compnetwork | [01] [Video]

[Rose has managed to get settled into her apartment in the Pisces district. It is still fairly bare, but she has hung up the few clothes brought with her in the closet and has a few nick-knacks on the shelves near her bed. She is seated at the foot of the bed, legs delicately crossed as she surveys the watch camera--much preferring already to the strange glasses.

She is still not certain that this isn't just a trick of the dream bubbles or perhaps Lord English--or simply SBURB itself--but her intuition tells her it's somewhere completely new. And that is precisely what worries her. Rolling a small white ball in her other hand, she addresses the video with a small smirk, projecting an air of nonchalance and confidence that is not entirely faked.]

Greetings, my name is Rose Lalonde. I am new to the city and this world, and I would appreciate any advice or information you might have--especially as it pertains to returning to our own worlds. I am afraid I do not have much time to trifle about here. There is much work to do in my own universe.

I would also be grateful to hear if anyone has seen my friends. Their names are John, Jade, and Dave. If you have not seen them, my other companions might have been easier to spot. They are an alien race of trolls with gray skin and horns. I would be willing to barter for information about their safety and location

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It's nice to meet you, Rose.

[Nano bows politely at the camera.]

I'm afraid there's no way to get back home right now, though.

I had the strangest feeling someone would tell me that.

[She sighs, but it doesn't seem too put-out.]

I suppose it would be too much to hope that there was an effort to return to our homes already in progress?

I'm sorry.

[Even still, she knows it's not an easy thing to hear, so apologies all the same.]

I'm actually not sure. I'm sure some people have been trying, but I haven't heard anything.

Do not apologize. Unless it is, in some yet unknown way, your fault that I cannot return home.

[It isn't an easy thing to hear, but Rose has grown used to bad news.]

I suppose there is nothing left to do but explore this world for the moment then. Have you been here for long?

For about two months now.

Ah, I see. Not very long then at all.

I will admit that this is quite the change of scenery for me. I had grown used to being one of the last of my kind.

[That is not something that should be said so nonchalantly.]

It feels even longer. I've never been outside the town I lived in at home until now.

[But hey, wait a minute.]

...The last of your kind? What happened?

We played a video game that ended the world.

[Way to be blunt and not spare anyone's feelings, Rose.]

Or the world ended and the game was just a coincidence. I haven't yet determined that.

Ended the world? But how did you and your friends survive?

[Yeah, Rose, you're dealing with a pretty panicky robot here. Nano's already flailing her arms wildly as the key in her back spins like crazy.]

[Rose blinks, watching the key spin with an amused laugh.]

Inside of the game, of course. Its purpose is to create a new universe, according to the little information we have managed to compile.

Inside the game...? That's amazing!

I suppose that is one word for it, yes.

[She shrugs.]

So did you win the game?

We are currently still playing--or I was until I came here.

Ah... I'm sorry to hear that. It sounds like a very difficult game.

Nigh impossible to win, in fact.

[Her expression belies this seemingly defeated statement, and an amused smile curls at the corners of her lips.]

And so we cheated, if you pardon the expression. We broke the game apart.

You broke it? Then how can you still play it?

We are beginning a new... round, if you would.

Exploiting the game's weaknesses.

Who would design a game like that?

[Rose raises her eyebrows pointedly.]

The same people who would make it end the world in order to create a new universe? No one accuses the elder gods of being fair.