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"How old are you?"

"Sixteen. Also, you should know that that's a really weird - and kind of creepy, I might add - way to start a conversation."

"What do you like?"

"World domination. Psh. What the hell were you expecting to get with that question, anyway? Fine. If you must know, I enjoy doing normal things. Novels, swimming, racquetball, and gaming. My favorite genres of novel are fantasy and romance - should I be insulted that you look more surprised at that than you did when I said I wanted to conquer the planet? Geez. Jerk. Anyway, I also like strategy games, generally MMOs, RPGs, or Conquest games. Yes, I know, I really do like world domination, it's hilarious, ha-ha-ha. Excuse me while I roll my eyes."

"What do you dislike?"

"Well, aside from nosy idiots who keep on asking awkward questions with no concern for privacy or respect, I also dislike... People in general, actually. They're loud, annoying, and troublesome to deal with."

"What are your fears?"

"Hooooooooooow about...~ NO. Hell no. I'm not answering this question. Kindly go and die in a fire. Thank you."

*Transcriptor's Note: It seems that Miss Murasame's sudden anger at this question isn't as unreasonable as we had thought. Her medical dossier includes listings of several phobias, which will be reproduced here in place of an answer given by herself.

Atychiphobia: Fear of failure.
Atelophobia: Fear of imperfection.
Haphephobia: Fear of being touched.
Androphobia: Fear of men.

Above all of these, however, it seems that Miss Murasame suffers from a fear of betrayal in any regard, such that she finds trusting anyone to be nigh impossible. Consequently, we had a great deal of difficulty getting her to answer our questions after this point. However, we finally managed to convince her to cooperate.

"What is your gender?"

"Great. So not only to do have no tact or regard for my privacy, but you're also either blind, or mentally retarded. Okay, then, kids, word of the day: F-E-M-A-L-E. Come on now, spell it with me. F-E-M-A-L-E. Now let's say it together: 'Female.' This isn't to be confused with another word, 'male.' I'm pretty sure you already know what the difference is, though, considering you've been staring at my chest throughout this whole interview. Well, then, congratulations, idiot, you've learned a new word! Your parents must be so proud of you."

*Transcriptor's Note: Perhaps "cooperate" was too strong a word. I would say that I feel sorry for our interviewer, but honestly, I'm just glad that I'm not the one in there with her.

"What is your personality like?"

"I can tell I'm not going to be able to get off easily on this one, am I? What is this, anyhow? Some kind of compatibility test? Tch. Well, fine. I don't know what more I can add to what I've already said, though. I don't like people, and I especially don't like you. Big surprise, isn't it? What, were you expecting me to talk about how wonderful a person I think I am, or to rhapsodize about my many virtues? Hell no. I'm a cynical bitch who hates people. What more is there to say? I'm me. That's all there is to it."

"What is your height?"

"Five foot six. Wow. With the way this conversation has been going, I'm actually surprised that you didn't ask me for my three measurements, or something stupid like-"

"Your weight?"

"Annnnnd now I'm not surprised anymore. Seriously, is being tactless some kind of hobby for you, or are you just really bad at this whole 'talking to people' thing? Ugh. Fine. It's 129 pounds, and if you're going to ask, then NO, before you do, I will NOT let you check."

"Build?"

"You're lucky that I'm in pretty good shape, or I would be contractually obliged to give you an uppercut right about now. Well, I suppose just telling you is better than you trying to feel me up in some kind of 'examination.' I guess I'm the sort of person who you say is sort of tall and lanky. I'm pretty thin, and flexible enough, I guess, but also pretty big for a girl of my age. Oh, damnit, you're smirking. I just made something that could be construed as a sexual innuendo, didn't I? Well, good for you, you sick, twisted pervert. Good for you. Yeah, fine, I'll brag about that, if it'll get this damned interview over with. Being the daughter of a famous model has its perks, even if she was an even bigger bitch than I'll ever be.

Oh, and while we're on the subject of my appearance, yes, before you ask, damnit, my hair has always looked like this. Before you think you're witty and start asking me why I dyed it like that, I DIDN'T. My appearance is just what happens when your family is neurotically obsessed with big breasts, long legs, thin, curvy bodies, and asymmetry in all the stupidest places, and happens to have the money to afford genetically augmenting their own child. So, before you ask, DON'T. Don't you dare. Don't you FREAKING dare. I have HAD it with people questioning my appearance. That's all I have to say on the subject."

"If you could have any power, but only one, what would it be?"

"That's a simple one. The absolute control of water in all its forms and properties, be they chemical, physical, etcetera. Water makes up so much of the world and its occupants that its uses would be basically innumerable. Even if it was just manipulation upon contact, it would still have more possible applications than I could possibly count or even think of."

"What weapon would you use?"

"Another easy question. A sword, obviously. It's not all that complicated - hit the target with the pointy end - and I've got enough experience with one to know how to use it well enough, and to be pretty confident in my skills with one. What? Didn't I mention that swordfighting is a hobby of mine? Well, it is, old fashioned or not. Maybe I just enjoy violence. In any case, if we're tying this into the last question, the sword I'd use would have to be somehow related to whatever abilities I had. No sense in having a power with boundless applications if you don't have a weapon that's equally adaptable. Maybe a sword made of condensed water.** I could do plenty of tricks with a weird weapon like that, and I doubt anybody would have a clue how to deal with it.

**Note: See the pictures for what Rhoda means. A variable length/property sword, made from crystallized water.

"Tell me a little about your life…."

"There's no possible use you can have for my own personal account of my past. In short, go to hell. I'm done with these stupid questions."

