MarisaStory: A Certain Magical Internet

[E-Nazrin]

>"Hard work, huh? Think you can stop to go back to the main game, now? Or is Alice bein' insistent?"
>If this isn't getting through to her, it's tickle time. Though... how violently does she react? It may be fairer to try and keep Medicine from taking the brunt of the abuse.

[capt. h]

> If that doesn't work, unplug Alice's computer.

[Third Eye Lem]

>"Hard work, huh? Think you can stop to go back to the main game, now? Or is Alice bein' insistent?"

> The doll looks at Alice, then back at the other dolls. She seems to "talk" with them for a bit before they all look at Alice, and she begins to stir.
> "Uhhh...Mari, was that you...?" Alice yawns and stretches.

>If this isn't getting through to her, it's tickle time. Though... how violently does she react? It may be fairer to try and keep Medicine from taking the brunt of the abuse.

> She actually takes tickling pretty well.
> "Sorry about that..." Alice says, rubbing her eyes. "Using multiple dolls causes me to split my consciousness up, and sometimes..." She pauses for a second before looking at her hand. It's smudged with magic marker ink. "Why is there Sharpie on my face."

> _

[E-Nazrin]

>"Why wouldn't there be? You were asleep, and I'm not about to stop the pocket Medi from having fun."
>Bonus: 'Pocket Medi' could mean either of them. Technically not a lie!
>"You okay? Dolls seemed on autopilot doin' that mining thing even when I tried to message you in-game."

[capt. h]

> "Sorry about that..." Alice says, rubbing her eyes. "Using multiple dolls causes me to split my consciousness up, and sometimes..." She pauses for a second before looking at her hand. It's smudged with magic marker ink. "Why is there Sharpie on my face."

> "Magic Marker. Not Sharpie."

> "You split your consciousness up, and sometimes... what, exactly?"

[Third Eye Lem]

> "Magic Marker. Not Sharpie."

> "Whatever, it's all the same to me," Alice complains.

>"Why wouldn't there be? You were asleep, and I'm not about to stop the pocket Medi from having fun."

> "Somehow, I'm not surprised." Alice asks one of the dolls to fetch her a wet washcloth from the lavatory. "But it's worth it in the end, I think."

>"You okay? Dolls seemed on autopilot doin' that mining thing even when I tried to message you in-game."

> "You split your consciousness up, and sometimes... what, exactly?"

> "Oh, uh...Sometimes my mind gets so fragmented due to controlling so many dolls, I kind of lose control...And they end up doing the last thing I asked them to do before my mind blanks out," Alice explains. "This was the first time I used them like that, so...Thanks for snapping me out of it, Medicine."

> _

[E-Nazrin]

>Heh, she missed the 'I' there.
>"Think it'd be a good time to take a break, then? It looks like Marisa's character is about caught up now."

[capt. h]

> Splitting your own mind until it breaks cannot possibly be healthy.

[Third Eye Lem]

> Splitting your own mind until it breaks cannot possibly be healthy.

> Probably not, but you're not exactly the person to talk about the dangers of splitting your mind like splitting a diamond.

>Heh, she missed the 'I' there.

> Oh yeah, Alice's unaware of your little spirit pact thing...

>"Think it'd be a good time to take a break, then? It looks like Marisa's character is about caught up now."

> ...And you intend to keep it that way. For now, at least. You do your best to shield the background from view, like a visual novel NPC.
> "Yes, yes I suppose it would. Did anything interesting happen in your playthrough?"

> _

[capt. h]

> Probably not, but you're not exactly the person to talk about the dangers of splitting your mind like splitting a diamond.

> We oughta learn, especially if this is common.

> "How long would that trance have lasted if I hadn't woken you up?"

[E-Nazrin]

>Would it be a bad idea to let Alice know about our doll pact or whatever it was shenanigans, or should I just save the explanation for after whatever prank I can pull off?
>"Nothing especially unusual happened in-game. It looks like Chen and Flandre joined up in the same guild, right?.."
>Oh, wait! "Although... one of the NPCs seemed to react in detail when he was insulted. That's not normal, is it?"

[Third Eye Lem]

> We oughta learn, especially if this is common.

> But where would you start, is the big question.

>"Nothing especially unusual happened in-game. It looks like Chen and Flandre joined up in the same guild, right?.."

> "Oh yes, Flan invited me to join her guild, and it looks like you and Chen followed soon after," Alice summarizes. "That's good, we can do more together than on our own...Do they know about the, um, incident yet?"
> You explain to Alice what you discussed with them ingame. "Good...We can't have this getting public just yet."

