T̷h̷e̸ ̵G̶a̴m̸e̵ - A VR Role-play

[Thing2]

Damir's eyebrows knotted tightly, nodding as he listened to Nina. "You're right. It might be worth looking outside of the Safe Zone, if we can figure out where it's limits are." He took a short pause to think, before continuing. "If we stick close to the city, where we know it's safe, we should be able to avoid trouble."

He was caught up in his own thoughts, interrupted by Nina's voice as it broke through the city noise once more.

"Yeah, it was." He replied, taking a step closer. He held his palm out beside her own, showing the 100 mark. "If there are, we might bump into them around here somewhere... Maybe they'll have more information about this place..."

Damir didn't laugh or dismiss her last statement. In fact, he'd even considered something similar to her own theory.
But, he didn't want to say outright that he thought they could've been kidnapped, brought to a strange island, and forced to participate in some kind of sick game.

"Let's... Let's not assume anything just yet." He smiled, starting to follow one of the dark city streets, hopefully towards the edge of the Safe Zone. "We'll figure it out as we go." Although Damir spoke with reassurance, he was well aware of his own hypocrisy in the matter.

"And," he said as he stopped and turned to Nina, waiting for her to catch up to him, "let's try to not get separated... At least until we know our way around."

He didn't know who he could trust, or who exactly he was saying that for; himself or Nina. But, he trusted her - someone who was in the same position as he was - over a bunch of people who didn't seem to care.

(Sorry this sucked. )

(I promise I didn't desert this RP! I'm sorry I've been taking so long to respond!

Also, no, it doesn't suck )

Here he stood, in an underground subway that was completely abandoned, void of any travelers or commuters. Was it completely abandoned to an extent that the place was beyond repair? No. It was the complete opposite. It was if the place had just been installed only yesterday.

Evan took a look around at the spotless white tiles that lined each wall and column flawlessly. The suspended lights above his head never bothered to flicker erratically like the ones he’d see in his city’s poorly managed subway system. Actually, with how up kept and brand new everything seemed only fueled his discontent in the place. Here he was expecting the worse with his previous experience with the environment subways usually had.

He look a glance back at the flight of stairs he descended from to reach this subway landing, highly tempted to run back up and return to the bush child.

“Here. This is the place.” Lieu announced, pointing her staff down into the completely random stairwell in the forest leading underground.

Evan walked up to her, peering over the child’s shoulder and into the entrance that closely resembled stairs to a subway. Each step was painted yellow, and the walls were decorated with tiles and handrails. “Wha..What is.. this doing here? Where does this go..?” he murmured softly, feeling uneasy.

Lieu looked up at his still red and tear-stained face. “You wanna find your answers? You’re gonna have to go for a ride.” she replied, turning her attention back to her staff and opening a secret compartment. Pulling out a item, she shoved her fist right into his hand, forcing him to capture whatever she was giving to him. “Use this whenever you need help out here in the Distant Lands.” With her job done, Lieu went on her way, following the path back to her hut.

Uncurling his hand, Evan observed the medium sized conch shell the child gifted him. ‘Use this whenever you need help out here in the Distant Lands’ A warm smile formed on his face and looked out towards the young child before she disappeared into the forest. Maybe this kid isn’t so mean after all?

Now completely alone with no wild bush child accompanying him, Evan faced the stairwell and took a deep breath before descending. I’m gonna make it up to you Lyra... somehow..

A loud blaring horn echoed and shook the entire subway, nearly leaving Evan to have to hold onto one of the columns for stability. In a flash, subway cars began passing through the tunnel in front of him, the slick chrome was all he managed to see as they sped past. Then without warning everything came to a screeching halt, things no longer seemingly a blur. That’s when the set of doors in front of Evan opened for entry with a steam-like hiss.

“Destination... Safe-Zone” an automated voice echoed over the rolling stocks intercom, followed by subtle chirping noises as it waited its sole passenger to board.

Evan cautiously stepped out towards the doors, observing the contents of the subway car through its glass windows. It’s furnishings were no different than what’d you expect on a metro, but it lacked any sort of promotional posters, ads, and maps that would give an idea of where he was.

