Imagine using the status bar to post about your personal life, instead of using it to drop bad memes on people. Couldn't be me.
15
likes
7 yrs ago
Ya'll fuckers ain't even ready for the lore and depth behind my name - the intricate threads of nuance would destroy your puny, mortal minds. I like writing.
8
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7 yrs ago
Gonna dress as the whole Conservative Party. If that thing doesn't fucking count as "undead" at this point, I don't know what does.
6
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8 yrs ago
Somebody, please, kill me before I have to see the RPG Status Bar turn into an argument over Feminism. I don't think the Guild can handle anymore issues at present, let alone Feminism.
9
likes
9 yrs ago
Playing Alien Isolation for the first time. NOW I REMEMBER WHY I HATE HORROR GAMES!
Mayuri had never been a particularly social person... As much as she would have loved to be the person that went out with the soul goal of making friends, sticking to that and coming out the better, she never could. She just didn't have the courage. So, people often times didn't talk to her. When they did, it was usually awkward, as the girl had little to nothing to say.
Except on one occasion, when Mayuri was 7. It was set to be an ordinary day at school, or at least it should have been. But instead it was too great in difference to be forgotten. On that day, their usual teacher had left on maternity leave. Not that any of them knew what that was. But there was a new teacher who would be taking over for a while. The moment he walked in the door it was certain that the relationship between teacher and student was going to be rough.
Unlike their previous teacher, who's face was kind and gentle, this man's was uncaring. It had an authority and a presence that exerted itself so forcefully it was almost painful to look him in the eye. Why the board thought it was a good idea to hire this man as a teacher was beyond Mayuri, but here he stood, about to take homeroom and then a lesson that he likely had no idea how to format properly.
The way he spoke was harsh, rough. It was too raw and offensive to be even thought of as suitable for teaching. This class was special. Every single child was more intellient than they should have been at that age, in one way or another. From the mute boy at the back who could create mobile games, to the young girl named Mayuri who was on her way to being fluent in English by age 10.
As the day went on, lesson after lesson, it was brought to light the true nature of this new teacher. He had little to no real experience as a teacher, and his knowledge in most if not all subjects were lacking. Any time a student who specialised in a subject queried what he said, they were lashed out upon, yelled at, told to shut it and let the adult do the teaching.
It was a few days in with that teaching method that they came to English. And in that subject the teacher knew very little. And so, as Mayuri did, she corrected him on what he got wrong. It was what she did with her past teacher as well, and she was always congratulated on finding the mistake, the teacher claimings she was simply testing her knowledge.
But the teacher took far less kindly too it. He yelled at her after every correction, and eventually had enough. She was sent to the front, and instructed to take the lesson herself. That shy, young girl with no experience in talking to groups. She stood at the front, shook with anxiety, and cried, to the teachers annoyance. He shouted more. By the time the lesson was over she was still crying.
She still cried when they went to lunch, and that was when Yui came. She sat with her, comforted her, praised her on her knowledge of the language. They talked, discussed each other's knowledge on certain subjects. Yui was well known for being the one who took to biology, specifically human biology. With her mother being a psychologist, and Yui a curious reader, she looked through and absorbed what she could of her mother's books.
So why did this have to happen? It was shortly after that phone call... Yui sat on her bed, wrapped in sheets, and sobbed. Her friend was never coming home.
Myriam was kind. Her face had a type of friendly nature that Mayuri found herself attracted to... Hishida-sensei had that kind of expression too. Why didn't she come back to school? Oh, that was right... The school said she had died in a car accident. They didn't go into specifics, but a lot of the students jumped to a single conclusion. She had been killed. Where the rumour came from was a mystery, but it spread. Eventually every person in the school had heard it.
The girl sat next to her seemed similar. Mayuri didn't struggle as she was drawn into a hug and held close. If anything, she welcomed it. Her mother used to do the same when she was upset. So as Myriam pulled her close, Mayuri turned, buried her head into the girls chest, wrapped her arms around her waist and hugged her.
Tears still streamed down her face, this time accompanied with a light sobbing, a whimper and pained sound of someone who had cried so much in the past... Her history wasn't that bad. Not compared to some people, at the least. Just a tale of a little girl bullied for being nervous and socially inept, and later in life bullied for looking like a little girl.
That little girl spent a lot of time crying. For most people it was almost like a way to gain attention, or to expell their pain. But for Mayuri it was simply her way of ignoring everything and focusing on one thing. Everything that happened around her was nothing, it didn't matter, didn't exist. Not to her. That was best. It was best she didn't have to witness the girl throw a fit, attack the Scientists, be carted off to have God knows what done to her.
