003 - Gathering

[kokuyoyo]

Who: Any and all Awakened characters
What: An invitation for a meeting of the Awakened in anticipation of the newest countdown.
When: June 23/24, especially during the latest applenet post
Where: Chikusa's school apartment at Green Valley
Other: Consider this a mingle log for all Awakened characters to talk freely about the newest batch on the app, the new countdown, and when they get their sweet new duds again!


Ciro Bonavida's apartment is rather easy to find. Not only are the instructions left at the pawnshop written in a neat and clear hand, but the school apartments have a directory of their own, of course. While some of the older members of the group might normally draw a raised eyebrow, well... It's Solstice. The apartments aren't as filled as they normally might be in some areas with their occupants out partying, and the parties that are happening inside draw all sorts. No one, in this particular instance, will look twice.

As a bonus to make sure there's no doubt at all, the door on Ciro's apartment has a small paper sign taped to the front. My roommate is OUT! Around it, small happy sheep are drawn. Apparently he's taken inspiration from someone...

Any one of the Awakened who come over can do so as early as they like and stay to the following morning, if they want- Chikusa is fairly certain that Ciro's roommate is going to stay out for a good long while and isn't worried. Still, for anyone staying overnight (a necessity if they want to stay up for the app post to come up), he'd rather it if you went to crash at one of the many parties going on in the apartment buildings... He doesn't have room for everyone, you know, especially since none of you jerks are coming into his bedroom if he has any say about it.

As a bonus, every Awakened is treated to hot chocolate, tea, coffee, or iced tea in one of Ciro's many... many... mugs. Enjoy.

Comments

[beastfang]

There is only a brief movement of Genda's head tilting slightly to the left in acknowledgement of that statement. He had not been subtle at all regarding every aspect of the process regarding those 'beta sheep'.

"It was better then allowing someone to stupidly attempt to use certain other symbols that would likely catch their attention in time, if we are meant to fight against another force."

Genda could only mentally wince at the thought of someone believing they were being clever spray painting the applenet logo or the username symbols all over the city and bringing unwanted attention via mysterious graffiti artist in the news.

[kokuyoyo]

"Well.... I'm not disagreeing there." Crouching down, he starts to shift through Genda's bag with the tips of his fingers to get a better look at the small flock that's been stuffed inside.

"An inside joke is safer than anything else..." He tilts his head slightly. "...But you've gone and changed them..."

[beastfang]

There isn't much of an acknowledgement of the sudden shifting through the bag happening right in his normal space bubble. He had prepared himself for such when he had decided to do this.

"The first set were easily placed where those not among either group could take and spread them."

He had seen a few children snatch some up and some girls from Green Valley that showed no sign knowing anything regarding the app, but had talked about how 'cute' they were and 'hey free things'.

"Which means if ones more specific started showing up, it just looks like some new fad or novelty item. No one will now look twice if people start to customize them."

[kokuyoyo]

There's a quiet noise of acknowledgement. That's actually pretty clever... Spread out a small army of decoys, and anything with meaning is more subtle. Even if the newest group hasn't been exactly raising his spirits (although much wouldn't), Chikusa has to admit that he's fairly relieved to know that there are others with smarts involved in this.

"Do the different colors have any meanings? The symbols are obviously meant to mimic our own assigned ones..."

[beastfang]

"At our current point no. Mostly it's just to aid those not capable of lying if asked regarding said accessory."

Because being able to state honestly you like a certain color was easy to use as a deflection if anyone questioned the little ribbon accessory. Hopefully in time people would start customizing on their own so as to draw attention away from the symbols on said sheep.

"In time colors could be used by others to organize and identify easily outside of the application if people are willing to be marked with such."

[kokuyoyo]

"If we thought we were starting to be picked out through these, we could also send out more with decoy symbols that were subtly different than the ones we use... With a different kind of ribbon material, or color of the symbol."

Slowly, he shrugs.

"...But that's in the future." Picking up the sheep, he looks over it and the one he took before. "...If you're going to make these regularly... Others could pitch in for the cost." It's only sensible if it's benefiting all of them.

