un: jMan93 | video

[critpei]

[ The video starts with a boy in a baseball cap, wearing a bright grin and lifting a hand in greeting. An I-come-in-peace kind of greeting. He's in his bedroom, sitting on his unmade bed and while his room isn't messy per se (he hasn't been here long enough to accumulate a mess), there are a few shirts haphazardly draped over the back of his headboard. ]

S'up, Etraya? The name's Junpei Iori! I'm pretty new here. Still getting the lay of the land and all, but uh...

[ He rubs the back of his neck, glancing past the camera for a moment. ]

My birthday's on the 16th. Which I guess is operation day? So I'm thinking of celebrating early. Anyone wanna maybe...hang?

[ God. That feels so pathetic. Like coming on here and pretty much announcing he's a friendless loser. Junpei quickly pivots: ]

Or I guess you could just give some recommendations of good places to check out and party it up? What place has the best food or where can a guy get a good cake...that kinda thing? Yeah, sure. I can probably go find somewhere on my own, but the best reviews are usually word of mouth!

[ Junpei shifts, palms planted on his knees as he leans forward. ]

Sooo, lay it on me, folks. Where would you spend your sweet seventeen in this place?

Comments

[cheffeur]

Perhaps, but recreation is a need for people also. Missions don't seem to be constant, but the need for community building is.

[Mmm... It sure is a bummer. His voice drops a bit to the more serious side, trying to fully consider.]

I can't say for sure what is or isn't possible. If we believe all the information we've been given in regards to Echo and their ability to save or damn worlds as needed, than perhaps not. They have already made that decision, it seems. Finding a way to lighten Echo's load or reduce the burden of whatever they're doing may allow for additional worlds to be retained for longer, but we'd need to find out where to even start with that.

As for the creatures we're going to sample... Logistically, it would be impossible to bring a large enough population into the city to ensure its continuation-- assuming they could even thrive in the environments we have here, or eat anything that we could provide. At best, we'd only save a few select members and watch them die out over time, unable to replenish their numbers.

[critpei]

[ He lets out a low whistle. A crash and burn kinda whistle. That shit's heavy. ]

Damn.

[ Junpei sits with it for a moment. ]

No wonder I got some people asking me to turn my whole birthday into a wild party, if this is the kinda thing we gotta face sometimes.

[ It's a weak attempt to lighten the mood and to match, he offers a weak smile. A smile that quickly fades. ]

What do you know about Echo? Is it like a god, or....?

[cheffeur]

[He nods carefully at Junpei's low whistle and lets that silence between them linger. It's far bigger than the both of them, and likely anything they'd even considered needing to tackle.]

It's difficult not to feel a sense of culpability, as we're aware of it before it happens and likely won't be able to change the outcome- though it's still worth trying. After all, it could be our own home let go next.

[Depressing!]

Very little. The information Aurora has given us is mostly what I know. They are some person or thing that manages a multitude of universes, and their capabilities are strained. Whether it's something mystical or technological, I can't say, but we can assume that they aren't omniscient or omnipotent.

They also appear either unwilling or unable to communicate with us directly, despite bringing us here to represent the potential of our worlds. Instead that seems left to Aurora, who has confirmed there are limitations to her knowledge or within her programming, and she is unable to share more information than allowed.

That said, I've only been in Etraya for a few weeks. Beforehand I was in another similar city, managed by a different AI-- and it was far, far less helpful.

[critpei]

Only a few weeks and you already got that good of a grasp on this place?? Dang, dude. That's impressive! I would've totally thought you were here for a while.

[ And it makes Junpei kinda hope he gets put on this guy's team when it comes to their mission because geesh!! He's got smarts for days -- not ONLY knowing some of the locations around, but seeming to understand Aurora and know enough about Echo to be able to piece together theories on omnipotence and the like. ]

Guess it helps you've been pinballed around to these weird ass cities run by AI more than once, so it ain't your first rodeo. Also probably helps you're a total workaholic who spent his 17th doing a full shift.

