Fantasy Chrysanthemum: Loss of What Was

[Little_Red_Cassette]

3. 1 of 3 (range: 1) (33%) 4. 2 of 3 (range: 2-3) (66%)
Total votes: 3
Rolling for fate...
1!

Remaining Battery: 23 hours, 40 minutes, 0 seconds, assuming idle​

3. "I want to find my true name."

You said it after a good, long pause.

"Your true name huh...?" Nine muttered to themself, continuing to walk out of the junkyard, looking at the tablet as the message came through to it with a low bzzz.

"Is there something wrong with that?" you typed in response to the murmurs, becomning almost unsure of your response

"Nah! Nah..." Nine quickly assured you with a wave of the hand. "If anything its reasonable. Id want to know who i was before I ended up in the junkyard of some guy. I'm just wondering how hard something like that is gonna be. You're a pretty old droid y'know. Your model is-" bzzz.

"I'll find it." you responded with an assuredness unforseen. "There has to be ways to find it. It cant be all gone." you reinforced your belief with your words.

Nine looked back at you somewhat subtly, looking at you on his back with the side of their eye. Your eyes met with theirs as you did the same motion a few seconds. A firm look. Nine chuckled, looking forwards once again. "I suppose you're right. Can't all be lost to time forever." they said with a shrug, before continuing to walk. "Won't make for an easy time though..." bzz.

"That's fine." you assured Nine. The firmness of your words hardened yourself. You had a goal. A desire for the future. You felt a will renewed within you to keep moving forwards, even if only to find out who you once were. (+1 willpower)

The goal to find your past self set into your head, you were carried by Nine out from the junkyard. You could still see the place where you had exploded up from the rubble, the metallic bits you tossed up having been stacked back into a heap, just slightly different than it was before. Not that you could tell how it was.

The junkyard itself seemed to be somewhat on the outskirts of a town-ish area. Just towards the edge of the city. you could tell because one of the first things that your eyes saw was... a wall.

​

A steep, borderline grandiose wall that towered over all the buildings around it. An impassible structure that was a scale not well fit for your singular eye, or your distance from it. And the only way through being these small pathways heading through. It was... incredible, in a sense. Menacing. Imposing. Yet somehow incredible.

"You saw The Wall I'm guessing?" Nine asked.

"...Yes, it is hard to miss." you responded. "Why..."

"Keeps us in. Keeps us safe. Nothing goes in without them knowing, nothing goes out without them knowing."

"Them?"

"O.R.D.E.R." they spoke with a neutral voice, as though it were a fact of life. "Government organization that keeps us safe. Kept the peace for a good... what was it, like 200 years now? 200-ish. Maybe 300." Nine said while continuing the stride along the stone streets. "But hey, check that out." Nine said, before turning themself around, your head turning with it, causing you to now face in the direction that you were both headed.

"I guess you could consider this your formal

Welcome to Chrysanthemum!"


You found yourself standing on top of a slight hill in the road, looking down at the vast, complex land before you.​

Houses dotted the landscape. Each one stone and sturdy, built in a way that looked like it could stand lifetimes upon lifetimes. In the distance beyond the houses, one that stood above others as a grand structure: a tower that granted itself size over the other buildings by many times.

"This place hasnt changed much since i was young." Nine noted. "Or since my parents or their parents were young!"

Even farther beyond that distance, you could see more of the city. It kept going, farther and farther, in just about every direction you could see. And even then, all of it hailed to the wall you just witnessed, and were now witnessing again as Nine turned around once again, continuing to walk, and leaving the city you were headed into a painting within your mind. "Pretty nice, isn't it?" Nine said, turning their stride into a brisk jog as they went down the hill's other side, continuing to follow the stone path. "I get why they do it, this place is pretty neat, I think." they continued, jog slowing into walk once more as they reached the bottom of the hill.

As Nine walked with you in tow, you got to see the various houses and shops, metal plating mixed into their surface and signs, adding a dramatic-ish sheen and an eye-catching, intriguing exterior, many painted over with various colors to add even more vibrance to their presentation, making each of the signs and exteriors to the various shops practically begging for you to turn your attention to them instead.

