(A/N: this came to me as I immediately felt myself being limited about just using horror, so get ready for a seat of the pants lore dump I came up with on the spot.)
The two opened their eyes again to see themselves sitting in a massive theater alone. It was lit brightly and the screen in the front asked them to please exit the theater for cleaning. getting up they reached for their guns but found them gone. their holster and zombie/apocalyptic attire they picked out were all there, but all of their weapons were gone. The two gazed around and found only one exit underneath the raised seating, and with practiced steps exited as quietly as they could. what they saw next left them stunned as the exit brought them out to a powerful sight.
The place was a massive and crowded main movie theater hall with walls reaching as high as six stories. its design was a red and black elegance with an open interior that reminded them of the mall they just left. instead of stores thought it was simple multiple theaters with a massive concession stand that had signs selling any kind of food you could want. The most amazing factor was that they weren't alone here. as if standing in a popular market the couple saw people in different costumes.
Some were similarly dressed like the couple yet there were also those in formal wear, historical attire, fantasy armor, etc.. That wasn't all as it wasn't just humans they saw, as races and species that covered the spectrum of any kind of genre were walking around. standing there they simply took the spectacle in trying to understand the situation with different wants. Logan was trying to find the level of danger they might be in, while Akane was shaking with excitement at all of the stimuli her brain was trying to process. As the couple were coming to turns, a young man approached them from behind.
"Logan, it's even better than what I thought it would be!" Akane said as she watched a fantasy dwarf woman, beard and all, walking with a fucking ten foot fucking Na'vi man. Logan chuckled lightly as he was still in assessment mode.
"Excuse me," The plucky teenage boy's voice called out to them. They turned and took in the pimply faced teenager and his red usher's uniform, and the happy go lucky smile he had as he waited for them to turn. "Hello, you to seem to be new and look like you could use some help" he said while waiting for a response. the couple looked at one another before Logan stepped forward.
"What is going on here, and where are we?" he asked and the attendant looked at them in confusion.
"You're in a theater sir and madam, a place where those who go to enjoy the movies" the usher said before smiling again. The two looked at the kid and then each other again before Logan tried again.
"We know that, what we want to know is why are we seeing all these races that shouldn't exist. Is this some kind of nexus or something?" he asked. the kid laughed at his question as he looked around at the other guests.
"Oh yeah, we have some real fans of films here" the usher said while gazing at a few of the scantily clad women, that ranged from elf to green skinned alien, that walked by the three. his cheeks reddened as he looked away with a chuckle. "it just goes to show you how awesome our theater is as we get the most dedicated fans here!" he leaned his head to watch the girls backside before Akane snapped her fingers to get his attention again. he looked back and the couple were starting to realize that this kid wasn't fully aware of what was wrong here.
"Hey" another voice caught the three and they looked over to see a toned, white haired woman in her 30s. She had on a skin tight spandex costume that hid nothing to the imagination. She was sitting down at a table eating a corndog and fries and waved them over to sit down. they obliged and left the usher who just left shrugging as if he didn't even talk to them in the first place. "don't bother with the staff, they think we're all cosplayers going to the movies." the couple nodded and sat down while taking in the woman's attire. she smirked and waved a hand at the concession counter. "Help yourself, it seems you guys started in an apocalyptic flick."
"We're good, we just came from Dawn of the Dead" Akane said, already having an idea where they were. the Woman nodded
"shit you got started with a horror ticket huh," she said before asking "original or remake?"
"remake, what is this?" Logan cut in and she smiled before taking a bite of her corn dog.
"this my fellow cinephile, is the multiversal cineplex!" she said while raising her hands in the air to the place around them. "Like you, all the movie goers here have been thrown into a film and or tv show. Whether it was clipping through their universe, dying by a truck, or pissing off a ROB many find themselves thrusted into this strange world filled with wonder." her words had the two's attention as she smiled at them. Logan looked more around and started to pinpoint even more known movie races.
"So everyone here is like us, they got sent to a movie?" he asked and she raised a hand palm down. with a wiggle back and forth she shifted her head left and right.
"some" she said, "some also come from shows and series as well" she finished with a sip from her drink.
