applenet | COUNTDOWN: PUTTING THE M IN MORALITY 3.0

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COUNTDOWN: PUTTING THE M IN MORALITY 3.0

Did someone contact you during your dreams? Perhaps you were lucky and a few images of your past lives were revealed to you. Then maybe when your phone begins to act strange, you aren't as surprised. Maybe there's a feeling that you've seen this before... could it be a case of deja-vu?

You could all say it started with a strange icon that popped up on your phone that day. September 9th, 2017, a mysterious icon begins your decent into a different world.

Did you press it right away out of curiosity? Did you press it accidentally trying to dismiss it? Or did you wait long enough for it to cover your entire screen, forcing you to interact with it? Either way, congratulations! You've got...a Terms of Service popping up in front of you?

Terms and Conditions ("Terms")
Last updated: September 9th, 2017

Please read these Terms and Conditions ("Terms", "Terms and Conditions") carefully before using the http:/www.applenet.net website (the "Service") operated by AppleNET ("us", "we", "our", "horse", "goat", "sheep", "apple", "shapple" "etc.").

Your access to and use of the Service is predicated on your acceptance of and compliance with these Terms.

By accessing or using the Service you agree to be bound by these Terms and agree to be part of The Team. If you disagree with any part of the terms then that's too bad. You already agreed to them by reading this far. Don't worry, you're not alone in this! In fact, you've probably had a little bit of a warning, right? Your friends warned you in dreams? Hopefully they did cause otherwise, SURPRISE!

AppleNET has no control over and assumes no responsibility for content posted or user privacy. You further acknowledge and agree that AppleNET and its affiliates shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such content, goods, death, night shifts, or services available on or through any such web sites or services.

Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance the laws, by which we mean with little regard to its conflict with any laws. Are you still even reading this? I bet no one really reads this. PS for all apple pie needs, please contact Luci at Luci@applenet.com

Changes
We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms at any time. If a revision is material we will try to provide at least 0 days notice prior to any new terms taking effect. What constitutes a material change will be solely determined at our discretion.

By continuing to access or use our Service after those revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised terms. You don't have much choice cause it's time to start fighting back! You can do it! Or at least it will be interesting to see...

Contact Us
If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us.

You quickly notice there is no contact number or address. Uhh---

DO YOU AGREE TO THESE TERMS?
Yes | Hell Yes | Man I Can'T Wait to See What this is About! | APPLES!
It really seems like you don't have much choice. After pressing one of the four buttons (one of them trailing off to the side of the screen), a new screen greets you.

21 DAYS REMAIN BEFORE FULLY AWAKENING

Hey! Welcome to your new half life. Something like that. I'm Luci! You don't know who I am, but I know who you are. Freaky huh? But that's okay, cause you got a few of your friends coming in too. Anyway, answer these questions, we're gonna have a fun time talking about them, I'm not being all fancy this time, got it? Don't worry if the answer sounds 'bad'. After all, you're gonna be working with the rest of us! What's the worst that could happen?

I mean, bad things could happen. But that's why there's other people to help you! CHECK IT OUT GUYS I DID A FRIENDSHIP THING. PS - If you see something from a guy called "Guts", he can be really mean sometimes, so be careful!!!

Are they... acting like they’ve just hired you for a new job? (And really being impolite too. Who is this Guts guy?)

The first (and only) question for today is:

Would you kill a man/woman?

1) Yes! That sounds fun.

2) Yes, but only because they killed someone I loved.

3) Yes, but only out of self-defence.

4) This question is confusing me because I am unable to reach a proper conclusion.

5) No! That's so wrong!

6) No, but mostly because no one should know about my dark secrets.

7) No, I'm too pure.

8) No, but I'd pay someone else to do it. Guilt free, AND smart!

As you go to pick out an option... or try to exit out of it... you witness an all-too brief memory of a life you think isn't yours. A flash that makes you think you were hallucinating... or maybe something you've seen before in your mind. Your head hurts, your heartbeat increases dramatically, and you can barely see anything ahead of you...

Wait, did you already pick something? You don't remember touching the screen, but something's already been highlighted and pressed for you. Staring at the 'saving' prompt, you will later find out it was a deeper memory from your heart. It might terrify you, what you've picked.

After that, the program displays nothing else for a few seconds before a chatroom (appleNET chat v.301.02) boots up, with a username already attached to your account and a little icon, either a sword or a ship steering wheel, next to it. More worryingly, your answer is the first thing posted from your name. Not even a hi or hello.

Well good thing no one has any idea who you are... right?

But don't worry... this time you're not quite alone.

