Oasis - Neonoir - Distracted Globe (June 2069)

[Hollywood Heidi]

Distracted Globe

A famous zero-gravity dance club on the planet Neonoir in Sector Sixteen of the OASIS.

Created and owned by James Halliday, then Ogden Morrow, and now GSS, the "Globe" is located at the western-hemisphere intersection of two brightly lit streets that stretched completely around the planet along its equator and prime meridian (known respectively as "The Boulevard" and "The Avenue"). One of the reasons why the Globe is considered so hip and exclusive is because it is located within a PvP zone, one where both magic and technology function, so attendees run the risk of being ganked and PvPed while they party.

The club itself is a massive cobalt blue sphere, three kilometers in diameter, floating thirty meters off the ground. A floating crystal staircase leads up from the street to the club's only entrance, a circular opening at the bottom of the sphere.

The interior of the sphere is completely hollow. The moment an individual passes through the entrance the laws of gravity change so that, no matter where they walked, the individual's avatar always adheres to the sphere's curved interior "wall" which serves as the club's bar and lounge area. The open space at the center of the sphere serves as the club's zero-gravity "dance floor" which can only be reached if an individual jumps "up" From the bar and lounge area and flies/floats to the center of the sphere.

In the exact middle of the sphere, at the center of the zero-gravity "dance floor" is a clear bubble suspended in open space. This is the club's DJ booth filled with turntables, mixers, decks and dials.


History

James Halliday built the Distracted Globe shortly after his first and only date with Karen Underwood, who loved dancing. Halliday most likely built it to take Karen on a dancing date, but they never had a second date.

Parzival and Art3mis visited here thinking the Distracted Globe to be the most likely location referenced by the clue for the second challenge, believing that since Halliday created it for Karen, the place had ended up becoming symbolic of his failure to take a leap to gain a second date. Some believe the anti-gravity dance floor is a metaphor for "the leap not taken".

During the Halliday Easter Egg Contest, it was known to have been frequented by "twinked-out wannabe-gunter uberdorks".  Because the place had been important to Halliday, it had become important to Morrow upon Halliday's passing.  It became famous for hosting Ogden Morrow's annual birthday party celebration; wherein Ogden Morrow himself would come out of hiding to host the party.  Og's birthday was an evening packed with celebrities--movie stars, musicians and celebrities.  The annual parties continue in his honor even after his passing but are less frequented as the history of the Oasis creators have faded out of the minds of people with the passing of time and new generations.

[Ariel]

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June 2069

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"Wha...where are we?!"

Emmett and Tink's avatars had transported successfully, however not in the location they intended. Emmett had noticed the loud, trance-like party music blaring through his ears first before peering around in a rather alarmed state as he realized they were surrounded by a bunch of other avatars dressed up in party attire dancing around them. Lights blared around them from all directions, and taking in their surroundings did Emmett realize that they had landed themselves in the middle of a club. Emmett looked over at Tink, who was just as surprised as he was. He hadn't been much of a rave enthusiast in the real world, only had experience with all ages glowstick concerts at the occasional nerd convention. At this point, he wasn't sure if they should stay or go. And yet, there was something about being in this place with a pretty girl that made him want to stay and see what it could hold for the two of them.

[DarkSideCookie]

Jewel shared Peter's surprise about this place, even the slightly alarmed state, yet after the first impressions of loud music and bright lights had been sinking in, she could actually marvel over it. In the real world, she had never been one of the party people, nor have liked to be around places with crowds in the first place, but the uniqueness of this one was making her awe and want to stay somehow, especially with Peter in his company.

"Sha... shall we have.. a look?" Jewel almost whispered to him, as it seemed that her thoughts were reflecting on his features, but still, she felt unsure to make that request. "Well, un.. unless you think it's stupid," Jewel quickly added, waving her hand while she spoke.

