audio, @Conductor

[entwinedfate]

[ Hello, you all. While no one's blessed with a pretty face today, his soft, soothing voice should be good enough. ]

Forgive me if this is something that's remarkably normal in this unremarkable city we're in...

[ A small beat, as if he's preoccupied with something else; there's the gentle strum of some string instrument in the moment. A harp, maybe, at the university. ]

... But is there a reason we were asked about our satisfaction in regards to the party they threw last month? Along with that odd question in the second half -- how many of you voted to turn towards the voice, I wonder.

[ You know. This satisfaction survey, that popped up on everyone's devices the first of the month. More soothing harp music, it sounds like he's trying to pick out a tune from memory. ]

I admit, I'm a little curious about everyone's answers! I gave it a pretty neutral score myself; it was novel, but I wouldn't go again. The string of letters and numbers they had in reference to it was rather interesting too, though I'm not certain how it was "for the good of the many". Have there been any others? I recall a similar phrase the day their party was to begin too, actually.

Comments

text; un: yesod

[wordchain]

Yes, that was not the first instance. Here are a few previous examples:

CE-50-185.43: Water Under the Bridge
CE-47-185.43

CE-50-361.74: The Good of the Many
CE-47-361.74

audio continues

[entwinedfate]

[ ... Who was this again? Fastidious Yesod, matched with the very instrument he's playing. As expected from someone who worked at a "library". ]

Interesting they'd have such similar numerical patterning, though I can't say code is my strong point. I know there's been some talk of this being some kind of experiment as well... and the names they've given these little "occurrences" sound very much like projects, in my opinion.

[ Not that Argalia would know anything about it, since it wasn't in his interest, but at least one set of numbers is the same as some of the documents in the office of the very university he's sat at. ]

As a librarian, what's your take? Do you think they're something like a decimal system we can look up? I'd love to know what their hypothesis behind each were.

text > audio

[wordchain]

[ There is no harm in continuing this conversation, nor in switching to audio from text, since he only chose the latter to have the alphanumeric strings typed out instead of read aloud one by one, and so he does just that. ]

I would imagine that they represent a specific classification system, as you have concluded. Presumably "50" and "47" denote different groups of test subjects exposed to separate iterations of otherwise identical experiment scenarios.

I'd certainly like to confirm the exact meaning of the remaining numbers as well.

[entwinedfate]

It'll be interesting to keep them in our thoughts should any of a similar pattern appear later on, at least. That's mostly why I wanted to make mention of it today.

[ To bring attention to it. Gather some thoughts. See who's actually interested in the powers that be. ]

I wonder how the other iterations fared... Are we the 50th? How lucky, to be such an auspicious number -- maybe we'll get an anniversary present. I've heard it's supposed to be gold.

private; audio; un: loveless

[limbical]

[Roland said not to talk to this guy. And for very good reason, he knows that, but Daan would feel better keeping some kind of tabs on Argalia.]

I put down a 1. Didn't like the fact that I bled a lot. Not a fan, personally.

[that and the trauma but you know]

[entwinedfate]

[ Oh, if it isn't his fellow grieving heart. ]

Everyone has their limits. But other than that, was it really worth only a single star?

[limbical]

I don't really like ruining my clothes.

[entwinedfate]

Hahaha! That's a normal enough reason, but with all the shops we have around, I can't say I'm particularly bothered for the more casual things I wear. And the second question, friend?

[ If he'd turned away from the voice, or if he ran from it. ]

I would turn, for the record. It's hard to break habit if it's someone you love.

audio, un: junpei

[coolerjunpei]

[huh a totally normal guy on the network]

I didn't go, so I just ignored it. But a few months ago, they asked us if we liked working together as a group better than going it alone... That was when they locked us in the mall.

Soooo if they're trying to improve, it sounds like it's not going great...?

[entwinedfate]

[ Absolutely normal, 100%. ]

Hm... Then I suppose that's the "Water Under the Bridge" project -- or however they'd like to call it -- Yesod noted. I would like to say, as someone who went to the counterparty, it does seem as if they punished us for working together in that instance. I guess we'll just have to play by their rules.

[ Haha. His tone implies that he doesn't think they should, for the record. Argalia isn't a narc. He's a rebel. ]

[coolerjunpei]

Counterparty...? [He knows. He saw the fliers. But that's a Silly Name, even for Junpei.] I didn't go to that one, either. Nothing happened to me for just sitting around in my apartment.

[But only because he didn't do it with spiteful intentions, not that he knows this... It was the cup noodle depression era, nothing more.]

Working together against the mastermind, though? Maybe the next try should be more covert. Uh, I mean, if anyone was going to... break the rules again.

[entwinedfate]

[ King... Share your cup noodle depression era with all of us. ]

They did try to be as covert as possible, for the record. But this city seems to have eyes in the most unexpected ways. Unexpected to most, in any case; I'm rather used to being from a city where you're not allowed a secret or two.

[ It's normal. Anyway! ]

If one was interested in going against the grain again, what would you recommend they not do?

text | @stray

[kampfgeist]

i gave it a 1 and said i'd run from the voice

[ this place's csat probably blows ]

[entwinedfate]

[ This place has the worst reviews on Yelp for sure. ]

May I ask why you'd run? It's alright if you don't want to answer, I'm only curious about those opposite of my choice.

[kampfgeist]

in this place, hearing a voice in a dark seems unlikely to be a good sign

[entwinedfate]

Oooh, that is a good point! Even if it's someone you might know? Or especially then?

voice; un: avidya

[wreatharrow]

I said I would turn towards the voice. It's an unfair question in my opinion.

[entwinedfate]

Isn't it? I think most people could, at least out of habit -- whether they'd chase the voice or not, on the other hand, would've been a better question. Would you have followed it?

[wreatharrow]

I likely would have followed it, yes. Part of my job is responding to those in need of assistance.

audio; Silent Princess

[luminously]

Admittedly, I myself am torn. It would be best for them to know about our dissatisfaction, however... Would it be more wise to ignore the survey entirely? It almost feels as though our captors will only be motivated to organize even more ways to catch those here off guard.

[entwinedfate]

[ Not very silent of a princess, is she. ]

That's a good point, young lady. If we make a move to ignore it completely, I wonder how many will follow? Some people might not think it would matter either way, after all.

[luminously]

( Not at all actually. )

The only effort that does not matter is one not attempted at all.

un: yukixoxo, audio

[unimportant]

I think they're just making fun of us. Trying to gauge our emotional reaction to the ordeal.

[ She gave a 1 though so not like she's part of the solution! ]

[entwinedfate]

[ No one likes a good haunted house they're forced to take part in. ]

To what end, in your opinion?

[unimportant]

If I look at it generously, it helps them plan the next ordeal. Figure out what got under our skin, what the results were on their end, and then take that data to apply for whatever is next.

The ungenerous assessment: it's mockery. People are cruel for cruelty's sake sometimes.