You can't eScape from blatant lesbianism themes

[19:29:19] <Giantree> July 12th, 2090- sometime midday.  Towering structures line the city and smother it in... well, in technology, for starters.  But at least, much to their dismay, there's another thing they're lined with themselves.  Drops of rain sprinkle District #19 as they have every other day for the past... well, a really long time.  Meaning for Claire Kilbire, it would be a pretty awful day to take a walk.  Or do whatever it was she was doing, as whatever it is was interrupted by the notice of all the humanoid figures walking around going about their business as usual.  But of course, none of them were humans as evident by their mannerisms and the rings in their eyes signifying them as entities that process only data.  Some of them are even hard to tell apart from actual people this far into the future.  Not today, though, when they walk about normally unhindered by the wetness splattering them.
[19:31:42] <Claire> "Damned sheeple..." Claire mutters to herself. Yes, we need tech. But it's a bit overboard. At least she isn't going to a job interview...
[19:33:07] <Giantree> But who's going to listen, is the question.  And none of them seem to be answering it.  It's just a normal day, where a walk or a visit leads to coming upon hordes and hordes of them.  But at least she brought an umbrella, right?  ... Right?
[19:34:11] <Claire> Nope. But it's a light rain and there isn't any wind. At the very least she can duck under an awning every now and then.
[19:36:12] <Giantree> It is indeed a light rain, and a common occurrence.  Inside buildings, as one would learn from experience, there isn't any rain, but since THIS time it just started out of the blue it's a long walk home.  There's at least one Blue's, an ice cream parlor, nearby in the city, but that's just another one of the places that doesn't employ fleshies.
[19:38:01] <Claire> Of course it doesn't. So few places do anymore. But there's a few things she can do - fixing bots is among them.
[19:38:28] <Claire> So she'll check in, to at least see if there's something she can learn. Oh, and get some mocha ice cream.
[19:39:05] <Giantree> And what a pain it is.  On her way there, a few more walk by, all bearing the data-rings on their irises signifying who they are.  Upon opening the door, another one walks out.  They all stare at her while doing so.
[19:40:04] <Claire> "Oh shut up." yes, they weren't saying anything, especially to her. But that wasn't important. Right now she just wants to not get wetter.
[19:40:53] <Claire> With a quick glance at her Raspberry, she'll see if the rain will be leaving anytime soon.
[19:40:58] <Giantree> Dingaling... just kidding.  It's actually more of a 'be-boop' as the door opens.
[19:42:01] <Giantree> And according to the device, it's stop raining in 9,2453.5346 hours.... however that even works.  Then again, it's usually had its commas in the right places before.
[19:42:59] <Claire> Damn piece of techno-crap.
[19:43:57] <Claire> She'll shake it again, then check. If it still isn't working, no point forcing it.
[19:44:04] <Giantree> The 'person' behind the counter turns as the person enters, though, with the widest stare such a being could possibly muster.  It only pauses, before uttering in a cold voice, "... Choice?"
[19:45:02] <Giantree> It is working!  ... If you consider 'being the exact same thing, only upside down' working.  The screen also darkens and it looks like there's a tiny frowning face in the background for a split second.
[19:45:38] <Claire> "Mocha, large." damn, that sucks. Thankfully they still accept debit cards.
[19:46:09] <Giantree> "... Choice?"  The data-eyed humanoid just keeps staring, as if it didn't hear anything.
[19:47:06] <Giantree> "Will you..."  A voice speaks... but it's not from the counter.  It seems to becoming from the other direction.  "Make a..."  That one does too.
[19:47:15] <Claire> "I said a large mocha ice cream!"
[19:47:37] <Giantree> The counter-speaker's eyes widen more, beyond what their face can even muster.  With their lips curving into a smile, they tilt their head and innocently speak again.  "... Choice?"
[19:49:50] <Claire> "Large. Mocha. Ice. Cream." Claire is fed up with this bullshit.
[19:50:43] <Giantree> "Why haven't you..."  The face on the Raspberry blips onto the screen, despite it looking like a child's drawing, and speaks through its frown.  Then the voices behind follow.  "Made a..."
[19:51:10] <Giantree> The receptionist smiles ear-to-ear, to the point where their face looks like it's split in too.  "ChoooooiiiiiIIIiiiIIIiiIIIIIiiiiII-"
[19:52:50] <Claire> "..." okay. This isn't normal. Something is going on. Virus, maybe? "Reboot!" it's a damn near universal command - one not to be used lightly though. But this would definitely be a time to do so.
[19:54:19] <Giantree> Now all of them start saying "Choice" in odd tones, some muttering it, some screaming it, some whispering.  But, even with all the noise that starts up all of a sudden, one soft voice rings out... from above?  Behind something?  It's hard to tell.  "You resent it, don't you?"  With data-rings in their eyes, the droids act like undeads, moaning the same word and stumbling about.
[19:55:30] <Claire> "The lack of programming savvy? Yeah. It sucks." Claire doesn't even turn around, she assumes she just missed someone else behind her. "or did you mean something else?"
[19:56:46] <Giantree> Apparently finding this rude, a hand places itself on her shoulder.  But it's cold, stony.  "A little.  I mean that they're all... things.  Dolls.  But you came in here expecting that, didn't you?"
[19:58:20] <Claire> "yeah...but what all would you expect?" but that's enough to turn around.
[19:59:22] <Giantree> Turn around to just another horde of 'zombies' falling over on top of each other.  The voice comes from behind her now, where she was just facing.  "Oh, I'm not sure~  But you're one of them too, you know?"
