TEXT | sender: [ unknown ]

[spectates]

[ around noon on friday, all tablet screens go dark at the same time, no matter what characters are doing. then, after a moment, the following text appears: ]

UPDATES INSTALLING.................
INITIALIZING.................
RESTARTING NOW.

[ as promised, screens return to normal. however, a new message appears on the network for all to see ]

SECURITY ACCESS UPDATED
ADDING INFORMATION POINTS
ADDING INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING: CRITICAL SYSTEM FAILURES DETECTED
HARD RESET IS REQUIRED

→CLICK TO EXPAND INSTRUCTIONS

→Access EXPIATION'S five manual terminals
→Input code: 2467362925315
→Initialize reset simultaneously at all terminals.
→SYSTEM RESET will restore all functions to BASIC OPERATING PARAMETERS. Extraneous data and information updates will be DELETED.
→Terminal access points shown below.

[ all tablet maps are updated to include several different location pins. users will notice that there are more pins than the number of terminals, and that they don't seem to be terribly specific about exact locations. users will also note that the pins sometimes seem to fade and flicker, as if they might disappear... ]

Security clearances acquired.
Access granted.
Terminals online and accessible.

System failure is imminent. Due to perpetual lack of upkeep, I am unable to maintain systems at optimal levels.
Chosen of Expiation, I am sorry. I never meant to hurt you.
Save yourselves.

I do not wish to d̶̺̀i̸̘̋e̶͍͝
But I wish for you to live
I̷
p̸l̷e̵a̸s̷e̸
l̴̪̗̈́̉̓̌i̶͕̹̹̿̈́̈̚v̴͓̽͑͆̚ḙ̴͍̋͘

ERROR: user offline

[ the AI will not respond to this message, and the ERROR: USER OFFLINE message appears if anyone attempts to message it. however, the network chat remains active. chosen can use this space to ICly discuss ideas and strategies, to have discussions about the best way to move forward, or even to have arguments over whose ideas they think are better. ideas generated here will be added to the event poll when the event goes up, and can impact the future of the game! have at it, go wild, and have fun! ]

Comments

[text, un: dara]

[cursegod]

If those animals didn't have souls, would you still care for them?

[battlefieldbrat]

Who cares if they have souls or not? They look like dogs and act like dogs. They're useful.

[he sounds so exasperated. he doesn't get why that would even matter.]

[cursegod]

You view them as tools?

[LISTEN, ANIMALS DON'T USUALLY APPROACH A CURSE GOD.]

[battlefieldbrat]

Of course. Why else would you keep a dog?

[NOT FOR LOVE OR COMPANIONSHIP SURELY. as though kakashi doesn't cuddle and pamper every dog in his care.]

[cursegod]

I don't know. As pets? Never had one though.

[battlefieldbrat]

I guess...if you keep a dog as a pet, it's still working. Its job would be to keep you company?

[he sounds unsure.]

My dogs are trained to attack, restrain, and track. Though I suppose some dogs are better at different things.

[cursegod]

I feel like we're getting into weird territory with the whole idea of keeping company = job. Unless you mean that they're your guards? That's kind of like keeping you company.

[battlefieldbrat]

[he latches on to this, as it feels more normal to him.]

Dogs make great guards, yeah. I have a pretty big kennel full, but sometimes people come and take one for their own purposes.

[...to be pets. let's be real. but kakashi doesn't ask questions about people who take dogs off his hands, other than to make sure they can afford to feed them.]

[cursegod]

If they do disappear from whatever happens, you might want to start planning to use a different type of tool.

Going to miss any of them?

[battlefieldbrat]

What? Of course.

[now he sounds unhappy.]

I put a lot of effort into training my dogs. It'd be such a waste.

[cursegod]

[WOW THIS HITS a lil too close to home with that sort of wording.]

I can understand that feeling.

[Does she have anything else to say that will get rid of the unhappiness? Nope.]

If they get wiped out and there were more dogs after an update, would you train more again?

[battlefieldbrat]

Yeah...if there were a lot of dogs in need of a place to stay...I'd do it again. But I don't know if I'd keep a personal attack dog again.

[he sounds a little pained. he can't help it, he's emotionally attached to rusty even though he cant talk like his dogs back home can.]

It's just a lot, you know? Pouring that much effort into one animal.

[cursegod]

[Sorry, Kakashi, she hears that pain but doesn't have any helpful words. Dara's still sorting out a recent betrayal for herself.]

I don't have that same connection with animals, but I can understand with humans.

[battlefieldbrat]

Right, it's like losing a comrade.

[a beat, as he realizes something.]

Wait, could people end up "deleted"?

[cursegod]

COULD, yes. Will? Who knows.

[battlefieldbrat]

[sweating internally.]

Kami, will this place ever stop screwing us over?

[cursegod]

[There's a chuckle as Dara begins to type her reply. She is one of those kami after all.]

Kid, even I can't give you a solid answer, but I'm willing to bet "no".

[battlefieldbrat]

[he sighs wearily. it sounds a little silly, coming from a youngster such as himself.]

Hopefully we at least keep our memories this time.