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Open Tour of VeNM-KC; Open to All
Topic Started: Jan 22 2014, 06:40 PM (855 Views)
Maou
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Pomf =3
After explaining the "digital layer", it would seem that someone would have a question; In this case, a request. "My, it seems the device has caught your attention. I do not know if we are allowed to give spectators immediate trial during first day-" "It is fine, I will monitor from within." Elizabeth said, cutting off the tour guide. "Ah, well then, it looks like you are in luck. Our tester will disconnect from the service and you will be allowed to do so." It didn't take too long for the user to open their eyes, the view on the screen changing to just outside the VeNM-KC building.

The user stood up from the seat, leaving the area and taking the device with them. "It will be just a moment, a new device is needed for another user as each device is unique to the owners own bioelectromagnetic signature." After a second, the previous user came back with another device and continuing to keep their device on their head. "Now, please have a seat here and we will place the device on you."

Once Xie had a seat, the previous user would begin putting the device on Xie's head slowly. The seat itself was rather comfortable and soft, a chair so soft that one could simply sleep in it. Kal simply smiled as she watched, hoping this would cause others to consider buying it. Once the headgear was on, Xie wouldn't feel much of anything, the tour guide moving in front of him to begin explanations.

"The device starts up once you close your eyes, causing you to sleep temporarily. All instructions are given to knew users in physical paper format, as well as digital format once booted up. In order to leave the device normally, one must simply think of waking up. There are safeguards in place in case the device were to be physically removed while still using the device."
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Fallen_shinku
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(இ﹏இ`。)*
When at first the attendant seemed to reluctant to fulfill Xie's request, the boy had opened his mouth. What he was going to say, the young man had not concocted yet. Probably some sort or form of beration and insult, that would've probably not had helped his plea at all and would've probably ended with him dragged out of the establishment. Actually, that was probably the only way it could end.

Thankfully, a voice interjected a short distance away, allowing Xie to not embarrass himself. However, seeing that each one of the contraptions could only be paired to one individual, Valentine & Co had more or less guaranteed themselves Xie's sale. Well, no matter; a couple month's savings was nothing in the pursuit of truth! Though, how Xie expect to find it within virtual reality was anyone's guess.

Wordlessly, the Alchemist took a seat, surprisingly docile. He didn't even lash out as the others in the guide gathered closer. Though, the boy was far from relaxed. He was excited, the adrenaline pumping through him like electricity shot through a circuit. As the demonstrator placed the circle above his head, Xie glared at the individual. Not with any malice, but because of habit.

On the subejct of the device, Xie found it surprisingly light; he could barely feel its weight pressing down upon his hair.

"So it activates when I close my eyes?" Xie affirmed, flashing his eyes to the tour guide. Just closing his eyes? He didn't even need to try to go to sleep? Would blinking have the same effect?

"Alright, then." He was too anxious to be difficult. Besides, there would be time later for other minute and trivial experiments. Taking note of the rest of the guide's explanation, Xie crossed his arms, before nearly instantly falling into the trance.

And, just like that, Xie found himself in the familiar virtual space, the same area the demonstrator prior was. Or, at least the context told him it was virtual. If the boy hadn't remembered having that product place above his head, he wouldn't have guessed that this was virtual. Everything felt natural to him, from the ever present weight of gravity to the subtle feel of his clothes.

"Impressive," Xie remarked, bringing up his hand and examining them lightly. They looked like his hands, this space rendering them in remarkable detail. Well, it wasn't that Xie memorized every phantasmal detail about them, but he assumed that any individual would realize if his hands were suddenly not "his hands".

"Very impressive.

Bringing them down, the boy looked up at the front of the corporate building; the virtual equivalent to the structure that housed his physical body. Then, he looked up and down the street. No one, or at least anyone he could see.

