ｇｒａｖｅｙａｒｄ

[judgejudy]

GRAVEYARD You remember dying. It's vivid and real, and you can absolutely remember taking your last breath. By all measures, that should have been the end. And yet, like waking from a deep sleep, you awake in a comfortable bed in a quaint little bedroom, and outside the window, you can see an even more quaint little neighborhood. You can get up to explore, but before you leave the bedroom, the radio inside flickers to life. "Good morning," Judy says, calm as ever, "Let me first say that I'm sorry that we've deceived you—" Because indeed, the more you look at this little neighborhood, the more it may feel familiar to you. It's almost like this was the kind of life you had before you ended up in the complex. Though as Judy explains, it wasn't a complex at all. The complex was something called a Vault, and the Vault was meant to protect you from the cataclysmic war that nearly wiped out humanity on the surface. You were kept safe. In a sense. It seems that the Vaults ultimately weren't much of protection in the first place. But Judy has done her best to ensure that your death in the Vault wasn't truly the end. Because of the nature of what was done to you, she was able to back up your existence in the servers that support the Vault. Strictly speaking, that's where you are now. You're a digital construct, and this neighborhood is Judy's idea of how to sustain you in the coming decades. That is the downside here, of course. All you can do is simply wait for someone to discover these servers, hoping they haven't failed by then. Perhaps there might be a way for you to return to the living then... Though for now, that's a distant dream. The neighborhood is small, but clearly will allow every person their own little home when they perish. There's a chance to expand it to include whatever amenities you may dream up, and there may already be some here. In addition, you can always watch the Vault to see how they're doing. There's a television in each home, and through it, you might understand how Judy can see so much. Flipping through the channels gives you a view of nearly every room in the Vault, at least until curfew falls. It's quality entertainment, since it gives you a way to keep tabs on the living. So, how will you spend your time? — OOC Explanation

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JUDY

[judgejudy]

[ After the fourth trial and exciting execution, you'll see a woman you've never seen before in the cul-de-sac. She's well-dressed and made up, but she simply stands there, as if she's waiting for someone to approach. She's always smiling slightly, but the smile also seems fake.

If you come talk to her, you'll realize who she is as soon as she speaks, though. Her monotone voice is unmistakable. ]

[onepunchgirl]

You.

[Oh guess who is so fucking mad to wake up and find out she is in a Vault. That she didn't even remember she was thrown into a Vault to begin with - something that shouldn't even be possible.]

Judy, as Scribe of the Brotherhood of Steel, I demand to know what the purpose of this Vault is. I am certain you understand that the Vaults were not designed as playgrounds for mass murder.

[judgejudy]

Not playgrounds, no. But they are not the safe havens they were advertised to be.

[ She cants her head lightly as she looks at Veronica, but her unsettling smile never changes. ]

I could tell you of the experiment of this Vault. But I do not think it would make you any happier to know it.

[onepunchgirl]

Yes, I am well aware of the Enclave's crimes against the people they swore to protect.

[She wasn't born when the Brotherhood-Enclave war occurred, but it and other such disputes were well documented in her studies.]

And for the record? I do want to know. Please, tell me if you would. Any information that I can give to the High Elder the moment I get out of here would be useful.

[judgejudy]

[ When Judy speaks, it's very automatic, even for her. It's clear she's quoting something verbatim. ]

The mission of Vault 62 is to fully research a new technology developed by the United States military meant to alter memories and mental states. Vault 62 seeks to determine the full extent as well as any side-effects that may arise from the usage of this technology, since preliminary testing determined that users may face increased mental stress, lowered inhibitions, and other psychological problems as a result of having their memories modified.

[ Then, less automatically: ]

The "Complex" as we call it is simply a series of stress tests.

[onepunchgirl]

Jesus.

[w h y]

You better fucking hope I don't ever get out of here. High Elder Maxson will not be pleased with your existence - this entire facility will be destroyed and salvaged.

[mitsubou]

[Mitsutada will carefully approach this creepo yet fashionable looking woman, since she's just... there, and he's woken up with a big infodump after he swore he got battered to death by a guy in a tacky outfit??? SO HE'S PRETTY CONFUSED, and looking for answers. This woman looks pretty official though.]

Um, hello? I don't remember seeing you around before --

[judgejudy]

Because you have not seen me. I cannot be seen in the Vault.

[ Her smile quirks a little more ]

But I believe you know who I am.

[mitsubou]

J-Judy!

[GASP.]

You... How do I help Kara-chan? He's not safe in there...!

[Priorities.]