VRRRRMMMmmmm...!

your attention had only been stripped away from the signage and presentation by a vehicle of some kind whizzing itself on by! It was pretty large, larger than Nine, that was for sure. Strolling around on six distinct wheels, it sped down the streets, a metal exterior shimmering under the sun, going down much more towards the middle while Nine had kept himself off and to the side, where they had been remaining since they got onto the streets themselves.

"Which shop are we going to?" you asked, a deep curiosity resonating within you

"Cool set of siblings i know! Trust me, they'll be able to get you some good parts. I know em pretty well." they said with a confident nod.

Street after street passed by, with various people moving past. Each person you saw the back of looked a little different as they walked passed. Some wore these draping, dense cloaks as they walked by, thin, papery wings attached to their backs, draped down, each with little bits of writing on their surface in some kind of ink, moving too fast to catch what any of them said, their limbs covered in a light layers of fuzz. Others were more like Nine, angels with the feathery wings and little ring halo, each remaining in a slightly different to majorly different place on the body. There were even some without the rings or the halo to speak of, which you were quickly able to identify as humans- by far the most abundant on the streets despite the significant mix. A few had somewhat shorter bodies with much stranger looks to them: thick caps that almost seemed attached to their heads, or odd, plant-like growths coming from sections of their body, clothes conforming around them. Some had long snouts accompanied by either scales or fur, giving drastically different looks to either of the two ends.

And some

Just a few

Were very nearly like you.

Bodies that were very clearly steel painted over, decorated with various little accessories about themselves, how each of their metal parts conformed to make their bodies just a little bit different... well, except for one. One of them you could hear coming from a mile away. these big, THUNKING footsteps moving them across the street. A big, hulking mass of steel and parts, about double the size of just about everyone else, if not more, causing it to stick out even as it was walking away and out of view. each of its massive steely plates heaved with every step it took, people moving out of the way of where it went long before it got there, leaving a clear path for the walking metal titan. Were THOSE the mechs Nine had been talking about??

"There is a... wide variety of people." you notioned, continuing to look around and watch the people pass by.

"Sure as hell is." they responded after a brief look at the tablet. "Chrysanthemum is home to just about every humanoid species there is. You'll get to meet all kinds of people out there."


Choose 1:

1. "Do these people... actually like O.R.D.E.R.?"

2. "Are there any other cities like chrysanthemum out there?"

3. "Could you tell me more about the humanoids?"

4. "Is such a large wall really necessary?"

5. "How large is this place? It seems gigantic."

6. "I dont like crowds... I think they're staring at me. How much longer?"

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You obtained:
Willpower +1​

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Saving...
Saved!​

 

[CHUUYAS_HAT]

1

 

[THEKAZUHA_ANEMO]

3

 

[Iamhe]

4

 

[Little_Red_Cassette]

1. 1 of 3 (range: 1) (33%) 3. 1 of 3 (range: 2) (33%) 4. 2 of 3 (range: 3) (66%)
Total votes: 3
Rolling for fate...
3!

Remaining Battery: 23 hours, 25 minutes, 0 seconds, assuming idle​

4. "Is such a large wall really necessary?"

"Sometimes I wonder that myself!" Nine responded with a laugh. Slowly, the crowd parted in front of you. After you made your way across street that served as an intersection, the people's number got thinner and thinner. It was hard to notice at first, but soon came apparent. Less people walking by in the opposing direction, individuals turning onto different streets. You could only suspect and try to guess where they were headed off to.

"Everything out there is dangerous," Nine continued. "I guarantee you there's no one who's actually gone out that will argue about that. There's creatures with capabilities far beyond even 1000 of this city's people. Some beyond several of those thousands." in the distance, a subtle rumble. The sounds of voices steadily became clear. Many of them. Surging in and out of the microphones that were your ears, they remained unrelenting. "Ive gotten to see some of them first hand. some of them are terrifying. But even so..."

The rumbles got louder. They almost fell into some sort of synchronized... march. A continuous cascade of footsteps. You could clearly tell the direction. The shouts, the passionate cries, the voices of the many.

