#reset theory

[roochuchan]

Can I really enter your world?

((Some reset theory because I wholeheartedly believe it♡))

[mysticm3ss]

Chapters: 24/24 Fandom: Mystic Messenger (Video Game) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Zen | Ryu Hyun/Main Character, Zen | Ryu Hyun/Reader, Zen | Ryu Hyun/Original Female Character(s), 707 | Choi Luciel/Main Character, 707 | Choi Luciel/Reader, 707 | Choi Luciel/Original Female Character(s), 707 | Choi Luciel & Main Character Characters: Zen | Ryu Hyun, 707 | Choi Luciel, Han Jumin, Kang Jaehee (Mystic Messenger), Kim Yoosung, V | Kim Jihyun, Vanderwood (Mystic Messenger), Choi Saeran, Original Female Character(s) Additional Tags: Eventual Smut, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Love Triangles, Heavy Drinking, Creampie, Angst, Multiple Endings, Named Main Character (Mystic Messenger), Plus-Size Main Character, Swearing, Explicit Sexual Content, but only towards the very end, Reset Theory (Mystic Messenger), POV Second Person, Mental Health Issues, Borderline Personality Disorder, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Suicide Attempt, Implied/Referenced Cheating, Cheating, Eventual Happy Ending Summary:

After Ending 2 of the April Fools DLC, Zen has realised that 'MC' doesn't exist... but in another world, a young woman named Leah does. With Seven's help, the pair of them manage to bring her—you—into their reality.

But even when you're desperate to escape your old mundane life, adjusting to living in a fictional reality is no easy feat—especially when you have your own set of mental health issues to cope with. With that said, though... it is nice to be hugged by your favourite fictional characters.

__________________________

I finally finished writing this goddamn fic!!! please read it and comment lol I've done sooo much writing the past few days my brain is dead

[creature-wizard]

Check your conspiracy theory. Does it sound anything like this?

There is an ancient global conspiracy plotting to create a one world government.

The one world government will be headed by a single leader.

The conspiracy intends to make everyone follow a religion it created.

The conspiracy is trying to destroy all true religion/spirituality.

The conspiracy deliberately stirs up conflict and starts wars.

The conspiracy deliberately does whatever it can to confuse, exhaust, and demoralize the people.

The conspiracy creates and/or manipulates art and entertainment to control and brainwash the masses.

The conspiracy uses mind-altering substances to manipulate and control people.

Progressive policies (EG, religious tolerance, equality) are part of the conspiracy.

Communism and collectivism are part of the conspiracy.

The conspiracy manipulates the economy to our detriment.

The conspiracy wants to do away with the gold standard.

The conspiracy wants to do away with the free market.

The conspiracy intends to tax the rich, which is bad because taxes are just legal theft.

Teaching people about the mistakes and atrocities committed by governments is part of the conspiracy.

The conspiracy creates new religions and spiritual movements to further their agendas.

All secret societies (EG, Freemasonry) are part of the conspiracy.

Presidents are manipulated puppets of the conspiracy.

The conspiracy manipulates anyone with a high political position.

The conspiracy grooms world leaders.

Agents of the conspiracy are planted everywhere, in all levels of society.

The conspiracy kills anyone who might expose their plans in ways that no one would suspect are actually murder.

The conspiracy follows/uses the Kabbalah.

Literally all of these were claimed in The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, an antisemitic hoax used by the Okhrana to justify violence against Russian Jews. It was used by Nazi Germany to justify the Holocaust, and today it still serves as the blueprint for most conspiracy theories - even if modern conspiracy theorists try to hide it, downplay it, or rationalize it with another, equally absurd conspiracy theory.

[simonsoys]

Do you think papyrus is a good liar or that he can keep a secret? I remember him using reverse psychology on undyne once but his lie to impress undyne was a bit obvious

(such a hard character to fit into a theory - because he doesn’t know what the sun is + remembers green grass before snowdin, but I’m still trying to figure out that mysterious skeleton!)

Well 100% he's a liar. See below:

It seems to me he's a great liar in most conditions. He definitely knows what the sun is, and he even references it when he's talking to you privately. It's only at the end when he's standing next to Sans and the other characters that he pretends not to know what the sun is. In the King Papryus ending he literally waits until Sans has left to break down and complain about the job.

He lies about how clueless he is in front of Sans A LOT. Like A LOT A LOT.

In the grease example, I think he's doing a worse job because he's quickly back-tracking. IIRC he says he hates grease, Undyne says she likes Grillby's, and now he doesn't want Undyne to think he's uncool so he fibs and changes his mind.

