Your name is Johan.

It is a name you gave yourself.

And you are a taxi driver.

It's all you've known. At least, it was all you'd known until recently.

A chill creeped down your back as you looked around the place. It made you memember what you'd forgotten--for a split second. And then it was gone. All you've been through recently, and all the places you've been to, the people you've met, and the experiences you've felt: From forgetting everything you've ever known, to surviving murderers and carnivals and fires, to strange dream-like mazes and sinewy shadows.

And through it all you've decided to, instead of looking over things alone, you've decided to make friends and involved them in your life. It couldn't be a bad thing, right?

A glance at the mime next to you--Mimi was her name, and she was a person that you had become extremely close to in the past few days--told you that you were in good company. She frowns as she returns the glance.

Around you, beside you, sitting in chairs, some casually eating and drinking, were the people you could call friends. Maybe you're being too generous here, considering how the Noirs were undoubtedly strange--but acting, dressing, and talking like they'd just come out of some detective movies didn't seem to help their case. Meanwhile, Jeremy--the paranormal seeker and local gym rat--had only been recently met a couple of days ago, and was interacted with for only a fraction of that time.

That same chill from before became a numbness in your thoughts, and then began to fade away. Not completely, since you had the ghost of an idea that seemed to be more like you'd recalled. Though it would be more accurate to say that you didn't recall anything new from what happened from before you'd subsequently forgotten about everything. And that was fine by you--considering you had a policy of waiting and watching and accepting any memory that you happened to chance upon you. But still, you couldn't help but smile at the thought of having all of these friends alongside you, potentially supporting you and getting your support.

"Are you alright?" The pantomimicry of Mimi silently conveys to you. "This is the second time you've spaced out."

"I'm alright." You reassured her. Your words, and her silent concern, seemed to go without acknowledgement in the table.

This was because the others were discussing what to do about Hotel Oasis--which was your current place of residence.

"Say, we ain't never did get to go to the big fish's office. Why don't you three sneak in there with the info we gave ya, see?" Mike said.

Of the Noirs, thought with their leader Jamesfield still missing, most supported double-checking everything and making sure all ends were closed and dealt with. To this end, it was suggested that you and/or Jeremy make a quick search of the place, as well as conversing with the staff there in order to see if anything suspicious was happening.

They all attempted to do this once, and got banned from the hotel for their troubles. It wasn't as though their actions were meaningless, since they were able to find the "blind spots" (as Mike put it) of the cameras at the hotel, effectively evading their gaze, in addition to finding many sensitive documents about the hotel itself.

There was always the risk of finding nothing or finding out too much, but you felt like the Noirs were interested in bring able to tie up a few mysteries that happened there; the one's coming to mind being the mysterious destruction of the gym and the fact that the hotel staff were all clearly in with hiding something.

"Yo, bros, we should, like, first take a look at the video Johan swiped." Jeremy proposed.

Jeremy however seemed more inclined to first watch that recording you brought; making sure that what you'd seen wasn't a 'Mara', as he called the strange sinewy shadows that threatened to attack you, though why he called them that escaped your understanding, and instead a completely natural phenomenon. There was no time limit to this, but you knew that Jamesfield would appreciate it more if he was included. Aubrey, who until recently you'd only known as 'The Lady', suggested with her unfortunately shrill and grating voice that you all wait until he became available.

"This is fine and all. But it doesn't feel like we're on a time limit." Shapes noted.

Lastly, recommended both by Shapes and to your surprise Albin, was the recommendation that you simply put a rain check on it and went to other topics. Apparently the Noirs were able to find something in the ruins of the carnival--though they kept extremely quiet about the details. Which was unsurprising considering you were all still at Dan's Bar and Grill, with the sounds of chatter from other customers surrounding you all despite the relatively remote location the Noirs picked for themselves in this place.

Eventually, you all come to a conclusion.

>Go around Hotel Oasis with Jeremy and Mimi.
>Watch that recording you brought with them all. You wanted to get it out of the way.
>Put a rain check on it and talk about a different topic.
>Write-in.

