Despite the standard day and night cycle, some of you may notice this place still doesn’t feel quite right, a bit outside of time. That shouldn’t stop you from having fun! And should you need to go back to the Grove — or if you’re someone looking to get into Neo Eden in the first place — you need only to gaze into a mirror placed in each of your bedrooms or apartments and wish to go home… which may lead you to fall catastrophically through it to the other side. Try not to hit your chin on the ground.
Life goes on regardless. In this city, there’s a lot to do. You could go shopping at the strip mall near Mania Square, where Heimr and Ydalir have set up a temporary shop to continue to provide for everyone’s needs. They’ll still take shells, but there’s nothing much they can do if you run out of Credits — both will gently suggest you find work in Neo Eden. You guys own businesses back at the Grove, it can’t be that bad, can it?
The good news is, Mr. Bone-Jangles and his entourage of skeletons who you swear weren’t originally here 12 hours ago are happy to help you get a job, where the interview process involves simply “showing up and asking your holographic boss if you can be employed”. Starting your own business is more difficult — you’ll need a loan from the bank! — but not impossible. Any hologram humans that come in to buy things will ignore you, get what they want, and leave. The only time you can interact with your fellow neon-coloured humans is when they’re making a purchase, at which point their items will digitize and they’ll leave. All very odd, but at least the customers aren’t rude to you… or your skeletal coworkers who have joined you for back-breaking labour.
After work, perhaps you want to head to the amusement park — Thrill Point is an utterly massive one to the far northeast of the city past the river that cuts through the digital roadways. With drop towers, roller coasters, rides for little babies who hate heights and fun, and tons of food stalls to stop at, you could feasibly spend all night here and almost forget that you have to be at your next shift in the morning! If you seek a different thrill, Arcadia is a nightclub southwest of Mania Square, where the music plays all night, the liquor flows freely, and anyone under 21 who enters gets marked with an X on the back of their hand by a harmless laser beam. Just outside Arcadia is a small photo booth named “The Swap”, and if you enter with a partner, both of you hitting the “TAKE PHOTO” button will bodyswap you for 12 hours. It will also print out a funny photo of you as a keepsake. Enjoy being someone else for a while!
Head to the Rent-a-Ride, where you can rent any vehicle on wheels — electric scooters, cars, motorcycles, hoverbikes — as long as you can pay the expensive fee. Speeding will get you a ticket from your local robopolice; breaking standard civilian laws will get you arrested and thrown into the unmanned city jail. And try not to tailgate or crash your ride — not only will you be on the hook for vehicle damages, but you’ll be shafted with a ludicrous hospital fee. Seriously, people live like this?
But, if a calm walk through nature is more your style, City Park and its
digital trees to the north may suit your needs. The fish in the river here can be fished up by hopeful anglers, though all are wiggly, inedible robots. Hm.
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sticksandbones2025-04-01 12:12 pm
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[Wrinkling his nose, he hands it back. His heart already seems to be thudding a bit faster but... Luca will just ignore that. It's probably fine.]
The good news is that it hasn't killed either of us yet!
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Thank you. I thought that it tasted somewhat medicinal, but I wasn't certain if it was simply my unfortunate familiarity with medicines influencing my sense of taste or not.
[ He takes the bottle back, even though he has no real interest in drinking any more of it. What is in this, that it tastes like electricity and medicine and fruit?? Probably nothing good. ]
I suppose that is one small comfort. I don't think I shall be drinking more...
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[He eyes the bottle and... oh, why not. He holds his hand out for it once more.]
I imagine with proper mixing, I could make a halfway decent drink out of it. [He shifts back and forth on his feet. Why does he feel so antsy?] I can pay you back for whatever you spent on it.
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Oh, you don't have to. It was only three, ah. Credits?
[ Is that what the currency on these cards had been called?
But then he notices that anxious shuffling, and he pauses, lifting his eyebrows. ]
Luca, are you all right?
[ ... come to think of it, he doesn't exactly feel fine himself. Almost like he's had another cup of Ezell's coffee.
Oh dear. ]
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[He takes another sip to prove it, which he quickly learns to regret. He coughs once, before replacing the cap. He just needs the name, really. It would be better to mix with when it was fresh. Or maybe he should get several? There were several options to try. Maybe a greasy nut or -
Abruptly, he finds himself dizzy from his thoughts.]
I think. [His brows draw together.] What about you?
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I think, perhaps, the bottle should be discarded. I don't know that it is fit for human consumption.
[ It doesn't seem to be striking him very quickly, but he can still feel it. That almost anxious feeling in his chest, like his heart is working toward a spectacular jailbreak. The beginnings of a cold sweat. ]
It is a very similar feeling to when I drank coffee for the first time. But... amplified?
[ And not pleasant. ]
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[Oh. Oh he's pretty sure he understands now. And he has half of a mind to chuck the bottle, just as Joshua suggests. He's never been one for substances, and his recent tolerance for liquor has not extended into anything else. Even tea was a rare indulgence.
Which unfortunately means Luca is especially primed and vulnerable to its effects.]