[Ariel]

"Sha... shall we have.. a look?"  "Well, un.. unless you think it's stupid,"

Emmett looked over at Tink who appeared to be interested in this place but could not quite evaluate Emmett's stance on the matter of whether he liked it too. That was something he was trying to figure out himself. What good was being in the OASIS if they didn't let loose and explore places beyond their imagination - and comfort zone? "I think we may look like the stupid ones," Emmett gave her a smile and giggled inwardly as he peered around at all of the beautiful and extravagant party outfits that everyone around them were wearing, "I think this adventure calls for a wardrobe change," Emmett allowed his hands to press a button in front of his avatar's face that would pop up a menu screen where he could access his customization bank, "Hmmm...I think...this one!" Emmett's finger swiped through the many options he had obtained in game overtime, and found the perfect fit for the setting they were in. With a single tap, he had temporarily traded in his elvish garments for a sophisticated white suit jacket over a sleek navy vest, adorned with a red rose decoration and a black tie fitted around his neck, "How does this look?" Emmett asked Tink for her advice, and also waiting for her to pick her new wardrobe choice as well.

[DarkSideCookie]

Jewel felt quite nervous while waiting for a reaction from Peter. If he thought it was stupid, she would not state interest but probably feel ashamed for having even asked that question.

"I think we may look like the stupid ones,"

An inaudible sigh of relief escaped her when she saw him smiling and joking instead of calling her crazy or stupid. It was not what she would have thought of him anyway, but they had never been to a place like this before, and maybe having an interest in being here with him seemed strange. Was it? Before Jewel could ponder this more, Peter spoke up again, immediately bringing a smile back to her face.

"I think this adventure calls for a wardrobe change,"

Jewel gave him a curious look as he started looking through his customization bank, excited to see what he might choose and especially how it would look on him.

"Hmmm...I think...this one!""How does this look?"

Her answer to that reflected on her features, but she verbalized it anyway. "It looks gorgeous! Okay, okay, let me see what I have," Jewel quickly added, still excited. She knew she didn't have anything like that, or so she had thought before finding a forgotten piece in her own customization bank. Jewel didn't have a lot of whole outfits in there, but instead rather add-ons for her weapons and equipment, but this one she couldn't resist buying, yet never worn or shown to anyone, not even Peter. Even if this wasn't her real body, it still felt strange to wear something so eye-catching. "Okay, I think I have one. But you have to promise me not to laugh, okay? It's a bit... unique," she stated chuckling, then chose it with a single tap. "So?" she asked shyly.

[Ariel]

"So?"

"Wow!" Emmett exclaimed in awe as he admired Tink's new outfit, perfect for the party they had landed themselves in the middle of, "You look like an anime princess! I love it!" Emmett showered her with compliments, not that he wasn't usually nice to her but he was seeing Tink in a way he had never seen her before. Almost as if they were on a real date. If only. Realizing he had been staring at her for too long, Emmett realized how dreamily he had been gazing upon her and snapped out of it quick, "Sorry I, uh, uh,-hey look at that DJ!" Emmett diverted the conversation as well as their attention to a glowing, techy looking DJ wearing chunky headphones while operating what appeared to be a rainbow DJ station with many buttons and contraptions. "Let's go!" Emmett grabbed Tink's hand and lead her further into the dancefloor. Stopping in front of the DJ station, Emmett turned around and whispered something to the DJ. A song request, one he simply could not pass the opportunity to request to dance to. The speakers in the establishment began to blast the intro of "Safety Dance," by Men Without Hats. Grinning from ear to ear, he turned back around to face Tink, wiggling his shoulders up and down to the music as he began to groove to the song.

[DarkSideCookie]

"Wow!""You look like an anime princess! I love it!"

And back was her smiling self, glad that Peter liked it. In some way, probably a queer way in her mind only, this felt like they would be having a date. But this wasn't real, was it? It was all just fantasy. Eventually, Jewel came to the realization that he was looking at her the same way she was at him. But it couldn't mean something, or could it?

"Sorry I, uh, uh,-hey look at that DJ!"

Jewel got jolted out of her daydreaming when Peter gestured to a techy-looking guy with a big set of headphones. She needed a moment getting back to where they were before smiling again at all the new and neat impressions.

"Let's go!"

Then, when he suddenly took her hand to lead her further into the dancefloor, a slight panic rose in her. Oh no, no, no. She couldn't dance, like NOT AT ALL. With her eyes widened, Jewel let it happen, though. How could she not, after Peter took her hand?

While she watched her friend requesting a song from the DJ, she couldn't do anything but stand in place like frozen. This will be so awkward for her. A shy smile, rather forced now, appeared on her lips when Peter returned, grinning and dancing to the song. Jewel knew that song and liked it, but that still didn't make her dance. Instead, she was throwing shy looks around them, especially to check if people were watching them. It didn't seem to, at least. But to not give Peter a feeling like she would feel embarassed for him, she smiled again, actually had to anyway whenever she looked at him.

