lostcarnival | ⇨ THE MATRIX

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⇨ THE MATRIX

Who: EVERYONE!
When: S1:D22 - S1:D??
Where: Visiting the Matrix.
What: The carnival arrives at its next location, as outlined here. This is a general mingling log for convenience purposes, but players are welcome to make as many other logs for this purpose as desired.
Warnings: Could be a lot of things.

THE MATRIX↴

"What IS the Matrix? The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you're inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it."

► INSIDE: On the inside, it all seems so normal. Beyond what you know of the reality you've stepped in, every bit of this place feels just as real as it did back in the carnival. If you were to forget where you'd just come from, would you know any different? The simulation of Chicago is identical to how it would have been in the early days of the new millenia, to anyone who comes from a similar Earth. Humans bustle around you, oblivious to the world outside of the Matrix that they were born into. One bright side to it all is that this hyper realism means the coffee tastes just as good as it does in real life. Anything you could do in real Chicago you can do here - and perhaps even more.

► WHITE ROOM: But before that, you were here. The White Room is a loading program, intended to port objects and people into the Matrix. You arrive as a reconstruction of your true physical form, but common sense suggests that for some of you, entering the mundane world looking like yourself isn't the best idea. It's in this empty world that you will be able to load in whatever physical objects you are, and change the way you present your own body to the system. Changes can be little, or big, but whatever you do, the body has to be able to function according to Earth's physical laws. Don't forget, if you die here, you die in the carnival too.

► DEJA VU: It doesn't matter what you're doing, but at some point you'll notice it - something around you has repeated itself, like a line on a skipping record. Maybe it's the same person bumping into you twice in a row, or the same cab driver yelling at you to get out of the way. It's like reality has rewound and repeated itself, and after the fact you have no proof of it happening beyond the memory of what you saw. You don't know what it means, but something about it is chilling. It may be a good time to find a buddy.

► THE ONE: It won't necessarily come naturally, but in a moment of need you may find yourself bending the world of the Matrix through sheer belief and force of need. How you bend it will always stay without the rules of the universe, at least for now, but when it comes to enhancing your own physical characteristics, just about anything is possible. It will not be easily reproducible, not now, but it could be your first view into the window of what's possible.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

White Room

After all this time, it's kind of strange seeing himself fully human again. Unfortunately, looking like he did before doesn't actually mean he's going to blend in, unless white hair and bright green eyes are typical of the populace of the Matrix.

Ginko frowns and reaches up to drag his fingers through his hair, careful, especially with his eyepatch gone, not to push his bangs away from his left eye. His white hair is left dark brown behind his hands. "...Damn. This is pretty weird."

Inside

Okay, on one hand, there's a lot to take in here; it's nothing like his own world, so he can't say he's not curious. On the other, there's a lot to take in here, and all things considered, Ginko isn't sure how much he wants to get... involved in it all, given the massive concentration of people and lights and vehicles. ...Not to mention what he already knows about the true nature of this place.

Instead, he mostly settles for finding places where he can stand by and just... people-watch, really. It's actually kind of easier here than it was in his own world, given that his avatar is probably going to do better at blending in than he ever did back home. If he notices someone he recognizes from the carnival he may give them a little wave, but he mostly seems interested in keeping to himself.

It's actually pretty bizarre to see people from the carnival looking like everyday humans, but Ginko's face is still there. In spite of that solitary aura, Greg winds up pausing by him as they cross paths.

"Hey. You waiting on anyone?" Everyone's supposed to buddy up before looking around, after all.

"Hey." The changes to Greg's face made him a little tougher to recognize, but at least Ginko managed to pick up on the resemblance.

He gives a slight smile and nods as he answers. "I'm supposed to meet up with Tanyuu; probably just going to stay here until then. What about you?"

"S'posed to meet up with Steven. I think he's taking his time playing around in that room, though." He spreads his hands in a pleasant shrug. "Not that I can blame him. I could spend just as much time messing around in there than anything out here." Without the knowledge of the conspiracy behind it all, this place reads much like any big city back home.

"Yeah, that's not too surprising to hear." He snorts and looks around at their surroundings. "Probably. Seems like it would help that you're not getting it all thrown at you at once in there, too. This place is a lot to take in at once."

"It's... all sort of familiar to me, really." He squints at the sky. "I've been to loads of places just like this, just without the... computer stuff." He chews his cheek for a moment. "I keep forgetting most people at the carnival didn't start off from the same sorta world."

"It's an easy thing to forget. But, yeah, there wasn't much like this where I'm from."

Apparently, though, he doesn't intend to say much more on the subject. Honestly, he's more interested in what Greg mentioned. "...So, this kind of place was pretty common in your world, then?"

