TINY CAT PEOPLE: THE MAZE TRIALS

[Lilium Mortem]

Will one of you walk me there, The weed makes me feel scared. or maybe I'm normaly this scared, anyway I'm scared and want help.

[skinstealer]

 
SEE: Going back and getting some rest sounds like a pretty good plan, yeah…
SEE: But…
SEE: Can one of you help walk me back?
SEE: I think I’m starting to stabilize, but the weed makes me feel a bit scared- or maybe I’m normally this scared?
SEE: …I could really use the help.
SAMSON: Oh my g- okay.
SAMSON: Then I will walk you back.
SAMSON: How is that?
 

Somehow, this feels like a worse idea than you going alone.

SEE: S-sure! Yeah!
SAMSON: Okay. Todd, you follow behind us, as backup.
SAMSON: Roxas, Cayden, just chill I guess.
 

Todd gives a mock salute and grabs his bag.

You can't help but feel jittery over the fact that Samson thinks she needs "backup", but you guess you can't really blame her either...

You stand up slowly, holding your new handheld close.

SEE: Thank you all so much for having me, and for the game, and the weed-
SAMSON: Yes, yes, yes, it was nice having you, let's get a move on.
 

Samson starts ushering you out the door.

CAYDEN: We'll talk online when you're back to your room!
SEE: Yeah thank you bye-!
 

You are promptly shoved out into the trial chamber- looks like the trash bag's been cleaned up.

SAMSON: Okay, which was is your door?
SEE: Right over here.
 

You point- it’s literally right there.

...you feel kind of silly for asking for help on this one, but better safe than sorry.

SAMSON: Well whatdya know? There's nothing scary or dangerous here.
SAMSON: Looks like you can walk back just fine.
SEE: I guess so...
 

You start walking, trying to ease your nerves up.

SAMSON: Oh right.
SAMSON: Almost forgot.
 

  

Samson takes a small satchel out of her bag and hands it to you.

SAMSON: This is something we give out to newbies.
SAMSON: Consider it a token of goodwill.
SAMSON: Or don't. Whatever.
 

You take the satchel carefully, doing your best to open it with one hand- the other full with the power of gaming.

SAMSON: Please go back to your room to look through that, I don't want to be standing in the middle of a trial room all day.
SEE: Ok!! Got it!!
 

You speed over to your room, power walking as well as your little legs can.

SEE: T-thank you again!
 

  

You are now back in your room. 

INTERCOM: Welcome back, See.
INTERCOM: You have one reward remaining.
INTERCOM: You have one question remaining.
 

There’s some kind of tin on your bed with a note nearby.

Closer inspection reveals that it’s a cookie tin- you know what cookies are thanks to your cooking skill! They’re supposed to be really delicious treats, oh boy, cookies-!



…oh. There’s needles, thread, buttons, and fabric in here.

 

You decide to look at the note. 

To See, our new favorite healer.

Now you can heal things other than TCPs as well- keep Sky safe!

Skill courtesy of Skillset Interactive Technologies.

The note fills you with knowledge, and before you know it, you’re now aware of toy repair and sewing. Handy!

 

 

You check out the satchel next.

There’s a lot of stuff in here!

The satchel contains:

Three yogurt drinks, said to be healing
A booklet detailing info about the maze and suggestions for rewards
A colorful bracelet!

You set these goodies aside to look at later.

  

 

With all that taken care of, you’re pretty winded…and…lonely. Things went pretty well with the gamers, but you couldn’t win over Samson in the end…

Your gaze slides over to the box of mysterious trinkets and devices on the floor- your proxy kit. 

…the internet did say something about proxies impressing your friends.

[Lilium Mortem]

make a proxy while high, you know it's a great idea. weed will give it more power.

[knux400]

time to make a proxy in the hotboxy

[King-Clod]

nope, nope, we aren't doing anything more new and big tonight. too scary. we are going to take a nap, and we can make the proxy after.

I just wanna hold Sky until we feel alright again.

[victorianflorist]

Proxy time

[skinstealer]

You gather your strength. You are mentally exhausted and still more than a little bit high, but you want to do this.

Besides, the weed would probably make it stronger, right?

Yeah.

Let’s rock.



[CLICK HERE FOR ANIMATION- 1080P RECOMMENDED]

[Zenthis]

Oh that’s right, they’re new to the world, the gamers prepared you for this. Wish them a happy birthday!

[Pichi2214]

i second happy birthday! they seem a bit strange, but maybe they're just coming off a bit strong unintentionally, being friendly can't hurt

also ask them if they have a name or would like help with names if they don't considering they just came into existance

[King-Clod]

oh gee oh gee oh gee oh gee I am tooooo high for this uh...

