[ Text - Handwritten ]

[selfassured]

[ Derek had honestly made an attempt to forget the numbers at first. Repeating different words, different phrases. Listening to terrible songs on repeat.

Not that it had worked. He had developed an impressive headache for all of his effort though.

He gives a short sigh before giving into curiosity and scribbling the numbers down on a nearby piece of paper with a small note below them. ]

I have a feeling by this point that these numbers are important. I could do without them being the first thought on my mind though.

[ He pauses in his writing for a few moments, taking in the other lines appearing on the paper.

That wasn’t what he was expecting, at all. Although in hind-sight perhaps he should have, there were plenty of tales, mainly horror based, about text appearing after a phrase of some sort is initially written down.

This seems far less demonic though, more reminiscent of a certain worldwide network. ]

The numbers are an access code then. Looks like the standard internet has a competitor when it comes to mobile access.

Comments

[handwritten]

[detectivetroll]

No kidding. Apparently you can access this through just about anything. And so far, no ads telling me that I've won something.

[handwritten]

[selfassured]

Very convenient.

Have you received any messages asking for donations yet?

[handwritten]

[detectivetroll]

It's raised my ability to concentrate by at least ten percent, man.

Not yet. But given some of the people I've seen around here, it's only a matter of time.

[handwritten]

[selfassured]

Only ten percent?

With any luck they'll at least come up with something creative.

[handwritten]

[detectivetroll]

Hey, I'm a pretty focused guy. There wasn't much to raise in the first place.

Wait until you meet the guy who talks to fish. He'll probably start asking for money to fund his sunken treasure hunting expedition or something.

[handwritten]

[selfassured]

So, what is your total percentage at now?

A guy who talks to fish. My guess would be on trying to build a replica of Atlantis.

[handwritten]

[detectivetroll]

I'd say over a hundred, but I'm still not entirely sure that all of this doesn't just mean I'm crazy, so I'll get back to you.

Of course, why didn't I think of that? Then he'll be able to live among the fish.

[handwritten]

[selfassured]

If you were crazy, all of us would either be a figment of your imagination or crazy along with you.

Given this talk about a fish-obsessed guy, I wouldn't rule out the latter.

[handwritten]

[detectivetroll]

I haven't ruled out either possibility yet. Do you think all of this is legit?

text {iphone}

[ursoreckless]

welcome to the secret numbers club. here, have some things that others have found out about the club: [[FAQs]]. if there's any questions don't ask me, i'm just as confused as everyone else. just be glad no one's trying to get you into spandex yet.

text

[selfassured]

Thank you for that.

Why is someone trying to put people into spandex though?

text

[ursoreckless]

they think we need superhero identities and masks and spandex costumes.

text

[selfassured]

Is there a particular reason why they think that? Or are they just hoping superpowers work that way.

text

[ursoreckless]

i think they just read too many superhero comics or something and think that since we're supposed guardians of the earth that we need to have the whole superhero gig.

text

[selfassured]

If they really want to do that, might as well let them. It could be worth watching.

I can think of several things i'd personally rather do than run around in brightly coloured underwear though.

text

[ursoreckless]

i just hope they don't convince a bunch of otherwise sane people to join them.

i never could understand why they wear underwear outside of the spandex.

text

[selfassured]

Nothing anyone can do if they actually manage to recruit people. Regardless of whether those people are otherwise sane or not.

To attract attention is my only guess.

[ video ]

[fatherssins]

[ Adrian was not prone to communicating on the network with the video up-link, but after having just sent a video message to another new user he didn't feel inclined to switch to another media. He's a pretty man, to be sure, but there are elements to him which show that he's male; his voice being the most obvious for the time being. ]

It's not exactly standard.

[ text ]

[selfassured]

[ Derek of course, can't make things a little more even on the communication method difference, so he rather stubbornly sticks to writing. Even though the more experimental part of his mind is wondering whether a mirror would work now.

To be fair, he's seen a lot of different people in the past. A wide variation to the point where he's not going to assume someone else's gender from voice alone. ]

This isn't, no. A normal network connection would be.

[fatherssins]

There have been so many new people recently...

[ That was more or less Adrian voicing his thoughts, rather than anything directed at the other speaker ]

Do you need any information? I mean--I'm not particularly good at this sort of thing but maybe I can help?

[selfassured]

[ Derek just files that little bit of information way for later. What can you really say to something like that without a little bit of background knowledge? ]

Sure. Why don't you start with telling me what you think I need to know.

[fatherssins]

[ He hesitates before answering ]

Alright, let's see... well, I suppose it's worth knowing that the number you have is unique and connects you to everyone here on this network. It's also probably good to know that most people who know this place experience... changes.

They're not always bad, I think.

[selfassured]

Changes? That aren't 'always' bad but, could be.

I'm honestly not sure whether to call that ominous or unbelievable.

[ It really does sound like a joke someone made up one day. Go to a city, experience some sort of life changing event. ]

What sort of changes?

[fatherssins]

[ A notable (as well as pretty dismayed or sad) sigh, people always asked that question and the only way to answer it was to show people, which was equally as unpleasant. ]

Some of my teeth fell out, and less than two hours later, grew back. And they looked... different.

I can show you if you want, I suppose.

[selfassured]

Different.

[ Of course the obvious question would be different 'how' but, Derek holds back on that response for the time being. ]

You could. But you don't really want to, do you?