UNTITLED SMP
UNTITLED SMP
Characters present: Joco, Ion, Prince
Date: 2/23/24
Season: 3
[Joco lies stomach down on the ridge of their roof, dozing off while sunbathing in the warm sun of the mesa. Below, Ion approaches Joco’s home. They nervously step up to the front door, and knock on it. There’s no response. Ion knocks again.]
[18:08:00] <?[rp] Ion> joco???
[18:08:05] <?[rp] Ion> are you in?
[Ion paces in front of the door. They look up at the door, Ion puffs out their chest, and enters.]
[18:09:02] <?[rp] Ion> joco?
[18:09:08] <?[rp] Ion> hullooo
[18:09:21] <?[rp] Ion> this place is big
[Ion climbs up to the top floor.]
[They cup their hands around their mouth.]
[18:09:45] <?[rp] Ion> joco?
[Joco stirs, stretching into cat pose.]
[18:10:11] <?[rp] Ion> woah hey
[Joco’s back arches like a cat’s as they leap up, startled.]
[18:10:20] <?[rp] Joco> OH
[Joco scrabbles to catch themself slipping off the copper roof, before standing with their hands on their hips, as if they hadn’t just done that.]
[18:10:23] <?[rp] Joco> Hi
[18:10:37] <?[rp] Joco> Definitely didn't. Almost fall off my roof. Hi. What's up. Hello.
[Ion leans on the windowsill, posing awkwardly.]
[18:10:41] <?[rp] Ion> fancy seeing you here
[18:10:50] <?[rp] Joco> Well, it is my home
[18:10:55] <?[rp] Ion> yup
[18:10:58] <?[rp] Ion> it is
[18:11:01] <?[rp] Ion> thats true
[Joco blinks rapidly. It takes a moment for their mind to fully wake up.]
[18:11:06] <?[rp] Joco> OH Ion
[They look down to the ground]
[18:11:17] <?[rp] Joco> Yeah there's no good way down
[18:11:27] <?[rp] Ion> eh just jump its fine
[18:11:23] <?[rp] Joco> cmon, we'll break through the wall
[18:11:43] <?[rp] Joco> I'm sorry that I don't fancy rolling an ankle after just waking up
[18:11:57] <?[rp] Ion> huh
[Joco breaks through the wall of their kitchen, walking downstairs to the front door to meet Ion, who had jumped off the roof to the train tracks.]
[18:12:11] <?[rp] Ion> anyway i need you for something
[18:12:17] <?[rp] Joco> Oh?
[18:12:22] <?[rp] Ion> its secret and its good i promise
[18:12:38] <?[rp] Ion> i swear its not like the festival
[Joco squints at them, mouth a bit agape, in mild disbelief.]
[18:12:53] <?[rp] Joco> Yeah?
[Ion smiles. The movement across their face is oddly uncanny.]
[18:13:14] <?[rp] Ion> come with?
[18:13:32] <?[rp] Joco> Buckaroo, I'm not one to say I'm the sharpest tool in the shed, but secrets tend to include . Explosions, on this server
[Ion frowns.]
[18:13:53] <?[rp] Ion> i don't think there will be an explosion
[18:13:59] <?[rp] Ion> it would be redundant
[18:14:09] <?[rp] Joco> Redundant?
[18:14:13] <?[rp] Joco> How so?
[18:14:16] <?[rp] Ion> i said it
[Ion walks down the stairs towards the railway. Joco sits on the stairs, watching it.]
[18:14:24] <?[rp] Joco> You did say it, please expand upon it
[18:14:36] <?[rp] Ion> you'll understand when you see
[18:14:44] <?[rp] Joco> OK but what if I want to know beforehand
[18:14:53] <?[rp] Ion> but then where's the fun?
[18:15:04] <?[rp] Joco> The fun is, ideally, in the thing itself, not the surprise of the thing.
[18:14:55] <?[rp] Joco> Do YOU like going to events you know nothing about?
[18:15:01] <?[rp] Ion> of course!
[18:15:47] <?[rp] Ion> if i said we were going outside of corroded would that help?
[18:16:01] <?[rp] Joco> Not really?
[18:16:30] <?[rp] Ion> im pretty sure its safe
[18:16:34] <?[rp] Ion> i think
[18:16:38] <?[rp] Joco> Is it safe for you AND me?
[18:16:44] <?[rp] Ion> umm
[18:16:46] <?[rp] Ion> yes?
[18:16:51] <?[rp] Joco> ...
[18:16:56] <?[rp] Joco> Is Prince going to be there?
[18:17:06] <?[rp] Ion> maybe
[18:17:21] <?[rp] Ion> would that make you come?
[Joco stares into the sky, thinking.]
[18:17:37] <?[rp] Joco> Would Prince be upset at you if I didn't come?
[18:17:48] <?[rp] Ion> i don't know
[18:17:51] <?[rp] Ion> maybe
[18:17:58] <?[rp] Ion> probably not
[18:18:22] <?[rp] Joco> Not a lot of certainties here, are there?
[18:18:53] <?[rp] Ion> well i don't want to make false promises you know
[18:19:02] <?[rp] Joco> Yeah, I suppose
[Ion walks backwards along the railway.]
[18:19:19] <?[rp] Ion> you coming?
[Joco heaves a heavy sigh.]
[18:19:34] <?[rp] Joco> Yeah, yeah. Sure.
[18:19:39] <?[rp] Ion> yayyy
[18:19:41] <?[rp] Joco> Lemme go grab some more food real quick
[Joco jogs inside, grabbing a stack of chicken and half a stack of golden carrots. He returns to join Ion, who stares off the edge of the railway into the ocean.]
[18:20:24] <?[rp] Joco> Alright, where are we headed?
[Ion points to Joco’s portal.]
[18:20:30] <?[rp] Ion> this way
[The two head together through the nether, arriving at the Nether Hub.]