There must be something very important about lying to Sans, because he does it so flawlessly compared to things like fibbing to Undyne.

[socksandbuttons]

me seeing the dark sun theory with him being eclipse and sun merged and im like

Ur missing a lot here but gjkbdv I think this also can stem from the fact of how Dark Sun feels about Moons. Like the merged video, that Moon? Didn't want to hurt or even kill him. Just 'Youre having a moment ur still getting used to this. ur baby' Basically having more patience and perceptive immediately to that not being the Sun he knew. But not hateful. Just 'Yeah ill call monty over here but this might be fine'. Like the Eclipse half is now at front of releasing that anger plus with Sun's? Yeah theyre gonna get aggressive real quick but I'd say it'd burn thru fast. clearly it was early enough before they made the channel and almost after being seperated. Early enough that now this Solstice being here can bite back and Moon will have to handle yeah thats... not a piece of code he left in there but thats still his brother even if theyre new. Dark Sun while not always one for truth I'd say would've been pushed to his absolute limit as a Sun. We've seen Moon's who are just... straight up negligent and terrible. And I'm a firm believer he got to where he was just being on his own as a Sun. One who's own bias towards moons really did just fuel getting his own happy end and other Suns (one who didnt... even need the help?) fates.

That kinda hate just.. while Eclipse has every bit of that its more stemmed in abandonment- It feels different with Dark Sun. It feels far more Sun vs Moon. More deep seated loathing that feels far more personal to a Sun. If that makes sense.

[front-facing-pokemon]

[cent-scratchnsniff]

to pass as. to qualify as. to be as. to love as a human being

[rainbowolfe]

Oh.

Oh.

There are two One's Who Wait.

These weird-looking cats are in similar predicaments, but they are not the same. Black TOWW's ears are short, just elongated by the angle. White TOWWs ears are long, and just foreshortened.

Though they ultimately didn't go with these sketches, it doesn't mean they're irrelevant. The information they're depicting can still be used. These are all just different takes of the same prompt(s).

This TOWW is as menacing as it is endearing. Giant puppy vibes. Although dangerous, they mean no harm. They're watching over the cult—protective of it, even. I'm interested in the way they're framed by the moon, doubly so for the ones that give the appearance of a halo.

And isn't it interesting that he's not wearing his Crown in any of these? Not even in the one that implies he's being freed, crawling out the Gateway with his chains broken.

Using Jalala for scale, Chemach is a little over two Jalala's tall. Given that her legs weren't very long when she had them, she's probably about 2.5 to 3 Jalala's.

The Healing Bay is shorter than a hut, which are about the same height as the temple, if not a little taller. If the doorway's about 2 Jalala's tall, then the whole building is 2.5 to 3 Jalala's tall. Same height as Chemach. Therefore the temple is around 2 Chemach's tall (5 to 6 Jalala's).

So not only is the vibe of the black TOWW different, so is the scale. They're as big as the mountains. A humongous, imposing, godly (in the catholic sense) figure. They're also weirdly drippy.

Would also give further insight into Aym and Baal's designs. (And maybe even why 'Aym' appears on DEATH, but Baal doesn't 👀) Two halves of a whole heart. Baal, the first son, who wears white and red and is associated with the sun. Aym, the second son, who wears black and red and is associated with the moon.

Duality.

[bogos-bint3d]

I like the theory of kris being the poncho human because it can help imply the theory that undertale is post-scratch deltarune and it's the whole ancestors thing

[reifromrfa]

Mystictober 2024: Favorite Character/Hourglass

Hello, it's been a while (ᵕ—ᴗ—) I really missed the mysme universe and, though life is still busy, I'm trying to make time to do things I love; one of which is writing, even if I only write one fanfic per year lol XD

Sooo without further ado, here's a short fic based on this list by @sensetenou :)

P.S. I think tumblr broke my post, I can't add the "Keep reading" link after editing a typo ;A;

Vanderwood

He steps out of the cabin and takes a long, deep breath

It feels suffocating inside

With that damn 707, the girl, and their blue-haired friend...

