The Neverending Story for Actual Talent Redux

[Oranjui]

So I had some ideas for this and the old thread is from like 2011. I'm sure people's writing skills have improved since then, and there are quite a number of new faces around here who might want to participate.

Here are the rules, courtesy of Moy.

Hello all! This is the Neverending Story Version 2 3, for actual talent. This is just like the original only with some subtle differences.

1. This is to be a real story. Don't just throw Sonic into ♥♥♥♥♥ fights with Mario and then next scene kill a spambot with Chuck Norris or some other drug trip like that. You control what happens in the story, for reals, so make it make sense.
SuyoEDIT: I approve of this :D
BlabEdit: I approve of this approval

2. This story CAN end. But it must be at least 20 posts after the first post of the story. Don't just say "The end" either. Make a sensical ending.

3. STAY ON TOPIC. Don't change the dimension or feel of the story, stay on track.

4. Write 1 or 2 paragraphs each, that is preferred. A little more is accepted, but don't overdo it, nor should you under-do it.

Conventional writing practices kinda forbid this sort of thing, so if anyone wants to build us some loose plot structure to follow, that could be helpful. Otherwise just winging the entire thing is fine.

So. Let's start?



It's good to be home.
A round, naked bulb casts a dim yellow glow across the room, illuminating a shabby living area and a small restroom filled with cardboard boxes. An off-kilter loveseat complements peeling wallpaper and discolored patches of carpet. The old CRT television sits a few feet across atop a small wooden table, next to an empty syringe and a Stephen King novel.
Don't worry; it's not what you think.

[*Emelia K. Fletcher]

I've occupied Room 4F5 of Derbyshire Apartments for the last... six months? Seven months? It's fairly cheap, I've got the facilities I need. The wi-fi runs smooth, the gas works when you need it to, the neighbours quiet down if you knock on their door.

It's a funny thing; didn't they establish internet access as a basic human right a long time ago? We've all come to embrace it now, putting it above even our daily food and water. That television's not seen use for years, but my RBAD's on 24/7.

RBAD? Technology gains new buzzwords day in, day out. "Reverberation-based access device". We're a couple of years past 2020, so what you're seeing as the top end in tech is shifting down to the general public's hands. Don't ask me how this damn computer works, though - I flunked out of college for a reason.

Folk from further uptown say this place should've been demolished for the best part of fifteen years (you're likely among them now), and honestly? Everyone here agrees. We're stuck in here mainly because opportunities to move further on are scarce. Social oppression, ladders, whatever they throw about nowadays. Point is, we're a good bunch of people at heart.

[l.m]

Sometimes, when I see people walking on the soulless, dark streets, wearing their modern technology and stuff, I feel old, and poor. I really wish I was more important in the society, more smart and with more qualities. But, however, it's too late to spend my time saying any difficult word, as just like I said before, I flunked out of college.

However, surprisingly, I'm happy. Because, to say the truth, nobody needs technology or money to be happy. I'm OK with my room, because I don't like something different than it. Home, sweet home. This phrase has never made so much sense than now. Portable Personal Assistants? Please.

Some friends of mine said that the technology is taking over the world. I don't need to worry about this, because all I have is this little apartment, a job on the AI Chip Cores Factory, and a CRT television.

[1018peter]

I walked out of my apartment,and paces through the men and women under the thick,grey clouds.

It's been awhile since sunlight soaked into my eyes,those clouds have been there ever since 2020.Do clouds really stay for that long?Are they actually clouds?I kept these questions to myself and walked into the bar.

I ordered a cup of beer,then pay attention to the surrounding sounds."THIS AIN'T BEER!IT'S JUST SPICES AND WATER!ARE YOU ROBOTS SO POOR THAT YOU NEED TO SCAM ME WITH THIS?",an old man yelled at the robot bartender,and threw a punch at its face,"Danger detected,initiating Self-Defence protocol.".The man was knocked into the wall few seconds after.

I took a deep look into the beer that I've ordered.Indeed,this cup of beer is different from the one that I've seen in my childhood.They sure faked a lot of things around us.I left my beer untouched and walked out of the bar.

[TheMMMification]

As I walked on forward, past the men and women who were staring at their portable electronics, a sudden idea struck my mind. What would happen if there was a power outage? So much of what we depend on requires electricity. Light, communication, food storage, heat, travel, and who knows what else? As I looked up into the clouds, another question entered my mind. How long can everyone in this town, including myself, last without technology?

[Harmless]

Probably quite a long time if technology was increasing this rapidly. At least the old ways weren't... well, entirely lost though.

So, with that reminiscing and missing out on a fake beer, I decided to just skulk back in my apartment. I turned on the TV, which I almost feel it inappropriate to call it a TV nowadays. Back then it was just 'television'. Nowadays, kids in elementary, middle, and high school alike all talk about these 'LED Type-02364 Samsung HD Flatscreens', or these 'Chrome Tpe-253 Model Google Flatscreens'. I personally didn't think such a lengthy name was necessary, but at least it's not the end of the world if I just had a simple box, regardless of brand or specifications.

"And now with the daily weather." The weatherman said.

[1018peter]

"A huge rainstorm is arriving at Metapolis tonight,it's estimated to last 2 days before it vanishes.
It's suggested to refrain from going outside-buzzz-bzzzzzz..."The TV's signal got interrupted,I checked the TV a bit-it's perfectly fine,but then...

*Crash!*

A thunder hit my apartment's lightning rod.As I recover from the massive impact on my eardrums,I see lightnings striking all over the city from the window,again and again.A powerful wind swept everything on the streets away,it gets stronger and stronger,finally,the houses are no longer protected by the lightning rods.

The power lines' were destroyed by the lightning impacts,it was a blackout over the entire city.Yet,it was full of dazzling lights.

P.S. We don't have to use an actual location,right?

[l.m]

Every men and women soon, started screaming in the middle of the street, scared and confused, thinking what they would do. But, later, they'll probably see the worse: now, all of the electronic devices don't work anymore.

A big blackout was over the city. It was very dark.

Well, it seems that the AI Chips Core Factory will be closed tomorrow. Goodbye, money. Since there wasn't nothing to watch, I just decided to read my Stephen King novel, over the table. But as I read the book, some weird noises starts to happen outside.