Complete Private A Small World

[Ash Vargold]

"I mean, the game itself used to be an East-Coast only thing. Like some kind of weird beta period. Probably means there's more people that play it centered around here than anywhere else in the world."

Hanno- er, Brian did believe in a world where miracles did happen, didn't he? Aisling couldn't say the same, unfortunately. It was easier for her to believe that there was an explanation at the root of Terrasphere based in reality.

Because if there wasn't, how would anyone be able to fight it?

"A full-dive game killing people is... not too hard, really. Metavengure did it first, which is why they restrict the tech so much now." Aisling took another drag of her cigarette and watched the smoke rise into the air. "Metaventure did it on accident, though - and even before that, there were a lot of ways they could have prevented that. The armchair game devs were all over that."

...herself included. Both back then, and on the blog she wrote and Dayeon read. It might have been a familiar argument.

"But that means the devs of the Forbidden Game should know better.

...the worst case scenario would be that it's like that on purpose."

She rubbed out the end of her cigarette and put the remaining stub away for later.

@Hanno Futaba @Lune

 

[Lune]

Dayeon Song

"...The worst case scenario would be that it's like that on purpose."

Which means there are people who were truly evil, designing that kind of game knowingly would take hundreds or even thousands of lives. What a cartoonish world they live in. Dayeon had to massage her temple for just having the thought.

"... The answer will come though, in one way or another. You aren't the only one looking for answers, so we will find out what the hell all of this is about."

The idol slowly nodded in agreement, then noticed Aisling finishing her cigarette.

"Anyway, sorry. Party is a party, and I shouldn't be going around frowning." She shrugged, before looking at the woman while motioning at Brian. "So you two met at his restaurant?" She raised her eyebrows, alluding to the 'find me' challenge that she started in-game.

"Looks like I owe him a visit too, now that he managed to find me."

@Hanno Futaba @Ash Vargold

 

[Hanno Futaba]

"Well, that's true." Brian nodded to Aisling, crossing his arms. Death by VR games weren't unheard of, but it didn't make it sound any less... Strange. Especially on Terrasphere case.

"Maybe it has a different hint to it because that game is just way, way too real." Brian said. "To a point I am probably being tricked every single day I talk to an UI-Locked or a Lander." He admitted, but not sounding too bothered about the idea of being tricked.

He preferred to give the benefit of doubt.

Brian then smirked at Dayeon, raising an eyebrow. "Hell, for sure you must. Every buddy I know is very welcomed to it, always." He chuckled. "So you better do it." He turned around, taking a step closer to the party.

"For now though, we will have to bear with the food of this party, which I plan to get a bit more." He grinned. "Ais, if you need a bit more of a breather, I will be at the gourmet's table." Brian said, then peeking at Dayeon. "You too, buddy." He said, stepping away

@Ash Vargold @Lune [Exit Thread]

 

[Ash Vargold]

Aisling nodded. It felt... nice, getting those worries out around people who understood. She just wished she could let herself trust them more, but...

...well, with her life having become some kind of horror drama, she didn't think that would end well.

"It's definitely weird. I just wish the internet hadn't been so thoroughly scrubbed." Her hand briefly rose towards her mouth before she remembered that she'd already put the cigarette out. She resisted the urge to relight it. "It'd make my job easier."

Aisling nodded as Dayeon excused herself. She was a celebrity, after all, and she had a job here that wasn't just mingling with criminals. "It's a good restaurant. Worth the visit." She smiled, then glanced towards Brian.

"I'm going to take a few minutes to let the smell clear, and then I'll probably join you.

She smiled vaguely, then turned her attention to the grounds. Aisling also needed some time to think. About these coincidences, about how deep the mystery that was Terrasphere really went.

Aisling sighed, and began twiddling with her lighter. This would be way more fun if I were 20 years stupider.

@Hanno Futaba @Lune [Exit Thread]