Vanderwood ties his hair into a low ponytail and reaches for the pack of cigarettes in his pocket

Taking a stick, he lifts it to his lips

He pats his pockets for his lighter and mutters a curse under his breath when he realizes he left it inside

With a frustrated groan, he turns around—

—and he freezes

Standing before him, a nervous smile on her face, was the girl

MC

"You left this inside, I thought you could use it," she says, holding out the lighter to him

His throat feels tight and Vanderwood can hear the loud drumming of his heart against his ribcage

It takes every bit of his strength not to reach out and pull her into his arms

MC tucks her hair behind her ear, outstretched hand wavering as Vanderwood stood there staring at her

He clenches one hand into a fist

Then slowly relaxes his hand, his shoulders drooping as he resigns himself to the fact that she'll never recognize him

And it was all his fault

"Thanks," he mutters, cigarette still between his lips

He holds out his hand, expecting her to drop the lighter onto his palm

But the girl looks up at him and then lights the device, holding it close to his lips

Instinctively, he leans closer before he could even stop himself

As MC focuses on lighting the end of his cigarette, he can't help but stare into her eyes

At the reflection of the flames in them

"Maybe it's the fire in your eyes that I love, baby."

"Because it matches yours?"

"Hahaha MC, baby, I don't think my fire even comes close to yours."

"It's because got this fire from you, baby. You're the one who inspires me to be bold and brave."

MC takes a step back, smiling at him

Vanderwood takes a step back too, looking away from her

Blinking away the memories he so desperately wants to cling to

"Thanks," he mumbles, taking a long drag

Allowing the poison to fill his lungs before blowing a puff of white smoke away from where MC stands

"Umm...so..."

He glances at her

She has her hands clasped together in front of her

Then she bows to him, which startles Vanderwood

"Thank you so much for helping us save him."

Him

That V guy

Her current route

"Hey, don't worry about it," he replies, rubbing the back of his neck

He doesn't want to hear this

He doesn't want to listen to her talk about how much she loves that man

Because she once felt that way about him, too

MC straightens and grins at him

"I mean it. You saved his life and I hope I can repay your kindness one day."

Vanderwood waves a gloved hand dismissively, pulling the cigarette from his lips

"If I didn't do it," he forces himself to say. "707 would be distracted and he'd stop doing his damn job and we'd both be fucked."

She gives him a look that says she doesn't buy a single word out of his mouth

"Even so, without you that elixir might've brought more harm to him...Whatever your reasons, I'm really grateful to have you here, Vanderwood."

A mixture of feelings erupt from his chest, despite all his efforts to smother them

The bloom of hope, the scathing pang of hurt

Despair in the knowledge that she'll never recognize him ever again

Vanderwood looks to the door that leads back into the cabin, unable to meet her eyes

"You really care for him, huh?" he asks, careful to keep his feelings hidden

"Do you love me, MC?"

"Yes," she answers, her voice full of emotion

Vanderwood's brows furrow as he puts the cigarette back to his lips, turning his back to MC and choosing to gaze up at the stars instead

Here, out in the middle of fucking nowhere

Away from the city lights

They can actually see the starry night sky

Out here, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, everything is quiet

He can hear the grass and leaves rustling from the gentle night breeze

Hear the crickets and owls

Hear his own heart breaking all over again

MC moves to stand beside him but Vanderwood doesn't dare look at her

He keeps his gaze up at the stars, remembering his promise to her

"It's beautiful out here, right?"

"It's only beautiful because you're here, baby."

I don't have the right to call her that anymore

He lost that right when he gave her up

But it wasn't because he didn't love her anymore

No...

He doesn't think it's possible to love anyone else but her

His MC

But when MC only chose his route, over and over again

When he and MC found a way to be together —breaking through the codes and the walls

Breaking the impossible

...the system found a way to keep them apart

"NO!" Vanderwood yells, holding MC in his arms

She's not moving, her eyes closed, her breathing shallow

His big hand envelops her smaller one as he cradles her to his chest, tears rolling down his cheek as the red stain on her clothes start spreading

"Baby, stay with me, baby. Please. I'll get you to a hospital, MC. Please, I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Don't leave me, MC. Please. Please!"

He tries to lift her into his arms, but he hears the cock of guns and he protectively holds her close, glaring at the men in suits surrounding them

Each one with guns trained at the couple

A lone woman in a suit approaches them, her face expressionless as she gazes at Vanderwood and MC

"This could have been avoided, had she not foolishly jumped in front of you."

"You fucking bitch!"

Still, the woman remains impassive

She steps forward, closer to where Vanderwood and MC are

"You can save her, you know."

Vanderwood glares at the woman, but she continues

"I offer you the choice, ██████ ███," she says, lifting her hand and opening her palm

Over it, a hologram of an hourglass appears and becomes solid

"Return to the game and reset the clock. Go back to the beginning and undo what has been done. Or..."

