Been looking forward to this all week! Day 1 of the @originalficfest so excited to share some stuff and find some new things to read! (sorry it’s a little late I spent a lot of time on it!)
Let us go then you and I, when the evening is spread out against the sky like a patient etherized upon a table - T.S. Eliot
The microphone buzzed to life with the screech of feedback followed by a light tapping.
With a click of the fingers a spotlight flashed on illuminating a figure standing on a pedestal. A pink 3D holographic panda.
“Greetings and salutations,” it said with a smooth deep voice with a faint static underlay. It waves at you beyond the fourth wall.
“Sorry I know we haven’t met yet but a little bug told me today was a very special day in the writeblr community. And what better way to celebrate character day than to have a brand new character talk to you.”
“Where are my manners I’m sorry, I am The Company,” with a flicker its image shifted to a bowing pose instantly before flickering back. “I should clarify, not company as in commercial business but as in an individual accompanying you. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.”
A strange garbled sound came from behind it and with a flicker it looked over its shoulder.
“Ah sorry, I seem to be rambling a bit, the writer says I should get on with the show.”
It clicked its... paws? And another light came on to its left, illuminating a skeletally thin black man in a dapper suit. He looked to have just paused in the middle of speaking, narrowing his eyes and taking in the surroundings.
“I’m assuming you’re new to Chaos Corp dear reader, if you’re not though then great! Chaos Corp is a lovely fantasy/urban fantasy story written by one m̵͓̖̯̍͝͠v̵͖̺͚͖̱̉̽̄̎d̸̪̞̃̀̈́f̴̛̝̖̟͛́̑͛͋̌͜͜- oh that appears to be too meta, my apologies. Well either way you can read it here or here. Not saying that you have to but it’s great. It switches between an urban setting and a traditional fantasy setting following the adventures of our main protagonists in both scenarios.”
The man tried to walk out of his spotlight but was stopped short by an invisible wall.
He looked a little inconvinienced. “Hey what the *bleep* is going on?” He grasped at his mouth a little shocked. “Why the *bleep* can’t I say *bleep*?”
The Company sighed. “Sorry but we need to keep this post safe for all ages,” it looked back to the fourth wall, “That said Chaos Corp does contain infrequent strong language, so reader discretion is advised, sorry about that. Anyway more under the read more, sorry but this is gonna be a long one.”
The man examined the invisible wall cautiously before lighting it up with hellfire, which only succeeded in filling the whole cylindrical tube he was in and burning his outfit.
“This,” The Company continued, “Is Dante Aleistar Solomon Familiares PHD, founder of Chaos Corp a company that hires gods, although that’s a bit of a simplification. He is also-”
Another click and the mans form changed into that of a grim reaper looking figure.
“-the human guise of Danae, God of Death.”
Danae looked down at himself, an aura of perturbed uneasiness about him.
“What’s going on here? Who are you? I have so many questions?”
The Company waved its paw at him and his teeth zipped up in a comical fashion. He once again lit up his tube with hellfire.
“We need to get on with this okay? I’m gravely sorry but i’ll make it up to you when you actually meet me. I’m sure I have an artifact around here somewhere. Although i’m not sure where, maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Another eldritch garble called from the back.
“Right right... sorry.” It clicked again and this time another three lights came on, illuminating a black and white ethereal being split vertically down the middle, a gigantic muscular suit of gold-lined silver armour, and a beautiful forest-green-skinned woman with a bob haircut of a thin root-like material clad in plated chain mail.
“Zade, Goddess of Duality and Truth!” it announced and the ethereal being reacted.
“What the bleep?” said Zade.
“Farjack, God of Warriors!” It announced and the suit of armour reacted.
“Did you just say bleep?” said Farjack.
“And Sera, Guardian of Hope!” it announced and the last woman reacted.
She glanced around in awe. “This is new.”
“That rounds up our main intrepid group, the Legathis, or Origin Gods. Is intrepid a complement? I think so? So much knowledge, not so much organisation.”
Danae unzipped his own lips. “Was that a pun?”
The Company zipped them again.
“Let’s continue then, sorry for so many digressions. Creating a meta representation of these characters in your mind is a little complicated.”
Another click and the fours lights dropped, another and they reappeared two feet back. A final click revealed few new lights, greyed out silhouettes frozen mid-action stood in them.
“You’ll have plenty of time to get to know those four in the first few episodes so get to reading!” It smiled. “These four a some interesting characters who you’ve only met briefly so far!”
“Jaegan, God of Organisation,” it chuckled.
The first silhouette coloured in, there stood a short man with a lean frame and wide hips accentuated by his form-fitting red waistcoat, white shirt, and black slim-fit dress trousers. His sharp jawline and observing red eyes framed by short well-kept black hair.
A muffled scream emitted from Danae.
He bowed. “I keep Dr. Familiares on time, he won’t admit it but he knows and appreciates that without me his company would have never gotten this far. Krisha and Zade have also been a great help.”
"He is a latino transgender man raised on ‘Forever Valley’, the story-focused island continent inspired by Earth Europe, by his supportive parents after they immigrated from Joyamor, a country inspired by Earth Mexico."
The man turned to Danae. “Was there an appointment made for this that you forgot to tell me about?”
Danae shook his head.
“Krish, Deity of Management,” said The Company.
The second silhouette coloured in. Revealed was an individual wearing casual black clothes. They stood up from an invisible chair, dirty blonde short hair disturbed by the motion, their eyes were shut and relaxed.
“What now...” They sighed, pinching the bridge of their nose.
“It’s some sort of introductory sequence,” said Zade.
They raised their eyebrows. “Alright. I’m the vaultkeeper of Chaos Corp, I manage the companies financial side, events, and parties, as well as use its successes to make sure all necessities for living are provided to the world for free. They/them pronouns.”
“Necessities include food, water, medical services, housing, and rights if you were curious. They are from Surris, a country inspired by Earth India.” said The Company.
They stepped out of their spotlight and into its. “Where is Earth India?”
The Company looked at them perplexed and clicked them back to their space. “Um. Sorry but it’s probably more time efficient not to tell you since these events are not going to be integrated into your memories.”
Farjack was trying to find a way over to The Company. “Can I hug it?”
“Maybe if it lets you,” said Sera.
“Ash,” it announced.
The third silhouette coloured in and as it did singing filled the room. Stood dancing and singing in the spotlight was an androgynous individual with a black undercut wearing ripped navy jeans, and a red leather jacket over a black plaid shirt. They were singing an upbeat song about letters and friendship.
The Company cleared its throat.
He stopped instantly, eyes flicking open, pink irises glistening in the light.
“Oh finally. Been waiting to get in on this meta *bleep*-fest.”
“Welcome to Tumblr.”
“Thanks, I hate it.”
“Ash is genderfluid and shifts his eye colour to match his pronouns at any given moment.”
Ash makes eye contact with the reader.
“Sorry, must hurry this along as we don’t have much time left. Finally, special guest who you haven’t met yet, Jenniri.”
The fourth silhouette coloured in. A punk woman with slicked back black hair with light blue highlights finished applying her matte black lipstick. Her ensemble featuring a black tank top with her name printed on in a stylised font and denim shorts.
“Now she is a truly interesting individual, an immortal from a culture inspired by Earth ancient arabia-”
“Oh but darling isn’t it a bit early for my reveal?” she said, glancing over her shoulder at the darkness behind them.
There was a garbled noise and all the lights went out.