"Seems a bit barren though," Xie remarked, to no one in particular. It was normal for people to talk to themselves when they were in isolation, right? Shrugging it off, the alchemist walked forward, stepping into the main lobby, much the same as the demonstrator before him had done.
Edited by Fallen_shinku, Apr 1 2014, 12:46 PM.
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Maou
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Once having stepped inside, Xie would find a receptionist at the front desk. This was similar to that of the employee who had shown the same thing. The person at the desk seemed quite real, even greeting him once he had entered. "Hello and welcome to the information desk, may I assist you by answering any questions?" The receptionist asked, looking to him with a friendly smile. To Xie, everything would feel very real, from cool breeze he'd feel upon his skin to the heat from the sun. Elizabeth would make her appearance from the direction of the showing, looking to Xie directly. She then looked to the receptionist and then back to Xie. "I will be answering your questions and giving a more thorough experience for the sake of the guide. As you can tell, this world feels quite natural, almost as if you have never left your current location in reality. I will answer several questions and then I will give the tour. Please ask any questions now that you may have."
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Fallen_shinku
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The familiar sight greeted him. In fact, he had seen this nearly exact scenario twice in this day. Once on a monitor, and once before then. However, unlike the latter, the lobby was clear and deserted, save for the lone receptionist behind the desk. However, whether that entity was a collection of code, just a stand in, or another user of this device was lost to Xie. He met the eyes of the character, his mind still pondering that thought instead of returning a courtesy greeting.

"Three then," Xie said briskly, extending said number of fingers. This would perhaps save him some time from running around this virtual layer trying things out for himself. His eyes met the stare of the light haired girl.

"First, what can I do here, that I cannot do in reality?" Or, perhaps in more simple wording wording, what features does this virtual sphere hold? After all, if there was no difference between this virtual marble and reality, its purpose would be redundant. Xie brought down a finger.

"Second, what can't I do here, that I can do in reality?" And, in simpler terms, what are the rules and limitations in this world? For not only would this be a question of resources, as a computer or something is generating all these experiences, but also because any existence with a sizable number of individuals would require a certain code to keep it out of anarchy. Only his index finger was left.

The alchemist waved the finger towards Elizabeth. "Lastly, about yourself. Are you human? Or something else?" There was no malice behind his seemingly blunt and callous words; only a mild curiosity. Who was she? A bundled collection of code, perhaps. An avatar utilized by some person behind a terminal, perhaps. Or...?
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Maou
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(OOC: Sorry to Fin and Kaito but I'm going to be steam rolling through this with Shinku. Feel free to make posts if and when you can.)

Elizabeth nodded once at his first question, preparing the answer and looking to him after she had come up with an answer. "What you can do here but not in the physical layer is quite obvious. You are able to traverse many lands and time eras without the need to first acquire equipment that allows you to do so. Along with that, you will not be harming those locations if they were to get out of hand. They can be reset and modified within a moments notice. For instance." Elizabeth explained, snapping her finger at the end. The room began to change appearance, going from a corporate look to a sandy stone styled texture. A couple more seconds would bring more detail; low light with torches on the walls and hieroglyphics.

"As you can see, this room is based on the ancient Egyptian culture. This technology is not limited to historical locations nor time periods. This space could be turned into a world that has been created for the purpose of exploration and adventure." Snapping her fingers again, it would bring the two to a more open foothill landscape with a large castle in the background. The wind was blowing quite hard, the feeling of the cool breeze brushing past the young mans skin as he stood there. Within another moment, Elizabeth snapped the location back to the main lobby of VeNM-KC.

"For your second question, 'What can't I do here, that I can do in reality,' should be another obvious answer. Although everything may feel real here, you cannot die here. You may feel pain but you will not succumb to death itself. Consuming food here does nothing for you in the physical realm, although it may taste real. Do not be alarmed. As we speak, you have only been here for several seconds. The system itself only allows its users a maximum of three hours within the physical realm which equates to roughly three months within the digital layer. Warnings will be given to you prior to the shut down if you reach the maximum time frame allotted."

"If you are looking to clarify whether or not I am a program, you can be assured that I am not. I am as you saw me in the physical realm, alive and well. I hope that answers all your questions. In order to waken yourself from the Digital Layer, you must want to see the HUD that will appear directly in front of you. From there, select the 'Wake' button. Thank you for being a participant in the demonstration."
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Fallen_shinku
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"Hmm, so anything can just be reset then..." Xie remarked to himself, his statement not a form or protest or question, but an inference or observation. Well, that was to be expected, the Alchemist supposed. After all, if this scape was all generated by a computer, it would make sense that an individual could restore, modify, or change it on a whim.