[Ariel]

Emmett's dance moved managed to crack a cute little smile on Tink's face. His first mission was complete. As he danced to the music before her, he gave her a few inviting looks here and there. Though she appeared entertained, Tink still remained stiffly in place looking a bit uncomfortable. Emmett wasn't sure what she goes through on a daily basis in the real world, or much about her real identity for that matter. That was the agreement. But he knew that he wanted to help her live a little and enjoy this moment with him. "Come on!" Emmett exclaimed excitedly as his avatar's hands reached for both of hers and began to move them back and forth in the air on each of their sides as he sang along to the chorus of the song, "We can dance! We can dance!" Emmett knew he was no singer, but he could have some good fun when he loosened up and didn't worry about what anyone else thought. He wanted that for Tink as well.

[DarkSideCookie]

"Come on!"

Jewel unsurely bit her lip when Peter tried encouraging her to emulate his moves. She never did something like this before, letting go in front of other people. When she was starting to feel really uncomfortable, even considering telling him about it so that they could just have a drink at the bar or something, he suddenly reached for both her hands, moving them back and forth in the air while he sang along to the song.

"We can dance! We can dance!"

That was the moment when Jewel forgot about all the people around them. It was only them left on the dance floor, at this place, at least in her dreamy mind. Her smile grew wider until Jewel actually had to laugh deligthfully, allowing herself to let go as much as possible. Peter was so close, his hands in hers. All felt like a dream. One that she didn't want to end.

[Ariel]

The strobe lights danced around them as they jived to the beat blissfully. Emmett peered to the left as he saw avatars jumping into a massive pit that shot them in mid air, almost as if the area possessed zero gravity. He chuckled at the sight at the characters floating above and dancing in the air, though if asked to participate Emmett wouldn't be objected to share that the thought made him quite nervous. He looked back down at Tink, who was as radiant as ever as she began to let loose a little and allow a genuine smile to show through. Emmett felt that she liked him, though he knew his avatar was a façade. And although he knew that she knew it too, he wondered if she would like him in the real world, for who he truly was behind the current debonair suave. 

"Tink, I...," Emmett's feelings were about to dive him into deep water. He knew their current agreement, no strings attached. Yet, he was becoming attached to Tink, more than he cared to admit. Yet, before he could say anything further, someone strolled up to them and broke the moment between them.

"Hey beautiful," The Cloud avatar with the male voice behind it completely ignored Emmett's presence and tried to work his charm on Tink, "Whaddaya say we ditch this nerd and have a dance?"

Emmett was rendered speechless as his jaw dropped. What a jerk! There was a glimmer of fear in Emmett's eyes as he looked to Tink to see how she would respond to Cloud. Tink was beautiful, she could have any guy she truly wanted. Though, Emmett knew he didn't own her. They weren't even in a relationship. And even though this guy was being totally rude, Emmett wondered how he could even compare to this cool looking dude. He was right after all, behind the mask Emmett saw himself as a little nerd that wants nothing more than to be that night in shining armor.



Reference - Cloud avatar:

[DarkSideCookie]

Jewel was unable to keep her eyes off Peter, even when his gaze turned around them to watch those who were brave enough nearing the pit in the middle of this place, and dance above it in mid-air. No matter the uniqueness of things around them, nothing compared to the boy in front of her. It was only when his eyes turned back towards hers that Jewel realized she was staring at him like he was some kind of rare diamond. In a way, he was to her.

"Tink, I...,"

Jewel hung on his every word, same as on the unspoken, with her eyes glued to his lips. She had a guess what it was that Peter was going to say, what he was going to unfold, and, even though she knew she couldn't allow this to happen, not only due to their agreement but also her self-chosen mission, Jewel wanted nothing more in this moment. To be closer to Peter, to get to really know him, and to let him know her, their real selves. However, before anything like that could have happened, Peter's words got interrupted by someone.

"Hey beautiful,""Whaddaya say we ditch this nerd and have a dance?"

Jewel was completely swamped. Not only by the stranger who so straightforwardly and rudely broke into their conversation but also by the feelings still surrounding her. Almost helplessly, she gazed at Peter, not considering that he might get her looking at him as a question for permission, while, in truth, Jewel was feeling anxious, unable to say anything, and therefore holding onto the only thing around that gave her a feeling of protection.

