Open to Investigators

[shiroganeheir]

I cannot be the only person who is worried about PSYCHE-net, can I? I have no problems with androids or robots, however there is just something unsettling about this that I cannot put my finger on. We need to keep a close watch on this so-called beta situation.

Also, is anyone else suspicious about this... entity? I am beginning to wonder if we are encountering another one of our infamous Trumps. The Lovers comes to mind. Any thoughts?

Comments

[creatic]

I don't think it's pity.

[ he's trying to think of a clear example, but he is quiet a moment as he considers before starting to speak. ]

My swords are necessary to accomplish my goals. But, the sword itself is inanimate without me; I have full control over who they stab right through and who they ghost on by. Unlike a fellow comrade, I have no concern for what the blades endure as long as they fill my needs. But, any sensible swordsman knows that if you don't take care of the blade when necessary, it will eventually break and fail you. Without my sword, my goal is suddenly much more difficult for me.

Does it make sense? After all the jaunts time and time again, even the ones I don't remember, I see it as similar to how the Trumps consider us.

[hakodate]

After a couple of these, it seems to be me that they're only taking care of the blades when critically necessary.

[Moebius, Harrogate...the Trumps certainly don't seem to mind pushing their luck pretty far in what their blades can endure before breaking.]

Either that, or we're easily enough replaceable that they're not too worried about finding new ones when some of us snap.

[creatic]

I think we are all replaceable until we give them reason to see otherwise.

But, even so, it isn't something I would care to think long on ;it was a clarification suggestion of the two earlier options—unimportant and useless to focus on this computer being a trump and it being the correct action to pursue or they had to dumb it down for anything to get done. And if they dumbed it down, it wouldn't mean they needed pity to do it.

Needless to say, I think hyper-focus and meddling with the computer is a waste of time in solving this investigation, trump in disguise or not.

[hakodate]

Hyper-focus is bad. Meddling, probably also bad. I think there could be some use in talking to it, but I'm not expecting anything immediate, either - more like we might get one goddamned scrap of something that'll only be useful when we pool it with every other Trump interaction anyone's had, further down the line.

Worth doing since the opportunity is available, not worth ignoring everything else for.

[Which is to say that he mostly agrees with Souji. Print this shit out and frame it.]

[creatic]

[ a pause. ]

Then, if Hijikata-san doesn't mind, after this investigation, I would request permission to be able to ignore any further searches for Trumps and let the others more interested handle it in favor of directly solving the investigation, unless special circumstance occurs. [ he promises even if he wants to permission to not have to be a team player if a trump search yields a Godzilla monster that he won't just let it eat people...

and agreeing isn't always bad if Souji's asking permission in return! This place!! There's also a reason he's asking, though, not just to be polite. ]

[hakodate]

Not like you to bother asking in the first place.

[What is this.]

[creatic]

Potential conflict of interests, is all.

[hakodate]

Is it?

[creatic]

Is it not? If an investigation is solved, the Trump would no longer be accessible. Therefore, if they are sluggish in their goals, they may miss out.

[ his actual concern level over this is in the negatives, but Hijikata is still his vice-commander and he knows the older man does not harbor the same dismissive attitude towards the other travelers. ]

[hakodate]

[He's not really sure a conflict of interests is enough to get Souji to ask about doing what he damned well pleases, really, but okay, he'll accept that answer.]

I'm not in favor of dragging shit out just to get another crack at the Trumps maybe throwing us another scrap of mostly useless bullshit. So that's fine.

[creatic]

[ thank you, Hijikata-san, he can go stress and freak out about his failures from last jaunt in peace now... Relatively speaking. ]

And one more thing—I need to speak with you concerning a matter. I think it can wait until after the wedding, however.

[hakodate]

You sure? I've got time.

[creatic]

I'm sure.

[hakodate]

After the wedding, then.

[nicotinized]

Ah - yeah, I guess that makes sense. Gotta give the wageslaves a day off so they don't quit and all.

[creatic]

What does Hijikata-san think about the importance of identifying and speaking with the associated Trump of this jaunt?

[nicotinized]

I... don't know. [He can't fully hide how uncertain he feels over the network] We don't know what will come of direct interaction with them yet, but we don't have any other way of getting answers.