#self aware cyllene

[onestepbackwards]

self aware au shenanigans where the player decides to screw around and bring the predecessors of the ingame characters (pulling an Arceus, as one might say) and watch stuff happen. on one side, its funny watching volo sprint in fear as cynthia chases him with a chair after hearing about the shit he pulled but you can't help but feel bad for cyllene who had no idea that cyrus would be like That, with feeling some guilt that she could have done something to prevent him from ending up like that (and not in the 'you bring shame to our bloodline' kind of way, but in a 'i am so sorry that nobody was there for you when you needed them the most' kind of way. if that makes sense)

Cyllene is 100 taking Cyrus under her wing, regardless of what he wants.

She despises one of her descendants was treated so badly he turned out this way. She is bound and determined to help him through whatever hell put him on this path to begin with. He is desperately trying to NOT do that. It's almost amusing to see Cyrus trying to sneak out of the village only for her to follow him and drag him back like a teenager. The kids love him and want to be his friends as well, and all he wants to do is leave or brood angrily. Cynthia lets Volo know no peace. She already had to stop one asshole from destroying the universe, and it turns out her ancestor pulled the same shit? She is livid. Volo doesn't think much of her until you mention she is in fact a champion, considered one of the strongest people in future Hisui, and has given many people pokebattle ptsd. And then he sees how near identical their team is, and a smirk she very much inherited from him, and suddenly he isn't so cocky anymore.

[onestepbackwards]

Hello!! For the self aware au- you've had asks for the self aware seeing the horror games, dating Sims, and cute farming games. But what about story based RPGs? Legend of Zelda, Hollow Knight, Kingdom Hearts, Kirby, etc. Or Battle Royale games! Fortnite, Rocket League Spell break, Super Smash Bros, etc.

On the one hand, the story based games tend toward 'good triumph over evil'. (Though some have creatures as bad as a horror game (coughcoughKirbycoughcough)) And then there's the madness of battle Royale games... Rocket League being tamer than some.

I think it would vary from person to person.

On one hand, if they see you as a god, many think it's only natural you would have so many worlds you watch over... Even if some are a bit odd.

And horrifying.

Some think its endearing you want to play with the worlds you created. Others... Get even more wary and have existential crises over it.

Though many do find it fascinating if they are aware enough to watch you play. Worlds without pokemon, but non human folk nonetheless?

Some can't even wrap their heads around it. Cyllene is curious, but ends up having to tune out when she starts getting a headache watching various battle royal games. Though she finds the puzzle ones fascinating.

Laventon also finds it fascinating, even the more... subtly horrifying ones. He's a researcher at heart, and enjoys learning about these worlds. Well, he likes to learn about them from a safe distance, thank you!

He's horribly fascinated with the one that takes place in space. What was it called? Metroid? To think such places could exist among the stars!

Ingo isn't sure why... But he finds this Legend of Zelda series and Kingdom hearts oddly familiar. In fact, he is the only one who recognizes they are games. It's like an odd itch in the back of his mind, but it makes perfect sense when he thinks about it.

[onestepbackwards]

In the self aware AU, if some characters can mess around with the code, can Player (in the real world) change PLA to their liking as well? Would it be similar to modding a game then? Now that I think about it, in any self aware game AU, if the player were to install mods in a game, would the characters see them as some kind of creator god? (Imagine being some random npc and seeing someone changing the colors of the landscape or spawning a shiny out of nowhere...Volo's reaction though...)

That’s actually an interesting idea!! I have seen a few mods for PLA, such as some graphics mods, and I saw one for Sneasler’s climbing speed. I imagine there’s been a bunch more since I last looked! So if in the Self Aware Au, Reader mods the game, it has so much potential here. Much like Ingo, Reader would know the code incredibly well, or at least know how to read it, and what each line means to some degree. So like, if you do mod the game. It probably only instills in their mind that you are in fact a god. Even if you don’t ever end up in the game, the fact you can just,,, do these things kinda cements it. Reader: *Mods shiny Arceus into the game* :D Volo: What the fuck

Expect him desperately trying to get your attention first. Anyone who can manipulate Arceus has to be the true god. He’s horrified to know him and his people have been worshiping a false one. Well, maybe not entirely false. Arceus still may have made this universe, but what is Arceus to someone who can control them like a toy? He’ll be frothing at the mouth though trying to figure you out, and how to get your attention. Anytime he tries, it’s as if there’s binding around him, keeping him from interacting with you or your vessel. That’s fine though, he won’t be deterred. Maybe he should ask Ingo about those numbers he mentions seeing... The other NPCs are now nervous though. Some revere you in awe, others respectfully keep their distance. Laventon is curious about you. You change things right before their eyes! You don’t seem malicious either, and seem determined to keep your vessel, the hero, safe. He’s probably the least wary of you, and is excited to learn more about you! Maybe he can convince the others that you aren’t an bad god, and maybe worshiping you isn’t a bad thing? After all, you just seem happy to create things! Ingo is also curious about you. You seem attached to him, and love to battle him. You don’t seem like an evil god, though he isn’t sure if that’s what the should refer to you as. You obviously like creating things, even summoning shiny pokemon out of nowhere, and battling him with them! You can’t be so bad, right? After all, you just seem to be messing with the numbers he sometimes sees when he closes his eyes... Cyllene is curious, but very wary of you. She honestly would fear you if you didn’t show such compassion through the hero. Surely, someone who cares for the child like they are their own, isn’t so bad? And it isn’t like you’ve done anything awful, either. You just seem content messing with the world in small ways, and adjusting how a few things look and work. You haven’t destroyed anything, and some stuff is arguably better. Still, she is unaware of what your true motives are. She’ll stick to herself for now.

