⇨ 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

[atouts]

[ And he'll be collecting a very random, mismatched deck of them at that, as the room has offered up a variety of them, alongside all of the regular playing cards that Childermass hadn't wanted at all. It's only when he notices an empty spot not of his own making -- he's compiling a very specific deck, see -- that he'll realize he must have company.

He'll pocket the cards he's gathered together himself and look around, searching until he catches sight of Nic going down the line at his own pace. No real harm in it, but a scruffy child poking around tarot cards has a certain reminiscence to it, enough of one that he'll turn and stroll quietly up behind the lad as he's distracted by yet another card. ]

That's the Nine of Swords. [ He'll supply a name helpfully, peering down over Nic's shoulder. ] A very unfortunate card, I might add, so you may not want it.

[killsign]

[Nic looks up at Childermass, craning his neck, then looks back to the card thoughtfully. Well . . . he leads a pretty unfortunate life, so he can't throw the card away just because it's unfortunate, too. Nic shakes his head and holds it closer.

Looking back to Childermass, he croaks out two words with some effort.] WHy . . . unFOR-tunAte?

[atouts]

[ While the question was anticipated, the sound of it was not. Childermass raises his eyebrows a hint at the croaked words, not entirely sure what to make of it. Something related to an injury, perhaps? Not used to speaking? Well, no matter. He'll answer all the same.

Though it's a very basic interpretation of the card that he'll offer. ]

It often means there is some sort of distress in one's life.

[ Guilt, regret, nightmares. The image on the card itself is someone awake at night, crying into their hands, so certainly not a happy card. ]

[killsign]

[Nic gives the card another hard stare, now holding it gently. He nods decisively and slips it into his breast pocket. It is his now, and it will never be alone.

Figuring that Childermass just wanted his card back, Nic flips through the rest of his found treasures and pulls another. It's a happier-looking card. He thinks it seems daring and heroic. It's the Page of Swords, which is maybe a little lonelier than he intended.

Turning to fully face Childermass, a small hand subserviently offers the card, face up.]

[atouts]

[ Tell someone something means distress and they pocket it? Now that's peculiar. What thought must be behind that, he's not sure the lad would even be able to explain if he bothered to ask. When offered the Page of Swords, he'll accept it, albeit briefly. All the cards are replaceable, if he's figured out the White Room correctly, so chances are high he'll be returning it before their little chat ends.

Even so... ]

Are you sure about that? [ He'll point at where Nic hid the Nine of Swords away with the other card. ] The Page of Swords here might still be more suitable, if you're looking for a card to keep.

sorry for the late reply! I was sick somethin' major

[killsign]

[Nic shakes his head, then taps the breast pocket where he stowed away the Nine of Swords.]

This . . . mE. [He points to the Page of Swords] ThAT's you. DOn't . . . disCARD it.

s'all good o/

[atouts]

[ The Page of Swords. Definitely not a card Childermass would ever attribute to himself, though he suspects the lad is going by pictures alone (although looking more closely at him, despair might be well known to such a scrawny thing). Well, that's that, it would seem. ]

Ah, so you are sure. [ He'll mimic what Nic did with the Nine of Swords, making a point to secret it away in a pocket just inside his suit coat. ] I wonder, does Mr. Nine of Swords have a name?