STORY

STORY

A LESSON UNLEARNED
[Clock Towers Beneath The Sea (Dream World) - A Hat In Time Extended]
2024-12-29 04:36:37
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Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:27:52

Restaurants littered the city, but many of them felt the same. Even though many of the party wandering have never entered these establishments before, there was a sense of similarity. All the pizzas made with the same cheese. All the burgers made with the same beef, from the same farm, from the same breed of cattle, fed with the same grains as the others.

And then they happened upon a strange stall set up by an AI making, of all things, sandwiches. The sign denoted that they were free.

Arson
2024-12-29 04:37:02
Arson Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:28:38
Arson had been wandering about as usual, looking for little stories to write down, but lately everything has been the same, inspiration lacking with all the hum drum of the Zoo Corp city life. Him and his Auntie DD had managed to run across an old friend they had met years ago, so that little something had lead them to wandering down this specific direction, across this odd stall as they made their way.
"I must say, after having the same thing so many times, I could really go for some wild game... oh, but those sandwiches look different, at least."
"...! Oh, very different. Gives...vibes." Arson comments, feeling a little better with something to break up the monotony.
Lyssa had been very startled to have run into the platzel and co again, but was enjoying the chance to take a day off with anyone other than the hustling local shrimp...

"Perchance do thee upon the altar of / concessions to hunger's growl wish to pause? =)"
"If not a bother. Arson knows Lyssa can't eat."
"You folks looking for something a little different to eat today?"
"Can't say it's any good, but it's nothing you'll get around here."
"Giving such a meal unpriced seems strange/ alas for kindness such to be so rare...."
"We were... wait..... don't we know you?"
"...!"
"All else upon this planet march to coin / yet here...-"
Lyssa v3 trails off, focusing, at DD's words
"Would love to try. A bit different, maybe familiar?"
"Goodness, there's so many familiar faces I've seen recently. A funny string of coincidences, that."
"The universe is a small place. Maybe even a bit smaller than you would think little guy."
Cheater
2024-12-29 11:48:00
Cheater Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:30:20
"Pretty sure we've met before." Cheater motions to Arson. "You're the one who gave me that book you wrote once, aren't you?"
"Yes, Arson gave Pow Pow story...." He trails off
"Though, stories feeling...harder now."
"Yeah. I feel you. Harder to feel creative in a world like this......"
"It's harder to find a spark. Though Lyssa here manages well enough, somehow."
".... =)!"
"Though, I must admit........ while things haven't been the best for me lately, I'm a bit happy about it little dudes."
"Check this out."
Cheater places a piece of bread down. Then some ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and then he slowly lowers the bread onto the pile to create a......
Perfectly normal sandwich!
"I know this might seem a little foolish to you folks, but, I've never been able to make a sandwich before."
"In fact, I haven't been able to make anything myself for a long time."
"...Then how did you give out food?"
Arson claps his claws gently. "Looks tasty. May Arson try?"
"Feel free, the sandwiches are free until I run out of supplies."
Cheater
2024-12-29 11:51:37
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Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:31:16
"Sadly that might happen sooner than I want. I'm too used to just getting everything on demand."
Arson proceeds to pick up the totally normal sandwich in his claws and bite into it.
"This sandwich that you craft, it is the first / steps of creativity you have made?"
"Few with such restriction have escaped its claw / so celebration I give to this day =)"
"That'd be a shame. I was just thinking, it was nice to see that at least you hadn't changed."
"Personality wise, I think I'm still the same me. I just lost the way I get things. It was hard to get used to."
"Be glad you didn't see me on my first few months of trying this out without my- Food on demand services."
"...?"
"You can't store lettuce next to raw chicken in the fridge... did you know that?...."
"..." DD chooses not to answer. (She doesn't cook.)
Arson swallows what he was chewing before speaking. "Ai learning cooking special, maybe? Not Edesia that knows naturally. Flavors.. nice."
"Hmmm..." DD strums a single string, emitting a low pitch. "What if we could get you more supplies?"
"So, what have thou been doing since the change / in fortunes and employment of which I hear?
Though never have we met afore this day / some small fact has yet passed down to this hound =)"
"I had to look up a bunch of tutorials on cooking, but there's a lot of things in the world that folks just assume that you'd know."
"None of those tutorials told me meat rots so quickly outside."
"Don't worry. I do have a supplier, but he can be a little inconsistent." Cheater pauses trying to find the right word to describe his supplier.
"He's a bit of a Chunibyo*."
*A tourist term that no one is sure of the meaning of, but tourists are seen most often using it when pointing at marsues.
"I don't know what that means, but I assume it's a good thing."
Arson looks at Lyssa v.3, tilting his head a bit.
Lyssa
2024-12-29 11:56:25
Lyssa Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:33:02
("I know not what the saying means either!")
"Can I get another sandwich for myself, while we're here?"
"Arson met all here during festival." He comments to Lyssa v.3 "When Lyssa wrote lovely story with bird."
"Ah yes! And at the end the day was saved / and all was well and no one was scared =)"
"or dead"
"Yeah no problem. Here's a sandwich for you." Cheater holds out a sandwich for DD, but the scent of it attracts an unwanted guest.
[Pursuit ~ Cornering Together - Ace Attorney 6 : Spirit Of Justice OST]
2024-12-30 00:12:40
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Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:34:08

