keepgodwaiting: (dirtbag occultist)
Johanna Constantine ([personal profile] keepgodwaiting) wrote in [community profile] citylogs2023-12-11 12:02 pm

[open mingle] I do my crosswords in pen

WHO: Constantine ([personal profile] keepgodwaiting) & you!

WHAT: Metaplot deciphering!

WHERE: The Welcome Diner

WHEN: Early December

WARNINGS: Probable discussion of human experimentation


Another month, another weird new building, and Johanna has been thinking. If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, then they ought to try some new things, right?

Trying to stay away from the dorms at Halloween didn't work. Trying to escape the mall had mixed results. So maybe it's time to abandon the avoidant strategy and see what happens if they approach things a bit more head-on. Starting, in her case, with investigating every open door she could find in the Science Center until she found the director's office.

(Yes, she did just get told off by several friends for running into potentially dangerous situations with no backup; no, she did not alert anybody that she was going to do this; but hey, it was completely uneventful and therefore she has not broken any promises to anyone!)

The most interesting thing in there, by far, is the unlocked computer, and with a little digging she found a very interesting email. More carefully redacted notes. And she wonders ...

So one evening -- around dinner time, after sunset, in the hopes of being available to the most residents -- Johanna posts up in the welcome diner with a stack of notebooks, pens, and her phone. She's hand-copying the redacted file from her phone onto paper, with XXXXXs to indicate the number of characters in the redacted words. It's an arduous process, and every so often she straightens up from the work with a groan to crack her back. After she gets the whole thing copied down, she picks up her phone to make a network post:
Anyone good at crossword puzzles? I've got a doozy of one I'm working on in the diner and could use some help.
Anyone who cares to join her and try to decipher the redacted words, or make additional hard copies of the file to share out, is more than welcome to do so. Or just grab a cup of coffee and share theories with each other.

[ ooc: Feel free to treat this like an open mingle, converse with other characters, hop around, etc! I'll be making a top level with the text of the two redacted files from the newsletter, in which we can crowdsource guesses about what the missing words might be!

ETA: Feel free to put guesses in this document! ]



 
abit_ofboth: (Contemplative)

[personal profile] abit_ofboth 2023-12-14 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
[Loki frowns as he takes the papers Robby hands him and slides into a seat across from him.]

Redacted?

[He noticed other papers floating around amongst the other citizens that were scattered around the diner, but he hadn’t stopped to look, figuring he would speak with Robby first.

His frown increases as he begins to read the papers. He reads them more than once before looking back up at Robby.]


How did you get these?
strongroots: (wasss)

[personal profile] strongroots 2023-12-14 11:26 am (UTC)(link)
The report from the university? People found one at a new place, too. One of the ones that opened up recent.

[ Robby at least answers that much while Loki sits down, since he assumes the guy knows what redacted means. But otherwise, he's quiet as he reads the report in his hands, not feeling the need to interject or do anything but to wait for their own reaction.

And his own questions. ]
File, on my laptop. Been screwing around with it and putting music on it, and I noticed it. It wasn't there when I got it.

[ It sounds fucking crazy each time he shares it, but that's their situation as a whole, so. ]
abit_ofboth: (facepalm)

[personal profile] abit_ofboth 2023-12-14 09:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[Loki isn't sure how many times he reads the report, but he can't seem to make it sink in. He'd suspected for awhile that they were some sort of experiment, but having proof is more unsettling than he'd expected. For a moment he can only sit there, running a hand through his hair. How could they do this? Are they going to try and turn them on each other again when they don't get the responses they want? And they've done this, what, 50 times already? Maybe it is not the people who are the problem here.

He grits his teeth in anger. A rage fills him like he hasn't felt in awhile.]


So the idiots conducting this experiment, who keep trying again even though they are not getting the results they wish and are clearly adjusting the incorrect variables, have left this around for any one of us to find?

[He slams a fist down on the table. He does not like being played with like this. And if they think he will sit back and do nothing, they are sadly mistake. He looks back up at Robby, clearly angry, but suddenly very calm.]

What do we think the chances are that there is someone in their midst who leaked these to us on purpose?
strongroots: (mariella is my babygirl)

[personal profile] strongroots 2023-12-14 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Robby waits. It's easy, because it means he's not the only one who knows, and there's even a comfort in seeing the other express his anger. It doesn't change much of his expression externally, a frown on his face that persists. ]

No idea about chances, but it's possible. Someone outside trying to help us, screw with us, or-- [ a pause, and he pinches his lips together. ] --I dunno. Someone from another iteration did something to screw with the simulation and they can access the files but not talk to us.

