AnasAbdin
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shark vs the universe
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Today's Document
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YOU ARE THE REASON
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@hostile-divinity
noxiousasceticism:
He seems to pick up on how the other stops speaking as well as the look heâs given. How unsettling⊠âMore of a looker than a talker, huh?â Follow up with a hesitant laugh.
His staring continues until the comment is made. The purityâs eyes close slowly and he turns his head away from the other.
. . .
noxiousasceticism:
âIâm afraid that part of the package comes pre-installed.â Thereâs a low hum behind the mask and he crosses his arms.
The dissatisfaction is clear on his expression but his retort about uninstalling something else is withheld. Heâs aware that it would only give the vendor an excuse to continue speaking. ...not that he needed one.
âMy Batter is gone! My Batter is dead!â
His voice sounds happy and chipper, but thereâs a very real emptiness inside that heâs trying to hide.
His eyes follow the multifaceted merchant languidly.
âAnd yet, it hasnât managed to shut you up.â
All for Naught :: Closed
Itâs unsurprising that it would be so easy for him. The Batter before him already killed off the only means he might have had intervene otherwise, and the âownerâ of this particular file has not been seen in quite some time.
Zacharie watches him with mild interest, leaning back in his chair and propping his feet up onto the desk. Fingers lace and he tips his head in an almost condescending manner to look over at him once heâs finished.
âRarely. The other two I am aware of are two that I can not enter freely. One because of the owner, the other because I do not know its physical location.â
Blondieâs file was still a mystery to him. An odd scenario but he would rather avoid that place anyway. Even if he felt he did not âget alongâ with the platinum purifier, he did not want to bring unnecessary trouble onto his door step.
âI know other generic files, however.â
His expression had returned to its default, judgmental scowl. After having such an easy pass through this file he had expected more than just a measly â2âČ.
âSpeak concisely, are those two files worth my time?â
He had no reason to go out of his way to get the same exact items but with more fuss. If crashing through generic files was more lucrative than he had no interest in the others.
All for Naught :: Closed
His thoughts are consumed with the ideas of his future. He came to this Kingdom because it gave him solace and peace of mind. It was an important place that he held dear, and he was to look after it.
Traveling with this Batter meant one of two things. On the one hand, he was going to be risking his sanity by leading this murderer to those he is acquainted with and was truly âfriendsâ with. On the other hand, he could be free from moral ambiguity and follow the other until he died.
It doesnât take long to find each chest in the Zones, as the Kingdom was essentially a post-purified state of being. Vines had grown over the locks but they were easy to open still. No Elsen crossed their paths. No spectres, no Guardians.
In the end they arrive in his office, where the last of the Orbs stay hidden. He moves over to the chair behind his dusty desk and sits down while he waits for the Batter to retrieve what he wishes to claim for himself.
This was by far one of the quickest and least problematic gathering of Orbs he had ever experienced. He can still feel the rush of each one as he used them and craved more. With each one they gathered he found himself moving a bit quicker.
When they finally reach the final chest in the merchantâs office he kicks the lock off and retrieves the final Orb. He pauses and admires the way the light makes the stone glitter; holding it up and rotating it between his fingers. There is the faintest hint of a sadistic grin as he crushes it in his fist and absorbs the stat boost.
As the fine, powdery remains of it slowly fade he releases a quiet sigh. This was a good run.
âAre there more places like this?â
All for Naught :: Closed
There is a small sigh, defeated as it may sound coming from him, as he begins to walk forward. Even with all of the changes, some things can not change here. Eventually they come across a red cube which can lead them into the first Zone.
âAs you wish,â he says nonchalantly.
Zacharie could care less if this Batter steals the Orbs from this file, or any other for that matter⊠But itâs slowly piecing itself in his mindâthe reasoning behind how he was able to slaughter two Batters who he was aware were fully maxed in level.
The permanent stat-boosters of the Zodiac Orbs is a very clever way to get around such buffers. He has to hand it to him, it is quite appalling yet deserving of credit. He may have never thought of something like that. The knowledge is tucked away for later discussion.
He trails directly behind him again so that he can watch his small movements and gestures. It's obvious that his forced guide is thinking very intently about his current situation; why wouldnât he? His purifier had been slaughtered and his life was now in the hands of the murderer.
Itâs not as if it mattered much to him, it wasnât going to change anything on his side of the âdealâ.
But it did offer him a nice bit of quiet as they walked. It wouldnât take long to find the aforementioned items if they had spawned as normal.
It would make much more of a mess if he would have to go through the trouble of purifying the place in order to acquire them.
All for Naught :: Closed
The new file opens up to a brightly lit sky, complete with vivid colors and natural abundance. Grass that he hasnât seen for decades in any file other than very few select cases (such as this one), is a small but important means to keep him sane.