>Oh, wait! "Although... one of the NPCs seemed to react in detail when he was insulted. That's not normal, is it?"

> Alice raises an eyebrow at that. "I did notice the NPCs acting more...Organic while playing, maybe this is part of the gameplay?"
> You agree with Alice, but you're just as puzzled as she is. :itisamystery:

> "How long would that trance have lasted if I hadn't woken you up?"

> "I'd be out for a while, apparently. I might have woken up on my own, but it'd probably be nightfall before that happens."

>Would it be a bad idea to let Alice know about our doll pact or whatever it was shenanigans, or should I just save the explanation for after whatever prank I can pull off?

> "Ehhhh..." Medicine finally perks up after being mentally dormant. "I'd rather not. I can't trust Alice with that info."

> _

[E-Nazrin]

>She ain't bad, but I getcha. Remind me to suggest having you take care of 'waking her up' if somethin' like this happens again.
>"I hope it's benign, at least. I did also peek something about Flandre saying Sakuya was hurt, but... it would probably be easier to let the others know we need to stop for now to avoid distractions."
>Weasel our way into each getting back onto our machines to close up shop. Make sure our guildmates know to take a break if they need it. And maybe tease Alice for zonking out on autopilot.

[Third Eye Lem]

>She ain't bad, but I getcha. Remind me to suggest having you take care of 'waking her up' if somethin' like this happens again.

> "Oh, all right."

>"I hope it's benign, at least. I did also peek something about Flandre saying Sakuya was hurt, but... it would probably be easier to let the others know we need to stop for now to avoid distractions."

> "I'm...Not sure I follow about Sakuya, but it wouldn't hurt to take a break. I'm starting to get a bit of a headache..." Alice says, rubbing her forehead a bit. "I think I might need some...Medicine." Alice grins slightly as both you AND Medi cringe at the pun. You mumble a curse while Alice makes her way to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. She directs one of her dolls to attend to her computer in the meantime.

>Weasel our way into each getting back onto our machines to close up shop. Make sure our guildmates know to take a break if they need it. And maybe tease Alice for zonking out on autopilot.

> You sit back down and tell Chen what's going on.

Code: [Select]

risingstar82 said: ...And that's why Miss Sleepyhead here was idle for so long, ze!
nyanNekomata1313 said: XD!
MasterOfPuppets7 (RizenMaiden) said: Hmph! You didn't have to be so blunt.
risingstar82 said: It's what I do, ze. ;)
risingstar82 said: At any rate...Alice and are gonna take a break.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Already? ono
nyanNekomata1313 said: But we're not even halfway through the dungeon yet...
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Our apologies, but I honestly feel like taking a nap than taking another stab at this game.
nyanNekomata1313 said: All right... T3T
nyanNekomata1313 said: I suppose we can pick up later. I'll still be logged on in case you wanna resume our journey.
risingstar82 said: What're you gonna do in the meantime?
nyanNekomata1313 said: Eh, boring house chores, server maintenance, maybe run an errand or two. I dunno.
nyanNekomata1313 said: But do contact me when you wanna jump back in! owo I'm honestly enjoying this. Being a
ninja is fun, nya!
risingstar82 said: Well, don't forget to take a break now and then, you don't wanna get cancer like Kaguya did.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Don't worry, nya! I'm more careful than that. >w</ Cya later.
risingstar82 said: Same to you, ze.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Farewell.
> The two of you log out, and close down Guildies. Alice's control dolls leave the room and return to her bedroom, their job finished for now. Speaking of which, you open your eyes, and attempt to disengage with Medicine, but for some reason, you feel a lot more groggy than usual.
> "Had a nice nap?" Medicine whispers to you as you try to focus your vision. She's standing right in front of you, smiling. Like, right in front of you. Personal space much? You attempt to voice your state of mind, but all that comes out is a mumble and a yawn. "No? Then let me help..." Medi puts her hands on your shoulders and breathes a cloud of poisonous spores in your face. You cough and spit and flail, but the spores' effect is immediate: your eyes water up and you start to feel numb in the face. Soon, your eyes clasp shut from all the irritants, and your body starts to lose all feeling. As you start to black out, a familiar-looking flower appears in your mind's eye. That once pretty and docile Suzuran turns into something that looks like a Rocky Horror Picture Show reject, and its now-toothy blossom lashes at you, as if to devour your very mind!