Not have to watch each person in turn who had stood up being forced back into their place. She could just about hear Elisa over the nothingness. Her tone was serious, very serious, too serious. It had changed so quickly. Before it had a light seriousness to it, but now that serious was deadly. It was a serious that cut like a knife and ripped through flesh.
It hurt to hear, and so she didn't listen. She tried not to listen. It was difficult, but she managed it. The coaches came. Each person was taken by one somewhere. But Mayuri still wasn't aware... That was, until someone poked her gently on the arm. It was a soft, rather delicate. It was her coach, evidently.
Her head turned away from Myriam's chest, and she looked at the woman. She was rather tall, about 5'10". Her body was thin, defined to a degree, her chest slightly large. This figure... Mayuri's gaze drifted up the woman's body and to her face. It was calm, relaxing, motherly. It had an experienced look, but it was beautiful all the same. Her hair was shoulder length, a brownish black colour, but slightly greying from stress.
"Hello, Nakasone-chan." no... No... Nonono... That wasn't right. What was she doing here? She died... Right? "I will be your coach while you stay here... Please, follow me, if you would."
Her eyes could barely understand what was happening. This woman, this coach, who spoke with such familiarity and warmth. 9 years ago, she died. That was what they said. This woman who enjoyed the English language as much as Mayuri did, if not more. Her first friend in that class. Why did she have to appear here, as a ghost, after so long..?
Mayuri wordlessly unwrapped her arms from Myriam's waist and stood before the Coach. They both walked away, but before doing so the girl looked back at the person who hugged her. She smiled and she waved goodbye. They would see each other soon, of couse, but it wouldn't be now. Now was time for a new lesson. One Mayuri had been building up to for 9 years.
Silently, the two walked out of the auditorium and down the corridor and into the room where it had started. Room 7. They stepped in, and immediately the women walked over and pulled the chair out from under the desk. She swivelled it round, so it faced the bed, and left it, walking over and sitting down on the bed. Usually words followed that action, but this time there were none.
But Mayuri still knew what to do. She sat down on the seat, and looked up at the woman, tears in her eyes but sat on the edge. Why did she leave? "Did you ever finish reading Hamlet, Mayuri?" what? Of course she had. She had finished it 6 years ago! "Of course you have... If I know you, you probably wrote an essay on it because your mum asked you to when you were 12."
"Wh-where did you go..?" why was that her first question? Out of every question she could have asked, it had to be that one... But that was what she first though of. The question that had been racking her brain the moment she had laid eyes upon the Coach. Her memory had never been the best, but this person was someone she could never forget.
"I'm like a secret agent from one of those manga's Yui used to read in Biology when she got bored..." there was a bit of a smile that creased her lips as she spoke, reminiscing, "If I told you, I'd have to kill you~" she was always like this... Teachers were usually so serious, especially the ones that taught her class. But for some reason, the woman sat in front of her never was.
"Hishida-sensei, wh-!" Mayuri went to shout the question, a question that would have brought her to tears, but she was cut off. "Please, Mayuri, call me Ami. And, for why... I'll tell you what I can. You have an ability. Think of it like a superpower. Your's in particular protects you against things that would likely hurt you, so physical forces. Say someone were to throw a dart at you, the rune on your chest would generate a field and deflect the dart. At least, thats what we think it is."
The way she said it so simply made it sound like she was recounting part of the plot of a fiction book that she would set Mayuri to read. "Now, listen, Mayuri... I'm sorry about this, but its for your own good. I need to keep this session brief, but we can catch up in the future." as Mayuri went to protest, she held up a hand, "I need to take a blood sample. I know you aren't afraid of needles, so dont struggle."
Mayuri had started crying... Once again, it was silent. She nodded silently in agreement, and held out her arm - rolling up the sleeve of her jacket. From a bag that sat to the side of Ami, she drew a small syringe in a plastic bag. She removed it took of the cap, and quickly drew the blood required. Mayuri didn't wince, or cry out in pain. There wasn't much point.
Ami dabbed the wound, placed a plaster over it, and disposed of the tissue. "Thank you, Mayuri. It was a pleasure seeing you again." from her bag, she drew a tablet and handed it to the girl, "Unlock the device, and you will be able to talk with your family. I will see you again, my dear. If I can, I'll bring you a book to read. I will expect you to write an essay on it~!" that was a typical joke, yet not really... Everytime she joked about that she always meant it, like when she joked about a surprise test.