*Transcriptor's Note: We already do know a bit about Miss Murasame, both from what she unintentionally let slip during our earlier questioning, and the research we've done on her family. Evidently, she was born to a model and a famous baseball player - a celebrity couple in the simplest sense of the term. Approximately five years after her birth, the two divorced based on some kind of financial disagreement, however, and she was left in the custody of her father. I can see why Miss Murasame did not wish to speak about this, as her family situation was apparently quite unpleasant. At age 12, she was apparently removed from her father's custody due to the discovery of some sort of abuse on his part. I'm not really sure of the details, but her father was placed in a home for the criminally insane shortly afterward. She was evidently placed in the care of a family friend, who was entrusted with Miss Murasame's inheritance, and was sent to therapy sessions of some sort or another, probably for the phobias she's been diagnosed with, as listed above. Evidently, shortly after that point, she began to obtain a certain reputation as a violent delinquent, becoming involved in several different arguments and fights with her classmates. It's probably this that she was referring to when she said that swordfighting was a "hobby" of hers, as she's apparently got quite the reputation for beating people rather savagely with a wooden sword. It's her "trademark," I guess.

In any case, most people who know her have very little to do with her, and it seems her current guardian is even being charged with neglect. It seems like anyone she knows suffers misfortune. That might explain her... charming personality. Maybe I'm just reading too much into her, though. That's all I can say at the moment, although perhaps we might find out more as we go, now that she's working with us.

So begins...

Rhoda C. Murasame's Story

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#2013-04-12 05:35:37, as written by Tsukiakari

Brushing the sleep from her eyes, the jaded girl rose up from her bed. Glancing at the clock adorning the wall, Rhoda methodically stood, brushing back her flowing two-toned hair. Having to get up so early... Tch. Was this really worth it? For the thousandth time, she began to reconsider her whimsical acceptance of the unsolicited offer she had found in her inbox the previous day. Was this really a good idea? That was the question she had found herself asking over and over again. Nevertheless, although it certainly was troublesome to drastically change her schedule so suddenly, having already come this far, Rhoda saw no point in changing her mind.

While most people, upon being confronted with a sudden and most certainly suspicious offer to become a beta tester for a game they'd never heard of - what means, she wondered, had been used to determine her candidacy? - Rhoda was largely apathetic to the risks involved in accepting such an offer without question. To be honest, she wasn't even actually expecting anything to come of this. It would probably turn out to be some sort of elaborate prank at best, or at worst, she might end up getting kidnapped the moment she went to the meeting point. And yet, Rhoda just couldn't bring herself to care about this possibility. So what if she might end up dead? In her mind, there was no point to continuing her life, anyway. A world such as the one she now occupied wasn't a world worth living in. There was no appeal to her either in the mundane crawl of her daily life, or in the possibilities she saw in her future.

No, the only thing Rhoda found herself getting second thoughts about was the inconvenience of it all. First, on the previous day, after a boring six hours spent staring blankly into the holographic "classroom" projected around her desk, she'd been cleaning the spam - largely taunting or challenging messages from certain annoying classmates who were trying to prod her into a fight - out of her personal inbox, when she'd found a strange message there. Opening it, a holo-recording displayed of a man in a lab coat, inviting her to meet him in the back room of a nearby coffee joint. Evidently, having been unable to contact her during class - she always shut down real-time communications to avoid being badgered by her classmates, although this could only do so much - he'd left this message, and then arranged to meet her. Explaining that he was the employee of a gaming company she'd never heard of, he'd asked her to come and answer a few questions for them, as they were interested in offering her a part-time job.

The offer had seemed suspicious from the very start. Nevertheless, she hadn't really cared. The world held no interest to her as it was, and, if it meant alleviating her boredom, perhaps such an unexpected opportunity might be one that was to be taken. Besides, she enjoyed gaming. The possibility of beta testing a brand new, quote, "Cutting edge" game seemed like the ideal job for her, since unlike dull routines, it would be something new and enjoyable. So, on the spur of the moment, she'd sent a reply that she would be there, and then, donning a simple, casual outfit - although her usual short, black and blue-lined white dress and sleeveless black half-vest was comfortable, it was too distinctive, and if any of her classmates saw her outside, they'd probably try to start a fight - she had made her way to the address sent her.

The coffee shop had been a pretty small, low key place, but, once she had entered the back room, her opinion had changed somewhat. She knew "fancy" when she saw it, and this was most definitely it. Ornate, expensive, and comfortable looking leather-furnished chairs sat on either side of a very businesslike table of white oak, with what might have been real gold trimming the table. A third chair had been sitting in the corner, occupied by a low-key man with a perpetual half-smile. The chairs at the table, meanwhile, had been already set out for herself and another individual: the man who'd sent her the message, now clad in a pinstriped black suit. His overly slicked black hair and long sideburns clashed tremendously with his attire, giving him a somewhat sleazy appearance, like someone with very little concern for his hygiene trying to appear upright and formidable, and ending up looking like some kind of thug. Her low opinion of him had only gotten worse as the interview went on, considering how his gaze kept turning towards her chest - she really should have chosen an outfit with less in the way of cleavage, now that she thought about him - and his questions had been blunt at best. The man in the corner had remained almost entirely silent save for when he tried to convince her to keep on answering their annoyingly direct and prying questions, which, admittedly, he'd been much better at doing than his colleague. Offering her a glass of wine hadn't exactly been very orthodox, considering she was several years underage, but Rhoda hardly cared about such things. So, in exchange for the drink - which was, admittedly, quite good - she'd completed their interview - save the last question, which she absolutely would not demean herself by answering - and returned home. Well, apparently, she'd passed whatever criteria they were looking for - maybe they wanted someone with class to write sarcastic dialogue for their game? - since that night, she'd received a request to meet early the next morning at their company "laboratories" - what kind of gaming company even HAS "laboratories?" - along with a few other testers - Oh, great. Coworkers were JUST the thing she'd been hoping for. Because, you know, I'm SUCH a team player. Guess those chumps really didn't get the hint yesterday.