[18:21:12] <?[rp] Ion> i love the nether hub
[18:21:20] <?[rp] Joco> Yes, Wiz did a wonderful job on it
[18:21:27] <?[rp] Ion> this was the wizard?
[18:21:37] <?[rp] Joco> Yes, right at the beginning of our being here
[18:21:49] <?[rp] Joco> We all pitched in resources, he planned and built it.
[18:21:56] <?[rp] Joco> So much mining diorite.
[18:22:04] <?[rp] Joco> And deepslate.
[18:21:52] <?[rp] Ion> i wish
[Ion trails off.]
[18:22:08] <?[rp] Joco> You wish?
[18:22:13] <?[rp] Ion> nevermind
[Ion points towards the Malfaction.]
[18:22:18] <?[rp] Ion> this way
[18:22:49] <?[rp] Joco> Ah, the emerald wall
[Sarcastically: ]
[18:23:03] <?[rp] Joco> What a wonder of engineering, truly
[18:23:00] <?[rp] Ion> some would consider it art
[18:23:08] <?[rp] Joco> Who?
[18:23:12] <?[rp] Ion> they would of course be blind
[Joco cracks up at that, hunching over with their hands on their knees. Ion smiles to themself, genuinely, before looking quickly away.]
[18:23:32] <?[rp] Joco> Yeah, yeah!
[Ion points to the cherry blossom entrance right down the main Malfaction line.]
[18:23:41] <?[rp] Ion> come, you recognise this
[18:23:50] <?[rp] Joco> Oh, are we going to the wedding venue?
[The two walk down the road together. They step through the portal, and out into the cold light of the Malfaction. The burned out and half destroyed form of the wedding venue lies in the ground in front of them like a corpse.]
[18:24:17] <?[rp] Ion> oh
[18:24:19] <?[rp] Joco> Ah. Yes, it's. Yeah.
[18:24:30] <?[rp] Joco> About same as I recall.
[18:24:33] <?[rp] Ion> i almost forgot what it looked like
[18:25:11] <?[rp] Ion> everyone dressed up so fancily
[Joco heaves another sigh, this one more sad than the first.]
[18:25:19] <?[rp] Joco> It truly was a beauty
[18:25:36] <?[rp] Ion> hey pink top :) let me see
[18:25:46] <?[rp] Ion> aw yea
[18:25:53] <?[rp] Ion> anyway this way
[Joco removes their armor. They unhook the cape that had been stuck under their chestplate, letting it flow in the slight breeze. They leave their boots on as they crunch over the snow that had fallen over the broken structure.]
[18:26:21] <?[rp] Joco> Are we going in the Prince Sacrifice Pit?
[Ion responds without acknowledging Joco’s question.]
[18:26:22] <?[rp] Ion> follow me
[They stand over the entrance into the pit where Prince’s corpse was discovered only a few months before.]
[18:26:27] <?[rp] Joco> Oh, we are.
[Ion point to the hole.]
[18:26:28] <?[rp] Joco> OK.
[Joco pulls an ender pearl from their pocket and chucks it down the hole.]
[They teleport in a flash of particles to a dark room. The walls are lined with blackstone overgrown with sculk. Bedrock cuts up through the floor, rough beneath Joco’s feet. A chamber has been built to the back of the room, sterile and bright white. A device made of copper sits at the back of the chamber. To the right of the room, a device sits with levers and a button on it. On the wall, a sharp ritualistic blade with wicked edges sits in a place of prominence. Redstone torches illuminate the space.]
[18:26:43] <?[rp] Joco> Oh wow
[The blade on the wall in particular catches Joco’s attention. Ion joins Joco in the chamber, they are practically boiling over with excitement.]]
[18:26:57] <?[rp] Ion> oh now i can say
[18:27:13] <?[rp] Ion> we're creating Tom
[18:27:19] <?[rp] Joco> Who's Tom?
[18:27:22] <?[rp] Ion> no idea
[18:27:34] <?[rp] Ion> but its really important to prince
[18:27:25] <?[rp] Joco> Is Tom a sword?
[18:27:31] <?[rp] Joco> I'm seeing a sword.
[18:27:42] <?[rp] Ion> ignore it
[18:27:59] <?[rp] Joco> Ion that is incredibly suspicious to say about a blade on a wall in front of a cell
[Joco looks around.]
[18:27:45] <?[rp] Joco> Where is that cat, anyway
[18:27:53] <?[rp] Ion> prince!
[The sculk on one of the walls begins to fester and burble. Prince peels himself out of the wall.]
[18:28:01] <?[rp] Prince 2> RIGHT HERE BABY
[18:28:06] <?[rp] Joco> Oh hello, cat
[18:28:16] <?[rp] Prince 2> whats up jocoster
[18:28:22] <?[rp] Prince 2> dont mind the blade
[18:28:23] <?[rp] Joco> Honestly? No clue
[18:28:35] <?[rp] Joco> I woke up like. 5 minutes ago.
[18:28:25] <?[rp] Prince 2> that's a souvenir
[18:28:32] <?[rp] Prince 2> from the last time we were here
[18:28:43] <?[rp] Joco> ... yeah ok sure
[18:28:46] <?[rp] Prince 2> anyways
[18:28:48] <?[rp] Prince 2> joco
[18:28:51] <?[rp] Joco> Hi
[18:28:24] <?[rp] Ion> so how do we do this?
[18:28:59] <?[rp] Prince 2> get into the... awesome. very fun room
[18:29:09] <?[rp] Joco> I don't. Want to?
[Prince presses a button on the door. It swings open, waiting for them. Joco squints at it.]
[18:29:24] <?[rp] Prince 2> come in
[18:29:28] <?[rp] Prince 2> its perfectly safe
[18:29:15] <?[rp] Ion> all we need is your soul, nothing big
[18:29:27] <?[rp] Joco> I feel like I need that
[18:29:35] <?[rp] Ion> you don't
[18:29:38] <?[rp] Ion> i think
[18:29:36] <?[rp] Joco> I feel like I need my soul to like. Be myself.