"Thank you, Hishida-sense-Ami..." Mayuri waved her goodbyes, and watched as her old teacher stepped out from the room. As soon as she was gone, though, she swiped the tablet, and watched as the device unlocked and instantly started a video call.
Ring... Ring... Click. "Mayuri?!" there they were... Her mother and father. Their faces were stricken, tears already in their eyes and their cheeks lined with tear tracks. "H-hi, Mum... Dad..." they had both started crying already. The sight was painful, very painful, and Mayuri had started crying as well...
"Thank God... A-are you okay?" they sounded distraught. They didn't want her here. "I-I'm fine... Are y-you?" this conversation was already unbearably awkward... "W-we wanted you home... B-but they said you couldn't leave. W-we protested, but they s-said it was for your own good... And that... Y-you could be d-dangerous..."
Of course, they had used fear... Her parents were both very intelligent, but they had seen her ability first hand, blamed it on sheer luck. "Pl-please... I-I-I want to g-go home..." Mayuri was sobbing now... Her once silent crying had reverted into ordinary crying. It was no longer a distraction, but a cry for help.
"W-we know... I want you home... Your mother wants you home... Your sister does, Yui does, the rest of your friends do... But please, do your best... They m-might be able to help you... I-I dont trust them, but I have to..."
They weren't blackmailing them, were they? How was Yu doing? What did they tell her parents!? So many questions crossed her mind, but soon the tablet was passed away. The screen was filled with the face of her sister, Uiharu. "Sis..." she looked very tired, "Dont cry. Escape. Get yourself out of there, please. I love you... Okay? Good... G-good luck..." was she about to cry? She couldn't tell... The call shut off before she could say anything else.
But, Ui was right. She had to escape. Maybe... Maybe the others wanted to do so too. They could band together and fight their way out!
Or... They could die trying. It'd be more merciful.
sigh... She was supposed to be working today. By this time on a regular day Krystal would already be in the store. Out of bed, washed, having eaten breakfast, gone for a walk. Any normal day would have been simple, easy, repetitive and fun. In work at 10am, home at 3pm. Then the rest of the day would be spent doing whatever - writing, playing games, talking with people online.
But, this wasn't a normal day. It was a horrible, painful day of sleepiness and nausea. How long had she actually slept for? It couldn't have been long. But, maybe it was ages. This bed and onesie were so warm... Her head lay buried under the covers, her body curled into itself almost like a cat, clutching a plushie to her chest. It was based off an old game by nintendo, that lasted 30 years and there were still new games for it. Or at least newer games. The Metroid series. And this toy too was warm...
Myriam was probably out there. She had a tendency to bunk off work to do whatever she wanted, and today was no exception. But then again today was quite the special case. Krystal had always prided herself with a strong immune system... But when she was ill, she was usually very ill - and for quite a while. So there she lay, curled up in her bed, feeling slightly sick and with a large headache...
Boy how she would love some painkillers.
But there was no way she was getting up. Last time Krystal tried to stand the world looked like she had just done two lengths of corkscrew in a 50m pool and she fell face first onto the floor. By hell was she trying that again. Maybe... No, that was selfish. Myriam had other things to do. It wasn't fair to pull her roomate away from whatever she was doing just to help a sick girl. Myri was probably asleep anyway.
The covers gently shifted as Krystal's head poked out a bit. Why was everything spinning so much? She must have had a flu... One of her hands reached out from under the sheets, reaching for a glass of juice that sat on her bedside table. Come on... Just a bit more... Her glasses weren't on, and for some reason it looked a lot closer than it really was. Her hand kept going until...
Damnit! Too quick... The glass rolled across the floor, the liquid dripping off the cabinet and wetting the carpet. Maybe it was best to get her... "Myriam..," her voice was a quiet call for help, slightly unsteady and with hardly any volume. Any loud noise hurt her head, "Myri..." she sounded so weak... Unlike that usual shy demeanour in front of anyone by Myriam, which was still lively if quiet, this voice was quiet and helpless. Why did she have to get ill now?
Mayuri allowed herself to be led by the shorter girl, sitting down beside her on the back row facing the front. What we they planning to show them? This... Presentation, what was going to be contained in it? They were to tell everyone what the reason for their sudden bringing to the facility was, and what they intended to do... Right?
