Mayfield works is just like a video game, isn't it? People can always come back when they die, and houses get fixed the next day no matter how big the damage is.

[a_gentle_boy]

People getting droned, people losing all their abilities and special markings and even bodies... It's one of the few things that could really explain it all. And we know the Russian town was like that, too.

[hwamei]

Actually... that makes me feel a little better. So even they knew that a real utopia wasn't possible... But forcing people to play a game like this, it's not right! I-

... If this is virtual reality, does that mean our bodies are really here?

[a_gentle_boy]

I've talked about that before with a few people, and...

[He pauses.]

It only makes sense if... we're not, right? Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to change us so easily...

[godisachild]

[Oh hey listen to who it is Lucas. You've sure been bumping into him an awful lot. Or hearing him. But hey, maybe it's nice to hear from anyone when crap like this goes down and people need to work together.

Though, at the moment? He sounds practically dead. He almost drones, without emotion, as he speaks.]

The wording made little sense. "You thought there weren't other virtual realities"? Or. Well. I guess it makes sense. If they're advanced enough, they could possibly push their simulation into ours. Connect and overrun.

Or.

They mean the simulations within whatever's creating Mayfield isn't the only one. Rather, if it is a virtual reality system, and I'm pretty sure by this point it is? Then that means there could be different simulations, or scenarios, then the basic ones of Mayfield.

Like right now.

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas, actually, has no recollection of talking to Pokey this week at all, but he'll get some pity points simply from Lucas having met Picky quite recently. He'll respond carefully, as he always does.]

I understand your first idea - If they're really another group out there, it would be just like the time we were kidnapped by the Russian town. ...I don't know if I follow what you said afterwards, though.

[godisachild]

Think about it.

If this, the town, is a virtual reality?

What if their are other variations of the system? The town isn't the only thing loaded onto the system. There could be other variations of it. The other realities aren't necessarily outsiders, not entirely.

Rather, it's still Mayfield, being laid over the usual virtual reality we see here.

[a_gentle_boy]

But if it's all the same system, it's all being controlled by the same people, isn't it? Why would they start to clash with each other?

[kleinefurstin]

Virtual reality?

[a_gentle_boy]

Uh-huh. We've heard a few things along those lines before...

[kleinefurstin]

I must have missed it, then. I'm afraid that I'm not entirely certain what virtual reality is.

[a_gentle_boy]

I had to have it explained, too. Virtual reality... It's a bit like a fake. Since your mind is responsible for everything you perceive, anyway, if you just think you're experiencing something... that's enough to trick us into thinking it's real.

...That probably wasn't helpful, sorry.

[perfektsymmetry]

I-I wonder where they are. So many people are...

Yeah, I... I don't know what to make of any of that. After this week, I can't even think straight anymore.

[a_gentle_boy]

If... it really is virtual reality, they can just put them wherever they want, right?

It's been... rough. Are you feeling OK, Crowe?

[perfektsymmetry]

Y-Yeah, I... It could be anywhere. I can't even try to guess.

I'm fine, just wishing this was all over. My guess that this is only going to get worse before it gets better. [Captain Optimistic as always.]

[a_gentle_boy]

We're nearing the end of the week. And Halloween itself. It will be over soon.