...Do you wanna play this game with me? Oh man I should get some two player games we can play together...

oh, oh wait! I don't have cash (I'm still not quite sure what it is,) but I can use reward points to get rewards! do you want one of those? I can get you something! I have a booklet that has different rewards we can get, do you wanna look through it?

[Lilium Mortem]

you don't have to do anything if you don't want to, you're a person. I didn't really expect you to be a person but since you are I don't want to really order you around. oh! do you have a name? Can we be friends? oh oh right do you need anything? are you comfortable? I should probably fill you in on stuff.

(I vote that we continue to not care about money and just try and be a friend)

[Pichi2214]

(i second the not caring about money and attempting the power of friendship instead)

[skinstealer]

You take in the entity before you- so…this is your proxy.

Demanding…money?

You are still full of weed and processing this badly.

But-

SEE: Well…happy birthday!
SEE: Do you have a name?
???: Birthday? ...what-
???: ...Whatever. Anyway!
???: Name? Not likely.
???: You can call me anything, pick a favorite.
???: Go with Minsky if you don't have a clue.
MINSKY: None of that matters, though!
MINSKY: I need you thinking big picture right now, kid!
MINSKY: You? Should be thinking about getting me cash.
SEE: I don't have cash, but...
SEE: I can use these things called impressions to get rewards!
SEE: Do you want one? I could get you something!
MINSKY: Sure, yeah, whatever.
MINSKY: If you can get some money as your reward, and then kindly reward it to me, then I'm sure you'll get what you want!
MINSKY: Whatever that is!
 

You aren't sure about this whole...money thing. Something about it feels weird.

SEE: I guess...I can ask?
SEE: I have this big catalog full of stuff, though!
SEE: You don't have to do anything, you're your own person, but...
SEE: I dunno!
SEE: Do you need anything else? Are you comfortable?
SEE: ...can we be friends?
MINSKY: Am I comfor-
MINSKY: Friends?
 

Your proxy gives an exasperated sigh, leaning down to get more on your level.

MINSKY: Listen. Kid. 
 

They put a hand on your shoulder.

MINSKY: Buddy. Pal.
MINSKY: We're...Already friends, aren't we?
MINSKY: You trust me, don't you?
 

Minsky doesn't give you time to answer that.

 
 

MINSKY: 'Course you do.
MINSKY: So I need you to work with me here.
MINSKY: Why all this hesitation?
MINSKY: You're never gonna get anywhere in life if you always hesitate.
 

They lean their head down by your shoulder, pointing off into the distance, at...the wall.

MINSKY: I need You to see My vision for you.
MINSKY: And that is:
 

The proxy steps away, making a square with their fingers and framing you inside of it.

MINSKY: You.
MINSKY: Successful.
MINSKY: With everything you want.
MINSKY: A real risk-taker.
MINSKY: A real money-maker.
 

They wave their hands out in an arc.

MINSKY: Someone who's going places!
 

With that, they lean against the wall, waiting expectantly.

MINSKY: So, c'mon, get to it already.
MINSKY: You know what you have to do.
 

Minsky snaps their fingers.

MINSKY: Chop, chop, sport. 

[aeshihowl]

Name them Rich. Use the computer to learn more about money, and talk to the gamers about Rich. Explain Rich's demands, and seek guidance. Also, wrap self up in a blanket for comfort since Sky is... well...

[victorianflorist]

Don't get Minsky any money, say the overseers use impressions as currency. Getting Impressions is making money and being successful.

[Lilium Mortem]

I got to choose my name, are you sure you want to be so flippant about it? also I don't want money, I never wanted money. I didn't know what money is until you showed up and it doesn't seem at all useful to me. what do you need money for? you seem fine to me. can't we play games together and just have a good time? I understand the big picture is important, but so is the little picture, and the little picture is you and me, here now. why can't we enjoy that? there's no rush.

(do not give Minsky money)

[King-Clod]

Ah. A vision for us. That sounds...familiar.

I don't want to be anything anyone else wants us to be. Not a dedicated healer, not a...money-maker, but what we want to be. Let's put our foot down here.

We're not giving them any money, cash, whatever. Friends don't give each other gifts expecting something in return. They just give stuff! So the minute they stop pressuring us to do what they want, then we'll talk.

For now, let's open our laptop. We can chat with Cayden and them! And maybe look up stuff about proxies.

[Guest]

Ok, you show up and start talking about a whole bunch of hooey, a lot of which I'm not sure is even a real thing (money? Sounds Hella fake) so, you're either going to chill out, give us a good explanation or zip it and let us look stuff up ourself or you're getting dismissed back whence you came. Capiche Minskthusela?