[OOC: The memory should only last for a few seconds, but it would be something significant that would surprise them. It could even be related to this question!

All mentions of their profession or other clues that might reveal who they are will be changed to [INFORMATION LOCKED]. However, due to the dream memories, their usernames will be a combination of the demon you chose for their Persona and their REAL name (not their AU one).

FOR PLAYERS ALREADY IN THE GAME: Your character now has their REAL name and their demon name. Additionally, NOTHING GETS CENSORED WHEN YOUR CHARACTER SPEAKS.

For the new players, have fun!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It wasn't the first comment that sparked Fubuki's anger, but the last. It stung because it sounded so much like something he was prone to saying in the heat of battle, whether it was on the soccer field or hunting down shadows. But the truth was...they'd never been in his way. Why, if it hadn't been for them, he might not even still be standing.]

You don't know anything.

i dont need to to say that
its the same everywhere

They weren't in the way.

But they can't help us anymore, either. So those of us left have to work together. Even if the other person seems like someone you'd rather kick.

if you can get by without them then they werent very useful either
but i havent seen anything worth getting excited over here
let alone worth 'cooperating' for
so you can just count me out

You're right! You haven't seen anything. You didn't see how hard they fought for everyone! Including you.

While they were risking their lives all you were doing was sleeping! they've more than earned their break i'd say

but if you wanna survive you're not going to be able to do it alone. the shadows will just chew you up and spit you out again if you try and then YOU'LL just be the idiot in the way

didnt know this was the kind of operation that rewarded people for failing
nobody asked them to stick their necks out for anyone
im not going to pretend to be grateful for a bunch of idiots poking their noses into other peoples business
and im sure as hell not going to do it myself
you can pretend youre making a difference all you want
so long as you stay out of my way im not going to bother getting into yours

you want a fucking reward how about i give you one

i dont care if we're supposed to be a team i'll knock you out if you keep talkng like that about my friends

ill talk however i fucking like and we both know you cant do a thing about it
if the truth bothers you so much maybe stop making such shitty friends

yeah sounds like that's all you are too

just a lot of hot air and no action talk about a shitty replacement

i bet youre not even worth one of them
you're just useless garbage that's got no real fight you're just here to warm the bench

youve been here before right
this app wont let me talk about myself but it doesnt look like its doing the same for older users
pick a place and a time
ill come show you what actually finishing a job looks like
if youre lucky it might even be the last thing you see today

[Kidou would disapprove. Sakuma would try to reason with him. And Genda would physically restrain him if need be.

But none of them were there to tell him not to go through with fighting. Whoever this stranger was, they'd just insulted them. There was no match at stake here, nothing to lose by knocking some jerk in the nose. And his blood was boiling.

He couldn't say no.]

green valleys soccer field at 6pm

i'll be waiting

you better be
and dont bitch when i break your jaw

[whoever this is seems to be pretty worked up over nothing at all. Vincent's confident that he won't leave him hanging around like an idiot at the soccer field - and that's why he's pretty prompt about his arrival, sitting in the bleacher and smoking like the asshole he is while he waits.]

[Fubuki had considered giving 'Hiei' a chance to apologize, but upon arriving at their agreed upon meeting place and seeing the other boy smoking around his field...all bets were off.

He didn't have a soccer ball with him, but his aim was pretty stellar. Scooping up a small stone off the ground, he whipped it in Hiei's direction with the intent to bean the cigarette right out of his hand. But if he missed and caught him in the mouth instead he wouldn't complain.]

Hey, bastard. Show some respect.

[He gestured to the field to indicate what he was referring to. Not himself, but the grassy pitch where people poured so much of themselves into their best performances. Dirtying that up with a stinking stick of tar and other chemicals wasn't something he appreciated.]

[Fubuki's aim is pretty spot on, but unfortunately for him this isn't the first time that something's been thrown at Vincent. he manages to put the offending cigarette safely in his mouth before the stone ricochets off his hand without so much as a wince. he could probably have avoided that, yes, but that wouldn't have proved the point half as well.

he stands leisurely, as if some punk kid hadn't just called him out, taking his time to come down from the bleachers and get onto the field proper. when he finally deigns to respond it's clear why.]

As soon as I see something worth respecting.

[because there certainly wasn't anything worth that sort of effort present right now. once Vincent gets onto the pitch he discards his cigarette right onto the grass before wandering closer to his opponent, that same smug air of nonchalance enveloping him.

he never drops his butts onto the ground once he's finished with them, and has no intention of leaving even that one in place there. but it's clearly an action that'll wind Fubuki up even further, and he can't help but want to antagonize him to the fullest.]

