hugtopia_logs | ♥ October (Lasohm) Fourth Wall Log

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♥ October (Lasohm) Fourth Wall Log

kool aid man crashing through a wall then nervously stepping out again

October (Lasohm) Fourth Wall Log

❥ Speaking of Wall Breaking...

The ghosts in town sure are weird, huh? But they're settling down, as the month draws to a close. They're becoming less anxious and random, their behaviour growing sort of… focused. As time passes some of them begin to develop features. They can interact with the world more consistently. You can… hear their voice.

And then suddenly they are people, real and physical and just as confused to be here as you are. They could be anyone, from your world, someone else's world, a place you've never heard of… some of them could even be you, from a different universe, a different timeline, an unknown reality. What does all this mean?

IT'S FOURTH WALL, Y'ALL. Tell your friends, people interested in apping or just playing around in the setting, anybody! Time to break the wall down and have some fun.

This post serves as a replacement for the usual Test Drive Meme, in order to consolidate the chaos a bit. Though it is being posted now, timeline-wise, this shift will occur ONLY during the weekend prior to applications opening: October 30th to November 2nd, after which point characters will either disappear or become permanent residents via the application process. This also means that the rest of the event effects will have worn off, and characters will be their normal selves through the duration of this prompt.

Some ground rules for the 4th Wall event:

For characters/accounts not in-game:

a character does not have to meet application qualifications to post to the 4th Wall Event, except in cases where there is an intent to apply when applications open. Duplicates, CRAU, AU, etc. are permitted for the event.
we do ask that crack shenanigans are reasonably limited, game rules are followed, and that the event involve characters only, not players or real people.
anyone can toplevel! It'll be a free for all. Go wild, have fun.
characters will be given a temporary, low-tech communicator for the duration of the event with limited network access, due to limited availability of the real deal.
you will not arrive with any items/companions beyond the clothes that you wear
check out the Setting or FAQ pages for location details! Also, have a look at the October event log, to see what else is going on these days.

For characters/accounts currently in-game:

players can decide for themselves at the event's conclusion whether or not memories of certain visitors remain, and to what extent; memories could become fuzzy, faces or communication obscured, they could disappear entirely, or they can remain fully intact whether the person apps into the game or not.
network communications with 4th Wall visitors that don't (or can't) app in will be wiped, with the locals citing a data error related to the older communicators being used. Technology can be unpredictable, huh!
any communication exchanges that you WANT to keep can remain with some discretion; for example, if a spouse visits and you happen to take a selfie with them, and they do not (or cannot) app but having that photo of them would give you comfort, feel free to keep it.
Similar to the TDM, 4th wall threads cannot be used for AC or AC Reward purposes unless it is between characters already in-game.

Click the above prompt to expand for details. Timeline-wise, this occurs October 30th to November 2nd. For players currently in-game, if you have any questions, please direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread on the original plotting post.

On this post, we've created both another Questions Thread and a Toplevel thread (see below) for visiting players, the latter so that anyone can track and see who's posted! When you've made a toplevel, feel free to comment HERE to let everyone know.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Tidus watches the pair of them, if not too intimately. Yeah, he knows about what they have going on, and was even banking some small amount of Inigo swapping from him to Roland, but... ...

He swings his gaze back to the table, giving them their moment until the conversation becomes relevant to him again. And at the remark about contact, the patting on Inigo's arms, Tidus's face sours. ]

Are we sure this isn't some weird void dream? Maybe we fell asleep really close to each other, and now...we're in a world that runs off of hugs.

And -- [ his nose wrinkles ] -- ruled by gods.

[ That's two elements from two of them. Who knows what Roland added? The books? Probably the books and law and whatever else that makes a city. ]

[ There's a bit of surprise when he's suddenly moved back slightly. At least he doesn't freak out - Inigo may be very prone to doing that, but he at the very least knows that Roland doesn't mind being hugged by him - but his eyebrows still raise up, unsure of what's happening.

Though he already gets an answer before he can question it, the moment Roland pats his arms like that and pulls him back into the hug. Inigo settles right back in, a happy smile on his face. ]

I know, isn't it amazing?

[ It may be a fact he didn't care much about before he ran into Tidus, but now he has his favourite hugging targets here? It's great. He loves it. Thanks, world.

A moment later he does seem to catch onto Tidus's tone. He doesn't pull away from Roland, instead just turning his head enough to be able to see the other teen. ]

.. Ah, well.. I mean, we don't have to hug whenever you don't want to, Tidus. [ Look! He's being good! He learned from their dumb shenanigans the other day! ] But if you'd rather hug me than a stranger..