Nine stepped to another intersection. Then another. Then another. The voices got a bit louder with each one. The streets became starkly empty very fast. You came to another intersection. They were loud, overwhelmingly so. Nine stopped. Both their and your eyes looked to your right, around the corner.

​

A gathering. En masse, unlike anything your mine could conceive. Souls, possibly in the hundreds, starting off as a few, scattered about the street, but very rapidly getting dense the closer towards the middle you looked. Souls, possibly in the Thousands. Your eyes looked to the faces of those in the masses, your ears attempting to catch the individual voices. Each of their faces skated out of view just as they had shown themselves, their voices washing over you like a torrent. Resoundingly, you failed at keeping track of any more than a select few, the crowd quickly turning into a blur of bodies, signs, and shouts.

Your failure had left your eye somewhat wide in one part speculation, two parts awe.

"Well." Nine said, their closeness being the only thing letting you make out their words properly. Without that closeness, you were positive his voice and face would have slipped into the gathering, as the others had done. "There are... definitely some who don't like it. That's for sure. Thank dragonkind we ended up on the outside of it."

"What are-"

"Trying to make change happen, for whatever its worth." Nine intruded before you could finish the sentence, crossing the intersection. Even moving by it, you couldn't stand looking away from the group. It felt... Intense. In a way you couldn't describe. Your core burned in your chest silently, and you put your hand up to the center of your chest, almost without thought. Each intersection you passed, you could see a dense moving of people across the streets. wings, fur, scales, steel, flesh. All of it, dense, unified in a proclamation of antithesis.

Where Nine had stopped and turned towards a building, you could still hear people in the distance, their voices being only makeable as this blur of noise.

You managed to turn your attention away from that extreme feeling radiating throughout your whole body for just a second. The building Nine had picked out was somewhat... dingy... Its sign lacked that metal decor, leaving the words 'G&D Parts and Accessories' just narrowly readable against the bright sun.

"Here we are!" Nine said in front of the door. "Its not as popular as it used to be, but trust me, this place is Nice." Nine said with confidence, raising his hand in a thumbs up. With a few steps forwards, he entered through the door, and into some sort of funnel. The inside appeared to be glass, with some metal around it, making rings within the structure. On the inside of the door, a few buttons. Nine pressed the topmost one, and after a short few seconds, the both of you started levitating! Being lifted straight upwards, as though there were ground underneath the both of you, steadily raising you up and up beyond the floor and towards the top. At the upper levels, you could see the blurred mass of people just beyond a building or two. A bizarre feeling wracked you as you looked at it, like a chill of some kind.

After a brief moment, the lifting stopped, in front of another door, that opened automatically. Nine simply took a step off of the tube and onto the floor beyond the door, stepping off the machine with ease.

And just past that door, as it opened, a silently snoozing head lifted up its heavy eyelids, slightly looking towards the door from behind a countertop with a register set on it. In that same moment, another head revealed itself from around the corner, far more awake and interested in whoever the visitor could be. "Oaaah!" the head that poked itself out immediately grinned upon seeing who it was. "Darry! Wake up! Nine's here!" they continued, speaking to the sleeping one.

"nhh..." the one referred to as darry muttered a bit.

WHUNK!!

a large, metal hand SLAPPED the top of the counter! "Ok Gimmy! Ok, ill wake up, jeez." Darry said, sitting up in his seat. "Ay, it Is Nine, whadd'ya know. Haven't seen you in a good month." Darry stood up.

"Gimmy! Darry! howve you been?" Nine asked, walking in with their arms out.

"Good! Good. We've been keeping this place afloat somehow." Darry said with a slight huff "Eh... that group out there didnt harm you any, did they?"

"Nah, not at all. We didn't get that close to em in the first place" Nine clarified.

"Good!" Darry said, tilting his head back for a moment. "So, here to hand off one of your 'finds' again?"

"Yeah, c'mon! Show us what you got!" Gimmy demanded enthusiastically, raising the two large metallic hands up into the air.

