⇨ THE MATRIX

[ringleaders]

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.

Comments

Chiaki Nanami

[waitingforplayer2]

Please Insert Coin

This time, when Chiaki hears what the new venue is, she has to check it out for herself. Every morning before work, she hops into the Matrix - often with Yuugi at her side - speeds through the White Room, and begins exploring. She's fashioned a green trenchcoat dress for herself, and keeps her hoodie buttoned tightly over her furry ears. There's just one problem.

"Miss, is your mom around?" She gets the question no matter what store she walks into, and she sighs and turns to leave it. Maybe the next place will be more forgiving...

Gamer In Disguise

Of course, the events give her ideas, and later in the week she's in uniform at the playground of a local middle school in the morning, sitting reading a book by the entrance and watching parents bring their kids to school each day. She swings her legs and sips a juicebox, blending in perfectly with the other children.

Power Up!

It's not long before Chiaki figures out what's going on with the One power. (It involved an escape from bullies. Best not to ask.) But that means that late in the week and early in the morning, she can be found on top of one of the skyscrapers, eyeing the other side with a fierce excitement.

"Okay. I'm going to jump. Are you coming?"

powering up~

[toogoodtoopure]

[Really, they kind of both figured it out at the same time, which shouldn't have been surprising when they spent most of the week buddying up together. It made sense in that way, which explains why he finds himself standing there with her later on in the week, hands casually in the pockets of his jacket as the sun barely touches the horizon, lighting the city on fire around them.

For the briefest moment he considers asking if she's sure before he shakes that off. Doubting will almost guarantee that it won't work after all. Instead, he reaches to take hold of one of her hands, squeezing.]

Right behind you.

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She's actually not completely sure if this will work. She supposes that's the fun part about this, right? It's the fun part about any game - and that's kind of what this world is, in a way.

Her heart pounding, she grips Yuugi's hand tightly. ] On three, all right? [ Don't think about it. Just do it. She stares at the other building, focusing on it rather than the gulf. ] One... two...

[toogoodtoopure]

[Why was this any different than the billions of other times he had thrown himself headfirst into danger. Well, for starters, he actually sort of knew what he was getting into, and it was usually for a friend, or the world. His own health aside, he generally came out unscathed. How was this any different than any of those other times when he had believed and knew things were possible.

Simple answer? It wasn't. He could probably come up with a longer answer as to why later if ever asked. Yuugi's sweaty palm grips hers, jacket pushing behind him in the wind almost as though it's telling him. He lets go of her hand and breaths out a slightly breathless]

Three.

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She jumps at the same time she does, and her legs propel her much farther into the air than was normal. They'd started a foot or so back from the edge - you know. Just in case. But now she was sailing over the gap, right with him.

They were flying.

She laughs - a real laugh, not a muffled giggle or chuckle - staring down at the tiny cars below them. Everything feels strange and wonderful.

Then she looks up and her laughter dies out. The arc of their jump is wrong.

They aren't going to make it. ]

[toogoodtoopure]

[They might not be able to make it.

That's the thought that runs through his head as he realizes, watching the line of the skyscraper drop. It certainly wouldn't be the first time he's fallen through the sky, but there's some kind of instinct that kicks in, almost. Yuugi grabs hold of her, tuck her close, and curls himself around her. It's almost like those video games he's played where there's a secret passageway, or a tunnel, and with a kick of his legs (new, awkward now, though they are taking some getting used to), suddenly they're barreling through a fire exit.

Yuugi lets her go once he feels solid ground under his knees, adrenaline rushing through his veins as he reaches to take hold of her shoulder, breath wheezing out.]

Are you okay?

[waitingforplayer2]

[ It happens far too quickly, and suddenly she's embraced in warmth. She curls into him, just like in the position they cuddle, making herself smaller, and then they're rolling, and then it's over.

She scrambles to her knees, panting but unhurt. ] Yes! Are you? [ She takes his hand on her shoulder, too - he's the one who took the brunt of the impact, after all. ]

[toogoodtoopure]

'm okay.

[There's a small wince as he shifts himself to sit up, hands propping him up as he stretches his legs out around her. Maybe a trip to see Zecora later won't go astray, but he waves a hand, smiling sheepishly. There's a scrape here or there on his hands and one on his cheek, but other than that he seems unharmed.]

I've been beaten up worse.

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She checks his knees and his hands, and when she sees he's okay, the sigh of relief spreads through her entire body, including her ears, which relax against her head. ]

I guess we need more practice. Sorry about that, Yuugi...

gimme yo quarters.