As he concluded that thought, Elizabeth shifted the environment, proving her point. Next thing he knew, Xie found himself in a crypt. Or ruin, whatever it might be. But, if his memory served him correctly, the architecture was familiarly Egyptian. Xie stepped to the side, pointing his eyes over the hieroglyphs which lined the wall. That was just a coincidental design choice, right? As Elizabeth continued her answer, that was revealed to be the case.

Next, the stuffy interior was replaced by a strong comforting breeze and an open landscape. Xie shaded his eyes, as the presence of the emulated shine affected his eyes. Grasslands rolled far into the distance, ending in what could only be described as a fantastic castle.

And then, the two motionlessly returned to the familiar lobby. The alchemist furrowed his brow slightly, as Elizabeth wrote off his question as "obvious". Even if she didn't mean it that way, Xie found it belittling.

"So death is impossible here," Xie reiterated, a bit tense. That made sense, he supposed; after all, everything here is a simulation, concocted by some electronic circuit and then fed as input to his own brain. Or something like that, Xie had no idea of the specifics. Though, perhaps death through harm be avoidable, if what Elizabeth say was true, the senses function in much the same way. Meaning, the sensation would be parallel to reality, including the memories.

The next snippet Elizabeth dropped, however, nearly made Xie do a double take. His eyes suddenly flared. "Several seconds?! Are you serious!" Xie blurted out, his composure temporarily disrupted. He might've believed several minutes, but it took him much longer than several seconds to even reach the lobby.

So time is altered here too. Now, that was unexpected, and very exciting. If a minute here was a second in reality, then that would mean he would be able to accomplish so much more in this layer. A half-year's amount of work and study could be compounded into an afternoon!

Xie caught his breath, the excitement from the prospect causing his heart to race.

"Wait," Xie held up a hand, signalling Elizabeth to stop as she went through the instructions to log out of this sonorous dream. There was still one thing he needed to do; his original purpose for coming here. This place of experience without consequence.

"There's something I would like to do first, before I wake," he remarked coldly. Xie took a deep breath, relaxing himself from end to end. A troubled crease appeared upon his brow, a stern look of seriousness that wasn't there before.

"Am I still on that monitor?" the Alchemist asked of his white-haired guide, referring to the screen he had watched the prior demonstrator on back in reality. "Can you cut it off? A moment is all I need." Another requests, though this one, perhaps less brazen, was much more curious than the first. Well, to Xie, asking was a mere formality. Even if Elizabeth wouldn't comply, the Alchemist intended to proceed with his little experiment.

Of course, Elizabeth also probably had the jurisdiction to forcibly eject him from the system, if she so choose. But that was a chance that Xie was willing to risk. These were the most optimal conditions, aside from the watching crowd.
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Maou
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Elizabeth nodded once at his remark about dying within the virtual layer, "Correct," she added vocally. Xie then seemed surprised at what Elizabeth had to say about his duration within the layer, nodding once again. "The purpose of this is to maximize safety outside of the device, regarding your own physical body. It is also due to our technology that allows this to occur, giving users more time to do things within the layer." The technology Elizabeth mentioned was highly secretive, only knowledgeable to the three owners of the company that they'd never reveal. The young man then requested she shut off feed to the physical layer, Elizabeth nodding and doing as he requested.

"The feed is offline, the only ones interacting now are me and yourself. May I ask what you wish to do before preforming it? It is merely a precaution." Before the feed was cut off within the physical world, the tour guide began to move them onto the next section and informing the small group that video feed had corrupted by the user was completely unharmed. Kal stayed back and continued to watch, looking to Elizabeth and smiling.
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Fallen_shinku
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(இ﹏இ`。)*
Xie's expression didn't change as Elizabeth granted his request for second time. His visage portrayed ponder and wonderment, like an individual trying to encompass the entirety of an intricate masterpiece into the narrow confines of his mind.

"Nothing dangerous," Xie remarked, a bit tense. His voice was quick and muddled, spoken anxiously. Bringing one hand, the boy cupped his chin with fingers, his eyes leaving Elizabeth and falling down into his thoughts. "Just something I want to try." After all, it was doubtful that he would come across circumstances quite like this anytime soon.

"How much do you know about Alchemy?" Xie asked suddenly, his eyes flicking back up to Elizabeth. It was a rhetorical question, to be honest; Xie didn't expect some technologically suave individuals to have a taste for the arcane. Or perhaps that was just his own prejudice.

