savetheearth | 001 ✮ text

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001 ✮ text

[ The whole thing was completely unbelievable, there was no doubt about that. Who would've thought that typing random numbers into your phone after a search for cough syrup would turn up an untraceable network filled with what looked like bunch of crazy people? At least, calling them "crazy" seemed like the most likely conclusion. It occurs to him that he really should be doing his job, but sheer curiosity kept him looking through the posts.

Besides, it could all be related to his assignment. Somehow (okay, that was maybe reaching just a little, but what exactly can a guy do?). So, he begins to type on his phone, not quite sure what sort of person will turn up. ]

So let me guess: This is all an elaborate viral advertising campaign for cough syrup, right?

[ Well crap. Sarcasm doesn't quite translate that well through text, now does it? Still, it seemed like the better option than broadcasting either his face or voice, where (to the right person) he might as well just say "FBI agent here! Ask me about my entire life". ]

Unless any of you have a better explanation. Because from where I'm sitting, cough syrup advertising still looks a lot more likely than "aliens" and "robots".

[ Still, as they always say, sometimes "the truth is stranger than fiction". ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Excuse me, please. [Unsure whether to speak for the "us", as in "this network itself" or not.] One of us made a guide to what we know about what this is. I cannot show you myself, but one of the others most likely will... Until then, we normally suggest writing down the number that you used to access this by hand. You will notice something that you otherwise wouldn't have.

Edited 2013-12-29 17:55 (UTC)

[ Well that was fast. It also looked like the person used some sort of custom font too. Nothing too out of the ordinary, after all lots of people make their own custom fonts.

Still, he begins to look for a pen and a piece of paper, even as he continues texting. He might as well just play along for the time being, since the whole thing seemed relatively... benign. Come to think of it, he probably inadvertently stumbled across an RP server or something like that. And if things started to get too weird and uncomfortable... well, he could always report it to his superior. After all, he had the access code (that had apparently just... popped into his head). ]

Right. A "guide". So why can't you just show me yourself?

[He would be defeating his own purpose in being vague if he wrote that it was due to the method he was using, wouldn't he, try it this way - ] I am not sure if I will be able to link it from where I am currently... I apologize. If I was able, then I promise that I would.

[ On the other line, Gerald's still looking for a pen. You'd think that someone would be able to.

But, that last text catches his eye, and perhaps out of a bit of concern, he replies before starting his search anew. ]

...You're not in trouble, are you?

Edited (lol oops coding) 2013-12-29 18:24 (UTC)

[Anthony does a double-take at that response. Reels back to his own last response and to this one and just withholds writing down "What makes you ask?" as that'd certainly look suspicious, if suspicion was the spirit behind the typists, at a current loss as to on which technicalities to give an honest answer - ]

That has nothing to do with why I can't link you the guide... I'm sorry! [He has no idea whether that was the right placement of an additional "sorry" assuming there was a right placement, wrote that down semi-compulsively.] It's only due to how I am connecting.

[ And success! Finally, after minutes of laid back searching, he finds himself a pen, and resolves to write down the numbers on the paper after this last reply.

Because while he might have just asked on instinct (after all, the reason he joined the beareau in the first place was to help people), he was actually beginning to feel genuinely curious.

And concern might come later. ]

You mean to say that you're in trouble, but it has nothing to do with this network or this "guide" or why you can't show it to me?

[ He almost wants to throw in a "you can trust me", but given the circumstances, that seems highly unlikely. ]

[Ah, heavens, what did he say to make the question first come up - in any case - at a loss for how to answer that as well but any honest answer would necessitate pointing to the network and-or to the guide, and that'd seem - counterintuitive until assurance of the legitimacy of things has been established.]

I can explain once you have written it down. I apologize, again. [He'd rather not be the one to go into explaining things on no framework if the guide's not presented by then but if it helps well then it helps...]

[ So finally he finishes writing those damn numbers down (though really, he was much more curious about the cryptic text messages), and shrugs it off, about to go back to his phone.

But he notices he disconnected. Well that was convenient (and random). Frowning, he goes back to the piece of paper, to get the number he used again.

And as he does so, he decides that he really should've gotten more sleep last night because he's pretty sure he's hallucinating. ]

[ He blinks a few times. Then he blinks some more.

Still there.

Baffled at his apparent... lapse in sanity he scribbles something down in his bold handwriting. ]

...WELL. THAT'S DIFFERENT.

[ understatement of the year. ]

[Success!]

It is! I first found this network by "calling" it. I am writing to you by hand now... That's why I was unsure if I would be able to send you the guide.