This.. is strange, really strange.

“Destination... Safe-Zone” the voice repeated.

Giving one last casting glance over his shoulder at the stairwell, Evan took a deep breath. “Here we go..” he exhaled, tensing up his body as he stepped inside the car.

As she moved to follow Damir further away from the city center, something in her peripheral vision caught her eye, and she stopped.

"Hold on a sec," she called to him, moving towards the thing. It was a sign, a pale green street sign with a glowing orange arrow that pointed towards the middle of the city. Above the arrow, in blocky, flickering neon letters, were the words THE NUCLEUS. Below, in smaller, flaking paint, the sign read Travel Station: take a journey to the land of your choosing!

She stared at it for a moment, confused and also fairly certain that it hadn't actually existed a few minutes ago. It seemed too bright for both of them to have missed it. She shook her head to try and clear it, her skin greying slightly at the feeling that crept through her body; something told her that unease would become quite familiar as time dragged on. There was something almost apocalyptic about the cheerful font and wording of the message, paired with the state of rust and relative disrepair the sign was in. The neon words flickered again, and Nina glanced back at Damir.

"Do you think this might be something?" She asked, gesturing to the sign. "It says it'll let us 'take a journey to the land of our choosing.'" Squinting as she read, she turned back to Damir to see his answer.

(If this screws up a plan you had, @TamingMaster, let me know and I'll edit it lol. I just figured this might be a way we could maybe meet up with Evan in the Safe Zone @LittleBrownie.)

 

[Yowza Wowza]

"Hold on a sec," she called to him, moving towards the thing. It was a sign, a pale green street sign with a glowing orange arrow that pointed towards the middle of the city. Above the arrow, in blocky, flickering neon letters, were the words THE NUCLEUS. Below, in smaller, flaking paint, the sign read Travel Station: take a journey to the land of your choosing!

(This has my approval also I like the little tidbit with the paint Like it isn’t as perfect as it seems which is much true. The train has a bug where it doesn’t always take you to the right place, but the return to the SZ is 100% accurate.)

 

[TamingMaster]

She sat down on the floor of the cave and started emptying her bag contents, she took off her companions Jacket and passed it to them “you’ll need this” she whispered quietly. She rummaged through her things and fumbled with the water bottle, the cold stung her hand it was frozen solid.

She regarded the other person curiously but also fearfully, Lyra had never come across anyone who produced slime. From their skin! She frowned while she waited for them to respond. They sure were taking their time!

Lyra watched the pink marks fade and was unsure what exactly they were, they produced slime and their eyes went from blue to pink. That’s all she knew, and slime? How does one produce slime?!

When they finally responded she frowned, “an adaptation you say? How come I haven’t adapted?” It sounded slightly whiny but she was exhausted and frustrated, how come she didn’t have some cool power?
“You’re welcome”
“Thanks” she said quietly “but I’m still curious, how did you produce slime from your skin?”

Fabian looked up at Lyra, blinking slowly, before letting out a sharp exhale. "The water in my body just turns into it, sometimes."

They rubbed their stinging eyes, pulling the black jacket across the cave floor, and eventually placing it beside them, before continuing.

"Your fascination with me is... something," Fabian replied blankly, "but I have a question for you, spider girl."

They leaned forward slightly, prying their back from the uncomfortable, damp wall. "Back there, you said you were travelling with a guy. Either of you happen to know where we are, exactly?"

They glanced out of the cave entrance at the dark, cloudy sky. The weather was still unrelenting; it would be a while before it eased off, so Fabian decided to remain neutral with the person they'd got themselves stuck with.

Besides, they found it a little comforting to be distracted. It gave them time away from their thoughts, which seemed to be stuck on trying to explain one thing: Did I actually die?

 

[TamingMaster]

(I promise I didn't desert this RP! I'm sorry I've been taking so long to respond!

Also, no, it doesn't suck )



As she moved to follow Damir further away from the city center, something in her peripheral vision caught her eye, and she stopped.

"Hold on a sec," she called to him, moving towards the thing. It was a sign, a pale green street sign with a glowing orange arrow that pointed towards the middle of the city. Above the arrow, in blocky, flickering neon letters, were the words THE NUCLEUS. Below, in smaller, flaking paint, the sign read Travel Station: take a journey to the land of your choosing!