[judgejudy]

You cannot. The most interaction I can provide with the living are the letters you may send them. Of course, I will redact any information that would tamper with the experiment.

[mitsubou]

Letters... that's fine. It's okay if I can still talk to him.

[Yeah, that much is good BUT...]

Where's Rhys? You can't tell me he's still alive--

[MITSUTADA HAS A BONE TO PICK WITH HIM!!]

[subsisted]

Would you prefer to be punched before or after I ask you how it is I manage to help the people who really need it?

[ just wonderin'. she's being polite, too. ]

[judgejudy]

Before.

[ She just answers that simply, and stands there patiently as if waiting for Lara to do just that... ]

[subsisted]

[ okay. yeah. fine, she'll punch you, jude.

she is kind of expecting her fist to phase through her, though? she's prepared to take a tumble as long as her anger is known, so it's whatever. ]

[judgejudy]

[ Surprisingly (?), the punch connects, but Judy herself doesn't move at all. There's not so much as a stumble, and her smile doesn't shift at all. She stares at Lara expectantly. ]

It does not seem very satisfying. I have forgotten how to properly react to such things.

[subsisted]

[ oh my god? ]

There's always a catch, isn't there...

[ which is to say she's right. it isn't satisfying at all. ]

"Forgotten"... You're not going to ask me to help you remember, are you. [ lara croft accepts all npc quests, though. ]

[chiseler]

[Surprisingly, he doesn't exactly have a lot of ill-will toward her but he is giving her a vaguely unhappy look.]

What're you doing here. [Because really. Who else can this be?]

[judgejudy]

Hello again, Luke.

[ She nods her head to him lightly. ]

It occurred to me that I could create a digital image with which to better interact with those of you contained on my servers. So I suppose I am simply coming to visit.

[chiseler]

[There's a pause as he glances back at their little town, a lopsided smile coming shortly after.]

Not a whole lot to visit to tell you the truth. But that's all we are then, right? Digital images? None of this is really...real. [That sure is frustrating, thank you everybody.] But visiting implies you're also going to leave again. That true?

[judgejudy]

There could be. Here, you are gods, in a sense. You cannot die, and whatever you wish, I can create. At least, to a certain extent. I have to devote certain percentages of these servers to keeping the complex running. It would be troublesome if our air filtration systems were to shut down because of fulfilling requests. Of course, then you would all be here together. Perhaps that is preferred.

[ She looks up to the sky briefly, then back down to Luke. ]

I do not think so. I am able to "exist" to both the living and the dead simultaneously. So if I leave here, it is because I have been destroyed. This would be unfortunate, but not an unforeseen outcome.

[chiseler]

[He seems to flinch a tiny bit at the word "gods" if only because of the false memories he was given. Is that something he wants? Immortality? It's possible.] I kind of wish for somewhere else to go, but kinda sounds like we're all bound to these servers. But I'll keep that in mind. Dunno if I'd say all of us being here is the preferred outcome though.

[He shrugs slightly.] I think...you're kinda like us. [Us, of course, being the group of killers in the complex.] People don't understand and are pretty angry so they wanted to kill us. I don't think your destruction would be unforeseen either. [Thanks, Luke. However, he does think on that.]

...if you can exist to both the living and the dead, can't we? I know we can send messages from the terminals but...one a day, Judy? That's way too slow.

[jackhole]

[ SUP HOMEGIRL ]

Hey, hey! Judy!

[ here is a rhys, jogging forward with a delighted look on his face as he approaches her. look, they're together now! ]

Like the look. Was this really you before the whole brain thing or something you came up with?

[judgejudy]

[ She turns her attention to Rhys as he approaches, but her expression doesn't change. Judy is still working on the whole "remembering how to people" thing, and normal expressions aren't a part of that... ]

No, it was not. But this creation is something of a joke. It suits the voice on my chassis. Perhaps not this one. But I find the voice on my chassis rather irritating.

[jackhole]

[ well, he's gotta say something about that. he sort of cringes first and then places his hands on his hips, looking at her. ]

Judy, quick question. Did you -- uh, did you give yourself expressions? Or is the smile just it? You know that's gonna make you creepier than you should be, right?

[ just. JUST TO MENTION. ]

-- I never heard your chassis voice. Is it really that bad?

[judgejudy]

No, I did not. This is the first time I have given myself a human form. Moving correctly was my priority. Expressions are secondary, or even tertiary. Comfort is not a priority when compared to basic functionality.

[ so, yeah, no ]

I believe so. It's very sensual. I find it ill-fitting.