[18:29:48] <?[rp] Ion> do you?
[18:29:50] <?[rp] Prince 2> we're just borrowing! we're not stealing it
[Prince begins making more desperate motions for Joco to go inside. Joco backs away just slightly.]
[18:29:50] <?[rp] Joco> No, I've definitely seen people who've lost their souls. They were very dead.
[Ion looks confused.]
[18:29:57] <?[rp] Joco> Prince, who is Tom?
[18:29:58] <?[rp] Prince 2> come on joco
[18:30:00] <?[rp] Prince 2> its safe
[18:30:05] <?[rp] Prince 2> ill get inside with you!
[Joco puts on their armor slowly, starting with the leggings.]
[18:30:23] <?[rp] Prince 2> cmon let's go in together
[18:30:24] <?[rp] Joco> That's not! A sweetened deal
[18:30:35] <?[rp] Joco> I do not want to go in the cell
[Prince wiggles his eyebrows and tosses some potatoes into the cell.]
[18:30:36] <?[rp] Prince 2> baked potatoes
[18:30:47] <?[rp] Joco> Prince I have no need for potatoes
[18:30:53] <?[rp] Joco> I do not want to lose my soul and die.
[18:30:37] <?[rp] Ion> prince?
[18:30:47] <?[rp] Prince 2> yeah whats up
[18:30:46] <?[rp] Ion> joco won't be dead right?
[18:30:58] <?[rp] Prince 2> no.....t entirely
[18:30:56] <?[rp] Joco> Who is Tom.
[18:31:00] <?[rp] Joco> Why does Tom need my soul
[18:31:01] <?[rp] Prince 2> oh
[18:31:03] <?[rp] Prince 2> tom?
[18:31:06] <?[rp] Prince 2> tom's a block
[18:31:11] <?[rp] Prince 2> we need it for... stuff
[18:31:16] <?[rp] Joco> What block is Tom, Prince
[18:31:26] <?[rp] Joco> I've heard of no blocks that require souls.
[18:31:24] <?[rp] Prince 2> i mean its super scientific
[18:31:32] <?[rp] Prince 2> you probably wouldnt even know its real name
[18:31:38] <?[rp] Joco> Prince I have so many college educations. Please try.
[18:31:42] <?[rp] Prince 2> clearly youve never heard of soul sand
[18:31:56] <?[rp] Joco> ...
[18:32:08] <?[rp] Joco> Prince. What block is Tom.
[18:32:53] <?[rp] Joco> This isn't a study, so the 'educated consent' isn't necessarily the same factor here. But I would like to be educated on this shit.
[18:32:47] <?[rp] Prince 2> for the record, im not keeping this from you because im afraid of your reaction, but because i think youre stupid and wouldnt know what im talking about
[18:33:03] <?[rp] Joco> Prince I would LOVE for you to just. Try.
[18:33:06] <?[rp] Joco> Please.
[18:33:18] <?[rp] Joco> I've gone to so many science labs over the centuries.
[18:33:31] <?[rp] Joco> I've seen many a fucked soul experiment gone wrong.
[18:33:38] <?[rp] Ion> go wrong?
[18:33:38] <?[rp] Joco> What block do you need a soul for?
[Prince lets out a long exasperated sigh.]
[18:33:42] <?[rp] Prince 2> its actual name is the Tri-Omni Machine
[18:33:52] <?[rp] Joco> What does it do?
[18:34:42] <?[rp] Prince 2> Tri-Omni meaning omnipotent, omniscient, omniservant
[18:34:46] <?[rp] Prince 2> the God Machine
[18:35:00] <?[rp] Prince 2> sometimes known as the Command Block by the layman
[18:35:09] <?[rp] Joco> You're making a COMMAND BLOCK?
[18:35:12] <?[rp] Prince 2> yeah
[18:35:16] <?[rp] Joco> Can you even use it?
[18:35:30] <?[rp] Joco> The only ones I've seen able to access one were admins.
[18:35:21] <?[rp] Prince 2> pfft of course??
[18:35:25] <?[rp] Prince 2> i used it a lot
[18:35:26] <?[rp] Prince 2> well
[18:35:28] <?[rp] Prince 2> not right now
[18:35:33] <?[rp] Prince 2> cus i havent made it here
[18:35:41] <?[rp] Prince 2> technically, i dont need to use it
[18:35:43] <?[rp] Prince 2> just harness it
[18:35:50] <?[rp] Prince 2> its called the God Machine for nothing
[18:35:53] <?[rp] Joco> Is that not. Synonyms.
[18:35:56] <?[rp] Joco> Harness. Use.
[18:36:11] <?[rp] Prince 2> let's change use to interfacing
[18:36:17] <?[rp] Prince 2> im not gonna be interfacing with it
[18:36:24] <?[rp] Prince 2> im just harnessing it
[18:36:26] <?[rp] Joco> Oh, and Ion, by 'gone wrong' I mean the testees died horribly, or were changed irrevocably, to the point that even attempting to put the soul back didn't help
[18:36:40] <?[rp] Ion> oh
[18:36:51] <?[rp] Ion> wait but -
[18:36:51] <?[rp] Joco> ... are you going to put the command block inside the sculk?
[18:36:54] <?[rp] Prince 2> no
[He sounds genuine.]
[18:37:14] <?[rp] Joco> Ion? Are you alright?
[18:37:21] <?[rp] Ion> ignore me im fine
[18:37:26] <?[rp] Joco> Hm. Alright.
[18:37:43] <?[rp] Joco> Prince I would not like to participate in the creation of a command block, as I still am using my soul.
[18:37:52] <?[rp] Prince 2> oh cmon dont be a poozer
[18:38:01] <?[rp] Prince 2> youll still be alive in the command block!