[ He spreads out his hands. ] That's how little we know. It's all possible.
abit_ofboth: (facepalm)

[personal profile] abit_ofboth 2023-12-14 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[Loki makes a frustrated noise as he listens to Robby. He's never felt more impotent in his life and he hates it. Mostly, he's been rather neutral towards the City. He hates what it's doing, how it has taken people without permission for experimentation (namely it has taken him for such purposes is still his major point of contention, but only in the 'how dare they' kind of way). But at the same time, if it had not taken him, he would be dead, and despite his redemption of sorts, he doubts he would have found himself in Valhalla. Not to mention he's found friends and perhaps more in the people here.

He simply can't make the two sides work with each other. He's both mad and glad at the same time and he really doesn't know what to do about it.

What's worrying him most right now though is, did each iteration of this experiment end in the same way? Are they all just doomed no matter what they do? Was Loki given another life, a better life, only to have it taken away so quickly?

Loki sighs and runs a hand over his face.]


Doesn't that always seem to be the way? Even when we manage to find something out, we are still missing key points of information that would allow us to try anything with any confidence. I suppose it doesn't truly matter how we got this information, just that we have it is better than nothing. I was simply hoping we might have an ally.
strongroots: (wasss)

[personal profile] strongroots 2023-12-15 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
Time will tell if we do--but waiting's the shittiest part.

[ He could go for something peppier, but it wouldn't feel honest, right--not after the bulldozer of information in those papers, and how Loki seems now. What's honest is what he says, positive in its own way without going overboard.

There's another sheet, and Robby looks for it on the table. Locates it, turns to show the newest report after checking it for a moment himself. ]


Something happened on the 47 round's December experiment. The first time we found one of these in the university before Halloween, it looked intentional, the message we got on the back of the newsletter that month, right? But I remember the one we got this month--it said something about the test screwing up, something going wrong.

The October report and this one's both from the 47th round. [ He pauses for a second, then looks at Loki. ] Why reveal something bad happened when your first report gave a reason for everyone to look for them any time a new place opened?

They could be messing with us. Or it could be something else.

[ And Robby isn't sure which; isn't sure if he wants to hope. ]
abit_ofboth: (facepalm)

[personal profile] abit_ofboth 2023-12-15 04:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I am not known for my patience.

[Peppy is the last thing Loki needs right now, so that is likely a good decision. What he wants, what they all want, he assumes, is truth. It’s rather ironic, but despite Loki being quite an adept liar, he really does actually prefer the truth. Lies have done too much damage in his life already.

Loki reads over the newest report, his eyes scanning the words over and over again as he begins to rub at his forehead. All of this redacted crap is starting to give him a headache. He’s good at puzzles, but he’s a little too stressed out and frustrated right now to give it a real turn.

Still, his mind can’t stop whirling around the issues presented, and all that Robby is telling him. Loki hasn’t really been paying very much attention to all these happenings, mostly because he doesn’t want to die if he gets out of here, but it has his attention now.]


You said we seem to be the 50th round as well, is that correct? So what happened with rounds 48 and 49? If information is going to be leaked to us, why not the most recent and up to date information? I feel like there must be something specific to round 47. Maybe something happened in that round that did not happen in the others? Now, whether they want to repeat whatever that is, or if there’s some clue in there to this whole puzzle, I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put anything aside.

strongroots: (my plack)

[personal profile] strongroots 2023-12-15 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
It's worth tracking, [ Robby agrees. ] We got newsletters October and December, so we won't get another one 'til February, probably. Then we should check anywhere new for a file that says anything.

[ As opposed to the blank sheets usually lying around. ]

But whatever happened in the December experiment that got them worked up... I mean, it could be a ploy, but if it's the same test... [ He trails, thinking for a second. ] I don't know that I wanna go anyway, but I don't know how easy they're gonna make avoiding them anymore.

[ Kind of not looking forward to a psychological nightmare. ]
abit_ofboth: (facepalm)

[personal profile] abit_ofboth 2023-12-16 11:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, I agree. Any sort of pattern or tidbit of information can be useful. I feel like with each bit we collect, we are closer to being able to see the whole picture. Then the real question becomes, do they want us to be able to see the whole picture? Is this part of the test if it is not an ally slipping us information?

[Ugh, there are just so many possibilities it’s hard to narrow anything down. It is like trying to decode a message with no clues and no cypher and it’s really getting old. What if they were missing something the off months? What if they were being tricked? What if they were simply an experiment as all these papers seem to suggest? What if, what if,what if!]

I suspect you are correct to worry about that. It seems at least that one of the main goals is to see how we work together. How we handle things as a community instead of just as individuals or small groups. I suspect that is why we have been forced into large social gatherings. Though what exactly they are trying to see by introducing rather odd scenarios is beyond me.