Sighing, and having already showered on the previous night before she slept - not to mention the fact that she didn't have time to do so now, or else she would be late - Rhoda set about the simple task of unfastening the buttons of her pajamas, slipping out of these somewhat baggy garments before beginning the not-so-simple task of donning her most distinctive outfit. Okay, granted, at times like this, even Rhoda thought her preposterously asymmetrical clothing was more than a little impractical. The tremendously short, high-cut white - and black, as the left side of the outfit abruptly shifted to this color along the centerline of her body. And did she mention blue, since it was trimmed in a light cyan color? - silken dress that made up the main garment of her ensemble wasn't quite so bad, but the winding bands around each sleeve - predictably the opposite color to the sleeve itself - were a little annoying to fasten properly, and then there was the matter of the clingy opaque tights she wore beneath this, and the sleeveless black, blue, and white vest she topped the whole setup off with, providing her no end of difficulties with its countless straps and fastenings. This didn't even start on her trademark prismatic hair ornament, which was tremendously difficult to properly wind into her hair. Still, the outfit provided two perks she wasn't quite willing to part with. It was suitably unique, setting her apart from others, whilst also being both modest and fancy enough to pass for formalwear, and it did nothing to hinder her mobility, should she need to move quickly and flexibly. Consequently, the garment left her by her otherwise hated mother as a gift was one she wore quite often, frequently enough, in fact, for it to have become her most recognizable wardrobe. Anyway, she figured that if she was going to be getting a job, she might as well dress appropriately for the first day. While she cared very little for first impressions, she liked to set herself apart from other people in as many ways as possible. If that meant maintaining good hygiene - in direct contrast to that oily-haired man from yesterday, to name one example - then that was what she would do.

Slipping on her usual sandals and brushing back her long hair to keep it out of her eyes, Rhoda sighed, and made her way for the door. Although she was tempted sorely to bring her favored weapon - a heavy, featureless wooden model of a curved, single-edged longsword - in case some unlucky idiot happened to try to bother her on her way to work, she decided that this wouldn't be particularly conducive to her potential employment. And so, reluctantly, she decided that, although it didn't particularly matter to her what others at the site thought of her, it was important not to get fired on the first day for bringing a weapon to work with her. Her pride and desire for entertainment would allow such a thing. Besides, she told herself, nobody who knew her, at least, would be up this early, making the chances that she'd be attacked on the way to the laboratory - no, seriously, what kind of gaming company had one of those? - tremendously slim. Reasoning thus, then, she decided to leave the weapon behind, and so instead simply made her way outside unarmed.

The foyer of the needlessly large, upscale penthouse apartment her guardian had rented for her - of course, he himself had work out of city to attend to, so he lived elsewhere and rarely came by to visit - was almost empty, furnished only by a simple home kitchen setup, two tables, and two chairs, one for each. It was toward the first of these that Rhoda made her way, flicking on a single light to illuminate the otherwise darkened room - it was still so early that the sun had yet to rise - as she swiftly set about making herself a breakfast sandwich. Consisting of a single sausage patty, two pieces of bacon, a fried egg, and a slice of cheese between two bagels, it was a humble but palatable - if somewhat unhealthy - meal. It was also fairly quick to make and eat, and, besides, if she didn't use that leftover sausage soon, it would probably rot in the fridge.

One short, silent meal later, Rhoda dropped her plate into the sink, rinsing the grease and crumbs off before shutting off the water, turning off the light, and heading for the door. Closing and locking this behind her, she made her way quietly through silent hallways, down several flights of stairs, and out into the empty, well-furnished lobby of the apartment building. Ignoring the staff bustling about nearby in the reception area, she purposefully strode out the door and into the crisp morning air. Checking her directions on her personal micro-computer/phone - most people, whose love of bad spelling puns had gotten the best of them, simply referred to it as a MiComPhone - she confirmed her destination, and, without further ado, set out in that direction. It wasn't exactly a long walk from where she lived, so, consequently, she found herself arriving just about on time.

The building outside of which she found herself standing was unexpectedly imposing. With large, darkened windows and a bulky, firm construction, it really did seem like a "laboratory." Or, at least, it conveyed that image much more strongly than it did the image of a company headquarters. Huh. I guess it really WAS a laboratory. But, no, SERIOUSLY! Why the hell does a gaming company need a bloody laboratory?!

Her thoughts on this matter, however, seemed like they would have to wait, as it didn't look like she was the only one currently standing at the entrance to the inexplicable laboratory. These must have been two - no, wait, three, as one of them swiftly crashed into the other and collapsed, which promptly tripped up a new arrival, dropping all of them onto the ground so that they formed the eighth wonder of the world, the Leaning Tower of Dumbasses Who Don't Watch Where They're Going - of the coworkers she was evidently supposed to meet with.

"Oh, joy," Rhoda muttered irritably under her breath. Other that this, however, she chose to remain silent, instead simply standing at a short distance from the other two. No sense in approaching them when she didn't want anything to do with them to begin with. If they wanted to bother her, they could go ahead and try. She'd see how long it took them to give up on that and leave her alone.

Not long, probably.