-Marxz-

[skinstealer]

A vision for you…that sounds…familiar.

SEE: Ohhh no, I’m not gonna be anything someone else wants me to be.
SEE: I don’t want money! I barely know what money is and had no idea until you showed up!
SEE: I can give you stuff from rewards, but friends don’t give each other gifts expecting something in return. I think.
SEE: They just…give stuff! Because it’s good!
 

Your proxy rolls their eyes.

MINSKY: You can be anything you want, then!
MINSKY: Makes no difference to me.
MINSKY: And you don't need to worry about getting anything in return.
MINSKY: Just get some money, for me, however you can.
MINSKY: ...Is this stuff getting through t'you?
MINSKY: I'd like to think I explained that pretty clearly already, kid. 
SEE: Nope!
SEE: I'm...going to ask my friends about this! And the internet!
MINSKY: Nooo, nono you don't need t-
MINSKY: But You-
MINSKY: Aren't WE friends?
MINSKY: You said so yourself!
MINSKY: So why do you need to ask Anybody Else?
MINSKY: Don't you trust me? We've been through So Much in the last... three minutes!
 

You give the proxy a look.

SEE: ...if we're friends, why can't we just play games together and take our time?
MINSKY: Cause-
MINSKY: It's-
 

 

They're floundering, glancing around the room as they try to work out what to say.

MINSKY: Cause it's kind of a waste, right?
MINSKY: Allllllll that time spent playing games, and doing... other things-
MINSKY: Who needs all that, right? Takes soooo much time.
MINSKY: Why not skip to the FUN part?
MINSKY: Whaddya say, sport? 
 

You are already hopping up onto your bed and opening up your laptop.

MINSKY: Wait, th-
MINSKY: What'd I SAY?!
SEE: This stuff isn't a waste!
SEE: A friend told me that it's important to find things that make life worthwhile, even if they're little things! Like games, or food, or learning about new things!
 

 

Minsky stares.

MINSKY: Welp!
MINSKY: Was worth a shot.
 

They lean back against the wall.

MINSKY: You're gonna need my help eventually. No doubt in my mind.
MINSKY: And if you want it, well...
MINSKY: You know what you have to do.
MINSKY: I'm always here when you need me!
MINSKY: As long as you've got the cash. 
 

You don't dignify Minsky with a reply. You're...starting to feel overwhelmed, both with the situation, the weed, and-

 

 

...as Minsky goes to the wall, you are suddenly aware that you're seeing in two places at once. 

SEE: Wh-
SEE: ...are you doing something to me?
MINSKY: Isn't it obvious?
MINSKY: I'm offering you the deal of a lifetime, that's what I'm doing!
SEE: No, I-
 

You think you can see yourself, all blurry and distorted.

SEE: I can see me! From the outside!
 

Minsky bursts out laughing, that other vision in your head moving around as their head does.

MINSKY: First time for everything, huh?
MINSKY: Nope. Just comes from having a proxy.
MINSKY: Get used to it, kid.
 

Okay, okay, whatever, no, you are not going to focus on that right now. You're going to sit down and message Cayden and hug Sky and-

 

 

You startle hard enough to stand up on the bed, nearly knocking your laptop over. Did it get used up?! This is all so much, you’re too high for this still, oh no-

 

Minsky raises a brow, noticing your expression.

MINSKY: Change your mind?
SEE: No, just-
SEE: My doll! Sky! Did it get used up in the ritual?!
 

As you frantically search around, 

you feel something flop atop your laptop, turning to find Sky now laying on it.

 

Minsky avoids eye contact.

MINSKY: See? Told you. 
MINSKY: Friends.
 

You latch onto the doll immediately, giving it a squeeze. 

SEE: ...thanks.
SEE: I...still want to talk to my friends about this, though.
SEE: They might be able to give me some advice- and maybe you, too.
SEE: If you're my friend, then maybe you can be theirs, and it'll be good.
MINSKY: ...But we're such a good Duo, you and I!
MINSKY: We don't need anybody else, right?
MINSKY: ...Now, about that- 
 

 

You have already opened up MessiRoom, Minsky fuming in the corner. You notice that you have a message from someone called [Carouser] and open it up.

[Carouser]: hey see, it's me, cayden. heres everyones usrenames
todd: [todd653257]
roxas: [xXxReal_SomebodyxXx]
samson: [Big_boss]
let me know when you get back to the room!!!!!

[Lilium Mortem]

Thank Minsky. you really do appreciate it.

To Cayden: what's up gamers I made a proxy and am having a panic attack XD. Need some advice, having a hard time Orz.
(proceed to fill the gamers in on the sitch)