[18:38:09] <?[rp] Prince 2> we just need your sentience
[Ion’s bow manifests in their hands, they half lift it up before they seem to realize what they’re doing. Joco’s eyes go wide, and they finish equipping their armor, putting on their chestplate and helmet.]
[18:38:09] <?[rp] Joco> Ion?
[Ion moves the bow at the last minute, and fires an arrow above Joco.]
[18:38:40] <?[rp] Prince 2> ion stand down if you can, no shooting nor threatening with violence
[Ion blinks, their button eyes fearful for a moment.]
[18:38:42] <?[rp] Ion> im sorry i don't -
[Before they seem to glaze over, and return to normal.]
[18:38:51] <?[rp] Ion> nevermind continue
[18:38:58] <?[rp] Joco> I need my sentience. In my body. I would like to continue my life as is.
[18:39:14] <?[rp] Joco> Not a part of an omniscient, omniservant, omnipotent block
[18:39:22] <?[rp] Prince 2> youll still get to have that! Tom is powerful enough to manifest yourself a body!
[18:39:27] <?[rp] Prince 2> youll just. be yknow. part machine
[18:39:32] <?[rp] Prince 2> like a cyborg!
[18:39:43] <?[rp] Joco> I would not enjoy that.
[18:39:52] <?[rp] Joco> I quite enjoy my life as-is.
[18:39:53] <?[rp] Prince 2> you havent even tried it! you wouldnt know!
[Ion walks up behind Joco, beginning to gently try to push them towards the open door.]
[18:40:07] <?[rp] Joco> Ion, no.
[18:40:12] <?[rp] Joco> No pushing me in.
[Prince approaches Joco.]
[18:40:17] <?[rp] Prince 2> cmon
[18:40:18] <?[rp] Prince 2> cmon
[Prince puts his hands on Joco’s shoulders. Joco begins to try and shake off their hands.]
[18:40:27] <?[rp] Joco> You can't peer pressure me into being a sacrifice
[Prince’s grip tightens on Joco’s shoulder.]
[18:40:48] <?[rp] Prince 2> cmon joco. just get in the machine
[Prince tries to grab Joco by the waist and drag him inside. Joco’s lips flare into a growl.]
[18:41:14] <?[rp] Joco> No.
[Joco grabs Prince by the shoulders, and slams their head into Prince’s skull. The sound of the headbutt cracks across the room. Prince immediately recoils in pain, letting go of Joco for a moment.]
[18:41:15] <?[rp] Prince 2> HEY OW
[18:41:26] <?[rp] Prince 2> CMON
[Joco scrambles backwards, hissing and spitting.]
[18:41:27] <?[rp] Joco> Get your hands off my shit!
[18:41:30] <?[rp] Prince 2> JUST CMON
[Joco’s sword manifests into their hand, and they begin slashing at anything coming towards them. Prince reaches out, where Joco’s blade lops off one of his hands. He snarls as his hand thuds to the ground, pulling the stump into his body.]
[18:42:06] <?[rp] Prince 2> ookay fine ow jeez
[Joco begins backing away towards the entrance hole. Prince’s hand on the ground begins to melt into sculk, disappearing into the ground. Tendrils of sculk begin to slowly grow from the stump of Prince’s hand, growing first bone, then wrapping over muscles of sculk, and then a thin layer of oily-looking skin. Joco breathes hard as his back hits the wall, the exit just to his right.]
[18:42:07] <?[rp] Joco> No! I do not want to be a sacrifice!
[18:42:25] <?[rp] Prince 2> oh cmon dont be a coward
[Ion glances over at Prince, nervous. Joco grits their teeth, trying to find a way to escape. Blood has started trickling from a gash in their forehead, pooling into their eyes.]
[18:42:26] <?[rp] Joco> I do not want to die! I want to live! I want to continue my life as is!
[18:42:32] <?[rp] Joco> It is not cowardly to wish to live.
[18:42:47] <?[rp] Joco> My life as it is would be over.
[18:42:34] <?[rp] Prince 2> you wont die!!
[18:42:40] <?[rp] Prince 2> youll live!
[18:42:44] <?[rp] Prince 2> even better!
[18:42:48] <?[rp] Prince 2> even stronger
[18:42:56] <?[rp] Prince 2> youre thinking too small time
[Ion adds quietly: ]
[18:42:59] <?[rp] Ion> you don't know until you try
[18:42:55] <?[rp] Joco> I do not wish to be stronger, I wish to be myself.
[18:43:28] <?[rp] Joco> I have lived as myself for over 600 years, and I will continue until I die of old age, which should take many more centuries.
[Prince sighs again, groaning. Usually test subjects are easier to control than this.]
[18:43:00] <?[rp] Prince 2> okay fine
[18:43:02] <?[rp] Prince 2> ill show you
[18:43:08] <?[rp] Prince 2> this machine is perfectly fine
[Prince lifts his recently detached hand. He flexes his fingers before using them to input a series of commands into a device at his right. A start-up sound begins as the machine calibrates.]
[18:43:23] <?[rp] Ion> fun tune :)
[18:43:23] <?[rp] Prince 2> see now its activated
[18:43:52] <?[rp] Prince 2> cmon joco
[18:43:57] <?[rp] Prince 2> come over here
[Joco raises his sword up again. Ion quietly equips their armor.]
[18:44:06] <?[rp] Joco> No.
[18:44:08] <?[rp] Prince 2> dont make me start threatening your loved ones!
[18:44:17] <?[rp] Joco> What?
[18:44:38] <?[rp] Prince 2> wizard. the- cat boy guy. small. dan. uhhh. do you care about punk? idk
[18:44:45] <?[rp] Prince 2> theeee sinder guy
[18:45:15] <?[rp] Prince 2> if you put yourself in that machine, i wont be obligated to go after them as a form of "persuasion"
[Joco stares at Prince, aghast.]
[18:45:33] <?[rp] Joco> This is NOT how you're supposed to handle test subjects in a lab.