> ...
> ...
> Darkness. Darkness everywhere. That's all you remember, perhaps all you ever knew...
> ...No.
> That's not true. There's no way that's fuckin' true.
> You have a name, an identity.
> What was it again?
> Oh yes...It's MARISA KIRISAME, BITCHES!!
> ...Bitches is most definitely not a part of that name, but still. Marisa doesn't sit around on her ass and get gassed by some oversized plastic toy. Why the hell did she do that, anyways? Did she kill you?
> Considering you're laying on your back, feeling the cold smooth ground beneath you, probably not. Furthermore, since you are able to make that statement, your mind and body are functioning as well.
> You sit up. Ugh, you feel as stiff as a board. How long have you been sitting in that chair? Last you checked it was around 4 PM, and sunset wasn't too far off...Damn Fall messing up the night and the day. Anyways, a quick check of your body and pockets reveals the following: You are fully clothed, you have your mini-hekkero and your broom, and nothing else. Not even the sandwich Alice made for you...Blast! You wanted to each that sandwich sometime...Oh well.
> Self assessment complete, you get to your feet and look around. Everything is black, except the parts that aren't. You're...Not sure how to describe this, really. The world itself is black: black walls, black floor and ceiling, etc. But the walls themselves are patterned with evenly-spaced gray dots, and the points where said walls/floors/ceiling meet consist of dotted lines. In front and behind you are passages covered in some kind of grid-like pattern, and the only thing in the room aside from you is...
> ...You rub your eyes again, just to make sure you're not seeing things.
> Nope. That thing you're looking at is a giant question mark. It lays on the ground, flat as a piece of paper.
> ...You're almost tempted to conjure up a massive question mark of your own in response to all this bullshit. Now what?

> _

[E-Nazrin]

>Oh goddamnit, even after we were trying so hard to play nice!
>Avoid the question mark for now. Go poke at the dotted lines to try and make an opening, or what the walls might be made of.

[Third Eye Lem]

>Oh goddamnit, even after we were trying so hard to play nice!

> Well, you know what they say, "nice guys finish last." Still, you're not gonna take this lying down. There has to be a reason for Medicine's treachery!

>Avoid the question mark for now. Go poke at the dotted lines to try and make an opening, or what the walls might be made of.

> You poke at the dotted walts. They feel solid, but you're not sure what material they are, if any. Marble, maybe? Plastic? Glass? It's hard to place, it makes a sound similar yet very dissimilar to anything you've encountered or heard before.

> _

[capt. h]

> Check question mark.

[Third Eye Lem]

> Check question mark.

> You look at the question mark, and with great hesitation, you pick it up. It doesn't bite or explode in your hands. In fact, it feels like it's made out of paper, a parchment specifically. It feels old and worn to the touch.

> _

[Hanzo K.]

>Huh, don't see one of these every day. Maybe it marks something!
>Check where the question mark was put, because if we follow typical game logic, that means there's something important down there!

[Third Eye Lem]

>Huh, don't see one of these every day. Maybe it marks something!
>Check where the question mark was put, because if we follow typical game logic, that means there's something important down there!

> On a hunch, you examine the floor where you found the question mark. At first, it doesn't feel special, but then you start feeling what appears to be seams in the floor, you get suspicious. Is it a trapdoor or a switch? You ponder whether or not if you should trigger it.

> _

[capt. h]

> Trigger it.

[Third Eye Lem]

> Trigger it.

> You start tapping the door or whatever with your broom. Nothing gives. So, you start stomping on it, then jumping up and down. Eventually, something DOES give and you find yourself falling...Well, sort of. You fell out of the room into some kind of void, but you find yourself weightlessly floating as if you were in space. Except you can breathe. All around you, in the distance, you can see more of the abstract-looking area you're in. Corridors made of dotted lines and walls spread out as far as you can see, and brightly-colored symbols can be present in a few of them.
> One of those brightly-colored symbols, looking like a giant lowercase "a," floats past you, making a low buzzing noise. It's huge, almost as big as your head! You watch it fly over to a large swarm of these letters, swirling about in a storm of activity.

> _

[capt. h]

> Sigh.

> "Please tell me I'm just having a bad trip."

> Check out letters before applying The Marisa Solution^TM.

> The Marisa Solution^TM being lasers. Lots and lots of lasers.

[Third Eye Lem]

> Sigh.
> "Please tell me I'm just having a bad trip."

> Sadly, there is no one around to confirm or deny this odd occurance.

> Check out letters before applying The Marisa Solution^TM.

> You get closer. The 'a's seem to be collecting around another room, which you can see is covered in what appears to be yellow percentage signs. Are they trying to make a nest here or something? If that's the case, attacking the swarm might do more harm than good...

> The Marisa Solution^TM being lasers. Lots and lots of lasers.

