[Text | Computer]

[healspec]

[Ravi is attempting to do an internet search on the numbers through his browser, but the combined address/search bar means it logs him in to the network like a URL as soon as he hits enter.]

[He goes still and stares at it for a moment. This is not what he expected.]

[He spends a minute skimming back through posts, trying to get an idea of what this even is. It looks kind of like a reddit? Double-checks the URL, it's still that string of numbers without even an http:// in front. He opens google in a new tab and searches the number directly. The results page shows every result as a link to an individual post on the same network. ]

[Staring again.]

[Back to the first tab. More skimming.]

[Hmm.]

[Well it looks like posting is anonymous, so...]


This can't really be the internet.

There's not enough cat pictures.

Comments

[text;ipad]

[amberhearted]

[ meanwhile, less than 20 feet away ]

We're working on it

[Text]

[healspec]

[separated by a wall, tho]

Is there a deadline?

[text]

[amberhearted]

[ AN INNOCENT WORD, but he thinks of 'dead' in deadline as it may pertain to certain aliens or whatever who want them dead

perhaps by a deadline??? ]

I hope not. No pay no benefits

[Text]

[healspec]

There's your problem, then.

[amberhearted]

I sense great waves of sympathy rolling off you

[Text]

[healspec]

No pay no benefits, in this economy? I am very sympathetic.

Maybe you need to unionize.

[amberhearted]

That'd be great. I'd like to start with not being on some evil syndicate's shitlist

[Text]

[healspec]

[what.]

What?

[amberhearted]

Didn't you read the FAQ they linked it

Objective: read the FAQ. Reward: cat picture

[healspec]

I read it already. It says don't trust the police, but it says nothing about evil syndicates.

[he already knew not to trust cops tyvm it's called being brown]

[amberhearted]

[ oh. really?? goodness, he can't remember. maybe he should read it again.

delay in reply as he snatches the first cat he sees -- adhi -- and catnaps him into his room. an extremely offended cat and a few minutes later is a picture of adhi, held up with one paw on his stomach and the other held up with his torso jut to the side like he's striking a disco pose.

the only part of alex in the picture is his torso, but that is irrelevant. ]

Level 2: find the post about Gardeners. I think it was this week or last

[Action]

[healspec]

[FORGET LEVEL 2]

[THAT IS HIS CAT, HIS ROOMMATE'S BEDROOM, AND HIS ROOMMATE.]

[Alex, you just got your door thrown open by your roommate and now he is standing there in the doorway staring at you.]

[Adhirat bolts out of the room. Ravi spares him a glance, and then back to staring at Alex. Just. What the fuck, bro?]

[amberhearted]

[ sitting on his bed, leaning against the wall, alex shrieks visibly jumps when the door is thrown open. he gives ravi a wide-eyed, unsure smile.

what the fuck yourself, dude! ]

What?

[Text again]

[healspec]

[......... no this is too ridiculous]

[he turns away and leaves, shuts the door behind him]

[but he goes back to his computer, stares at the picture of Adhi for a second, and then grabs his phone and goes out to the living room. Adhi is furiously grooming on the couch (the cat is v offended Alex)]

[Ravi takes a picture, and posts it to the network in reply to Alex's picture.]

[action]

[amberhearted]

[ ?!?!?!

alex stares at his closed door, utterly baffled -- until he returns his attention to the network. then his eyes go wide again. for a moment, all he does is stare dumbly at his ipad's screen.

ravi, on the network? ravi, in the secrets number club?

alex doesn't have to keep it a secret from him anymore?! ]

Vin! [ called from his room, but he's throwing his legs off the side of the bed just as well, hurrying into the living room, ipad at his side. ]

Holy shit, man, I wondered if you'd ever get one.

[healspec]

[he looks up when he hears his name, but stays where he is because it becomes clear very quickly that Alex is coming to him.]

Get one what?

[amberhearted]

A number. Can't leave your head?

[healspec]

Ah. [yes, that is a thing he has]

[pause, glances down at his phone, then pockets it]

How long did you know about this?

[amberhearted]

Uh... [ vague feeling of being in trouble. he rubs the back of his neck. ] Two months? About?

[ but not even that vague unease can topple his budding excitement. he no longer has to hide anything from ravi. he can be perfectly open about all the weird shit happening, both with the network and with himself. his teeth, his 'memories' -- especially the ones ravi was in, older, with shorter hair, in a very different time period...

he hasn't realized that means ravi faces the same threat as everyone else with a number, though. it'll come. ]

[healspec]

[Ravi just stares at him for a second. And yes, it is a "you're in trouble" sort of stare.]

The fangs?

[that Alex tried to play off as both of them seeing things, EXCEPT THEY WERE STILL THERE EXCUSE YOU]

[amberhearted]

[ cringe. ]

Yyyyyeaaah... They're from... [ he spins his finger around, looking at the wall. ] This.

Sorry. That I didn't tell you, I mean.

[healspec]

Mmhm.

[obviously he is not quite pleased w/that answer.]

[but man, would he even have believed Alex if Alex did try to tell him? he barely even believes it NOW.]

[there is something else, though]

And the warnings?

[amberhearted]

[ his eyes turn to the ceiling. ] Thaaaaaat was 'cause of the trap at the mines that you'll definitely see if you read back enough.

[ he bites down on his lower lip, rubbing his neck again. his hand settles on the front, almost like he's choking himself, but this is something he does all the time. ]

So this guy was just chilling there, right? And some folks find him and he tells them he's the fucking 'Sage of the Earth' [ quotes audible ] and he's gonna finally tell us all what the fuck is going on. That's really fucking great because we don't know what the fuck, but he won't do it unless more of us meet him in person. So we go.

Then he kinda says some bull I'm not sure is even real, and keels over. Then we get attacked by crazy bats and Its. That's why.

[healspec]

[he folds his arms and straightens to listen]

[hm yes that strangely familiar voice did mention cousin-Its, not the bats tho, and he did say something about a mine. also there was a video link to something about that in the FAQ but he hasn't watched it yet.]

So I shouldn't be an idiot who falls for obvious traps, noted.

[amberhearted]

[ ouch. he glares at ravi. ]

You try going two months not knowing why you're suddenly sprouting fangs and remembering things that've never happened to you, jackass.