The question does not go unanswered for long. âSo long as I have physically been to any place, I can travel at my own whim. Those who have taken control of their files by other means may prove to override this, however.â
Such instances as a few Hugos he could count on one hand. Those who know how to control traffic, seen and unseen. Firewalls, so to speak.
âWe can go to the generic places the Orbs spawn. Where would you like to go first?â A small frown is placed behind his mask. Inevitably, they will end up in his office within the park. Indeed it is still a place he holds private items for himself.
The merchant idly hopes that this Batter isnât too nosy in those regards.
His scowl seems to deepen as he sees the harsh light and abundant greenery. It failed to impress him more than it frustrated him over his own situation.
âWeâll start from the beginning. I am here for all of them.â
He was uninterested in the residents of this file; if he was able to gather all of the Orbs without encountering a single one than that would just make all of this much faster.
All for Naught :: Closed
Body stiffens under baggy clothing as soon as the other moves even closer to him. Zacharie glances up without really moving, which is luckily available to him given their close heights.
âRight this way, my friend,â he heel turns and briskly walks in the opposite direction as him. Not too far, however, as there was ample space around to summon a rift into the Nothingness.
âAfter I.â The portal swallows him into the darkness and another of the same size is made within the Nothingness to lead them into the separate file.
The social pet-names were an annoyance but he was familiar with the type. His cleats tail behind him silently and a little more casually. The Batterâs hands remain empty as he walks with his eyes trained to the back of the merchantâs head.
Once through the Nothingness and into the next zone, he finally speaks again.
âWhat is the range of your teleportation?â
All for Naught :: Closed
The items of the file? Certainly not the ones he would commonly carry upon his own person, no⊠He must means the items which spawn indefinitely into each file.
âThe Orbs?â
He has not personally looked for them, although the Zones are (essentially) still the same layout but with a new revision of sorts. Everything falls more into place with better ease.
â⊠We can find out.â
The scowl on his face seemed to loosen slightly as the other knew exactly of what he was searching for. At least he could use the brain he had for more than counting credits.Â
âYou mean we will.â
He stepped closer until he was clearly invading personal space; the shadow of his cap only making his expression more hostile, âMove.â
ROBOTS OR DINOSAURS?
All for Naught :: Closed
The first thing that Zacharie thinks of is how he spends most of his time outside of Joelâs file because he does not actually like to be in such a hopeless place. Devoid of all the things he enjoys, it is only a constant sad reminder of what had been in previous times.
These days, however, to account for the time he had left his Batter behind, the peddler wasted away his days in an isolated⊠Kingdom, of sorts.
Purged of the relentless cycles that most Batters must endure, it was reminiscent of an older timeline but renewed. Though he does not wish to have this new Batter tread on such⊠âsacredâ groundâit was very important to himself and to Joel (even though he rarely visited it at all, even when it was only one save file under his own).
âMy home away from home, of sorts. Empty, for the most part, if you are looking for more⊠victims. But it is where I keep my records.â
Unofficially, and off of the main code which is in Joelâs file and subject to erasure. Rookieâs Kingdom was certainly an anomaly, even if it was rarely lived within anymore.
He let him speak in his vague form; he could care less of who was in the file.
âAre the items of the file still intact?â
It would become very clear to the merchant that his mission was not focused on mass-genocide but more on ... theft. Death followed him but it was not what he needed.
All for Naught :: Closed
There seems to be a sort of revelation behind the mask, the moment he hears the words in such a commanding mannerâquite demanding and no room for questions in the way he spoke to him. The merchant is quiet for a moment, contemplative in his silence but knowing there was little he could do to hassle himself out of such an odd predicament.
He either agreed and lived, or he denied him and be killed.
A simple choice, even with the lives of said âfriendsâ on the line. It is not in his jurisdiction to âsaveâ others, though if the conflict could be avoided he would do so.
â⊠I find myself unable to deny you in this strange situation, it seems.â
âProve useful and youâll find yourself in that state perpetually.â
'Donât, and Iâll just kill you.â Vocalizing his violent demands were unnecessary with the aura he was giving off. If the merchant was aware of what happened to his Batter while he was away then there was no need to explain himself. Â
His eyes narrowed as he continued to judge the creature in front. At least he had not attempted to run; it meant that he wasnât an idiot but a survivor. Maybe that meant he would last a fair amount of time before his use was worn out.
âWhere were you going to go after spying here?â
All for Naught :: Closed
At least itâs easy to maintain eye contact without having to tip his head back. Laughable that he had friends? Perhaps it was more amusing that this Batter was so high and mighty that he likely thought friends were useless. Just an assumption though.
Zacharie is tempted to try and part ways with him as quickly and safely as possible, or should the Batter try to come at him to at least have one of his portals into the Nothingness readily available to flee through. Unfortunately, not even he is quick enough to do that in the blink of an eye. As famed as he has come to be of being quicker than Batters.
