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.

[empiricalpride]

Does MAGI refer to anything in particular in this context? Or is it simply a name?

All the same, thank you for the contact information. Believe me, I have no intention of sitting around twiddling my thumbs. If there is an establishment that would benefit from my employment, I would be remiss to ignore the opportunity.

[unbroken_chain]

Apparently it means Molecular Anomalies Gnosis Institute, but I think they just slapped the words together to make a cool-sounding acronym.

[empiricalpride]

I see. Frankly, it could be either. It's not an area of study that means anything to me.