The setting changes from Town to Icy Veins

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#2013-04-12 20:00:01, as written by けい-ちゃん

Aerin Hayate

Aerin tilted back in his chair, frustrated a bit with how his drawing was going. He didn't do it very often actually, just occasionally since he knew he had to get off the computer once and a while. If he didn't, he'd get glasses. Now Aerin didn't hate glasses, or people with glasses, definitely not since he practically loved everyone, but he wasn't interested in getting glasses. At least, just not yet.

He continued to sketch out his drawing, quickly, but detailed. It was a drawing of one of his online characters he played with a game he discovered a few days back. Some found it a bit nerdy that he was like that, drawing game characters, but Aerin didn't mind as he did get it quite often.

But just thinking about it made him sigh tiredly as he placed the pencil down and let his head rest on the table, 'Just concentrate...' He thought to himself while rubbing his forehead, feeling as if he was getting a fever but decided not to check since he rarely got very sick or ill. Aerin lifted his head from the desk and picked up his pencil again.

His hands were slightly shaking actually, making his accuracy with the shading very off, but he just told himself not to mind it. This was for two reasons; Aerin wasn't getting very much sleep lately actually, and he was always on the computer which made his vision off, so he had trouble seeing very correctly.

He let out a small sigh and laid his pencil very gently onto the paper and just as he was about to move his hand to continue shading in the picture, he heard a voice come from behind him before he could do so, "Aerin, what are you doing today? Huh...? What's that?"

Aerin turned around and saw his little sister, who had the same hair color and eye color as him, although she wore a dress and had long hair obviously. She didn't get much sleep either which is why her tone came out to be so soft and quiet, but that was because she had insomnia. Aerin stayed up because he chose not to sleep which was obviously a bad example for his sister, but she understood quite clearly.

"Nothing." Aerin told her with a smile, "Just sketching out a few pictures is all. Shouldn't you be asleep though? It's your nap time."

"Yeah, ok..." She said with little emotion and gave her older brother a small hug before going back to her room to get some rest.

He watched her for a while until she was out of sight as he closed the door to his room, and sat back into his seat. Aerin looked at his picture, and shook his head, putting it to the side of his desk, telling himself he'd work on it later as he reopened his computer. He decided it was about time he relaxed and played a game of his until a pop up appeared on the screen, "What the..."

At first, he suspected it was a virus and got slightly anxious until he noticed it was just something for another game, "Interview...? A beta tester?" He perked up a bit, liking the idea of being the first to test a new game as he was the type of person to love those types of games.

"I am here so that you may answer a few questions...This is information we must know before you come tomorrow to test the beta of Icy Veins...Will you answer?"

"A-ah... alright...?" Aerin responded slowly, a bit unsure. What if it really was a virus, or something worse to get information out of you? Oh well, it's not like he had anything to lose, so he proceed to answer the questions, some which were a little too personal although he did answer them all truthfully in the end.

After the interview, they wanted him to go to... a lab? He shivered slightly. Aerin didn't exactly like the idea of him leaving, but his family was leaving for a trip that his sister had to go on that day, so once they left, he was free to do whatever he wanted, "There really is not much to lose I guess... Might as well go anyways."

He headed outside after his family left, and after he said his goodbyes with that silly little smile of his, and immediately went outside. While easily remembering the location of where this, lab] was located, he arrived in no time, only to see that he was perhaps... well... late?

There were already four people there in front of him, three who had apparently walked into each other, and the other who was just standing there and watching,, "W-what the...?"

Slowly, he walked up to a girl who looked his age, having an unusual black and white color of hair and tapped on her shoulder quite gently as he didn't want to be obnoxious, "A-ah, excuse me miss, is this well... the lab you were asked to go to as well? Unless you're just a person passing by then I'm sorry for bothering you." He tried with say with a smile since he did want to be as polite as possible.

The setting changes from Icy Veins to Lab

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#2013-04-12 23:13:50, as written by Tsukiakari

Rhoda had been busying herself with sizing up the lab, trying to ignore the clumsy idiots faffing about a short distance away while she searched for any sort of prominent entrance or noticeable individual who might have been there to lead them inside so that they could actually get down to whatever business they were supposed to be doing as beta testers. Consequently, however, she hadn't been paying much attention to the people currently arriving at the front of the laboratory. Because of this, she only noticed the boy who had tentatively come up behind her, tapping lightly on her shoulder to get her attention.

Suffice to say, the boy got exactly what he'd hoped for, and more.

The instant that the boy's hand touched Rhoda's shoulder, she abruptly stiffened, eyes snapping fully open as she went rigid for a moment. Instinctively, her hand snapped up, slapping aside the boy's offending finger as, rapidly, Rhoda spun halfway about on the ball of her foot, drawing back her arm and swiftly raising it before her as though she was preparing to strike whoever had just touched her, no matter who it might be. For a moment, she glared icily at the boy, and if looks could kill, her harsh, piercing gaze most certainly would have done so. In another second, however, her pale features seemed to compose themselves, and the violent, defensive expression she had held swiftly lapsed back into a featureless, calm mask. Yet, this wasn't to say that her expression softened - far from it. Her narrowed eyes, pursed lips, and otherwise blank countenance displayed no emotion save, perhaps, vague distaste and irritation, her gaze still seeming as though it would pierce right through the boy upon whom its full chill was directed. And, being on the receiving end of that expression, especially after having seen Rhoda's surprisingly violent reaction to being touched just a moment before, there could be no doubting who exactly that irritability was being directed towards.

