savetheearth | video via maaaagical puzzle paper

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video via maaaagical puzzle paper

[Unlike many who may wish for a tough year to end, a certain young man with an obsession with 13s is lamenting each approaching minutes. No more will he get a nice 13/13 each month, which made him smile just like his nickname. If 2014 is to take that away, then he is determined to strike back by leaving another numerical mark on it.

And so, as he crafts it for the paper and writes down the answers for submission, the first thing the network sees is an elaborate sudoku puzzle. Somewhere in there, his personal number has been hidden. It is the first time he's found a use for it since it popped into his head - it's a bit long and not as snappy, not as good as 13 even though it is more unique. Still, if there was any a time to use it, it was now. He looks down at his handiwork, fairly pleased, and as he stares the network can look in on his face. Finally, he lets out a sigh.]

Well, now it's ready. Take that, new year! Heh heh hehn.

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Now what's ready?

... [WHAT. Why is there grandma writing on his puzzle? Why is it questioning his readiness? Most importantly, what should one do when answered by mysterious writing?

He tentatively decides he should write back. Picking up his pen, he scrawls in the margins.]

My plan to spite 2014 for taking 2013 away.

[...but that sounds crazy even to a piece of paper. And even if he'd already said it out loud.]

Just kidding. It's a sudoku puzzle.

Edited 2014-01-02 02:42 (UTC)

Oh! I love sudoku! I'm not that good at it though.

[She draws a little smiley face with curls and a feathered hat.]

Edited 2014-01-02 08:00 (UTC)

Enjoy your head start, then, if you like to complete the ones in the paper. You'll keep it a secret, won't you?

[He hopes so. The other writer had said only people with the numbers could see the post, so he should still be able to submit it...]

← Cute. [he writes by the smiley face.]

[she stares at the puzzle for a second-- wow this is actually pretty complicated! but she figures out one of the squares and writes in a nice number] 4 [in the appropriate spot]

[... and now the writing is solving his puzzle! He'd better quickly get to the bottom of this.]

How are you doing this?

[BB pauses, looking at the number 4. It was at least where it was supposed to be.] Um... [He writes another scribble.]

Good job though.

Edited 2014-01-02 02:46 (UTC)

[She pauses in between trying to figure out another square, realizing with a little "oh" to herself before writing back]

Sorry, I guess you're new. There's an FAQ somewhere around here, but I'm not sure if I can link it while writing by hand.

[newbie introduction? nailed it]

[except then she realizes she didn't actually explain anything]

The short answer is that this is some sort of metaphysical network visible only to those who are slowly regaining pieces of some past life.

[and then, most importantly, next to the compliment]

Thank you.

"Around here," huh? I wonder...

[he flips through the other pages on the pad he'd been drafting the puzzle on. His eyebrows raise as he finds that each one is a different post. These pages had definitely been blank before, though.]

You claim that other users of this network can see its contents, correct? My notebook appears to contain the rest, now. Don't worry about it.

[She's a little pleased when the response comes that she doesn't have to try and look up the link for the FAQ.]

Correct. It tends to be linked whenever someone new first accesses the network, so it shouldn't be hard to find. It will explain enough to get a basic idea.

[and with that, she goes back to trying to fill in the puzzle; let's see, 2 here, and 8 there...]

[and while she works on the puzzle, he'll look for that FAQ, skimming a lot of other posts in the process! She'll have plenty of time, since it's easy to get sidetracked with that.]

[and she just cheerfully continues filling in the puzzle!]

[At last, he found it, and was even tenacious enough to get the network to let him click a link from paper. BB reads it with a serious expression, although she may hear a bit of a whimper from his end when he comes across the murder footage. This is even more graphic than the stuff they show in class! His stomach is turning.]

Aaah....

[Oh, this one looks tricky. Michelle wishes she'd connected via paper so she could try and fill in a few numbers.]

Happy new year. What's ready?

Oh, er... [How does one handle audio coming out of a notepad. Should he pick it up and put it to his ear like a phone now? No, no, she obviously heard him fine the first time, or she wouldn't be asking.]

