OVERFLOW THREADS

[theshiningone]

because this will happen at some point

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[psycholawgy]

[ Did he want to be grabbed by the collar? DID HE?! Because Athena's doing that, and looks like she could burn him alive. ]

You--! I'm an adult!

[theshiningone]

[ERK. STARTING TO SWEAT BULLETS.]

Y-Yup! Definitely a perky, beautiful and cheerful adult here! No arguments here!

[psycholawgy]

[ Compliments??? HELL YES. She lets go rather roughly, but it looks like her mood has brightened once again. ]

I'm glad you think so!

[theshiningone]

[Weak to compliments... He'll have to make note of that.]

Right, so, um... Anyway! Anything else to note about the laws here? I wouldn't wanna step on someone's toes.

[psycholawgy]

[ Nonchalantly, she says: ] There aren't any laws here.

[ It's an unacceptable reality, but Athena's learned to live with it. If she wants to get everybody's worlds back, she has to play by CERES' rules. ]

But the robots instill curfews for the younger people, and I'm pretty sure murder will put you in jail.

[theshiningone]

... No laws, huh? So that's how this world rolls. And breaking curfews and murder are on the "To Don't" list.

[A normal person would've freaked out, but Hiro is looking surprisingly calm and thoughtful despite this bomb dropping over his head. He's always been quick to adapt towards bizarre situations and his mind was usually more prone to thinking how to solve issues than freaking out. And considering that he's horribly used to watching society crumble down into an anarchy... Well, it would've been a lie to say that he wasn't worried about the people here. A world without laws had both good and bad in it.

Then she said murder could put people in jail, but he knew well that people could still easily get away with that.]

And CERES are the ones deciding the law reinforcement here? You'd think that they'd be a lot more stricter seeing that we're all refugees here.

[psycholawgy]

[ Athena's only met the CEO before, but she knows how the other people here feel. They don't like him. They think he's a liar, and he's useless. Nobody really trusts CERES but a handful of people. . . ]

It's CERES, but they hired some people to be part of the police force, too. [ As for what they actually do at work, Athena has no idea. ]

They could really be stricter, it's true. I don't really know a lot about the CEO to tell you my thoughts on all of this, though. All I really want is for the glitches to stop, and for everybody to start fighting the Flamines.

[ That said, she does know something about the CEO, but seeing as most of the population dislikes him, she decides to keep it to herself. ]

[theshiningone]

[There's something in his expression that turns a little pale. Hiro still looks calm, but there's a certain shock in his eyes. He knew that they were biodata, but...]

Wait-- Did you say "glitches"? What kind of glitches are we talking about here?

[His mind was immediately jumping to the conclusion that people's data were being messed with and they'd simply cease to be. That was something that happened to him in one world and a thing that he almost experienced again in another. The sensation of losing your existence little by little... Hiro couldn't properly describe how unpleasant and painful it was. And that was something that he never wanted to experience again. Whatever her answer was, he hoped it wasn't anything like he was thinking.]

[psycholawgy]

Sudden changes in the surroundings, people's personalities being altered, the robots who are supposed to protect you turn on you— [ Okay, maybe the latter doesn't really belong in the same sentence, but it's still an example.

It's obvious that she cuts herself short, though. The car eventually stops outside the cosplay cafe, and the driver exits and opens the door for both of them. Athena doesn't say anything else, and just enters the cafe, expecting Hiro to follow her. Just as she thought, there's not a lot of people there right now. In fact, there's only a couple in one table, and a waitress working her shift. There's definitely some people in the back, but Athena isn't concerned with them. ]

[theshiningone]

[Not as bad as what came to his mind, but you could never be too careful. In any case, Hiro wasn't going to worry nor think too hard about it. Why waste time thinking on the bad "what ifs" and "could bes" if he had time to think about solutions and what could do for a more happier future. Whenever he steps into the cafe, Hiro stops in midwalk... His serious demeanor from before completely vanishes like it never even happened.]

A cosplay cafe... No. Freakin'. Way! They're seriously a cosplay cafe here?! Man, I thought Akibahara was the only place where offered such a paradise!

[Don't mind him getting on a nearby seat and yelling at the top of his lungs again.] HOOOOONEY I'M HOOOOOOOME! ♪

[psycholawgy]

[ If Athena was more of a straight man, then she would have hit him on the head with a paper fan by now. Instead, she just makes a face and looks around to see what kind of reactions her co-worker and the other patrons might have. The waitress by the counter doesn't seem fazed at all, while the customers look at Hiro for a few good seconds before turning back to their food.

Oh boy, here comes one of those kinds of men, Athena is sure she heard one of the girls say that. Good god, what has she done... ]

Shut up!

[ She pulls him by the arm and drags him to one of the tables at a far corner. It's her favourite spot when talking to people, since it's where the couches are. . . (Priorities, amirite?) ]

[theshiningone]

[While he was genuinely excited over the fact that he was inside a cosplay cafe, he couldn't help and slide out a self-satisfied smirk as Athena drags him away. Doing that was totally worth it for her reaction. And while it was on in his mind...]