"The manipulation of phenomenon and matter to the will of the user," Xie continued, not really waiting for a reply from Elizabeth. Bringing up his hand, the began rolling up his left sleeve, exposing his forearm beneath. He took a sight exhale as he began tapping a finger just below the wrist.

"Alchemists are able to change and alter the world that surrounds them. However, that is all, alchemy cannot be used on things not considered 'matter'." What was this boy getting at? "But, all that's just a matter of perception." Bringing his arm up to his face, Xie examined it thoroughly.

"This isn't flesh," the Alchemist remarked darkly. Slowly, he gripped the wrist with his free hand. "Just an incarnation of strings and numbers!" Xie shouted, as if to convince himself of the fact, despite it being obvious to perhaps everyone else. But this was a subconscious facet to things.

The next moment, the scent of burning flesh wafted through the air. A grim expression took hold of Xie. A drop of sweat rolled down his taunt cheek. In case it wasn't obvious, the boy was performing alchemy. On himself. A tense second after, the boy loosened his grip.

A splash of red. Small rivulets ran down his arm.

There, beneath his grip, was a wound. But not a natural wound. There was no sign of trauma and no mess. It was as if the skin had parted and separated upon their own accord. In fact, it was as if the skin and tissue below had ruptured outwards, exposing a thin line of white bone beneath. So this was why he had requested the video feed be cut. Xie, meanwhile, examined the opening precariously. His lips were drawn into a thin line.

"So... that's what it feels like..." Xie remarked, his voice shaking. Tapping his uninjured hand to his head, the alchemist then shifted his attention to Elizabeth. He didn't particularly cared for reaction to his little experiment, but there were still things he needed to confirm.

"You said... the memories... they'll stay... right?" Of course, he was referring to when he left this digital layer; though the question itself was rhetorical, more as a confirmation than an actual query.
Edited by Fallen_shinku, Apr 12 2014, 10:21 AM.
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Fin
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One does not simply eat one packet of mee goreng
"Hey, what the hell?" The young man suddenly spoke up after staying quiet and watching the video feed for so long, taken aback as the video feed for the simulation was shut off. So much so he couldn't help but step forward and tap the monitor that had until now showed everyone the workings of the simulation. "Is this allowed? What was that for?" Unlike the rest of the visitors he was more keen on sticking around for when it comes back online. Call it a bad habit, but he's very inclined to be a slave for his own curiosity.
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Maou
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Elizabeth began to watch with caution, ready to eject him or take the necessary actions if something were to happen. He assured her that it wasn't anything dangerous, asking if she knew anything about alchemy. "No, I do not know anything of alchemy," she replied, her eyes fixed on him, unblinking, "However, my master may have knowledge, albeit very little." Elizabeth remained still, carefully examining him as he began to roll up his sleeve. She hadn't the slightest idea what the boy was planning, nor did she care as long as the world remained within control. From observations, it had seemed like he was planning to do something to himself, something Elizabeth would allow.

Several moments into it, the boy would begin to burn his own arm, possibly with the alchemy he was referring to. "I see, you are merely testing out your own powers on yourself to gather reference data," Elizabeth pointed out, watching as blood dripped from his arm to the floor below. Her face was unchanged, the act having no affect on her demeanor nor her facial expression. The young man then asked if he'd remember everything that happened inside the digital layer, Elizabeth simply nodding once without uttering a sound.

Meanwhile within the physical layer, Elizabeth noticed that Seth had become curious as well as unsatisfied with what had just happened. "It seems Elizabeth will explain herself," Kal said, looking to Seth with a smile. As such, Elizabeth began walking to Seth so they'd be near each other so they didn't have to be so loud. "The young man simply wanted to try his abilities on himself and did not want to alarm or 'gross out' the public," Elizabeth explained.

Within the digital layer, Elizabeth looked to the young man once again before speaking. "I am going to eject you from the system now. I hope you make a purchase with our company today." Just like that, Xie would find himself sitting in the chair with the device on his head. The crowd was no longer around except for another student and an owner of the company with Elizabeth right next to them. Xie would remember all that happened within the digital layer, sensations and all.
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Fallen_shinku
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"Right," the boy affirmed for Elizabeth. She had been a large help in collecting his data. Perhaps he ought to show her some gratitude, but Xie quickly refrained from the idea. After all, this was all professional; she has a job, duty or objective, just like he in coming to this place.