She stared at it for a moment, confused and also fairly certain that it hadn't actually existed a few minutes ago. It seemed too bright for both of them to have missed it. She shook her head to try and clear it, her skin greying slightly at the feeling that crept through her body; something told her that unease would become quite familiar as time dragged on. There was something almost apocalyptic about the cheerful font and wording of the message, paired with the state of rust and relative disrepair the sign was in. The neon words flickered again, and Nina glanced back at Damir.

"Do you think this might be something?" She asked, gesturing to the sign. "It says it'll let us 'take a journey to the land of our choosing.'" Squinting as she read, she turned back to Damir to see his answer.

(If this screws up a plan you had, @TamingMaster, let me know and I'll edit it lol. I just figured this might be a way we could maybe meet up with Evan in the Safe Zone @LittleBrownie.)

(No worries, I'm glad you're back!)

"Hm?" Damir watched Nina dart towards the sign, before quietly following her over to it, his own eyes flickering over the words briefly as she read it out loud. Travel Station: take a journey to the land of your choosing!

"Travel Station? Like, as in train station or something?" Damir asked, glancing towards Nina, his voice hushed to match the tone of the dull street.

He crouched down slightly, leaning towards the sign, rereading it to himself a few more times before replying to her question. "If it can help us get out of this place, I think it's worth checking out."

The choice between leaving the "Safe Zone" or potentially being able to travel as far away from this place as possible wasn't a difficult decision to make. At least, not from his perspective.

Damir straightened himself up, turning to face Nina with a hint of a smile. "I mean, what's the worse that can happen? We're in the Safe Zone, right?"

His eyes brushed over the sign a final time, before turning towards the direction that was displayed on it, waiting patiently for Nina to lead the way.

Despite his sudden optimism, there was still a creeping anxiety that pulled tightly at his chest. It couldn't be that easy... Right?

(I didn't have a plan, so it's all good. I'm excited for the anxious trio now. )

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Fabian looked up at Lyra, blinking slowly, before letting out a sharp exhale. "The water in my body just turns into it, sometimes."

They rubbed their stinging eyes, pulling the black jacket across the cave floor, and eventually placing it beside them, before continuing.

"Your fascination with me is... something," Fabian replied blankly, "but I have a question for you, spider girl."

They leaned forward slightly, prying their back from the uncomfortable, damp wall. "Back there, you said you were travelling with a guy. Either of you happen to know where we are, exactly?"

They glanced out of the cave entrance at the dark, cloudy sky. The weather was still unrelenting; it would be a while before it eased off, so Fabian decided to remain neutral with the person they'd got themselves stuck with.

Besides, they found it a little comforting to be distracted. It gave them time away from their thoughts, which seemed to be stuck on trying to explain one thing: Did I actually die?

“Oh, okay.” She spoke quietly and it was silent for a while, when she spoke again her voice was quiet but serious.
“My name isn’t Spider girl it’s Lyra. And the person I was with, neither of us knew what happened but we assumed that there were more of us because of the numbers tattooed on our hands. If you have a number this could prove our theory.” She turned to look at her companion “and what’s your name?”

She tilted her head a little enjoying the silence a little.

 

[Thing2]

(No worries, I'm glad you're back!)

"Hm?" Damir watched Nina dart towards the sign, before quietly following her over to it, his own eyes flickering over the words briefly as she read it out loud. Travel Station: take a journey to the land of your choosing!

"Travel Station? Like, as in train station or something?" Damir asked, glancing towards Nina, his voice hushed to match the tone of the dull street.

He crouched down slightly, leaning towards the sign, rereading it to himself a few more times before replying to her question. "If it can help us get out of this place, I think it's worth checking out."

The choice between leaving the "Safe Zone" or potentially being able to travel as far away from this place as possible wasn't a difficult decision to make. At least, not from his perspective.

Damir straightened himself up, turning to face Nina with a hint of a smile. "I mean, what's the worse that can happen? We're in the Safe Zone, right?"

