⇨ 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

[dorkypantsuit]

I. Paint the City

He’s a man on a mission. Well, technically he’s a troll on a mission, though right now he doesn’t look it. He’s human in appearance and wearing human clothes. The only thing unusual about his presence here is the can of yellow spray paint he has in one hand. He shakes it, before quickly removing the cap and drawing a small ψ sign on the wall. The cap is replaced before he’s swiftly stowing the can away again. He does it all week, whenever he thinks people aren’t looking, marking the walls with his ψiign.

After a few days it’s hard not to notice the amount of Psi signs. They’re small and innocuous, but they’re there if you’re looking.


II. High Speed Chase

He’s running, he’s not the kind of person that runs a lot, but he has a strong feeling that trying to fly here would be bad. That would draw more attention to him, not less, right? Still, he’s surprised the fucking cops are the ones coming after him. He hadn’t even tagged that many walls yet. Did they have access to some kind of information he didn’t know about? It doesn’t matter, not now anyway. He has to run.

It should be harder than this, running this fast. He should be breathing hard, feeling his muscles ache as he makes his way through the city. He isn’t though, and he doesn’t even realize it. He’s simply doing it because he needs to in order to get away.

“Find a phone, find a phone, find a phone!”


III. Code Push

Of course he’d known the whole time this world was fake. He knew it wasn’t real, just a simulation, but he’d never thought he could see it like this before. It was like he could see the program, see the rules that were in place and see how to shift them. Almost. It wasn’t obvious all the time, but every now and then there was a glimmer of it, of the code behind the illusion. If he just concentrated hard enough.

It’s dusk, the streetlights are on and he’s sitting on a bench in a park. Suddenly the light turns off, and instantly Psi is standing up, arms thrown above his head, laughing like a maniac. Surely that won’t garner him any attention.


IV. Write Your Name

Now that he’s made this code his he doesn’t have to use the spray paint anymore. He carves his name into the walls without lifting a finger. On the sidewalk it looks as though it was stamped in while the cement was still wet. It’s carved into plinths listing donor names and monument creation dates. The off-color bricks in the wall spell out the shape. He even changes a billboard to say it. It’s not ‘the Psionic’ he’s written, but “Ψ.” He’s certain he’ll get somebody’s attention.

III

[wild_magic]

Susan honestly doesn't recognize the Psionic, whether he's seen him in passing or not, but that doesn't matter. What does is that when he's walking through the park he suddenly sees the light go out followed by someone laughing like a crazy person, and he has to figure out just what that's all about. He looks amused and more than a bit curious as he approaches (cautiously, though, not wanting to risk getting attacked if this is just a crazy person).

"What's so funny about the lights going out?"

Re: III

[dorkypantsuit]

Susan might not recognize the Psionic, but the Psionic certainly recognizes Susan. He hadn't talked to him much in person of course, but he made a point of learning the names of all the new faces he saw each day. He had to, especially if he wanted to help them avoid getting into any trouble.

"Susan! I made the lights go out!"

[wild_magic]

Well, that means this isn't just a totally random crazy person, at least. The human appearance of course means he can't place him, but he knows he recognizes that voice, too, so even if he still can't immediately recognize who it is he feels more comfortable coming closer and dropping his guard a bit.

"You did that? How?" That's pretty cool, after all, even if it doesn't quite explain the crazy laughing.

[dorkypantsuit]

"I figured it out! Everything here is numbers! One, light on, zero, light off!"

He says it excited and he says it fast. It just makes him sound even crazier than he did before.

"And I can change them!

[wild_magic]

It only makes Susan look more confused, hearing the explanation, but he nods slowly anyway. The Psionic never seemed so crazy over the radios, but obviously he really was. Not that it mattered to Susan, but still, it's a bit weird.

"But how do you change the numbers? I didn't think you could use magic..."

[dorkypantsuit]

"Oh I can't. But it's a lot like using my Psionics. If you focus just right, you can manipulate them however you see fit."

He perks up, an idea suddenly striking him.

"Have you tried using your magic here yet?"

I. Paint the City

[meanlook]

On one such occasion, it turns out the troll is not as alone as he thought. From out of an alleyway steps a man who will probably look fairly familiar.

Silver has apparently chosen to represent himself in this world as he imagines he'll look as an adult. He's certainly taller than he is in the carnival, standing about six foot and with a build that's more toned without being exactly muscular (from what one can see in spite of the long brown trench coat he's wearing). His hair is much longer, going down to about his mid-back, with equally long bangs that frame eyes covered in platinum colored sunglasses.

He'll lean against a wall and cross his arms over his chest, waiting for just the moment right moment to bark, "Hey, you!"

Re: I. Paint the City

[dorkypantsuit]

He does wait for the right moment. The Psionic jumps back startle, spray can slipping from his grip before he recatches it. When he turns around though, all he sees is Silver. He may be taller and have longer hair, but there's no way the Psionic doesn't know who this is.

"Yes, can I help you?"

Re: I. Paint the City

[meanlook]

The trainer slides the shades down his nose to give his supervisor a disbelieving look and a shake of his head.

"Aren't you a little old to be a delinquent?" he scolds, "Even when I was a criminal, I didn't do this kind of stuff."

Stealing? Assault? Sure, but graffiti? How pointless. At least that's how Silver sees it.

Re: I. Paint the City

[dorkypantsuit]

Any discomfort the Psionic might have shown at being startled disappears. The look is replace with the kind of teasing smile he usually wears around his favorite lackey.