Xie nodded halfheartedly as Elizabeth told him that he was to log off now. Xie didn't mind, he had accomplished, and confirmed, what he had sought. There would be time later for further experimentation.

The boy closed his eyes, letting out a pent up breath. That confirms his hypothesis; it turned out this was to be a fruitful endeavor. If he could remember the sensation, if he could utilize alchemy... Everything would simply fall into place. Another step had been taken, and Xie could feel himself slowly, but surely, getting deeper. Closer to that hidden insight; the secret everyone knows exists but no one truly does.

And when he opened them again, he found himself in a familiar chair, in a familiar room. However, it felt as if, in those short minutes in the digital layer, Xie had changed. It was minute, only the expanse of minutes, but it all felt... smaller. As if he had just taken a step back, and could now see the entire painting.

Sitting up, the first thing Xie did was glanced at his wrist. Spotless, without a scratch or scar. But, if he closed his eyes, they were all there. The moment his muscles untangled, the skin erupted, and the blood spurted. The phantom pain was still there, that soreness of a fresh wound. But his eyes spoke otherwise.

Xie smiled. Reaching up, the boy took the halo-like object off from its perch on his head, turning it over slowly. It looked mundance, simplistic, and minimalistic, but Xie would admit that it was a powerful tool.

Pushing himself off the seat, Xie wasted no more time, walking over to who he remembered was one of the founders and Elizabeth. Also, another familiar individual, whose name Xie just couldn't fish out at the moment. He was fairly certain he had seen that man before, but not here. Somewhere else, in school perhaps. But then again, that didn't really matter.

"So, I guess this one's mine then?" Xie spoke as he came within ear shot of the three individuals, motioning to the halo now in his grip. Of course, he still had to pay for it, Xie wasn't brazen or lowly enough to steal, but that was just a matter of eventuality.
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Fin
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One does not simply eat one packet of mee goreng
Well that was peculiar.

To Seth whom had only been standing there watching the monitor this whole time until it turned off, he doesn't quite have anything going on to actually keep him interested much. As such when Xie came back around the young man had nothing else to really comment on it except "Well that was boring,"

Of course, the most he really could even see from the video feed was just Xie talking to a digital Elizabeth anyway, so he really didn't think he managed to see anything interesting. Besides the video feed getting cut off, but it was really a bit off-putting.

Ah, well. Who cares, it probably wasn't even all that interesting anyway, and probably wouldn't concern him at all at that. Although seeing the young man immediately deciding to buy something he's only tried once made him a teensy bit curious. Just a bit. "Hrm..." He thought to himself for a moment. "Do we get like, special free employee's access to these stuff if we want to work here?"

What?
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Maou
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"Correct," Elizabeth confirmed, giving a simple slow nod as well, "If you proceed to the front desk, you will be given the rest of the equipment such as manuals and cleaning devices; along with the container and stand." "Thank you for joining us today!" Kal smiled to Xie, Elizabeth's expression unchanging. Elizabeth was certainly a mysterious figure for those who did not know her, or what she was.

After Xie left to go pay for his device, or if he stayed to continue hearing, Elizabeth and Kal looked to Seth with Kal giving him a nod. "As employees of VeNM-KC, you get free access to early devices and software as a sort of free advertisement. That was you can happily enjoy a product before it is released and also show it off to your friends." "If he has any," Valentine would say to herself as she watches over a live video feed of this.
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Fallen_shinku
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Xie returned Elizabeth's courtesy, nodding. Which, in itself, was a surprise with the usually crass man. He must've been in quite a good mood. Turning to Kal as she thanked him, the Alchemist brushed it off.

"It turned out to be very worthwhile," Xie replied, stealing a glance at the tiara in his hand. He must've been in a very good mood. Turning, Xie breifly met eyes with Seth. A look of forlorn recognition, or hasty dismissal, brushed through his features, before the Alchemist moved on.

Turning away, Xie began making his way to the desk he had first stopped by, leaving the trio to continue on with their conversation.

Well, there goes another paycheck. But, surely, it will all pay out in the end.
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Maou
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(I'd say this is pretty much over unless Fin or Kaito has something he'd like to add.)
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