[beastfang]

"If it gains enough momentum on its own decoys will produce themselves in time."

If not he just has to silently place some in the path of a few of the more fad making types that flit about to have it happen. Observing the school dynamic for so long had given him a good idea on this. Though Genda treats Chikusa to a very slow blink and befuddled look at the mention of cost.

"Right now the initial cost is negligible, it's more time consuming then anything. If people start asking for larger or more elaborate symbols and animals I mostly just need the material cost as payment then."

[kokuyoyo]

Momentum.... Chikusa's mind wanders off. Surely there would have to be someone who could be poked into really kicking off this sort of fad.... He only wished he could think of who. People had never been his specialty, so to speak. Maybe popular CT players?

"...Hopefully." He shrugs, at a loss to a solution. "How good at crafts are you?"

[beastfang]

"Well enough for family expectations."

It was and wasn't a full truth as Genda had been more trained towards what would be fine for a proper son of his family, while Christopher had learned sewing and other such skills due to parents wanting him to have the skill set needed to be as independent as possible while growing up.

"Recent events just means proficiency will improve as needed for our situations in the near future."

[kokuyoyo]

Judging by Chikusa's nod, that's enough for him. What other explanation is needed? The product is clearly right before them. There's no need.

However, there's something else that he wants to address. "In the event that your mind eventually can't handle all of this... Have you thought about passing on the skill to others?" A pause as he carefully rewords his thoughts. "Teach them the basics, or make patterns.... Things like that. We don't know what brings about that kind of collapse just yet... So..."

[beastfang]

"I had thought about such, until recently attempting such was a bit cumbersome."

As they were all still reeling from their own awakening, plus attempting to keep their heads down before this second group had arrived.

"I have a notebook of notes and observations that could be left for another to inherit in such a case. However, right now finding those willing to do so and pass such on is not easily available. Especially amidst the newer ones."

Frankly he hasn't been that impressed by most of the new ones and a lot of those from their group have been worryingly absent recently.

[kokuyoyo]

Well. It's not like Chikusa hasn't also been heavily judging some of them. There's a decent chance that some of them will shape up when they become who they truly are inside, no longer blinded by this farce of a life... But he's not putting his hopes up.

"So there's no one that's caught your attention so far?"

[beastfang]

"If there was they'll likely not be as ideal in time."

Because so far, of those that have made it this far, few of them have been exactly as they were when memories were returned.

"If nothing else instructions have been created for the event I can not keep up with demands or become unavailable long term."

Meaning he's just going to create enough and varied call signs until he gets help or he ends up lost or dead, thus making one of the many notebooks he's creating needed for someone else to keep it going.

[kokuyoyo]

"It's true..." Chikusa adjusts his glasses, faintly annoyed. He'd like to think that Luci will be able to get them into a situation like the last one: minimal danger, with their own worst enemies each other as their memories hit them. Still, do they really have to be flung in so recklessly...

Something occurs to him, and he shifts slightly. "...I wonder if there's better ways to prepare them for all of this. Beyond how the memories do. Things that could get a better look at their abilities than how they act on the app."

[beastfang]

"If we can physically collect them as they appear, one could manipulate events to see what their bodies may or may not be capable of before they fully regain their other self."

The pause comes off as thoughtful after that, though mostly it's more for Genda to mentally grimace and brace himself for what sort of mentality he is advocating regarding all of this.

"Instead of worrying about making them believe everything, perhaps playing along that it's all some promotion or city event would make our task easier in cataloging which ones will be problematic in an attack."

[kokuyoyo]

There's no such feelings in Chikusa's own pause, hard as it is to read his expression. Instead, he's doing his best to think carefully over his- or, rather, Ciro's- thoughts and emotions from before he realized who he really was. After perhaps a minute or so, he nods slowly.

"Ciro had been skeptical onto how that could actually happen, but... I think in the face of wanting something safer and someone who acted like they knew better, he might have believed something like that." Leaning back, he quietly breathes out. "Of course, each person might have to be approached differently... And we'd have to coordinate to make sure no stories from us conflicted."