Welcome back to One Life. A quest that was originally intended to be a one-shot but is now on it's seventh thread.
Updates will come eventually, I'll aim to make them in less than a week. Unfortunately it likely won't be on a daily basis, since I've been extremely busy and getting tired more easily lately.

Previous threads:
Thread 1: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2024/6013758/
Thread 2: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2024/6050129/
Thread 3: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2024/6089875/
Thread 4: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2024/6130126/
Thread 5: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2025/6169408/
Thread 6: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2025/6209337/

>>6258692
>Watch that recording you brought with them all. You wanted to get it out of the way.

>>6258692
>Watch that recording you brought with them all. You wanted to get it out of the way.
Might as well get their thoughts while we wait.

Welcome back, QM!

>>6258793
>>6258988
>As The Record Shows

Writing. Sorry for the wait, I'll try to get out the update tonight.

>>6264281
Woo, we're back!

I'm still alive! Again I apologize about the wait.

----

You all decide to watch the recording.

Rather, that is what the conversation led to. Naturally, there was some interest in the subject.

And by your own words--though you only gave the discussion a few cursory pushes--it was agreed to watch the recordings you 'borrowed' from the hotel.

To follow this act, you went about using one of the rooms in the back of this restaurant that you hadn't heard of. It wasn't often utilized and, at least according to Albin, was intended as a sort of control room for a television set that was supposed to be scrapped. It now served as a storage room.

Ryan was sought after and found, the bartender wiping another empty glass as the orders began to lull for the moment.

"Ryan, bud," Shapes began with a smile "could you lend us that room in the back?"

"Good morning to you as well, lad" Ryan huffed "ye will need to be more specific of that."

"The room with the busted T.V." Mike returned.

"I would nae call it 'busted', just not good fer constant use" Ryan said "I dinae know if Dingo would take well to using the room. Especially after everything that went on, so."

"Then as a favor for us" Albin said "You know we've done no harm, you know?"

"Aye, I know," however Ryan still seemed hesitant "but I still believe Dingo will nae like it."

"Even if it might shed some light on what happened here with the basement?" you added.

To this, Ryan grunted, but seemed to finally acquiesce. A small button was pressed under the table, which followed a small keypad becoming available, into which a code was pressed. Somewhat excessive for a mere key in in a storage area. But you could understand the need for security.

And with that, after passing through a door into a hall then another door, the seven of you enter the room and get the things set up.

"Say," the Lady said "has it always been this dark around here?"

Now that she mentioned it, it was rather dark.

"Must be some budget cuts" Shapes replied.

"A cloud, most likely" the Lady added to his thought.

"Let's get this movie started, bros" said Jeremy.

"A movie, eh?" Mike glanced at him, then at the recording, with a questioning look.

Mimi poked your side. You found her face to hold some slight worry, though it wasn't enough to break down her impish nature.

"I have a bad feeling for some reason." Was what was written on her demeanor.

"Don't worry," you reassured "I'm sure

But soon that didn't seem to matter -- a distinct sound was heard from the old television. Albin said something, the screen turned to static, and, feeling like you just got a migraine, you saw the world turn dark before everything seemed to lose focus.

To your surprise, you didn't pass out. Nor did you feel tired, or anything of that nature.

From the television screen, you saw a small creature appear. It looked at you, and you at it.

[1/3]

>>6265500
You held no fear towards it, and you knew that this was a an old friend. Though you couldn't say why.

"GOODDAYGOODEVENINGGOODNIGHT" It said.

"Hello" though the logical part wanted to shout, you felt like you had no emotions to run through as everything else felt dull. It was amusing, if anything.

"TAKE" it said "TAKETAKETAKE"

A strange item appeared before you. It was there, but it was not. Although you were sure it was somewhere, you weren't certain it was here.

The confusion you felt slowly began to vanish as things suddenly made some sense. Physically speaking, the creature had some sort of arm that grew out of the screen, and upon it was a top that was spinning. It slowed, and slowly you realized it wasn't a top--but a golden nail.