I think I may need to sit down.
[he is going to rattle his way out of existence shortly, just wait.]
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Perhaps we both should, then.
[ But, seeing as he's the more, ah. Sober? Of the two of them, Joshua takes responsibility and takes Luca by the hand, gently leading him over to a wall next to a storefront. ]
Here. Sit. Ah, Founder, where is--
[ Water. He has water in a small water skin inside his satchel. Give him a moment. He will sit down himself, then shuffle through the bag. Luca gets the first sip, the water skin being pressed into his hands. ]
Here. Perhaps water will dilute it.
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He'll accept the water skin when it's offered, though. He lifts up once, takes a rather large gulp, then passes it back to Joshua with a grateful nod.
He probably should have eaten something first.]
I think I am starting to hate it here, actually.
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It would certainly be nice if these things were labeled.
[ Presumably, those that "inhabit" this place naturally would know. But not those that don't have such things in their own worlds. ]
Are you feeling ill? Is there anything I can do?
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[He blames the shitty forest god. And maybe the skeletons. They weren't exactly making things easier, despite their promises to do so.]
I feel utterly awful, yes. But, no, there is little to be done.
[Actually, he purses his lips.]
Unless you can manifest a meal or two. Food and rest is all that usually helps.
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[ The apartment is the biggest kindness he can think of, and even then, there's the threat of eviction by the end of the month. Not that Joshua uses the apartment, though.
But ah, he has a task. Food is something he's sure he can find. He nods, standing up - and then pausing for a moment when he does, placing his hand on his chest. Oof, he regrets drinking any amount of that thing... ]
I will find what I can. Wait here.
[ Because there has to be something.
He leaves Luca be for a moment, moving around the shops to see if there's anything. Even the vending machines get a glance, and that's where he finds it - some kind of wrapped bar. He uses his card to purchase one, but before he brings it back to Luca, he breaks off a piece to try for himself. He isn't doing that to Luca again.
And when it doesn't have any odd effects, he brings it back to Luca. ]
Here. Try this. It seems like it is made of oats and fruit? It shouldn't have any ill effects on you.
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Fine. Whatever.
In the end he... tries not to make a face as Joshua returns with the bar. He can tell, already, that it's going to taste far too sweet for him. The last thing he wants to do is spit in Joshua's face for his effort, though. He opens his mouth, taking a bite. He chews slowly and avoids squirming at the thick, syrupy feeling enveloping his tongue.
Oh he wants to die.]
Thank you. It should... pass soon enough.
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Ah. Wait. ]
You may want to lay down. I could help you to your room?
[ He has a strength boon, and he has carried Luca before. He will do it again if necessary. ]
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[He is currently contemplating becoming one with the dirt, so maybe he is that bad off. Luca doesn't say as much though. He doesn't want to be a burden on Joshua. Never mind the fact that he doesn't think Joshua can manage the trip. The last time, after all, had been high adrenaline.]
Just. Stay here with me. If we both sit like this, it looks more intentional.
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[ Even though he doesn't sound like he fully believes Luca. But, he won't force it on Luca. If he doesn't want to go, he doesn't want to go. Besides, it... probably is for the best that he sits down for a moment, too.
So, he takes a spot against the wall beside Luca, as requested. He presses his hands to his face, sighing deeply into his palms. ]
We cannot tell Clive about this. He will never let me come back.
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[Luca holds his hand... somewhat in Joshua's direction for a shake. It's hard to say if he aims it properly. It's definitely trembling though.]
Though, I do wonder how he might react to it. I could sneak it into his drink and — [He snorts.] Never mind.
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But he will do something about it in a moment. When they've had a chance to rest a little. ]
He has had coffee before. He quite likes it, actually. But you should have seen his face when I told him it had made me feel like I was going to die, after he'd already taken his first drink of it.
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[Luca lets out a faint laugh. He knows Clive, and how deeply he cares for his brother. Luca probably would have done the same, were it Kiera involved.]
I think I might like to slip it into his drink. Just to see what would happen. Especially if he likes this sort of stuff.
... if we make it out of this.
[Recovering from the drink, not from Neo-Eden itself.]
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Probably, anyway. He doesn't particularly want to think about Clive suffering this way. He wouldn't wish it on anyone. ]
If we do not make it out of this, I should think Clive would be cross with the both of us. But we must make it through, for his sake.
[ With how Clive had responded after Luca's last death, he doesn't want Clive to have to go through both of them dying. Particularly to something so innocent as a drink.
Not that he thinks it will be a problem, though. Being a bit overly melodramatic is all part of the caffeinated delirium. ]
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He's family now. Gay.]
For his sake.
[If Luca sounds a little grim, it's because Luca feels it. He still harbors plenty of guilt for what happened the month previous.]
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Hands that were trembling a moment ago. Joshua pulls in a breath, forcing his eyes open to turn and look at Luca. ]
You were shaking. Are you certain you don't need to lay down?
[ He will force himself up if needed. Clive isn't here, so it falls to him to make sure that Luca is okay. ]
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Much better.