His eyes brushed over the sign a final time, before turning towards the direction that was displayed on it, waiting patiently for Nina to lead the way.

Despite his sudden optimism, there was still a creeping anxiety that pulled tightly at his chest. It couldn't be that easy... Right?

(I didn't have a plan, so it's all good. I'm excited for the anxious trio now.

)

(Don't know why it double-quoted like that lol)

Nina shrugged, her optimism growing slightly. This was the closest they'd had to a plan since she'd woken up in this strange world, and that was enough for her. Even if the plan was just to go to an unknown "Travel Station" in the center of an odd, alien city full of cold, unhelpful people, it was still something.

Squaring her shoulders with as much confidence as she could muster, she strode forward, leading the way into the city center. To her great relief, the original sign hadn't been the only one. At nearly every street corner stood another sign, sometimes with words, sometimes only consisting of a large, glowing neon arrow, pointing onward. She fell back a bit so she was walking beside Damir, rather than stomping along out front, all by herself and painfully aware of it.

"I'm glad there are more signs," she said, finally breaking the silence. "I was a little worried that I'd have to find it all on my own, which would've only ended in disaster 'cause I have a terrible sense of direction." Laughing a little, she relaxed slightly, only to become anxious again when she realized that the light had changed; dusk was approaching.

A sound began to reach Nina's ears as they drew nearer to the middle of the Safe Zone. It sounded like the rumble of distant thunder, permeating the air around the two companions and humming in their ears. Over it, she could hear and feel the slowly increasing rate of her heartbeat; her anxiety was growing with each step. As they walked, the scenery also changed. The grime-encrusted sidewalks and cramped alleyways had given way to wider roads and trash-free streets. The buildings were slowly becoming taller and more windowed, exhibiting warped reflections of their neighbors like giant, heat-damaged mirrors. Even the directional signs had been upgraded, with clean, sharp lines and fresh, unmarred paint that seemed almost freakishly smooth. It was a stark, slightly unsettling change from the dingy little shops of earlier.

Then they turned the final corner and entered into full view of the Nucleus. Nina immediately came to a stop, feeling her jaw drop at the sight of the monstrous thing.

It was a huge, perfectly circular dome of glass, resting on top of an almost Colosseum-like building. The translucent glass of the dome was bent up and down; it was dimpled, like unruly waves, and colored a light purple-blue color. The base building was made of a white material that reflected both the artificial and natural light around it, with Roman columns and architecture evident in the design. The entire building glowed from within, rising from the concrete like an enormous, shiny Kraken and leaving a shadow of light over the two people standing outside; a gaping, doorless archway beckoned them to enter. Large tunnels snaked away from the walls and disappeared into the earth like tentacles under waves. Emotionless, hurried people rushed in and out of the building, some with phones to their ears, some with suitcases and watches that they checked constantly. Suddenly, Nina identified the thunderous noise she'd been hearing: it was the roar of dozens of trains clunking over tracks simultaneously, combined with the constant muttering of thousands of different voices.

Shaking her head in disbelief, Nina finally spoke, still trying to take in the large building in front of her. "Well," she breathed, "I guess that's the Nucleus."

(Ahh sorry this is so long but I got swept up in the Nucleus's description lol)

 

[Yowza Wowza]

(Don't know why it double-quoted like that lol)

Nina shrugged, her optimism growing slightly. This was the closest they'd had to a plan since she'd woken up in this strange world, and that was enough for her. Even if the plan was just to go to an unknown "Travel Station" in the center of an odd, alien city full of cold, unhelpful people, it was still something.

Squaring her shoulders with as much confidence as she could muster, she strode forward, leading the way into the city center. To her great relief, the original sign hadn't been the only one. At nearly every street corner stood another sign, sometimes with words, sometimes only consisting of a large, glowing neon arrow, pointing onward. She fell back a bit so she was walking beside Damir, rather than stomping along out front, all by herself and painfully aware of it.

"I'm glad there are more signs," she said, finally breaking the silence. "I was a little worried that I'd have to find it all on my own, which would've only ended in disaster 'cause I have a terrible sense of direction." Laughing a little, she relaxed slightly, only to become anxious again when she realized that the light had changed; dusk was approaching.