That's odd. He's only as tall as I am. And yet, the requirement age for participating in a part-time job like this is 16, isn't it? If that's the case, he must be at least as old as me. Well, I guess it's not that unusual. Sheesh. Look at him, though. Painfully forced smile, stutter, nervous expression... And this is the first person who comes to talk to me? That's... surprising. Was I giving a weird expression, or something? Usually someone like this would probably be scared off before he could even approach me. Maybe it's just because I had my back to him, and everyone else was busy falling on their asses? That's probably it, anyway. I don't see why he'd try to start a conversation with me, though. What's the point? Is he trying to make friends, or something childish like that? Great. My coworker doesn't just look like a kid, I guess he acts like one, too.

"Why else would I be standing outside this particular building at an hour when all sane people are in their beds sleeping?" Rhoda asked rhetorically, half-spreading her arms as though to ask the same question she directed aloud, emphasizing the pointlessness of the query that had just been leveled at her. "And, on that note, in what way, exactly, do I appear to be 'passing by?' Sigh. On second thought, don't answer that question. So, since I'm quite obviously here for the exact same reason you are, is there something you want, or is this discussion just as pointless as it seems?" Crossing her arms and legs casually, Rhoda leaned against the wall of the laboratory behind her, cocking her head slightly and looking down on the boy - or at least, to the extent that she could, being of equal height and stature - as though to ask "Well? I'm waiting."

Wonder how long it'll be before he panics and drops this conversation attempt entirely. Probably not too long, if he's as timid as he looks. Well, I suppose it's better to be working alongside a wimp who's too scared to talk to me, childish though he might be, than it would be to have ended up as coworkers with some sort of headstrong idiot, or a flirtatious pig. At least this kid will be easy and relatively painless to deal with.

The setting changes from Lab to Icy Veins

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#2013-04-15 06:13:36, as written by Beach-Born-Boy

Cecil's knees sat just under his chin, his arms clasped tightly around them as he hugged his legs up to his chest. The walls reverberated with a silent pulse, the alabaster paint so smooth you could barely even tell there was a wall behind it. It seemed more like it stretched into oblivion, especially in the dark of night. The ceiling was much the same, an eggshell plane that seemed to stretch into forever. Sensory deprivation. He thought to himself.My own father is trying to break me. Torture me. It won't work though. His thoughts drift to the electrical device hidden beneath him, in the solid, snow-scape white mattress he sat on. As if on cue, it responded.

Drip Drip came the call, a deafening sound in the the calm of the room. He had received a message. With a slight sigh, he reached under his seat and pulled out a laptop, the one he had built in his spare time -Fourteen days, seventeen hours, thirty two minutes and four seconds. here in the basement. The computer popped open at the touch of a button and immediately the message pulled up. "I am here so that you may answer a few questions...This is information we must know before you come tomorrow to test the beta of Icy Veins...Will you answer?" "A game?" He wondered aloud. The sound of his own voice came as a shock. In the entirety of his time in the room, he hadn't once spoken aloud. "Couldn't hurt. I made this machine, if it's a virus, I can fix it." In no time at all, he had answered the questions. Now all that was left was to wait. And waiting was something he was good at.

Dawn came rapidly, Cecil realizing he fell asleep trying to count how many heartbeats he had heard in an hour. He barely made it five minutes before he fell asleep. At least he was free today though. He heard the door to the stairs click and the wall itself swung open. No handle on the inside, no door seam, nothing. An invisible door to maintain that 'nothing in the world but you, a bed and two white books' look. Cecil John Rhodes senior stood at the door himself today and without a word, a sound, nothing more than a glare filled with hate and malice, his son brushed past him and out into the world again. He was headed for the lab that the advertisement talked about. "Icy Veins eh? Sounds like fun."

While he didn't ever announce himself, his social anxiety a hindrance to something like that, it seemed fairly obvious he was late. At least to him. So he stood on the outskirts of the group, not talking, not trying for eye contact, barely even moving, and watching for the gates of the lab to open. Silence seemed to emanate from him. Or rather it would, if he hadn't been listening to music through a pair of ear buds at brain-shattering decibels.

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#2013-04-15 16:18:41, as written by ZaBanpaiaNeko

Miyako Shiina

Miyako gasped, feeling a hard thud against her back as she was slammed into and rammed into the ground. Her knees and elbows scraped hard against the cement, causing a stinging sensation that put her in shock for a moment. She groaned with pain, anger boiling over in her head as she could think of a few choice words to speak right about now...When suddenly, yet another person tripped over them both! Slamming into the ground on top of them. Miyako lets out a roar of anger, and pushes the two off quickly. "Hey! Why don't you two watch where you both are going?! What's the matter-"

But her sentence is cut short, as her soft purple eyes glitter with excitement when they gaze upon the two. How adorable they were! One was so tiny and cute; almost like a child...Was she a child? Miyako couldn't tell...The other, well, was quite feminine. She could tell he was a male by the adams apple in his throat, however, but that was all that gave it away. Strangely though, he wore an eye patch. Why would he want to cover such pretty eyes? Miyako lets out a flirtatious coo, smiling warmly now. It was as if all her anger had melted away. "Oh my, how gorgeous you both are. It must be my lucky day!" She happily chimes, before noticing the entrance of three other people.

Were these the others she would have to work with? Strange, they were all very attractive. Was this really a game? Or a pleasant dream? Either way, she was happy she had accepted the invitation...Standing to her feet, and brushing the dirt from her clothes, she bows to all. "Well, hey everyone! I'm Miyako Shiina! A pleasure to meet you all. I suppose we'll be working together!" She announces, easily able to make friends. She was quite out going and attentive to others, especially those she thought attractive...