âThose I barter with frequently, or even those whom do not make purchases at all⊠A full house of Players, Batters, Merchants, NPCs, and rogue code if you will.â
His head tips back a bit further, eyes staring calculatingly at the other. Any merchant that had the desire and time enough on his hands to actually âmake friendsâ was an anomaly. Perhaps they simply had different ideas of how the term ought to be used, âSo you know them well, remember their locations.â
The statement was said in a rhetorical manner; itâs not as if he even thought of this as a conversation. He followed up with, âYou will take me to them.â
A comparison doodle of my two Batters; Gabe and Lukas.
They are really different.
All for Naught :: Closed
Thereâs the slightest indication of his hands gripping the straps a bit more tightly as the other comes closer. Batters were always taller than himself⊠Something he doesnât quite appreciate at a time like this. Better for his own âharmlessâ appearance, but if he took out Joel with no problem while being fully leveled, he doesnât really want to mess with this guy.
âOh well.â Tone of voice seems a tad disappointed, but not overly so. More in acceptance that it canât be helped now. Heâll think it all over later when heâs alone.
âI have nowhere to go. Perhaps I will travel, take the scenic route. Visit old friends.â A low, short chuckle. Anything but actually happy.
Their eye levels were a bit easier to match but the Batterâs still had to tilt down slightly. Hands slipped partially into his pockets as he responded, ââFriends?â That is laughable.â
Itâs not as if the journal didnât provide him with enough information to continue his journey. âWho are these friends of yours?â But itâs one thing to read a book and another to live it; this merchant could be useful to him.
All for Naught :: Closed
The book in his hands was indeed familiar. Needless to say, he doesnât need to ask how he got it. He had warned Joel of things like this. To be killed outside of their file meant permanent death. He isnât entirely sure how things work in Lukasâ file for him in particular, but⊠This information undoubtedly puts his questioning mind to rest.
Not that it is much to rest for. Of course he mourns the death of his Batter. He will no longer be able to see himâever. Itâs a shallow and regretful feeling which bubbles up, though he quells it for now. Mourn later.
The salesman clears his throat and finally shifts his weight so his knees werenât locked anymore.
âYou are correct. Avenge him? Iâm not here to die.â He wasnât in his own file. Plus, heâs not sure if dying (even within his file) would respawn him if his Batter was permanently cast out from existence entirely. How does that work? Heâs never considered it an option before. Not one to think on extensively, at least.
âA shame it had to end this way for him. I had plans, you know.â
His dark eyes were shadowed by his cap but the stillness of his body combined with the slow bob of the cube added to the discomfort that he brought. He closed the book with a snap and it vanished into his inventory. Cleated shoes lifted slightly and then snapped back as he hopped from the block.
There was no noise as he landed and continued to be silent as he walked between the cubes. âYou are much more reasonable then he but thatâs probably because you only truly care for yourself.â
The position of his hands on his backpack straps was a clear indication that he was not intending to strike. Funny that he chose to stand there even when his death was staring him in the face. He hummed, âThe shame is on you for not taking better care of your plans. .. And now theyâre gone.âÂ
The Batter stopped not far from him and questioned, âWhat are your intentions now?â
All for Naught :: Closed
After his brief look-around he had found the signs of a struggle in Zone 2. There was little to go off of there, but by the looks of things it seemed like it wasnât planned out in the least. No bodies. Yet no one has shown up yet, leaving him to believe the respawn is off a bit or either waiting for another Player to restart the game.
Eventually the merchant does make his way back into Zone 0. The tall structure almost foreboding as he approaches itâclimbing the ladder and entering the building. The puzzles were already unlocked, so getting to the upper floor wasnât difficult at all.
When he gets up the stairs he stops at the top and peers over at the unfamiliar figure resting upon one of the cubes. Motionless, his eyes first fall upon the blood that is smeared across the wall opposite of his position before looking back to the Batter.
He wonders if he should speak up, yet he feels that he shouldnât just yet. Perhaps the other will simply acknowledge his presence sooner or later and speak first. Otherwise, Zacharie stands still at the top of the stairs with both of his hands firmly gripping the straps of his backpack at his shoulders.
It was hard to miss any sort of sound or presence when not a single soul should have been left alive. Even with the shadow of the figure coming through the doorway the Batter doesnât make any movement other than flipping pages. He had paused on one that seemed to strike a key in his memory but when it proved to be nothing he jumped another couple pages.
âI suppose that having seen two alternates in one file would mean that I shouldnât be surprised by a second merchant appearing.â His eyes remained on the journal as he had found a few more interesting things.Â
âI assume that you belong to Joel then. Have you come to avenge him?â The names he read from Wide Angle matched up with the ones in the book.
âIt seems to be the trend.â He glanced up and eyed him.Â