[It was one thing to disrespect him, Fubuki could even live with that. But showing such blatant disregard for the field where his favorite sport was played, and even for nature itself...that was unforgivable.

In that way, the boy before him reminded him so much of Fudou. Antagonistic to the last, he'd do anything to draw a reaction out of his opponents. Fubuki had wanted to punch Fudou for some of the foul things that the other boy had said. And if it hadn't been for Someoka's interference, his chiding reminder that he'd be benched if he got violent, he probably would have socked him one, too. It wasn't like Fudou hadn't asked for it, turning his cheek towards him and even smirking...

...it was much the same expression that 'Hiei' wore now.

And this time, Someoka wasn't there to remind Fubuki to keep his anger in check. This time, there was no game he could lose by swinging first and asking questions later.

But first...

With a derisive snort, he turned and stalked across the grass towards the cigarette butt. After scooping it up out of the green blades he pinched the end between his fingers to make certain it was good and out, and then stuffed it into his pocket to be discarded properly after their fight.

And it was a fight he looked more than ready to take on now as he finally turned his attention back to the older boy, golden eyes zeroing in on Vincent.]

Okay, I'm ready now.

[there was absolutely no way for Fubuki to know that Vincent had intended to pick it up himself later, after the fight had resolved itself. it was a natural reaction for someone so protective over a sports field, completely understandable - but he doesn't give the other boy any of that courtesy.

all he sees is Fubuki wasting his time on a pointless endeavor that would have been easily fixed without his interference, and that uselessness strikes him as hilarious. his harsh laughter will follow his opponent to the cigarette and back, cold and derisive. if it seems that he's making fun of him even further, that's perfectly acceptable.

to his credit, he waits until Fubuki returns and asserts his readiness to begin before even contemplating action. even so, he gives no warning; his laughter hasn't even wound down before Vincent's fist is flying out at full force, aimed straight at the younger boy's jaw. he seems dedicated to keeping his prior promise to thoroughly break it.]

[On the pitch, the boy with the gentle heart known as Shirou Fubuki was an unrivaled defender. He excelled at sweeping the ball away from the opposing team and sending it to his own teammates, thrilled in the success of their cooperative formations and doing what he could to assist his friends in scoring a goal. Because a point earned by one of the forwards or anyone else was a point earned together by the whole team.

But there was another side to the boy, one that had awoken on a field not unlike Green Valley's when he'd been younger...after the passing of his family. Even without Atsuya's scarf present to act as a conduit, Shirou heard his brother's voice loud and clear.

Let me blow through him. He's mine.

It was that voice that had led him here, that voice that had changed soft charcoal grey eyes to gold, and that voice which prompted his response to Vincent's attack.

Atsuya had never been a defender. Preferring the front lines for the ability to attack and bask in the glory of scoring points on his own, he'd brought a rather wicked offense to their playstyle...and together they'd been perfect.

And he felt so close to perfect now, allowing his brother to take full control and guide his actions, drive him forward. Spurred by that laughter. Spurred by the insult. But mostly spurred by the all-consuming need to win, he met that hook head on, knuckles bruising, the taste of copper rising against his tongue, but by turning his head just so, he succeeded in keeping the blow from breaking anything.

And gave himself all the opportunity he needed to sink his teeth deep into that hand like some kind of feral wolf, too.]

[the pain is a surprise, but a welcome one. it elicits another laugh from Vincent, albeit much different; this one has a feral edge all its own, something equal parts delighted and dangerous. they'd made no agreement, but he can see there's no reason here for him to hold back.

he lets Fubuki bite as much as he wants, pushing right past the annoying pain. instead his fingers use the opening to find their way into the other boy's mouth, taking a firm hold of his bottom jaw and rendering it impossible for him to relinquish his grip without outside interference. with his newfound grip he pulls his opponent's head sharply down, moving his entire body to collide painfully with his rising knee.

he does it again, and again, and again. if Fubuki doesn't attempt to escape he clearly intends to repeat the action until he vomits or loses consciousness.]

[He didn't bother trying to escape, not at first. Vincent's knee crashed into his face once, twice, three times and he tasted blood, but that was fine because it wasn't just his own. Every time the other boy's knee drove upwards, Fubuki's teeth sank deeper into those fingers, and the deeper they sank, the greater the threat that he might actually bite them right off.

Unless he was released.

Though it seemed he didn't have a mind for that, didn't care about retreat at all. And as Vincent's knee came up again, Fubuki wrapped his arms around the offending leg and, with a wild growl, threw all of his weight forward in an attempt to bowl the older boy over...]

