SJmun
Eggministrator 
Posts: 1,445
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Post by SJmun on Mar 29, 2023 11:06:08 GMT -8
Year 5000, the night of the moon explosion...
-- Grand Hotel, Human Kingdom --
The Eros Machina stands proudly in the RV section of the parking lot. All of its previous occupants, now lodging in the building not too far away.
Jane Crocker, with her various connections and vast post-game riches, (in an economy that hasn't been wrecked entirely by light player gambling...) was easily able to get a number of rooms secured on short notice.
With the events that took place on the moon that day, the crew of the Eros Machina certainly needed some time to rest.
Occupants present at the hotel:
-Thorenbot
-June
-Hazel
-QWERTY
-Niroxa
-Milbow
-Driane
-Kaineo (in handcuffs)
-Jane
-Roxy
-Caliope
-Jack Noir
Now, who should be focused upon first?
>__
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Post by powerkitten on Mar 29, 2023 18:53:46 GMT -8
>Jack Noir: Do something dubiously legal
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Post by foolishfool on Mar 29, 2023 19:02:52 GMT -8
>Jack Noir: Be Jack Noir, Do Crimes
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SJmun
Eggministrator
Posts: 1,445
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Post by SJmun on Mar 29, 2023 23:14:28 GMT -8
You are Jack Noir, and you have found yourself in a surprisingly nice hotel room. You could get used to this. However, you are once again without a crew.
To be honest, you never really even liked those felt tools anyways. Their willingness to commit crimes is most of what kept you with them.
You look out the window at the full moon. Or, at least as full as it'll ever get from this day forward. its a permanant crecent. Who in their right mind decided it would be a good idea to take a bite out of the freaking moon, of all things?? But honestly, it doesn't matter. The night is young and you've got your work cut out for you.
You make your way down the hallway. You remember seeing a couple of those gray horned kids back in the RV. A handful of hooligans. Maybe they could be of use to you and your potential criminal empire? But where would they be now...
You are now Niroxa Chopem, and you're so glad to be back on Earth again. You're currently holding onto your emotional support pear, on a bench near the elevator. You would be in the room with the other two of your squad (Big K is currently under watch in a separate room) but they're currently watching a movie that freaks you out.
You need some time to think anyways.
Come to think of it, what are your parents going to say when they find out about all this? It was enough that you hid from them the fact that you're technically part of a tight-knit terrorist organization, but to find out that you literally went to the moon in an attempt to slay a literal goddess turned CEO that ended in being pocketed by a robot that looks a lot like a more grown-up version of your leader... They'd probably explode after hearing all that.
And that's not even getting to how your lusus-pet would react!
Wait a minute, who's that walking down the hallway...?
...It's Jack Noir, that eternally scowling carapacian that was on the eros machina with everyone else, for some reason.
He walks up to you.
He asks you something, about joining his gang to commit crimes.
"//...Crimes? What kind of crimes?"
Jack smiles slyly. He casually lists off a number of crimes, ranging from the traditional (murder), to the mundane (pickpocketing), to the aspirational (heists).
"//I think I'm done with being a criminal. Its too scary for me."
Jack Noir rolls his eyes, disappointed.
Kids these days, don't even wanna join an old fashioned gang anymore...
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SJmun
Eggministrator
Posts: 1,445
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Post by SJmun on Mar 31, 2023 23:52:40 GMT -8
You are now June Egbert, and you are currently sharing a room with Roxy, for some reason.
You had asked earlier if Thoren would be getting a room, and they told you that it would be a waste when their robotic body could simply be plugged into an outlet in the Eros Machina. You suppose that makes sense, considering its just being used for remoter control stuff, but you can't help but feel their presence so strongly from that robot that they use. Thoren has told you its the result of their soulbot being used as a remote server for the heart container network, whatever that's supposed to mean.
You try to focus your attention to Roxy once more. You've been awfully aloof and distant lately, though one could argue you've been like that for a while.
"hellooooo, earth to june!!"
"...oh! uh, what were we talking about again?"
"wow, you must have been the top pick in space cadet school."
"we were talkin about past future stuffs."
"...oh yeah! this is, going to be kinda awkward when my 23rd birthday happens from your perspective."
"eh, this isn't my first time having to tightrope on timeline stuff."
"but like... this means that the picnic... was always supposed to be concluded with that pizza. i... never had a choice in the first place." June stares at the ground, mildly disturbed by the web of causality that she has unwittingly played a part in weaving.
"damn girl, you gotta relax sometimes. if you think too much about time stuff, it gets too heavy to handle." Roxy thinks for a moment. "come to think of it, i wonder if that's why dirk ended up Like That..."