The woman's eyes go to MC's pale form

"...live with your reality."

Return to the game...rewind time?

"If I do that...reset the game," he begins through gritted teeth. "She'll live? She'll be okay? She'll...be happy?"

"Yes. But she'll forget about you. And, to prevent a repeat of your insolence, we're removing your route from the game. We'll take your name, ██████ ███, your identity, your story...she will be happier this way, believe me."

Vanderwood's head snaps up, his eyes widening

Then...that means...

No.

"What the fuck?! If I fucking agree to this, then—"

Then I'll lose her forever

"You're losing her now, ██████."

He tenses and looks back at his girl, whose eyes flutter open slightly

She shakes her head, those beautiful eyes filled with tears

"No...don't."

"Shhh, it's okay, MC. It's gonna be okay," he whispers, his heart twisting painfully in his chest

The answer is obvious...so fucking obvious

He's the one who broke the game, who defied all the rules and brought this shit onto her life

He's the one who put her in danger in the first place...

"Mi███n...please," she pleads in a soft voice, panicking at what she sees in his eyes

"I'd rather die, having lived my life with you than live the rest of my life without you."

Vanderwood chuckles sadly, leaning down and pressing his lips to hers

He presses his forehead to hers, holding her close to him

One last time

"MC, baby..."

"I love you so damn much."

"There's not a single day of my life where I won't be loving you, MC."

"You're my North Star...you'll always be my home, you'll always be the light in my life."

"That's why I have to say goodbye."

"I can't...I can't live in a world without you, baby."

"I'm sorry...this is so fucking selfish of me, but I'm just a character in a game."

"You are REAL."

She sobs and winces, reaching out and cupping his cheek despite the pain

"You're real to me, ██nj█n."

He smiles and kisses her again

"Even if your mind doesn't remember me," he whispers between kisses

"I hope your heart won't forget me."

The woman, watching the two lovers, turns the hourglass

Around them, everything slowly fades into dust

Vanderwood smiles at MC, tears streaming down his cheeks as he memorizes all the details about her

MC holds onto him with the last of her strength, panic coursing through her body

She doesn't want this, she doesn't want to leave him

"Hey, lady," Vanderwood tells the woman without looking at her

"I have one favor to ask. Please."

"Yeah," Vanderwood replies to MC, keeping his gaze trained at the brightest star in the sky

"It's beautiful."

"Vanderwood..."

He turns to look at her and sees a confused expression on her face

"Have we...?"

The door suddenly bursts open and Seven comes out, a smile on his face

"He's awake!" he informs MC

A smile spreads across her face and she bows again to Vanderwood

"Thank you, Vanderwood!"

She runs inside and he watches her go, swallowing the lump in his throat

Guess he'll have to get used to this

Watching her from afar as she runs into the arms of another man

A man that will never be him, ever again

"After all this time?"

Vanderwood rolls his eyes, blinking away the hurt and pain and arranging his expression into one of annoyance

He turns his back on Seven, putting his cigarette back between his lips

"Aww c'mon. This is the perfect time to re-enact that scene from Garry Potted!"

"Go back to fucking work, Seven."

Seven stares at Vanderwood's wide back, a sad smile on his face

Even though Vanderwood isn't aware of it, Seven actually knows who he is

What he's been through

After all...Vanderwood isn't the only one working on breaking the game's code

Working on ending the reset system, once and for all

Seven wishes he could do more to comfort his friend

But instead, he goes back inside and sits on the couch

Cracking his fingers, Seven focuses his gaze on his laptop screen

"Hang in there, Minjun. We'll get out of this one."

"Promise."

・・・・☆・・・・☆ ・・・・

If you're reading this, thank you so much for reading my fic ;w; I hope you enjoyed it <3

P.S. Minjun is a name I made for Vanderwood, but it's not official or anything! Still hoping and praying Cheritz makes a route for him ;w;

Check out my other Mysme writings here!

