WEEK 2

[akudamods]

Saturday passes uneventfully save a little rain. It's on Sunday that you get a little notification of probation for new areas: Neo-Nipponbashi and Chuo. It'd be possible to investigate, to check out some anime, or to worship the defunct Shinkansen. But maybe it's hard to get excited about any of that when Friday’s events suggest that you have simply been provided some additional photogenic places to commit murder. Are you going to bother either overseer after their participation in some mockery of justice? Troll the internet? Get a bat out of Hyper Zone and just take out your frustration on everything?

Those of you who entered the pods will experience fewer “painful bursts of color” as your body is unaffected below the knees, though the same amount of “slight teleportation” glitches. Those of you who abstained from the pods will continue to experience all of the above as well as electric shock sensations occasionally when touching metal objects.

INTERNET | SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

((Internet investigations of any kind go here, and for all IRL areas, please use "investigate" in the subject line of your top-level comment, or link the thread to a moderator!))

Comments

[akudamods]

[Does he have the right tools to perform such a detailed examination?]

[your_best_friend]

[* Some tools are easy. A simple video viewing software that can go frame-by-frame. A simple image editing software or website that can brighten, darken, change contrast, etc. But for the spectrogram? That one might be a little more difficult. He'd have to find (and maybe purchase) a Digital Audio Workstation, if there aren't any free audio-editing programs that have that option.]

[akudamods]

[Due to the length of the broadcast -- seven hours, a million and half frames -- it isn't feasible to get results from it.

From what you can tell, it’s definitely not raw, untouched content, though -- parts of the trial are missing, others are enhanced with angles and close-ups. You can’t say it’s malicious editing, but the more you watch, the clearer something else:

Nobody is coming out of this broadcast looking like a good person in the slightest.

It’s as if every moment that could lead people into thinking the X-Classes are collectively a nasty group who seek only to cause chaos and destruction -- which isn’t too far from the truth, but still! The first thing that comes when the trial opens is Wizard asking for popcorn. Belial accusing the overseers comes across as the X-Classes avoiding responsibility. Loremaster’s actions during the trial are largely untouched, the editor apparently satisfied with how it went. In general, anything that could be used to bersmich everyone was used.

What may be alarming, though, is the vague feeling of animosity you feel growing in you. Perhaps it’d be natural if you didn’t feel like it’s directed at yourself and your fellow X-Class Akudama. It’s subtle, but it’s there. This feeling will last for a while -- around a couple hours at most, but once it’s gone you’ll feel the difference.

The video was uploaded by an account that goes by the username of Miraicle.

That seems to be about it]

hyper fastball zone

[osssuary]

[Normally, places like the Hyper Zone really aren't much of a draw for Kimimaro, but everything about this city is bizarre -- including, apparently, its ridiculously extra zones for children; though just now there are likely rather fewer children here, in the slowly expanding criminal zone from hell.

So the quiet helps!! The other part being that the batting cages are outside, and also, that his fellow Akudama seem to be drawn here like moths to a flame. So here he is perched on... the fence of the batting cage, because who uses the door like a normal person.

He hasn't really made any noise, so the first you're noticing of him might just be him dodging any stray baseballs that might come his way -- whether from Zenos or anyone else using the other cages. Though even then, all he does is twitch out of the way. Why did he become batting practice instead of a spectator......]

... You play sports such as this?

[Honestly Zenos vs. baseball bat probably looks like a dude wailing on baseballs with a toothpick but y'know. It's fine. He's seemingly more confounded by the entire concept.]

[akudamods]

this is the weird part 🤔 there was a man flying in the sky. he had wings so he had to have been an X

no one knows where he went and he never showed up again but maybe he just got caught?sounds a lot like the knight right??

[hunterandhunted]

Why would it not be?

[Hitting things at mach-speed?? This is peak violence, Satsuki.]

[hunterandhunted]

How bold! [Zenos growls, though his smile has split ever wider.

The bat in his hands twirls again, until its broad side falls into Zenos' open palm in succession. Tap, tap, tap.]

I accept your stakes, Sephiroth, and I will have you crawling by my will before this day is done. [A wide swing of that bat, until its blunt end it pointed at the ball-shooting-machine, even as his gaze remains on his friendly rival.] Prepare yourself!

[hunterandhunted]

Oh? My investigations of this realm have certainly brought up interesting results. I figured as one of the more... intelligent ones here, we might have some details to discuss.

[A dramatic sigh, his cheek falling against his knuckles as if making a show of it.]

Though, I must apologize [—he seems completely apathetic in his delivery, deadpan eyes and all—] I do hope I am not making your headache any worse.

[hunterandhunted]

[Zenos watches, quiet and with his arms crossed over his chest, as Belial one-handedly smacks all those baseballs out of his way. It's impressive, given that neither of them have adopted a proper batting stance, and earns a pleased little hum from Zenos by the end of it.]

Well, I would be most pleased to duel with you any time. Finding kin in this realm has been difficult, but from the very first time we met, I could tell there was something special about you.

[A breath—]

We are two beasts cut from the same cloth. Surely there is not that much distance between us.

[hunterandhunted]

[Just as easily as Kimimaro dodges any of the stray balls that might fly towards him, Zenos easily smacks them with enough force to have set dents in the metal of his bat.]

