hlvrvi

[hlvrvi]

Wait, anymore? Like, people could die before and they weren’t immortal? Who tf invented immortality and how?

"No one knows! We just sorta stopped aging one day, then later we invented nanobots so we can't get hurt. Now we all do random shit to keep busy. Like football."

"Football???"

"Yeah, football. I don't really completely get it either."

[hlvrvi]

its time for show and tell ifg, everyone fess up 0w0

"I guess if no one else will, it's my turn."

"Um, so basically Black Mesa is on the moon, and they're trying to make a portal to Xen? Something like that. It's a buncha bullshit really. I don't know why they're doing it on the moon either."

"Anyway, so basically me and my team got launched into deep space by our Benrey who was sorta desperate to actually keep us away from Xen. Little more than mildly annoying."

"...what about G-man? Is he trying to get you to kill Benrey?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah something like that. I was gonna talk him out of it but then we got launched. I mean, it's not like he could kill any of humanity anymore, so..."

[hlvrvi]

Oh boy, story time 🍿🍿🍿. Surely things can’t be too bad right?

"It's bad enough being stuck here. I'm not about to traumadump to strangers."

"Oh shut up, you weren't even one of the first candidates."

"(Somehow, I think this announcement made everything more tense...)"`

[hlvrvi]

LOUNGE TIME LOUNGE TIME LOUNGE TIME LOUNGE TIME LOUNGE TIEM

After a bit of walking, which was surprisingly not much at all, all the kidnapped people had reached the lounge. It was a pretty simple room, all things considered. Everyone found a place to stand, Controlly sitting up on a shelf or something to match the height somewhat.

The PA turned on.

(I'm sorry for doing this so suddenly, you six. First of all... I feel like I should emphasize that I mean no harm. In fact, I aim to help.)

"Likely story," the recently-dubbed Hal scoffed, stance stiff.

(No, it's quite true,) the Narrator insisted. (All of you are currently stuck in some sort of predicament. Stuck on Xen, for some, and for others, lost in a variety of different ways. There is no winning those battles alone.)

Silence fell over the group, for a moment.

"He's right," Gordon agreed after the pause, shrugging. "I can't get out of deep space on my own."

"G-man isn't listening to me," Ozzy grumbled.

"And I can't kill that bastard without help, apparently," Controlly said, the venom in his voice leaving the silence after uncomfortable.

The rest neglected to respond.

(This shouldn't take more than a week,) the Narrator promised. (There are plans to formulate and simulations to run, but generally, my hope is that the more of you agree to help each other and bond, the easier your problems will be to solve.)

Hal squinted up. "But we're stuck here."

(I'm not letting you leave and get hurt without a plan,) the Narrator said, honesty flooring Hal for a moment before he scowled in reaction.

"So, what, we just have to get all buddy-buddy with each other?" Controlly asked, skeptical.

Joshua decided to speak up, too. "Which one of us is going first...?"

(Either Ozzy, Gordon, or Controlly. You all can decide for yourself by listening to each other's stories.)

Having said what it wanted to say, the PA shut off again.

Well, that was sure an exposition dump. Now what?

[hlvrvi]

you dont know? as in you dont know if you have one orrr you dotn know if its happt anymore? sorry im just curious

"I don't want to talk about it."

[hlvrvi]

What is everyone's most happiest memory?

"Graduating high school! Uncle G, my cousin, and my parents were all there. It was really nice, and we went to ice cream afterwards."

"When I was a kid, I made a one-day friend at like... a park. She was just really nice and we found two lucky clovers in the field. I still have mine, actually. It's pressed."

"Watching my Joshua grow up! I'm still really proud of him, even though he looks like my age."

"...I don't know."

"Getting my dog Charlie! She's so sweet and probably the best dog I could ask for. I got her from a shelter with my wife."

"Meeting Dad."

[hlvrvi]

Yeah, i am actually kinda curious to see where this is gonna go

-Moon

"You and me both, though just between us, I think I'm weirding out everyone by not being super worried, haha."

[hlvrvi]

So... are you going to head to the lobby or not? You probably should go do that.

"Oh right good idea."

There's a bit of laughter from the group, but they're all on their way now. Shouldn't take more than like, two messages.

[hlvrvi]

GUYS WE FAILED ETIQUETTE PROUNOUN CHECK. YOUR PRONOUNS GIVE US NOW. EVEN YOU NARRATOR

(Oh, just he for me, thanks for asking though!)

"At this point we should probably just introduce ourselves. I'm Gordon Freeman, he/she. Figured out a few things about myself a few thousand years in. I don't actually know my age, and I applied for a space program a while back, hence the spacesuit."

"Starman..."

"Huh, never thought I'd see Uncle go to space. Ozzy Freeman, I'm 19, any pronouns... I love to draw and I know just about nothing of what the hell Black Mesa was doing?"

"Controlly. I think we all have the same last name. Um, I'm 27? I don't really know what else to say that you can't see already. I'm a controller."

"I guess the people are calling me Hal now. I don't exactly hate it, so let's go with that. He/him."

"Not gonna share anything else?"

"No."

"I'm Joshua... I'm 11, and um, I'm a boy! I snuck in to see if my dad was alright... I think the science stuff he does is cool."

"And I guess I'm last, but I'm Mark? 29. He/him I think but I haven't really thought about doing anything else. I think theoretical science is neat, but I like geometry too and game development? I think that's it."

"Well, nice to meet you all!"

There's a chorus of general agreement.

[hlvrvi]

Soooo, Ozzy. Joshua. Feeling homesick at all? Do the other guys remind you of your uncle/dad?

"...a little, if I'm gonna be honest. I haven't actually seen my uncle ever since I snuck into Black Mesa. That's been... a few days, and after a few days of craziness you start to realize maybe you took your normal life for granted."

"I'm fine, though. They both remind me of Uncle G in different ways, but one's a little too chill and the other's too angry, so it's kinda weird."

"I thought um, Uncle Gordon would be more like my dad... but he isn't really. I'm glad he's there, though. I haven't seen Dad in a while, except for..."

"..."

[hlvrvi]

hal why do u talk so formally?? 'fools the lot of you'????

"...it sounds cool shut up."

[hlvrvi]

hey narrator, is time paused while these guys are here?

(...don't tell them, but no. I'm not as powerful as Admin C, who I assume was the one who could do that in the first place. I'm hardly powerful at all.)

(As much as I could manage by loopholes alone, I've slowed down time in their universes while they're here by a ratio of 7:1. A week passes here, a day passes out there.)

(I have to hope it's enough.)

[hlvrvi]

ISSA BABY. joshua id die for you

"Please don't?!"

[hlvrvi]

Heyyy! So this is for everyone, Are you all familiar with any games?

(Moon here, i really don't know what to ask)

"SO many. Don't get me started, we'll be here all day."

"Not really."

"I know Five Nights at Freddy's?"

"Um... I've only really played... Club Penguin on the DS..."

"Wait, which one? Herbert's Revenge? I love that game, it's so cheesy. Also, I know a lot too, but I mostly like gmod and Minecraft."

"Ironically enough, no."

[hlvrvi]

[ooc note: the maintagging will not last for long maybe like. 5 posts. but im desperate please]

[hlvrvi]

mark, ever met Darkiplier?

"..."

"..."

"...yeah."

[hlvrvi]

mark is eepytired? me too. all the time

"Mostly emotionally, I'm gonna be honest. But yeah, a little physically too."

"I feel you there..."