It began to lose its gleam, tarnishing like silver and then rusting like iron before crumbling into nothing except a needle. The creature held this item between its index finger and thumb, then pointing at you.

You knew what it wanted to do.

A drop of blood for a safe travel.

Let it have a drop?

>Accept it. It's an old friend, no?
>Reject it. It would be madness to accept.
>Do nothing. All you must do is watch.
>Write-in (?)

Eventually the arm, which only now you notice had many eyes on it, retracted into the static of the screen.

Curious about why none of the others commented on these things, you find that time seemed to have slowed or at least stopped.

The world was a monochrome of grey and black, but slowly regained its color.

"I get whacha meant, Johan. That was a weird little shadow in the tape, see?" Mike said.

"It may have been a trick of the light," the Lady, Aubrey, reasoned, "or it could be an issue with the recording itself. These things are sorta finicky."

"Still, it was an interesting watch" Shapes said "except for the part where your blankets almost strangled you. That was disturbing."

Mimi, with a few nods of her head, silently agreed with that part. She then shivered before she turned to you, and immediately realized something was up.

"Yo... what?" Jeremy seemed somewhat confused about something as he looked back and forth "did you guys feel some sort of chill?"

"No, not really" Shapes said, soon getting the nearly unanimous agreement with that statement. All except Mimi, who frowned in assertion and you, who had just experienced something odd.

"I tend to be sensitive to cold in my age" Albin said "but I couldn't feel anything change."

[2/3]

>>6265501
You were doing a pretty good job at not panicking. You had prior experience with keeping calm in stressful situations. Not to mention it is the correct thing to do.

"Should we watch it again?" Shapes asked to none in particular "Just to make sure we didn't miss anything."

A few voices began to agree with him.

[3/3]

>Don't say anything and let the recording play again. You appreciated the recollection if nothing else.
>"Jeremy, Mimi? Can I talk to you both for a few moments outside?" You wanted to tell them about what just happened.
>"You guys can keep the tape. I'm sure Jamesfield would want to watch it." You just wanted to get out of this room with everyone else as fast as possible.
>Write-in.

>>6265501
>Accept it. It's an old friend, no?
This is how I feel accepting but fuck it, whatever.
>>6265503
>"Jeremy, Mimi? Can I talk to you both for a few moments outside?" You wanted to tell them about what just happened.

>>6265501
>Accept it. It's an old friend, no?
Who doesn't want to travel safely? Plus, none of the other mara creeps (if that's what this is) have been so kind as to ask before trying to extract our blood.

>>6265503
>"Jeremy, Mimi? Can I talk to you both for a few moments outside?" You wanted to tell them about what just happened.

>>6265519
>>6265753
>Journey For An Old Friend
>Talk With Your New Friends

Writing.

Or that is what I'd usually say, except that I've come to announce that unfortunately One Life is going to go on a hiatus due to real life problems and responsibilities. I can't promise I'll return before September, since by then I'll definitely have some more free time, but I'll try to make this take less than two months if possible, and return with a new thread.

See you guys until then!

>>6266104
Needless to say, I don't intend on flaking. I'm committed to finishing this quest. It's been something that's always been on the back of my mind every single day, and something that I write about in any free time I have. It's story will be told here, I can promise that.

>>6266104
The year is 2037…One Life #1209 has been released…gas prices are up by 4% this month.
Kidding, kidding. Sorry to hear that QM and I hope that to see this resumed at some point. This is a good quest.

Thanks for the memories, this was fun.

Also a reminder to archive things.

>>6266104
Alas. Well, keep your eyes peeled on the thread -- I commissioned something for you.

just a little longer

Completed, by the artist "Ms Eve"!

>>6273104
The QM Without A Name wanted to reply, but he's away from computers atm and will probably stay that way for a while longer. But anyway he wrote to thank you so much for commissioning the art.
He also asked if he could use it as the starting image thing for his next thread.

>>6274038
Yeah, for sure! And here's a grayscale.