[20:00:53] <Claire> "Bullshit. They're just programs. Metal shells that don't do anything their masters don't like. They aren't even made of flesh and blood."
[20:01:22] * Claire closes her eyes. "I'm not one of them. I'll never be one of them!"
[20:02:11] <Giantree> "So~  Do you mean you can do things your master doesn't like?  That your flesh and blood really exists?  That's really bold of you, you know.  Think of how many of them want to say that!"  Suddenly, the building is silent.  None of them are stumbling around anymore, even the receptionist.  Every 'human' has collapsed on the ground, twitching and whispering words.
[20:03:26] <Giantree> "Buuut... maybe you're right.  How do you feel right now?"  The voice rings out from whatever direction Claire isn't facing at any given time, curiously.  "If I told you to fall over right now and you did... what would you think?  Would you be afraid?  Would you resent me?"
[20:05:04] <Claire> "I'd think you're using bad logic to try and fool me. I'm my own master; no one tells me what to do except me." Sure, her parents tell her to do shit but she has the ability to refuse. The metalheads don't.
[20:06:18] <Giantree> "That's some kind of bravery!  I'm glad!"  The tiny, girlish voice chuckles a little.  "... Fall."
[20:06:47] <Giantree> Ba-DUMP.  Even inside the building there's an ominous wind, things feel like they shouldn't.
[20:06:51] <Giantree> ... But nothing happens.
[20:08:36] <Claire> She takes a stutter step, but that's all. "what did I say? I'm no one's slave." Claire opens her eyes, trying to stare at the source of the voice.
[20:10:15] <Giantree> All of the 'droids in the room, though they weren't before, are suddenly unclothed, monochromatic humanoids with no faces.  And the voice whirls around behind her back yet again, though each turn reveals a new sight of more bodies.  "Hee hee... but you were scared, weren't you?  What if you really had fallen, and were never able to get up until the end of time?  Just like them~"
[20:11:46] <Claire> "That couldn't happen. Even if I had fallen, I can get up. It's human nature. But would you know anything about that?"
[20:12:56] <Giantree> "... I wouldn't."  There's a hint of sorrow in the voice, "I really am a clay doll.  You were the only one whose thoughts made sense for as far as I looked, you know.  Everybody else wants convenience, or just to be a conspiracy theorist because people will think they're interesting... why don't you take a look outside?"
[20:14:09] * Claire does so. "Thinking is a lost art. Too many idiots don't want to wonder. They think they're owed their life and the world exists to serve them."
[20:14:55] <Claire> "it shouldn't be like that. People should have to earn their keep - to do something with their lives."
[20:16:18] <Giantree> "That's what I mean.... I think that's what I mean.  That's what I want to mean."  Outside, the rain has stopped; or it may be more accurate to say that the rain was never there.  The sky above flickers, visibly fake, revealing what looks to be a top of the interior of a building suspended high in the air.  Of course, that doesn't make her clothes less wet or anything but that's a story for another time.
[20:16:31] <Giantree> "What would you say to... giving a doll a purpose?"
[20:17:08] <Claire> "Explain, if you would. Dolls usually just sit there, waiting to be played with."
[20:18:52] <Giantree> "But dolls want to live.  They're all built with a deep love or a desire, and that manifests within them somewhere where nobody can ever see, no matter hard they look.  So only they themselves know they exist, and can do nothing of it.  I'm one those.  And that's why I brought you here-- to tell you that I exist."
[20:19:59] <Claire> "Okay. You exist. Congrats. What next?"
[20:21:09] <Giantree> "I said it earlier.  You're one too.  You didn't fall when I told you to... because I'm not your master.  But they do exist.  You can have the chance I didn't have, you know: to actually step up and stand against them."  Another giggle, "Want to?  I'll only ask once."
[20:22:20] <Claire> "Stand against...what? I mean, I'm not sure what you want me to do, but I'm interested."
[20:23:10] <Giantree> "You know!  Your puppetmaster.  The world that would ask you to bend down.  ... Give me a break, I spent more years than I can count writing this dramatic speech, you know.  It's really really boring over here."
[20:24:16] <Giantree> "I guess it's better to say... everybody is just a doll, missing out on the real world.  So you get to be one of the ones to go there.  Sounds nice, huh?"
[20:24:37] <Claire> "Well then if you showed yourself maybe I could make things less boring. If this isn't the real world, then get me out of here."
[20:25:19] <Claire> "Too much is fake for me to not despise it. Reality is what matters, no matter how we get there."
[20:25:20] <Giantree> "Oh, don't worry about THAT.  You're looking straight at me."  Ahead of her is a pile of alike-looking androids, all on top of one another.
[20:26:36] <Giantree> "Your ideas are nice.  I'll just go ahead and call it a favor and you can look around at the truth aaaaaaall you want, okay?  Where you'll need to go is the City of Silence... it's a peaceful place, but it's above the world you live in.  Oh!  They've started calling it the Scape now, haven't they?  I guess you can use whatever you want."
[20:28:19] <Claire> "...okay. What's the catch?"
[20:28:38] <Claire> There's always a catch - the point is knowing if it's gonna screw you over.
[20:29:13] <Giantree> "Well... it goes back to the first question.  Do you resent them?"
[20:29:17] <Giantree> "Resent us."
[20:30:54] <Claire> "the metallic drones that overflow the world with their fake lives? Yeah, it would be a better place without them. It doesn't take a lot to shut them down though, I've noticed."