"Hey Ms. Thunder, who are our new friends?" a rough voice called out. They turned to see a short white haired man with yellow glowing eyes walking over. He was covered in medieval armor that screamed Witcher. The man helped himself to a chair before winking at Akane who gave him the finger. "oh oh, I like these new friends of ours."
"Kasten, please don't piss off another group of newbies," Ms. Thunder said before looking at the two. "he may be a braggadocious ass, but he means well, now as I was saying let me give you a run down." the couple nodded and Ms. Thunder, Karen she told them, gave them the run down.
"First off, this is a nexus as you guessed. The Cineplex is where all of us end up when we complete our first move or show. here one can decompress in multiple ways."
"Sleep, fuck, eat food, head to the arcade to start a harem, did I say fuck? Hell you can even watch an actual movie and play video games just like back home" Kasten interrupted making the two a little confused. Karen frowned at the ass and went back to explaining.
"Essentially he is correct, the arcade I'll explain in a moment, but for now just know that this is a safe space for you two to unwind. Now onto why we're here...no one really knows, and at this point most have just thrown out multiple theories over the years. Some say it's a prison that we were locked into until we die, some say it's heaven that we never knew we wanted, and some just think this is a massive hallucination and we're all just tripping balls together."
"I like the last one, but only because those guys share some bomb ass weed," Kasten said with a constant smile on his lips.
"For free?" Akane asked and Kasten nodded.
"Oh yeah, I'll hook you two up" he promised and Logan and Akane fist bumped under the table. That month without a hit was a real bummer for the couple. Pot helped them relax and was better than any Big Pharma stuff the doctors recommended. Karen again frowned at her friend before finishing up her meal and getting up.
"Come on, let's walk and talk while I continue" she said and everyone got up to follow. as they started to move another voice had them turning.
"Wait for me!?" shouted an eight foot Na'vi woman who walked over.
"Hey, Yieìan'oe Te 'Ìkskìangaypx Luhewtx'ayt'ite, just finish your period piece?" Kasten said. the Na'vi woman sighed at the man while looking at the two newbies. They were trying to understand the name and she hated ever telling Kasten her Na'vi name. who in their right mind would be able to both remember and speak it perfectly every time.
"Please just call me Mary" the Na'vi said and the couple nodded. "Yes, I managed to get enough for another genre after I dragged Fantine out of the streets and into a relationship where we raised her little girl together into adulthood." The Couple racked their brains before Logan raised a brow.
"Le Miserable?" he asked and Mary nodded. Akane shook her head as movies like that were boring for her. Logan liked the drama and emotion, but she just couldn't get into it like him. Kasten shouted a "good fucking job" while fist pumping the Na'vi woman.
"Okay, nice for you to join us and open on another thing that I'll just explain now." Karen said before looking over to the couple. "Tickets" she said before holding up a credit card sized Movie ticket stub that gleamed with a metal sheen. hers had a silver color and showed the usual writing most ticket stubs had. "This is my Ticket, this is what everyone gets when they get here."
The couple looked at her as she nodded her head at their pockets. They checked and found they had tickets of their own and pulled them out and inspected them. They were metal but instead of silver, they were a dark bronze color. They had the same writing but nothing else of note. That was until they turned the ticket around and saw two carved words.
"Horror and zombies?" Logan questioned as he looked at the ticket. Horror was carved with an underline that separated a smaller carving of zombies. When the couple looked at each other's ticket they saw the same thing.
"Yep, everyone starts with a main super genre and specification in that genre when they first get here" Karen said before walking again. "we're not sure why, but that's how it's always been since the first movie goers got here. Now for what that means, to put it simply it's what kind of movie you're stuck being able to enter at the moment" Karen continued.
"Stuck?" Akane asked and Kasten answered for Karen.
"Yep, the only movies you guys can enter must have those two specifications at the moment" he said. "Only after you get enough CP can you add a super genre and delete the specifications."
"CP?" Akane asked again.
"CP: Cine Points" he said and pointed at the tickets in their hands. They flipped it over and saw the admittance one part had been replaced with a counter that showed CP:10 on it for both before shifting back to admittance one. "Damn, what movie and ending did you get? ten is pretty rare for someone to get on their first movie."