Nine let out a slight chuckle in response "Sorry Gimmy, but not today." they waved their hand slightly. "Today, its for this one." they said, before reaching back and lifting you up out of the backpack and turning around towards them, giving you got a clear view of the both of them, and both of them a clear view of you. "Say hello to Cass! Cass, say hello to Gimmy and Darry. They've been running this place for more than a decent while now."

​

You were able to immediately identify the both of them as human, despite the... monogamy of parts and machinery married to the body of one of them, seemingly replacing various body parts that may have been lost.

"Woah! What happened to that one?" Gimmy and Darry's eyes widened slightly upon seeing you raise an eyebrow. You werent quite sure how to feel about that look. It somehow felt... revealing.

"Hello." you typed out onto the little tablet.

"They say hello" Nine transcribed for you after a passing glance at the tablet. "Honestly? I have no clue! I found them in my scrap yard looking like this, and I'm here to get them new parts." Nine said.

"Well you're in luck!" Gimmy started "I just restocked." with a huge metallic hand, they leaned on one of the nearby displays for their stock. somewhat suprisingly, the display held the huge metal hands weight quite effectively.

"that we did."

"that I did. you spent the past 3 hours when i was unpacking asleep." Gimmy corrected Darry wth a point of the finger. The fact that Darry only chuckled, not refuting this, made it clear who the harder working of the two was.

Nine smiled at the two's antics, as though it were a familiarity on the precipice of being forgotten, now refreshed. "Well, I'm going to take Cass around the place and show them what we can get." Nine said, walking into the aisles of the store with you. There really were all kinds of parts here. From small pieces to entire pre-assembled sections of a droids body. The variety was nigh overwhelming, but Nine was quick to help you narrow down a select few parts.

Chooose 1 arm:

1. Strongarms lite: A steady arm built around being light, while capable. For those who want to do light work fast without stress (+3 strength)
2. Johnny's Fasthand: A hand built for quick burst movements. With flexible fingers, its great for sleight of hand. (+1 speed, +1 deciet)
3. Magician Fingers: An arm great for a beginner to magic, channeling magical capabilities nicely for the price. (+2 magic)
4. Gentleman's Handshaker: An arm with a firm grasp that only lets go when it needs to. Guaranteed to give a firm handshake (prevents you from being disarmed)

choose 1 set of legs

1. Heavy Steppers: a set of legs capable of giving forceful kicks and jumping fairly wide distances. great for making short distances fast. (+3 speed, +1 strength)
2. Trailblazers: never-failing legs that will get you where you need to go, even if they arent the fastest. (+1 speed, +3 durability)
3. Style Shoes: a designer pair of legs that look good on anyone. everyone needs to look good, dont they? (+2 speed, +2 ideals)

choose 1 chassis:
1. Big Brother: a chassis built for taking anything head on. built to last, there are few everyday situations it cant deal with (+4 durability)
2. Busybody's body: a light chasis intended to make it easy to get around without tire, but somewhat notorious for lacking in longevity (+2 speed, +2 durability)
3. The Magicore: a chassis with an additional magical channel, making mass output of magic far easier. that is to say, said channel leaves a crucial weak point (+3 magic, +1 durability)

optional:

1. "a question..." (free response! ask Gimmy and Darry any 1 question)

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New People Met!
Gimmy & Darry​

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Saving...
Saved!​

 

[CHUUYAS_HAT]

1
1
3

 

[THEKAZUHA_ANEMO]

1
1
3

 

[Little_Red_Cassette]

1. Strongarms lite: A steady arm built around being light, while capable. For those who want to do light work fast without stress (+3 strength)

You chose the strongest of the arms offered to you. Their power... felt right to you.

1. Heavy Steppers: a set of legs capable of giving forceful kicks and jumping fairly wide distances. great for making short distances fast. (+3 speed, +1 strength)

You chose the fastest of the legs offered to you. Their speed... felt right to you.

3. The Magicore: a chassis with an additional magical channel, making mass output of magic far easier. that is to say, said channel leaves a crucial weak point (+3 magic, +1 durability)

You chose the most magical of chassis offered to you. Despite its supposed frailty, its magical nature... felt right to you.