Mango Shake/Ko-fi is always very much appreciated (ᵔᴥᵔ)

[the--firevenus]

Continuation of this headcanon of Merlin "factory reset sleep" cuz I think it's fun:

When merlin went to one of these "sleep", the hamsters would go around and collect stuff for him (like scrolls, books, artifact they find, foods..) so they would go outside a lot but never too far from him, (this like a nod to the afk feature that collect resource while you away hehe)

I like to think that Mirael wasn't aware of this and just assume her mentor was suffering from an illness he refuse to told her, in actuality, the day they parted he went on a deep slumber for at least few years before he woke up again

(when I said the deep sleep would take a long time.. I meant it in couple of months to years... Hence why people suddenly stop seeing merlin around for days up to decades, etc etc)

Hogan had seen merlin deep sleep at least couple of times, but each of it makes him sadder

Valen doesn't know or aware of this, he KNOWS merlin is an insomniac tho so sometimes when the magister overslept for longer he's like, "I suppose he need his rest"

It's not until he saw hammie and chippy roaming around in a rush seemingly in a panic or sort that he asked why and learn this might be the last time merlin remembers him (oops)

To visualise this "deep sleep", just imagine that scene of snow white in a casket after she eat the poison apple, that kind of deep sleep almost like death yk. Hence why people tho he'd die or something 😭

Bonus: hammie and chippy would then sleep near merlin, just to both protect him and to listen to his heart beats,,, they waited patiently for their magister

[wackytheorist]

I watched the tubbo revival vod and I noticed something weird about his eyes.

They have lost their light, and now it kind of looks like the purgatory tubbo eyes(third pic).

Make of this as what you want, I'm not in the mood to write a long detailed theory rn but maybe tubbo feels like he's back to purgatory and that's why he is aggressive and loud noises make him angry. Since during purg, everyone had to be alert for a possible break in or fight.

[opossumpal]

Currently obsessed with Absolute Freeze (just a little guyyy)

What is your theory 👀

He is just a little guy (unimaginable horror)

My theory is that Mr Freeze’s predicament is based on that time he defeated and nearly killed Darkseid

The Absolute Universe is Darkseid’s universe after all

[chizue-witchery]

⚜️. *. ⋆ Fandom: Mystic Messenger

⚜️. *. ⋆ Rating: Teens And Up Audiences

⚜️. *. ⋆ Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

⚜️. *. ⋆ Pairing/s: 707 | Choi Luciel/Main Character

⚜️. *. ⋆ Character/s: 707 | Choi Luciel, Main Character, RFA Members, Vanderwood, Choi Saeran

⚜️. *. ⋆ Summary: Seven's world disappears into binaries and codes for a long time until his bunker appears like it never disappeared. Not only that, but he also finds himself back on the day MC enters the chatroom. He tries to understand what it means.

⚜️. *. ⋆ Word Count: 2,711

⚜️. *. ⋆ Tags/Warnings: Reset Theory, 707 Route Spoilers, After Ending Spoilers, Secret Ending Spoilers, Emotional Hurt, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst

⚜️. *. ⋆ Prompts/Squares Filled: Forgotten || @whumptober 2024 Day 2 alt prompt

Whumptober 2024 Masterlist

AO3

The first time it happened, Seven didn't understand what was happening.

He was happily eating his Honey Buddha Chips while he sat on the sofa when it happened.

The first thing that disappeared was his chips. It turned into binaries and codes while he was mid-bite. He thought it was odd, but he didn't think too much about it. He was going to grab another chip, but the chip bag disappeared, turning into binaries and codes.

He stood up from the couch and noticed how the furniture and his bunker itself were disappearing into binaries and codes. He panicked and avoided any of the binaries and codes going his way. He took out his phone and the only thing he could see was a giant red text that said 'RESET IN PROGRESS'

"What…?" he muttered out loud as he stared at the screen in disbelief. What did it mean by 'reset in progress'?

He received the answer just as everything but him disappeared into binaries and codes. He was left in a black-and-green space that was only filled with binaries and codes.

He walked and walked, but he was getting nowhere.

He tried looking for anything else other than binaries and codes, but there was nothing else. Even the phone in his hand disappeared into binary and codes.

He stayed lying on the ground, waiting for something to happen.

He didn't know how long he stayed there, but everything suddenly changed.

His room slowly appeared again, which took him by surprise. He stood up and watched as more of the bunker appeared as though it never disappeared, but it was off.

The state of the bunker didn't look the same before it disappeared.

He slowly sat up and watched as the phone appeared in his hands and dings. He immediately opened it to check the RFA application and his eyes widened when he saw new messages from MC.

The messages MC sent were the same as though it was her first time chatting with them. His brows furrowed in confusion as he stood up and looked over at the security cameras in Rika's apartment.

"What the—?" He doesn't understand what's happening.

MC looked the same when she first arrived at the apartment; a nervous wreck, pacing around the apartment and hesitant to touch anything.

The RFA members eventually asked for his help with the newest member in the chatroom, and what was he supposed to say?

He was the one who wanted to question them.