[Ariel]

Emmett looked down as he felt Tink's grasp onto him, sensing that she was incredibly uncomfortable with this guy interfering with their moment. He let out a silent sigh of relief knowing that Tink wasn't going to abandon his side. He wouldn't blame her, this guy was smooth and looked like the type that any girl in the establishment would swoon over. Knowing he had to protect Tink, Emmett looked from Tink and up to Cloud with a soft demeanor yet a stern look in his eye.

"Hey man, I don't think she wants to go with you," Emmett started, his tone sounding somewhat apologetic as he didn't want to cause any sort of confrontation but he knew that he had to stick up for Tink, "I think you should ask someone else."

The Cloud avatar seemed to be taken aback by Emmett's stand in the situation. Perhaps this guy doesn't get told 'no' all that often, he figured. "Are you challenging me on my turf, kid?"

Emmett didn't like the turn this scenario was taking, but Cloud seemed to want to make a problem out of getting turned down. Emmett was about to make a rebuttal on whether this public space was truly Cloud's 'turf' or not, but before he could manage to get a word out an array of Disney Villains showed up behind Cloud, giving Emmett and Tink dirty looks. This wasn't how it went in the video games, Cloud is supposed to be a good guy. This one's an awful jerk, Emmett thought to himself. Nonetheless, Emmett knew that he wasn't getting off scot-free. He had a painfully worried look on his face as his gaze panned from the gathered baddies to Tink. With the setting in mind, there was only one way Emmett could think to settle this debate, "I've got this, trust me," Emmett whispered to Tink before releasing himself from her and walking a few slow steps up to Cloud. He stopped right before him with a challenging glare before breaking out into dance. He was no dancer, but from being involved with theatre and the occasional convention rave he had a few moves up his sleeve. Twirling around, Emmett landed with finger guns pointing at Cloud, "You got anything better, big shot?" Emmett challenged Cloud, immediately initiating a dance off. Not that Tink was anything to be won, Emmett understood that. But he figured it may be the only thing to get these guys off of their backs.

[DarkSideCookie]

Jewel felt kind of stupid for leaving it to Peter instead of talking for herself, like one of these videogame princesses the hero had to rescue, but she simply couldn't move any muscle, not even her tongue. She sent little prayers out for this guy to not harm her friend, especially when it started to get really ugly and friends of his joined in, sending them dirty looks that made Jewel feel even more uncomfortable and frozen to the spot.

"I've got this, trust me,"

At this moment, Jewel wished that she was brave and badass, like her alter ego looked. But she was nothing like that. At least, she managed to slightly nod at Peter, watching him with anxiety, though, as he started to walk over to those guys. But what happened next left not only her frozen to the spot, eyes wide open. Was he actually... dancing? How was that supposed to help them out of this situation?

"You got anything better, big shot?"

Oh, Peter. This was no kind of musical. Granted, Jewel often saw reality as such, to see everything with more positive eyes. As soon as Peter had finished his moves, her gaze wandered towards the Cloud avatar and the others behind him, watching them with curiosity, although still very anxious about what might happen next.

[Ariel]

Cloud narrowed his defensive gaze in on Emmett. He seemed rather taken off guard at first as Emmett had broken out some dance moves, but then when Emmett stopped to challenge him verbally he understood the assignment. Suddenly, the Cloud avatar broke out into dance as he pulled out some moves that began to one up the performance Emmett had just put on. Emmett backed up a step, gulping nervously as he watched Cloud get low and spinning on a single hand he broke out some break dancing moves before hopping back onto his feet. The Villains cheered for his finishing move as a circle began to form around the two in the duel. Cloud addressed his fiends with gratitude before turning around to face Emmett once more, "You might as well give up, Punk. I'm unstoppable." Cloud cackled with a smug grin. Emmett's heart raced in his chest, his mind grasping at any sort of last resorts that could put Cloud in his place. As the DJ put on the next song 'Umbrella by Rihanna," he then realized that he needed to step up his game, in any way he possibly could. Quickly going into his features and toggling through the different filters and effects, Emmett chose a couple of effects that would hopefully save his digital hiney.

