[ computer(s) text / potential college computer lab action? ]

[struckout]

[ Kallie's never been the type to enjoy the first of April much, that cursed day after her birthday. Twenty-one years so far of gag gifts and flat-out birthday-themed pranks - no matter how intolerant she is of them - will do that to a girl. A cautious and frowny sort on the pseudo-holiday, she's generally pretty set on distancing herself rather than running the risk of becoming a victim.

When she absent-mindedly puts in the number that's been occupying her mind all day into her iPad between classes, at first she thinks she's stumbled onto some sort of joke- inadvertently accessing some sort of app designed to confuse.

Then she realizes that these sound like people instead of AI... and her iPad isn't connected to the internet.

Rather confused now (needless to say, a state she's reluctant to admit to herself), she simply fiddles around without replying for a while. Rereads and listens. On a slowly-growing hunch, however, it's then she tries the number on her iPhone as well. Same thing.

A few minutes later she's settled down in front of a distinctly Windows-based desktop in one of the university's computer labs. Number put in, same thing. She briefly quizzes some of the other people there over noticing anything weird, but obviously they're busy with their own things and don't know what she's talking about, so... ]

Is this some joke by the compsci dept or something? hacking into all the wireless devices on campus? I JUST got this ipad and its not even connected yet.

[ And with that she's frowning and running a hand through her dark hair, staring between both desktop and the tablet computer sitting beside it- wondering just what in the world is going on as the same messages continue showing up on both. ]

Comments

[struckout]

Not that I know of.

[ She was just kind of hoping that A) the HAHA APRIL FOOL'S announcement would finally come, or B) some so-called techie would figure it out so she could stop worrying about all her information being stolen or whatever. She's a busy college student. She doesn't have time for...

For this. She doesn't want reminders that she's probably going crazy. ]

[11ady]

What's your name?

[struckout]

[ Aaaaand again she hesitates, because even if it's already likely that this network thing must have access to whatever information is available on her personal devices... ]

I'm not saying here.

[11ady]

Then how might I know?

[struckout]

Does it really matter who I am?

[11ady]

Strangers with a shared problem can't really work to solve things together without a modicum of trust.

[struckout]

It's this net thing I don't trust. Like I said I'm not giving out any more info on here.

[ And now she's just going in circles, yes. ]

[11ady]

But if I happen to see you in person and mention this "net thing," you won't lie and deny its existence, will you? At least tell me if I should be looking for a man or a woman. No harm in that.

[struckout]

[ On one hand, weh weh clinging to suspicions. On the other... she also can't quite deny it could help to actually meet someone in person- to prove that she's not going crazy.

Or at least, that she's not the only one going crazy. ]

Fine... [ A notable pause, and then: ] Meet me AT the clocktower in 30 min. Red jacket, black skirt. Don't bring your phone or computer or whatever else.

text --> action???

[11ady]

Sure I'll be in a gray skirt suit.

[disconnect feed]

action...!

[struckout]

[ And so at the clocktower Kallie will be, a location she chose because everyone knows where it is, but most don't go right up to the structure itself. Thirty minutes gives her plenty of opportunity to ditch her things, gather her wits, and make it there with time to spare.

She's got most of her dark hair tied up, hands shoved in the pockets of said jacket... but by the time the half an hour since she spoke with the other woman has passed, she's no longer against the brick wall. Instead she's a few paces away, staring up into a nearby tree intently... ]

Re: action...!

[11ady]

You must be the mystery woman.

[Best to approach with confidence, right? Just as she said, Elle's wearing a worn grey skirt suit. It's one of the few she owns and uses for job interviews and class presentations.]

[struckout]

[ Generally Kallie doesn't care that much about what others are wearing, but it's hard for her not to notice the difference here- worn or no, that dressier outfit versus her eclectically casual skirt and jacket over knee-length shorts and sneakers. It doesn't help that her nervousness is still manifesting itself in a standoffish air.

She's quick to pull herself away from whatever she was doing to glance her over, then lifting her shoulders just very barely in a shrug. ]

Yeah, I guess.

[11ady]

Do you have a name? If you don't trust me, I can do without your real one. I just need something to call you.

[struckout]

[ Her gaze shifts- using a false name is tempting, and she's considered already doing so on the network itself, but here... ]

Kallie Raydan. You?

[11ady]

Elle Une. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[As is her custom, she extends her hand to shake.]

[struckout]

Right... [ She'll shake her hand, but clearly isn't excited about it. ] Are you a student too, or...?

[11ady]

Majoring in Marketing. I'm studying just like you.

[struckout]

[ That explains something... maybe. Kallie's never really looked into what majoring in marketing means but she has her assumptions.

The 'just like you' gets a slight grimace, however. ]

...And you're on that network... what do you think?

[11ady]

I can't say I know why but there don't seem to be many of us on there and we all seem markedly different.

[struckout]

I don't like it.

[ As if that wasn't hideously obvious from the start. She presses her lips together, lashes half hiding her eyes. ]

[11ady]

There's not much to like. It's proving to be quite the inconvenience.

[struckout]

[ Huffing a short sigh, she raises her shoulders again in another sort of irritated shrug before promptly crossing her arms. ]

'Inconvenient.' Yeah. [ She turns her face away, frowning as her voice slips from sarcasm to dark muttering. ] Safe to say this is the worst April Fool's day ye--

[ ... And then she cuts off, no further warning than the widening eyes of abrupt surprise. ]

[11ady]

I beg your pardon?

[Did she just go catatonic?]

[struckout]

[ "... This is ridiculous. Worst birthday ever."

The agitation and disbelief Kallie's already been feeling swell, as the memory of the argument fills her head, stubbornness and anger dashed in as the girl in her mind begins to cry and flees... as she steadfastly keeps her own back turned but then lashes out at the man, orders him to get out--

Then, nothing. The woman's hand goes to her chest, then to her head as she shakes it, confused by the discordant recollection of people she's sure she's never met. ]

What is going on...?