Why didn't they recognize who MC is? Why are they acting like this is their first time meeting her? Why are they talking about her as though they never bonded with her? She is the RFA Coordinator.

But he didn't ask about it in the chatroom. He replied to them, acting like he also didn't know who was the new member in their chatroom. He chatted endlessly while he went to check on his computer, hoping to check if any of his files had been saved.

None of the files that dated back eleven days ago were saved.

The date on the bottom right of his computer was on the same day MC arrived at the apartment and the Unknown hacker infiltrated the chatrooms.

How…?

Did he travel back in time? But that didn't explain the binaries and codes.

Was the past eleven days a vivid dream he had?

It had to be, right? There's no other explanation for this.

He smiled as he looked back at his phone, following the messages alongside and adding his own whenever he had something he wanted to say.

Once everyone left the chatroom, he leaned back in his chair as a sigh escaped his lips.

He doesn't understand what's happening…

The first time it happened, Seven didn't understand what was happening.

He was happily eating his Honey Buddha Chips while he sat on the sofa when it happened.

The first thing that disappeared was his chips. It turned into binaries and codes while he was mid-bite. He thought it was odd, but he didn't think too much about it. He was going to grab another chip, but the chip bag disappeared, turning into binaries and codes.

He stood up from the couch and noticed how the furniture and his bunker itself were disappearing into binaries and codes. He panicked and avoided any of the binaries and codes going his way. He took out his phone and the only thing he could see was a giant red text that said 'RESET IN PROGRESS'

"What…?" he muttered out loud as he stared at the screen in disbelief. What did it mean by 'reset in progress'?

He received the answer just as everything but him disappeared into binaries and codes. He was left in a black-and-green space that was only filled with binaries and codes.

He walked and walked, but he was getting nowhere.

He tried looking for anything else other than binaries and codes, but there was nothing else. Even the phone in his hand disappeared into binary and codes.

He stayed lying on the ground, waiting for something to happen.

He didn't know how long he stayed there, but everything suddenly changed.

His room slowly appeared again, which took him by surprise. He stood up and watched as more of the bunker appeared as though it never disappeared, but it was off.

The state of the bunker didn't look the same before it disappeared.

He slowly sat up and watched as the phone appeared in his hands and dings. He immediately opened it to check the RFA application and his eyes widened when he saw new messages from MC.

The messages MC sent were the same as though it was her first time chatting with them. His brows furrowed in confusion as he stood up and looked over at the security cameras in Rika's apartment.

"What the—?" He doesn't understand what's happening.

MC looked the same when she first arrived at the apartment; a nervous wreck, pacing around the apartment and hesitant to touch anything.

The RFA members eventually asked for his help with the newest member in the chatroom, and what was he supposed to say?

He was the one who wanted to question them.

Why didn't they recognize who MC is? Why are they acting like this is their first time meeting her? Why are they talking about her as though they never bonded with her? She is the RFA Coordinator.

But he didn't ask about it in the chatroom. He replied to them, acting like he also didn't know who was the new member in their chatroom. He chatted endlessly while he went to check on his computer, hoping to check if any of his files had been saved.

None of the files that dated back eleven days ago were saved.

The date on the bottom right of his computer was on the same day MC arrived at the apartment and the Unknown hacker infiltrated the chatrooms.

How…?

Did he travel back in time? But that didn't explain the binaries and codes.

Was the past eleven days a vivid dream he had?

It had to be, right? There's no other explanation for this.

He smiled as he looked back at his phone, following the messages alongside and adding his own whenever he had something he wanted to say.

Once everyone left the chatroom, he leaned back in his chair as a sigh escaped his lips.

He doesn't understand what's happening…

The sixteenth time it happened, Seven believed that he was stuck on a time loop.

His bunker reverted to what it looked like eleven days ago. All of his messy Honey Buddha Chips lying on the ground were gone. His clothes were free from the messy stains he didn't bother cleaning.

He checked his phone, and they were talking to MC like she's a stranger. Again.

Her replies remain the same, but there were also some odd ones in it, talking about a game. But he believes she's just joking around.

Other than that, there was nothing different about it.

Her first day remains mostly the same, almost like a pattern.

The start of a change began during the second day onwards. She would reply differently to each RFA member, except there were times when she favored one over the rest.

She would grow close to any of them until the other eventually grew feelings towards her by the fifth day.

Then something bad would always happen afterwards.

The security system messes up, Unknown comes to try to kidnap her, the love interest comes and saves her before it happens, drama involving their personal lives, and the RFA Party happens smoothly.

