synopsychic | [Open Broadcast + Sensory Livestream & Memory Sharing]

[Tim's voice starts talking against a blank, black viseal, and then he projects himself, picture-in-picture, as a talking head in the lower right corner of the "screen" as images start to play across it.]

Hi. I'm know I'm not always the most social Traveler, so let me take a minute to introduce myself. Tim Drake. Vigilante, barista, accredited forensic technician. I've got a decade-long background in criminology and investigative science, a lot of it based in computers and media.

I'm giving you the resume because I've been working on a project for a while now, with Mai. And she doesn't seem to be around right now. So, just in case I vanish too, I wanted to bring you up to speed, because it could be important. Watch this now, or don't, but at least it'll be archived on the network.

[The first image that pops up is a computer screen, glowing green against a dark backdrop - a cave of some kind? - with a series of stylized images on it.

A valentine heart, a kneeling statue with hands cupped in supplication, a pair of easter island heads, facing one another, mouths open; a conspicuous blank space, a theatrical mask with an almost comic expression of alarm, and finally, a rosebush sporting a damask rose over a spray of red berries and pale blossoms. Both types of flower called May Roses.

The images vanish, replaced one at a time with words framed in brackets.

[PSYCHE/LOVERS][WANT][TALK/CONVERSATION][YOU OKAY?][WORRIED][MAI]

Mai's voice speaks, replacing his for a moment.]

I really want to talk to you again. I want to know if you're okay. I've been worried.

[Tim's voice cuts back in, and he re-appears in the corner of the screen, which is now filled with a four-by-four grid of images, mobile Liminal Space 'videos' seen from a Robin's-eye view. Flying between dark spheres in white colored space; hanging like a gargoyle over a sinister highway full of angry, animate cars; flopped in a giant marshmallow like it was a beanbag; using gummi worms and licorice to catch gummi fish out of a ballpit moat... the playback continues on a loop.]

Mai and I believe that the Trumps communicate with us through Liminal Space, constantly, using symbolic communication and archetypal imagery. We were looking for a way to talk back. Her messages are... probably a little friendlier than mine. But as hostages, striking up a dialogue is the first step to negotiation, and that's the first step towards release. Or... the first step towards building a good, predictive profile of what the Trumps want from us. Either way.

I'm looking for people to review images with me, and try to puzzle out what their messages have been, as specifically as we can.

And I want for people with a good grip on Liminal Space, who can help me sculpt a few responses, just in case they're paying attention - our own little message in a bottle.

Anyone interested?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No matter how big the task at hand, there's nothing wrong with taking a second to appreciate a finely crafted, multi-layered pun.

I'm not really going to argue that.

But we've had the moment. Are you up for helping with analysis?

Yeah, sure. I mean, I'm a little off my game right this second--as you saw before--but if you don't mind me flailing a little, I'm definitely good. And I'm an English major--would you like fries with that?--so I know from symbolism.

We have a lot to analyze. Breadth of perspective is going to matter. Anywhere in particular you'd like to start?

Anywhere you think is good, dude.

Is there any Liminal Space that stood out clearly to you?

From that not-video? The black spheres in white space, maybe. Otherwise, I guess I could work on the one I came in for. The dark playground thing.

Edited 2015-10-30 06:06 (UTC)

Dark playground. Let's start there.

Edited 2015-10-30 06:07 (UTC)

Okay, so, the darkness, that represents our ignorance. Seems pretty straight forward to me. But we could illuminate it by playing around--so the way we can find out what the hell is going on is playing along?

That's possible.

The playspace is the kind of thing they use as a reward for victory, usually. Celebration, recreation.

Yeah, okay. I've got the impression, though, that the Jaunt before Questing Country was one we flubbed, though?

Hmm... would you say that if the first liminal stage between Jaunts is a reaction to how the Jaunt went, the second is more of a general commentary on the state of the Great Game or Mystic Journey or whatever this is called?

I wouldn't want to theorize in advance of evidence. I think of them as a transition out after, and a transition in before... but sometimes there's only one Liminal Space. On rare occasions, there might even be more.

I'm sure the first one out is a reflection of past Jaunts. The rest, I don't know.

Yeah. I probably need to analyze more of them. Do you have any of their details written down? Like descriptions and shit? I like to have documents to work from when I can.

I'm still working from memory. It's more permanent than most things I make, here. Next time I'm myself for a Jaunt I'll try to pick up a few notebooks. Or an inkjet printer.

Ooooh, printer.

I've got a pair of pocket notebooks, but they've already got shit written in them, so they won't be that useful. My own personal Bring Home From Jaunt goal is a laptop, though. Since I wasn't lucky enough to have my messenger bag with me when I got snatched up.

Laptops need chargers or somewhere to plug in.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the weird thing Leo said would charge my phone and my e-reader would also work on that.

How do I keep missing these things?

I dunno? But you should talk to him about it if you've got a chance.

I will.

Okay, though. Back to analysis.

Right. We still on the dark playground?

If we've got anything more.

The emotional manipulation was probably significant.

Emotional manipulation... I didn't feel like I had been? Um. How were other people?

Fear. The need to stay unseen.

Oh, see, I'd been feeling that already since I'd just died. I guess I hadn't noticed.

(no subject)

detectivewonder - 2015-11-03 07:32 (UTC) - Expand

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