[OPEN MINGLE]

[justscribing]

WHO: Everyone! It's a mingle!
WHAT: Discussing recent reveals about the simulation
WHERE: Pairidaeza Architectural Studio
WHEN: Feb 3rd morning to evening
WARNINGS: Potential existential crises, discussions of death, memory manipulation, basically everything to do with their actual situation in a simulated environment.




[The actual setup within the garage-turned-studio is away from all the actual workbenches.

On one folding table are copies of multiple documents available around the X: The main document is a summary of a resident from a prior iteration that's clearly been redacted via scanning copies with stuff blocked out. Additionally are copies of the most recent newsletter with the memo on the back and photos of the hotel journal printed in black and white.

Lined up on another folding table away from the one with the documents is an array of finger foods: hummus, chutneys, and yoghurt dips with a variety of sliced vegetables, cheeses, cold cuts, and fresh pita bread. cardamom cookies, panipuri, and both vegetable and chicken samosas take up the other side. Mint water and fresh juice are in pitchers to the center. It's actually a little crowded.

Chairs are set up in small grounds and around the document table. And finally, a whiteboard has been rolled in for people to make use of in group discussions.]



((This is a mingle, so everyone is encouraged to threadjack, make toplevels, etc prior plot mingles have been done. Alhaitham and Kaveh will be around and participating but not taking the lead beyond making sure people stay orderly in the studio and have enough papers.

If you character has discussed the simulation with either Kaveh or Alhaitham, you can also handwave they texted them directly about it.))

Comments

[immortalpoet]

...

[Wiping memories...he's silent at that, but grimaces with the question.]

More often than not. Corporations do like to experiment on people where they can.

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham hums. He has half a thought of whether this City is actually where they've been brought to and used, from everything he's heard. But it can't be proven until they're out, and thus the answer won't be important until then. How many hellholes with apocalyptic crises are generically calling themselves The City anyway?]

Personally, I'd rather try whatever option will let me keep my memories intact than continue to be manipulated for their goals. [Even if it's a long shot.] Do you recognize the first four names?

[immortalpoet]

Cheers to that. [And a pause.] ...The ones under "origin associations"? I do.

[He won't lie about that. It's written all over his sullen face.]

I wonder where they get their information, outside of observation. Outside sources? Our memories?

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham nods once. Then Vergilius can probably guess who's file this is, though Alhaitham still won't bring it up directly.]

I have no doubts they have access to our memories, and the memories of anyone related to us that they pull into this. That can already be quite a bit of information if it's three of four associates.

[immortalpoet]

[Yes, he can guess at whose file this is, which only makes his annoyance grow.]

Memories...

[Fucking hell.]

That's technology on an immense level. And then adding the whole "pulling people from other worlds" thing, too. Wonder where they're getting the power. Don't tell me we're the batteries.

[justscribing]

It's certainly a possibility. [No way to prove it, of course, but Alhaitham just knows that his own similar experience involved using the subjects as fuel as well as data.] But who knows the extent of what they're really capable of. Even transferring people from others worlds like this is beyond anything I know.