> ...On the other hand, that buzzing is getting quite obnoxious. You concentrate, mutter your spell, take aim at the annoying swarm, and unleash your annihilation of love! 90% of the swarm is destroyed; burnt 'a's and percent signs float gently into the void below. The remaining ten percent of the swarm takes offense to this, and charges at you!

> _

[capt. h]

> Blast away the remaining letters.

> Smile, in a vaguely threatening way.

> "Medicine, we're gonna have a party~"

[Third Eye Lem]

> Blast away the remaining letters.

> Smile, in a vaguely threatening way.

> "Medicine, we're gonna have a party~"

> Oh yes we are...A party of stars, lasers, explosions, and Karmic Punishment wait that's Youmu's thing. Note to self: figure out a way to copy that spellcard.
> Anyways, you off the remaining letters, though a couple of them manage to charge and hit you. An intense stinging pain erupts where you were hit, not unlike a bee sting. In fact, you daresay that this looks almost exactly like a bee sting...
> Just as you're trying to make sense of the situation, you hear another loud buzzing noise...You turn to your left to see another swarm of the yellow letters, including one very large purple 'a" in the middle of the swarm. Looks like they're mad over their friends getting sparked into oblivion!

> _

[capt. h]

> "Yeah, bad trip."

> Use acid trip logic to conclude that we must have master sparked an A-hive, and the big A must be the queen of the alphabets.

> Master spark the Letter Queen! "Ain't nobody gonna give me no education!"

>_

[Third Eye Lem]

> "Yeah, bad trip."

> Use acid trip logic to conclude that we must have master sparked an A-hive, and the big A must be the queen of the alphabets.

> Yup. That's an Ass Hive all right, because it's full of asshats that sting you, and one very large asshat that wants you dead.

> Master spark the Letter Queen! "Ain't nobody gonna give me no education!"

> You vehemently declare your aversion to basic literature, and spark the hive again. Sadly, it's only half as effective since the swarm is much larger, and it only makes the swarm even angrier.
> Oh, and you're out of Master Sparks now. Being stuck at two spell charges a level day is really inconvenient! Most things die after one spark...And the things after that...And the things you were unintentionally aiming at...The point is, you've got an angry swarm of letters to deal with now. What do?

> _

[capt. h]

> Option A: Demonstrate our cunning by whacking the purple one with our broom.

> Option B: Demonstrate our bravery by running away.

> Take option B while childishly taunting the angry letters.

[Third Eye Lem]

> Option A: Demonstrate our cunning by whacking the purple one with our broom.

> You consider giving that purple a what for, but...

> Option B: Demonstrate our bravery by running away.

> ...Considering the massive injuries you'd incur as a result the stinging...

> Take option B while childishly taunting the angry letters.

> ...You simply flip them a double deuce and fly off in the opposite direction at high speed. That'll teach them some respect! You don't diss Marisa Kirisame!
> You can, however, shoot bullets at her.
> ...Wait, WHAT?
> You turn your head back as you hear the familiar "pew pew pew" noises of bullets being shot...Those 'a's are firing triangular bullets at you!! And the swarm is catching up to you!
> ...Wait, WHAT?
> That can't be right...Can it?!
> You try doing some strafing movements. Yup, those work. You're moving like you should: fast or slightly less fast. You can move forward and back, but it doesn't feel like you're gaining or losing ground any faster. It's like the local area around you is stuck in a bubble, and slowly forced along a rail...
> ...Wait, WHAAAAAT? You've only seen a phenomenon like this in Gensokyo! How is this possible...?
> You have no time to think about that now. The swarm is closing in...If you don't do something fast...!
> Nope, you got this. YOU ATTACK TEH DARKNESS WITH MAGIC MISSILES. And hit the letters in the process. They pop like you'd expect enemies to pop, and familiar green, red and blue objects float towards you. Thanks to your prior experience with Alice and the Youkai Mountain incident, you attract the items towards you and absorb their mystical goodness.
> CH-WING! You feel a surge in power, and just in time...That big purple a is still standing, and it's bearing down on you with guns(?) blazing. A pair of MAGIC ORBS are now at your sides, and you use their added firepower to blow apart the last letter and claim its goods, including a valuable SPELL STAR. You now have ONE(1) SPELL CHARGES to use for your Master Spark.
> There's just one thing missing...

Stage ???
A Sea of Errant Thought
"So I wake up and find myself surrounded by text...Not books or signs, but symbols.
These look like the ones on my keyboard...Is this the dream of someone who headdesks
their computer too many times?"

> That's better. Mission One, START.

> _