A mutated basurarex charges the group!

But someone has been waiting on the sidelines for just a moment like this.
Bobo Hotwheels flips a 2 sided coin. A 2 is flipped.
A hero from the shadows races out and slashes clean through the monster!
2024-12-30 00:14:23
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Posted by ID #69
Last edit: 2024-12-30 00:52:50

.............................

2024-12-30 00:14:51
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Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:35:02

The Basurarex didn't have a chance! The slash was so quick that it slices cleanly in two!

Bobo places his sword back into its sheath. "You should all try to be more aware of your surroundings."
"I think it just wanted a sandwich."
Bobo shakes his head slowly. "A beast that great and powerful could have ripped you all in two."
"I'm pretty sure it just wanted a sandwich."
DD
2024-12-30 00:16:29
DD Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:35:38
DD is reeling from being splashed with Basurarex blood and garbage juice!
"Amazing strike Bobo." Arson comments, looking over his book.
"Thank you citizen! I knew someone here would appreciate my help!"
Lyssa perks up,

"In twain I would hate to be ripp'd apart / so thanks to dashing swordsman I must give!"
Arson looks between Bobo and Cheater for a moment, trying to connect something.
"You should be careful of jumping into battles like that, Bobo."
"If you don't scope out the situation before launching into an attack, you're going to hit the wrong guy sooner or later."
"I think I know what I'm doing, teacher."
DD
2024-12-30 00:18:41
DD Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:37:27
DD shakes herself, spraying a few droplets around her, before getting a proper look at the interloper. "...wait, Arson, is that really Bobo? From the flip incident?"
"I spotted that beast from a mile away, teacher! It didn't halt a single time."
"Things don't render that far."
"..........................................."
"My eyes are just more impressive than yours."
Arson
2024-12-30 00:20:30
Arson Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:38:00
Arson looks to DD, before raising a claw up. "Arson has question Bobo. Look familiar, different model?" He had an instinctual response to his own memories, but the Bobo he remembered was a little bot.
Lyssa twitches at Cheater's words and looks back over her shoulder at the others...
"Ah, I see, you must remember me from when I was just a cringy little twerp!"
"I built myself a better body."
"People would have never taken me seriously as a total shorty."
Arson goes to clap but stops himself, thinking better of the motion at the moment. "Look great. Stronger too!"
"Now, I must ask, as protector of the universe-"
"Ship guard."
"Is there anything I can assist you with today?"
A part of DD feels concerned. "I remember you. I remember you weren't very mature back then, and used your powers recklessly."
"Though I didn't help the situation."
Lyssa
2024-12-30 00:23:54
Lyssa Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:38:56
Looks like nobody noticed.

