IC Fractals.
- Thread starter Fluxxation
- Start date
Fluxxation
Torch God
Your consciousness is fed back into your body like the drip of a hospital IV. Your heartbeat thrums in your ears as your eyes split delicately open, bathed in radiant, pure white.
Blinking the brightness into a dim glow, you find yourself standing amidst a small.. room.
When did you get here? Why are you here? Oh, how you wish you knew. Your fingers, claws, hands dig into yourself, testing your tether to reality, perhaps you draw blood. Is this a dream?
The walls of this bleached wooden cabin seem to be nearly intangible. There stands a door with a dark, metal handle, made of the same slats of ethereal wood.
A window, two paned, shattered, the glass floating to hold a faint shape, stands starkly opposite the door.
There lies a bed against one wall of the single room, made tidy with a single pillow and light blue sheets. Opposite it stands a table, furnished with two chairs, something small and metal sitting crookedly on one end of it.
A picture, perhaps?
As you move around, the floor buckles, wooden planks bending, though no sound is produced.
The air itself smells of petrichor, faint chimes resonate.
Blinking the brightness into a dim glow, you find yourself standing amidst a small.. room.
When did you get here? Why are you here? Oh, how you wish you knew. Your fingers, claws, hands dig into yourself, testing your tether to reality, perhaps you draw blood. Is this a dream?
The walls of this bleached wooden cabin seem to be nearly intangible. There stands a door with a dark, metal handle, made of the same slats of ethereal wood.
A window, two paned, shattered, the glass floating to hold a faint shape, stands starkly opposite the door.
There lies a bed against one wall of the single room, made tidy with a single pillow and light blue sheets. Opposite it stands a table, furnished with two chairs, something small and metal sitting crookedly on one end of it.
A picture, perhaps?
As you move around, the floor buckles, wooden planks bending, though no sound is produced.
The air itself smells of petrichor, faint chimes resonate.
Vella
Terrarian
Fallacy Logic
Cause' the path forwards is least of all worries when all there is, there is bad luck.
The pony woke up with a gasp. Of course partially thanks to a bit of a wood digging into her hoof painfully. She ends up removing it just fine on her own - for a little mercy, she still knew some tricks about dealing with standard unlucky stuff. As she stood up on fours, the pony looked around. There was a metallic piece of hunk besides her. Unknown. Strange.
"Everypony...? Where... am I?"
She weakly asked, still a little dazed from the white glow that neutered her sight for a fair bit.
And then, it started whirring. Making a constant engine noise, getting up.
"...I think I should probably take a look to distract myself..."
About as idly, she looked at the picture.
TR-0S Nemesis Unit
Target not found. Defaulting to standby mode.
The machine booted up. Another day, another fruitless search for other Trebonth.
> Error. Directive I-21 contradicts Directive A-1 - Survival at all cost must be achieved._
But something was wrong. Very much wrong. Strange creatures around them. All of them fleshlings. None of them fitting any profiles of 'Trebonth' uploaded to their memory drive.
It whirs silently, driving about the room, the cameras glancing about.
Cause' the path forwards is least of all worries when all there is, there is bad luck.
The pony woke up with a gasp. Of course partially thanks to a bit of a wood digging into her hoof painfully. She ends up removing it just fine on her own - for a little mercy, she still knew some tricks about dealing with standard unlucky stuff. As she stood up on fours, the pony looked around. There was a metallic piece of hunk besides her. Unknown. Strange.
"Everypony...? Where... am I?"
She weakly asked, still a little dazed from the white glow that neutered her sight for a fair bit.
And then, it started whirring. Making a constant engine noise, getting up.
"...I think I should probably take a look to distract myself..."
About as idly, she looked at the picture.
TR-0S Nemesis Unit
Target not found. Defaulting to standby mode.
The machine booted up. Another day, another fruitless search for other Trebonth.
> Error. Directive I-21 contradicts Directive A-1 - Survival at all cost must be achieved._
But something was wrong. Very much wrong. Strange creatures around them. All of them fleshlings. None of them fitting any profiles of 'Trebonth' uploaded to their memory drive.
It whirs silently, driving about the room, the cameras glancing about.
Fluxxation
Torch God
The top half is.. shattered, the entire frame, picture and all.
The fragments hang in a spread, suspended above the solid bottom half. It seems whoever broke it does not want it to be reconstructed.
The lower half seems to show three separate folk. A larger figure clad in pants stands in the middle, hands visible where they rest, likely on the shoulders, of the two smaller individuals, who are cut off instead at the torso.
It is family.
It is false, a construct to illicit sympathy.
Perhaps in passing, you gaze out the shattered window.
The landscape seems to stretch on for but a short distance before it fragments, terrain giving way to a slightly beige tinted white void all around. Crystalline trees, built like massive pines, seem to rim the little floating island in some places.