Suddenly, though, the scraps on her knees and elbows stung once again, and she winced with pain, looking down to notice little seeps of blood. "Darn it..." She gave a soft hiss, holding her elbows in hope the pain would go away. Her poor, fragile, and delicate skin was ruined! It would take weeks for the scrapes to scab over and heal....It was at that moment a man in a white lab coat walked up to the group. He was different from the man who had interviewed them all; seeming quite old. His hair was long, but lined with silver tints, as he wore silver-rimed glasses. The wrinkles were apparent in his saggy face as he gave a wry smile.

"Why, hello young lings...You must all be the ones who are going to test Icy Veins...Please, if you would, follow me..." He easily states, before turning on his heals and walking towards the building. Miyako raises and eye brow and gives a soft "tch" noise before following after the man silently...What was with these people? They seemed so uptight and business like; it seemed to Miyako they needed to loosen up a bit and have some fun...Perhaps they should try testing their own game....This thought stirred another thought within Miyako's head, and she thought for a moment...Why didn't they just test it themselves? Why did they need six different teenagers, who they never met before, to test their game?...Something seemed a bit off by this...

But she easily, and quickly, threw aside the thought. It was probably nothing....As they entered the lab, it smelt like a fresh, clean hospital...The walls were pure white and everything seemed to be in it's proper order...A beautiful lady, with long blonde hair tied up in a bun, and sky blue eyes greeted the group with a warm smile. She was about to speak up when she noticed the bloody scrapes on Miyako. Her eyes grew wide slightly, and she parted her luscious pink lips to speak. "My, my, looks like someone got injured...We'll have to clean those up as soon as possible before sending you off to test the game..." The women mumbled, looking towards the old man then.

She motioned towards the group. "Take these lovely children to their rooms, and have them prepped for testing. Make sure to clean that one's wounds..." The women mentions while pointing towards Miyako. Miyako frowns at this and huffs with agitation. "I have a name, you know.." She mumbled under her breathe, although not loud enough for the adults to hear...Giving a slight nod, the old man leads each individual to their room. Each was separated, set up like that of a doctor's room with a large table in front of large mechanical machines. The machines bleeped and blooped; flashing many colorful lights.

"Stay here, and a doctor will be here shortly for you..." The old man would tell each child as he locked each in their own room....After a long while of what seemed like eternity, waiting in silence and solitude, doctors then each entered a room. Miyako looked up at her doctor. Hers, luckily, was the cute man who had interviewed her. Her eyes grew wide with recognition and she leaped up with excitement. "Oh, hey cutie! I remember you!" She happily purrs, her voice as sweet as honey as she eyes him. She had to admit, he had looked a lot cuter through hologram...But that didn't change her thoughts on him...He cleared his throat, and adjusted his glasses, before stepping forward and ordering her to sit up on the table. She frowned slightly.

He was acting quite different; so bossy! She wasn't sure she liked him anymore...But, unwillingly, she sat up on the table and crossed her legs. "I'll have to take care of these cuts first, before we begin..." He mumbles, taking some alcohol and puffs to clean the wounds. The scrapes bubbled up and stung worse than ever before as he did so, and Miyako had to bite down on her bottom lip to keep back the yelp of pain. But when it was all said and done, she felt better. At least they were clean of any residue now....After words, the doctor pulled on thick latex gloves, and ordered Miyako to lay down. She did so, feeling sort of uncomfortable at that moment...

What exactly was going on?... "Now, I'm going to put you under...We have to go through surgery, first, in order to prep you for your adventures through Icy Veins...Relax..." He explains, to which Miyako's heart suddenly flutters into her throat. Surgery?!?! What did he mean?! She had no clue that surgery was involved in this experiment! What were they going to do to her?! She was about to object, when suddenly he placed a gas mask over her mouth. Miyako was shocked, wanting so bad to shove off...But her body suddenly felt weak and like jello; her vision blurring as the voices around her seemed to melt together. She thought the doctor was trying to say something to her...But she couldn't understand his words...They were all just a jumbled mess...Her eyes felt so heavy...and she couldn't help but let herself drift into a deep sleep....

Many hours later, Miyako's eyes finally fluttered open. At first, she did not recognize where she was...or what was happening....It was at that moment that the memories flooded back. She quickly sits up, the sweat beading on her forehead, as she looks around in fear...The room was empty, however...The only sound was her heavy breathing....A sharp pain comes from the back of her head, like a stab with a knife, and she lets out a gasp of pain. Slowly, she reaches back to touch the area in which it had hurt. But the expecting feeling of flesh was not what she was greeted with...Instead, there was a small, rounded, metal hole right where her skull and neck merged. It was just a hole...straight into her head...What the hell was that for?!

Suddenly, the door creeks open, and the familiar doctor enters. He is staring down at her with a coy smile; probably enjoying her panic and fear. She growls angrily. "What the hell did you do to me?! What is going on?!" She yells, some of her words falling into each other; as the drugs that had put her to sleep were still slightly affecting her. "Don't worry...We had to surgically change the wiring of your brain, so that it would accept the codes and electrical messages of Icy Veins...That hole is where you plug in, so that you may enter the game...There are no ill effects of this surgery, so you have nothing to worry about...Now, please, relax..." At his final words, her anger seemed to simply disappear. Usually, she would be screaming and fighting.

No way would she have let anyone mess with her body without her permission! But...something about his words soothed her soul...What was it? Was it hypnosis? Had they planted something else in her body that she didn't know?...Why did it feel like his words had so much of a grip on her will?...Her head droops slightly, as she lays back on the table. It felt like her body was not her own anymore...What was going on?....