[18:45:44] <?[rp] Prince 2> its how i always did it
[18:45:49] <?[rp] Prince 2> and usually it works out well
[Ion speaks up, quietly at first, confidence taking over as Prince nods at her.]
[18:45:49] <?[rp] Ion> why don't you inspect the lab joco?
[18:45:56] <?[rp] Prince 2> yeah! check it out
[18:45:57] <?[rp] Ion> make sure its a safe environment?
[Joco presses their back further against the wall.]
[18:45:59] <?[rp] Joco> Ion, I think you know why
[18:46:06] <?[rp] Joco> It cannot be safe if it is meant to steal my soul
[18:46:13] <?[rp] Joco> My mind. My Selfhood.
[Prince shakes his head.]
[18:46:17] <?[rp] Prince 2> not even a bunch part of your soul
[He makes a little motion with his fingers.]
[18:46:20] <?[rp] Prince 2> just a teeeeney
[18:46:22] <?[rp] Prince 2> tiny part
[18:46:27] <?[rp] Prince 2> a bit of soul goes a long way
[Ion nods quickly.]
[18:46:34] <?[rp] Ion> and you need to check to make sure
[Joco squints at both of them.]
[18:46:38] <?[rp] Joco> Then why can't yours be used, so splintered as it is?
[18:47:04] <?[rp] Joco> But if it's only using a small fragment, surely there would be leftovers?
[18:46:51] <?[rp] Prince 2> because im the one that needs to use tom
[Joco coughs, and shakes their head.]
[18:47:15] <?[rp] Joco> I'm calling bullshit, Prince.
[18:47:23] <?[rp] Prince 2> yeah- but like. cmon joco
[Prince’s skin begins to move. A full suit of armor begins to grow from the sculk. Netherite plated bone.]
[18:47:35] <?[rp] Prince 2> dont make this hard for me
[18:47:37] <?[rp] Prince 2> or for ion
[Joco shakes their head.]
[18:47:44] <?[rp] Joco> I do not want to be a sacrifice for your mission.
[18:47:53] <?[rp] Joco> I do not consent to your study.
[Prince makes a face.]
[18:48:02] <?[rp] Prince 2> please? or again, your other friends will be the one i use
[18:48:19] <?[rp] Prince 2> im being nice and kind by giving you the smidgen of a choice
[18:48:27] <?[rp] Joco> This is not even a smidgen of a choice, Prince
[18:48:28] <?[rp] Prince 2> i WANTED to blender you, but i thought better
[18:48:34] <?[rp] Joco> BLENDER
[18:48:48] <?[rp] Joco> You were going to put me in a blender???
[18:48:55] <?[rp] Prince 2> a soul stealing blender
[18:49:02] <?[rp] Prince 2> it wouldve hurt much more
[18:49:15] <?[rp] Prince 2> but this wont even hurt that much!!
[18:49:32] <?[rp] Joco> What?!
[18:48:37] <?[rp] Prince 2> appreciate my mercy
[18:48:47] <?[rp] Prince 2> get in the machine
[18:48:58] <?[rp] Joco> No! What the fuck!!!!
[18:49:17] <?[rp] Prince 2> cmon!
[Joco’s tail flicks back and forth behind them. The fur on the back of their neck stands on end. Prince begins to advance.]
[18:49:27] <?[rp] Joco> No!
[18:49:47] <?[rp] Joco> It's a soul stealer, it will be agonizing no matter what happens to the body
[18:49:53] <?[rp] Prince 2> no it wouldnt!
[18:50:05] <?[rp] Prince 2> i specifically dosed it with painkilelrs!! for the soul!
[18:50:07] <?[rp] Joco> Do you know how many soul thefts I've had to watch?
[18:50:15] <?[rp] Prince 2> idk. 2?
[18:50:21] <?[rp] Joco> Each and every victim screams in agony the same amount, no matter the circumstance
[18:50:33] <?[rp] Prince 2> i think the one stealing their soul was an amateur
[18:50:43] <?[rp] Prince 2> this is sophisticated! this machine is tested!
[18:50:48] <?[rp] Prince 2> there's never any screams!
[18:50:51] <?[rp] Joco> To have one's soul ripped from one's body is a terrible sensation, even if you survive you will never be the same.
[Ion mouths “agony”. The sculk on their back creeps further up their neck.]
[18:51:03] <?[rp] Prince 2> well this is different!!!
[18:51:04] <?[rp] Joco> Are there no screams because you're too dosed to be able to scream?
[18:51:10] <?[rp] Prince 2> ...no
[18:51:14] <?[rp] Prince 2> cmon joco
[18:51:16] <?[rp] Joco> Being paralyzed does not make you not feel pain.
[Prince’s wings begin to grow from his back.]
[18:51:28] <?[rp] Prince 2> cmonnnn
[18:51:32] <?[rp] Prince 2> cmonnnnnnnnnn
[18:51:35] <?[rp] Joco> No!
[18:51:36] <?[rp] Prince 2> come over here
[Joco slashes at Prince again. This time they take the whole arm off up to the elbow. It thuds to the ground in the same dull noise as before.]
[18:51:44] <?[rp] Prince 2> youch!!
[18:51:45] <?[rp] Joco> Fuck off!
[18:51:58] <?[rp] Prince 2> well you asked for this!!
[The arm begins to melt into sculk as the new one begins to reform. Prince lets out a huff as it grows. The bioluminescence on his body shudders. Joco’s eyes widen, they wield their sword with a hand, before tucking the other one into their pocket, closing it around an ender pearl.]
[18:52:10] <?[rp] Prince 2> ion. come and help me grapple joco and put him in there
[The sculk on Ion’s body flares with bioluminescence.]
[18:52:13] <?[rp] Joco> NO!