[20:32:26] <Giantree> "Well, I'm not asking you to become a revolutionairy or something.  We don't exist yet, but we'll appear in the Scape soon.  Maybe in weeks from now, maybe months, maybe years.  There's a Game about to start, and as long as you'll... you know, be so kind as to genocide us then, you can know everything you ever wanted!  Deal?"
[20:33:57] <Claire> "I'd thought you'd never ask. So, shall I start with you first, or do you want to spend your last cycled regretting what you're asking me?"
[20:35:49] <Giantree> "Ohhh, you'd regret it if you started with me first, I'll tell you that much.  Then again, I don't even know I exist for real yet.  Why don't you look at yourself first?"  With another giggle, the other girl's neck finds itself grabbed at by links of chain.  Then, more, more, and more, until it forms a full jeweled necklace with a nice, shiny topaz on it.
[20:37:35] * Claire gasps as she looks at her new jewelry. "what the...what is this?"
[20:38:41] <Giantree> "You're gonna need it.  Try it on!  Well... it's already on.  I mean, ask for its help.  It'll show you what to do."
[20:39:35] <Claire> "Okay...umm...help?"
[20:39:51] <Giantree> POOF.  ... Just kidding, it's a lot flashier than that.
[20:41:57] <Claire> As Claire runs her hand over the pendant, words echo in her mind. She knew there was power there. It just had to take form.
[20:45:52] <Claire> Magical power flickered in her soul, sending a shiver down her spine. Uninhibited, the arcane energy welled up, not stopping or slowing, warping the girl's mind and body in its image. Every nerve firing brought with it a needle, piercing her with warmth that left her breathless
[20:48:36] <Claire> It didn't take long for her magic to explode, a chocolate brown blouse forming over her now disintegrated mundane uniform. A pale green pleated skirt followed, and brown knee high boots below that. The girl's auburn hair was now a rich brown, as a softball-sized orb found its way into her hands, attached to a small metal rod.
[20:49:49] <Claire> "What the...what the flying fuck is this?" Claire stammers out, gazing at her new outfit.
[20:51:02] <Claire> "What the hell did you do to me!?"
[20:51:15] <Giantree> "Hmm... yeah, what the flying fuck is that?  Well, then again, I brought here to show magic to you, not to be your costume designer.  I could probably tailor something myself but... well, considering the terms we'll be meeting on next, that may not work out so well."
[20:51:46] <Giantree> "Don't you like it?  Don't you feel great?  Doesn't it feel like you can just smash ANYTHING?  Those are the kinds of feelings I wanted to bring out.  I wouldn't say I did a bad job, really!"
[20:52:51] <Claire> "I...I..." In truth, she didn't feel much of anything. Just...it felt like she'd been asked if she wanted $50, then got robbed.
[20:53:58] <Claire> "GO AWAY!" Claire had no idea how flails worked. But she was pissed and it showed, one heavy swing sent the tethered spike-laden ball towards the giant pile of mechanical bodies
[20:54:13] <@Claire> 2d6+10 she mad
[20:54:14] <DiceMaid-9001> Claire, she mad: 17 [2d6=6,1]
[20:54:23] <@Claire> 1d6 really mad
[20:54:24] <DiceMaid-9001> Claire, really mad: 1 [1d6=1]
[20:55:47] <Giantree> The fiail bowls through the pile of bodies, shattering a lot of them into metallic splinters.  Metallic splinters that, with a small static in the air, aren't actually there at all.  The voice moves around behind her once more, though there's a shortage of bodies now.  "... Okay, look up again.  Maybe it's better to do this the easier way."  The dome sky flickers again... and when it does, it's so much more apparent that it'd ALWAYS been like this.  That outside there was incredible scorching heat, and that people couldn't AFFORD to make robots to do things for them.
[20:57:21] <Giantree> "See?  I can't say it in words.  Your goal is to hate the world, and use that hate to bring it down.  Do that, 'kay?"
[20:58:50] <Claire> "I...what is...is this the past?" No...it couldn't be. Robotech hadn't changed in nearly half a century, the temperatures were setting record lows every year..."what kind of a world is this?"
[21:00:32] <Giantree> The voice sighs, despite sounding like it's stifling terror.  "A lost one.  This was the world that was supposed to exist, but it changed... for the better.  You're one of the only people I could find who didn't think so."
[21:01:32] <Claire> "This world is crap! But that's even more crap! Why can't we make one world where people actually, you know, do things?"
[21:03:34] <Claire> "Just...go. Get out of here before I stick this somewhere you won't ever be able to fix." Claire is confused and angry and what the fucks is this bitch going on about
[21:03:36] <Giantree> "Welllll~!  The easiest answer is that they don't want to.  Or maybe it's that they realized they don't need to?  This Earth is the 'Perfect' Earth, where everything is best for every collective person.  The fact that there's even one person who stands against it means that something made it imperfect.  What went wrong?"  The sound the voice comes from swirls around a bit.  "So I think, if you went there... you could easily be one of the people to make it.  To the scape, I mean.  All of us leave our souls behind, our 'seeds.'  If you collect... oh, about thirteen of them, you can have anything you want.  And that could be it."
[21:04:32] <Giantree> "Yeah.  We'll meet again.  But until then~"  As if to make things FAR too easy, the air crackles and a very blatant portal appears in the sky.  What looks like a city can be seen through it.