"I think the order of the day / is sandwiches and the procurement of? =)"
"Sadly teacher has been sick for many years and he's unlikely to recover. It's been a terrible time for all of us."
"I'm doing ok."
"So if you need help, it's best I do it."
"I can make sandwiches."
"The loss to pompadour lovers resounds =)"
"Arson just looking for inspriation. Everything..." He motions to the city around them.
"Found old friend Lyssa v.3, old friend..."
He looks over at Cheater and isn't sure he ever got a name for them.
"And Bobo. Already more inspiration than last years. But not story."
"Inspiration? That's all you need?"
"I can summon inspiration for you!"
"You don't need to pull your sword out to do that."
"............................." Bobo puts his sword away.
Bobo Hotwheels
2024-12-30 00:27:27
Bobo Hotwheels Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:40:15
"Tell me what sort of inspiration are you seeking? I've recently obtained some most blessed of text that may assist."
"Well, swords can be pretty cool and inspiring. But let's see this."
"Don't show them your manga."
"You won't let me do anything!"
"Admittedly showing them your manga isn't harmful I just think for your future image it's best you don't, little dude."
"My image is flawless."
"And if they ever thought anything bad about me. I could fix that."
"Well, I'm willing to change my opinion of you if you've shown you've grown, sure. I changed, after all. Everyone makes mistakes when they're young."
Lyssa
2024-12-30 00:29:28
Lyssa Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:41:05
"How cruel... to rob a manga-lover so / and so too cheat the audience's gain.

Perhaps this hound is partial to these arts / and seeks a new fantasy'venture's name?"
Arson pipes up. "Arson write inspirational stories for children. Bobo help with tale of birthday long ago. Was nice. Learning to be careful." He nods to himself.
"It'd mean a lot if you could help out Arson."
[Mr. Reus - The Masked Magician - Ace Attorney 6: Spirit Of Justice OST]
Bobo sighs. "Before we continue....It is time I tell you all the truth. You all know who I am...but...."
"He lost his memories."
"SHUT UP I WANT TO TELL MY OWN STORY."
"Fine please continue, but talking about this never ends well."
"You all know who I am...."
"But I......"
"Have no idea who any of you are."
Bobo Hotwheels
2024-12-30 00:33:22
Bobo Hotwheels Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:42:14
"When I was just 10, I was an ordinary robot. But then, I was chosen by some great force to travel to the depths of hell to fight a terrible beast that would end the world."
"But the event stole all my memories from me. I only remember what my teacher has told me."
"You locked your memories away yourself, and I've told you it's best to just remember them."
"Trust me, ignoring the bad times hasn't been good for me."
Bobo ignores Cheater. "All I know is I need to find who took my memories, and only be defeating them will I be able to finally reclaim my past."
"Geeze, that's awful."
Arson listens with bated breath like it's some epic tale
("And also makes this a bit awkward.")
"And it all starts with finding my long lost father."
("My second one. My first one is in the ship.")
"This tale... a true tragedy in its veil... / One that I think shall not be so soon solved..."
"...Have you actually tried restoring your own memories? I've heard some robots can lock and unlock parts of themselves like that."
"Wait, biological parents important?"
("What biology refer'st thou Arson?)
"I've considered trying to unlock my memories, but every time I do that, I forget the entire day."
("He locks up his memories again.")
("Parents raise one, versus parents make one.")
"For some biological parents aren't important, but for me it is! For I, as far as I know, am the only one of my kind!"
"The power I hold is as much a blessing as it is a curse. The only person I've been able to find with even powers remotely like my own has been my teacher."
"But as I said, teacher has been sick, and he's never going to recover. I don't have anyone now I can relate to."
"So I MUST find my father."
"..........The second one...."
"The first one is kind of a dweebus."
"Listen... this might not mean much to you. But, there was a long time where I refused to look at my own old memories."
"It's stating the obvious, but well, I'm a melodico. We all have a past. And mine was bad. It felt like, a cold pit I would drown under, if I dwelled on it too long."
DD
2024-12-30 00:39:56
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Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:44:34
"But eventually, I told my family. And putting it into words helped. It didn't weigh me down so much, after that."
"Perhaps you could just unlock your memories little by little, not all at once? Like, starting with the ones that featured me and Arson."
Arson
2024-12-30 00:39:07
Arson Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:45:08
Arson scratches a claw on his head, seeming to think. "Arson not good help. Only remember big lady hand Bobo over for watch on birthday. Definitely not father."
"A small bit at a time. I could do that."
"Don't."
Bobo Hotwheels
2024-12-30 00:41:25
Bobo Hotwheels Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:45:29
"For example, you mention the "big lady." But I do not know how she looked. Can you remind me. That would be a good starting point."
Arson rummages around in his bookbag a bit before stopping.
"I'm going to stop you all there. Please don't."
"I don't think this is the way to go about it. It's not that I don't want him to find his memories, it's just that I'm worried about what could happen in this moment."
"What do you mean?"
Lyssa
2024-12-30 00:42:29
Lyssa Profile
Posted by ID #69
Last edit: 2024-12-30 00:43:22
"What could happen in this moment, then?"
"Let them tell me how this big lady looked! It's just a single person! Nothing will happen!"
Arson looks between Bobo and Cheater, fumbling around as he seems to start to panic a little.
"I was thinking of telling him about the time we met Jesus... as embarrassing as that would be for both of us. But it's okay to look back on that kind of thing, isn't it?"
"Literally anything, dudes. Bobo is one of the most powerful beings in the universe. That's not an understatement."
"Both a curse and a blessing!"
Bobo Hotwheels
2024-12-30 00:45:00
Bobo Hotwheels Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:47:12
"But frankly I do not think I would lose my cool at just a simple mention of this "big lady," teacher! She just sounds like a baby sitter I had."
"Not unless...it's possible....my second dad...."
"Is actually my mom."
"Anything could be possible."
"But I don't think that's true."
"Well how do you know? Maybe my dad changed pronouns or something!"
"I mean he might have."
"But I'm positive he's still just your dad."
Arson takes out a Book, Pow Pow meets the mightest bot, and offers it to Lyssa v.3 "Arson not good with conflict. P-please give one book."
"Not good with words."
"Never have I met either of thee afore / yet feel I in my heart of hearts that your / teacher has the right of it on that"...