"Good choices! Even if it is a bit light on the durability." Nine said. You felt like he would have said they were good choices regardless of what you chose. Not for any real reason, just a hunch.

Nine placed each of the parts on the counter "I'm gonna need these delivered back to the usual address"

"Still no buggy yet?" Darry asked, before letting out a huff. "Alright, but you're paying for delivery this time."

"Ehh?? Dahh, alright, fine." Nine said, setting them down with a dismissive wave of the hand, to which Darry took them for the time being. They went back to get more things. You could see a few of the items he picked out. One of which appeared to be some sort of flexible rubber... it looked something like the skin he had. A different shade- less pale, but similar. "It's pretty clear you were originally designed to have a human-esque skin, so I'm going to see what i can do to restore that, alright? No promises ill do a perfect job about it, but y'know. Ill do what i can." You nodded in response, thinking about what you could look like when all was said and done.

He also picked up a bunch of various pieces of metal plating, wiring... things that you knew well were needed for your repairs, even some parts of circuitry. Your hand gripped nines shoulder. Nine stopped themself as they were picking up another piece that you knew would inevitably become a part of you. A sigh left their lips, escaping with an almost slightly tired tone. "I... I know." They said, not pushing your hand away, letting your hand hold their shoulder. "You're going to be a bit different, but... you'll be ok."

You couldn't decide whether knowing who you used to be would make you feel better or worse about the changes. Even knowing you couldn't change the present... the question dug at you silently. Subtle pains went across your body as you paid just slightly too much attention to it. Your hand, albeit briefly- gripped Nine that slight bit tighter. Nine nodded subtly, looking back at you for a few seconds. "You're gonna be out of this before you know it. Promise." Nines confidence- it gave you some semblance of comfort.

Picking out the last of the items felt longer than it should have. An arduous wait that had you questioning when exactly it would end. But eventually, inevitably, it did end. Nine picked out the last of the items, paid for them, had them delivered with the rest. as you left, you waved to the two, waving as kindly as was capable, if only to make up for the fact that you weren't able to smile. With a light tap, similar to how you got on the first time, the flotation tunnel that brought you up here steadily brought you down again in the same manner.

You turned your head. Just enough. You looked out into the distance again.

The voices did not resonate. Not nearly as clearly. The people were farther off now. They had moved more than a fair distance away in the time of your shopping. As such a large group, they moved slowly. But they did, beyond a shadow of a doubt, move. Your eyes kept on them as you slowly lowered down from the buildings upper floors back down to the same level as the street once more. The air still had that subtle tension, but it didn't feel as... extreme as that moment, when you were but a few streets away from the gathering.

"Hey..." Nine started. You turned yourself towards them slightly "I think soon... I might have to turn you off for a good while." you turned towards him again a bit harsher at the words, in slight shock "well- it wont be that long to you, but- yeah, i might have to for the repairs. you're an...old and complex machine- don't get me wrong, I'd like to keep you on, but its just, mostly for good ol' safety." they kicked their feet along the ground as they walked a bit "I don't want your wiring to be sparking too much and all that... besides!" Nine chuckled "I don't think you'd like the feeling of having screws drilled into your head. not good reviews from other droids on that front!"

A part of you understood. It was clear why it needed to happen. however, another part of you... desperate. Desperate to not return back to that void of uncertainty. It would end fast, but you couldn't be certain you would wake up again. What if something went wrong, and you never woke up? it left an unfillable well deep in your stomach.

"I... you're right." you acknowledged him. You knew it would be necessary, inevitably. "but..."

Choose 1:

1. You face forwards into uncertainty. "I think I'm ready for that." (Notice: This will initiate a skip forwards in time)

2. You look back towards the person that saved you for comfort. "Could you at least wake me up every once in a while?" (Notice: This will initiate a skip forwards in time)

3. Whether curiosity, stalling, or the desire to feel that burning in your heart again, you decide you want to request something. "Can we get closer to that crowd of people we saw earlier?"

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New Parts Obtained
Hands:
Strongarms Lite
Feet:
Heavy Steppers
Chassis:
The Magicore​

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saving...
saved!​