[Joco dissipates their sword, leaping backwards towards the exit. With all of their might they whip the ender pearl as far as they can. It sails into the air as they fall backwards towards the wall. Prince lets out a roar that gets cut off as Joco disappears from below, and appears at the surface. He scrambles away from the ruins, running towards the portal. Prince soars out of the hole and into the night sky, casting a dark shadow over Joco, who throws a glance over their shoulder. Prince’s voice echoes across the shattered landscape.]
[18:54:36] <?[rp] Prince 2> going somewhere
[Joco shouts back.]
[18:54:55] <?[rp] Joco> LEAVING
[Joco dives through the portal, appearing in the nether. They pull themself to their feet and begin sprinting down the length of the tunnel, taking a sharp turn towards the Nether Hub. Joco reaches the Nether Hub, running towards the Verdigris tunnel, before freezing. Prince had just threatened half the town, they can’t let anyone else get hurt. They duck into the moss shop as they hear Prince call out, and press themself against the wall, breathing hard.]
[18:55:56] <?[rp] Prince 2> joco!!
[18:56:01] <?[rp] Prince 2> where the fuck
[18:56:23] <?[rp] Prince 2> dont make me activate my cheats on these shades!!
[18:56:39] <?[rp] Prince 2> there's baritone inside these yknow!!
[There’s silence as Prince stands in the center of the Nether Hub, activating his shades.]
[18:56:54] <?[rp] Prince 2> now where?
[Joco tries to slow their breathing, but can almost feel Prince’s eyes turn to him.]
[18:57:11] <?[rp] Prince 2> found you
[18:57:23] <?[rp] Joco> NO
[Joco sprints out of the moss shop, and runs towards the Southern tunnel.]
[18:57:31] <?[rp] Prince 2> okay i WAS being nice
[Halfway down the tunnel, Joco lobs another ender pearl, appearing in the crimson forest above the portal to the Halloween event grounds.]
[18:58:15] <?[rp] Joco> Fuck shit shit fuck
[18:58:21] <?[rp] Prince 2> but something tells me-
[Prince’s voice begins to echo. It hums through the very stone of the building, and through the nether itself. It has a low grumble to it that reminds Joco all too much of a Warden.]
[18:58:21] <?[rp] Prince 2> [you wouldnt appreciate it]
[Ion catches up to Prince.]
[18:58:42] <?[rp] Prince 2> hiya there ion
[18:58:46] <?[rp] Ion> hey
[18:58:47] <?[rp] Prince 2> he's somewhere here
[18:58:59] <?[rp] Ion> are you sure we should be doing this?
[18:59:07] <?[rp] Prince 2> yes!! tom needs to be made
[18:59:21] <?[rp] Prince 2> for me- for us to complete what we want!
[18:59:26] <?[rp] Ion> true, but joco is so adamant…
[18:59:26] <?[rp] Prince 2> just let me find him
[18:59:27] <?[rp] Prince 2> or us
[Joco tries to pull out their communicator as they run to text anyone they can, but it keeps slipping out of their grip. They nearly drop it several times. The wound on their forehead still hasn’t healed. They still can't see very well. Joco drops into a netherrack cave, hyperventilating.]
[19:01:47] <?[rp] Prince 2> [oh jocoooo~ where are you~]
[Joco whispers under their breath: ]
[19:02:01] <?[rp] Joco> no no no no no no no no no no no no n o
[19:03:20] <?[rp] Prince 2> CMON OUT
[19:03:58] <?[rp] Prince 2> [JOCO]
[As Prince pokes his head down from above, spotting Joco, they run and throw a pearl towards the nearest lava lake, burrowing under the ground as soon as they land. They tunnel towards where they’d seen land, surfacing on a soul sand beach, no paths out of the area. Joco looks around, only to see Prince flying straight towards them. They turn to the wall and start burrowing again, running into the newly formed crevice.]
[19:08:46] <?[rp] Joco> NO
[Prince begins to grow into something monstrous. Tentacles whip out of his body at nothing as he chases after Joco. His glows almost ambiently from the sheer power of the luminescence.]
[19:08:49] <?[rp] Joco> NO NOnono nononono
[19:08:53] <?[rp] Prince 2> [JOCO PLEASE]
[19:09:14] <?[rp] Joco> NO
[19:09:17] <?[rp] Joco> NONONONOONONONONONONOO
[Joco finds a cave, digging into the side of it and crawling into a small space higher up and blocking up the path behind them. They wait, breathing hard. Prince approaches, the sounds of the whipping tentacles just outside. There’s the sound of a warden sniffing, or at least what sounds like a Warden. It stops right in front of them. Joco can hear a low rumble right in front of them. They put a hand over their nose and mouth.]
[19:09:50] <?[rp] Prince 2> [jocooooooooooooooooooooooo~]
[19:10:12] <?[rp] Prince 2> [you know how when a warden cant hear anymore... they start to sniff?]
[19:10:23] <?[rp] Prince 2> [i smell you]
[The tentacles remove the netherrack in a single motion, where Joco stands alone, terrified.]
[19:10:28] <?[rp] Prince 2> [gotcha!]
[19:10:46] <?[rp] Joco> NO NO NO NOT
[19:10:48] <?[rp] Joco> PLEASE NO
[Joco drops to the ground and slides between Prince’s legs. They sprint past him, noticing Ion in the distance.]
[19:11:27] <?[rp] Prince 2> [YOU CANT RUN FOREVER, JOCO!!!!!! ILL CHASE YOU TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!]
[19:11:34] <?[rp] Joco> WE'RE NOT ON EARTH
[19:11:44] <?[rp] Prince 2> [ITS A SAYING!]
[Joco slams into Ion, throwing them back as he continues to run, pearling wildly to try and get away.]
[19:11:52] <?[rp] Joco> Ion. Ion, please
[19:11:59] <?[rp] Joco> please, no. please
[Ion throws a pearl, appearing in front of Joco.]
[19:12:08] <?[rp] Ion> joco
[19:12:17] <?[rp] Joco> PLEASE
[They pearl again, only to find a dead end, Ion following close behind]
[Prince descends from above. He slams into the ground in front of Ion.]