Sometimes he and someone else would go to this place called 'Mint Eye' to find out more about the 'Unknown' hacker that he could never seem to figure out their true identity.

There's a part of him that wonders if he already knew, but something is preventing him from remembering who the Hacker is.

The thirty-third time it happened, Seven was now being pursued by MC.

He wondered what the sudden change was.

She never went for him in the other time loops. She always went for the other RFA members—never him.

He thought she was just joking around, replying to her messages flirtatiously, and following along with her calls with entertainment.

His heart slowly warmed up to her charms, and he found himself unconsciously smiling whenever he watched as she left him messages right where the CCTV could see them.

He grew tired of work that he'd been constantly re-doing every time the time loops back to the beginning of her arrival. He is distracted by her and Vanderwood knows it. He came inside the bunker and demanded he get back to work, especially when he was backlogging everything.

He grew so careless that he had almost forgotten about the situation that always happened on the fifth day.

He saw his computer screen light up in codes while there was a red skull that was giving him a warning. The RFA server was hacked.

He was hacked.

He focused on getting the systems back together and tightening the security. While he was working on tightening the security system, he received several messages from the RFA members, asking him about the strange alarm they heard from the app. He tried to keep it as vague as possible until he was sure he had the systems under control.

And once he finally got the servers back to normal, he entered the chatroom and explained the situation. He smiled when MC kept the situation light, not letting her fears get to her. She continued to joke around despite the others being concerned.

He knew he should be over it by now, but he couldn't help but worry about her. He saw the way she paced around the apartment while nervously biting her fingers. He saw the way she stared at the emails, yet to be responded to, before closing the monitor and opening the RFA app. So he called her.

And it seemed like she knew he was worried about her because she was reassuring him of his concerns. She made him laugh, despite the danger she didn't know she was in. She trusted him.

It made his heart soar.

So he went on and built a little robot dog that could spit fire. He thought it was a good idea at first until he thought of the possible injuries she might sustain from it. He showed it to her in the chatroom and she loved it. She loved anything that he made, even though she didn't know all of them.

However, he had to leave to focus more on strengthening the security system in Rika's apartment and finding the hacker.

He called her a few hours later, finally finding a few minutes of free time on his already-packed schedule of things to work on. He worried about her, reassuring her to no end. He played along with her before ending the call with a laugh.

He wanted to meet her badly, but he couldn't.

Vanderwood was watching him, making sure he did his work. He complained to no end and Vanderwood told him he was getting attached.

And that made him freeze.

He wasn't allowed to get attached.

He ignored Vanderwood and instead watched the security monitors, his face flushing when she smiled at him widely with a handwritten message for him to take a break.

So cute, so cute… he thought as he groaned while covering his face. He was distracted by her.

His thoughts are swarming with her, her, her.

He wanted to meet her in person.

He threw those thoughts away, shaking his head.

He can't have romantic feelings towards her.

By the seventh day and onwards, he stayed inside Rika's apartment, along with MC. He tried fixing the security system while being cold towards her.

He didn't want to, but he had already put her life in danger.

Not to mention, he found out the Unknown hacker was his brother.

It made him question what happened to Saeran after he left. He grew suspicious and untrustworthy of V and wondered if he knew about it the entire time.

He tried avoiding talking to MC. He told her that he acts differently in real life compared to his goofy messages in the chatroom. However, she never gave up on him.

No matter how stubborn he was, she never gave up.

So, he hesitated to open his heart towards her. It took a while before he began to open up his past to her, showing her the USB files she tried to access and it was all images of his brother, Saeran.

He gave her the robot cat he destroyed, taking extra care to make sure the robot cat was in a perfect state.

He told her to wait for him as he held her hands and she accepted it.

He goes against V's orders and opens the drawers to see secret documents. He finds an earlier version of the logo found in the emails the RFA members received, as well as blueprints for the building where the emails were sourced.

He stopped the car once they arrived at the building. He and MC went inside and looked around the room. They wandered until they found the computer room. He went on and hacked the monitors, trying to get as much information about 'Mint Eye', but his brother arrived.

He tried convincing Saeran about the truth of what happened, but he didn't believe him. MC showed the contents of the floppy disks. He thought Saeran would finally understand him, but he didn't.

His brother broke down and left in such a hurry.

He and MC left the room to chase after him, but all they saw was V.

V admitted that he saw Vanderwood take Saeran away.

V asked for forgiveness.

He did not accept.

He no longer trusted V.

However, his new mission is to save Saeran.