(Now, if you do not entirely understand what is going on at this point, let me explain...As explained in the post, the doctors have surgically changed the wiring in your brain so that it will accept Icy Veins...However, they have also changed it so that you cannot disobey them...Every command they give, you must obey...Your body is their puppet, now.)

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Icy Veins

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#2013-04-15 21:55:45, as written by Captain Obvious

Yuri was unable to repress a startled gasp as the older girl managed to push her, and the boy who she'd tripped over, to the side. An impressive feat of strength, even if Yuri was rather small. She had just been about to apologize, when the bluenette's expression suddenly underwent a drastic change. Her anger seemed to melt away, her face adopted a warm smile. and she made a sound that Yuri could only describe as a coo."Oh my, how gorgeous you both are. It must be my lucky day!

Yuri turned a bright pink at this. She wasn't used to receiving comments like that, at least not in real life; it was actually fairly common in amine. Then again, she also wasn't used to talking to people either. Thankfully, she didn't have to think of a reply, since the girl then introduced herself to the group. While hardly the most extroverted individual there, Yuri figured that she'd best do the same, or risk becoming a background character, and so she stood and stated her name."Yuri Ishimoto."

Younglings. That was what he'd called them. Yuri just couldn't let that slide without a remark. "Yes sir, General Kenobi." she had muttered. All the same, she'd followed without much else in the way of reply. As they walked, her sense of unease grew. While it made sense that these people wouldn't be testing their own game, inviting only six specially selected people to do so did not. What kind of people was this game intended for anyway? In addition to that was the fact that they'd invited a small group, rather than just put out an advertisement stating that they were looking for beta testers.

The fact that the place looked more like a hospital didn't help either, and by the time they were separated, Yuri was about ready to bolt. In fact, she actually tried to after she'd been left alone in "her room", leading her to find out that the door was locked from the outside. In a panic, she searched the room from top to bottom. Not only was the door locked, but there were no windows in the room, and the only vent present had a cover that was bolted to the wall. Now she was really scared."Okayokayokay, calm down Yuri. There has to be a way out. There's always a way out."

Then, in a flash of inspiration, the smallish girl climbed on top of one of the large machines, enabling her to reach the ceiling. Like many modern ceilings, was a dropped ceiling, allowing her to remove on of the panels and, with a bit of jumping, climb space between it and the structural ceiling. Figuring that they probably had cameras in the room, though she hadn't seen any, Yuri decided not to waste time replacing the panel she'd removed, and quickly made her way through the limited space she had available. Of course, she had no idea where she was going, but at least she was in the process of escaping, rather than freaking out back in the room.

After a few minutes of crawling, trying to get as far away from where they'd expect to find her, Yuri noticed a slightly damp smell in the air. Not seeing at the time how this was relevant she continued forward, only realizing her mistake the second that she made it. The smell was water damage. One of the pipes up ahead had at one point sprung a leak, and while the leak itself had been repaired, the ceiling tiles had not yet been replaced. Only just able to support her weight normally, they buckled the moment she put pressure on them, and she came tumbling out of the ceiling, crashing to the ground and leaving herself stunned. Before she could recover one of the people sent to track her down showed up, drawn by the noise, and sedated her.

---------------

When Yuri finally woke, she was back in the room, though she was not alone this time. She was also in a good deal of pain. Even still, she couldn't restrain a smirk at having made them change the way they did things a bit. The stabbing sensation didn't seem to be from her fall, so she decided to investigate. Reaching a hand behind her head, she began to probe about for any injuries. What she found was a hole in her head. For a moment, there was only the sick surprise and horror that one normally feels at waking up to find that a surgical operation has been preformed on you without your consent, though admittedly this wasn't the most common problem that people encountered in their everyday lives. This feeling was replaced by anger and fear. Trying to keep her cool however, Yuri turned to the man standing in the room.

"You put an input jack in my head? What are you trying to do, hook me up to the Matrix? She sat up to face him better, when he raised his hand in a gesture to stop. "Lie down." he instructed, and surprisingly she felt herself doing so. Inwardly she cursed. Of course they wouldn't have just stopped at an input jack. Considering the fact that she had almost escaped once already, it would be foolish not to use this technology to prevent it from happening again, assuming you possessed it. Yuri then decided that it would be best not to upset them for the moment, at least until she figured out a way to disable whatever it was they put in her head. "Well actually, you're not far off. Also, about that little stunt you pulled earlier, please don't try anything like that again. We do have other test subjects, and while you are quite valuable to us, you are still expendable."

It would seem that Yuri had misjudged the genre of this little adventure. What she had originally assumed to be an adventure, was taking every opportunity to indicate that it was actually horror. As for what the purpose of all this was, she didn't even bother to ask. They were being made to do what they agreed to do; test a game.

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Icy Veins

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#2013-04-15 23:43:08, as written by Zenia

Aki felt someone trip over his legs as he winced, “Shoot, sorry!” he apologized as he got up. He looked at the girl he made fall as she picked herself up, "S-sorry! I should watch where I am going…I mean….sorry…” he muttered as he picked up his hat and brushed it off before placing it on as he noticed a girl brush past them, ”Shoot…she saw the whole thing…” When he was called cute he looked down as he tried to hide his face with his hat. “I-I am not…I mean…I…am…just…thanks…” he muttered, he was obviously not used to such compliments.

He blinked as he heard the other introduce herself, ”I am Aki…Aki Hayashi.” he muttered as he saw more people arrive, both cute boys! A blush appeared on his face. ”So…we are all here for this Icy Veins thing?”” he asked as he saw the others head into the lab as he followed them. His eyes traveled around the place as he spied the cute doctor from earlier and nodded in greetings. He felt…outta place here, then again he always did. He heard him being called a youngling with a shrug, he had been called worse…though his eyes kept on wandering to his companions. He felt a hand grab his wrist as he was separated from everyone, ”H-Hey! I-I can walk! Or run…or…well no I can’t fly, but I can…” he muttered as he was put in a small room.