On the side facing the window, a red, crystalline figure sits, slumped forwards, legs(?) dangling over the abyss. The fragmented ground near them pulses with a crimson hue.
_____________________
A thin woman, clad in disorderly robes, seems to materialize near the bed, falling immediately to her knees with a quiet groan. She reaches up with shaking, scarred hands to wipe at her eyes, mumbling quietly.
Vella
Terrarian
TR-0S Nemesis Unit
The machine looks at the terrain. Nothing like the facility they broke free from. Nothing like... whatever foggy thoughts they had before. Nothing like the urban area after; and at the same time, before.
The machine then notices another figure, seemingly running a scan on them.
Directive I-21 compatibility: 0%
Unit most likely isn't Trebonth. Going back on standby.
It seems rather cold, like if it is a weapon rather than a being. But it seems to default on the idle 'standby' observation, seemingly waiting the time. Running another scan on other figure to make sure no Trebonth is in hiding.
Fallacy Logic
"...seems like whichcreatureever was there had a family for longer..."
Oh how she longs for times she had one.
Oh how she longs for her parents embrace. Even if her father was flawed, even if he didn't like how she was developing...
And yet, her unlucky day was the day the construct shattered, family killed by the act beyond Celestia's. All except one, forced to live through a string of bad luck.
The earth pony, bitter about that, says nothing, looking instead at the robed figure.
"...what even..."
She starts, yet stops. She had to live in far worse conditions than this.
"...uh. Who are y'all?"
She starts again, although in the sense of discovery than confusion. For her, even a derelict house seems better than no house at all.
The machine looks at the terrain. Nothing like the facility they broke free from. Nothing like... whatever foggy thoughts they had before. Nothing like the urban area after; and at the same time, before.
The machine then notices another figure, seemingly running a scan on them.
Directive I-21 compatibility: 0%
Unit most likely isn't Trebonth. Going back on standby.
It seems rather cold, like if it is a weapon rather than a being. But it seems to default on the idle 'standby' observation, seemingly waiting the time. Running another scan on other figure to make sure no Trebonth is in hiding.
Fallacy Logic
"...seems like whichcreatureever was there had a family for longer..."
Oh how she longs for times she had one.
Oh how she longs for her parents embrace. Even if her father was flawed, even if he didn't like how she was developing...
And yet, her unlucky day was the day the construct shattered, family killed by the act beyond Celestia's. All except one, forced to live through a string of bad luck.
The earth pony, bitter about that, says nothing, looking instead at the robed figure.
"...what even..."
She starts, yet stops. She had to live in far worse conditions than this.
"...uh. Who are y'all?"
She starts again, although in the sense of discovery than confusion. For her, even a derelict house seems better than no house at all.
Fluxxation
Torch God
Her expression morphs to confusion from pain as she pushes up the side of the bed, staggering to her feet. Aside from her strange skin, she seems of pretty normal size and scale as any other of her folk might be.
Her pale eyes look down towards the equine figure before her.
"... I haven't been sure of that in a long time. I'll come back to that."
"... I would like to inquire as to where we are, but based on how you're looking at me.. you've never seen anyone like either of us, nor any place of the likes of this."
"Is that correct?"
Vella
Terrarian
Fallacy Logic
The mare just looks at the human, possibly regal figure, with a little bit of curiosity. Also, being seen through; though it's just for this question.
"Ah... yes yes. There's like... one strange machine thing and you... and some cr'mbly image of family."
She internally winces when she speaks of the last thing. Did she lose it for some reason?
TR-0S Nemesis Unit
Directive I-21 compatibility: Still negative.
The machine stares at the two, although unsure how to respond there. It does have some way to commune with others, but it's apparently not able to send the message just yet.
Syntax negative. Can't send message. Yet.
The mare just looks at the human, possibly regal figure, with a little bit of curiosity. Also, being seen through; though it's just for this question.
"Ah... yes yes. There's like... one strange machine thing and you... and some cr'mbly image of family."
She internally winces when she speaks of the last thing. Did she lose it for some reason?
TR-0S Nemesis Unit
Directive I-21 compatibility: Still negative.
The machine stares at the two, although unsure how to respond there. It does have some way to commune with others, but it's apparently not able to send the message just yet.
Syntax negative. Can't send message. Yet.
The Rope God🌳
Torch God
Behold, I doth appear.
Enter Miyuri.
A figure seems to start to shimmer into this reality. It does so very roughly, as if something REALLY doesn't want him here and is trying to keep him back. Alas, it fails and Miyuri materializes fully in the corner of the room.
Judging by his reaction, he's entirely overwhelmed. Where is he? Why is he here?
