one | audio + photos;

[moodkiller]

[She'd been lurking the network on and off for a few weeks. Now, she knew a fair amount of what had been happening, but her schoolwork - regrettably - came first. As tantalizing a lead as this network was to the truth, it would be there regardless. But now, she finally had some time between studying and her scattered extracurriculars. Marvelous.

A voice comes across on the network, and it sounds like a teenage girl speaking softly.]

Let's get right to it. My name is Natalie Sherman.

... I have to say, for all I'd heard, I didn't expect to be a part of this. I've done a bit of reading, and this certainly explains a few things - my uncle's arrest, for a start. He was guilty, to put it mildly, so today's verdict is what he deserved. And as for the source of those sex scandal allegations... [her tone changes on that last point, she clearly isn't pleased or comfortable.] I'd like to have a few words with whoever thought that blog was a remotely good idea...

However, I do have a few other questions? Relating to one thing, primarily. I'm going to attach a pair of photos to this post. If anyone recognizes this card, I'd appreciate anything you might be able to tell me.

attached: IMG0145.jpg, IMG0146.jpg




[two cell phone photos, two sides of a card. it's a little fuzzy, and surrounded by a blue glow. those paying close attention will see what looks like some kind of workbench behind the camera in these shots.]

I know that it's a tarot card - the Wheel of Fortune. But that's all that I know, and it only raises further questions.

Another thing... [she's not even going to bother making this private. she just needs to get his attention, and if she can open a line to anyone else who might know something by calling him out? so much the better.] Matt, I know you're here. You're a little hard to miss. Contact me.

Comments

[text]

[grannyfucker]

as one of the coauthors of that blog i'll just say

youre welcome

text;

[moodkiller]

That isn't quite what I'd had in mind.

[wonk]

2 be entirely fair i didnt write it

i just transcirbed it

[moodkiller]

In that case, I assume that I should save most of this for the person above you?

audio;

[orangehoodie]

You know Matt?

audio;

[moodkiller]

He's my cousin.

Sorry, you would be... ?

audio

[pheromonecoffee]

[Ah fuck ah. He isn't that hard to miss, is he? He knows he's been pretty open with the numbered thing, but that was more to take attention away from Ken than anything else. More important than that, he's genuinely surprised to see family showing up.

More important than that even--he recognizes the style of that card. But he knows when he'd been told about the tarot stuff, she had never come up like Ken had. Nor had Phillip, though, and they'd been connected all the same. He didn't remember her in the fight against Nyx, but he hadn't remembered Pharos being there, either. Or Shinjiro Aragaki. He didn't remember her in the social links that had thought of him when the world was ending. So how was she connected? That Persona shit was dangerous--Ken was the only one of the three of them who had gotten out of it alive.

And now he has family dragged into the Numbered bullshit. He's never acted very seriously about it, but he's never actually brushed it of in his own head. And he doesn't know if it was the greatest idea in the world to announce being related to the worst enemy of the people on here. He can only hope they react well. How is he supposed to joke about it this time? He takes a deep breath and forces a smile before he responds. It would make his jokes sound more sincere.]

If you tell embarrassing stories from when I was a kid, I won't forgive you. I have a reputation to uphold.

audio

[moodkiller]

[She'd debated whether to initially come forward with that, but it really wasn't going to be difficult for people to dig up if she threw herself into this. As she fully intended to. Better to be up-front from the start and not be accused of having any ulterior motives.

She does laugh, though, so that's a good sign.]

I should be saying that to you! I was the younger one, remember?

voice; Private

[stopinthenameofawe]

[are you fucking kidding her.

On the one hand, she's impressed with Nat for just getting out that quickly so no one would have the chance to dig it up on her or anything. (Not to mention that she's a good kid, as much as Melissa is able to actually like kids.) On the other... goddamnit, Nat. She didn't need more shit this week.]

I hope being open doesn't come back to bite you. [yup it's that lady your uncle used to shove you at a lot!!]

voice; Private

[moodkiller]

[a beat, as she scrounges through her memory. to put a name to the voice.]

Better that I say it right out than let someone find out on their own and hold it against me. It wouldn't be hard to find the information, and if I lied about it, by omission or not...

I feel like people would hold it against me more than if I'd just told them the truth, Sergeant Lyre.

[voice]

[darkhourdear]

[unlike Matt, Phillip is just going to jump straight into this. He pretty clearly sounds like a kid.]