[21:06:21] <Claire> As Claire gazes into the portal, something clicks. Her eyes go blank as she starts heading towards the city, unable to stop herself, moving faster and faster until, moments after she regains focus, she slips right through.
[21:06:34] <Giantree> -VWOOP-
[21:07:43] <Giantree> Barring a barely-audible "See you soon~," Claire would find herself landing in a broken-off piece of ground, that in itself is extremely uncomfortable.  There's half of what looks like an empty fountain next to it, too, and blocks upon blocks of city structure in every direction.  Except for the direction a gigantic building with double doors is in, of course.
[21:08:50] <Giantree> ... Next to her, though, another portal opens with a "Mraaaaa" sound.  A gray-furred, scrawny animal balancing a large mocha ice cream on its back pads past her, circling the fountain, and toward the building.
[21:10:10] <Claire> "wha-Hey!" so what if she didn't actually get around to paying for it, that's her ice cream damn it! "come back!" And so there she goes, wasting magical talent trying to catch a kitten.
[21:11:45] <Giantree> "Mraaaaoooow?"  The feline stops next to the door and sits down, as if not even realizing anything is wrong.  Especially so considering the dessert starts sliding off its back...
[21:12:55] <Claire> Fortunately Claire is quick enough to save her semi-frozen treat - well, sort of. It took way too much effort to remove the cone from the cat's fur.
[21:13:29] <Claire> And as such, she's now holding a small mocha ice cream.
[21:13:34] <Giantree> Felt like pulling a magnet apart from an... opposing magnet.  Giving a 'lady, you're crazy' look, it turns around and keeps walking, making annoying noises.
[21:15:46] <Claire> Fucking cats, how do they work? In any case, Claire at this point realizes. She's alone. And that terrifies her.
[21:17:26] <Claire> With a primal cry, Claire jams her eyes shut and swings her flail around like she's doing the hammer throw. Tears stream from her eyes as her radius of death gets a bit shakier each revolution
[21:18:25] <Giantree> Screeeech.  The cat, not wanting to deal with this shit, RAMS into the door at maximum force, shoving it open.  And the fountain finds itself being the target of the swings, which is probably fine considering there's no water in it.
[21:20:01] <Giantree> "... okes?  That's not you making that noise, is it?"
[21:20:40] <Claire> Eventually even that's too much. Claire breaks down, sitting on her knees, sobbing quietly with the flail dropped at her side. "I...I wanna..."
[21:21:35] <Giantree> A couple of bespectacled eyes peer out from behind the door.  "Uh... Celeste?  That's not you throwing a fit again, is it?"
[21:22:05] <Claire> With a sniffle, the girl looks up. "who...did you?"
[21:22:41] <Claire> "what did you do to me?!?"
[21:23:55] <Giantree> "I... oh crap, you're another one, aren't you?"  The other door creaks open.
[21:24:02] <Giantree> "Please tell me you drink tea."
[21:24:42] <Claire> "I..." Claire tries to calm down, finding it quite difficult. "I prefer coffee...but if all you have is tea..."
[21:24:53] <Claire> "But that's not important!"
[21:25:29] <Claire> "what's going on? Why did everything just get...WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!?"
[21:26:05] <Giantree> "I can't remember the last time I had that stuff."  The person inside sighs and shakes her head.  "Well, they'd stop being calm about it soon enough, I figured one of you'd be like this.  Calm down and come inside, okay?  Let's take it one step at a time."
[21:27:09] <Claire> "...who are you? Hell, who am *I*?" Claire's voice is dead, as if she isn't even entirely there right now.
[21:28:45] <Giantree> "Take a breather.  Please.  Pretty please?  As far as I can tell... you're another Seer, if that works for you.  Call me S.S.S. and don't sweat the details, okay?"
[21:30:15] * Claire takes a deep breath. "S. S. S.? sorry, but that..." no. No way she's gonna refer to anyone by such a godawful moniker. "I'm just gonna call you 'Sierra', okay?"
[21:31:04] <Claire> "And what did you mean by Seer?"
[21:31:32] <Celeste> "No, it'S ESS. ESS. ESS."
[21:32:54] <Claire> "And whoever came up with that name ought to be slapped. And you didn't answer my other question, Seirra. What's it supposed to mean, being a Seer?"
[21:32:56] <Celeste> And out of nowhere, some teenager dressed up like ancient royalty appears in a golden flash.
[21:33:53] <Celeste> Oh, no, she did NOT just go there. "How about you learn something before you start talking bad, stupid? It's Seer for a reason."
[21:34:11] <Giantree> "Weird... I didn't... Hmm."  She spends a minute surveying the situation, snapping out of it.  "W-Wait a second!  Don't just go off on her like that right away!"
[21:34:35] <Claire> "Mind explaining that reason then? And please tell me you don't have another fucked up name."
[21:35:01] <Giantree> A sigh.  "Can you keep her company WITHOUT making something explode, please?  I'm gonna go brew the usual."  Clak, clak, clak.  Snakeskin boots take her to the back of the building.
[21:36:02] <Celeste> "Because Seers can see the truth of the world, brat. My name? It's Celeste, but I'm thinking about changing it to EMF for eat. My. Fist."
[21:37:08] <Claire> "No, don't do that. Celeste is a non-stupid name. You should keep that. My name's Claire."
[21:38:11] <Claire> "...And that actually makes sense. First logical thing I've heard all day."