"Oh yeah. Never actually lived in a big city like this, but definitely thought about it." He grins slightly at the thought of how that would have gone. "Place this big, with this many things going on... it can eat you alive, but there's never a dull moment."

That actually gets a quiet laugh. "I can imagine. Doesn't much sound like the life for me, though; I'd rather keep whatever 'dull' moments I can get."

"You do strike me as the type," Greg agrees. "Can't blame you. I've found dull moments are pretty darn underrated."

Well, clearly if he's waving, that means he wants Joker's company, right?

Especially since it's pretty easy to recognize Joker. He's never had some of the more drastic changes that the carnival can bring on a person sometimes, helped by the fact that he's always kept a (wary) respectful distance from dealing too much with fae magic. His eyes are a proper dull lavender now instead of piercing pink, and what can be seen of his left arm shows that it appears to be proper flesh instead of wood.

There's also a right arm, one that's much more still from where he's tucked it into his pocket, instead of just an empty sleeve.

Beaming, Joker flops into place besides Ginko. "Just takin' it easy, huh?"

"Pretty much. As much as anyone can here." Ginko grimaces, looking over the surrounding area. Seems to him like there's just way too much going on in general.

"So, what d'you think of all this?"

There’s a huff of laughter, his eyes glittering in amusement at the question. “I gotta lot of thoughts, Ginko. I don’t think ya would wanna be here when I spill ‘em all out.” But, to be more serious, he gives a contemplative hum and glances around again.

“It’s definitely interestin’, I’ll give it that much. I mean, ta think that all of this is- what? Just a fancy illusion, but with technology instead a magic? That’s the kinda thing that just goes over my head, I can’t even think too hard on it, ta be honest.”

"I don't know, I like to think I'm pretty open to hearing any thoughts that need spilling." From his tone, it could easily be taken as a returning joke - but he does mean it, all the same.

"I see what you mean. It's a lot to think about." He makes sure to keep his voice low, just in case any locals come by. "This is all these people have ever known... to them, it's as real as anything. Which I guess does make it real, in a way."

Okay, Ginko.

Oh boy. Joker makes a huff that’s like half a laugh. “Ginko’s been at it with the pipe again,” he teases. “But then, I suppose I see what ya mean.”

Not once would he ever call himself the academic type, so it takes him a second to get his words together as he glances around at everything again. It feels real, looks real, and every other sense on the list is probably real too. “I guess it depends on what ya define as ‘real’, huh? I mean, if the boss is right, all this is just-” He twirls his fingers vaguely in the direction of his temple. “-it goes straight ta their brains, yeah? That’s how it works?”

Ginko snorts, but he sees no need to object to that. He's pretty sure Joker knows perfectly well that he's sober.

"Exactly. If everyone here is having the same collective experience, seeing the same world, the same city... it might as well be real from that point of view. Of course, it doesn't make the reality of the situation less horrifying, but... as far as everyone here is concerned, there's nothing to be horrified by. This is the only world they know."

...Well shit that went darker than he intended. Ginko shakes himself a little and shoves his hands in his pockets with a shrug. "Anyway, I guess my point is... the experiences and memories they've formed here are real because they remember them, right? So in a way, so is the world they formed those memories in."

Talks with Ginko, the more serious ones, are always a trip. Joker listens, of course, because it’s interesting even if he’s not sure he’s nearly clever enough to follow some of the things that are being said. Still…. This is starting to remind him of something. It takes him a few seconds of thought, but soon he’s tapping his fingers- such an ingrained habit that he’s forgotten to snap- and making a noise of understanding.

“This seems sorta similar ta the dream world, don’t it?”

He answers with a thoughtful hum and a nod. "Huh... y'know, I see what you mean. This place may be more... artificially constructed, I guess, but the resemblance is there for sure."

“It’s all in folks’ heads. I guess if there’s any other differences, it’s that this place has a lot more order ta it.” Chuckling, he tucks his hand back into his jacket. “Consequences stick instead of not makin’ sense or not happenin’ at all.” Of course, that had been for the dreamers and not them, foreign entities passing through as they were for all the worlds they visit, but still.

“Ya would think that with that in mind, the things responsible for all this could at least make it a whole lot nicer instead of just makin’ things as they would be normally, bad bits and all.”

"Yeah... quite a difference, I'd say. But your point remains."

He snorts quietly. "Hah. Yeah, you'd think... but maybe they wanted to reduce the risk of suspicion, you know? If things go too well it starts seeming kind of off."

Or at least, Ginko knows he'd be suspicious after a while.

“Even if they grew up in it?” Joker knows all too well about growing up somewhere and assuming things can only be one way. Really, by this point, most of the carnival workers know too. It’s something you learn quick.

Ginko | Mushi-Shi | OTA

Inside

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WHITE ROOM

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