Lyssa takes Arson's treasured book gingerly and looks through it silently for a while...
"this picture... it is of a scary clown?"
"Let me see!" Bobo hops behind Lyssa and checks out the image.
"Is that....the big lady?"
"Thy father is this image not, I feel... / Arson is that the one you know?"
2024-12-30 00:49:36
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Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-03-07 19:56:48
"This...is her.....My baby sitter......Or, was she?"
2024-12-30 00:51:11
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Posted by ID #69
Last edit: 2024-12-30 00:52:14

A camusken flaps its wings in alarm as it crows.

This is a warning.

"Wait. No this is......"
"This is my sister. Debby. She....." Bobo starts to tremble.
"...How are you feeling? Don't try and force it, stop if it's getting too hard."
"There were a lot of times I had to stop, when I finally talked about my past. It took weeks to tell the whole story."
"I....I'm not trying to remember much! I only remember one thing about her!"
"I ki-z-z---LLED HER."
Arson flinches as Bobo starts to freak out, backing up out of instinct "O-oh. She is special too.."
[Limbus Company - Canto V Battle Theme D1]
Lyssa looks at Cheater... then at Bobo... Then back at Cheater. She takes a step back. Then another, and another.

Lyssa is about to flee.
DD talks quickly. "You did? Then I'm certain it was an accident. So cry about it, hug your teacher, throw a tantrum. Punch the ground and let it hurt your fingers. But in this moment, you need to control yourself and not use your powers. Don't be a god. Mortals handle grief better than gods."
Bobo suddenly calms down. "Ah ha."
Cheater seems MORE terrified that Bobo has calmed down.
"I did kill her. But that was a good thing."
"I only-"
"-destroy evil."
..................................................................................................
"And anyone who remembers and helped the monsters of hell had to be evil. They HAD to be. They were all MONSTERS. I ONLY-"
"-KILL MONSTERS!"

Bobo readies to attack the group!