She turned to watch as the people entered through the door, idly taking notes on their features. Who were they..? Scientists? They certainly didn't look like kidnappers. She hardly registered what they were saying, simply taking what she needed. It wasn't that she was bored... This whole situation was just too surreal. There was no way it could be real. Her mind wouldn't accept it.
But as Elisa kept talking, she couldn't ignore it. This was really happening. It wasn't just some joke, a prank, it was real. They had all been taken against their will for... Their abilities? What abilities? Mayuri didn't have an ability. There was nothing special about her. Did they wrongly take her? Then, she just had to speak up! She would have to tell them they were wr-
What did it say again? All those times? It spoke, didn't it? It said words, or made sounds that she interpreted as words. It was when she fell over... And when that boy threw a ball at her. It felt warm, but cold at the same time. There was a cold chill, and a pleasant heat. But they mixed into each other, twisting and colliding and combining into an indistinguishable feeling of... Something. But she had forget that feeling when people ran to her and asked if she was okay.
"This facility is for the research of powers, generally, and also to act as a safe place for you to understand, control and then develop your abilities. We will, of course, be running tests but non-intrusively wherever possible. You are not the first group to have had powers and nor will you be the last. We attempt to understand your abilities better, not just the effects but also the cause and consequences, and then help you to control them. All abilities are dangerous to their owners and those around you. This is why we..."
You kidnapped them... Every single one? For research?! There was something wrong with these people... They wanted to test their abilities? What were they going to do; give Mayuri a Japanese and English exam? Or was it a physical exam? Check their weight, have them run laps around a track, see how much they could lift? Her mouth tasted salty, slightly metallic... Was she bleeding?
Oh, right, she had bitten her lip... It wasn't visible, but she was bleeding. What was visible was her bloodshot eyes, and her red cheeks and the tear tracks and her fresh tears. When had Mayuri started crying? There wasn't any indication, she hadn't made any sound. No wail, no murmur, no sound. There were just silent tears, more silent despair. Was there any way out of here? Could they leave after the tests were done?
"Now, I know this all seems sudden but we need to do some preliminary tests to make sure that none of you have contracted any significant illnesses or issues as a result of your journey here. We will be pairing each one of you up with one staff member who will be both your trainer and a researcher who can help you better understand your power, and how to use it safely. To begin with there will be some blood tests and then various exercises specific to your powers... nothing too trying at the moment. These are your room numbers. We understand that earlier you may have been... in too stressed a state to have taken note of them. Please remember them for future reference. Now, are there any questions before we pair you up with your coaches?"
Preliminary tests? Illnesses? Exercises? So it was a physical and well being examination... Her name was up there, and her face, and a number. 7. So that was her room number? Room 7... Mayuri had always liked the number 7. That was when she met Yu, her best friend. What was Yui doing right now? Worrying? She had to be... But, what had these people said to her, her class, her family? Did they lie about everything? Were they lying about this? Everything was too unreal... This Elisa had to be lying. There was no way. None at all that this was real. Were there camera's everywhere? Microphones?
This was too much... And Mayuri couldn't take it. There was too much information, too many questions, too much left unanswered. So she just stared ahead, not really thinking. Help... Would someone help? No, there was no one who would help. No help would come, she would be here forever. Would she grow old here? Would she have to marry someone here? Her birthday was coming up... Would they throw her a party? What would her family do, her friends? Would they celebrate without her? No, there was no way. They had to be worried. There would be missing persons posters all over Japan! Police would be searching everywhere for her! Right?
Right..?
Was someone else speaking? It was a girl somewhere. Mayuri didn't care. All this information had sent her brain into overload, and she just wanted to fall asleep. Lay down in Myriam's lap and forget about all this... Wake up from the nightmare that presented itself and see her family. Cry to them about her dream, kiss them, eat breakfast, go to school, mess around with Yui and Sae and Ui... She glanced over to the person who was calling to the speaker. Were they brave or stupid? Did they know what consequences would come from disobeying? Impossible. No one did, right? These people could knock her out, drag her away and do the tests with her strapped to a table if they really wanted.
Or kill her.
Would they kill? It didn't matter. It was best not to think. Just not think about anything. Her head gave an involuntary nod, agreeing with whatever they were going to do... It was best if everyone just agreed with what they wanted, and fought back later. If they were going to develop their powers, then they should let it happen. And fight back when their powers were strong enough. That was for the best... The best for everyone.
But then again, maybe it was best if everyone just... Died.
Dane
BrokenPromise