"You know when I was a kid I never got to do this kind of stuff. I didn't even run away until I was practically an adult."

He doesn't bother mentioning, of course, that very few things are actually illegal on Alternia. Where the Psionic is from every thing is free game so long as you can get away with it.

"I guess this time I'll be following your lead."

[meanlook]

"That's the smartest thing I've ever heard you say," Silver smirks as he stops leaning, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking around.

He hasn't really explored much, mostly skulking around and trying not to draw any attention to himself if possible. As is usually the case when they end up in a world in conflict, he doesn't feed a need to align with one side or another. Unless someone messes with him directly, he considers it not his problem.

"Then again, if you get arrested that means I can take over your position, so maybe I shouldn't have said anything."

[dorkypantsuit]

The Psionic just laughs in response, pocketing the spray can once more, the symbol on the wall sign enough of his work.

"You and I both know if anyone took over after me it would be Ginko."

III

[destiny_key]

"Um..."

Granted, maniacally laughing dudes in streets is not the strangest thing Sora's ever seen (or even just today), but it's still a little unnerving when the lights go out and this guy just stands up and starts laughing like he's won the lottery.

Maybe he should just. Check and see if everything's alright.

"Hey, um... Are you okay?"

Re: III

[dorkypantsuit]

"Yes!" The Psionic says, still shouting despite the fact that Sora is quite near.

"I'm better than okay even, I'm great!" His fists punch the air in celebration. Then he realizes something and smiles even wider, if that were possible.

"Hey! You're one of the new kids!"

[destiny_key]

"Huh? Uh, I mean, I guess, yeah."

How does he even respond to this guy? He's clearly from the carnival, but that doesn't mean much. Sora can't help but wonder how many people around here really are off their rockers.

"Uh, I'm Sora."

making a great first impression here.

[dorkypantsuit]

He sticks his hand out for a shake, smiling down at the newbie.

"Sora! I'm the Psiioniic." he announces. He hadn't even thought about picking some weird human name to use, but even if he had he wouldn't use it to introduce himself to another carnival member.

"I don't normally look like this, maybe you've seen me around. I've got four horns and glowing spots."

i'm not sure what i was expecting, but i don't think it was a good first impression.

[destiny_key]

"Nice to meet you," Sora replies, shaking the offered hand. Maybe the maniacal laughter had just been a fluke? Either way, Psiioniic seems to be acting more normal now, if very friendly.

"Uh. Sorry, I haven't seen you. But I've only been here like three days, so I guess we just haven't run into each other yet," he grins. "I just look like this, usually."

[dorkypantsuit]

The Psionic waves off the apology. The Carnival was pretty big, and Psi had been, well, distracted, to say the least.

"Are you a human then?" It was so hard to tell sometimes, especially with the entirety of the multiverse out there for them to explore. "That makes it easy to blend in places like this, though I guess I'm not doing a terrible job either."

He smirks, as though amused by his self-serving flattery.

II

[pipers_son]

Psionic, he swears to god.

Joker would recognize that voice anywhere, and he looks up from where he's peering at some things through a shop window. When he sees the source of the panic, he can't help but give a bark of laughter before, with no hesitation, he bursts off after the troll himself. He might be missing his wings and antlers, and has gained a right arm, but there's no missing Joker's bright red hair. With ease, he comes up ahead of the Psionic and gestures for him to follow him down one side street.

"This way!"

II

[dorkypantsuit]

Oh my god, how does Joker just come out of nowhere like that. Psi is already running his fastest and Joker comes up and starts going faster. That is such bullshit. He doesn't say that though, instead just opting to follow the red head. If Joker has an escape route in mind he knows it's going to be a good one.

"How the hell can you run like that!?"

[pipers_son]

“I’m a natural born troublemaker, ain’t I!” is the hooted back answer, although whatever grace Joker is displaying is done over by him almost tripping over some small decorative fence as he decides to take a shortcut through the nearest tiny park area. Truly the picture of elegance over here.

[dorkypantsuit]

Psi cracks a smile at that, both the trip and the response as he easily hurdles over the fence. Joker might even be able to hear him laughing. Despite the fall Joker is still leading him, to where the Psionic has no idea. The cops aren't agent possessed just normal humans, and not necessarily in the best of shape either. They're falling behind the two carnival workers looking smaller with each passing second.

"Think I'm the one... Getting into.... Trouble." The Psionic shouts back in between breaths.

[pipers_son]

The good news is that this park, for all that it’s small, is dense, and has a small area to the side that’s basically just an entire solid arch with vines and other plantlife wrapped thick through it. A nice place to duck away into before getting through the other side, and Joker is pretty sure that by this point, they’ll be able to slip into it before the cops catch up enough to see where they’re going. So he gestures for Psi to follow him after into it, slowing to a stop by some benches that are set right in the middle.

[dorkypantsuit]

The Psionic slows to a halt behind him, grinning in amusement at the hiding spot Joker's found for them. He didn't look back at all to see how close the cops were to catching up with him, but if they find the two of them they can just run off again. He shakes his head, amazed Joker's found a place like this already, was it just random luck? For not the first time Psionic finds himself thinking that Joker would make a pretty crafty troll. He's breathing deeply now, but still doesn't feel tired. His face is flushed gold, a leftover of his self image he hadn't thought to change in the white room. His blood isn't even yellow at the carnival these days, but it's clearly still how he thinks of himself for better or worse.

He looks around, crouching a bit, as though he's afraid of getting caught if he stands to his full height. He waits a few minutes, but it's quiet, the cops never showing up.