event: portal seven | the void

[mayfield_mods]

The final portal doesn't seem to be a portal at all. It's a glitch hole.

Located on the lawn of the library is a hole much like the ones that have plagued every new location for the past week. As with them, it hurts your eyes to look at too long, but even if you should muscle past the pain and stare straight into it, you can make out nothing on the other side. Nothing, save for a shifting, twitching, swirling void.

Unlike the portals, which were vertically placed like doorways, the hole at the Library is strewn across the lawn: if you want to enter it, you're going to have to jump. Of course, there's no guarantee it will even lead anywhere. Touching the hole or sticking your arm in doesn't have any effect: you'll pull your arm out unharmed. As far as jumping in completely goes, those who jump in disappear from sight. As long as you're on the Mayfield side, there's no way to tell what lies beyond the hole.

There's only one way to find out.

[ooc: Feel free to roleplay up to the point your characters jump in, assuming they do. A single group subthread will be created in a few hours revealing what happens on the other side.]

Comments

[splitthebaby]

You heard the person. We had better hurry if we're to continue.

[Despite probably being the smallest person here, he doesn't mind shrugging at the implied threat. Not exactly afraid of what can be thrown at him.]

[hintcoinplz]

[Yep. Seriously regretting diving into that hole now. Luke's head feels like it's about to split open, and he's still shaking off what he's seen in the void.]

W-what's happening? What's do they mean they can't keep everything out?

[splitthebaby]

[Poor kid. A shame not everyone can be as used to complete pain. And recover from it.

Merem doesn't feel sorry for him.]

It means you had better prepare yourself for death in case you make a mistake.

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke swallows, looking nervous.]

So we just have to keep moving, right?

[splitthebaby]

As long as you can keep up, I'm certain you can hide behind others.

[ex_seventh238]

[Some people here doesn't need to be told twice, Merem. ...Mm, so it's like that.

Seven.

Stretching out a hand, she calls upon the spirit of the Seventh Holy Scripture to materialize - and it does, within the next second. A pile bunker that looks like some sort of massive mechanical cannon that just may be larger than she is appears, and with one faint metallic rattle, she raises the weapon up, waiting in standby.

'Can't keep everything out', huh?

Then it's up to the people inside. ...Heh, sounds simple enough.]

[tenderoblivion]

...
...
...

Analysis complete. Probability of data corruption outside reality pseudo-amalgamation field: 100%.

Releasing emergency mode fail-safe self-inhibition parameters...........

[Something else never meant for the human mind to comprehend: the pace at which Yuki Nagato's mouth can move. There is the odd sound as of a recording being played backwards in high speed before an odd purple sphere explodes out from around her. ...It stops just short of where reality turns into nightmare.]

Secondary repulsion field activated. Perimeter approach of n<=1 foot will result in increased resistance to physical movement. Primary repulsion field cannot be activated due to the flexibility that will be required.

Proceed with caution.

[splitthebaby]

Thank you for that, Yuki.

[Even though he was in a hurry, it might be best to take a pause. There wasn't much that could kill him but no sense in taking a risk.]

Does that mean leaving this boundary would cause some awful things happen?

[tenderoblivion]

Full data degradation.

[Yuki pauses as a whisper of a memory races by them - what appears to be a frightened face, though it lasts for only a split second.

Yuki will point meaningfully towards the spot where it had passed. That is what will happen to you.]

[ex_seventh238]

Nagato-san.

[It's her turn to acknowledge Yuki's presence. She's without doubt one of the few people who can function here without being pressured in the least by the environment, and her abilities...

Staring at the purple sphere, hmm.]

A bounded field that should theoretically slow down anything that intrudes, correct? [It sounded pretty straightforward, but sure why not simplify it down for anyone else within earshot. She could try to raise something similar, but...

Might be best to stay put until her offensive capabilities become needed later on. And not batting an eyelash at the ghosts; no need to get rattled by trifling details. The voice's already explained that part.]

[splitthebaby]

It'll even kill you, Ciel.