[19:12:25] <?[rp] Prince 2> [FOUND YOU]
[Prince whips out a large tentacle, and grabs Joco by the neck.]
[19:12:38] <?[rp] Joco> AUGH
[19:12:50] <?[rp] Prince 2> [fucking finally]
[Joco writhes in the grip, snarling. They open their mouth and bite down hard into the tentacle. Prince’s tentacle lashes out.]
[19:13:13] <?[rp] Prince 2> [now. go to sleep]
[The tentacle slams Joco against the netherrack wall, and they go limp. Prince and Ion return to the room in silence, holding a limp Joco. The tentacle throws Joco into the cell, where their back slams into the wall before sliding into a pile on the floor. Ion steps forward.]
[19:15:47] <?[rp] Ion> joco?
[19:15:54] <?[rp] Prince 2> [teleport out of there and finch. dan. and everyone you ever cared about are reduced to screaming echoes in the sculk]
[Ion peers into the cell as Joco groans, their body slowly beginning to move, tail flopping to the ground, bent in half at an odd angle.]
[19:16:16] <?[rp] Ion> do you think they're alright?
[Prince moves to block the entrance of the room, where he slowly begins to shift back to his regular form.]
[19:16:59] <?[rp] Ion> joco are you alright?
[Joco’s body looks battered. As they start to move their tail, they flinch and their eyes fly open. It’s definitely broken. Joco sees the state of the room, and more importantly themself stuck behind the bars.]
[19:17:24] <?[rp] Joco> SHIT
[19:17:40] <?[rp] Prince 2> try and teleport and your family and your friends gets it
[They scramble back into the corner, beginning to sob.]
[19:17:44] <?[rp] Joco> Please. Please I don.t
[19:17:45] <?[rp] Joco> please
[19:17:49] <?[rp] Joco> p lease
[19:17:53] <?[rp] Joco> please, no
[19:18:03] <?[rp] Prince 2> i would say that this is new to me but your reaction is par for the course at this point
[Ion shifts, looking nervously between Prince and Joco.]
[19:18:21] <?[rp] Ion> prince im not sure…
[Prince walks over to his machine, starting up the process.]
[19:18:49] <?[rp] Prince 2> god
[19:18:50] <?[rp] Prince 2> okay
[19:18:58] <?[rp] Prince 2> machine activated
[19:19:04] <?[rp] Prince 2> now joco
[Joco covers their ears, curling into a ball.]
[19:19:04] <?[rp] Joco> no no no no nononononononoonnoonnooo
[19:19:06] <?[rp] Joco> no
[Tears begin streaming down their face.]
[19:19:08] <?[rp] Joco> nononoonono
[19:19:17] <?[rp] Prince 2> do you want it to be quick or fiery and hurts?
[Joco grabs a porkchop from their pocket in a fit of rage and hurl it at Prince’s face.]
[19:19:25] <?[rp] Joco> fuck you
[It bounces off his shades, leaving a grease stain on the left side, but leaving Prince unimpressed.]
[19:19:38] <?[rp] Prince 2> cmon. Joco
[Joco throws another porkchop. It leaves a grease stain on the other side.]
[19:19:38] <?[rp] Ion> joco
[Joco spits out, frothing at the mouth in pain.]
[19:19:42] <?[rp] Joco> Fuck you
[19:19:48] <?[rp] Prince 2> so? fire or bow shot?
[19:19:55] <?[rp] Prince 2> im still being nice and giving you a choice here
[Joco screams: ]
[19:19:55] <?[rp] Joco> I don't want to BE HERE
[19:19:58] <?[rp] Joco> I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE
[19:20:06] <?[rp] Prince 2> deal with it
[19:20:12] <?[rp] Prince 2> dont be a baby
[19:20:22] <?[rp] Prince 2> now fire or fucking bowshot you idiot
[Ion is immobilized. Every time they grow more anxious, the more the sculk binds their limbs. Joco chokes out a sob.]
[19:20:29] <?[rp] Joco> I don't want to die
[Prince rolls his eyes.]
[19:20:37] <?[rp] Prince 2> everyone doesnt want to die
[19:20:41] <?[rp] Prince 2> okay fine
[19:20:44] <?[rp] Prince 2> fire it is
[19:20:47] <?[rp] Prince 2> or at least partly
[Ion struggles to speak. They clench their fist.]
[19:20:44] <?[rp] Ion>i dont - w
[Prince presses a button, and lava begins to pour from the ceiling. Joco scrambles back as it begins to roll towards him.]
[19:21:07] <?[rp] Joco> NO
[Something is starting to materialize in their hands. The sculk bubbles out of their felt-like skin, fighting against the gossamer puppet strings that appear in the low light.]
[19:20:53] <?[rp] Ion> i don't want joco to die
[Prince scoffs. He steps forward to stand in front of the cage.]
[19:21:00] <?[rp] Prince 2> tough fucking shit ion
[Something in Ion snaps, and a bow materializes in their hands. They take no time to pull it up to their chest and aim. A single arrow sprouts from Prince’s back. At first, nothing happens and then-]
[19:21:02] ?[rp] Prince 2 was shot by ?[rp] Ion using [arc]
[Prince doubles over in pure agony. Where the arrow pierces him, silvery threads begin to spread across his body. He reaches his hand towards the ceiling above him as his voice becomes compressed. It shatters in his throat. His body shrinks painfully towards the ground. The shrill sound of his computerized voice box is the last sound as Prince is compressed into something new. Ion scrambles across the room and turns off the lava, Joco’s breathing slows as the lava dissipates, cooling on the ground, and the smoke clears. The gossamer threads seem to float up in the air, still connected to the new form on the ground, until they seem to disappear, only appearing slightly when the light hits them quite right. Ion stands, aghast. Joco opens their mouth to speak.]
