expiationnet | TEXT | sender: [ unknown ]

TEXT | sender: [ unknown ]

[ 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! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What a good friend.

I'm not surprised that your suggestion was shouted down, though. It's extraordinarily reckless.

No matter what's going on, it's better for mutants to stick together.

C'mon Nura, do you think we're ever going to get out of here without being a little reckless?

Bullshit. It's the who, not what, that's important. Being of a certain species says absolutely nothing about a person's character.

[One thing's sure: these mutants seem to be a lot more romantic bunch than youkai ever will be. He wonders if that's because they are all humans deep down?]

I have no doubts that the way out will be extremely reckless and contain more than a few 'well that was dumb' actions. But yours --- hmmm, how should I say it? It's either too forward-thinking or just too old-fashioned from my point of view? Maybe both.

Okay, the X-Men stick together. Scott's the teenage version of our team leader, he's just from a timeline where it hasn't happened yet.

~~[And this is the soap opera superhero team so is it any wonder?]~~

Fine, I get it. I don't need to hear more. I had enough of an earful from everyone else already.

I see. You could sell the movie rights for all that's happening in you guys' life and get rich from it.

[If Morph doesn't want to, Douman would. For a fair share, of course.]

I'm not trying to dissuade you or trying to say that your idea's wrong. The way I see it, breaking this thing has about as much of a chance to work or screw us all over as going along with it or just doing nothing at all is.

You have no idea. Seriously, it's hard to believe half the things I heard from the rest of the team when I was benched for a while.

[The X-Men are already funded by a rich guy, so maybe Douman should go for it.]

Yeah, but I'm the only one trying to get everyone killed. [There's a distinct note of bitterness there.] And the people who have been here longer are only now starting to share information with the rest of us.

[Don't even joke about it, because Douman will take those brand rights and run for it. He isn't some old money (heh), so any money to support his school will be eagerly taken.

But more importantly, it's good that things seem to be going fairly well between Morph and their friends. Having somebody to vent to should help keep this experience from festering. ]

Not really.

And them doing that surprises you?

[Whether or not the populace in Morph's world would be willing to watch a mutant action/drama is far from a sure thing, so it'd do far better on another world as it is.]

I mean, yeah? We're never going to get out of here without working together. This problem is way too big to not be an 'all hands on deck' situation.

[Duly noted that it'll be Morph's fault if anything weird along those lines will happen somewhere down the Yohaji timeline. o7

There is no answer for a long while before a soft knock against the doorway of the room Morph is currently at sounds behind them. When they turn around, they'll find a familiar tall shape holding up a bottle of beer at them.]

Pardon my intrusion, but this sounds like something that's better discussed face to face. Besides, how goes the old saying? Never share anything on social media that you wouldn't also write on a postcard for all to see.

[The problem with wearing the same costume all the time - mostly because it's one of the few things they have that they can shapeshift along with the rest of their body - is that Morph does have to wash it pretty regularly. So after Scott recruited them to help with the AI, Morph had flown back to their apartment in a hurry to get suited up.

When Douman appears, it's in Morph's semi-messy bedroom, and Morph has just gotten the spandex-like outfit pulled up over their hips. They turn and stare at him for a beat, unable to blush in their natural form but looking very much like the deer in headlights was desperately waiting for the car to put them out of their misery.]

That's great, Nura, but can't you LOOK BEFORE YOU TELEPORT?!

[Their shouting is almost immediately followed by Morph snatching up one of their costume's shoes and flinging it right at his mask.]

I'd have to be an eye-type of youkai to do something like that. Besides-

[He dodges the flying shoe and then picks it up.]

-you aren't scared that me seeing you will harm you, are you? I'm pretty sure that you don't have anything that I haven't seen before.

[There's a mix of an eyeroll and amusement in his voice as he leans against the door and just. Keeps looking, as far as anybody can tell with that dang mask on.]

This isn't a locker room! You don't know what I could've been doing in here!!

[And yeah, they are used to being in locker rooms, but they still didn't expect Nurarihyon to just show up?! Knowing that it would be near impossible to get rid of him if he insists on staying put, Morph half-turns away to more hastily pull the rest of their uniform on, still looking pretty flustered.]

And look, you'll have to drink that one for me. There's no telling what we're going to find out there, and I need to stay sharp.

Oh? Are you going to go after all? Who whistled and made you jump like their dog?

[The words are malicious, but the tone is lighthearted. Douman is honestly curious, even as he pointedly turns his back since Morph seems to honestly mind him being here. Huh, how interesting. Most men and shapeshifters he knows wouldn't give a damn (as would many of the 'ladies' he's familiar with.)

Oh well, all the more beer for him.]

Scott did.

[Morph shoots him a look over their shoulder after they arms into the sleeves, reaching back to pull up the invisible zipper on the back of their costume with the sort of dexterity that only came from doing it many, many times before.]

I don't think my plan is worth digging in my heels over. If no one wants to go through with it, I can't force them all to take the risk. Saving the AI seems like the next best thing, if we have to reset the simulation. And Scott said he needed my help, so that's that.