It was something of a personal joke, but I guess now it's my network debut as well. But when it comes down to it, it's still mostly a number puzzle.

Edited 2014-01-04 21:33 (UTC)

Looks like a good one.

[Sudoku isn't her favorite--she does better with visual and spatial stuff, jigsaws or puzzle boxes for instance--but she likes a challenge.]

Well, it should be - I tried to put a little bit of myself in it, you know.

[Whatever that means.]

Feel free to try your hand at it. I'm still searching through posts for the FAQ.

You do these a lot?

I had the link saved, but it's on my computer. Sorry.

[How would links even work on paper, anyway?]

[Who knows, but he will mess with this paper until he MAKES it work.]

It's fine! How hard can it be? It's only metaphysics.

I usually do crosswords, actually. But I've always been fond of numbers.

I've always liked putting things together. Jigsaws, that kind of thing.

Ah, jigsaws! I can see why you'd like them. Surely you must find that your thoughts collect together as the puzzle pieces do. It's good for your focus, I approve.

Yeah, something like that. It's relaxing.

[Belle isn't much of a fan of sudoku puzzles...if only because Dr. Korai IS. Nonetheless, as they appear on the network and the input from others, accompanied by the dismayed scribbled replies of the owner, begins to surface, she watches with rapt, bemused interest. After a few minutes, she adds her own input.]

Punishing the new year with puzzles is far more interesting than challenging it with resolutions. I approve.

[amusing response. BB chuckles] Hehehaha... [and writes an overdramatic reply of his own]

Then maybe I should make a tradition of it. As long as I won't live to see another year ending in 13, time shall know my vengeance!

Edited 2014-01-04 21:23 (UTC)

[He looks incredibly familiar; though it's been quite awhile since L has seen him, there's no mistaking that face and voice.]

Ban. BB?

Oh? That's me. [He's been recognized? That surprises him. The voice is familiar, and it also belongs to a peer, which narrows down the possibilities considerably. Even as far back as middle school, BB never bothered to make a lot of friends his same age. And even among the few, his real name wasn't the default.]

Let's see... L, that is you, right?

Edited 2014-01-04 21:35 (UTC)

Yes, it's me. Thank you for using my preferred name...

I haven't talked to you in years.

You're right...

[They didn't keep touch after White Pines was behind them. Even if BB wouldn't have minded to, he had been so busy with aggressively pursuing those scholarships.]

Then, let's catch up. That's only natural, for old friends who have just discovered they share secret numbers.

[the sarcasm is entirely good-humored. Nevertheless, it feels strange, talking into a piece of paper. He ruffles the pages a little.]

Can you meet me in person? There are some things I am not keen on discussing over this channel.

Umm... yeah, that sounds fine. I don't have any plans tomorrow, do you?

[He's pretty free in general for now, as classes haven't started up again. The sudden invitation comes off easily.]

I work in the evening, but until then, I am free, yes.

[BB smiles slightly. He has work? Then he definitely must have been released from the clinic... he couldn't help wondering about that.]

I will have to ask about that, but it can wait... well, how about meeting up for ice cream then?

[He suggests, cheerfully disregarding all sense of seasonal appropriateness. Ice cream in the winter was no less delicious, after all.]

[If L was still there after eight years, there would be something really wrong. He wouldn't be able to live with it, even with his current sorry excuse for living.

Though ice cream is a little bit random, especially in the cold weather, it's not unreasonable, and even sounds pleasant.]

Is Aunt Grandma's OK, maybe... Around 3:00 PM?

[It wasn't as if he'd been assuming that was the case, but confirmation was always good. BB nods, pleased that ice cream went over well. ~~The cold never bothered him anyway.~~]

That sounds fine. Then it's settled.

[...And so it was that the next day, BB took a bus into town and walked a few blocks to Aunt Grandma's - already, he knew the place. Though it was easy to miss at a glance and sort of gloomy inside, the ice cream was cheap and surprisingly good. He approved of L's tastes.