So I don't suppose that asking you for some service is out of the question?

[psycholawgy]

I think it's already obvious, but I'm not working here today! Now sit down!

[theshiningone]

Okaaaaaay... [And flopping down on the couch.] I'll make a mental note to come here while you're working.

[psycholawgy]

Good luck finding out what my schedule is!

[ Ha! Ha ha ha! She feels so clever now. But she's quick to go back to being serious as she takes a seat across from him. ]

So, what were we talking about? We should be okay here, as long as you don't start yelling about the things I'll be telling you.

[theshiningone]

[Pfft... Hiro's a snoop. He'll figure out a way how or just simply ask someone here whenever Athena's off in the bathroom or something.]

Nah. I'm actually pretty good with keeping quiet unlike some people who aren't working here today~! [All said with a hilarious impression of Athena's voice.]

But yeah... We were talking about CERES and the whole state of the world. I'm kinda curious about that stuff.

[psycholawgy]

[ ... she is going to punch you one of these days. JUST YOU WAIT!!!! ]

People were trying to figure out if there was a pattern to the strange incidents that happened here. When I say strange, I mean the "glitches". A few months ago, the robots started accusing each person who had just arrived of a crime that they didn't do. I don't know how long that lasted, but CERES apologised for it and dismissed it as a "glitch", and compensated everybody involved.

When I arrived, we were asked to play more games on top of ViViD. There was one game that we all played. . . at least, I'm pretty sure everybody has played it. And a day or so after that, we started acting weird, like we weren't ourselves.

The CEO never said anything about it, but I'm pretty sure it was another glitch.

The last "glitch" happened last Christmas. There was a blizzard, and there were a bunch of animals and monsters let loose who started hurting and killing people. CERES hasn't said anything about it yet.

... they probably won't, with how long they've been keeping quiet.

[theshiningone]

So that's how things are, huh?

[It sounded like the glitches were growing harsher and harsher as time rolled on. First the robots sparking out, then the game playing altering people's personalities and a blizzard along with animals going crazy and slaughtering people. The last one in particular was pretty damn serious.]

... It's weird how they could easily sweep the first glitch under the rug, but not say something about the other two. Either they're trying to cover up something or they've ran out of ways to try and pay back everyone. Just how exactly did they compensate everybody for the first time this had happened?

[psycholawgy]

Money.

[ That's pretty much it.

Athena's face isn't really giving off what she might be thinking at the moment. There are a lot of problems with this colony, but the least CERES could do is take care of the injured. But they don't. . . ]

[theshiningone]

It makes the world go 'round.

[Being more perspective than he let on, Hiro easily filled in the blanks about the possibilities from the other glitches and the chances that people were going untreated here. There were folks bound to know healing magic or knew first aid, but you could only get by through so much. The more that he was hearing about CERES, the more that it was sounded like the JPs from the first world.

Only keeping supplies for themselves, giving food and shelter for the talented and leaving the weak and unable to fend for themselves on the streets. In some ways, this was reminding him of the first apocalypse he had to survive through.]

... Next time, I'm gonna request everyone to get free bunnies on their door step. [All said with a completely serious expression.]

[psycholawgy]

[ ... everyone has different ways of coping. Athena doesn't ask about it and just moves on. ]

Nobody really knows if the Flamines have been consuming worlds or not, and with how CERES is treating us, I don't think we'll be able to learn anything about what truly happened any time soon.

Even though it's depressing to think about, I think it's true. It's why I feel an overwhelming amount of happiness when new people are brought in.

[ Though she says that, her necklace is showing a sad face. It doesn't help that she's frowning, either. ]

[theshiningone]

[His coping methods were a lot weirder than normal standards.]

I'd rather have some information than nothing at all. It's enough to get us a step closer to figuring everything out.

[He's honestly thankful from what he's heard already. Hiro could've sat back and believed everything the powerpoint told him, but just as experience told him... If you wanted to find answers to fix things, then keep digging for info.]

You don't have to push yourself, y'know. Being happy all the time isn't always a good thing. [A contradictory statement for someone like himself.]

[psycholawgy]

What are you talking about?

[ Being told that is definitely surprising. She'd expect it from somebody she knows well, but for a total stranger to tell her that... even if he's just saying it for the sake of saying it, somehow, it just feels personal. ]

I'm fine. If I wasn't, then it would be hypocritical of me to be conducting therapy sessions.

[theshiningone]

Hmm... ♪ Who knows. Maybe I'm just talking to myself or an imaginary friend.

[That was Hiro for you. He couldn't help and get personal with people he barely knew for better or worst. Especially if they were looking down in the dumps. But more cheerfully, he adds-]

--But therapy, huh? Are you even certified for that kind of stuff?

[psycholawgy]

Not here, obviously.

I'm a master of psychology back home, though.