01: text

[empiricalpride]

[The user behind this message currently has no interest in flashing his face across the screens of an unfamiliar communications system. After a life hiding in the shadows, it's not a pleasant concept... and right now, he barely knows whose the face in question is.
Still, in his current situation: he knows that he's going to have to reach out, hard as it might be.
So - Even's first message to the COMP network as a whole comes as a text post only.]

Good afternoon.

If anyone out there is in the situation of having been brought here unexpectedly - and given the efficiency by which I have been, I suspect this is not an uncommon occurrence - I would like to speak with you.

Is there anything I should know about life in this city at present? What are the rights and responsibilities of residents? Have you had difficulty adapting to life here? Any advice would be welcomed.
While this is less of a priority, is anyone familiar enough with the city's history as to be able to tell me how it came to be in its current condition? This is more personal curiosity, I'll admit.

Thank you for your time and cooperation.

Comments

text

[unbroken_chain]

Well, first off: welcome to Hinoto-Ri! Here's a text file answering some of the more common questions. As for the rest of them...

There was an attack recently and we're still rebuilding, as a Visitor you're a registered extraterritorial guest permitted to be outside after curfew, you're provided with free housing and a modest stipend, and generally it's somewhat easier to adapt if you're at least a little bit social.

Text replies until further notice.

[empiricalpride]

Thank you for providing the necessary information so succinctly - if rather casually. Really, 'mind lasers'?

It is a relief to know that Visitors, as you put it, are well taken care of. If we are to be brought here, I would have hoped that accommodations were made for our situation, and what you say appears to be adequate in that regard.
Still, I am unsure how being 'social' will assist me in adapting.

[unbroken_chain]

I'm an actress; I thrive on dramatic statements. Plus most Visitors that I've seen tend to skew towards late teens in age, so I figured I'd write to them. Trust me, I'm a teenager myself, and 'mind lasers' really catches the attention.

As for being social - it helps having some sort of support network able to lend a hand when weird stuff goes down - I swapped memories with a robot shortly after arriving here, for example, and there was another time when the entire city went crazy because of demon spores. Also, Caroline over at the Velvet Room has flat-out stated that the power of your Persona is influenced by the bonds of the heart.

Simple terms: make friends, get stronger mind lasers.

[empiricalpride]

[There is a pause before he replies. One that might be caused by such things as staring at Caroline's quote for a while.]

Bonds of the heart influence your power. That is an interesting statement, indeed.
I will have to investigate this matter.

However, the rest of what you say is logical, especially if strange occurrences are a regular hazard. If the age tendency for new arrivals is what you say it is, I can understand the hyperbole involved in the description, too - although I am also curious now as to why this Philemon would consistently select younger individuals for this ... project.

[unbroken_chain]

My favorite theory is that he only picks attractive people, but I have it on good authority I'm a bubbling cauldron of teenage hormones and I might be a bit biased.

You talk a lot like some of my scientist friends - what's your area of study?

[empiricalpride]

I'll take that as a compliment, then.

And you guess well. My typical area of study is biology, although I've dealt with other fields, too.

[He's not spilling all the beans yet. Not to someone he barely knows.]

[unbroken_chain]

Biology, huh...right now the only place I know of that's hiring scientists is the MAGI building my friend Fumi took over recently.

Here's her voicemail - the government stipend is enough to live on if you stretch it, but if you want luxuries or to eat things that aren't cup noodles you'll need to find work. I'm not sure if Fumi needs a biologist, but I kind of feel like she needs the company of other scientists - I do what I can, but I'm only one person, after all.

Text

[terminally_clever]

Interestingly, the records from around that time are rather vague. Ten or so years ago, there was some sort of unspecified disaster that cut this city off from contact with the rest of the world. The dates ever since have been labeled as 'After Crisis.'

Re: Text

[empiricalpride]

Ten years ago. I see.

[Interesting date, as far as he's concerned, committing it to memory.]

Do the unusual phenomena which affect this city - this 'thirteenth hour' I am informed about, and suchlike - date back to this point too?

Text

[terminally_clever]

And the Persona phenomenon as well, yes.

Re: Text

[empiricalpride]

Which suggests a connection between the way they are granted and the event itself, whatever that was.

Text

[terminally_clever]

Indeed. But unfortunately, with no reliable eyewitness reports or records, that connection may be lost to us. I've chosen to focus instead on studying the results of the event.

Re: Text

[empiricalpride]

Have you come across any particularly interesting data in your time doing so?

[action] lemme know if i need to change it ;u;

[poppetstrings]

[It's really only by coincidence that Xion catches sight of someone slightly familiar to her. It's been a really, really long time since she's seen Vexen.

And the last she knew, he'd been, well, dead. So she stops as soon as she sees him.]

Vexen!?

[He's not wearing his black coat like she is... Did he maybe opt for something else?]

Works for me!

[empiricalpride]

[Even freezes in his tracks as he hears the name called out, one word pushing his mind into overdrive. Yes. No. He is. He isn't. But more importantly, how could anyone here know that name?
And so, he turns - and stares at the black-haired girl.

Another Neophyte? Here? He's still not up to speed on everything that's happened since his death as Vexen, but - replacements? Could that be it? What other reason would she have to wear the coat?

His response is somewhat curt, though with a hint of worry to it.]

My name is Even. I would ask both you and whoever sent you to this world to remember that.

pfft happens

[poppetstrings]

Even? But.. You...

[He.. looks like Vexen. Sounds like him too. Xion doesn't think she has the wrong person, at least.]

No one sent me here... I've been here for awhile.

[empiricalpride]

[Oh. Well. That's one weight off his mind, at least: this isn't some kind of Organization stunt, the girl's in the same situation he is, unless this is some deception.
His tone softens a bit, though he's still wary.]

You were brought here too, then. Very well.

[A moment, and he allows himself to smile slightly as a thought crosses his mind.]

I'll admit - it's a little reassuring to know that the Organization thought it was worth their time describing the person I was to a neophyte. What have they told you?

[poppetstrings]

[Well, he knows the Organization, and he sounds just like Vexen to boot. Though she's a little confused as to what a 'neophyte' is.]

They... Haven't told me anything. I know you, it's me, number 14, remember?

[Though if he was calling himself 'Even' and not 'Vexen' like his name was... Well, he might not remember her. His memory does seem to be a little off, anyways.]

[empiricalpride]

Number 'fourteen'.

[He's giving her a look, now, wondering what she's talking about.]

There were never fourteen members when Vexen was alive. Roxas filled the last place in Where Nothing Gathers. What, pray tell, am I supposed to 'remember'?

text

[resipiscent]

Seems to me we all got dragged here out of nowhere. Don't be alarmed if you find yourself in control of some kind of giant monster.

Text replies until further notice.

[empiricalpride]

A widespread phenomenon, then.
In control of a 'giant monster'? I have been made aware of the existence of the demons of the thirteenth hour, but do you refer to something else?
Or is this 'giant monster' the Persona I've been informed of? I can see nothing else that I'd be newly in control of. How interesting.

[resipiscent]

Yeah, I meant the Persona. I guess it's not necessarily giant, though...

[empiricalpride]

Interesting. I've received very little information about the ability as of present: I wasn't aware that the result could be described as 'monstrous.'

[resipiscent]

They're different for everyone. Mine is... well, it's massive.

[empiricalpride]

Would you care to define 'massive'?