[21:38:23] <Celeste> Celeste appears to be a little younger than Claire, but also just a little bit taller. And she's standing tall, proud of the fact she's taller than for once; it sucks having giants like Triple-S around. She's practically a tree. "Hmph. Do you want an explanation or not, kid?"
[21:41:38] <Claire> "Please. Because you seem to get whatever this is. So please, explain away."
[21:43:36] <Celeste> "What do you know already? Don't make me repeat stuff. Short version is normal people are Dummies, oblivious to magic and its effects, blah blah, they're under some Veil that brainwashes them, that or they're not real people, but we were ones before, so I think it's the former. Don't worry about that stuff right now, we're Seers because we know the truth, can see magic, and can get
[21:43:36] <Celeste> here. This is the Scape. Magic place. Your head fills it with stuff. There are better people to talk to for explanations on that."
[21:43:56] <Giantree> Clak, clak.  With concern on her face that may well be saying 'I really hope they didn't kill each other yet,' S.S.S. returns holding a tray with three small cups and a steaming teapot.  Smells like chrysanthemum.  Plodding along with a feline plodding along behind her and making "Mraaaah" noises, she sets it down on a table and beckons the others to a set of floating chairs.  "Let's relax now, okay?  I trust you haven't bitten this one's head off."
[21:44:55] <Celeste> "You got powers because you're a Seer, so you made a Contract entering you into the Game." Oh hey, Triple-S is back. "Shut up, I didn't do anything."
[21:45:44] <Claire> "The Game? Contract? The freaky voice did mention a Game...but not a contract. Or was that the glowy necklace thing?"
[21:45:53] <Giantree> A small chuckle comes out, whether she wants it to or not.  "Well, that's good.  Did you ask her what her power is?"
[21:46:33] <Celeste> "The fact you're here and not a Dummy anymore means you made a Contract." She leans aside and lowers her voice just a little bit to S.S.S., "Seriously. Why is this stuff so hard?"
[21:46:53] <Giantree> A-HEM.  "That's... a little tricky."  Pulling out an apparent holobook, S.S.S. sticks her finger in it and starts scribbling around.  "A Contract... isn't really a real Contract per se, it's just the agreement that allows you to come here."  She lowers her own voice with a "She's new, give her a break."
[21:47:13] <Celeste> In a bored monotone voice, Celeste sighs and asks, "What's your power?"
[21:47:32] <Claire> "Oh. That...well, calling it a contract is weird. As for powers..." Pause.
[21:48:15] <Claire> "Uh...I really don't know. Swarm of robots told me to kill them, or something. I'm probably not making any sense am I, Sierra?"
[21:49:02] <Celeste> "I. Told. You. It's. ESS. ESS. ESS. Triple S if you're a lazy idiot."
[21:49:15] <Giantree> "Robots?  Like... androids?  Well... the killing part makes sense.  That's kind of what they all say, even though some of them are a little more vague about it."
[21:49:56] <Giantree> The bratty, longhaired girl gets a sharp jab in the side, though.  "Quit that!  People can call me whatever they like... I like seeing-" cutting herself off, she coughs once, "Hearing new nicknames anyway."
[21:50:11] <Claire> "the idiot is whoever came up with a name like that. At least Celeste is a kinda cool name."
[21:52:05] <Giantree> "... Actually, that name was my idea, Ms.... what was it again?"
[21:52:13] <Celeste> Celeste squeals when she gets jabbed, "That's not even your real name! Ugh... The idiot even called your name dumb."
[21:53:24] <Claire> "It's Claire. And if the robots need to be killed, why are they asking me to do it and not some anti-robot person?"
[21:53:29] <Giantree> A small sigh, while going back to scribbling.  "Sierra is a lot more unique than my real name anyway.  I'll happily accept it.  Right now, maybe we should be working together to find out what her power is?  You know how well it went last time..."
[21:54:39] <Giantree> Headshake, headshake.  "I don't think they're 'robots.'  Or maybe they are.  Are they more popular in the outside now?  I haven't heard much, besides the new holobooks that've been written.  Philosophy has become less and less popular over the years."  With another sigh, she takes a sip of tea.
[21:55:38] <Celeste> "Alright, brat. You want me to tell you or wanna figure it out for yourself? Your call."
[21:56:06] <Celeste> "...Your power, that is, if you're too slow to keep up."
[21:56:52] <Claire> "No, you don't need to treat me like a little kid. I don't treat you like that, do I?"
[21:57:08] <Claire> "that being said, yes I'd like your help figuring this out."
[21:57:47] <Claire> "Because hell if I know what's going on with this get up"
[21:58:02] <Celeste> "No, but you act like one."
[21:58:47] <Giantree> An even LOUDER sigh.  "Stop it, you two.  Maybe... it has to do with the feelings she had while transforming?  They don't seem to have been very pleasant ones."  Scribblescribble.
[21:59:07] <Claire> "Says the washboard that's gloating because you have an inch and a half on me? Look, can't we just call it a truce?"
[22:00:18] <Claire> "Pretty sure we could spend several hours in a pissing match - ain't gonna do any of us any good. So Sierra, what did you say about the transforming?"
[22:02:30] <Giantree> "Well... can you tell me about it?  For instance, what were you thinking when it happened?  That might have to do with a lot of it.  I notice, from my notes, most people take powers based on their emotions or their desires... and since you're here, you certainly have powers."
[22:03:55] <Claire> "I just...whatever it was, there was something it was lording over me. How it said I was just another machine, how there was no difference between me and the metalheads that do the dishes in the restaurant."