Edited (I am picky at the oddest times.) 2013-12-29 21:32 (UTC)

[ "Success" is really in the eye of the beholder. Gerald almost thinks that he's somehow dreaming.

Except everything is definitely too real. ]

DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW IT WORKS?

[ Because this is like no technology he's ever seen before.

Unfortunately, no... I don't think that anyone knows if whoever created it is here. Some of us have suggested that it is similar to telepathy, since no one who cannot access it themselves can see what is on it... I am aware of how that sounds, but several of us have learned to do abnormal things. [Perfectly non-indicative but he'll try to be ginger about as much as he's prompted to give this time - and doesn't know if even that was ginger enough.]

[ You know what. This is too weird for him. There's a minute or so of silence as he disconnects, and re-connects back onto his phone.

At least there is a device that should be able to connect to a network. Not... a piece of paper. ]

What sorts of abnormal things?

[ And at this point, he really has no idea what to expect. ]

[He pauses dithering.

Squeezing the pen.

He has no idea what would pass for sufficiently abnormal without being too far fetched.

In-tact facial muscles pull a little tighter on his end, figuratively sucks it up, at least the paper trial worked, he hadn't questioned the allusion to telepathy, takes a shot - ]

My best friend can "shape-shift". I learned two languages that I have not studied (all at once). A man using this can speak to fish. [Those are the examples most readily coming to mind describable that seem to fit the previous phrasing of "learning things" that he can think of a way to phrase that's not downright clumsy.]

[ It's really a miraculous thing how quickly Gerald's day progressed from "boringly normal" to "I really have no idea what exactly is going on with my life". Part of him still believes that he'll go to bed and this will all just be a dream, but the other part of him knows otherwise.

Still, he's not quite sure if he can trust anyone on here, but it's not like he has much of another option right at this moment. ]

So let me get this straight. You're saying that because I found this network, I too could become a fish shapeshifter?

[ Seriously. He cannot believe he actually typed those words. ]

[Please don't let that have been a medium-veiled scoff...]

No. It would have occurred anyway. We have [Not that of course it's going to exactly the one texting put it! And from there it's difficult to elaborate without using the word "pulse" or "echo" - ] the experiences that cause the [Descriptive blanket phrase.] abnormal things whether or not we use the numbers... The first one teaches us them.

[ Maybe it was. Or it was somewhere in between a scoff and coping with all of this through sarcasm. ]

The thing was, nothing abnormal really happened to me, though.

If nothing happened, then know that it may later. If something happened that didn't stand out, then [He's unsure whether to call it bad luck, good luck, or something else, think.] it may seem more meaningful later. There is a pattern to what each of us experiences.

And I take it you're speaking from experience?

[ You see that, right there? It truly is a testament to his powers of deduction. ]

Really, all that happened was me throwing my voice out. I give it a week or two, and I'm sure it'll be fine.

If it isn't, then that may be it. [Perhaps a snap-answer but it sparks his curiosity partly due to the mention of it as a thing that did happen at the time and that it's mentioned as such without the context.

And he figuratively reverses to acknowledge the first line - ] Also, that's correct, sir. [Use of "sir" safely settled based on cursory check-through the bits of voice elsewhere to responses to this message - and with that he does think he detects why the matter of his voice would have been one to stand out even without the context of the aforementioned throwing-out.]

Edited 2013-12-30 19:29 (UTC)

Perpetual laryngitis. I can't say that ranks up there with "shapeshifting".

And please, don't call me "sir".

[ It's not even an overly formal setting, and hell, and it makes him feel much older than just 28. ]

[Small twitch of what's left of his mouth - would've been more of an apologetic flinch were it face to face, but alas noted - ]

I understand. Please excuse me... [And back to the previous - momentarily catches in a neutral figurative lightbulb-off that the shapeshifter alluded to'd gotten a distinctly on its own apparently irrelevant nuisance pulse before the shapeshifting had come in, but now that's not his to share.] Several of us had underwhelming pulses before anything extreme. What happens is frequently related to what we are doing at the time... They are "triggered."

And what exactly "triggers" these things?

[ Because... if he's going to put two and two together...

Well. now's as good of a time as any.

[Lack of exactitude for the sake of one renders it difficult to give any answer that deserves confidence.]

They often trigger in danger or when performing actions. It is difficult to tell what may cause one until it has happened... Once I was being taught how to use a sword, and I had one. A different sword appeared in my hand. [His go-to example from experience, with a moment's hesitation before the last sentence - has no idea if he's treading anywhere nearly lightly enough.]

Right.

So, theoretically, how exactly would "an argument with someone" link up to "laryngitis"?

[ If he's going to try and believe this, that's really the only obvious connection. ]

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