theairlock | Welcome to the Program

Entry tags:

!round 5,
intro log

Welcome to the Program

[Each Champion is awoken by an alarm ringing from a machine attached to their non-dominant arm. Whatever they were doing, whatever state they were in, they're in a bed now, in good health. And maybe a bit different since the last time they looked in a mirror.

There's a text note on the device attached to their arms.]

Good morning, Champions. In the interest of maintaining healthy sleep patterns, a day/night cycle is in effect. Your presence is expected in the food court in exactly one hour.

[Your surroundings look like your normal everyday space mall. But if you look at the functions of the device on your arm, there's Not-so-familiar profiles, some rules, and a mini-map that'll show you the layout of the mall.

You are free to explore at your leisure...For an hour, at least.]

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It's pretty automated or just signs where I'm from for sure.

Hm, I see. I'll admit, I haven't been home for a while, so maybe things have changed a lot more than I thought.

Depends. Where you from?

Washington. The, erm, the state.

Oh, so a native Washingtonian? I'm a transplant myself. Beautiful state.

Oh...!

[TWO OTHER WASHINGTON PEOPLE this is...this is something else entirely.]

I-It is really lovely! I actually...miss it, a lot. Even if I would still be grounded in my room...

I spent a few years around the Seattle area and Tacoma, but the coast is where I prefer to be. And hey, even when grounded, as long as one can see the trees, everything is alright in the world.

[Trees are important.]

I grew up in Maple Valley, it's about forty miles out from Seattle? And we had a nice tree in the front yard, it had a tire swing and everything. Gosh, I miss just sitting in that swing...

[Those good old days of childhood and carefree curiosity.]

I've swung through there! Dad was always looking for new places to hike, so we've driven through most of the towns in the state.

Wow, really? That's awesome!

[Thank goodness it is a real place in the real world that people can see with their own eyes.]

When was that, anyway? I'm just curious.

About... 2012? So a few years now.

Huh.

[A few years from...this woman's perspective. For Jane, it'd be during her time in the Medium.]

I just missed you, then. I, erm, left home near the end of 2011.

You don't look old enough to have left home... But it's not really my business on whatever your reason was. Would you go back if you could?

I kind of didn't have a choice whether or not to leave...but...if there was anything or anyone to go back to? Then, yeah. I'd go home.

[Oh you sweet child.]

[THAT'S DEPRESSING]

Well, I'm sure you'll find a reason to get back there even if there's no point in it.

...Hmm.

[She...tries to smile. She does. It's a small thing, a little strained.]

Maybe there's a reason that I just haven't realized yet.

If I had a chance to go back home, it'd be for the food.

Well, that's as good a reason as any.

Is Maple Valley known for anything in particular? Or is it just apples, apples, and chocolate like the rest of the state?

Uh...well, my Poppop lived there? And he was a pretty famous old timey comedian...

[And heir to Crockercorp, but it's not like they lived in a mansion and flaunted that fact.]

Maybe you can bank on that? If the townsfolk liked him and all.

I'd hope so. He died before I was born, but, my Dad always said he was a good man.

At least you have that connection. I don't have grandparents, so who knows where they're from. Then again, family connection isn't everything.

[Haha just wait if/until you unlock Full Homestuck Backstory, Nari.]

...Yeah? I don't know, myself. But...I really only had my Dad for the longest time, so...

Having someone, anyone, while growing up, is a good thing. Even if it's just a dad.

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cyan_maid - 2018-02-06 01:05 (UTC) - Expand

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everylittlesecret - 2018-02-06 01:21 (UTC) - Expand

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