[ He offers a teasing wink. ]

But guys like you probably do well here. Bet you'll make a real good showing for your world!

[cheffeur]

[He gives a short laugh at Junpei's compliments, and shakes his head.]

Reading deeper into things and examining possibilities and estimating the best outcome is what I've been trained for. I was something of an advisor serving the Crown at home.

[But the smile fades, and he folds his arms.]

Thank you, though. I'm... hoping I do. But I'm sure my story is no different than any others. We all have things extremely important to us that we wish to save. I doubt you'll disappoint yourself, though: sociability and resilience are excellent traits. And if I remember correctly, you had claimed you were the leader of some sort of special operation?

[critpei]

[ W-why's he gotta say claimed like that???

Junpei's feeling mildly caught by Mr. Advisor who is trained to examine and estimate! But he laughs it off easily enough and rubs the back of his neck as though he's attempting to be humble. Gonna just double down on this lie right out here on the public network. Surely this won't bite him in the ass in the future! ]

You really do have a good memory! But yup. That's me. Leader of SEES!

[ Hands on his hips and a confident grin in place. The grin slips after a pause because it doesn't matter. No matter what he did back home (or didn't do in this case), it's not like he can do it here. He sighs. ]

Right now I've been downgraded to just ordinary guy, though. Didn't get here with any of my equipment so that's no weapons and no powers. I don't know if that's a side-effect of coming here from that fairy place or what. Did you come the same way? Showing up in that place and then coming to Etraya through a portal with everyone else?

[cheffeur]

[He nods in consolation at the no equipment lament.]

It was slightly different. I woke up in one of Etraya's sister-cities: Pollux. After a week there, a group of us were sent on a mission to Auriel- the 'fairy place' you mentioned. At the end of our mission, a group of us were never retrieved because the AI running that city is fully incompetent. It took roughly two months before the group from Etraya came to rescue us.

But yes, upon my initial arrival I had little to nothing. The shared armory myself and my fellow retainers use had been fully emptied. I wasn't able to withdraw anything, though I've been able to place and retrieve things as needed since arrival.

[...Which might be for the best, that shit needed organizing.]

You mentioned powers, though?

[critpei]

[ A sister city? Pollux? Auriel?? God, trying to keep track makes his brain hurt. Good thing there are people here like Ignis to make sense of it all! ]

Two months?? Wow. That must've felt like a lifetime. With the consolation prize being...well.

[ Junpei makes a general outward gesture to indicate Etraya as a whole. ]

Don't get me wrong. It for sure sounds like an upgrade from the shit you were dealing with, but it still just feels...off. Does that make sense? Like someone dreamed up a city and threw in all the things they thought should be here, only half of it doesn't go together at all. And why are they making it so hard to get your hands on some good weapons here?? If we're supposed to be fighting to good fight, you'd think they'd be arming us for it!!

[ Ugh. He rubs his face with his hands, an attempt to swipe off the frustration. At least from the sound of it, Ignis has been able to gather up some things. ]

But hey....if you happen to come across a sword, let me know? A good, two-handed sword. Hell, I don't even care if it's sharp so long as it's something. Going into this mission without anything seems like walking in with a giant flag that says 'I'm here. I'm scrumptious. Please eat me!' Yanno?

[ Ignis had given him the perfect opportunity to brag and boast about his cool ass persona powers! Under normal circumstances, he'd gladly take it. There's no reason to be secretive here about what he can do! But this guy...he's resourceful. He's smart. He's everything Junpei is not. Maybe it would pay to be a little more serious. After a moment, Junpei leans forward -- expression curious. ]

Hey. Do you happen to know anyone who's good with tech and gear? 'Cause yeah, I got a power called a Persona. It's basically like summoning something from beyond yourself to help you fight. Problem is, I need an evoker to summon it. I didn't come with it on me, but maybe there's someone here smart enough to make it?