Seeing the other man waiting for him there, he gave a friendly smile. As he drew closer, though, he couldn't help but be surprised by how much he had changed physically. BB himself was looking a fair bit shabbier than before since making puzzles didn't pay much, and between school semesters his living situation could get a bit shaky. Still, the guy looked like hell - thinned out so much, and with the darkest circles he'd ever seen on another human being.

- Or were they? Suddenly, it felt like he had seen them before. And then he remembered seeing that face in a mirror. The man in the mirror wore a cruel smile, which seemed to set him apart from the L before him. As fleeting it came, the memory was over, with hardly any time to process it. He was left looking at the real L instead, transfixed as if he was one of those optical illusion paintings.]

Ah, it really has been a while...

[He shakes his head finally, trying to excuse his strange behavior. And then he sticks out a hand, smiling awkwardly.]

So, it's good to see you. We'll have a lot to talk about, I think.

[Why was he in the mirror? This is so strange.]

[L glanced up as BB entered; the young man certainly looked college-aged, taller than when L had last seen him and on the rangy side, as if he was a few meals short of a perfectly healthy weight. He was still comfortably recognizable... and L realized, noting the way that BB's eyes surveyed his own demolished appearance, that he was utterly failing to provide the same comfort. He forced a pale smile, willing himself to retain eye contact rather than look away. His existence wasn't a crime, even if it was a hollow and sad existence.]

It has been. You look... well.

[He stared at BB's outstretched hand, clearly conflicted, but he kept his hands under the table's surface and out of view. Even away from the single scoop of untouched strawberry ice cream in front of him.]

Yeah, it's good to see you, too... but before we talk, why don't you get some ice cream, too? I feel awkward eating by myself.

Fair enough. I'll be with you shortly.

[Left hanging, he shoves his hand into his pocket instead and turns to look at the ice cream flavors, apparently deciding. Truthfully, he already knows which ones he prefers, but this will give him some time to collect his thoughts...

In this shop, the caramel ice cream in particular is so rich that a lesser sweet-tooth might choke. He eventually settles on that one and sits down across from L, noticing that he holds his spoon a bit oddly but making no comment on it as he takes a first bite. The chill reaches his bones and the taste is like drowning in sugar.]

Aah, it's delectable.

[While Ban is getting his own ice cream from the grumpy old women behind the counter, L has time to collect his own thoughts. He's having a harder time than he thought he would, with this meeting, but he's always known BB to be patient. He probably won't be judged adversely by this young man; there was plenty of time for that back at White Pines.

He takes up his spoon, the ruined tendons in his right hand allowing only his index finger and thumb to bend naturally.]

They do a good job, here.

[He picks at his ice cream, taking small bites, seeming intent on savoring a dish he probably won't finish anyway.]

So you're writing puzzles for a paper. You seem good at it... I enjoyed solving the one you posted to the network with yesterday.

Edited 2014-01-22 00:37 (UTC)

[Ban nods in response, a bit seriously.]

I thought it would be good to find something freelance that I can do anywhere... Puzzles take time, but time well spent. Not bad for a stepping stone.

[That's right... Puzzles came naturally to him, but they weren't his goal.]

What about your job?

[Stepping stones are, of course, what was expected when one was in college. L is supposed to be past that point, moving up in the world, going through bigger changes because everyone expected him to change his generation.]

A coffee shop hired me.

[He says so neutrally, careful not to betray anything like bitterness.]

I make drinks and tend the cash register, and... ultimately, just that.

So you're a barista...

[he tilts his head.]

That's trendy. It doesn't suit you at all!

[Ban's honesty startles a sudden laugh from L.]

No, indeed not... I've never been very trendy. It's tough, but I'm getting the hang of it. Some customers even come in just because they've heard of my terrible attitude and have to see it to believe it, so that's... good, perhaps.

And they told you that's why they were there? Maybe they enjoy having their feelings trampled on.

[It could be the US's first equivalent to a tsundere cafe...]

They didn't say it so blatantly... but hipsters can be like that. They mistake contempt for something else that they admire... I don't begin to understand it.

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video via maaaagical puzzle paper

handwritten; old lady style

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