[Yeah, that's an ever present smirk on his face. Though he should try to be slightly worried about himself.]

Either way, us three would probably work best together, at the moment.

[genkibot]

[There is a blue spider robot scooting around the bubble of safety, speaking in a rather chipper voice despite where they are. It seems not to be affected at all by what's going on outside the zone with everyone in it, and actually seems to be enjoying itself immensely.]

Oh my gosh, this really is just like the net back home! I wonder if I try making a search program, it can manifest here?!

Ooo, or maybe a firewall, that might be more helpful. Though if that does work, it makes me wish I had practice programming some more with Ishikawa, I'm not too good at it on my own.

[tenderoblivion]

[Yuki turns slowly towards the bot and blinks for a moment or two.]

The 'firewall' as a analogous representation for an actual data structure may be helpful.

The 'firewall' as a firewall meant for a primitive human data analysis device - a computer - is unlikely to be of use. We are not inside such a device.

[genkibot]

Well you don't have to be in a computer to be on the net as well.

The firewalls we usually build are what protect ourselves from attacking programs and viruses when diving in cyberspace. For me and the other Tachikomas, that's just our core AI programming, which can be restored with our last backup. But the other members of Section 9 have to worry about their ghosts being damaged, so it can be much more dangerous for them.

[lovemguns]

[ Sorry, but this one has no clue what gibberish you are speaking, Tachikoma. Instead, he concentrates of the fact that this really is an interesting dog! ]

Since you can talk,

[ there's a huge grin on his face, he's actually trýing not to sound too rude here ]

can I ask you something?

[genkibot]

Of course I can talk! Though it probably would be more efficient to communicate with my fellow Tachikomas with data, the other members of Section 9 prefer and respond better to audio stimuli, so speech is an important part of working with them.

But you can go ahead and ask me something!

[paradisemiko]

(And just nearby is Reimu, just overhead on her flying turtle. This place strangely reminds her of Makai, but it's vastly different. Makai was bad, sure, but this was Mayfield doing what it did best. Even without her spell cards, Reimu was prepared to danmaku whatever the hell tried to get in the way.

But she lightens up a bit when she notices Ciel.)

This place really is falling apart, isn't it?

[ex_seventh238]

[This isn't the pleasant pretend-housewife who'd stuff the face of all her friends and acquaintances and spoil them silly, Reimu. Still, Ciel won't ignore it when she's spoken to. You may also want to pack something more destructive than just danmakus...

The responding tone is cool. Ciel's long adapted her mindset and demeanor to the situation, so... don't expect too much conversation out of her in this state, whelp.]

Evidently.

[paradisemiko]

(She would if she could, but really, the best she can manage is super spiritual power for barriers, healing and all that jazz. No spell cards = no main character hax.

That's okay; she has yet to see Ciel in mission mode, so it's like a whole new experience. Reimu has one of those, but it rarely, rarely sees the light of day.)

I just wish the culprit would come out so we can beat their faces in, but I bet it won't be that easy.

...do you think it'll end here?

[ex_seventh238]

This is a retrieval mission. [don't be so simple-minded here gosh isn't basic mf knowledge that there's no tangible foe to cut down, making the handling of every conflict that much more difficult...] We'll likely be briefed of how to proceed with the mementos once we return to town.

[because while some people here may not make it, others definitely will. She's personally got no plans to be part of the former, so.]

[paradisemiko]

We can't move too fast, though. Pretty sure this bubble is here for a reason.

[splitthebaby]

Those who fall behind get left behind. Those are the rules. If they can't keep up...

[paradisemiko]

Then it's some "survival of the fittest" thing, except we're not supposed to kill each other. That's what everything outside the bubble's for.

[splitthebaby]

Not quite. It's just that quite a few decided to come and join in on today's activities despite not being prepared for it. If they end up dying because of their inability to take a hint, it is hardly my fault.

[paradisemiko]

Just blame the town, like I will. Everything can be summed up to "it's Mayfield's fault," anyway.