"like what?"
"y'know? intense."
"oh, right."
You take a moment to think some more. How much should you be willing to tell Roxy this early in the timeline? Should you even be concerned about how many causal spoilers might be given? Its quite honestly giving you a headache.
"...roxy. if you had the power to change the world, what would you do with it?"
"idk really. the world doesn't seem like it needs changing. tho if that voidco boss guy is really as bad as you say he is..."
June sighs wearily, with a tinge of frustration.
"i wish i could go back and stop him, but that bastard made the first move and made his rise to power so important that it practically holds up the entire narrative!"
"june, you gotta stop talking like its a story. maybe it is to some people, but thinking about it that way is just gonna make things feel off when it doesn't work that way."
"look, when you get powers that give you canon hopping abilities, you see things differently just for the sake of survival."
"i'll take your word for it."
Roxy glances out the window at the perma-crescent moon, lost in thought.
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Post by powerkitten on Apr 3, 2023 17:10:06 GMT -8
Roxy: Fondly regard romantic interests
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SJmun
Eggministrator
Posts: 1,445
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Post by SJmun on Apr 3, 2023 18:19:05 GMT -8
You are now Roxy, still moongazing. What a night it's been...
Just hours ago, you were out on a date with Caliope. It was so nice, until you realized your bestie was in danger.
Honestly, what were you even thinking, putting yourself in Heroic peril like that? You didn't even show up on time! Maybe if you spent less time checking social media, you would have shown up sooner.
But honestly, it was a miracle that somebody had already shown up to not only save her but also you and your dearest.
Oh Caliope... Thinking about her makes your heart flutter. You've grown close to her since finally meeting her in person and playing a part in freeing her from the icy cold grip of death. You honestly wouldn't mind spending a thousand years with her.
However... seeing June now, there's something about her, the way she is now, that speaks to you more than before. It was enough that the two of you came from the same strand of overwritten reality, but now? It's hard to explain. There's genuine joy in her eyes now. A quiet confidence to her stride. There's something to be enviable about in that, even if she is a bit awkward. Honestly, the awkwardness is endearing too. It conveys a certain sense of earnestness that all too often gets consumed by cynicism.
...Oh no. Are you... are you falling for jegbert? Has the tell tale signs of her embrace of newfound gender won you over?
But then what about Callie? You still hold her close in your heart as well...
"uh, roxy?"
"o-oh, julyopie! *june i mean"
"are you okay there?"
"yeahyeah! just thinkin about stuff."
"what kinda stuff?"
"you know... things n stuff. stuff n things."
"uh, sure." June takes a moment to collect her thoughts. "you're thinking about calliope, right?"
"ur a master of deduction there junie b jones. i was indeed thinking about calliope."
"you two are good friends, aren't you?"
"oh june! we are much more than friends, for ur information! she is the apple of my eye, the stars to my sky, the peanut butter to my jelly. yknow what i mean?"
"...you're saying you like like her?"
"well i don't plan on eating her shield, but yea. i do like like her."
That zelda reference goes entirely over June's head.
"...okay then."
"june, you witness a best bud waxing sapphic about a muse and all u have to say is 'okay then'?"
"well its hard to know what to say when you keep throwing new concepts at me!"
"june. do you know what a lesbian is."
"of course i know what a lesbian is!"
"phew, i was worried i was gonna have to explain the finer points of wlw to you."
"there you go using weird words again!"
You facepalm. This is going to be a very long night.
But secretly though, you don't mind having to explain all the vocabulary to her.
It gives you more time with her, after all.
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Post by powerkitten on Apr 3, 2023 18:37:15 GMT -8
Hazel: Find yourself having to explain why capitalist dictatorships are bad to Jane
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SJmun
Eggministrator
Posts: 1,445
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Post by SJmun on Apr 3, 2023 22:09:58 GMT -8
You are now Hazel Careon, and you have been tasked with having a talk with Jane Crocker. With June busy catching up with old friends, QWERTY being relatively uninformed on the finer points of homestuck canon, and Thorenbot currently charging in the Eros Machina, it has fallen upon you to speak to Ms. Crocker.
You enter the hotel room with permission and soon find yourself sat down in conversation.
:3 Why did I get the short straw on this.. :3 You think to yourself, sitting in front of the Maid of Life.
You aren't sure if you'll be able to convince Jane to change her path, but it's up to you to try.
"Well, first of all. How are you?"
"Quite frazzled, to say the least. It wouldn't be the first time I've had an attempt on my life, but it certainly doesn't get any easier."
"I get that." you say, cracking your neck. "I've been in some pretty dicey situations myself."
A pause.
"...There's something you want to discuss, isn't there? One doesn't simply show up merely for small talk, after all."
"...Yes."
"Why do you want to follow in The Condesce's footsteps?"
"Is this what you think I'm doing? I may run the company she once commandeered, but rest assured, I run it my way."
"That's what you say for now.." You say ominously, "But that kind of power can corrupt. Especially if you end up getting influenced by one of those Thoughtwave things again."
"...Thoughtwave things?"
You gesture to the necklace Jane is wearing. "Looks to be the same tech as your tiara."
"...This? I have this for self defense. You never know when some ruffian is going to try and have their way with me. And not only that, but I've made sure that it cannot be used against me."
You raise an eyebrow behind your helmet. "Still, being a CEO.. or a President.. is a big responsibility. Things could easily go south, especially if one's harboring inner bigotry and biases."
Jane thinks for a moment. Have her campaign aspirations really been that easy to see? "Hm, you and that Thoren individual both seem concerned about that. I can assure you that any biases I may have are minimal at best, and I shall take on this responsibility with the gravity that it deserves."
"It's not just humans you'd be in charge of. Are you ready to treat everyone fairly?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Jane cleverly dodges the question.
"You were used by a troll pretty badly. Wouldn't be out of the question for you to develop some xenophobia after that." You say, attempting to cut to the heart of things.
"..." Jane glances away, trying to keep a professional front, but the lack of eye contact in this case is telling.
You mentally step aside to let Gwyn take the wheel.
Gwyn's rough military voice cuts in, pushing the issue in pseudo-sympathy. "Sure, at first you think you can push past your biases, treat them with respect. But you don't really see this as deserving of the same rights as you do. Over time, you start signing bills into law that affect them more harshly. They don't deserve your protection, you think. You start thinking about ways to get rid of the 'problem' to make things 'safer.' And down that path lies fascism and dictatorship. Doing the same thing She did to the humans on your old world, it's only 'fair' to even the score, right?"
Jane looks up at Gwyn for a moment, since when did this person have such a harsh voice?
"...You're jumping to conclusions."
"Am I?"
Jane is unnerved by this damning shift in tone, but she tries to regain her composure. "You're speaking in hypotheticals. The dangers you speak of haven't even happened yet."
"Not in this timeline they haven't."
"And I am supposed to believe catastrophe happened in another?"
"That's why we're here, after all."
"What do you mean?"
"...You know that copy of Pony Pals: Detective Pony that Dirk gave you where he thought the story was written poorly and decided to improve it himself? This timeline is like that. Going back and fixing the issues that lead to two diverging dystopian futures."
Jane tries to wrap her mind around that. How long has it been since she's read that book? And honestly, why does this stranger even know about such a thing?
"...Who told you about that book?"
"An orange clown entirely too full of themself. The point is, I know a lot about this place, and what is destined to happen if things don't get resolved. If you don't work through your hangups about trollkind, it gets bloody fast."
"..." Jane furrows her brow.
"...This is reminding me of the conversations I used to have with Roxy. Borderline nonsensical but with ominous ramifications... What are you getting out of this, might I ask?"
"A chance to prevent further bloodshed. The only thing an old army vet would want."
"...You, really believe something that dire might happen?"
Gwyn nods. "In one of the timelines where you get control of the government, your father is shot with a rocket launcher while trying to protect an innocent man. That event only comes to pass because you lash out at the trolls for what the Condesce did to you."
"..." Jane is disturbed by this.
"I'd recommend getting therapy for your xenophobia before trying to get into politics, Ms. Crocker. Or more blood than his will be on your hands." The jaded veteran concludes, sighing.
"Therapy seems harmless enough. I'll pursue that first." Jane seems almost relieved that therapy was the only thing asked of her.
Gwyn passes the baton back to you, their task complete.
"Thank you," you say on your way out the door.
Jane blinks. "You're... welcome?"
Jane sits there with her thoughts for a moment.
Would she really slip that easily if given enough power?
She wonders is she has any connections to a therapist who would be able to take up her apparent case... She can't think of any off the top of her head, but maybe somebody will be able to point her in the right direction.
The peace and safety of this world apparently depends upon it, after all.
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Post by powerkitten on Apr 4, 2023 8:10:19 GMT -8
Niroxa: Elaborate on Silly Pears
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Post by frozenlake on Apr 4, 2023 8:13:18 GMT -8
Anyone: Contemplate the effects that a shattered moon would have on werewolves. And the tides too, one supposes.
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Post by foolishfool on Apr 4, 2023 19:30:49 GMT -8
Jovin: Wonder where the fuck you are this time
June: Explore and talk with old friends- it has been a year or two on your end after all.
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SJmun
Eggministrator
Posts: 1,445
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Post by SJmun on Apr 4, 2023 21:35:11 GMT -8
You are Niroxa once again, and thankfully that gangster has already gotten tired of you.
You look over to your new companion, sillypear. It is by no means unique, but it does belong to a class of whimsical fruit, said to spread joy to anyone who beholds them wholeheartedly.
It is said that they were first cultivated by the Witch of Space a long time ago, and had spread the seeds across the globe as a gift.
How exactly this one got on the moon however, is beyond you, but you're glad you were able to meet such a companion.
Meanwhile, on the balcony of an apartment building in the Troll Kingdom, a certain witch of space is howling at the moon, in unison with every other howling creature of the night.
"awoooooooooo!!!!"
"JADE, CAN YOU PLEASE QUIET DOWN OUT THERE? I'M TRYING TO WATCH THE MIDNIGHT NEWS."
"but karkat... the moon is out, and its never gonna be full ever again ever! :c"
"YOU CAN MOURN THE LOSS OF A CHUNK OF THE MOON LATER, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME SHIT THAT HAPPENED UP THERE APPARENTLY. OR I WOULD BE ABLE TO KNOW, IF I COULD HEAR ANYTHING OVER YOUR WOOFBEAST HOWLING."
"hey chill man, we can just check online for the news." Dave pulls out his phone and scrolls through his feed.
"hey whoa what, check jane's snapchat"
Dave scrolls through her pics and notices some things. A hijacked transportalizer pad? A moon base without any text to speech abuse? Some extremely punchable suit on a tv screen? A handful of unfamilliar peeps, including a catgirl version of Daft Punk, and... is that Egbert??
Karkat scuttles on over to take a look.
"PLEASE TELL ME SHE'S OKAY."
"chill out, karkat, i'm still scrolling through this."
After some scrolling, Dave ends up on a photo of the inside of an RV flying though space, with a pretty big number of the same people aboard.
And then all of a sudden, the image is deleted?
"hey, how long are these supposed to last again? i could have sworn snapchat posts were supposed to last longer than that."
Meanwhile, a familiar resonant voice of a news reporter blares from the tv.
"Breaking news! Jane Crocker, CEO of Crockercorp, has confirmed a partnership with Voidco. Further details forthcoming."
The screen then proceeds to show security footage from the very same moon facility featured in Jane's snapchats, but with some odd inconsistencies.
"I, Jane Crocker, accept this partnership between our two companies, Crockercorp and VoidCo." the Jane on tv says during the footage. It sounds just like her, but something about it just does not add up...
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE."
"i dunno, but i can tell the stocks are gonna go off the chain after this."
Karkat bares his teeth and glares daggers at Dave.
"CAN YOU, FOR AT LEAST FIVE MINUTES, SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT THE STOCK MARKET."
"i can't help it, i'm a gifted stock trader."
"YOU CRASHED THE ECONOMY OF YOUR LAND WITH TIME TRAVEL."
"so? those losers tried to make me into soup anyways."
"awooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!" Jade continues howling at the moon on the balcony.
Karkat groans, rubbing his temples.
"I SWEAR... IF I GET THROUGH TONIGHT WITHOUT GETTING EVEN MORE OF A MIGRAINE, IT WILL BE A FUCKING MIRACLE..."
Meanwhile, back at the Grand Hotel, Jane checks her phone and is aghast.
"SOME MISCREANT HACKED MY SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS!"
Milbow and Driane manage to see the news story, interrupting the scary movie they were watching.
"What the fuck!!! What! in! the! blasted fuck!!"
"that's gotta be doctored. she did not say that, did she?"
"I heard through the door! She screamed NO! loud and clear! I call shenanigans!!!"
Meanwhile, you manage to hear a few very loud familiar voices in outrage.
Maybe you ought to go check on your crew.
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Post by powerkitten on Apr 5, 2023 6:13:18 GMT -8
Hazel: Check current time on your helmet while walking back to Jane's hotel room
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SJmun
Eggministrator
Posts: 1,445
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Post by SJmun on Apr 5, 2023 6:20:26 GMT -8
The current time, it really depends upon if you've slept or not.
If you haven't, then it's likely some point after midnight. If you have gotten a chance to sleep however, it would depend on how long you were able to sleep.
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