[onestepbackwards]

[Not a request and kinda long] I have a small headcanon myself for the self aware Hisui -

Mostly that if reader were to enter the game before Ingo knew they entered, they'd enter more as a spectre that follows the main character around, not really able to interact with anyone but the main character. Still giving advice and telling them where to go, basically a floating talking arcphone. But the main character has gained some sort of self awareness with this, which is why they appreciate the spectre helping.

I'm mostly going with the spectre idea, as the readers body probably wouldn't follow them into the game if the code wasn't messed with properly, so they don't technically have a sprite/body in game either until way later when they mess with the code themselves.

And like, just imagine, the self aware characters notice the main character subconsciously nodding, shaking their head and looking over their shoulder as if looking for someone or some sort of confirmation from someone. So they start following their movements more closely, thinking something is wrong while also confirming that they too, are self aware or at least act out of script.

Until maybe a confrontation with a noble goes wrong, and spectre! Reader uses the code they messed with to quickly get a sprite just so they can join the fray and help the main character directly. The sprite maybe starts as a standard npc and changes to look more and more like the reader the longer the fight goes on. And Ingo/Volo/Laventon/whoever else start noticing that the standard NPC that just jumped in is changing to look more and more like the person beyond the screen.

This actually reminds me of a comic I saw! It was where the player was sort of like a guide/spirit for the protagonist.

The hero i think asks what steel is weak against or something?? And the player goes “Lol one sec, lemme check Bulbapedia.” As they pull out their phone. I’m also just,,, imagining like,, The hero tells you they can see you and they are aware of you and you just immediately are like:

But I really love this idea! You are concerned with waking up as essentially a ghost, but find the player can actually see you and hear you, and even talk to you! You go through a minor crisis when the game continues without you directly controlling the player. It’s almost as if you entered a weird second dimension, with how people seem alive and yet... not. They still act like they are NPCs, but at the same time, it’s as if they are alive like in your world, sometimes. The hero is the best/weirdest example. At first, they just go on their way, as if you were already playing. You follow them, curious. It’s not like you have anything better to do, being a ghost made of bits of code. But then they see you. They ask you for help. You are almost shocked. They seemed confused when you look surprised. You had done everything to help them before now! Was it something they said? They hadn’t upset you, have they?? You assure them that no! They are fine! You just,,, didn’t think they could see you or hear you. They tell you it was recent, but they have also always been able to feel your presence. They appreciate how you care for them and their pokemon, and how you strategize in battle. They are never scared, and never feel alone because of you. So seeing you as a specter, they are actually excited! They were confused when no one else could see you, but they supposed if they couldn’t sense you before, then they wouldn’t see you either. After that, you pick and mess with the code, unaware your very presence if messing with the world around you. The NPCs become more lively, and they starting noticing things. Like how the hero will look over to the side or over their shoulder, and nod or talk to something not there. Laventon wonders if it’s a ghost type they have around them, but when asked, they simply say no, its not a pokemon, but a friend. He isn’t sure what to think of that. When the rival challenges the hero to a battle, they are confused when the hero looks over their shoulder, before making a move. It’s odd, as if waiting for orders or directions. Ingo especially notices the odd behavior. The hero comes and sees him often, and challenges people to a battle. When the hero battles him, or anyone else. its as if they are waiting for directions. Sometimes when the shopkeepers see the hero, its as if the hero looks over, before buying anything. Some even swear the hero asked someone what to buy, before making a decision. It’s... Concerning. If the hero wasn’t a huge force to be reckoned with, and did an amazing job for the community, they would have been worried. However, it gets weirder when a random person just randomly shows up with the hero one day. The hero argues for their behalf, and Cyllene reluctantly gives them a spot on the team. The hero was their strongest fighter and highest rank. She trusts them, and will allow you to stay. The hero even offers their home, and that you will be staying with them. It’s suspicious... but after the hero says you saved their life against a noble, they decide to let you stay. They can’t help but feel like your name is familiar though. Then it gets weird, when your features seem to change, and a few characters begin to feel as if they recognize you. Ingo, Laventon, Cyllene, and a few others can’t help but feel like you are someone important. It isn’t until your form is nearly identical to how you normally look that they recognize you, the person behind the screen. You and the hero are shocked they recognize you, the hero especially since they seemed to be the only one you controlled. Ingo admits he has known about you for awhile. He just... couldn’t do anything. the code wouldn’t let him, not until after you suddenly disappeared. Laventon admits this as well. He says he had grown worried, but was relieved you were okay. Cyllene’s worry washes away when she recognizes you. You are practically the same rank as the hero, as she sees it, and immediately raises your rank to 10. She reluctantly admits she had grown worried for you as well, and that something might have happened. Overall, it’s a surprise to you that they even knew you existed. You kinda worry about the fact they all seemed painfully aware they were in a game, or at least there was another plain of reality above theirs... Though you can’t help but feel a chill down your spine, and feel like someone is watching you when you leave the house in the village. The hero agrees, and decides to follow you to protect you. Unknown to you, Volo begins following you both in earnest. The person behind the screen, the true god, was in the game, and seemed to be able to control the fabric of reality. He really wanted to meet you, and talk with you. If only the hero would leave you alone for a few minutes....