[ laptop / text ]

[allinvein]

[You know how it sometimes helps to write stuff down when you've got too much on your mind? Well, there's this number, see, that's been plaguing John for a while now, and he figures, "Hey, maybe it'll go away if I just jot it down somewhere." If nothing else, if it's written down, he'll still have it in the case that he forgets it--highly unlikely, but let a man dream!

Anyway, the result of scribbling down said number on a post-it note ends up with him awkwardly scrolling on that tiny pad of paper for a few minutes before he gets pissed off at the resolution size and switches over to a bigger piece of paper, then over to his phone, and finally to his laptop. It's been about an hour now since he started reading (or rather, skimming over posts while stuck somewhere between disbelief and amusement), and John's finally decided to join the fray.]

You know, I'd be tempted to write this whole thing off as a really bad joke, but I could've sworn I saw some mentions of people I actually know on this thing. I suppose they could be in on whatever this is as well, and if they are, I'm definitely going to be asking who switched out my post-it notes for the iPhone seventy or whatever number they're on now.

But it doesn't feel right. People pretending to be other people--real people--on the internet? Sounds a bit too much like fraud to be fun. So what's going on here? Anyone feel like filling me in on the whole story? I'd be here for days if I tried reading everything.

[As he stares at what he's just written up, John wonders, "Christ, I haven't just stumbled upon some secret forum run by crazy people, have I?" Hm, maybe he shouldn't have posted anything. Oh well, too late now.]

Comments

[text; iphone]

[amberhearted]

Six degrees of separation yeah? There's a guide around. Try looking through the more recent ???? posts like yours someone's bound to have linked it

[ like regina's post, perhaps? this is the guide he's referring to. ]

[text; laptop]

[allinvein]

And here I was hoping someone would tell me I'd just found a LARP group. Or is it D&D? Something of that sort. Anyway, thanks. I'll give it a look.

[A couple minutes later, there's another message:]

I feel like I should be asking about the paranormal stuff going on, but something's just bothering me. Do you have to get something back when you get the number?

[Because John doesn't feel like he has. Chalk it up to denial.]

text4eva

[amberhearted]

[ "have to"? alex ponders that for a bit. ]

Idk. That's the trend I think? I got a memory

[allinvein]

A memory. And how does that work? You remembered something you'd forgotten? From when you were a kid, for instance?

[amberhearted]

In my case no. I remembered something that looked like it took place in medieval times. You didn't get something?

[ renaissance would be more accurate, but alex sure as hell ain't a history buff. ]

[Texted]

[espigeonage]

lol, it does sometimes feel like this town is a lot smaller than it really is. The newbie guide can be found via this elegant and finely-crafted link!

Welcome, if that's the word.

[ text / laptop]

[allinvein]

Thanks for the welcome, I suppose?

Interesting to see that some people choose to keep themselves anon. What's the etiquette here though? Sure, the guide says it's your choice to reveal yourself, but I don't exactly want to come across as an ass.

[espigeonage]

Well, there doesn't seem to be much etiquette! People do what they want, I haven't seen anyone pushing anyone else to reveal who they are. I don't like to do voice or video, I'm a little distinctive, but I'm fine with people knowing my first name. That would be Julien!

[allinvein]

[Oh, hey, he knows a Julien. Probably not the same one, but whatever.]

Glad to hear people aren't pushing for reveals. I'm still not entirely convinced that this isn't part of some giant conspiracy theory. ;)

Anyway, Julien, it's nice to meet you. I'm John. I know, I know--it's a very generic name, but I promise, it's not an alias.

[espigeonage]

Lol, you might not be that far off! We're a conspiracy now, sort of.

That's fine! Some people actually have to have the names for them to be generic, right?

[Text | Handwritten]

[scramasax]

I don't think that any of us are sure what's going on. Many of us have been trying to explain it, but we do not know a lot more than what is in the guide.

[All the same he'll write in just in case there's anything he can say...]

[Text | Laptop]

[allinvein]

Hey, I'm glad someone's compiling this stuff at all. That's more initiative than I would've had.

How long's this entire... thing been going on anyway?

[scramasax]

So am I!

I am not sure, but if I'm right, then things became as odd as they are now in April. Some of us had our first "pulse" experiences (that happen with our visions and changes) earlier than then, but they have also been more frequent since April.

[allinvein]

April? Christ, it's been a while then.

Is there any rhyme or reason to when you get these pulses? Or is it just whenever fate decides to throw one to you?

[scramasax]

[Pause to consider how to put this...]

I think that it is caused. They tend to come when we are in danger or carrying out actions.

Once, I had a pulse while someone was teaching me how to use a sword. A new sword appeared from nothing in my hand.

video {iphone}

[ursoreckless]

[Shou doesn't care about people knowing his face or hearing his voice, hence why he's in video mode. He's also in the middle of something so video is much easier to talk while working on some sheet music.]

Welcome to the secret numbers club. Someone passed you the newbie guide, right?

[allinvein]

[You know, John should probably open with something like, "Thanks for the welcome!" or "Yes, I've been shown the newbie guide already." Instead of that, however, he starts with this instead:]

Hey! I know you!

[Never mind the fact that he's more or less still an anon typing away on his computer.]

[ursoreckless]

[laughing a little because he's been running into people he knows on this thing. must be sort of catching.]

I hope it's a good thing, otherwise you might be talking about my evil twin.

[allinvein]

Well, I wouldn't know about that, but I do know you enjoy your Starbucks about as much as I do.

It's John. :) Hopefully you don't know a lot of them because it could get awkward otherwise.

[ursoreckless]

I think they have a chair reserved for me at the one.

Well, there does seem to be a lot of Johns in America, but I think I might know you.

[ text ]

[fatherssins]

I never know what to say when people post things like this. I guess "welcome" just sounds strange.

There are people here who can explain this place better than me, but suffice to say that you're different, and that's why you're here.

[allinvein]

Different. Do you mean that in a good or bad way?

Either way, thanks for the welcome. The people on here have been decent enough thus far.

[fatherssins]

I think it depends, some people have had some really strange experiences here (myself included)!

People here are surprisingly nice, I mean, I don't know if I really fit in to this network but everyone seems pretty caring.

[allinvein]

Would you mind expanding on the strange experiences bit? Just so I can have an idea about what I might be facing in the near future.

And why do you say you might not fit in? You seem like a decent enough fellow. :)

[fatherssins]

Maybe it'd be easier if I just show you.

[ Minutes later the camera turns on and Adrian is on show, he is an impossibly pretty person but his voice gives him away to be a man. His accent is clearly British, and he has a clear and enunciated diction. He seems awkward in showing himself, and even more so when he pulls back his upper lip to show a set extremely sharp-looking canines. ]

A week or so ago some teeth fell out, and these grew back in a matter of hours. They're... pretty awful-looking, and obvious, or perhaps they're just obvious to me?

[ He pauses before adding ]

I don't think I'm like everyone else here, they all seem so "contented", even in the most dire of situations. [ He shakes his head ] Sorry, I'm not phrasing it very well at all, I-- [ No, he decides he won't burden anyone with his issues and he tries to smile. Pleasing as the expression is there is a great sadness that remains in his eyes ] --I didn't even introduce myself, sorry. I'm Adrian.