Open to All Investigators-Beginning of Digital Frontier Jaunt

[purseownerisme]

For those who are experiencing this for the first time, don't worry. Just keep calm and listen to this message.

If you're hearing this, you're what we call an investigator: someone who retains their memories from their home and other worlds if they have them while in a Jaunt. Some of us have blended in with the setting and are called Infiltrators; don't try and jog their memory back otherwise we'll be in a lot of trouble. They also cannot use the network we're on right now.

What we need to know now is who's not thinking they're a program and what they have noticed so far. Anything will help us try and figure out a way to solve this next issue.

Comments

[stophamatime]

Naoto-san is? Oh.

[He's disappointed! Naoto's awesome at figuring this stuff out.

...also he just likes Naoto.]

[leftbehindagain]

Yeah. That's my usual planning team shot completely to hell. How am I supposed to work inside my comfort zone now? [It's pretty clear from Naoki's tone that he's aware it's a bad tendency to have, but it's still one he embraces having. Besides, he's not at all happy about this.]

You doing okay?

[stophamatime]

Yeah, I'm okay.

[Ken always claims to be okay. It's a Thing.]

I hope everyone who's good at figuring things out isn't infiltrating, though.

[leftbehindagain]

Hey, I have a year of practice with strange mysteries, too. I like to think I can do all right. It's just easier when you have someone to bounce it off of.

[And he doesn't know many other people yet... and the one he's talked to the most so far is Adachi. That's a big fat 'not if Naoki can help it' right there, at least until they manage a few more civil conversations.]

If you feel like you're in over your head, don't hesitate to let me know, okay? I know you can take care of yourself, but everyone needs backup now and then. [Besides, Naoto would probably like to know one of her friends is looking out for Ken.]

[stophamatime]

I didn't mean to imply that everyone who's left isn't, it's just...Naoto-san's really smart.

[And is apparently getting a fan club, huh.]

Thanks.

[leftbehindagain]

Don't worry, I got it. [He knows just how smart Naoto is. Why do you think he's so upset he can't work with her right now? As for the fan club, that's nothing new.]

You're welcome.

[notinthecards]

I wouldn't worry about it. We have bigger fish to fry right now, no?

[Remy you did that on purpose...]

[abweichend]

Checking in. Unless there's something keeping them from responding Armin, Erwin, and Mai all seem to be infiltrating this time around.

[He's so salty you have no idea...

There's a pause before he puts a request of his own out there:]

...If anyone's seen any of them I'd appreciate a heads up. A location would be better.

[So he can keep an eye on them.

You know, so none of them get FUCKING MURDERED this time around.

SO. SALTY.

And now for something a little more useful, since he's had at least a bit of time to look around, and listen.]

From what I've been able to gather so far, we're dealing with a smaller designated 'safe' area and a much larger, mostly uncharted area surrounding that. Admission to the safer area seems... Regulated. Probably by the assholes in red, or whoever's in charge of giving them their orders.

[He's sensitive to that sort of setup, to say the least... And if he sounds a little bitter, it's because he most definitely is. Do they have a god damn toll to get in, too? He bets there is one. Bastards.]

[sasaeng]

I'm definitely still myself! I haven't found any good leads yet, but I'll totally report in when I get something useful.

[time for her to put those reporter investigative skills to the test, however possible.] That goes for whoever we may be looking for, too!

[flatteries]

[ It doesn't go over Inigo's head, honestly. It's almost a little admirable. Even if Inigo is capable of projecting a more calm attitude (.. at times, anyway) than he might feel at any given time, it's never that convincing and he knows it.

Can this guy really feel so calm throughout all of this..? ]

Are you perhaps new to all of this, milord? It grows a little easier over time, but I have to admit the most difficult part is alwasy the beginning.

[betrayedblade]

[He has had a lot of practice over the years at dealing with difficult and unexpected situations. Perhaps not quite like this but. Besides, any anxiety he might have had at first has long since faded; he was taught to adjust and adapt quickly in his line of work and so he does, and became quite good at it.

That.. is all besides the point.]

It is my second experience on one of these ...alternate worlds. [Jaunts.] And my first was as an ... alternate ego, shall we say. To tell the truth, this is quite a bit easier to handle after knowing the ...alternative.

