She spawns into a circus land, with multiple geometric shapes, floating objects, and colorful characters, and she stares in awe of the world sheās now in.
???: āWoah, this is a cool game! Iā¦ā
Her talking slows as she feels her face with her right arm, and she realizes she doesnāt have a mouth. Itās a weird sensation, but she thinks that she can get used to it. She also takes notice of how her left arm is more of a stub than an arm, she thinks in her head āWhy was my character given this stub? All the other characters here have fully functional hands. I wish I could have a normal arm for onceā¦ā
Other characters such as a bunny, frog, ragdoll, clown, chess piece, and strangely colored woman take notice of the fact that a new character has arrived.
???: Well, this is a cool game, but I gotta go home with my sisterā¦ uhhā¦ how did I forget my sisterās name? Wait, I canāt remember mine either!ā
??? grabs onto her headband she was given and pulls it as hard as possible, but only the headband accessory comes off, not the headset she was expecting. She is panicked and yells āSis, did you glue this headset to me or something?! That doesnāt seem like something youād do, thoughā¦ā
She makes one more attempt before the ragdoll steps up and says āHey, I know this might be scaryā¦ butā¦ā but the ragdoll considers how young this new girl might be, since her behavior and demeanor seem juvenile and decides to ask her age before possibly telling her something that might ruin her week, month, or even year.
Ragatha: āHow old are you?ā
??? is a bit surprised because she wouldnāt consider a ragdoll in a game asking her age too scary, but she also thinks that she shouldnāt share her age online.
???: āI donāt want to share my age, I just want to leave the game!ā
This bunny walks behind ??? and lightly pushes the yellow nub she has as an arm in a joking manner, but ??? gets startled and is intimidated by the yellow teeth and eyes.
Jax: āOh, this isnāt a game, youāll be in here for a long whileā he says with a grin.
??? takes what he says and doesnāt believe it, because how could a headset trap her? What are the logistics of that? People have messed with her before, using her naivety against her.
???: āTell me that youāre joking, okay? I donāt understand sarcasm.ā
Jaxās smile fades a bit as ??? still thinks that this is all some weird VR game instead of the place where sheāll be trapped for who knows how long.
Jax: āIāmā¦ not joking.ā
??? is confused for a second until she has an emotional outburst and she starts crying as she cries āIāM GOING TO BE STUCK HERE FOREVER?!ā
The ragdoll strolls and tries to comfort her with a hug, but Boppi flinches, not wanting to be touched.
A flying pair of dentures with a suit appears out of nowhere in front of ???ās face, scaring her.
Caine: āWOWOWOW IS THAT A NEW CHARACTER!? Letās get right to business! What do you want your name to be?!ā
??? takes a second to process the question, before the colorful woman steps up to introduce herself and help ??? out, seeing as she looks too stressed to think of a new name.
Ximena: āHello, Iām Ximena, and here you have to choose a name for yourself, but I can help if you want!ā
??? nods and accepts the help since she is not mentally ready at the moment to think of her permanent name here.
Ximena: āHmmā¦ you seem like a Bopper, Poppy, but Iām not sure. Iām thinking something fun and bouncy for you because once you adjust to life here, youāll probably be a lot more livelyā.
??? thinks for a second before asking āWe could combine the two, so maybe Boppy, but with an āiā at the end so it isnāt a basic name.ā
Caine: āAlright, Boppi it is!ā
Caine knows that Boppi is the youngest one there according to the mind files, but he doesnāt want the circus members to know that he has access to said mind files. Caine flies upwards in a grandiose fashion, whilst looking at up and then at Boppi as he introduces himself.
Caine: āI am the ringmaster of this incredible world of wonder and I am named Caine!ā
He proceeds to name all of the characters in rapid succession, making Boppi feel dizzy. She takes note of the fact that her and the Ximena woman looks kind of similar to her own avatar in the way that they are both colorful humans with strange attributes rather than animals or toys.
Caine: āBeing the smart AI I am, I would have to guess you are pretty young, yes?ā
Boppi is impressed with how accurate the time frame is, but is wondering how he knows that based off of just how she acts.
Boppi: āUhh, yes Iām 12.ā
Caine shouts excitedly āWOWIE, our youngest circus member yet! You should be extra enthusiastic for my adventures then!ā He thinks that because sheās young, sheāll be a lot more invested with the wonderful adventures and colorful landscapes, not knowing sheād probably be more overstimulated than happy.
āWell, sheāll be more fun for me to mess withā, Jax boasts as Ragatha makes a sound of disappointment, as if to say āJax, noā.
Caine: āWe have already finished the adventure today, so you should try to socialize and maybe find your room!ā
Caine disappears in thin air and most of the members of the circus circle around her and try to talk, coddle, or bully her. To Boppi right now, socializing sounds like torture as sheās already overstimulated.
Boppi: āEverybody, Iām getting reallyā¦ I donāt know the exact feelingā¦ but I donāt really want to talk to so many people right now.ā
Ximena blankly stares at Boppi until Boppi notices, and Ximena makes a hand gesture for Boppi to follow her. She does so, and eventually it leads to her room. Boppi sees what her face looks like on the door, and she walks inside with Ximena.
Ximena: āThis is your room! Do you like it?ā
Boppi looks around and tries to get comfortable by sitting on her bed, but she doesnāt seem super comfortable in this environment yet.
Ximena: āLook, I noticed our avatars look similar, and you know the chess piece? He had a wife that was a chess piece too. So I think similar avatars are given to people who know each other in real life. Do I know you?ā
Boppi says as a joke āI donāt know, did you have a younger sister or friend who never fits in and has a broken growth plate?ā but Ximena takes this literally as in the real world, she did.
Ximena: āYes, actually! I had a sister with those traitsā
Ximena puts two and two together and says āI think Iām your older sister from the real world, but we should keep it a secret and keep it as a surprise for the others to find out. Itāll be our little secret.ā
Ximenaās real world counterpart loved to play little games and such with her younger sister to bond, so she knew Boppi would be down for this. Boppi smiles and says āSure, we can have a little secret.ā