[Morph still thought it oughta be possible to separate the AI from the simulation - like partitions on the same hard drive - but knowing a little bit about how computers work doesn't mean they could tackle this advanced tech on their own. The very tablets everyone used for the network hadn't existed in 1997, much less whatever the simulation was built on. Lacking that knowledge gave them even less of a say in the matter.]

Scott?

[He doesn't think that he has heard that name before. At least not from Morph.]

I told you earlier that I don't think that your plan is particularly murderous. Not more than doing what that thing asks of you, at least. Has anybody considered that going along with that request could be taken as your agreement to being indiscriminately trapped in whatever this world is? Or that it is not really some "poor" AI asking us for help?

[Morph takes a moment to fasten and adjust the collar at the neck of their costume, then briefly pinches and tugs at the fabric to get everything in place. It's not made of actual spandex but acts a lot like it, so that part was just necessary.]

Yeah. He's pretty young now, but give it another few years and his codename will be Cyclops. He'll be our team leader.

[They pad over to Nura to pluck their shoe out of his grasp, assuming he gives it over.]

The problem is that we can't verify anything right now, but it is a good rule of thumb to help someone when they say they need help. And... as much as well all need to get out of here, making sure the AI doesn't die seems like the next best thing I can do right now. If that bites us all in the tush later, we'll just have to deal with it. Assuming we can get through this in one piece.

[Douman pulls the shoe out of Morph's reach only to swing it and playfully hit their rear with it before dropping it. He remembers the mutant telling him that their costume is made out of some pretty absurd-sounding material, but from the way it looks he thinks that it could be just a full-body version leggings instead. He'd be very surprised if something that thin could offer any sort of protection.]

You've forgotten your pants, young man.

Hey! [It makes Morph jump a little, but the goofing off does also get a quick smile out of them as they turn and bend over to snag their shoe off the floor]

There's no pants involved, old man. This is what kids are fighting in these days.

[They move to sit on the edge of their bed to get their shoes put on and buckled in place, following that with pulling on a pair of yellow gloves - and then almost as an afterthought, they grab the bomber jacket that had been left draped over the end of their bed.]

Besides, Logan's shown me a few of those old samurai movies. I know not all of them have pants on under those kimono!

Seriously? [Douman sounds as skeptical as he feels while he's looking Morph up and down. Nope, still looks like the worst to wear into battle ever to him.]

You're a shapeshifter for gods' sake. You can just adjust whatever parts you're unhappy with, rather than trying to make up for it by empathizing in such a silly way. That alarm color is just screaming "here! kick me in the nuts!"

[Which is something Douman and many of those he employs would absolutely try to do, simply because it's such an obvious target sign. Watching them fiddle with the finishing touches to their outfit, he huffs.]

You're still wearing underwear beneath them, unless you're an utter barbarian. Or do you think I went commando back when we met during Obon?

I don't know, did you?

[They ask the question without even thinking about it, just because it's the most irritating reply they could give. Morph stands and shrugs their jacket on before regarding Nurarihyon, hands resting on their hips.]

Yeah, I'm a shapeshifter, so I can shift to that metal form and make sure whoever kicked me breaks their foot on my nuts. [Or, you know, just get rid of that anatomy entirely for a while.] I do this thing a lot, you know, silly outfit and all. But it's nice of you to be worried about me.

[Or maybe it really was just criticism of the costume, but call it an educated guess. After all, even if Nura's timing was bad, this wasn't the first time that he had stopped by with beer when Morph needed someone to talk to.]

[Rather than an answer they just get an eyeroll and the bottle tossed in their general direction.]

Hmmmmph, who's worried here? I just don't want to be associated with anybody who lost just because they chose to wear a god-awful costume.

[As if having to worry about Karasuma doing the same idiotic thing weren't bad enough. This feels way too much like he's traded an overly fancy idiot for a gaudy one, and Douman doesn't appreciate feeling like he's being called out on something he hadn't even noticed himself up till now.]

I guess I can be nice and reward you by filling you in with what I have gathered about our situation so far - if you manage to make it back without getting beaten up.

[Morph has pretty good reflexes, but they still catch the bottle in both hands to keep it from smashing on the floor. The last thing they needed right now was to have to stop to clean up when they could be called out to a fight at any time.]

Now you're going to blame a loss on my costume instead of my skills? Questioning my fashion sense is one thing, but that's just unfair.

[The beer gets safely put aside on the dresser before Morph turns to face him again, their expression sobering. Yeah, they needed that information, but it seemed like the other Chosen were already heading out for the terminals. There wasn't much time left to use it standing around talking.]

... Sure, Nura. Let's do that, once we're on the other side of the reset. And I'll buy the drinks this time.

Would you rather have me just calling a skill issue instead?

[What a fool. Having an excuse is clearly better, isn't it? Mmmh, but earnest. He can't quite hate that character trait. It's too common in many good men.]

I'll hold you to that. Now then, I should be off to for my own trip as well. Take care.

[Seconds later Morph is alone in their room, because Douman has done it and just vanished in a blink again.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TEXT | sender: [ unknown ]

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private; ---> private & action!

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