Sweating nervously, Emmett stepped back into the center stage as Cloud backed off to give him space. As he began to dance to the beat, suddenly clones of himself began to step outwards from behind him, mirroring his exact dance moves as they trailed outwards from behind him in a V formation. Pulling out some Backstreet Boys style dance moves into the chorus, suddenly a fake cloud of rain began to roll over Emmett and his clones and a dramatic digital rainfall began to fall over where he danced in timing with the theme of the lyrics. As the song began to come to an end, Emmett began to move closer and closer to Cloud and began to overwhelm him and his Villain friends with the clones as they surrounded him, busting out as many moves as possible while a spurt of colorful digital fireworks exploded over the dance floor. The Villains began to back away in fright at all of the dancing Emmetts before running away, leaving Cloud behind. Cloud scrambled to try and run, but his escape was bombarded by all of the clones. He slipped, landing right on his bottom as everyone who had formed the circle around them bursted out into laughter. The Cloud avatar was rendered speechless, his eyes widened in terror before bringing himself to his feet and taking off without a word.

The effects began to fade and one by one, the clones disappeared. Hoots of praise and cheering emulated from the crowd as they congratulated Emmett on his win, but he didn't pay attention to any of them. His eyes immediately found Tink, and he walked up to her while sporting a bashful grin, "See? I told ya I had it. No one ever backs down from a dance off. It's like some sort of Universal rule or something," Emmett chuckled as wiped his avatar's brow.

[DarkSideCookie]

Absolutely taken aback and in awe, Jewel had become the spectator of something Hollywood-like, to her at least. Her eyes hadn't slipped from her best friend's image, not even once. Not even when Cloud and his friends had left in shame, and people around them started to cheer and congratulate him. All Jewel had seen for the last minutes was Peter, who now made his way over to her, not reacting to the crowd either.

"See? I told ya I had it. No one ever backs down from a dance off. It's like some sort of Universal rule or something,"

Without a word, Jewel suddenly stepped forward, embracing his friend in a tight hug. And, in this very moment, it wasn't M!ssMarla holding onto Drag0nSlay3r, same as it wasn't even Tink who held onto Peter, but Jewel holding onto a boy that she had no name from but loved deep from her heart. One, who would perform a dance battle for her, however strange that might sound. She liked his strangeness, for it matched well with her own.

[Ariel]

Emmett could practically feel the warmth of Tink's embrace through all the sensory functions that attached to his body to allow the movements to be precise through the virtual reality tech. But he truly did feel as if he was physically in this world with her in this moment. And it was just the two of them that existed, against all odds and obstacles. He didn't care if Tink wasn't her real name. He just appreciated being loved in this way, by this girl he didn't even know. But he did know her. Tink, the half shy girl with the most beautiful personality he had ever come across. One that he jived so well with, that it all seemed too good to be true. He chuckled amongst their hug before slowly breaking away to meet her sparkling eyes once more, "Hey, I only won a dance off. I didn't save the world," Emmett joked. But he knew that in her eyes, that she saved her world. And to him, that was all that mattered.

[DarkSideCookie]

When he uttered a chuckle amongst their hug, Jewel looked up at him again a little, slightly smiling herself. She knew that he wouldn't think this was ridiculous, her reaction to all this. Nothing in this was, especially not Peter's actions to save her from an uncomfortable situation. No matter if this world was physical or not, the uncomfortableness in their heads would be the same when it comes to strangers being pushy.

"Hey, I only won a dance off. I didn't save the world,"

Jewel chuckled at his words as well, yet felt no need to actually reply to them in a verbal way. After another moment of looking at him in awe, reality would have her back after all. This situation was not fictional but real, something that was out of question by now. But maybe it was too real. They couldn't always stay like this. There would come a day that she had something to do, a journey to take, on her own. Jewel's features changed into something less dreamy when she spoke up again before her friend could. "Would you like to sit over there for a while? We can watch them dance." She gestured at the center, where people met in neat dancing figures above the zero-gravity dance floor area. Despite the more levelheaded look on her face, Jewel's smile at him would remain.

[Ariel]

"Would you like to sit over there for a while? We can watch them dance."

"Sure! I mean, I guess these old dancing bones could use a bit of a breather," Emmett chuckled as he interwove his fingertips together and reached his palms outward in a mock stretching motion. Grabbing Tink's hand gently, Emmett led them towards the center above the zero gravity area where they could find some piece of rest. "So, whaddaya think of this place? Typically it isn't my kind of scene, but I guess what they say is true - don't knock it until you try it, am I right?" Emmett questioned Tink as they settled into the more slower pace area as everyone else continued to party and dance.