You know Matt?

Oh! I know about tarot stuff, if you want. If someone's associated with the Fortune arcana, it means they're tied to their fate, but they try and make their own destiny anyway.

[voice]

[moodkiller]

He's my cousin.

[there's a pause, as she takes a moment to consider this, closing her eyes.] I don't think that's quite...

text;

[drama8om8]

Well, hiiiiiiii! I hope your "few words" (lol) that you want to have with the 8log contri8utors are something like "holy shit I love your work" or "I never read anything so 8eautiful" or "how did you know that my 8eloved uncle has a thing for duck peen."
Lol, 8ut I am getting ahead of myself here. I didn't make any introductions or ANYTHING.
Tavia Serket! Aka famed 8log co-writer and also that one chick your uncle locked up for three days and threatened to kill and then framed for terrorism and sent into hiding for MONTHS.
Enchanté. ::::)

text;

[moodkiller]

Is there something wrong with your keyboard?

text;

[needsmorezippers]

[Neku remembers Nat from a bunch of his advanced classes before she straight up skipped a grade. He's not sure how he didn't remember the name connection- but at least she's not being a bitch about it or anything.]

Can't help with the card, but might be able to answer other questions.

text;

[moodkiller]

[looks like you've got her at a disadvantage, there's no way she can tell who this is.]

Some examples of Echoes you've received might help. If you're willing, of course?

voice;

[ursoreckless]

Pretty brave of you to come out like that. Some might hold what your uncle did against you. [he's not that kind of person, really. blood might be thicker, but in the end it's what you are not what your father was.]

Don't mind the trolls. Even secret magical networks like this one has them. Unfortunately.

voice;

[moodkiller]

It's better that people know from the start. [she shrugs, even if he can't see it.]

I've already noticed. People are the same everywhere.

[Audio]

[dyingtohealyou]

[...Isn't that the kid who skipped some grades right into his? Never really talked to her, though.

So she was related to Sherman, huh...]

Well, at least you're honest. Sorry your uncle's kind of a dick.

[Because yes, that is precisely the part to focus on right now.]

[Audio]

[moodkiller]

That makes two of us. [she sighs quietly.] I'd considered keeping that part to myself, but it would have been easy enough to discover. Lying would only have made things worse for me in the long run.

[Video]

[originaloddcouple]

Please to meet you then!

[Isaac is just totally unfazed by any connections to any corrupt cops ever.]

Can't say I recognize the card. Sorry. I'm happy to help with anything else!

[Video]

[moodkiller]

[And a girl comes on screen and holy shit she's tiny. like. five feet tall and wearing glasses.]

It's all right. Are there any Echoes that you wouldn't mind discussing? [The more she can learn...]

audio;

[somesayinfire]

Nobody ever expects to be a part of this. I hope your uncle didn't do anything to you before he got arrested. I know he caused some of us a lot of grief, and his own niece especially doesn't deserve to be a target.

audio;

[moodkiller]

He doesn't know that I have the numbers. And in any event - no. [seriously where did that come from.]

text;

[alilyinthemoonslight]

...Sherman's niece AND Matt's cousin? (I read up.)

My condolences on the first one.

...but I suppose the other balances that out a bit.

[Which is her odd way of saying, "Matt is good people, so welcome."]

text;

[moodkiller]

Matt is weird, but unlike the first, I don't mind having him as family.

[amajin]

Ummmm... Okay, this is off topic, because I don't know a lot about tarot cards. Buuuut...

[He purses his lips.]

Is that a genpla, though? I collect mechs, too.

[moodkiller]

[She blinks, seeming a little surprised. Were you expecting something a little different, Jin? Because this is a girl at least a couple of years younger than Yoko looking back at you. She actually seems kind of enthusiastic about this?? Nat smiles a little.]

... Yes, it's the Winged Gendum Fénix from Building Fighters. I had hoped to wait for the Master Grade to wire LEDs into the head, but...

It's still a rewarding build.

voice;

[earnedmystripes]

--Natalie Sherman?????

[HOOOOLY SHIT fuck they are so damn lucky she's getting her number now or they'd all have been fucked...

Excuse him he needs a couple moments before coherence is a thing again.]

voice;

[moodkiller]

Nat, if it's all the same? [Deflection, what deflection. Really, what can she even say that she hasn't already covered?]