[That's a lot of "alternates," apologies.]

[betrayedblade]

[Giovanni knows the feel, piccina. But! it is very good to hear your voice and he is grateful for it.]

Ah, I am glad to hear a familiar voice here. So to speak. If you need anything, piccina... [well, does he even need to finish that statement? All you have to do is ask and he will come running.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Oh, thank goodness, a familiar voice. She even let the "little one" nickname slide.]

Answers would be nice.

I mean, I have a vague idea of what to do right now, but computers are really more Robin's thing, not mine.

[betrayedblade]

[The "little one" nickname is partially left over from Doki Doki but he's not sorry. It's an affectation that he often used on family. It will probably stick.]

I can do my best to give any if you have any specific questions to ask.

Though, to be honest you have more knowledge on this situation than I do it would seem. Let me see if I can flounder through some things. Computer; that is what PSYCHEnet first appeared as, yes? The screen and, ah, keyboard? [The memories are fuzzy from that Jaunt and he typically didn't dwell on them overly much except to remaster his new part-bird form. So, bare with him as he tries to remember as much as he knew about such things from that world.] It was not the only one but the most prominent in that world. So, what does that have to do with all of this?

[No, it really hasn't clicked for him that they're inside a computer right now. He's still not sure what a program really is and that keeps coming up.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Considering she was essentially a family-less orphan not so long ago...she wouldn't complain if it did.]

I think this world is a computer.

Not the same one--at least, I don't think so--but the same rules apply. Probably.

[betrayedblade]

[Bene.]

Ah. I...see. [The words were said slowly, carefully. He takes a moment to ponder this.]

I am not sure that I understand how that would work. Then again, I still don't understand how any of this works.

All right. Sweeping that aside, what should I know about computers that would help me to blend into this world? Do you know? [The people here were people enough, he thought, if a bit strange. But any unknown or foreign culture could easily feel that way. He would adapt. But if she (or anyone else) had any information that might help quicken that, he would gladly take it.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Excellent question.]

[If she thought about it long enough, she might even be able to come up with a decent answer.]

Well--and keep in mind, this is going off mostly what I've already been hearing and seeing around here--people seem to take things very...rigidly. Not really big on smiling.

Kind of reminds me of an ex-babysitter, to be honest. [No, really, she misses you, Red Tornado.]

[betrayedblade]

[Ignoring the last comment, as much as it's tempting to ask or make a slightly teasing comment back. You're welcome.]

I had noticed. The Defenders in particular. That is what the red ones are calling themselves, correct? Though I am not surprised considering the nature of their...purpose. [That might have just clicked. It wasn't much different from human purpose in life, was it? As far as jobs went, not philosophically speaking.] Their job. To guard and protect, to defend. I have much experience with the type. They come with a certain amount of rigidity when they are serious about it.

Reading people is not too hard. The blue ones--Miners, someone called them?--are record-keepers, scholars, and the type of people that seek out and sort out information. I have gathered that much as well. The green ones are...ancient, wise. Do not ask me how I know this. [But he does. It is instinctual. By which we mean Eagle Sense.] But they are more curious than the others, open, eager. Is that what you meant to tell me? That programs are...set in their ways? Rigid. If so, the green ones might answer to a different calling than typical for programs.

That is what these people call themselves, yes? Programs? That's what she meant? [The first person to use the Psychic Network.]

[purseownerisme]

And the first thing you think of is porn?

[purseownerisme]

It won't be easy that's for sure.

All we can do for the moment is watch. Jumping in head first won't do us very good.

[purseownerisme]

Yeah, like trying to figure out what all these groups want exactly.

[purseownerisme]

If there's one thing I learned from all of this, expect the unexpected. You never know what you can face in a jaunt.

[Not until we have an idea of what's out there.]

[seestheworld]

I'm still me. Mothman's form's been changed, but he's still himself, too. I'm thinking the Trumps probably physically changed us, too - otherwise, food might be an issue.

[purseownerisme]

[Good to hear from him again.]

It's possible that they may be in another area of the world.

[seestheworld]

Good question.