[Vincent cares for losing his fingers about as much as Fubuki's concerned with preventing internal bleeding, it seems. each time the other boy's jaws dig deeper into his hands it only prompts a more vicious follow-up kick; it's as if he's feeding off the violence of his opponent, growing more and more worked up as time goes on.

even with Fubuki's small stature, his enemy is equally diminutive that with enough force his attempts to knock him over actually succeed. unfortunately for him, this fight is taking place after another brawl where something quite similar occurred - and so this time he's ready to react.

he takes the fall with readiness, focusing all of his efforts onto using both his trapped leg and the other boy's head to continue the momentum until they've completely flipped a second time. if it succeeds he'll waste no time in doling out his punishment of slamming Fubuki's skull into the grass repeatedly.]

[Fubuki was quick to surrender Vincent's leg as they rolled over, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that he would need as much mobility in his arms as he could muster if he was to get out from under his opponent. And what a wise decision it had been, too. As his back was slammed down against the ground, his lungs struggling to keep a breath inside, he was fortunate to be able to seize a fistful of Vincent's hair and pull...

Anything to wrench him off and to the side, even if it meant taking some of the skin from his scalp at the same time. It'd serve the bastard right!

It was desperation that fueled him now, completely raw and unrefined. What more did he have to lose, anyway? He'd already lost one family and one brother, and now another had disappeared along with his friends, too! He didn't want to be alone anymore, but that loneliness was all he had! Except for his memories, he'd been left with nothing. And this person had insulted those fragile remains...

He wouldn't forgive that! Told himself that Desarm kicked harder, that Guts' punches were more devastating, and that even the shadows were more fearsome than this asshole!]

[there's no such desperation in his opponent's actions, only the gleeful abandon of the fight. it's nothing close to the violence he'd experienced only a few days before, but he's more than willing to take a downgrade in order to sate the constant lust for a clash.

the urge, a constant through most of his life, had been flaring even more aggressively in recent times. in quieter moments he can't help but wonder if those visions have something to do with it.

Vincent resists for as long as he can, but with bits of his scalp tearing off into Fubuki's hand even his bullheaded struggles are no match. he finally falls to his opponent's side, but not before throwing an arm out to wrap around the other boy's neck. so long as he could keep the pressure up in some way he still had the advantage.]

[A strangled growl escaped the younger boy when Vincent's arm slipped around his neck. Sleep was the enemy, he knew that! Knew that it was the one thing that could ever hope to slow him down or bring him to a halt. He didn't want to be unconscious, because other things had the chance to catch up then. Memories and emotions and worst of all, loneliness.

So he fought, and he fought hard, fingers clawing at Vincent's arm, legs kicking wildly and elbow flying in the hopes of hitting a knee or his groin or jabbing into the other boy's rib cage...anything. But he hadn't been prepared for this, and slowly the strength of his blows began to diminish.

Through clenched teeth he rasped an unintelligible insult, or perhaps it was simply muttered in Japanese, but after a few moments more he stopped struggling to get free and had grown still. A last ditch effort to maintain consciousness by preserving some energy. Whatever was left, anyway.]

[nearly every single blow Fubuki aims in desperation hits its mark, but it does very little for its situation. his opponent feeds off the pain instead, taking all of the growing negativity in his heart and feeding it right back into the strength of his grip around the younger boy's neck.

Vincent laughs at the sound of what can only be an obscenity in any language, pulling his arm even tighter as his foe ceases to move. he can still feel his pulse racing under his skin, and so his grip remains strong and in place. he can't, however, resist a little further provocation.]

Is that really all you've got?

Give me a...break!

[That provocation was a challenge that Fubuki rose to meet.

Literally.

He ought to have continued trying to save his strength, biding his time until Vincent got bored and let him go, but his temper was still flaring, and there was little else he hated as much as being underestimated.

Planting his feet under him on the ground, Fubuki shoved off with all the power in his legs he could muster. If he was lucky, that son-of-a-bitch would bite his tongue off. And if not, he'd still give him a sharp headbutt straight to the chin.]

Shirou Fubuki ⚔ Marchosias

Hiei ⚔ Andras

Shirou Fubuki ⚔ Marchosias

Hiei ⚔ Andras

Shirou Fubuki ⚔ Marchosias

Hiei ⚔ Andras

Shirou Fubuki ⚔ Marchosias

Hiei ⚔ Andras

Shirou Fubuki ⚔ Marchosias

Hiei ⚔ Andras

Shirou Fubuki ⚔ Marchosias

Hiei ⚔ Andras

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