theairlock | The End of the Chase

Entry tags:

!mini-event

The End of the Chase

[After several enlightening mishaps and meeting several well-intentioned aliens, the clues from the scavenger hunt have led both teams to the pool on the west side of the building. There are several other aliens milling about, staring up at the windows to try and find the green one.

The last clue has been received. It's time to regroup, find where to go next, and confront the mastermind of this... network-sponsored scavenger hunt.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I mean, yeah, it is really weird how there's never any leaks...but no one really knows where it's filmed either, I mean, that is one super-closed set.

[He laces his claws together.]

Well, how're you just runnin' around now, if there's a big evil conspiracy after you?

Best guess? They didn't actually expect us to be able to make it out of the simulation.

[Seriously, that was one weird backdoor exit.]

And I doubt they thought we'd be able to get CECE's help, honestly. Never underestimate an AI, Jayce.

[Jayce? Does he have a nickname now oh my god he's gonna die]

Yeah, yeah, she seemed pretty neat...

[Please don't die, or if you're going to, at least wait until after they've got their message submitted.]

If it didn't mean blowing our cover I'd say hop on over and say hi, she's pretty good conversation.

[...Actually.]

["... if we could get that technology it might be useful in hiding."]

...What if you could see it, part of it. I mean if we're lying and it's all fake then everything would just be sets on a studio lot somewhere, yeah?

Uh...oh, gosh, that would be so cool.

[His frill even vibrates a little with excitement!]

But, uh, is that a good idea?

Hm. How many settings has that projector of yours got?

Oooooh, a lot! Practically anything you feel like putting in here - well, it probably caps off somewhere, but I haven't gone that far. There's Pirate Xander, Yurika, you - is that weird, that's a little weird now...

[He flicks through each of his disguises as he names them, no longer trying to alter his voice to suit the cosplay. The last one he settles on is no one familiar.]

...oh, um. This is the first one I put in here, this is just, um. [Cough] It'smyhumansona. [Cough]

Uh. A little weird if we're being honest, yeah. Usually seein' myself like that means something's gone seriously wrong and I'm probably about to stop existing.

[And then... original character do not steal? He guesses.]

I won't tell anyone if you won't.

[Humansona. Some things never change.]

[He looks over at everyone else.]

What do you lot think, go check in on CECE?

Let's. I don't trust the fact that the ship has been out of sight this long as is.

We could just fly away if this goes wrong.

[Here they go.]

[A nod yes to check on CECE.]

It was virtual reality - literally. We woke up in pods on the ship...when your brain is plugged into a set, of course no one else is going to be able to get into it.

[Jane lowers her head. God, what can she say to convince him? All they have is their own truths.]

If we were really actors, actually getting praise and rewards for what happened, do you really think we'd try so hard to win a contest for resources? That we'd be desperate enough to try and blend in at a convention? Wouldn't we be in contact with our "co-stars" and not - not desperate enough to hope that the prize of a message and gas money might be worth the risk?

[oh. oh god. is she upset don't let her get upset again please.

Jaycee wrings his claws.]

But - why are you here? Y'can't just.... [He fiddles nervously with his hard-light projector.] ...I've been watchin' this show for like two years, that's...

[is he a monster]

Here at the convention, specifically? Or here in this universe at all?

[She looks remarkably young, Jaycee. Way too young to have gone through half the stuff hinted at in her backstory, and yet there's definitely a wary, haunted look about her.]

[Well, she's soft and round-looking, but most mammals are if you ask him. The show says she's young, though. He'd sort of always figured she couldn't be really as young as they said, to be on a show like that, but...]

The first one...

...We came here to try and win that ARG contest. We need the money, we want to be able to see our friends and any more "content" or "seasons" that InterGal7 puts out, and...we'd really like to send our friends some reassurance. Even if it's in a message no longer than a Spit. Nobody here who's having a good time...i-it's not their fault. It's not your fault any of this is going on, and we know that. We just want things to be right again.

[Ergo, the epic quest to storm a nerd convention.]

I mean...it hasn't been easy to be here, but...when a little alien dressed up as a stuffed toy is having such a wonderful time, I can't necessarily hold a grudge against them.

[Jaycee looks at the ground, worrying the blankets with one claw.]

...you know InterGal's gonna pay for the subscription, though, right? It's not me giving any of this stuff out.

I know. You said it yourself, you're not...affiliated with them up front. [A pause.] Do we...have to meet them to get it?

Jaycee.

[Hey, lizard boy, the guy you watched suffer for two seasons wants a word.]

You're not- you and all the other fans here aren't bad people for enjoying the show or for helping them with the event. You had no idea what the network's been doing to us.

[Oh. Oh god. Let him just...just sort of rub at a dry patch of scales on his arm.]

...I've been watching you for like two years, Jamie. Your name, uh...it's, uh, really Jamie, right?

[He smiles, albeit a little tiredly. He looks different than he did in the finale, much more like he did back in season one. But even under his fake glasses there are shadows under his eyes and a haunted look he'll probably never be able to really shake even if this all turns out okay in the end.]

Yeah, it's really Jamie.

Wow, uh. Okay. Hi. Um -

[There's no way to say any of the things he thought he might say now. Like "wow, I'm a big fan, you play suffering and panic attacks really realistically".]

- Ihaveaprintofoneofyourpaintingsonmywall? [Jaycee immediately cringes. NO]

I- wow. [That's so weirdly flattering???] Which one?

Uh, the one with the tree, and the cliff? [He gestures vaguely and probably not helpfully, this is actually really embarrassing wow?] From, uh, from Season One.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The End of the Chase

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject