#intenseimpressionist

You give Steve one last wonderful kiss before pulling out the Illustrator’s Interface.

-- intenseImpressionist [II] began badgering audaciousArchitect [AA] --

II: okay Im ready II: did james tell you where were going? AA: Yes. It will take only a moment. II: okay

-- intenseImpressionist [II] ceased badgering audaciousArchitect [AA] --

Steve gives a longing look as you disappear.

JAMES: Yo.

You’re standing in a room full of machinery, punctuated by the enormous viewscreen and console at the center.

Also, James is wearing tights.

STEPHANIE: Uh… JAMES: Yeah, it’s fucking stupid. Let’s just do this so I can change.

He hands out the white voodoo doll and starts fiddling with the machine. The screen springs to life, displaying the two of you standing in the room you’re in now. You glance around for a camera before realizing that there probably isn’t one. At this point, you just have to accept this weird shit.

While James dicks around, you step over to the nearby window. The rest of the Veil is clearly visible outside your little meteor lab. Very soon the Reckoning will start, and your session will come to a close. Tiffany and Greg had better have that frog finished. You came this far and finally got Steve, and you’re not going to lose all of it because they couldn’t keep it in their pants until later.

The screen jumps between the rooms in the towers on Prospit and Derse. You glance at the one you woke up in, and you’re confused.

STEPHANIE: Wait. What was that on the walls? JAMES: Part of the code. JAMES: We all sleepwalked or something and wrote it on our walls, and we don’t remember it. STEPHANIE: What? JAMES: Beats the fuck out of me. That’s what the giant snake monster said. STEPHANIE: …

After scanning each room, the screen returns to showing the lab.

JAMES: Okay, done. STEPHANIE: Now what? STEPHANIE: What exactly are we doing, anyway? JAMES: Creating the white text douche.

You cock your head as your jaw drops.

STEPHANIE: …What? JAMES: The code gives him his god-vision and teleportation bullshit, but we have to give him a body too. STEPHANIE: How about we don’t? JAMES: Tiffany said it’s some predetermined shit. We have to create him because he’s already here or whatever. STEPHANIE: …How does that work? JAMES: Shenanigans. JAMES: Fuck if I understand it. I’m the luck guy.

You shake your head and sigh.

STEPHANIE: Okay, so that’s what this doll is for? JAMES: Yeah. We make him out of it, and it fucks him up. Perfect bad luck. STEPHANIE: …That’s not reassuring. JAMES: Hey, a giant snake monster told me to do it, and I wasn’t going to argue. JAMES: You could say I was kind of rattled.

Pointedly ignoring him, you turn the doll over in your hands. Something doesn’t feel right. You’re missing something.

STEPHANIE: …There’s something else we have to do. JAMES: Like what? JAMES: Hephaestus just said to bring you here and use the doll to make Vanilla Milkshake. STEPHANIE: …That is a stupid name. JAMES: You have a better one? STEPHANIE: So why did you need me? JAMES: I guess ‘cause you can hide us doing this? JAMES: If he saw us, it would fuck up the whole thing.

-- anonymousAdvsior [AA] began badgering intenseImpressionist [II] --

AA: Your time is up, Miss Nestore. AA: I have been far too patient with you. AA: I know not where you are, but I can see the Atomic Cymbal, which means you are not there. AA: I offered you the chance to save Mister Garrison’s life. AA: You have clearly made your choice. AA: I am going to seize control of your display, and you will watch as he suffers.

--

James looks at you.

JAMES: Well? Stop standing there and let’s do this. STEPHANIE: …No. I’ve got it.

You whip out the Chromatic Cleaver, dial to black, and draw on the face of the doll.

黒

Kuro – black.

STEPHANIE: Okay, do it.

James aims the ectobiology apparatus at the doll. A green paradox clone momentarily appears on the pad before vanishing.

JAMES: … JAMES: That’s it? JAMES: I thought something would happen! JAMES: I’m supposed to be the one who fucks up his plans! JAMES: Destroy his chances or some shit! STEPHANIE: You did. Now it’s my turn.

You close your eyes. In your mind, you can feel the trigger. It’s always been there, but you haven’t been able to reach it until now.

--

II: youre done AA: No, Miss Nestore, I am merely beginning. AA: I will butcher every one of you until you perform the scratch. AA: I no longer tolerate you deviating from my plan. II: your plan is fucked AA: I am omniscient. AA: I am omnipresent. AA: I am omnipotent. AA: I am beyond the miserable machinations of a teenage-

--

With your mind, you reach through the void and pull the trigger.

--

AA: I am- AA: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AA: BLIND AA: BLIND AA: WHAT DID YOU DO AA: NO AA: NONONONONONO AA: HOW II: knight of void AA: THIS ISN’T POSSIBLE AA: I CAN’T SEE AA: I CAN’T MOVE AA: WHAT DID YOU DO II: bye asshole

Okay, this was not your best idea.

Luckily, the giant robots don’t seem to want to chase you into the ruins of this city, so you have a chance to catch your breath. You’re still trapped in a crumbling building by a pair of enormous mechanized monsters, but you don’t have to worry about dying immediately. Just if you try to move.

Your goddamn stupid automail arm doesn’t have enough power to hurt them directly, and you don’t have anywhere near enough grist to try to transmute one. There probably isn’t enough grist in the world. So now you’ve pissed off two giant robots and got nothing out of it. Great job, dumbass.

-- bebopBelter [BB] began badgering intenseImpressionist [II] --

BB: uh BB: hey II: what BB: i BB: uh BB: need some help II: what did you do BB: turns out i suck II: what a surprise BB: these mecha are about to kick my ass BB: i need a rescue II: Ill see what I can do

--

You hunker down. The ground shakes each time one of them takes a step. This was a really fucking bad idea.

Where is your fucking sprite right now? You really need something to punch, and the asshole who suggested that you need to fight things the size of buildings sounds like a good target. There is no way this is what you’re supposed to be doing. Imps? Sure. You can even take some of those big ones. But this is goddamn ridiculous.

The hell? Now you’ve got a weird message.

-- anonymousAdvisor [AA] began badgering bebopBelter [BB] --

AA: Hello, Mister Stelios. I understand that you’re in need of assistance. BB: uh BB: who the hell are you AA: A friend. One capable of solving the predicament in which you find yourself. BB: um BB: dude i dont know who you think are BB: but im kind of fucking busy now BB: go troll somebody else AA: My my. AA: I would be surprised at your stubbornness if I didn’t know everything. AA: Very well. Allow me to make a token gesture of goodwill.

--

All of a sudden the ground stops shaking. Hesitantly, you peer out of your decaying hiding hole.

The giant robots are gone. Like they were never there in the first place. In fact, the only way you can be sure they were is because there are still giant footprints stomped into the ground.

--

BB: what the fuck AA: As I said, I am a friend. BB: you did that AA: Indeed. BB: uh BB: thanks BB: how the hell did you do that AA: I possess many talents. BB: okay weird dude BB: what do you want AA: I want the same as you. My aim is the completion of your quest and the success of you and your friends. BB: sweet BB: your here to help me fight these giants AA: Is that what you think you must do? AA: Oh dear. BB: thats what my sprite said BB: i gotta build the biggest mecha ever and fight some evil asshole AA: That’s among the most preposterous things I’ve heard. BB: yeah BB: thats what i said AA: No, your goal is ascend through both Gates here on your planet. BB: oh BB: why AA: The first Gate will lead you to the second, which will transport you to the planet of your server player. BB: oh BB: then what AA: You shouldn’t worry about events that far down the road. AA: What matters most is that you and Miss Nestore meet, and you aid her in her quest. BB: uh BB: you just said my quest was stupid BB: isnt hers pointless too AA: She is a special case. It is absolutely imperative that you help her complete her assigned task. BB: if you say so dude AA: I do. AA: Ascend through the second Gate, Mister Stelios. AA: You and Miss Nestore have an important duty together. BB: what

-- anonymousAdvisor [AA] ceased badgering bebopBelter [BB] --

That was weird. Really weird.

Well, you can’t really complain. You’re not in danger anymore, and you have a quest that sounds a hell of a lot more doable. And honestly, you wouldn’t mind spending more time with Stephanie. She’s actually pretty cool.

--

BB: hey BB: nm on that rescue BB: some weird dude helped me out II: okay BB: and he said we gotta meet up BB: im going back to my house and going thru the gate BB: when we find the next one itll take me to you BB: then i help you with your quest thing II: okay II: sounds good BB: sweet BB: thanks

-- bebopBelter [BB] began badgering intenseImpressionist [II] –

BB: bojangles II: what BB: your not getting a tip II: huh BB: cause i need some service here II: oh II: what do you need BB: whatever a servers supposed to do BB: steve says you like build my house or something II: oh II: yeah I guess I can II: do you have grist BB: my grist cache is fatter than gregs head II: okay

--

While she starts, you turn back to what you were doing. Your sprite managed to take down a giant mecha (how he did that you still don’t know, but you suspect by yelling), and you’re trying to see how all the pieces fit together. The wolves are helping, sniffing around and sorting with their dexterous paws. You’re getting flashbacks to the Lagann Incident. The smell of glue still makes you cringe, and you never did find all the pieces.

--

BB: woah II: huh BB: you changed my house II: yeah II: easier to build this way BB: is that sukiya style II: yeah BB: awesome BB: looks like something out of niigata II: its based on the katsura imperial villa BB: badass

--

It occurs to you that you don’t actually know all that much about your server. You really know her through Steve; he’s kind of always been the glue that holds all of you together.

--

BB: hey steph BB: whats your favorite anime II: fma II: but the manga is better BB: yeah BB: way better pacing BB: and the fuckin foreshadowing BB: like call backs to the first fuckin chapters II: arakawa-san is a great writer BB: fuck yeah II: hey II: you use glovekind right BB: yeah BB: probably need a new one soon BB: i gotta fight all these mecha II: maybe you can make an automail arm BB: shit BB: thats a fuckin great idea

--

You head back inside and start rummaging around. At times like this you wish you had a better organizational system, but you tend to sort your possessions into kickass shows and everything else. Since you only watch kickass shows, this poses a rather large problem. Finally, you find what you were looking for and head over to the Alchemiter.

DVD && Glove = FULLMETAL FINGERGUARD

You flex, feeling the steel shift to match your movements. Tiny plates overlap to let your wrist move, and you throw an experimental punch. When you turn your arm over, you can see a small keypad and display on the underside. You play with it for a moment. The display has room for eight letters or numbers. Time for a test.

- asspizza -

Hehe. Classic.

You move to head back outside, but your foot catches on something and you lose your balance. To steady yourself, you grab the nightstand.

Your fingers are covered in cheese when you lift them. A chunk of grist was removed from your cache, and the top of your nightstand has been converted into a large deep-dish pizza – one with a crack down the middle. Confused, you captchalog it. You turn the card over. Sure enough, on the back – “asspizza”.

Dear god.

You have created the greatest thing ever.

--

II: hey BB: holy shit BB: this glove BB: i think i can make anything II: Im almost out of grist and I havent reached the gate II: Im going to take some from our slopbox BB: wait BB: can you sell the alchemiter and that other shit II: I dunno II: why BB: i dont need it anymore BB: this fucking glove II: uh II: I think thats a bad idea BB: nah BB: im telling you

--

You plug in the code for your Moonwalker’s Mitt and touch a busted old headset, turning it into a spare glove.

--

BB: i got this II: okay II: if youre sure

--

The cursor pops in over your head and lifts the Alchemiter. It disappears, and your grist cache swells.

--

II: huh II: I didnt think that would work II: well thats enough II: Ill finish BB: sweet BB: im gonna go exchange some equivalence on some fucking giants

-- siliconSwashbucker [SS] began badgering intenseImpressionist [II] –

SS: Steph? SS: Are you okay? SS: You’ve been away for a while. I’m kind of worried. SS: Please answer.

--

You perk up. The pile of panthers you’re lying in gives a few dozy murmurs. They found you huddled against one of the many mirrors around your house and dropped into your lap, looking for attention. You’ve been scratching the ears of one for quite some time now.

--

II: Im here SS: Good. Everything okay? II: I guess SS: Do you want to talk about it? II: not really SS: Can I help? II: I dunno II: let me get up

--

You disentangle yourself from the cat pile, drawing a few grumpy complaints. The panther you were scratching gets up to follow you.

--

II: okay II: what do I have to do SS: You sure you’re okay? II: Ill live SS: Okay. If you want to be alone, I’ll understand. II: no II: we have to play this game right II: lets get started

--

You slip off the Vanishing Veil and brandish your Chromatic Cleaver. Red seems like a good color.

--

SS: I guess we should start by seeing if we can get you more grist. II: okay SS: Have you run into any imps? II: a couple II: Ill see if I can find more

--

Sure enough, you spot a few misshapen monstrosities in the shadows. Drawing up your courage, you charge.

Your hand moves into position, and you make swift, bold strokes. Two small notches, then two long that intersect.

火

Hi –  fire.

A brilliant red spark consumes the imp, and it burns down to a pile of grist.

You turn to the next. Down, an angle to the left, two strokes to the right.

水

Mizu, for water.

A spray of scalding steam blasts the imp in the face. Its face turns a painful red, and it flips the fuck out.

You think for a moment, then switch your brush to blue and try the same strokes again. This time, a powerful jet of water slams the imp into a mirror, where it pops.

--

SS: Steph… SS: That is the COOLEST THING EVER! SS: I thought my staff was good, but that’s probably the best weapon anyone could create! II: you really think so SS: Totally! SS: I’d bet that’s only limited by your imagination and your knowledge of kanji, and nobody’s better at either of those than you. II: thanks

--

You can’t help but smile. You’re starting to feel better already.

--

SS: We should get you a lot more grist. SS: Then we can upgrade your Alchemiter. SS: In fact, I bet you’d be better at deciding how to use our grist than Greg ever would. II: okay II: I need to find more imps I guess SS: Hang on. James is bugging me about something.

--

You start fiddling with your brush, trying different combinations. Yellow and 光線 (ray) gives you a blinding beam of light. 空気 (air) and black produces a cloud of inky darkness.

--

SS: Okay, this is cool. II: what is it SS: There’s a CD that’s part of the Registry with a weird program on it. SS: I’m going to deploy it.

--

The cursor pops into view and leaves a disk in front of you. Perplexed, you turn the Illustrator’s Interface over in your hands. There isn’t exactly a CD slot on your pen. You click the nub at the end, and a laser shoots out. With a shrug, you run it over the back of the disk.

--

II: whats slopbox SS: Apparently it stores our stuff. I moved all the grist I won there, along with some of my dumber alchemy attempts. SS: You should be able to take it out and use it.

--

Sure enough, you move a bunch of grist into your own cache.

--

II: what now SS: Well, if I understand things right, we have to start building. You see the gate over your head? II: yeah SS: We have to build our way up to them in order to progress on our personal quests. II: my what SS: Oh, your sprite hasn’t told you? SS: You’ll have to ask her about it. II: I guess SS: Mine is to find this big treasure. I’m guessing the gate will lead me to a ship or a map or something. II: I guess I have to find out mine SS: Okay. I’ll get to work building up your house.

-- siliconSwashbuckler [SS] ceased badgering intenseImpressionist [II] --

Your mood sours as your hideous sprite floats over. She was smart enough to stay away while you were moping, but you’ve got to deal with her now.

STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Hee! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Did you hear what he said! ♥ STEPHANIE: Shh! Keep it down! He’ll hear! STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Hee! Okay! ♥ STEPHANIE: So do you know what this personal quest thing is? STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Of course! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ We’re going to brighten this place up! ♥ STEPHANIE: …What? STEPHSPRITE: ♥ All of these mirrors are connected! Like you and me! And Steve! ♥ STEPHANIE: No. We’re not. STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Hee! If you say so! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ There’s a special mirror somewhere! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ If we shine a light on it, it’ll bounce all over the world! ♥ STEPHANIE: Where is it? STEPHSPRITE: ♥ I don’t know! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ But if you and Steve work together, I know you can do it! ♥

You shoo the sprite away. Glancing up, you can see that Steve has already extended your house up several stories. Your grist cache is starting to hurt, though, and you don’t want to keep taking some from him. He needs to see that you can take care of yourself.

Whipping out the Cleaver again, you charge at a group of Imps mesmerized by your rapidly growing house. Time to try something.

Purple.

愛

Ai – love.

The nearest imp turns to you, starstruck.

NO.

FUCK NO.

HELL. FUCKING. NO.

You finish with a smooth spin, letting the grist shower down on you. Man, you’re slick. You’ve already climbed your Echeladder from DIMESTORE DAIMYO all the way to SUBURBAN SHOGUN. Now your Ceramic Porkhollow is a proper Wall Street executive – a fat capitalist pig.

Having reaped all these spoils, you figure it’s time to upgrade your duds.

Shonen DVD || Jacket = BLEACHED BATTLEROBE

Now you’ve got a sweet black kimono with white trim. Sure, you feel a little empty wearing it, but it makes you look badass. You’re totally keeping this.

It’s been a while since you heard from any of your friends. Liz probably still needs time. Having your entire worldview completely broken probably needed more than an hour to fix.

You should see if Stephanie is there. You’ve got more grist than you know what to do with; maybe you can share it with everybody else, balance out your capitalist swine with a little distribution of wealth.

-- bebopBelter [BB] began badgering intenseImpressionist [II] –

BB: yo BB: you there BB: hey steph II: go away BB: uh BB: did i do something II: just go away BB: ok

-- bebopBelter [BB] ceased badgering intenseImpressionist [II] --

Huh. Well, she always was weird.

No Liz, and no Stephanie. You could try contacting Greg, but that would mean talking to Greg.

-- bebopBelter [BB] began badgering siliconSwashbuckler [SS] –

BB: yo SS: Hey dude. BB: you gotta check my sweet new robe SS: Pssch. I can beat that. I’ve got an awesome coat and the best staff. BB: is it sharp SS: No, it’s a staff. BB: good BB: if it was you might cut somebody and give them a staff infection SS: …I hate you. BB: lol BB: dude i have all this grist BB: what do i do with it SS: I’m trying to find that out too. SS: My stupid sprite refuses to give me a straight answer. BB: yeah mine kept yelling BB: then it wanted to go fight all these giants BB: havent seen it in a while SS: Okay. Look up in the sky over your house.

--

You glance up from the image projected over your fist. There’s a green circle way up in the air. As you squint, you realize it’s not a circle, but the same spirograph symbol from the game’s loading screen.

--

BB: huh BB: the fuck is that SS: Apparently it’s a Gate. There are seven if I understand this idiot correctly. SS: We have to build our way up to them. Then something about a final battle and… SS: Ugh. Stupid sprite keeps rambling about chocobo breeding. I’m pretty sure we don’t have to do anything like that. It’s probably some obscure sidequest we do to get the best weapons or something. BB: good BB: only reason id be breeding giant birds is for giant drumsticks BB: open my own restaurant BB: colonel stelios SS: Bojangles. BB: thats my line SS: Anyway, you should talk to Stephanie about starting to build. BB: tried BB: she wont talk to me SS: That’s weird. I just talked to her and she seemed okay. SS: I guess try talking to Liz then. She’s started earning grist, so maybe she can build. BB: is she better now SS: I think so. BB: cool BB: ill get on that

You sit at your desk, head in your hands.

STEPHSPRITE: ♥ C’mon! We’re here! We’ve got to get to work so we can get through the gates and see Steve again!♥

It keeps giving you that wide, mocking smile. Every so often, it sighs happily.

You could have chosen any other drawing. You could have had Greg’s arrogance, or James’ idiocy.

But you had to get greedy, and now you’re stuck with that reminder of what you could be.

According to Steve, you can prototype a sprite twice. Maybe you’ll stick it with something else, something that can’t talk.

No.

You need to be reminded of what happens when you fly too close to the sun.

A noise outside the room stirs you from your sad stupor.

The two GLASS IMPS that stand menacingly in the hall peer through glasses identical to your own. They crackle the knuckles on all four of their arms.

You remember that you’ve got a new Strife Specibus to try, but you can’t muster the energy.

They barrel towards you.

WHAP!

She... just kicked them so hard they exploded.

With that smile on her face, she gathers up all the fallen grist.

STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Here, Stephanie! Now that we’ve got build grist, we can start making things to impress Steve! ♥

You trudge over to the Punch Designix. Steve and Greg have already done the work of understanding how to use it. Greg demanded that you give him a list of your possessions, but you don’t feel up to the task.

Well, your doppelganger seemed to think that you could make something worth Steve’s attention. You might as well give it a shot.

For a moment, you consider opening your sketchbook for source material. Then you look over your shoulder.

No, it’s done enough damage already.

Shoujo Magazine && Pencil Box = HOW TO DRAW MANGA

...You’re off to a great start. Ten grist thrown away on an amateur instructional manual. Only an artistic idiot could make use of something this terrible.

Sculpting Knife || Palette && Paintbrush = CHROMATIC CLEAVER

This might actually be worth something. It’s a brush with a sharp tip and a colored dial on the side. By scrolling the wheel, you can change the hue of the tip. You give it a few test swings, and it leaves an arc of the appropriate color in the air. In the LAND OF MURK AND MIRRORS, any color stands out dramatically.

At least you won’t be completely useless. You apply it to your Brushkind Strife Specibus.

Palette && Sweatshirt = TECHNICOLOR TOPCOAT

You’re decked to the nines in rainbows now. In another circumstance, you’d probably enjoy how vibrant you look. Right now, though, it just highlights how empty you feel.

Eraser && Sweatshirt = VANISHING VEIL

This coat makes you invisible. It’s apropos, since you’d like nothing more than to disappear right now.

None of this is going to show Steve that you’re anything other than worthless. You’ve started collecting the backlog of a series about pirates in the hope that you could share it with him. It’ll do for a start.

Pirate Manga && Technicolor Topcoat = RAIDING RAINBOW

Now the suit sports a skull motif, and you have a holster for your brush and palette. It’s a little jarring; you probably won’t wear it often. You switch back to the Vanishing Veil.

Pen && Inkwell || Pirate Manga = CALLIGRAPHER'S CUTLASS

This is... weird. It’s a fancy pen, but when you hold it right it turns into a jet-black sword. It’s probably the best you’re going to get.

You have just enough grist to try something else.

Computer && Pencil Box = ILLUSTRATOR’S INTERFACE

The tiny stylus projects your screen from the head. You can tap on the hologram for interaction, even writing out your BadgerBud messages like a troglodyte. It’s certainly more portable than your usual computing options.

-- intenseImpressionist [II] began badgering siliconSwashbuckler [SS] --

II: steve? SS: One sec. SS: Ha! This staff is the greatest thing mankind has ever produced. SS: Oh hey! You started alchemizing things. SS: I like that coat. It really suits you. SS: Did you make any weapons?

--

You pull out the Chromatic Cleaver. On a whim, you keep flipping through the wheel as you wave it around. In moments, your room is awash in color.

--

SS: Woah! That’s awesome! SS: It makes your gloomy world a lot more bright. SS: I wonder if we can get you off it. I bet you’d like my world a lot better. SS: Ugh, hang on. I have to translate my stupid sprite’s advice. You’re lucky you got a good sprite. SS: Okay, if I understand him correctly, there are these gates on each of our worlds. Once we build our way up to them, we can start visiting each other’s worlds. II: okay SS: I guess that’ll be our first goal. I don’t know if it’ll be easier for me to get you or vice versa, but we’ll figure it out. II: okay SS: I’ve got to go see about getting Tiffany in. If we lost her, I don’t think I could live with myself. SS: I’ll keep an eye on you, okay? Stay safe!

-- siliconSwashbuckler [SS] is now busy --

You wrap the Vanishing Veil around yourself.

You have to find a way to tell him. This is the perfect chance. You’ve got his full attention, and you’re alone. Every other time this has happened, you’ve come up with some excuse. Now, you don’t have one. You can do this.

--

SS: Okay. Once we open the Cruxtruder, you’ll only have a few minutes to make your Cruxore object before the meteor hits your house.

--

…Okay, that’s a pretty good excuse.

Maybe next time.

--

II: okay II: what do I do? SS: When I open the Cruxtruder, a glowing thing will pop out along with a cylinder of Cruxore. SS: The glowing thing will be your sprite. It’s kind of like your guide in the game. SS: You’ll need to prototype it with something so it can talk and give you advice. SS: So pick something really helpful. SS: Hmm. I wonder. SS: Try one of your drawings. Maybe it’ll turn into something like one of us. That would help.

--

You get to pick your guide?

There’s only one person you would want with you. The one person who always has something smart to say, who always cheers you up when you need it most.

While he lifts your dresser with the cursor, you find the latest drawing you made. Before you connected, you made sure to hide it in your desk. It’s still rough; you haven’t had the chance to properly ink and color it. The scene is a starry, moonlit night. It’s the pier at the beach your friends go to each year at the start of summer. Gentle waves lap the shore. At the center is a bench. Steve sits on it, staring up into the sky. You sit next to him, your head on his shoulder. Behind the back of the bench, your fingers entwine with his. Your eyes are closed, and the smile Steve claims is so beautiful spreads your face.

Every year, you dream of living out this scene. Every year, you can’t work up the courage to try.

The glowing orb now floats into your view. Steve has opened the Cruxtruder.

Giving the drawing one last longing look, you thrust it into the sprite.

A bright violet flash fills your room.

What then appears before your eyes is horrifying.

STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Hi! ♥

She has your short hair. She has your circle-rimmed glasses.

Worst of all, she has your smile.

--

SS: Okay, that works too. SS: I’m placing the punched card and the Cruxore on your desk. Put the Cruxore in the Totem Lathe and then put the card in the slot. Then, after it finishes carving, use the carved Cruxore on the Alchemiter. SS: Crap, I’ve got more imps headed my way. SS: That’s weird. Now they’ve got your glasses. SS: Maybe they change every time we prototype. SS: Either way, I’ve got to go. SS: I have faith you can handle it from here. Good luck!

-- siliconSwashbuckler [SS] ceased badgering intenseImpressionist [II] --

You’re stuck here. Alone. With… that.

STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Aww, Steve left? ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ That’s okay! He said he has faith in us! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Let’s get started! ♥

You take the punched card and cylinder from your desk. They join your art supplies in your Sylladex.

As you walk down the hall toward your sister’s room, the abomination keeps blathering.

STEPHSPRITE: ♥ This is going to be so great! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ We’re going on a quest with Steve! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ And James and Greg and Tiffany and Liz, too. ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ But mostly with Steve! ♥

The door to your sister’s room is hard to open. Partially because you don’t feel worthy of entering, but mostly because Steve stuck the Totem Lathe in the way. You squeeze through and look at the strange device. Just as Steve described, there’s a place for the cylinder and the card.

You’ll to remove the objects from your Sylladex. You use the Haiku Modus.

Cruxore cylinder Brimming with untapped power The future within

You slid it into place.

Punched captchalog card Holes arrayed with strange meaning Soon to be discerned

The card fits perfectly in the slot.

STEPHSPRITE: ♥ You’re almost done! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Once we enter the Medium, we can see Steve again! ♥

-- intenseImpressionist [II] began badgering bebopBelter [BB] –

II: hey BB: yo BB: steve says your going to be my server II: yeah BB: i hope you went to school on butler island cause shits going to be hard BB: i cant download any faster II: I zipped it II: Ill send you a link BB: does that work BB: it wont make my game work weird will it II: dunno II: but its better than being crushed by a meteor BB: your right BB: like a republican congress II: ... BB: sorry II: badger me when its done II: I have to deal with imps BB: what