[ You know. He wouldn't mind constant hugs. Just saying. ]

Right now, I'm just happy the city resembles something familiar for once. It's like something straight out of my country, except...full of robots.

[ He's actually wondering how fast the currencies are deposited to them since he's still hugging Inigo, but that would be rude. So he loosens a bit of that hold on him, just so he can speak to the other better. ]

Heh. Well, we can save our group hugs for later. [ YEAH YOU BEST BELIEVE HE WANTS IN ON THAT TOO. Who knows how long they're going to be stuck here for? Was this going to be a week long affair too? A mission? Are they saving everyone here too? The questions keep coming. ] Who else have you two found from the train? Any other team leads? Friendly faces? [ Anyone??? ]

What is this? A 'hug or you die' island?

[ Tidus stop making meta references.

But really, the more and more they talk, the more Tidus is sure this is some mass fever dream. Actually, mostly because he can't believe how easily the two of them are willing to go along with this. He doesn't want to touch on the hugging part yet - they've had way too many talks right now to talk about comfort! -, but when Roland brings up Who else have you two found?, Tidus grimaces and looks away for a second. ]

Look -- should we be taking this seriously? [ Okay, yes, but- ] You both remember what happened on that Jema-something island. With the bonds? Seeing memories? Isn't this something like that? [ He looks about the library in emphasis, his hands gesturing out. ]

Somewhere the train remembers. That's why -- we're seeing people we know.

[ Inigo can notice Roland loosening the hold a little. And he, in turn, scoots around until he's clinging more to Roland in a kind of sidehug, just so he isn't literally standing between the other two. It makes it easier for him to look at Tidus as well while resting his head against Roland's side, cheek pressed to his shirt. ]

I haven't seen anyone else I recognized though. [ It doesn't sound like a protest - more an observation. Like he's trying his best to think along, despite knowing he's not exactly the smartest person here. ] I walked around for a while until I ran into Tidus, but he was the only person I recognized here. If everyone else from the train was here, wouldn't we have spotted more of them earlier on? It's not like there's just a few of us.

[ That's a nicer cuddle angle while standing up, thank you Inigo. Your hugging prowess is certainly something to behold! Roland just hums along, listening to them both before piping up himself. A cursory glance around the library to help jog his thoughts. ]

I don't have enough information about where we are right now to tell you that this isn't like Jema'grethy and memory bonds - [ A shake of his head. ] but this city has a name, with some form of history. Maybe we were deposited in a void-active world?

[ But then, where were the trains? The void ministry? To Inigo's credit, it would have been impossible to miss around a hundred or so people in four different variants of colored hoodies and shirts... ]

Right now, you two are the only people I know. Haven't seen anyone else I recognize. [ And he's kind of thankful for that. He's had enough of seeing memories and dreams mixed into one lovely package for one lifetime! ] Guess we're going to have to keep looking around for answers. Library's not gonna tell us much. I think most of what I want to know is redacted or hidden somewhere else.

[ Oh crap, why did he mention seeing people they know? He can just keep this on the downlow, right?? No one's called him out on it, so... good. Right. Just go with whatever Roland said! ]

Right... oh! [ Wait, perfect distracting subject! He digs into his pockets, bringing out the device handed to him. ] Did you get one of these? Uh, dunno it'll have whatever you're looking for. I mean, what do we wanna know? A way to get back?

[ And he goes silent, trying to think, brow furrowed as he looks at both of them. ]

What?

[ What should we do? ]

[ Yeah, Tidus, tell us about your daddy.

But Inigo is much too distracted by the question Tidus asks. Because it's a good one. What do they want to know? Do they just go back to the train, despite the fact that then they'd be stuck there again? The obvious answer would be to look for a way to actually go home, but--

.. he doesn't want to. Not right now. Inigo realises it's so incredibly selfish of him, abandoning the fight back home for a while longer, but his heart just can't take the thought of leaving Roland and Tidus when it was only just freaking out at the idea of having lost them already.

So he swallows, his throat momentarily feeling oddly dry, his hold on Roland tightening just a bit. ]

We could find out if this place is any less restrictive than the train.. Maybe then we could at least see if there's any way to bring everyone else here too. [ Since it doesn't seem like they're here with them. ] But I.. I still can't contact Naga.

