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

[ He's getting used to Childermass just appearing like this. As such, there's only a brief moment of confusion and recognition before Strange settles comfortably back into where he was, leaning back into the bench and smirking in an annoying sort of manner.

Hopefully Childermass showing up was just the man's natural stealthiness and not him regaining his magic in this world. Not that Strange would be jealous or anything (oh my God he would be so jealous), it's simply that the lack of magic has been driving him up the wall.

And people won't look the other way? Please. ]

But enough people will, [ Strange explains, as he leans in closer towards Childermass. ] One of the first things you learn about madness is that nobody wants to meddle with it. Madmen can get away with plenty simply because no one wants to deal with the madmen.

[ just ask Vinculus. ]

[ The counter to that is someone eventually did want to deal with Vinculus and that someone just happened to be Childermass. It's all fun and games until the one asshole wanting an answer shows up, right? ]

Most won't, that is true enough. [ He leans in similarly when Strange leans closer, for the sake of keeping the conversation fairly quiet. ] But what will your plan be when you run into the few who do?

I'll tell them the truth, [ Strange simply responds, with a shrug. ] I am Jonathan Strange, of Ashfair in Shropshire. I am a magician, I served as Lord Wellington's magician in the peninsula, I am from a time approximately two hundred years in the past and currently, I travel with a carnival docked in Faerie in exchange for the knowledge of how to bring my wife back to life.

[ All said with a straight face. And really, the fact that he could say all that with a straight face, looking as he does with his wide eyes and tight smile is...definitely another point towards madness. What person from this world would believe the actual truth, as strange as it was? ]

[ What a somewhat worrisome and incredibly unstealthy answer.

Childermass leans away again, brow furrowing as Strange earns a fairly resigned look. Not even a week in and the man is going to get himself committed, in a wholly different world, at that. ]

So you intend to look mad no matter what you do. That's your plan.

[ Not really a question there, only a statement. ]

[ did you really think he was stealthy, Childermass.

because guess what, he is not. Strange isn't entirely 100% certain of his answer, but he's just treating it like it's as good an answer as any others. After all, what else is he going to do? ]

If the magic of this world would properly behave, then of course the plan would be different. [ Because of COURSE his problems with manipulating the Matrix aren't Strange's fault, it is 100% this world being stupid. ] Granted, the main problem with this strategy is while your average person will gladly ignore talk of carnivals and Faerie, your not so average person won't. But then again, it would be quite useful in sussing out those people who aren't average, which is what the Ringmaster wants in the first place.

[ oh yeah, he hasn't also mentioned he's a Nightrunner yet, has he... ]

[ let him have his small hopes, Strange, come on. ]

This world doesn't have magic in the first place. [ Childermass has to point that out. Even doing anything like magic, it's definitely something else, and he would agree that it's annoying at first. ] And why exactly would she need you looking for people who aren't average?

[ No, he hasn't mentioned that. Could have been a nice thing to know. ]

I haven't told you? I was assigned two jobs when I arrived here. One was a magician--obviously a logical choice. The other was a mercenary with the Nightrunners. Another logical choice, I suppose, especially if the Ringmaster knew about Wellington.

[ he was on the peninsula, after all.

But Strange's tone of voice...well, he's trying his hardest to sound proud and capable and give off the impression that he's got this but in reality? He is not all that pleased that he's also a mercenary. Fighting in the war back home was one thing--that was his duty. But here? To be dragged into fighting again? He's not sure how he feels about that.

Almost imperceptibly, his hand starts trembling as he thinks back to his time with Wellington.

And hey. Childermass doesn't know about what they were tasked with. Does that mean this just went out to the Nightrunners? There's a pause, while Strange mulls over whether or not to tell Childermass this before he decides on screw it, why not. He's not the sort to keep secrets anyway. ]

She told us to keep an eye out for people who aren't like those in the Matrix, as well as people who might have a worrying interest in those from the carnival.

You mean the rebels?

[ He's aware enough. There's a resistance and an enemy, something about machines, though the more you dwell on what this place is, the more unsettling it becomes. Though why Strange would be keeping an eye out makes more sense now, knowing what else he's expected to be up to.

Can't say he much likes the sound of it. He can't honestly believe Strange likes the sound of it, either, because that tone, even something as small as a hand trembling, isn't going to escape the notice of a man like Childermass. It seems unkind to mention the trembling, however, so he'll ignore that part and just settle into his usual neutrality, like it doesn't matter to him one way or another. ]

And I would think you could try renegotiating, if you would much prefer one occupation over another. [ He won't specify which. ] Logical choice or no.

The rebels and the enemy--I believe they were called the Agents, though I could be mistaken.

[ After all, going straight from his world to the carnival to the Matrix has rattled Strange more than he wants to admit. He's not entirely certain with regards to the details the Ringmaster gave them, something which he'll be kicking himself for later.

His hand still twitches as he continues to talk. ]

I think I'll stay with both occupations for the time being. All we have done so far is to try and keep people safe. If at the next stop, the Ringmaster wants me to attack someone instead of simple reconnaissance, then perhaps I shall try to renegotiate.

[ A magician might kill. A gentleman won't. And after all, mercenary title aside, there's been nothing to show that Strange would eventually have to act with regards to the lethal aspect of the job. ]

[ And they can only hope it'll remain so. A reasonably quiet year and a day of world-hopping wouldn't be all that bad, strangeness aside. ]

If keeping people safe is the job here, I've seen far more of the younger workers playing games with all those vehicles than I have seen anyone rebellious or agent-like. [ Childermass did not appreciate a game of reverse Frogger (aka 'hey, let's stand in the way of this speeding van'), though, so he may be biased here. ] I would say that's more dangerous than anything else at the moment.

