POST ✦ STABBITY STAB (05/11)

[caelestialis]

[ guess what package ainsley got today!

a hint: something that's making her leave her apartment for the night because nope your way to nu uh avenue. it doesn't help the police's response to her concerns have been lukewarm at best.

ainsley has just enough time in between her frantic packing of her and kara's things to ask something urgent: ]

What do you think will be the quickest way to obtain some from of self-defence?

Martial arts? Learning how to use a gun? Just living in a bubble made of metal? Asking for myself and Kara here.

[ people she's close to also get a text from her after she posts this message. or this could be a misfire on her end with how quick she's trying to do everything at once and multitasking under stress has never been her strong suit.

whichever is the case someone will get this message: ]

Is it possible for me to stay at your place for a bit? If not now but in the future? I know Kara could be a sticking point but she's well-behaved and sweet and everything please I just really need somewhere else to be. I'll owe you big time.

Comments

[true_noir]

I believe they have Tae Bo Classes still. I can send you directions to them and the days, but if you're wanting something more solid, I've been trying to look into it myself.

Why?

[caelestialis]

To be brief as possible I was sent a knife that was covered in dried blood.

I hope people can understand why I'll be looking for ways to defend myself after getting such an item.

[true_noir]

If you have not touched it, there is a forensic expert who has joined us on the app. You might speak with him, though I am not sure that I am the best to help with training.

I seem, it would appear, to be rather good with knives.

[caelestialis]

I made sure to wear gloves beforehand and put it in a baggie so it didn't get contaminated by anything. I was hoping to have the blood matched with my family, in case it was a threat directed to us.

Can I ask who they are? The forensic expert?

[true_noir]

Very sensible of you. That's actually a good idea, and I wish I'd done the same initially, though there was never blood on mine.

I believe his name is Tatsuo Ikara. He had a post up recently.

[caelestialis]

[ tatsuo ikara... there he is! she makes a note to call him after she's settled down for today. ]

Thank you for letting me know about him. I'll contact him soon.

None of us could have been prepared for this. The surprise knife sending I mean. I'm just glad you're still safe after discovering that! It always spooks me to think people are deliberately giving us these things for a reason, a purpose. [ brrrr. ]

[true_noir]

The sheer number of them has been a touch jarring at times, but I am starting to grow accustomed to searching for them in strange places in my house, and not grabbing too fast for things I see.

But it is, at best, spooky. At worst, it is deeply disturbing and decidedly illegal.

[caelestialis]

I haven't had things just pop up in my apartment so far. Which I suppose is a good thing and I can't believe .

Apparently not illegal enough. The cops can't do anything yet. The ones I've met at least. Should I keep pestering them about it?

[true_noir]

Well, think of it this way. The police who are not on the app do not realize that anything is going on. The only thing I have heard that they noticed were the pictures taken of us this month. Everything else seems to be a mystery to them.

So, if the police chief doesn't know, they won't authorize the arrest. If the prosecutor doesn't see the app, they won't prosecute. If the judge doesn't see it, they will throw the case out. It could be absolutely illegal, but they might not have any way to actually stop it without enough staff.

[caelestialis]

[ urgh. the idea of that is frustrating to her. isn't this how horror movies happen?

rubbing her temples for a second, she needs a second to word her frustrations (and fears) without having to use cursing. ]

I wonder what it'll take for people who don't used the app to realise something isn't right? They are all now used to my powers, they happily eat the fruits without a care in the world, and they didn't bat an eye to the sudden shrinking.

What will tip them off that something isn't right? Is something wrong with us?

[true_noir]

I don't think that it is a matter of something tipping them off or not. If that were the case, we would almost certainly have reached that point long ago. The fruit would have been a little too weird, I think.

Something is keeping them from reacting in a normal fashion to strange changes.

[caelestialis]

Could that be Retrospec?

I know it's the trend to always blame them for whatever happens but- It's the only thing that I can think of right now. Nothing else has changed in the city from my knowledge. Unless they did something to our memories again. [ it kind of unnerves her that that is even a possibility to consider. eck! ]

[true_noir]

The question is less 'could it be them,' and more 'what could it be if it is not them?' They are certainly the most likely culprit. As you said, it is the only real option we have for the moment, and they are beyond convenient considering that they always seem to be aware of something that is going on around us, yes?

[caelestialis]

Yes, that's right.

I still wonder what this is all supposed to accomplish them for them though. And how they choose who gets the app and who doesn't. It almost feels like we're on the other side of the looking glass and there's no way out.

[true_noir]

It really does, and it's less than sensible, what they're doing. I'm not sure how we can determine what it is that makes them decide who gets it or not. It seems a difficult answer to get, even if we had one in our clutches.

[caelestialis]

The more time passes, the more I have an inexplicable urge to try and confront someone, anyone, from the company face-to-face.

But then the fear of repercussions manages to shoo to shoo those impulses away. It really does feel like we're kind of stuck in a bubble of sorts, doesn't it? Being observed and toyed with while we all know not much can be done. It's so frustrating!

[ a pause. then she adds a meaningful addition to that: ] Fuck.

[true_noir]

Fuck? Why did you say that? Is something wrong? Did they do something more to you suddenly?

[caelestialis]

[ oh no- she made chloe worry. ]

Nothing! Nothing happened at all! Just had an urge to type that out because my god. The more I think about it, the more absurd this all really is. I want to say it's almost Kafkaesque but I don't think we've hit that level yet.

[ 'yet' being the depressing operative word here. ]

[true_noir]

I am not a giant caterpillar in a cocoon, but I believe the word is fair. Good, at least you are safe. I have become accustomed to accidentally running into moments where something sudden and strange happens, so best to be a little careful.

[caelestialis]

I'll definitely do my best to be careful as a church mouse in the big city! I would hate to be the first casualty in whatever is happening here, haha.

[ that was a tasteless joke and she sees that too late. let's change the topic- ] Can I ask what you mean by that? The 'sudden and strange' bits, to be clear.

[true_noir]

And I as well. But, hopefully it's just the colors. What I mean, though, is to be suddenly struck by some hallucination, to feel your body changing when you wake up in the morning, to find a knife in your sock drawer, find a reporter chasing you and asking about your latest vision.

All random, sudden and strange occurrences, yes?

[caelestialis]

Ahhh I get it now. I feel a little embarrassed for not realising it sooner. Talk about not adding two plus two together.

Those are weird. More so since it feels almost like clockwork I suppose? Something always happens to us and then it either sticks around (the Chocobos, the fruits) or vanishes like it never happened (the reporters, etc) which makes you question your perception of reality.

[true_noir]

Easy enough to get confused lately. Don't worry about it.

And yes, I think that may be what they want. To make us think we are someone we're not, and question our reality. It certainly feels that way to me.

[caelestialis]

Question our reality? That sounds awful. [ and yet makes a lot of sense considering some of their methods in tormenting them.

also unfortunately for her and fortunately for the company, the sadistic people they are, their antics are causing her to have a lot doubt about herself. emphasis on 'a lot' too. ] Do you think they'll ever stop?

[true_noir]

Well, this is Retrospec we are speaking about. Awful may as well be their middle name. Or their first name. I think they'll stop, though, when we make them stop, and only then.