[ While back home it had still been possible even after moving through space and time. The first time he had been unable to, it was back on-- ]

Just like on the train. So maybe we are still out in some void-active world. [ Like Roland was saying. ]

[ Roland just chalks up Inigo's tightening hold on him to simple apprehensions about where they are and what's happening. And that Inigo naturally does like to hug his friends anyway, so for now that goes unnoticed. He'll hum in thought as he listens to both, and at Tidus's signal, takes the device that rests in his own pocket.

It looks like one of the smartphones he used to have back home. ]

I don't know about looking to bring the rest of the train here per se, but I do agree that we should be looking at what exactly Havenwell is apart from a place running exclusively on positive human touch. [ He sighs. ] And speaking of Inigo's bond with Naga, I can't seem to find my higgledies either. Bambosh didn't make the trip. I don't feel him.

[ Roland takes that cue to open the device, light from the back of the screen casting a slight glow around his face when he brings it up to his face with one hand. The rest of him is still keeping Inigo close. ] Alrighty. Here goes nothing. Tidus, have you tinkered with it? Is it just for communication?

[ Tidus rests a hand over his chest, frowning with the mention of the higgledies. Not wanting to think about what that meant--but what else did it? Gibbs was still on the train; the others too...

He doesn't let himself get distracted, regarding Roland when he speaks to him. ]

It's got an internet, I think. That means you can read things on it and see movies like in the cinema car. [ He looks at Inigo in particular for that, the explanation for his benefit. ] But I haven't checked it out much. It's different from the network in Zanarkand.

[ But, to Inigo's point before- ] Would it be a bad plan to bring the train here? If this place can grab us just like the train does it - we could railroad it's whole operation. Get in contact with the void ministry and do something about it!

[ Thanks for not forgetting the technologically challenged boy here, Tidus. There was a reason why he didn't say anything about the phone and just left that up to Roland instead! Inigo managed to get used to the ICPs on the train, sure, but these things look like a whole different beast.

It makes a bit more sense though with Tidus's explanation. .. only a bit. It's a lot to imagine such a tiny thing can somehow do. ]

.. Do you think we could reach them from here?

[ The void ministry, he means, not the train.

Slowly - and clumsily, since he's still trying to hang onto Roland, like he might die if he is no longer touching the older guy - he takes his phone from his pocket too, holding it out.

Upside down. ]

With these things? [ NOT LIKE HE KNOWS HOW PHONES WORK. Call the void ministry!! Just do it! ]

[ Where Tidus tinkered and found internet and entertainment, and the teenager clinging to his midsection can barely keep the phone held upright at all, Roland is here tap tap tapping away with one hand, faster than he would have typed on the ICP back on the train. His brows furrow, deep in thought but not so lost that he doesn't hear what Tidus has to say, or what Inigo's question asserts.

The internet isn't quite like his first world, but it's enough to be familiar, enough for Roland to adjust. There has to be some sort of search engine mechanism, right? ]

Sure. But do we know how to get in touch with the train in the first place? Or the void ministry for that matter? [ Roland glances up to look at Tidus, his fingers paused and hovered over the touchscreen of his device. ] Unless we dial in some coordinates or it has a hotline we somehow missed the entire time we were riding it, I'm not sure how this will help us.

[ And his luck does indeed run out. No search engine. No real, actual connection to anything apart from Havenwell's own network. Roland shakes his head. ] The most we can do is post on this city's feed - kind of like how our terminals on the train work. Or our SCA's on a mission.

[ !!! ]

Can you try accessing the SCA network? Both of you? [ With wide eyes, he shifts his gaze to the two of them while he tries as well. Maybe this was their way to pick up frequencies? ]

[ Roland, so negative! Tidus wants to interject on him, but he's already rearing and on another new idea. One though that Tidus already has disappointment to share for, even before he raises his wrist with the device on. ]

I tried it. It's just the same as on the train. It's got my music. [ That's like, the one positive of the SCA. He's had some concerns with it before, but he eyes the other pair curiously. ]

You both have yours?

[ He knows why he would have it, but the other two? They didn't need to wear it on the train. ...unless Inigo got into listening to music on his SCA because of Tidus and fell asleep with it on. ]

[ Inigo shakes his head at Tidus's question, looking a little guilty. Between the way Roland is saying it and how Tidus is wearing his own, Inigo almost feels a little shameful that he doesn't have his right here on him. Like he's a kid who just got caught in the middle of doing something really bad.

In fact, he looks enough like a guilty puppy that he's even muttering a: ] Sorry... [ While he clings just a bit tighter to Roland with the arm still around the man.