"Dawn of the dead remake, and we managed to save everyone but two survivors" Logan said before growling out, "Shit, never did kill Steve." Akane patted his back affectionately before looking at the others.
"How many points do we need to get Zombies taken off?" she asked and Mary answered.
"15 for your first one as it's given without earning it, but each consecutive one you get after the price increases to 50 points each. 100 points will get you your next super genre, with the next being 250 and then 500. each one will go up by 250 after the first buy." Akane nodded as Logan started to ask his question but Karen already knew what he was going to ask.
"specifications are a penalty the cinema gives a movie goer when they break the three rules of the place. no harming a guest, no stealing from a guest, and no cheating the cinema" she counted out her fingers. the couple nodded and she continued the conversation, "Like Kasten said you can only go to movies with those genres and specifications. The only difference with the two is that a genre is generalized and can be ignored for another if you have one, while a specification must be in the movie or you can't get a showing of it." the couple nodded again before being led down a hall.
"From what you've already seen, the starting movie or show can alter your base human form and turn you into anything." She waved a hand at both Kasten and Mary as examples.
"Oh yeah, how did a na'vi blend in a historical musical?" Akane asked.
"Oh, well when you enter a movie you're restricted to the movie's setting" she said. "I turn back into a human when I go to a human only movie, while anything supernatural, fantasy, and sci-fi will be more of a crap shoot if I'm na'vi or something else to fit in. Before you ask, anyone can pay to go back to being human, or to become a different race, but most find that after spending a whole movie as a new race they tend to want to keep the new form. though a few have used it to change gender, which is also an option" the couple nodded again and looked back to Karen.
"If you haven't guessed, I'm super human after starting in the Incredibles" she said while showing sparks dancing around her hands. When they got to the end of the hall they saw a row of elevators. people were getting on and off at a constant rate and the group waited for their turn. it was fast enough and they were in with a mass of twenty five people total. "my powers and any you buy will be nerfed or sealed depending on the movie."
"Yeah, there was an OG movie goer who got to be superman as his first movie, and then totally ruined the epic start by heading into a war movie after he removed the superhero specification to rack up a shit ton of CP by stopping the war single handedly. guy got popped the second the movie started" Kasten said with a chuckle.
"So we can die in a movie?" Logan asked and the three nodded to the couple. "good to know" he said before Karen took hold of the conversation again.
"Now that the main point is done it's time to explain the Arcade and Hotel, before doubling back to the concession area." when she finished saying that the elevator opened up to a retro arcade and they walked out with a few others from the mass. The Arcade spanned a massive area yet held a normal height to its walls. Every type of quarter eater could be seen being played and people genuinely having a good time. The group moved through the machines and people as the three informed the newbies of the rather normal entertainment here. They even had private booths for people to play super consoles with all old to new and releasing games being created.
"All right, now for the fun part of the arcade," Kasten said while jogging a bit forward to the prize table. It was a see-through glass counter with cheap toys on display for a currency labeled AC. Akane and Logan could guess that was Arcade points, and what one would get just playing the drop ball games and what not. Behind the counter and a bored attendant playing some original Super Mario were the more interesting prizes. "Welcome to every man and woman's dream, the big ticket prizes."
With a wave of a hand Kasten showed off the plaques that held description of Item prizes. They were all worth CP and showed a wide range of tools, permanent boosts, and bonuses that caught Logan's attention. "Here is where one can change their race, get super powers the easy way, buy badass weapons and armor for your next adventure, and finally...start your own personal fantasy harem!!!" he shouted out in a sing-song voice while holding a hand up to specifically Logan. The prize he was so happy about was the one listed as Love Connection that had a detailed description next to it.
Essentially for 1000CP you could bring a character from any known movie or game that you have played through and reached a max affection rating with to bring to the Cineplex. Logan flicked his eyes from the plaque to Kasten who held up his hand still waiting for him to slap it. Logan didn't return it though as he shifted his gaze back at the prizes and their prices. Kasten looked crestfallen and started to lower his hand before Akane slapped it with a little giddy dance.
"Oh fuck yeah, babe this is epicenes of a fucking next level" Akane said.
"My love and patience is only for you," he said looking at her. she blushed with a smile at his words but then leaned in to whisper.
