synopsychic | (no subject)

[There's something a bit rough and tired to Malik's mental voice, even as he speaks with crisp efficiency.]

The Defenders and Miners are wrong, and you do not have all you should. I do not know what everyone has been told but hopefully this information will not be too late to help.

The Automata do not seek to destroy the grid or infect the rest of the network. They are trying to stop the Cryptos from escaping and have been trying to do so since the beginning.

Nothing anyone has told you of them is likely true.

[He pauses before continuing again.]

What you need to know is this.

There is a covert team of automata who are trying to preserve the grid. They are under the directive of a... I am not sure that pair is the right word? The Users they are following the directive of are some sort of creature and two who were once one.

[He doesn't know anything of Trumps or tarot, being from the middle ages is difficult sometimes when having to deal in symbology.]

I will not argue over the fact that they are dangerous. The desperate acting against overwhelming numbers tend to be.

I can answer what I know of, and offer what conclusions I have come to.

One of which is that the Cryptos are far more of a danger than I think anyone realizes.

...I will also need a sword once I return to the grid if any have one to lend.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I won't tell anyone unless I really have to, I promise.

[That's the best he could do - he doesn't want to break a promise to a friend, and since you never know what's going to happen...]

Well, that list... as far as I can tell, every other name on it is someone who's been marked by a Trump.

[Maybe Dick already knows and was keeping that a secret too. But if he doesn't know, then it's important for him to find out - and if he's the only one on the list who isn't marked, then it's important for everyone to know.]

Is that right? [Because that's a lot of people, and-] I don't remember getting marked though. Maybe I just got mentioned by mistake?

It could have happened without you being aware of it, though. And I don't think a mistake is too likely.

Have you spoken to ROSE much this jaunt?

... I was exploring with her just before the Automata attack...?

And you didn't notice a strange feeling after that? It hurt, for me, felt like my hand was suddenly burning - but it would probably have been a lot more subtle for anyone else.

It was pretty chaotic with all the attacks coming in.

... But my neck started itching pretty badly shortly after it when I had time to stop to take a breath.

[Abruptly, Armin appears next to him. He's just a projection, not physically there - but real enough for this. His voice is soft and sympathetic, but he looks determined.]

...Do you mind if I take a look?

[He'd have to uncover his neck. But it's important that they know, one way or the other.]

... Hi. [Slow. Blink.]

Uh... [He shifts from foot to foot, not entirely comfortable with the idea... but still, he turns slowly and tugs down his collar, revealing the top portion of the simple yet delicately decorated I emblazoned on his nape.]

[Armin lets out a sound that's not quite a hiss.]

I'm afraid you've been claimed by the Magician, like me.

[Armin's own mark is very visible on the back of his right hand, though it's not quite as simple as Dick's.]

And she didn't even buy me dinner first.

[Even though he sounds sarcastic, his voice is missing it's usual bite of amusement and he sounds just a bit shaken at that.]

Just great.

[Armin takes a deep breath.]

I know. I'm not really turbed about it either.

[Like Dick, the words are there, but the feeling is not.]

[The use of the unword earns Armin a small smile nonetheless.]

Yeah, well... Guess we'd better just look traught in front of everyone else, right?