[text]

[unfearing]

Hello, everyone!

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been doing a bit of reading on your archives (which I apologize if are intended to be private in any way) and it seems to me that we're all in the same predicament.

I've also taken the liberty of filling myself in on the Paul Ben incident. I can understand that tension must be high at the moment in the wake of that. This has raised a few questions for me personally.

First and foremost, how secure do we believe this network to be? There have been no direct consequences so far that I can tell, but it's possible that this is a false sense of security we are being led into. At the same time, I do not feel that being too paranoid will serve us well in the long run.

Furthermore, I have seen a great deal of note-trading between members of this forum, but I didn't notice any attempt thus far at a centralized database. I do strongly believe that it will be beneficial for all of us to have a cohesive compilation of everything we individually know so that we might cross-reference it and begin to search for patterns and clues.

Unfortunately this draws me back to my previous concern. Because we do not know how secure this network is or who we can even trust, consolidating our knowledge poses a considerable risk. That said, I believe the risks are well worth what we could learn, provided we entrust this project in the right hands.

This must be very confusing for everyone involved, but it's more important now than ever that we help one another.

If you have any questions to ask of me at all, please do not hesitate. Thank you all for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Comments

[unfearing]

Isn't it? I was quite shocked. I've been given trouble over my father before, but certainly never in such a petty way.

[ She gives a sigh at that, then shakes her head a little. ]

Ah, well. It's over and done with. Were you doing anything in particular when you realized you were newly left-handed? Oh, if you don't mind my asking of course. I don't mean to pry.

[iaijutsu]

It was my birthday. Souji decided to play a prank on me, so when I got back from class that day, he'd wrapped up everything in my apartment in wrapping paper, even the furniture.

[He shakes his head. That's Souji for you.]

The wrapping paper tubes were still around. I'd picked one up to go throw it out, he picked up another one and started a...swordfight, if you can really call it that, and at some point I accidentally switched hands - but that was the point where I started winning.

I tried writing something down later that afternoon and I couldn't do it with my right hand.

[unfearing]

Oh, I see! That sounds like a lot of fun, actually. You lead a very interesting life, Hajime.

Wait--

Souji... Was that the person posting those pictures of cats?

[ The name is ringing a bell, at least. ]

[iaijutsu]

Yes. He's been my best friend since middle school.

[To be fair, his only friend in middle school, and he didn't pick up very many after that, either, but. Details.]

[unfearing]

He seems quite charming. Aggressively flirtatious, but charming. I'd keep him away from any large Russian men if I were you.

[ She laughs quietly at that, shaking her head at the rather fond memories. ]

...but oh-- If he has access to the network, doesn't that mean something would've happened to him too...? That's the only pattern I think we have so far is that everyone on the network has undergone some kind of change.

[iaijutsu]

...he hasn't admitted to anything, but he might be being deliberately obtuse. He's...been somewhat aggressively telling me that this is all crazy and I shouldn't believe any of it.

[unfearing]

I see... [ Elizabeth frowns slightly in concern at that, brow furrowing as she thinks. ]

I wonder... I wonder if whatever he experienced disturbed him...?

[iaijutsu]

I think that's possible. But he isn't the type to admit to it.

[unfearing]

Well, perhaps in time.

...would it be okay to introduce me to him, Hajime? I promise not to pry, I just think...

I just think we could all use a few more friends these days.

[iaijutsu]

[People wanting to be introduced to Souji is...new.

If she makes it past the first meeting, that'll be even newer.]

That should be fine.

[unfearing]

Oh, that's wonderful! I'll be looking forward to it then.

[ Elizabeth claps her hands together in delight, finding Souji an unconventional sort of charming. A bit immature still perhaps, but they're all only college students after all. ]

But, ah, yes... Where were we...

Do you think drafting a questionnaire might be helpful? I'm sure people will resist answering it, but I think at least some would be willing! And any data at this point can only help. Hmm....

[iaijutsu]

Survey return rates tend to be low even in cases where people don't mind the data being out there, simply out of laziness, but I think it would be a good starting point.