Lyssa tries to flee!
Arson
2024-12-30 01:14:59
Arson Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:49:29
Arson trembles and shakes. Slowly stepping over and reaching down to pick up the book. He holds it close and looks over to DD. "Please, Auntie DD not know anything. Only Arson saw big lady. Was given little Bobo to watch over and care for. Saw mighty bot... No one else saw. No one else helped before or after..."
"Arson knows Bobo has great power....Bobo working hard...please not hurt anyone else..." He says, before hugging the book tight.
Arson... how could he say that? How could he try to save her like that?
"So YOU helped that monster! Maybe you should have thought better before....Before doing this to me!!!!"
Cheater knows it's too late, he's powerless to stop Bobo. "Did WHAT, Bobo?"
"I......I....."
Bobo Hotwheels
2024-12-30 01:16:42
Bobo Hotwheels Profile
Posted by ID #69
Last edit: 2024-12-30 01:16:51
"DON'T KNOW!!!!" Bobo lunges forward at Arson, sword aimed for his heart.
Bobo Hotwheels flips a 2 sided coin. A 2 is flipped.
Cheater wanted to get in the middle of it. To stop the attack. But in truth, he was powerless to it. He couldn't stop Bobo messing up like he did in the past because he was just.... Cheater now.

The guy who makes sandwiches by hand.

Arson is stabbed through the heart. From the wound his body begins to disintegrate into dust.

Arson has been slain.

Arson's backpack and scarf fall to the ground, his little books scattering over the ground.
She turns to Bobo, trying to skitter away and talk at the same time, trying to not give in to her rage. "All those damn manga you read and styled yourself after, you think those heroes are flawless? They never make any mistakes, never mess up?? I remember when you were a dork who thought he was so fucking dark and edgy! How could you think things are so black and white?!"
She scoops up one of the books, fighting to keep her limbs steady enough to speak as she flips to a page, showing Bobo at Arson's birthday party, and the 'flip incident' that they'd all laughed about, afterwards. "You went to his fucking birthday party, you asshole! You aren't perfect, you're a bundle of flaws with more power than he knows what to do with, just like every other damn god in this universe! Get over it!"
"You can't fool me."
"I think DEMONS from HELL might just be a bit fucking evil, and if you're on THEIR side, you are a danger to the universe."
"And I don't give a DAMN what ANY DEMON HAS TO SAY. I'LL KILL ALL OF THEM!"
"If you ever want to remember, and heal, you'll regret this."
Bobo Hotwheels flips a 2 sided coin. A 1 is flipped.
Bobo in anger, stabs the ground itself, completely missing DD. The ground itself starts to vaporize under him.
Something about this terrifies Bobo! Bobo is in a panic as he tries to remove the sword from the ground. "No. No. No no, please..."
DD sees that he's stuck, and she tenses to spring at him, to ram him and bite down on that metal body as hard as she can, no matter how little it might do.
But.....

She thinks about Arson.

DD flees, with the backpack and books in tow.

Bobo doesn't notice DD flee, still panicking to stop the spread of the cracks growing across the ground, threatening to break and send everyone nearby to a terrible place.
"Let go of the sword."
"B-but it's going to kill everyone if I don't! I have to-"
"What did I tell you before?"
"It's the person who wields the sword that gives it power. Not the sword."
"Let it go."
Bobo lets go of the sword. Without his power flowing through his weapon the cracks recede and heal. "I nearly got innocent people killed because of my stupid powers! I hate them! Why can't I just be normal!"
Cheater looks towards the spot where Arson used to be. That was the worst part of how Bobo killed. Nothing would be left. The body turns to dust, and all that's left is people's memories.
"Can you at least promise me to remember this moment?"
"I don't know if I want to. If I keep having these failures on my mind I won't want to try and save anyone."
"Please."
"I don't know what your problem is. You used to do it all the time."
"I don't do it anymore-"
"Cause you're sick."
"Let me finish. You're right, little guy. But, I feel better now that I can't do it."
"It's not the same. I mean what are you even going to delete? Memories of making a bad sandwich? No offense to you, teacher."
"I guess I should keep the memory until I can kill that last demon ally."
"..........................................."
"Actually, you can lock it up with the others."
"Geez. You're so flip floppy, old man."
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES!
No one is typing.