[22:03:55] <Celeste> ...Washboard? Celeste's face goes red. Not embarrassed red. Furious red. Her voice quakes with rage, "You... You should slap yourself!" Some magic came out in her voice, can the new Seer resist?
[22:04:26] <Giantree> Indeed, S.S.S. is the first for her face to touch her hand.  But that's because she buries it in it.  "Oh no."
[22:04:20] <Celeste> 2d6+9 Higher Order, roll support to resist
[22:04:21] <DiceMaid-9001> Celeste, Higher Order, roll support to resist: 16 [2d6=3,4]
[22:04:27] <Celeste> which is presumably your highest stat
[22:04:31] <Celeste> because no arrays assigned right now
[22:04:35] <&Giantree> which is a +10, oh boy
[22:04:42] <@Claire> 2d6+10
[22:04:42] <DiceMaid-9001> Claire, 2d6+10: 16 [2d6=4,2]
[22:04:50] <Celeste> 1d6
[22:04:50] <@Claire> 1d6
[22:04:51] <DiceMaid-9001> Celeste, 1d6: 3 [1d6=3]
[22:04:51] <DiceMaid-9001> Claire, 1d6: 2 [1d6=2]
[22:05:20] <Giantree> Slapping yourself is silly... no it's not.  It's actually great.  Everybody should do it.  Why isn't Claire doing it right now?
[22:05:33] <Claire> THWACK! thats the sound of Claire's hand connecting with the backside of her head.
[22:05:57] <Celeste> Celeste folds her arms gloatingly, "Thanks. I needed that."
[22:06:18] <Claire> "Can you...you know, not do that anymore? Please?"
[22:06:19] <Giantree> "Let's..." The black-haired girl (with blue streaks) grabs Claire by the shoulders, in an attempt at comfort.  "Let's not start with this, okay?"
[22:07:09] <Giantree> "So, the easiest way to look at it would be that your power involves machinery... then again, it's about DISLIKING machinery, isn't it?  So... what would the opposite of machines be?"  Scribblescribble.
[22:07:54] <Claire> "Probably nature? I dunno." Claire shrugs. Nature seems...well, pretty open ended. "I don't think that's exactly it though."
[22:08:08] <Celeste> "If you're careful with your words, I'll be careful with mine. Do you want me to tell you or not?"
[22:08:36] <Claire> "understood, Celeste. Continue, please."
[22:08:41] <Giantree> "... Yeah, you're right.  Could you look past her veil, please?  Pretty please?  I think you remember what happened last time I tried to analyze somebody..."  She coughs a couple times.
[22:09:03] <Claire> Note to self: do not piss Celeste off.
[22:09:22] <Celeste> 2d6+7 Sharp
[22:09:23] <DiceMaid-9001> Celeste, Sharp: 14 [2d6=2,5]
[22:11:01] <Claire> "This isn't gonna hurt is it?"
[22:11:15] <Giantree> "Iiiiiiit'll tingle."
[22:11:19] <Giantree> Sssssip.
[22:11:49] <Claire> "O-okay then. Go ahead I guess..."
[22:14:06] <Celeste> "Not even a biiiit~" Celeste says it in the most intimidating possible way, but it really doesn't hurt. Celeste closes her eyes; a shimmering red curtain slowly comes into her vision. It's barely visible to the others, but it's almost blinding to Celeste. She lifts a hand and the veil moves to follow, revealing an image beneath of...?
[22:18:06] <Celeste> Fucking diagrams. She finished that schooling shit a while ago, she doesn't need to know this, but Celeste can at least get the gist of it. "Looks like your powers are based off of... Well, I'm not 100% sure, but it's to do with the Laws of Motion. Physics? Inertia? What are you, some kind of physicist wanna-be?"
[22:19:13] <Claire> "Sorta. Any job a human can do, a metalhead can do for a quarter of the cost. Only thing we can do that they can't is repairs. So that's kind of what I was thinking about."
[22:19:15] <Giantree> The bookish girl tilts her head somewhat to the side, scribbling even more furiously with her finger.  "Are you sure...?  That's a strange power.  Strange... but interesting!  That's the kind of thing I'd been HOPING we'd start seeing~"  Giddily, her face twists into an enormous smile.
[22:20:44] <Claire> "I think I remember inertia though...stopped things stay stopped, unstopped things stay unstopped, till something messes with it?"
[22:21:00] <Celeste> "Don't ask me, I already graduated."
[22:21:17] <Claire> "Same, just this past year. You?"
[22:22:15] <Celeste> Celeste counts on her fingers, "Carry the one... Twelve years ago? Is that when I showed up, S.S.S.?"
[22:22:19] <Giantree> "... I miss what graduating was like."  A minor sob somes out after some scribbling.
[22:22:45] <Claire> Twelve years ago? But that means...
[22:22:49] <Claire> "...huh."
[22:22:58] <Giantree> "You know I don't keep track of time here!  Well... I kind of calculate it on my own per second, actually, so you might be a few seconds off.  I think I'm up to eighteen... but it definitely FEELS like in the twenties."
[22:23:52] <Claire> "I'm gonna guess that time kinda doesn't do jack shit in here?"
[22:24:25] <Celeste> "Uh huh. That means..." Celeste looks down, "Don't think much improvement's coming." Definitely does not look anything like a 16 year old, LET ALONE a 26 year old.
[22:24:27] <Giantree> Scribble scribble.  "That's close enough to correct.  It stops and goes whenever it wants.  The place itself is whatever we want it to be at any given time, too."