[ Yeah, at the mention of all the vehicles, Strange can't help but siiiiigh, frowning a bit. Cars suck. There's really no getting around it, Strange isn't too fond of the large metal death machines himself either. ]

I'm afraid I can't really do much about those machines, [ he responds, that frown turning into a wry little smile. ] I'm not exactly the sort of person who people would look to for advice.

[ Ya think? ]

Wishful thinking. [ What a nicer place Chicago would be if all the cars were just gone, right? But magic sure can't pull that one off. ] Though, no, I suppose you aren't.

[ He's not the one who said it, he's only agreeing with it and therefore cannot be blamed. ]

Especially in this case. They seem to have figured this place out better than either of us.

[ Strange sighs, huffing slightly as he frowns. Childermass has a point. A lot of people here seem to have gotten the hang of cars a lot faster than the rest of them have. And frankly? That's a little bit annoying. ]

I honestly wonder how many people the carnival brings who are closer to this time to begin with. That might explain the confusion.

[ Because hey, they're living proof of timeline weirdness themselves. ]

[ Not only the cars, but the Matrix itself, too. Where Strange was struggling with the fountain, he can only imagine it'd all be child's play for, well, the children. He can't find much fault with Strange's reasoning, however. ]

If I had to guess, quite a few, discounting the ones from entirely different worlds. [ There's no telling what the non-humans get up to in their own timelines. ] I think the closest I've met to our own time was from the early 1900s.

[ Nonhumans are the outliers and should not be counted. And yup, watch him still frown. ]

At least with realms of dreams we would all be on the same foot. [ and that foot would be confused. Though, he can't help but think.... ]

I do wonder if we showed up in a destination that was from the even further future, would it be even more odd than this one? Or will we reach a certain threshold of oddness that things stop seeming strange after a while?

[ Well, to that he can only shrug. ]

If we already find this far ahead odd, shouldn't even farther be more so? I'm not sure we can even know until it happens and I do suspect it will, at some point, happen.

[ Just wait for it, magicians in space. ]

[ whoooooo space magic. ]

Perhaps. However, there are days when you've reached your limit with regards to things like anger or stress, so why not confusion?

[ Strange was pretty sure he hit that limit like the first day he arrived here. ]

Confusion won't get anything done.

[ That's why, but, hey, this is Childermass. Who knows if he's ever had a day like that? ]

Better to let go of whatever it is you're after here, if it isn't working out this day. There's always tomorrow.

I managed to accomplish some of what I'm after.

[ Which was mostly, trying to figure out how to make the damn Matrix work. To continue to test that theory, Strange matrixes the water fountain on and off just to prove his point (and shut up, matrixes is totally a verb).

That wide grin plants itself back on his face because he turned the water fountain on! He could at least do something in this stupid world with it's stupid cars. ]

Needless to say, I'll feel a lot better once we're back at the carnival.

Is that all you were after?

[ Childermass doesn't seem at all impressed, which is probably expected. ]

How strange that we have to consider the carnival the real world, though. [ And want to go back to it on that basis. ] It's hardly any less unreal seeming than this one and yet this is the one that's all an illusion.

That's all this place will let me achieve, [ said with a scowl. Strange is obviously put out about that. ] It isn't like any of the books I've found were helpful to begin with.

[ Why no, Strange didn't spend a good chunk of the day A Children's Book of Magic Tricks, only to toss the book across the room in annoyance when he realized there's no actual magic in there, why would you think that? The fact that he can pull a quarter out of someone's ear now is entirely coincidental. Let's talk about the carnival instead. ]

Well it is Faerie. You expect the strange and unusual from a place like that.

[ That Strange has picked up a little sleight of hand from a children's book may actually have been able to get a whole lot of laughter out of this oh so serious fellow right here. That he didn't know any before a children's book, even more so. Though even mentioning books from here earns him a much more faintly amused quirk of an eyebrow. Like, seriously? ]

Of course they've no helpful books. These people don't believe in that sort of thing. [ Or if they do, they're unaware of how to actually do any of it, magic or Matrix... whatever that is. But fine. Let's talk about the carnival. ] And I do expect that from it. I only find it funny that it's already the stable place to go back to in comparison.

I suppose that's because we expect the strange and unusual there whereas we have absolutely no expectations with regards to this world, [ said as he idly gestured towards the zoo.

Because really, with all this talk of programs and virtual whatever, Strange didn't even know where to start piecing that out once they arrived. Reconciling what he knew with what he was experiencing for the first time was starting to get a little obnoxious. ]

When something odd happens in Faerie, you shrug it off because ah, it's Faerie, that's to be expected.

[ He's going to quietly consider that for a minute or so, leaning back on the bench they've taken over and propping an elbow up on the back. Normally, this is also a point where he'd fill the silence by fiddling with his pipe, but the zoo may as well be plastered with no smoking signs.

One can easily imagine how much he likes those.

So, no pipe. For now. He's like to flout the rule later, but until then, he'll just continue on with the conversation. ]

Expecting the unexpected doesn't seem like a very sound basis for stability to me.

[ Even if that could describe pretty much everything and anything regarding magic back in England right now. Still not very stable, by the way. ]

Edited 2016-12-17 08:29 (UTC)

[ Pfft. Stability. Strange gives Childermass a Look as he rolls his eyes. It obviously isn't a basis for stability, but when has he ever looked for the stable? Willingly driving yourself mad is a sign that someone doesn't care about things like stability to begin with. ]

On the contrary, it sounds entirely stable. Stability in instability. After all, when you expect the unexpected, you know what to expect.

no he really is not :c

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