PC: Firefly

[trifocal]

Comments

Weekend 0, Sunday

[trifocal]

[ Eupha is still looking at our newly-revealed profiles on her phone. She suddenly looks at Firefly, wide-eyed. ]

Four thousand???

[trifocal]

[ ...... ]

... I'm sorry, that came out very loud...

[fightolive]

[ PLEASE...... she's just a girl... ]

I-it's okay. I haven't really thought about it.

[trifocal]

Er, but, with that much time, wouldn't you have been able to see entire nations rise and fall? It must be an incredible perspective to have...

Week 1, Monday

[trifocal]

[ Eupha is heading towards the garden with a net and a bag slung over her shoulder, when she spots Firefly along the way and stops to greet her. ]

I was going to see if I can catch some bugs. Would you like to join me?

[ maybe they'll see the ominous apple tree while they're out here too. ]

[fightolive]

What kinds of bugs?

[ She'll come over to talk to Eupha. ]

[trifocal]

I was hoping there might be some bees out here.

[fightolive]

Those would be nice, I'll come with you. I've mostly seen butterflies so far.

W2: Monday

[fightolive]

[ Find Firefly(?) in the middle of greenhouse, touching the plants like she's rarely ever seen them before. ]

[trifocal]

[ hello!! eupha looks like her usual self... except, perhaps, for the big metal helmet over her head. ]

Have you ever seen such variety before? It's really quite something.

[ even if her smile cannot be seen, there is warmth in her voice. ]

[fightolive]

[ That's... new? She thinks? ]

No, I haven't. It's rare I ever get to see this many plants at once.

[trifocal]

[ it sure is new. ]

Are there not many where you come from?

Week 3, Tuesday

[trifocal]

[ What's up. We probably didn't mean to meet in the funhouse. ]

... This is still happening?

[ Yep. Which means we see a memory:

You see villagers gathered before their chief, clamouring for action. There are intruders on the island, they say. Sanctists, come to steal the divine relics. They must be put to death. The chief tries to calm them, explaining that the outsiders have done no harm, but they will not be placated. This is but the latest in a series of disasters.

They are right. It is time to perform the ritual.

( ... also, if you notice little floating particles in the air? You can 100% see them. They are everywhere. ) ]

[fightolive]

[ All doors lead to memshares. ]

Did... you really go through with the sacrifice?

[trifocal]

I fully intended to. But no, the ritual did not go as planned.

[fightolive]

There was another way to fix things?

[ She can only hope. ]

Week 3: Wednesday

[fightolive]

[ Here to 1:21:17

You've witnessed several other people's wishes come true. Now, it's time to go back to Jade herself. She turns towards you, as you approach her.

"So, you're back, Miss Samuel."

"Yeah, I found those people, and it seems their wishes did come true after visiting the Bonajade Exchange. But I'm not sure what you want me to see. They all seem to be living... fulfilled lives." They came to her pawn shop, and they got what they wanted. That's what you've been looking for too.

"Not so fast. This step was just to show you that the Bonajade Exchange is genuine, that I had the power to grant their wishes. And now, I'll tell you the price they paid.

"Dell was from a wealthy family. He was head over heels for Dorothy and wanted to win her heart, so he made a deal with me. He put up his entire fortune in exchange for a gift that would impress Dorothy. It was a piece of cake for me, thanks to my IPC connections. However, Dell will soon find himself evicted from the Dreamscape because he can't afford his room. Whether he can bounce back from poverty... well, that depends on him. Let's just hope that necklace will keep their relationship from crumbling.

"Then there's Stacy, a lady with a gambling addiction. She wanted some serious luck, but she had nothing to offer, so I took something else instead. I took away all her close relationships. From the moment she stepped out of the Bonajade Exchange, every casino in the cosmos would remember her name, but her parents and siblings would sever ties with her, and it would be impossible for Stacy to make any real friends again. She will accrue a vast wealth due to her good luck but she'll never be able to use it for the people who truly matter to her.

"As for Detective Walker, he spent two decades chasing down a wanted criminal for some heinous crime, but he never caught the guy. In his desperation, he came to me. He offered his own memory system as collateral. In due time, his memories as a detective will be erased, and he will completely forget his own identity and all the sacrifices he has made.

"Interesting, don't you think? I fulfill people's desires and grant them favors, and soon, they come back to me with even greater desires. When people see others' desires get fulfilled, they develop their own desires. It seems like an endless cycle but it does have a goal. In the end, I will get what I desire from this whirlpool.

"And patience happens to be one of my greatest strengths. So now, do you understand what you must give up, Miss Samuel? Or should I address you as...

"AR-26710, a remnant of Glamoth's Iron Cavalry?"

You meet her gaze, unfaltering. Somebody like Jade would have all sorts of information flowing to her. If she was able to grant all those wishes then knowledge shouldn't be much of an obstacle for her. You close your eyes as you respond, "...I'm not surprised."

"You are much calmer than I expected," as she turns back to the massive window, leaving her back to you. "Entropy Loss Syndrome... truly an unjust misfortune, isn't it? The higher-ups in Glamoth implemented such a fail-safe within the genes of their warriors, just to make sure the Republic's most powerful weapons wouldn't fall into the wrong hands.

"As for the price... Those Iron Cavalries weren't exactly seen as regular, independent humans, so there wasn't really a price to be paid.

"However, you are different. You're now a Stellaron Hunter, a living being named Firefly. Naturally, you want to continue your existence, but with the Firmament Front gone, the people who know the secret and can cure the disease are nowhere to be found."

You listen closely as she speaks, "Are you suggesting that the IPC has a remedy?"

She shakes her head, "Well, there might be a silver lining. That's all I can say for now."

So that's how it is. Your gaze falls, along with your hopes. "I see. It's no wonder you said I can't provide anything of equal value, because nothing I own holds any meaning..."

The current Firefly watches this exchange with a frown. ]

[trifocal]

[ frowning as she listens to these classic "be careful what you wish for" scenarios...

and there's a glance at firefly when the conversation turns personal. ]

... What is that? "Entropy Loss Syndrome"?

[fightolive]

It's... the disease I have.

[A thing that her makers implanted into every single weapon of Glamoth. Nobody wants their armies turned against them.]

Week 4, Monday

[trifocal]

[ we're in the armoury! eupha picks up a candy corn spear. ]

Even these are candy...?

[fightolive]

They really wanted to stay on theme.

[She picks up some daggers, testing their feel in her hand.

... Augh. Sticky.]

[trifocal]

Perhaps they are better handled with gloves...

[ but she's not gonna go look for some right now, so. she's just going to try to tough it out. ]

Do you know how to use these weapons?

[ she'd seen firefly's memory, wherein she was called a warrior, or a weapon herself. but that could have all kinds of meanings. ]

Week 7, Wednesday

[trifocal]

So that was "God" in his true form...

He was quite different from what I imagined.

[ but she says this with a little smile. ]

[fightolive]

I wasn't expecting God to look so human.

[ Aeons are all so strange. ]

But... it was nice to meet him.

[trifocal]

I think so, too. Most gods would not be quite so approachable.