He pulls back the phone he was holding out with his other hand, staring at it for a moment before - while still pouting - starting to randomly touch the screen, as if that may somehow magically summon the train here. ]

[ He affirms that Inigo didn't do anything wrong with a firm squeeze of that arm around the boy, though apart from that, Roland too expresses some sense of disappointment. When he checks for his SCA, both of his wrists are devoid of the device. ]

Dammit. Nothing. But why take it from us...? Who would have thought to, anyway? It just looks like a regular watch.

[ So, he'll turn back to the phone-like tablet. Opens up the main screen again, tries to look for something...anything. ]

Maybe we really all are just dreaming. I'm not liking our odds of actually figuring anything out in one go. [ Roland glances up at Tidus with a Look, not worried but... ] What if we ask around? Look around town? There's gotta be something. Anything.

[ If they need to think- ] The news? If there's something important about this place, that'll be a start, won't it? Maybe something happened, or's gonna.

[ Isn't that how it goes before their missions? People receiving visions. ...alright, it's not the same, but it's better than wandering the place without some kind of specific. ]

Roland can try check out the phone-thing for some news, and we can ask people what's been up lately. [ He looks at Inigo, doubtful somehow that he'd be up for it, but suggesting anyway to the both of them- ]

We'd cover more ground if we split up then met back here after...

[ Tidus knows him too well. Roland probably too - anyone who knows Inigo even a little bit beyond the front he tends to put up in front of people he doesn't know would know that of course Inigo hates that idea. Especially in this situation, where he's only just found Tidus and Roland again after thinking he had lost them forever.

.. but despite the sheer anxiety that spreads through his body at the very thought, tightening his chest, he hates the idea of holding them back even more. Just because he can't handle some normal regular thing like splitting up for a while.

So even though it feels so hard to in against instinct that tells him to keep clinging to either of them like a vice, Inigo slowly lets go of Roland, properly standing up straight next to the guy instead. ]

Yes, you're right.

[ Inigo knows he won't convince either of them by pretending he's just fine with the idea, that they probably know he has to make an effort to not start shaking right now, but he has to try anyway. What else is he supposed to do? Maybe it'll be at least easier for them to go through with it too when he doesn't act like a giant clingy baby. ]

We.. we should. I could probably go talk to some people. Or see if I can get in touch with one of these gods, since I'm.. you know, used to that.

[ When Inigo slips out of his hold, Roland glances at both of them with some level of worry which he keeps to himself. This wasn't a bad idea at all; and on a regular occasion, he would have agreed with Tidus wholeheartedly. But there were a couple of problems with it, and he's not keen on losing the only people he knows in a foreign, almost alien world so soon.

Roland crosses his arms against his chest and shakes his head, the phone-like device hidden from view. ]

No. We need to stick together. [ Of this, he sounds quite certain. ] Splitting up seems like it'll cover more ground, but we won't have any method of communicating with each other if we do that. [ The devices themselves, from what he can tell, didn't function like the phone network he was used to. No SIM card, no dial-up number...There was a citywide network, though. But then that meant everyone else would be able to hear their conversations, and that won't do. ] We can agree to meet up in a spot after some time, but we don't even know how big this city is and where things are.

[ He also won't voice out that Inigo is already incredibly frightened of the assigned tablet; what more having to speak to robots which seem to outnumber humans at some level of discomfort? Roland shakes his head. ] We all have individual agendas. Tidus is good with people, and can ask around. Inigo wants to try talking to the four gods. And I can check resources, news. Let's draw straws and follow one of the three agendas first, before moving on to the next.

[ He uncrosses his arms if only to gesture to both teenagers in front of him with a casual wave. ] It's either that, or you two stick together. [ At the very least, Inigo will have someone to decipher all the tech for him in this scenario. ]

[ Truthfully, Tidus may be under-assuming Inigo's response to the idea. He knows Inigo may not favour it, but the extent of what it puts him through is unknown to him, difficult for him to gauge or guess. Some of it may come through now in the put-upon calm in his voice, except-

--except it doesn't matter, when Roland shoots down the idea. And it's not disagreeable thinking he does it with. And Tidus isn't so decided in his own thinking to argue for it, but for that last option thrown in, Tidus folds his arms, brows lowering, expression unimpressed. ]

Oh no. You don't argue about us getting lost and then act like a self-sacrificing guy about scouting out a city. [ Of all things! Weirdo. ] We stick together. We don't have to do one thing at a time - just keep on the same street and don't wander off too far.

[ He looks to each of them, nodding his head. ]

Sound good?