[DarkSideCookie]

Jewel felt the cheeks of her real self blushing a bit at the touch of his hand. Fortunately, no one could see that in this world. She tried to keep her cool, so no hint of nervosity would be visible on her avatar's features. While she wanted his hand to hold hers for the rest of her life, Jewel was, at the same time, glad when they parted again, slowly but surely. Her dreaming, this illusion, mustn't go too far.

"So, whaddaya think of this place? Typically it isn't my kind of scene, but I guess what they say is true - don't knock it until you try it, am I right?"

Jewel smiled a bit at him, even though she was watching him only slightly from the side to calm from her current state of red cheeks and feeling all warm and with butterflies in her stomach. "Mine, neither," she then replied, much more casually, after a couple of inner breaths. "I prefer watching people from a safe distance," Jewel added with her gaze turned towards the dance floor again, still slightly smiling though. "But this place is really lovely, and so beautiful." Her smile became a little more dreamy for a moment before she suddenly grinned a bit. "Would you like to play a little game?"

[Ariel]

"Would you like to play a little game?"

Emmett gleefully shot upright in his seat, nodding his head excitedly, "Sure!! I'm always down for something fun!" Emmett exclaimed as he leaned in closer to Tink. He was all ears, ready to hear what exactly it was they were going to play. From video games to board games to even games you play in the car on road trips, he was a sucker for some fun, brain tickling action, "What did ya have in mind?" Emmett asked as they sat together, with all the party hubbub going on around them. 

[DarkSideCookie]

Jewel looked at her friend more directly again when his reaction was not only approval but also excitement. The grin, at some point, lowered into a soft smile again though. Her kind of games surely were rather boring to other people, especially nerds who liked video and board games a lot. But now that she brought it up, it was too late anyway.

Jewel turned her gaze back towards the dance floor and the bars. "Guessing who they are in the real world," she finally replied to his question then, adding with a slight smile: "I used to play this a lot with my dad when I was younger. We'd pick someone out of the crowd and guessed their story." Jewel looked back at Peter, her smile becoming shier again. "You probably think it's stupid or boring, right?"

[Ariel]

"Guessing who they are in the real world," "I used to play this a lot with my dad when I was younger. We'd pick someone out of the crowd and guessed their story." "You probably think it's stupid or boring, right?"

Emmett shook his head, "Boring? not at all!" He confirmed as he also surveyed the dancing crowd before them. He furrowed his brow slightly as he slipped into thought before half turning back to Tink as he pointed at a couple thrashing up the dancefloor, "So, those two right there," Emmett confirmed as he held a steady eye on them, " They are star crossed lovers. Separate lives, separate worlds. Never did they expect to meet in this position, and yet here they are, dancing the night away like no one is watching," He proclaimed as he watched them. Envied them even. They appeared to have a bond that was beyond compare, no matter what their personal lives held, and that was special, "What about you?" Emmett turned the attention back onto Tink, "Any stories you are feeling from the crowd tonight?" 

[DarkSideCookie]

Jewel was relieved and back to happy as soon as her friend answered in the negative to her apprehension. It was neat to play this game again, this time not with her father but with her best friend; Her best friend who also had become her crush. Or maybe things had started between them like this right from the start. Between them, she wished at least; That it wasn't only one-sided. Jewel's thoughts - thankfully - got interrupted then by Peter opening the game with a first round.

"So, those two right there,"

She followed his direction of view with a smile of excitement. Jewel always found it even more exciting to listen to the other's made-up story rather than coming up with her owns. Actually, both was fun.

"They are star crossed lovers. Separate lives, separate worlds. Never did they expect to meet in this position, and yet here they are, dancing the night away like no one is watching,"

A dreamy smile appeared on Jewel's features at that as she watched the couple owning the dancefloor. She could see it, the bond that they had. They looked so happy, no matter if their time together was limited to this world only or not. "I can see that, yes," Jewel whispered smiling, her gaze still lingering on them.

"What about you?""Any stories you are feeling from the crowd tonight?"