A sound began to reach Nina's ears as they drew nearer to the middle of the Safe Zone. It sounded like the rumble of distant thunder, permeating the air around the two companions and humming in their ears. Over it, she could hear and feel the slowly increasing rate of her heartbeat; her anxiety was growing with each step. As they walked, the scenery also changed. The grime-encrusted sidewalks and cramped alleyways had given way to wider roads and trash-free streets. The buildings were slowly becoming taller and more windowed, exhibiting warped reflections of their neighbors like giant, heat-damaged mirrors. Even the directional signs had been upgraded, with clean, sharp lines and fresh, unmarred paint that seemed almost freakishly smooth. It was a stark, slightly unsettling change from the dingy little shops of earlier.

Then they turned the final corner and entered into full view of the Nucleus. Nina immediately came to a stop, feeling her jaw drop at the sight of the monstrous thing.

It was a huge, perfectly circular dome of glass, resting on top of an almost Colosseum-like building. The translucent glass of the dome was bent up and down; it was dimpled, like unruly waves, and colored a light purple-blue color. The base building was made of a white material that reflected both the artificial and natural light around it, with Roman columns and architecture evident in the design. The entire building glowed from within, rising from the concrete like an enormous, shiny Kraken and leaving a shadow of light over the two people standing outside; a gaping, doorless archway beckoned them to enter. Large tunnels snaked away from the walls and disappeared into the earth like tentacles under waves. Emotionless, hurried people rushed in and out of the building, some with phones to their ears, some with suitcases and watches that they checked constantly. Suddenly, Nina identified the thunderous noise she'd been hearing: it was the roar of dozens of trains clunking over tracks simultaneously, combined with the constant muttering of thousands of different voices.

Shaking her head in disbelief, Nina finally spoke, still trying to take in the large building in front of her. "Well," she breathed, "I guess that's the Nucleus."

(Ahh sorry this is so long but I got swept up in the Nucleus's description lol)

(Just a note but there isn’t access to phones since the city is kind of a dystopia. Though you’re fine with the middle part of the city being more rich/desirable the contrast is good.)

 

[TamingMaster]

“Oh, okay.” She spoke quietly and it was silent for a while, when she spoke again her voice was quiet but serious.
“My name isn’t Spider girl it’s Lyra. And the person I was with, neither of us knew what happened but we assumed that there were more of us because of the numbers tattooed on our hands. If you have a number this could prove our theory.” She turned to look at her companion “and what’s your name?”

She tilted her head a little enjoying the silence a little.

Fabian turned their right palm upwards, looking down at the partially faded 0. Even with the deeply blistered skin, the number seemed to sit on the surface, unfazed and undamaged.

They clenched their hand shut, squeezing lightly. Somehow, knowing it was a number was far more horrifying, compared to their previous thoughts.

Fabian's posture changed, their once relaxed form had stiffened; even their lazy expression had warped into a slightly angrier one.

"What number are you?" They asked calmly, but with a sterner undertone, as they looked back up at Lyra. Her other question was left unanswered, overlapped by their own questions.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Fabian turned their right palm upwards, looking down at the partially faded 0. Even with the deeply blistered skin, the number seemed to sit on the surface, unfazed and undamaged.

They clenched their hand shut, squeezing lightly. Somehow, knowing it was a number was far more horrifying, compared to their previous thoughts.

Fabian's posture changed, their once relaxed form had stiffened; even their lazy expression had warped into a slightly angrier one.

"What number are you?" They asked calmly, but with a sterner undertone, as they looked back up at Lyra. Her other question was left unanswered, overlapped by their own questions.

Lyra peered at the other person’s hand, a 0 in bold, it stood out even against their blistered skin. She glanced at her own hand, 63 stood out against her pale skin.

The person stiffened and their expression shifted into a somewhat annoyed face, she sighed unsure of what had made them change so suddenly. “63” she replied to their stern question, “so um what’s your name? Its getting kind of annoying calling you just ‘a person’ in my head” she asked shifting so she faced the other person.

 

[Rubysword]

(Is it too late to join this? )