"and you're my only one as well, but come on" she said with need. "A few pets in bed are a neat, and the fact that there fucking legendary babes is even better." Logan looked at her and shook his head as he started planning for the best upgrade for them at the selection. His wife on more than a few occasions had dragged another woman to bed with them. He didn't naysay her wants and wouldn't really even now, but he wasn't starting any harem. If she wanted a few pets though, well she had her own CP account to spend. He was glad she didn't drag Monica into the bed when they were in the Dawn of the Dead. he noticed the girl's looks in the beginning, and was thankful Akane didn't see her as wanted.
"Here, take this as a welcome gift," Karen said as she handed them two sugar sticks. she could see the harem thing had not gone the best with the couple and she hoped to move past it. "Considering you're going to zombie worlds, have this Immunity booster on me. it won't get nerfed and will make you basically immune if you get bit or anything" the couple looked at the sticks and then looked at her. she laughed and pointed to the arcade around them. "what were you expecting, there is a theme here if you didn't get it." Logan and Akane shrugged and downed the sugar. It reminded them of happy childhood memories and they both felt perfectly healthy.
"Alright, now to the hotel" Karen said while Kasten kicked the carpet not getting the reaction he was hoping for.
"Wait?" Logan asked. "Is there a game world selection here?" he asked and Karen nodded.
"Yeah, it's over in the back and looks like the theater rooms," she said. He nodded and they all left for the elevator again.
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Walking out of the elevator again showed a hotel lobby that was as massive as every other space. It had high walls and even a sky light that showed a bright sunny sky. Karen walked over to the front desk and waved the couple forward. They were asked if they would like one room or two, and they requested one. With a smile the front desk worker asked for their ticket which was given a thick black bar on the side that worked as a magnet strip. With that done Karen moved them to the room number and they opened the door.
Inside was a penthouse suite look that made them nod in satisfaction. Two walls were windowed and overlooking a bustling city that Karen said they could change to anything they wanted.
"The fridge and pantry is always filled with anything you want, though clothes and weapons found in your master closet will need to be bought with CP or taken from worlds you go to" Karen said as she sat on their couch with the other three experienced Moviegoers. "You can also upgrade the place to be as big as a mansion if you want, though most find it unnecessary."
"Unless you had a harem," Kasten said while sipping on some lemon water.
"I assume you have one?" Logan asked as he saw the despondent man.
"yeah, just got my third and completed my Witcher set of Ciri, Triss, and Yennefer" he said while sighing out. "I was hoping you would be like me, as these two don't want any attachments like that."
"We like love and affection as much as you, Kasten" Mary said. "We just don't need a harem to get it." She then turned to the two and specifically looked at Akane. "You need to understand that some movies take months or even years depending on the story. you may find yourselves falling in love with a few characters from time to time, but bringing them here can change that." Akane smiled and nodded, not telling the three how she viewed the arcade prize.
"Alright, a little quicker then the arcade but it's more simple so now back to the theaters" Karen said and the group left the couples house.
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Back in the theaters the group stood at the front desk. Karen had explained that the concession desk was a free food market and one time booster options for single movie viewings that cost less than the arcade prizes. Those boosts could help them in entrance placement, extra strength, faster recovery, ect. again they were adjusted for the world, but they could have gotten an immunity booster for the next movie for five CP instead of the 250CP permanent boost Karen got them.
"Are you sure?" Karen asked them as they purchased their next movie. it always cost 1CP leaving them with 4CP after getting their Icee's for 5Cp that gave them peak human bodies. "It's a pretty dangerous choice for your next movie."
"We're sure, we are more excitement seekers than survivors," Akane said as she sipped on her Cherry red Icee. with a nod Karen gave them a thumbs up as she left for her next movie. Mary gave a nod before leaving to decompress in her Hotel room. Kasten smirked before tossing the two a candy bar. They each caught it and looked at him.
"I like you two, even if you're not pro harem yet" he said with a fire in his eyes. "The one ups are so we can chat again in the future, as I don't need you dying too quickly on us" he said before walking away. "Now I'm going to enjoy my harem for a bit HA HA HA."
The couple both smirked before walking to a theater and entering it for their next adventure.