He told MC she could leave, but she stayed with him.

They didn't join the RFA party.

He held MC's hands as he told her to refer to him by his real name from now on.

She smiled at him. Instead of responding, she kisses him instead.

He held MC close to his chest as they both laid on the bed.

He whispered to her of his fears, and his desire to be with her forever.

He didn't know whether he would survive or not.

He asks if he can embrace her, and she accepts.

He lowered his head so he could properly look at her. She looked back at him, her eyes warm and full of love.

He closes his eyes as his lips make contact with hers.

He finally saved Saeran.

He finally got his brother back—

He was so overjoyed he couldn't stop smiling.

He spun MC around, laughter bubbling in his throat as he looked at her with so much love and affection.

It would take a lot of rehabilitation and therapy for Saeran to recover from his experience in the Mint Eye, and he knows it very well.

He won't leave him.

Never again.

His world is back to binaries and codes when he opens his eyes.

Oh.

Oh.

… right—

He had forgotten about it, too elated to be with MC and reuniting with his brother again.

"Hah…" he chuckled as tears ran down his face. He didn't bother wiping them away, relieved no one would see him in this state.

And yet, it also feels lonely.

Why did he even—

He told himself he wasn't supposed to fall in love with MC, but he couldn't help it. Her charm and personality drew him closer to her. His heart soared whenever she flirted back.

He loved listening to her voice whenever they were on a call.

He loved how she made him laugh.

He loved watching her on the monitor and how she would leave him messages through it or make funny faces.

He wanted her to be his forever.

And she was.

And then she wasn't anymore.

The one hundred and second time it happened, Seven cried.

He finally understands what's happening.

He was not stuck on a time loop.

He was stuck in a game.

He is nothing but a fictional character that exists for the player to fall in love with.

It explains why MC's messages keep changing. It explains why no one remembers what happens.

It explains why MC acts different towards him whenever it was his turn to be pursued. It hurts every time she does.

However, it doesn't explain why he's the only one who remembers everything. He asked the other RFA members about it, but they all replied, not understanding what he meant by it.

He was still unsure whether he was right about it or not, so he joked about it during the chatrooms. Sometimes MC would reply ominously, but there were a few times she didn't know what he was talking about.

He had doubts whenever she didn't know what he meant by it, but the more frequent the odd replies were, the more he believed his theory to be true.

And he doesn't know what to do with this information.

It's world-changing to him.

Seven doesn't know how many times MC has reset the game.

He has grown tired of it.

He is used to MC's patterns.

He knows what happens next. He knows what happens by the end of the eleventh day.

However, the endings change.

The normal ending, the good ending, and the bad ending.

He never liked the bad endings, but those seem to happen often. He doesn't understand why the player likes the bad endings, sometimes a little more than the good endings.

But that didn't matter.

His world repeats over and over again.

And he is the only one who remembers.

He lives his life in a lie.

His thoughts, dialogue—basically everything about him is all because of binaries and codes.

Or maybe he is an error.

707.

A memory that can't be freed or removed.

Was it a coincidence he was named after the 707 error or did the developers make him remember every single route the player takes to make his character more interesting?

He demands answers from them, but he knows he'll never be able to reach far enough for their coding to not affect his decisions and thinking.

He has no control over his own life.

He even begins to question whether what he's thinking right now is his own thoughts or another thing coded on him.

He has grown used to the black and green walls covered in binaries and codes as he awaited for the player to play the game.

His world shifts into color as his bunker appears.

His phone dings and he sighs, putting on a smile as he opens the RFA chatroom to meet the player again.

A/N: i have not played the game for over 3-4 years so i apologize if it's a little inaccurate. i used my pre-existing knowledge of mystic messenger lore and research to make sure i got some of it right.

i genuinely thought i would fail again at writing at least one mystic messenger fanfic every year but luckily, the alt prompt stopped it from happening.

[vaguely-concerned]

the fucking insane and inscrutable rituals my dad and I just had to perform to save my TV from its own bad software update to the point that it looked like a complete hardware breakdown. may whoever decided that TVs should need internet access to regularly update itself lest you end up in a 'oh so you won't have 'download new updates automatically' enabled? well well... that's your own choice of course... but........ be a shame if something............ unfortunate were to... happen...... because of that choice... hehe old papa LGTV just worries about you, y'know. as your good friend and pal. just hate to think of you unhappy like that because you wouldn't allow one such simple thing... something so easy to remedy....' mafia-esque situation step upon an unbroken path of legos for the rest of their fucking life