[Loki really hates to admit that, but it’s true.]
strongroots: (megafone)

[personal profile] strongroots 2023-12-16 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Robby shrugs, a motion of agreement to that last bafflement voiced. ]

Putting us under stress, forcing us to bond by making us spill our secrets--don't know about sticking people in story books. More forced bonding?

[ ...the most bizarre case of it, that it's the only guess he can make. ]

Being in danger probably brings people together better than not. But, making us attack each other... what does that do?
abit_ofboth: (Contemplative)

[personal profile] abit_ofboth 2023-12-17 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
It is probably something as mundane as a group of people in charge brainstorming random scenarios to try and throw at us. Perhaps they think if they make us go through things that we would not expect they will get a different response? The parts we can decipher of these notes does seem to indicate that they wish for us to work as a group and do not like it when things start to separate us more, but what is the purpose?

[And really, why? Though it probably wouldn’t make any of them feel any better, Loki can’t help but wonder why they are doing this at all.]

Their criteria is definitely still a mystery. The little bit of information we have right now seems to all lean towards bringing us together, so it makes no sense to do things that would tear us apart. I’m afraid I really have no idea. None of this makes any sense.

[And that might be the most frustrating thing of all.]
strongroots: (mariella is my babygirl)

[personal profile] strongroots 2023-12-19 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It really was an end of the road for how much they could guess or get out of all this. Robby stares at the files longer, but it's just a frustrating mess, and he finally exhales, gives up on the futile effort. ]

We could write down everything we know, what we think is going on, and keep adding to it 'til something jumps out at us. [ He shrugs, a helpless expression on his face. ] I know it's nothing, but... collecting every idea and thinking of what we can do--it's all we've got right now.
abit_ofboth: (Default)

[personal profile] abit_ofboth 2023-12-20 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[Loki continues to frown down at the paper in front of him, much as Robby is. He still has the urge to ball the paper up and set it on fire, but really, what good would that do?]

At very least, if we do that we might notice some sort of pattern, be able to figure out more of what has been redacted? Or organize it in some way. [He understands why Robby might think it’s nothing, but right now Loki is pretty sure that doing something is better than nothing at all. And at least this is something.]
strongroots: (never go home again)

[personal profile] strongroots 2023-12-21 01:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Well... ]

We can start now. [ He looks at Loki. ] I can grab some notebooks and pens and bring them back.

[ Hell, he'll even appreciate getting away for five or ten minutes. ]
abit_ofboth: (Default)

[personal profile] abit_ofboth 2023-12-21 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[Loki’s pretty sure he’s upset Robby somehow, but it also could just be what they were dealing with here. He thinks he’s managed to keep himself relatively calm, but he knows many find him intimidating when he’s upset. Trying to control himself, Loki manages a smile and nods.]

Yes, no time like the present.
strongroots: (but omg im in love with you)

[personal profile] strongroots 2023-12-21 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Fortunately, it's not getting away from Loki that's on Robby's mind. He gives the guy a nod, stands from the table with a small sigh, and his expression is an exhausted one, a boy not used to circumstances such as this. Even with the time he's had to sit on this development, it's still a lot. His head buzzes with the new information, the new questions. The ever larger lack of answers.

But outside, there's a chill; the murmurs of conversation stay inside the diner, and both facts are rather nice for shutting his brain off for the five or ten minutes it takes Robby to locate a shop that carries what he needs. A couple of notebooks and pens? Not a hard find, luckily.

It doesn't ease the complicated expression he's been wearing once he comes back, but he takes the pads and packet of pens out onto the table with a "Here" that's calm enough, sits once he's done (after taking out a can of drink he got for himself, a soda). ]
abit_ofboth: (Default)

[personal profile] abit_ofboth 2023-12-22 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
[While Robby is gone, Loki takes a minute to just breathe. He has seen many strange things in his life, but this is the first time he’s experienced anything like this. As much as he’s thankful to be alive when he shouldn’t be by all rights, and as much as he’s thankful to have met Hob and all the friends he’s met here, he doesn’t like that they’ve all been kidnapped for some strange experiment and he definitely doesn’t like that it seems like they’re doomed to die horribly if the rulers here don’t see an outcome they want.

He looks up, slightly startled when Robby comes back. He’d been thoroughly lost in thought as to what to do about all of this. He smiles a bit awkwardly at him and takes one of the pens and a notebook. It’s then that he takes a closer look at the boy and realizes just how young he is. If Loki is having a hard time with this, he can’t imagine how hard it must be on Robby.]


Are you… doing okay? [He’s not really sure how to ask such things. He’s not used to bothering for the most part, but he is a little concerned about him.]