He sighed as he rubbed his left eye under the eye patch…it was starting to bug him…again. Eventually he was led to a room. One that looked suspiciously looked like a surgery room. “Hey…what…is going on? I mean I agreed to the game but…” he muttered soon though he felt very tired as he was put under.

He woke up groggily as he felt a pain in the back of his head.”GAH!” he cried out as he felt the back of his head to find a small hole there. ”Is that fucking hole in my head?! W-what the hell?!” he cried out. “Relax…we had to put that there so you can play the game, there is no harmful side effects….we had to rewire your brain though.” the man explained.

Aki blinked as he processed that…two things occurred to him, one he had a frigging hole in his head. Two…his hat and eye patch was missing. He automatically covered his left eye at that realization.”I-I did not agree for a hole to be drilled into my head…I am…I have heard that I need that…but this is too much! Gimme my hat and eye patch, I am leaving.” he proclaimed as he hopped off the surgery table and stumbled forward.

”I will give you your items back…but please…won’t you stay?” the doctor asked him.Aki blinked…why wouldn’t he just stay? It…sounded so soothing coming from the doctor as he was handed his hat and eye patch, which he put on…why did he want to leave? So what he had a hole in his head no big deal…it was easy to cover with his hair. Aki found himself nodding at that suggestion.”Now then relax…you had a rough day…” The doctor soothed him. Aki found himself flopping back on the surgery bed closing his eyes. “…what is going on? I mean…I am not that tired….why can’t I do anything?” he thought to himself as he soon drifted off to sleep.

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Icy Veins

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#2013-04-16 06:26:16, as written by Beach-Born-Boy

Cecil stayed at the back of the group still. He didn't mind just watching people, in fact, he enjoyed it. In a way, it made him feel a little more normal, watching them for their strengths, their flaws, everything he wished he knew about himself. At the least, he could enjoy their normalcy rather than beat himself up for things he couldn't control. The latter tended to happen a lot it would seem.

The group he found himself was a bit of an odd one, but then again, he was a part of it so it seemed odd by default. The oldest looking girl, one of the more outspoken people, seemed to be a flirt. The fact that she was wearing a uniform that seemed maybe a bit too small for her probably helped that along a bit. Then another, wearing a hat. At first, Cecil thought it was another girl, but he caught bits and pieces of their conversation that pointed to the fact that she was in fact a he. Next came the girl with black hair. She seemed a bit like him, though more... down perhaps? In any case, she didn't seem happy to keep company with anyone here. Cecil couldn't fault her as far as he was concerned. He'd agreed a long time ago that he wasn't the best person to hang around with either. Afterwards came another blonde boy, this one looking like he'd just come out of a work out and only had a scarf to stick on besides that. "He's probably strong. But he doesn't look too mean. That's good. Good." Lastly, besides Cecil himself, was a girl that looked like a child. He would've sworn that'd it'd be teenagers only today but maybe she was older than she looked.

As his assessments came to a close, a gentleman in a lab coat emerged from the building. After a bit of talking that Cecil still couldn't hear entirely over his music there was the universal 'follow me' hand wave and the group went inside, Cecil taking up the rear. His hands slowly raised and plucked his ear buds out as he was separated from the others in a corridor. Following a lab coat into a room, he noticed what seemed to be a surgery table and tools nearby. "Uhm, excuse me, doctor?" He began asking the nearest scientist. "What is this all about now?" The doctor turned, a gas mask in hand and a pleasant smile. "Why nothing more than a physical and some blood samples dear Cecil. It's just so much easier with you out like a light. We know you've never really liked needles. Just sit back and relax." His question satisfied for the moment, Cecil did as he was told and was out like a light in no time.

A few hours passed before Cecil's eyes opened, greeted by nothing more than an empty room, a glass of water with two pain killers next to it on the table near him. Then he was met with the pain. He normally had headaches when he woke up, but not this bad. His hand reached around to the back of his head where a finger just ever so slightly rubbed across something cold. Deciding he was just a bit delusional from the gas still, he sat up and took the pain killers, hoping he hadn't missed too much of the day. "How was your nap Mr. Rhodes? I hope your head isn't hurting too much. Please don't do too much bouncing around for a while if you can help it." The same scientist approached him from outside the room, carrying his bag and inside it, his computer. "Here you go. You're free to test the new game now if you'd like but I must warn you, you'll need this plugged into, well you." He stated as he handed Cecil a two pronged cord. Suddenly he realized. The gas, the metallic feeling in the back of his head, the surgery table. They'd turned him into a computer and the jack was right under his hair. His hand shot up to the back of his head but stopped the moment the scientist started to speak again. "Ah ah ah! Don't touch it! You don't want to hurt yourself! Now I know you have some questions, but please, they will all be answered in time. Please try out the game, the others will be joining you shortly."Seeing no alternative, Cecil reluctantly took the cable and held one end while the scientist outfitted the other end to... "To me." The scientist was right however, as Cecil heard what little clamor from the other rooms die down. The others would be joining in soon no doubt.

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Rhoda C. Murasame

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a character in “Icy Veins-Full”, as played by Tsukiakari

Description

So begins...

Rhoda C. Murasame's Story

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The setting changes from Town to Icy Veins

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The setting changes from Icy Veins to Lab

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The setting changes from Lab to Icy Veins

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