Surely a man should not allow his skills to weaken, and I will not play into our captor's hands by unleashing my sword on my fellow Akudama!

[Which may be surprising given he's one of the few that seem pretty ok with just killing whenever!]

blight at the museum

[osssuary]

... Many seem fond of using those words here.

[Kimimaro, always unsmiling in the first place, seems a little more grave here still as he also tours the exhibits -- this information is much more useful than all the rumors and the announcements out there from who knows where, even if it is likely from the same source. At the very least, starting from the same foundation as those familiar with this world should be the basics of reconnaissance here.

And so: history lessons, though he still has rather less context than most. Kansai and Kanto are currently just about all he knows of Japan, along with the little bits and bobs of the streets of Kansai itself. Nothing quite like learning your geography backwards and in an alternate timeline...? He's honestly more interested in 'the forgotten legendary past' bits of it, but whatever.

He examines Adam's expression for a moment before looking back at what presumably is Kansai and Kanto history, because that is the really messed up part here.]

It seems that this 'Kanto' destroyed 'Kansai' well enough to rebuild it in their image. [the way he says Kanto and Kansai is slow and curious] A heavy-handed conquering state.

[inspiritus]

[ What is there to fear?

Sephiroth only anticipates his success, though his eyes do narrow at the comment...there is that smirk evident on his lips. ]

Oh? Zenos, I'm afraid you're mistaken. Prepare to suffer defeat and soon you will find yourself on your knees at my command.

[ His words are spoken in that smooth tone of his, yep. He'll go to collect himself a bat. Honestly, by the time they're done with this the real question is will there even be anything LEFT of the machine? Let's find out! ]

I've no preference as to whomever goes first, however. Though, I suppose since you've already been going at it, I will allow you to do so and take my turn afterwards. Gracious, no?

MEETING....... MINGLE?

[aggelos]

[Do you remember last Wednesday, before the Loremaster's demise, how she had slipped notes under the doors of everyone's rooms asking to meet and discuss with everyone about the motive or about anything interesting that was found?

Well, it seems that someone has taken up her mantle, because when you awake today, you find a note just like last week. It seems someone either recreated or stole the Loremaster's invitations from last week... except this time there is a pawprint on the note now.

Should you decide to investigate and see just what is going on, unfortunately you will not find the Loremaster waiting for you. She is dead, after all.

Instead, you will find no one there other than a black cat that is sitting here overlooking the proceedings, tail swishing back and forth as it watches everyone coming in. It just sits there, staring at you, until everyone appears to have arrived.

And then... the cat suddenly speaks.]

Greetings. I'm glad you could all make it.

[If you strain your ears, the voice sounds like it's being run through a filter in an attempt to disguise the owner, and yet... it should still sound familiar to everyone. It is in fact a voice you have all heard before during your stay here, but it may take a few more conversations to possibly identify the owner, as the cat continues.]

Last week, there was a meeting here to discuss what to do. Now that three of this group have been eliminated, I felt that it may be a good idea to continue with these sessions discussing anything of interest you might have found during your stay here.

[ooc: just like Loremaster's meeting mingle from last week, this one is also a meeting for characters to tag each other and discuss findings or feelings about the motive! the strange cat will also try to answer any questions if asked, though don't be surprised if it is vague about them.]

Re: MEETING....... MINGLE?

[conways_retribution]

...okay, Physicist, very funny... _{[He just sort of says a name hoping it's true, without even being sure. Why is he suddenly drawing the line at a talking cat? Is it because there isn't any such among the X-Classes?]}

[aggelos]

Bzzzt. I'm not the Physicist.

[The cat did in fact make a "bzzzt" noise imitating a buzzer when saying this.]

You've seen what the Physicist is capable of, during that trial. If she really wanted to interfere, she likely would not need a disguise to be here.

[conways_retribution]

_{[Well, worth a shot.]} This might be a stupid question, but... are you an ally?

[metamere]

[ Well of course Wizard is here, perhaps for obvious reasons and perhaps for not. He's brought with him his own black cat though it's easy to tell the two felines apart given the ornate collar and bright blue eyes on his charge. Meeting black cat is getting a straight up death glare from the other feline with a low hiss. ]

Now, now can you call this fair in any sense of the word? You're allowed to speak and my companion is not. Really, on top of all the other injustices here...

[aggelos]

Yes.

I don't think it's good for you all to be here any more than you do. I want to help in any way I can, as limited as my help may be at the moment.

[aggelos]

If it is any consolation, this is not the appearance I normally have, so it is not because of the gods being unfair in allowing me speech, and not offering the same courtesy to your feline companion.

[conways_retribution]

_{[He nods. That's a good thing.]} Is there any name you go by?

[aggelos]

There is, but... I worry that telling you my name will alert the people here about my interference among you, despite their best efforts, so it may be risky to share right now.

[inspiritus]

And you're assisting strangers you are unfamiliar with because why, exactly?

[ Call him curious. ]

[aggelos]

Because I'm not unfamiliar with you all.

In fact, we've already met before in this place.

[metamere]

Ah, I see.

[ ... ]

Another question, then. Why should I believe anything you're saying? Gods aside, we have no idea who you are, yet you've gathered us together like this is a workplace retreat.

[ He reaches up to pet his cat which puts a stop to the hissing, but not the death glare. ]

[inspiritus]

When and where have we met, then?