Jewel turned her attention back to Peter for a moment before giving him a slight nod and searching for people in the crowd as well. Soon her eyes remained on one single person, a male character sitting alone, right next to the hole in the middle, looking down into it. It didn't take her long to tell what came to mind, with an almost absent look on her face. "Him over there. You see him? He's an astronaut in the real world, on a mission. He's on his break or the end of a day, waiting for his wife to meet him here after she brought their kids to bed. He wants to experience the feeling of flying with her together, let her feel what he can have high up where he is right now, but alone. And while they have the best equipment for the OASIS as well, allowing him to feel her touches as soon as they would be back together here, he can only describe tose to her to make her imagine. And although he's no Shakespeare," she chuckles softly, then places her hand above her chest, "she can feel it in her heart. It's everything they will be having for the next seven months, but it's enough for them. Because they never ask for much as long as there is a way to be together."

After some seconds of silence, Jewel's eyes cleared again. With another soft chuckle, she quickly said: "Sorry. It seems I got lost in storytelling." Before Peter could say anything to that, they became the observer of a group of other players approaching the astronaut, patting his shoulder like they were old friends and inviting him for cocktails and something that could be drugs even.

"Or- he just wants to numb his feelings and mind by going on a drug trip with his friends," Jewel corrected herself before looking back at her friend with a slight laughter.

[Ariel]

"Him over there. You see him? He's an astronaut in the real world, on a mission. He's on his break or the end of a day, waiting for his wife to meet him here after she brought their kids to bed. He wants to experience the feeling of flying with her together, let her feel what he can have high up where he is right now, but alone. And while they have the best equipment for the OASIS as well, allowing him to feel her touches as soon as they would be back together here, he can only describe tose to her to make her imagine. And although he's no Shakespeare," "she can feel it in her heart. It's everything they will be having for the next seven months, but it's enough for them. Because they never ask for much as long as there is a way to be together."


"Or- he just wants to numb his feelings and mind by going on a drug trip with his friends,"

Emmett chuckled along with Tink in sync as they shared a slight laugh together, "If it means anything, I prefer the first story," Emmett admitted before leaning forward with a genuinely enthusiastic smile, "That story was beautiful, Tink! I feel like it should be a book or movie, or something!" He exclaimed with excitement. He loved this story about the astronaut that Tink's imagination just conjured simply by surveying someone, "Do you like to write stories?" Emmett asked her sheepishly. He knew that diving into their real world lives was a line they agreed not to cross, but he just had to know if she shared a similar beloved past time, one that he loved himself.

[DarkSideCookie]

"If it means anything, I prefer the first story,""That story was beautiful, Tink! I feel like it should be a book or movie, or something!"

Jewel smiled at him in gratitude. It really meant a lot to her to hear him saying that, much more than he would think. If she just could talk with him about it all, her true self, the things she loved, the person she was outside of this world. But no, they had made a pact. And they had made it for a reason. Peter probably had become too much of a distraction already, from her mission.

"Do you like to write stories?"

At that, Jewel's eyes darted back at him in a bit of a shock. He wanted to know more about her, breaking their pact. She bit her lip for a moment, then made a decision. "I do," Jewel replied with a slight nod, with a rather serious tone now though, hesitantly and a bit afraid. Not only was this hard for her due to their pact, but, especially, because she feared that Peter might not like her true self. She was not at all a brave fighter or an avdenturer. Jewel was a dreamer, shy, and full of insecurities, vulnerable and weak. "Are you- a fan of stories?" she finally asked just as sheepishly.

[Ariel]

"Are you- a fan of stories?"

Emmett nodded excitedly, as he slipped closer towards Tink in the sitting area and placed his arm to relax around her shoulders as he gestured the other out in front of them in story telling mode, "The beautiful thing about stories is not only about escapism, but you get to experience life in the eyes of all different kinds of characters - in one, you could be seeing life through the eyes of a star struck lover who goes through quarrels but ends up getting their happily ever after. And yet, in another, you could be transported into the boots of a young soldier who's lost everything in battle, far away from the ones he loves not knowing if he will ever see them again. Stories make you see things in a different way that you may never had seen them in the first place. They can be real and relatable, but magical all at once," Emmett's voice trailed off before his cheeks grew flushed with embarrassment as he realized that he had gone off on a very long tangent, "Sorry, I'm totally rambling. I guess what I'm trying to say is that stories are universal. And no matter what you are going through in life, whatever flaws or insecurities you may have, there are relatable characters printed in the words of books that you can turn to. So even when you feel like you're alone, you're really not." Emmett explained as he shed a sheepish grin in Tink's direction, hoping that he had made sense.