[ Even as Roland speaks, Inigo is still thinking. Sure, he hears that the other isn't in favour of splitting up either, but Inigo can't help but worry if maybe he should be the one to insist on it all the same then, if it's going to help them in the long run. If maybe Roland is also not up for it since he figures Inigo may worry or have other Inigo-specific problems. He just doesn't want to hold the two of them back--

But then there's that last part, and what Tidus says, and all of those thoughts vanish from his mind. For once the teens truly are united in heart and spirit, since even Inigo shakes his head. ]

Right, why would the two of us go off together and you go by yourself?

[ Inigo won't have that either!! ]

That makes no sense at all! Besides, if you weren't with us.. [ His voice trails off, thinking of how to put this. Inigo is so bad about going in against parentsl figures. How does Tidus do this whole Teen Rebel thing again? What would he say? ] T-then who would have all the boring conversations we don't want to have!

[ YEAH. ]

[ That almost, almost sounded like they genuinely were onboard with the plan. And fine, he'll let himself be called out with the fact that he would rather the two of them stick together if it wasn't an option to go about it as a team. At least they've got each other's backs. They know how they think, how they work. Twin Teens take Fantasy Dream Land! And by all accounts, it's a city that looks more or less familiar to Roland anyway, so he would have been fine doing recon all on his own.

But apart from the assertion that they go together - 'Boring conversations?!' Does Inigo mean actually gathering data? Information??? That could help them??? So what on earth were they planning on doing for recon if Roland was going to be doing all the talking???

TEENS!!! ]

...

[ He doesn't sigh out loud. Ah well. At the very least, they've got a plan. And they're going to be together, which was all the more important. ]

Sounds good. Let's roll out. Where to first?

Hey-- yeah, Inigo's got the right idea! Who's gonna?

[ As if Tidus wouldn't pounce on that way of phrasing it once it was produced, boisterous in his giddy agreement. Sorry, Roland, you're being outnumbered! You're on boring duty!! Tidus would be high-fiving Inigo right about now if they were side by side. ]

Well! How about the way to these gods first? I doubt they're right outside this place. [ Now he steps to them, holding out his hand. ] I saw how to bring up the map on that thing. We can get directions from someone and head over, talk to people along the way.

[ Usually Inigo would be a tad more worried about potentially offending Roland.

But then there's that look on Tidus's face. His boisterous reply. And those make it really hard to feel bad about those words. Instead Inigo slowly starts smiling as well, moving over to the other teen's side. Inigo may not be going for a high five though, instead grabbing Tidus's hand to hold it in his if they're going to move. ]

That's a good idea! The place the gods reside here.. or where they can be spoken to, anyway, should be easy to find. Back home the place to contact Naga was on Mount Prism, so maybe there's a mountain here too? Or maybe even just a temple?

[ Outnumbered, indeed. But it's not something he minds too much. Whatever fuss he thinks of in his head is really just another show of affection, knowing how these two operate. The outstretched hand is taken for an invitation to start moving, but he does quickly jog back to close all the open "books" (if you can call them that) before he returns to the Twin Teens' side. Gotta clean as you go, you know? ]

All right. So, contacting one of the four gods first. I read that they each have a presiding temple located in the cardinal directions: one in the North, South, East, and West. Tidus, can you check which temple is closest to us from the library? Inigo can hopefully communicate with them using his Brand...or at least, a priest of theirs. [ That's how that worked right? ]

[ He'll also walk next to them now, looking around where he can. It's an expansive city, from what he can tell. Roland's only misgiving apart from the presence of the gods is the robots. It's nothing too new - Broadleaf operated on the same principle of coexistence - but to the point where they were leeching off of real human affection? It's a little too dystopic for his liking. ]

Edited 2020-10-29 16:24 (UTC)

[ The phone in hand, Tidus is already clicking around for an idea, missing the life of voice activation that Zanarkand was agreeable to. But it's a lot better than the nothing they had on the Voidtrecker, he supposes, getting any type of network than just the internal one. ]

Gimme a second to look it up... this thing is old-fashioned. [ By his standards, anyway! Look at him having to poke everything. And do it one handed even, considering his other being occupied. ]

Better be careful though. Priests are real sticklers about new guys just showing up all confused. But maybe Inigo can chat with the god from a distance. [ Then they won't even need to go into the temple! ]

But it looks like we're in the south, so... I think -- let's go that way.

[ He points with a hand -- or rather, the one that Inigo's holding, raising their arms in the gesture, then starts walking for it. But he's still distracted as he reads the map. ]

This'd be easier if the map popped out...! [ Pah. ]

♥ October (Lasohm) Fourth Wall Log

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