[open to all] Trump speculation + calling

[howexciting]

... Perdonatemi, I have an announcement.

I am not sure anyone else is aware of this, but the payphone by the door can connect to the Trumps. Or at least, when I attempted to call a Trump, it went through. I am not sure if all the Trumps are available for a call or not. I have heard some of them are dead, so they are likely not, at least. In truth, I am not really sure why they are allowing us to speak to them, now. We should all proceed with caution.

Further... if anyone has information on any of the Trumps that appeared this past Jaunt - The Magician, going by ROSE; The Hermit, going by SAGE; and The Devil - please, share it. I am not well versed in the mystical meanings behind the Tarot, only the cards and their numbers. The Magician is one, The Hermit nine, and the Devil fifteen. While I cannot say I know much about The Hermit, I am aware of many aspects of SAGE, as I was a Crypto this past Jaunt. I... I can tell you what little I know about him, if it would help.

... lastly, if anyone was Marked and feels comfortable coming forward with that information, I would be much obliged to hear it. Private or public, it does not concern me; I shall not come forward with that information unless you are comfortable providing it publicly. With so many Trumps amongst us, I cannot believe any of them would leave empty-handed, as it were.

Comments

[howexciting]

I am doing my best to keep such a list, though I have sworn to some that I will be discreet until they feel comfortable coming forward.

[howexciting]

... we have not seen the High Priestess anywhere, have we? I thought for sure... did you get a look at her face?

[howexciting]

An alternate body, one that was not tethered to the Grid. It seems when the Devil started corrupting code and creating Automata, it was originally meant to contain the Hermit on the Grid, to... get him out of the "game".

[howexciting]

Then I will be at my workshop. You know where to find me.

[thirdarrow]

[ That makes sense. ]

Is there a particular reason for his canid form?

[backwordscompatible]

If I did, I don't remember. Everything happened so fast.

I'm sorry.

[theanguissette]

Can you remember anything of what was said to you? Anything at all?

[howexciting]

Well she is certainly blunt when it comes to others' information, specifically about their love lives or... lack thereof.

[Awkward turtle.]

While she may have been one of the more outwardly benevolent Trumps, she certainly has done some things I find rather intrusive.

[howexciting]

That is not what I meant. But I take your point... they will most likely catch us as Infiltrators if we merely avoid them.

[... so is this truly a losing battle?]

There must be some way we can delay them, Naoto. I do not like where we are headed.

[theanguissette]

Would you be willing to describe how it happened?

[howexciting]

Neither had I. I suppose anything can happen, which... is not reassuring, I know. But it is helpful to know because it might happen again.

[howexciting]

That, I am unclear upon. Kanji had mentioned having information regarding the cards' meanings. I only know them as playing cards.

[howexciting]

None of them to my knowledge has claimed more than four. Perhaps they may only select that many at a time?

[professorwolf]

There's going to be some sort of presentation or class, once they get things organized, or so I've been told. I know I'm going to it. I need more information.

[howexciting]

Kanji. Then if that is fine, I must insist you merely call me Leonardo.

[He gives a small mental chuckle over the network, amused.] Again? Well, neither of us were quite ourselves, but... I take your meaning. I do hope that things will not be awkward, between us? My Infiltrator role might have upset you, and I would not wish that to reflect poorly upon me.

Then the Masquerade was hosted by the Sun and Moon... Harrogate by the Devil... Heartbeat Academy by the Lovers... and the Grid by the Magician, to recover the Hermit. It is starting to paint a picture. I believe a Trump, or Trumps, may be behind each Jaunt, sort of... being its patron, if that makes any sense.

[howexciting]

As do I. As do we all, I'm sure.

[howexciting]

... I think SAGE saw potential in programs to be rare and valuable and chose from there. I... do not remember what I was, before-- er, pardon, VINCI was, before he was turned into a Crypto. All I know is that Joscelin was assigned to me as a guardian once we were both converted to Cryptos. PHLP came along a little later, but VINCI happily accepted PHLP as his own.

But once we were converted, we were each assigned such different tasks that there was hardly any overlap. Even once SAGE had disappeared and we modified our purposes to combat the Automata, none of us focused on the same thing. I was in charge of finding a vaccine for the corruption; another was in charge of curing it. Still another was in charge of finding some way to tame the feral Automata roaming the Grid, and so on.

[howexciting]

If you believe it best, then I will not stop you. I only ask that you be careful. I...

... I could not bear seeing you hurt.

[nicotinized]

Given context, I'm pretty sure it was the Devil, though I can't confirm that.

[morbirdinterest]

It worries me as well, as does the fact that SAGE apparently deviated from the game for some private purpose. What was he attempting to accomplish in the Grid? Why did it move the Lovers and the Devil to such drastic action?

[willyousee]

I have not decided anything yet - there are too many aspects to consider to make a snap judgement - [Gentle warmth and affection washes down the mental link, underscored by a delicate shy wonder.] ...and I promise you that I will be as careful as it is possible to be. I have only just found you. I never want to cause you pain.

[nicotinized]

Yeah, that's fair enough. You've earned a lot of people's trust.

[willyousee]

[Calm, warm reassurance floods a quick, private line before he responds publically.]

I am not yet certain if i will or not. I should like to discuss the merits of that with you, if you would, in person.

[Not committing to the other one way or the other? No. No he's not.]

[theanguissette]

Of course. [ She respects him keeping his options open, and would likely have counseled him to do so if he'd asked her opinion, but she will not force a choice (or a non-choice) upon him. ]

Whenever and wherever you wish.

[willyousee]

Are you in the workshop at the moment? [AKA are you open for visitors, or indisposed?]