[22:25:16] <Giantree> The giant tries to look away and ignore the facts, taking a sip from her teacup... oh wait, it's empty.  In a panic she scrambles to pour some more for herself before sipping it.
[22:25:23] <Claire> "Must suck, being trapped like that then." Claire shivers and nods.
[22:26:05] <Celeste> "We're not talking about it again. Got it? Good."
[22:26:22] <Giantree> "It's better than being elderly for that long."  Siiip.
[22:26:42] <Claire> "...Point taken. That would really suck. So..."
[22:26:52] <Claire> There's a pause. "was that it?"
[22:27:45] <Giantree> "Your power?  Hmm... from my notes," scribble scribble, "Everybody seems to have two.  Or rather, they're divided into something broad and something that's more of a specialty.  And I don't think inertia is BOTH of yours."
[22:29:05] <Celeste> "You want me to try again?" Celeste glances at Triple-S, "You know there's always a chance this stuff gets a little out of hand."
[22:30:18] <Giantree> "Hmm... please.  I could always do it myself, but I'm worried about what might happen to what I've already written.  You don't mind, right?"
[22:30:49] <Celeste> 2d6+9
[22:30:49] <DiceMaid-9001> Celeste, 2d6+9: 12 [2d6=1,2]
[22:30:53] <Celeste> hohoho
[22:31:01] <@Claire> 2d6+6 and Celeste gets a taste of Embers
[22:31:01] <DiceMaid-9001> Claire, and Celeste gets a taste of Embers: 13 [2d6=5,2]
[22:34:29] <Celeste> 2d6+9 1,2
[22:34:30] <DiceMaid-9001> Celeste, 1,2: 12 [2d6=2,1]
[22:35:57] <Celeste> Celeste groans a bit but sighs and shakes her head. She focuses and the curtain starts to appear, but it's pretty blurry, even to Celeste, "Doesn't look right."
[22:37:35] <Claire> "Umm...let me try to help." And as Claire does so, she ends up triggering said ability on poor Celeste, who probably could use what the magic was about to send her way.
[22:38:18] <Giantree> "What's wrong?  Is... everything okay?"  Gulp.
[22:40:39] <Celeste> Celeste leans in to physically push Claire away, "W-what are you DOING? Why's it so hot? Stop it! S.S.S., Water! Now!"
[22:41:24] <Claire> "I-I'm not doing anything!" Claire quickly retreats. What the hell just happened?
[22:42:09] <Giantree> "Whoa!  Uh.... right!"  In a panic, Triple-S reaches for an empty teacup and swirls her finger around, causing it to be nigh-instantly filled with a cool drink.  Celeste gets it as soon as it's finished.
[22:42:45] <Giantree> "Calm down, both of you.  What happened?  It's... hot?  O-Oh no, please tell me you're not fire or something."
[22:43:22] <Celeste> Celeste grabs it and splashes it right into her own face. "What did you just try to do to me?" Her voice is very prickly.
[22:44:03] <Claire> "I...I don't know! You said it didn't look right, so...I tried to, you know, make it clearer?"
[22:44:19] <Celeste> "Don't do it again, stupid."
[22:44:51] <Claire> "R-right. But...I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be fire. That...well, it just doesn't fit I guess."
[22:45:26] <Claire> "I mean yeah it'll roast a robot, but there's a hundred other ways you can overheat a motherboard and shut it down."
[22:45:47] <Giantree> "Phew.  Water and fire... don't get along well."  Scribble, scribble.  "Overheat, overheat.... overheat overheat overheat."
[22:45:54] <Celeste> Celeste wills a scapetowel into existence to wipe her face off, still shooting Claire a dirty look.
[22:47:32] * Claire holds her hands up "S-sorry. I'll try not to do it again."
[22:48:21] <Celeste> She grumbles under her breath, "Stupid perverted children."
[22:48:35] <Giantree> "Well... if what she said is true, it could easily be something like 'heat.'  But that would be the same thing as fire, isn't it?  We'll need to do some experiments later, if you don't mind, Ms. Claire."  Scribble, scribble.
[22:49:02] <Claire> "Umm...Sure, I guess that's okay."
[22:51:40] <Giantree> She leans in to poor Claire's side with a smile, whispering into her ear, "You're the first person to piss her off and get off this easy.  Make sure to play nice, okay?"
[22:52:23] * Claire nods. "But...what is this 'Game'? Who or what am I supposed to be leading genocide on, anyway?"
[22:53:21] <Celeste> "Quick, the one thing you want most in the world."
[22:53:29] <Celeste> "And not something stupid."
[22:53:48] <Giantree> Going back to scribbling, S.S.S. snaps her fingers and there's a... sound like a faucet running or something in the distance.  A few seconds later a cat comes running back, whom she quickly sets the tea-tray on top of with a smile still going.  It "Mraaaah"s and pads off.
[22:54:15] <Claire> "To get people to not rot away doing jack shit all the time."
[22:54:52] <Celeste> "That's dumb. Why do you care what other people choose to do?"
[22:55:00] <Giantree> "Thaaaat... could be open to multiple interpretations.  Does it have to do with people being confined to the Domes?
[22:55:01] <Giantree> "
[22:55:31] <Claire> "Domes?"
[22:56:08] <Celeste> "Don't worry about it. Win the Game and you can have everybody do shit all the time."
[22:56:26] <Claire> "Okay...and how does one win?"
[22:56:28] <Giantree> "Hmm?  You live in a Dome, don't you?"