[dorkypantsuit]

"A hoodie and a coat?" he asks, eyebrow raised.

If he hadn't come into the matrix with her she might not have even recognized him. He looks human for once, not like an alien, though from the way he's dressed he might as well be. He's volunteered to be her 'mom' for the day. Was mom the right word?

"I am her human guardian, yes!"

Smooth.

[waitingforplayer2]

"I like the hood..." And she likes the ears. She probably should have just got rid of them. Oh well.

The shopkeeper gives Psiionic a strange look, but it's enough for Chiaki to slip by unnoticed into the bulk of the store.

There are a lot of board games here.

[dorkypantsuit]

Psi isn't as into the shopping as Chiaki is, but he's happy to come with her if it means she can have a look around.

"So what's this stuff for then?"

[waitingforplayer2]

"They're old games."

She pulls down one box -- it's a copy of CLUE, and opening it reveals a bunch of little figures and a map of a house, along with some other assorted things.

"This is one of my favorites. I haven't seen any like this at the Carnival."

[dorkypantsuit]

Psi looks at it. He's never seen anything like it either.

"How do you play?"

It was just a bunch of paper and stuff, didn't seem very much like a game.

[waitingforplayer2]

"Here, we can play a round!"

She drags Psii over to a convenient table and starts spreading the materials out on it. "Okay, so, there's been a murder in this house, and we have to find out who did it and where and why. So we each get some cards and then we have to investigate and make a guess." She starts shuffling the deck.

Did you have anywhere to be, Psii? Clue games can take upwards of an hour.

PLEASE INSERT COIN

[starseedling]

"I guess... you could make yourself look older?" Steven suggests, a little bit uncomfortable, as they turn to leave one particular store. He doesn't know Chiaki very well at all, but he happened to be going through at the same time as her today so he ended up taking along, as is his tendency.

"That room thingy seemed really flexible! Even though... shapeshifting can be pretty weird."

Obviously he didn't help her case when it comes to looking young. If anything, he'd have to be her little brother, if he wasn't totally different looking from her. Maybe ten year olds don't usually spent their time wandering around stores in downtown Chicago.

[waitingforplayer2]

"I guess so. I was trying to blend in..." Said the girl who still had her cat ears snug underneath her hoodie. She thinks.

"We should find a phone. I can try again!" She hurries down the street, looking for a payphone.

Gamer In Disguise

[pipers_son]

"Looks like yer settlin' in well." Joker's tone is more than amused as he comes up along the sidewalk, having spotted her from a distance and decided to chat a bit instead of wandering. He looks pretty mundane himself, especially considering how he looks back in the carnival, although even the dull lavender of his eyes is still striking paired with his bright red hair.

"Are ya gonna be here all day?"

[waitingforplayer2]

"Probably not... the school day ends at 3 or so." And she has work to do on top of that, but... details. She brightens.

"I thought I'd keep an eye out for anything strange."

[pipers_son]

“Oh?” That draws his interest as he stops besides her, raising an eyebrow. “I thought ya worked over in games. This ain’t somethin’ anyone else is askin’ ya ta do, is it?” The Ringmaster has the Nightriders for that kind of thing, after all.

[waitingforplayer2]

Uh-oh. She wilts a little under his gaze.

"I was just curious." It's mostly true. Psii sort of gave her the idea, but he didn't suggest she actually infiltrate. "I'm going right back after to work on the games."

[pipers_son]

“Hey now, nothin’ against that!” He waves his hand lazily, chuckling. The way she’d shrunk isn’t something he’d missed. “It’s fine ta be curious. I mean, most of ya newcomers will be. Travelin’ through different places like this ain’t exactly the norm. So take as long as ya like.”

[waitingforplayer2]

"Okay." She hesitates. What she's doing does feel a little less like observation and a little more like... well, intentional observation. But hopefully he doesn't mind.

"But if I see anything, I'll tell, um... Psii, I guess. Or Mari." Somebody.

[pipers_son]

He chuckles into his hand. “Well, tell anyone ya like. Anyway, have ya been makin’ sure ta enjoy yerself? Get any food, all that? I’m glad ta see that there are a lotta folks from the carnival havin’ fun, so don’t count yerself out of anythin’.”

[waitingforplayer2]

"Some!" She pulls some typical American 90s snack food out of her pockets, which she got from lunchtime at the school - pretzels and cheese dip, Gogurt, juice boxes, fruit-by-the-foot.

"What have you been doing, Joker?"