He looks down at his hand, bleeding a little from how hard he was clenching his fist.
He engulfs his head in a blob of purified gel and just... inhales, seemingly breathing in the slime. He exhales, seeming somehow better than before.
Having gotten his bearings, he looks around for anybody else there.
Enter Miyuri.
A figure seems to start to shimmer into this reality. It does so very roughly, as if something REALLY doesn't want him here and is trying to keep him back. Alas, it fails and Miyuri materializes fully in the corner of the room.
Judging by his reaction, he's entirely overwhelmed. Where is he? Why is he here?
He looks down at his hand, bleeding a little from how hard he was clenching his fist.
He engulfs his head in a blob of purified gel and just... inhales, seemingly breathing in the slime. He exhales, seeming somehow better than before.
Having gotten his bearings, he looks around for anybody else there.
Fluxxation
Torch God
Her ears flit a bit at the mention of the picture, pale eyes drawing over.
"Family? Yours, or another's...?"
The robe-clad woman's gaze is pulled away from Fallacy, settling on Miyuri.
She doesn't say anything yet, though it's pretty clear she simply can't think of anything to say.
MoultonLava
Torch God
Suddenly, Entrix falls from the sky onto the world. Their spear falls pointfirst into the ground near them.
Ow that hurt
Wait... where am I?????
Ow that hurt
Wait... where am I?????
Anfini
Terrarian
An air of unmoored dread settles over the room. It takes a moment for you to pinpoint the source: A figure, clad all in grey, features hidden behind a featureless mask. They stride to the centre of the chamber and look around, though they say nothing.
...How long were they here? Were they watching all this time and you did not know?
...How long were they here? Were they watching all this time and you did not know?
Fluxxation
Torch God
Helanne shudders as she glances to catch the robed figure in her sights.
“… it’s getting crowded in here. We should move.”
She makes her way to the rickety door, pushing it silently open as it glides, like ice upon ice, open upon its hinges.
Stepping outside onto the ethereal, pale glassy ground, she catches sight of Entrix, saying nothing once more.
She does turn back to look at the strange, broken cabin, as if waiting for the others to exit as well.
“… it’s getting crowded in here. We should move.”
She makes her way to the rickety door, pushing it silently open as it glides, like ice upon ice, open upon its hinges.
Stepping outside onto the ethereal, pale glassy ground, she catches sight of Entrix, saying nothing once more.
She does turn back to look at the strange, broken cabin, as if waiting for the others to exit as well.
The Rope God🌳
Torch God
Miyuri is third to leave, looking around as if unamused.
He does take interest in the glassy floor, observing it.
He looks back up.
Like the tall robe weirdo said, who ARE you?
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Vella
Terrarian
Fallacy Logic
"Anoth'rs. Not pon." As she says, she notices others, including the strange machination (TR-0S) leaving after the robed figure. She takes a moment to leave, first taking the picture with her.
"Prob'ly not gonna last long wit' me, 'ven wit'at shape, but always something."
"Anoth'rs. Not pon." As she says, she notices others, including the strange machination (TR-0S) leaving after the robed figure. She takes a moment to leave, first taking the picture with her.
"Prob'ly not gonna last long wit' me, 'ven wit'at shape, but always something."
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Fluxxation
Torch God
Her ears fan down a bit as she refuses direct eye contact. She seems.. perturbed.
"Helanne. a former leader of sorts."
Her pale gaze drifts up enough to scrutinize the figure's robes.
".. And you?"
She shoots Miyuri a glance, far more content to look him in the face.
"You.. as well."
The picture is oddly light, as if letting it go might cause it to float away.... The weightiness to this whole place feels off.
With the group now outside, they can better see the scope of the small, seemingly floating island of crystalline, desaturated shards. It fragments into nothingness a few hundred feet in any direction, a jagged circle of sorts, with odd, almost over-simplified glassy trees and false, equally pallid stones littering the ground.
It feels as if stepping into a glass-hewn model of something once far, far more lifelike.
Where the strange, reddened glass figure was visible through the cabin's one window, opposite them, visible from the cabin's door, a veridian, emerald-splotched crystal figure stands near the edge of the strange island.
They seem to be tending to one of the strange "trees", pruning it gently with plucks from their glassy fingers. The quiet, resonant snaps of the pruning echo and whisper their way through the air, the only audible indication of anything else going on in this strange, stark abyss.
Helanne's ears flit to pinpoint the sound, soon drawing her gaze, though she remains silent, listening for a moment with a quiet flick of an ear.
Anfini
Terrarian
The figure tilts their head, examining Helanne like a panther would its prey. A very long moment passes before the response comes.
"Ifnor."
The air temperature drops sickeningly. Ifnor stares into Helanne expectantly, letting the word weigh upon her.
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