[19:21:23] <?[rp] Joco> I
[19:21:23] <?[rp] Ion> what have i done
[Joco stares at the object on the ground. It looks like a nether star…but…]
[19:21:36] <?[rp] Joco> I don't.
[19:21:37] <?[rp] Joco> I
[Ion steps forward, the sculk has begun to engulf them, turning their red felt-like skin teal blue. Ion picks up the star. When they move it, the image seems to change, like a holographic picture. Prince’s form screams, trapped inside. They move it again. The image disappears. Dark bands wrap around the nether star like glasses. Ion drops it onto the command table. They back away from it quickly]
[19:22:31] <?[rp] Ion> oh no
[Joco stands shakily. They catch themself on the wall as they try to get out of the cell.]
[19:22:35] <?[rp] Joco> What
[19:22:37] <?[rp] Joco> Happened?
[The machine around them putter off, having finished their objective. The room becomes very still.]
[19:22:55] <?[rp] Joco> Ion?
[Softly: ]
[19:23:15] <?[rp] Ion> i meant it
[19:23:19] <?[rp] Ion> i really did
[19:23:27] <?[rp] Ion> i actually meant it
[19:23:39] <?[rp] Joco> You meant... to kill him?
[Ion’s voice trembles.]
[19:23:49] <?[rp] Ion> i killed prince, and it was me?
[19:23:59] <?[rp] Ion> i swore i didn't want to hurt anyone
[19:24:06] <?[rp] Ion> but this?
[19:24:13] <?[rp] Joco> Sometimes you have to hurt someone
[Sculk is beginning to grow up the sides of Ion’s cheeks.]
[19:24:34] <?[rp] Ion> what do we do now eeughh
[The sculk folks over Ion’s mouth, it shivers, trembles.]
[19:24:46] <?[rp] Joco> Oh shit
[19:24:48] <?[rp] Joco> Ion?
[19:25:41] <?[rp] Ion> joco i think you made it easier
[19:25:54] <?[rp] Joco> Killing Prince??
[19:26:01] <?[rp] Ion> to make my own choices
[19:26:07] <?[rp] Joco> Oh
[19:26:14] <?[rp] Ion> thank you
[19:26:26] <?[rp] Joco> Ion, your face, the sculk
[The sculk is almost entirely engulfing Ion. Their button eyes quiver with fear.]
[19:27:10] <?[rp] Ion> please
[Joco opens their inventory, pulling out an enderchest. They set it down, digging through it for a lava bucket.]
[19:27:21] <?[rp] Joco> I don't
[Ion’s voice is breaking.]
[19:27:16] <?[rp] Ion> im sorry
[19:27:28] <?[rp] Joco> Ion, I forgive you.
[19:27:42] <?[rp] Ion> if there's not enough of me without the sculk...
[19:28:03] <?[rp] Ion> take me to somewhere mossy?
[Joco looks up from the ender chest. Ion is fading fast.]
[19:28:08] <?[rp] Joco> Of course,
[Joco turns away from the chest, they take Ion’s hands.]
[19:28:10] <?[rp] Joco> Of course, Ion
[19:28:19] <?[rp] Joco> I'll take you to the mossiest, warmest place I can find
[Joco leans forward, looking into Ion’s face. It’s beginning to look less and less like itself.]
[19:28:30] <?[rp] Joco> But. I hope you survive. Please survive
[19:28:51] <?[rp] Joco> How can I help you survive?
[19:29:20] <?[rp] Ion> i hope that whatever happens, the moss will bring me home
[19:28:53] <?[rp] Joco> Please
[19:29:17] <?[rp] Joco> Please, Ion, live
[19:29:30] <?[rp] Ion> i don't know how to
[Joco whispers “fuck it” under their breath. They reach up and pull Ion into a hug. Ion presses their face into Joco’s shoulder and smiles.]
[19:30:24] <?[rp] Joco> Just, try. Try to live. Try to come back.
[19:30:25] <?[rp] Joco> Try.
[19:30:31] <?[rp] Ion> i will
[19:30:50] <?[rp] Ion> for the sake of prince if no one
[Joco pulls Ion back and looks into her face, holding her gently in their arms.]
[19:31:05] <?[rp] Joco> For the sake of yourself?
[19:31:15] <?[rp] Joco> You deserve a chance at life
[Ion tries to smile, but the sculk keeps her from being able to do it properly.]
[19:31:19] <?[rp] Ion> i hope so
[19:31:30] <?[rp] Ion> you make me want it
[19:31:48] <?[rp] Joco> I've known you for a short while, and I'd like to know you for much longer
[19:32:04] <?[rp] Ion> i wish id known you 600 years already
[Tears well up again in Joco’s eyes. They spill down his cheeks.]
[19:32:35] <?[rp] Ion> its been so short and so much. ive made so many mistakes
[Joco laughs, tears falling into the corners of their mouth.]
[19:32:50] <?[rp] Joco> Mistakes are part of life
[19:32:56] <?[rp] Joco> They're how you grow, sometimes
[19:33:02] <?[rp] Ion> im sorry for the festival. im sorry about dragging you here.
[19:33:07] <?[rp] Ion> im sorry prince
[19:33:19] <?[rp] Ion> i needed to make the right choice
[19:33:34] <?[rp] Ion> and i really really hope it was
[19:33:50] <?[rp] Joco> I forgive you, Ion.
[Ion smiles. Joco takes Ion’s face in their hands, before gently knocking their foreheads together. They set Ion down onto the ground, and begin cleansing them with lava. The sculk burns away from Ion’s body, but leaves them charred and blackened. They don’t move again. Joco sniffles, wiping their face with their sleeve. They’re covered in blood, grime, snot and tears. Ion lies lifeless before them. Joco picks up Ion’s body, and starts climbing out of the basement.
The soul star glimmers on the control table. Later, deep into the night, or perhaps the next morning, a figure peels out of the sculk in the wall, surveys the damage, and retrieves the soul star.]