[DarkSideCookie]

An inner sigh of relief left her at the realization that Peter was just as excited about stories as she was herself. Stories and worlds of the minds were a big part of her, maybe the biggest. If he didn't like stories, then the chance was high that he couldn't appreciate who she truly was. And yet, shouldn't it be better that way? This, their friendship and feelings beyond, already got too far, didn't they? But really, if Jewel hadn't fallen in love with this boy long ago, she would have in this very moment. His words, the tone in his voice as he went on and on, his arm resting somewhere behind her shoulder, and after all, the look in his eyes - That was all too much for a dreamer of true love like her.

"Sorry, I'm totally rambling. I guess what I'm trying to say is that stories are universal. And no matter what you are going through in life, whatever flaws or insecurities you may have, there are relatable characters printed in the words of books that you can turn to. So even when you feel like you're alone, you're really not."

There's absolutely no need to be sorry, for I share all your thoughts and especially the heart where they come from, was what Jewel wanted to say deep down, what her eyes probably told him, but the words she actually said were different. They had to be.

She smiled back at him, as composed as she could yet not at all rejecting, quite the contrary. In her eyes, she would no way be able to hide her affection. "That's well put." Still, Jewel couldn't leave it at that, not when it came to talking about what constituted her true self. It was easier though to turn her gaze away from him a little, letting it wander around again while she spoke. "But no matter how different those characters and worlds we escape to seem, isn't it that there always is something true in them, like a part of us, even if only a tiny bit of a part?"

[Ariel]

"But no matter how different those characters and worlds we escape to seem, isn't it that there always is something true in them, like a part of us, even if only a tiny bit of a part?"

"Of course! Everyone has at least one favorite character that they've come across in a story that they resonate with." Emmett confirmed her question. Relatable characters were some of the best parts of storytelling. You always feel a little less lonely in the world when you're reading about someone, fictional or not, going through a similar situation in life such as yourself. Emmett thought to himself for a moment, thinking about which character came to mind when he thought about relatability. He was itching to share, but that would mean giving another piece of himself to Tink and burdening her with more personal details. They already were walking a fine line of their agreement. But if he could, he would give it all to her. The bass of the music continued to beat throughout the club as the scene remained the same. Avatars dancing and partying, "This club is getting kinda stale, me thinks," Emmett stretched his arms over his head, ready to bounce, "Where do ya wanna explore? The OASIS is our oyster, dear Tink, we can go anywhere you'd like!" Emmett exclaimed as he waited for her response.

[DarkSideCookie]

"Of course! Everyone has at least one favorite character that they've come across in a story that they resonate with."

And how would those characters you feel related to be? Are there many of them, or only a few, maybe only one even? Jewel wanted to ask these questions and more, but again, she couldn't. It would be against their agreement and only attach him more to her mind and heart. She let out an inner sigh of frustration while the slight smile remained before a simple nod finished this conversation, her favorite with him so far. The truest probably.

"This club is getting kinda stale, me thinks,"

Jewel couldn't help but chuckle at his choice of words and, especially, the slight grimace that naturally came along with them. How was he so adorable? Or why was the image that Peter gave to her? For a moment, she wondered in silence what kind of person he might be in the real world. But then again, who people were here might be much more of the truth than who they were outside of the OASIS, for in this world, they could be who they would rather want to be, a relatable character.

"Where do ya wanna explore? The OASIS is our oyster, dear Tink, we can go anywhere you'd like!"

She chuckled again, this time more audibly, then pulled her arms around her legs, slightly swaying back and forth. "What's your favorite place?" Jewel then asked, leaving it actually open if she meant places here or in the real world. They had crossed a line already anyway.

[Ariel]

"What's your favorite place?"

"Well," Emmett started as he began to scoot back onto his feet and stand upright, just about ready to leave, "There's a pretty cool tavern over in Gygax. Much more laid back than this place, unless you piss off a Dragonborn," Emmett explained before wincing, speaking from his own personal and accidental experience, "What do you say? Wanna check it out?" Emmett asked Tink, excited to explore more and show her some of his favourite spots in the Oasis.