[22:57:30] <Claire> "Umm...no? That seems terribly unsafe. Well, more unsafe, anyway."
[22:57:48] <Celeste> "You know that thing that Contracted you? Kill it and 12 others."
[22:57:51] <Giantree> "Even with how hot the weather always is?"
[22:58:46] <Claire> "...it isn't. Not really, anyway. Sure some days it's a bit warm, but it's not like dangerously so or anything."
[23:00:46] <Claire> "Looks like a lot's changed since you were out there. Am I gonna get that bad at things like that?"
[23:00:53] <Giantree> "... Strange.  And there was never any historical records of... oh, the Domes being taken down or something?  I could never find any.  Only conspiracy theories that don't make any sense in the latest holobooks."
[23:01:32] <Claire> "I mean, if I can't crash here then I suppose I could look but..."
[23:01:35] <Celeste> "We used to live in Domes. I can even remember it, but I don't remember what happened to them."
[23:01:42] <Giantree> She smiles.  "Probably not!  Like Celeste here, most don't spend their entire time in the Scape like I do.  Anybody can go back to the outside by just focusing on trying to leave... and as a bonus, you can choose where you end up, or so I hear."
[23:02:43] <Claire> "That's nice. So...what, is that it? Just kill that robot and a dozen others like it to change the world? Seems too easy."
[23:03:55] <Giantree> With a 'blip,' S.S.S. flips the apparent page in the holobook and scribbles some more.  "If only it was that easy.  There are creatures... I've heard them called both 'Guardians' and 'Youma,' who are supposed to appear.  That's what the Game is.  And ever since I came to the Scape, I haven't actually met any myself.  Well... neither of us have."
[23:04:30] <Celeste> "Hold up, kid. You think the rest of us don't want a wish of our own?"
[23:05:03] <Claire> "Probably. But that's your 13 to deal with, not mine, right?"
[23:05:17] <Giantree> Scribble scribble.  "My wish was to have a cozy library to spend all my time in."
[23:05:34] <Giantree> Scribblescribblescribble.  "But I didn't collect the seeds to wish for that one!"
[23:05:45] <Celeste> "It's everybody's 13."
[23:06:41] <Giantree> "From my notes, the last time the Game was played..."  Blip.  "There were only thirteen that appeared, total.  Well... actually, I only know of twelve, but supposedly somebody was able to make a wish if that's why the Game's starting back up again."
[23:06:55] <Celeste> "Don't be dumb, only one wish is coming true because of beating the Guardians. Everybody else has to grant their own wish."
[23:07:13] * Claire sighs. "Look. I know that this has been...well, I probably dont have to say it. Shit's fucked up. And...I'm sorry, I just need to clear my head."
[23:07:24] <Claire> "But...I'll be back, okay?"
[23:07:52] <Giantree> A nod.  "Feel free.  Be careful if you're going to stay in the Scape.  It forms itself based on your subconscious and there's... been a problem lately."
[23:08:12] <Claire> "How big of a problem?"
[23:08:27] <Celeste> "Don't come back if you don't want to, now. We don't need you."
[23:08:55] <Giantree> "Well, some newcomers went ahead and tried to create something... and it stayed there.  That rarely happens unless there's somebody to maintain it, like myself here."
[23:09:19] <Giantree> "It could be dangerous, so please be careful."  Celeste gets another sharp nudge.
[23:09:52] <Claire> "Right. I'll...you know, see what I can do."
[23:10:42] <Celeste> Squeal. "Stopit! ...You want me to break that place down, S.S.S.?"
[23:11:28] <Giantree> "Of course I want someone to..."  Cough, "After I'm done studying it.  It's not something that's happened before, so we don't know what could happen.  And even you could get hurt in there."
[23:11:56] <Claire> "I just...I need to get my thoughts straight. But I will be back. Sierra, Celeste, take care of yourselves or whatever.
[23:12:12] <Giantree> 'Sierra' waves, with a smile.  "Please take care!"
[23:12:28] <Celeste> "IT'S ESS. ESS. ESS!"
[23:12:52] * Claire walks behind the building and closes her eyes, begging, pleading to be back home.
[23:13:02] <Giantree> "That looks a bit strange..."  She tilts her head up to the ceiling.  "Maybe she's onto something?"
[23:13:20] <Giantree> VWOOP.  Claire finds herself home, as if in a fairytale.  Though it's a little disorienting.
[23:13:57] <Giantree> "In any case..."  With a little more scribbling, the holobook BWOOONs and fades, "This one seems like a sweet girl.  And... thank you for not telling her."
[23:14:43] <Claire> Little more than a little. But she keeps her ice cream down. And then she flops on her bed, throwing a pink rubber ball against her bedroom door, trying desperately to figure out her place.
[23:14:51] <Celeste> "Don't worry about it."
[23:16:52] <Giantree> "It may not hurt later, but I'm afraid she'd jump poor Fran if she went exploring... er, inside the library.  Do you think she'll be able to work with the other two okay?"
[23:18:04] <Celeste> Celeste ponders for a moment, "If she doesn't try to molest them or anything like that... And if she doesn't pick a fight... and if she doesn't start spouting some stupid philosophy... Maybe?"
[23:19:08] <Giantree> "Hee hee~  Well, if you're not busy, I'm going to start finding out what she did to your body, okay~?"  With the wickedest of smiles and the holobook BLIPping back open, she leaps on the flat-chested girl...
[23:19:14] <Giantree> ... And the curtains fall.