Important Questions [Text, Open]

[bravelyplucked]

Date: September 2
Characters: A number sans any other identification that is totally Torin

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[...well. He's had that number rattling around in his head off and on for how long, and now he decides to make use of it? Torin is quite possibly late to the party. But he does, however, have a very important first question to ask of people after he's scribbled the number down on his notebook while having a morning cup of coffee in his office and after he's processed a bit of what's going on here.]

So what's your favorite dinosaur?

Comments

[forever private text]

[bravelyplucked]

The number's been rattling around in my head from time to time for just about as long as I can remember...though it's only when I'm here, the more that I think about it. I only just tried writing it down for the first time today.

Re: [forever private text]

[iamnotgod]

If the Number itself is only active in Mossgate, then that explains how those with Numbers can come from so many different places.

[He'd been thinking it, but it's good that someone else is phrasing it quite that way.]

Anything you put into this Network cannot be seen by those without a Number - at worst, they'll assuming you're doing something less improbable than speaking or listening to a notebook, of all things.

Important things first: the Network has a functional range of exactly six miles out in all directions from the mouth of Moss River; going outside of that would remove all clear memories of anything you experience directly relating to your Number or your interactions with someone else who has one. If you leave the Boundary regularly, the loss is less debilitating.

However, knowledge of the Network and Numbers can be passed outside that Boundary.

[bravelyplucked]

It's a rather odd occurrence, isn't it? for something so unusual, so improbable, to pop up for no other reason than to facilitate some bizarre sort of secret communication. I wouldn't believe it if I weren't sitting here partaking right now.

[iamnotgod]

Exactly.

There's more to it, as well - have you ever experienced a moment of deja vu, followed by hearing a heartbeat that wasn't yours?

And then afterwards, you knew something - or could do something, or physically had something - that wouldn't have made sense for you to be able to before?

We've started calling them Echoes, and if you have a Number that usually means you've experienced at least one before.

[bravelyplucked]

[There's a bit of a pause here.]

Possibly. It was so long ago, and I was so young, that I'd written that off as just a bit of an overactive imagination.

The TL;DR proceeds in earnest!

[iamnotgod]

There's nothing precluding both truths coexisting; among those with Numbers, there's nothing to prevent having both Echoes and an overactive imagination.

Apart from that issue, though, we have recently been in contact with individuals responsible for the strange events happening in Mossgate, such as the skeletons, the bomb scare, the coal at Christmas and the animal swap over Easter - they are not, however, the source of the Echoes.

aw yeah

[bravelyplucked]

That's very true, but some things are hard to gauge when you're dealing with a small child.

Interesting. Very interesting. What are they hoping to gain from these events, and have you found the actual source of these Echoes, as you put it?

More compact TL;DR!

[iamnotgod]

They want to know what's going on as much as we do - the clearest part of the explanation is that they're aliens, they were monitoring our world, they're not supposed to be 'down here' - exact words - and while they can tell which among us has a Number they cannot explain how they know.

We - not the aliens, just those who have Numbers - have found a where, but not a what: there is something underground at the mouth of Moss River.

[bravelyplucked]

I've found that sometimes, there is a fine line between can't and won't. That all sounds rather suspicious, if I'm honest.

And how fortunate it is that in my profession, it's not uncommon to go digging around in such places.

I mean literally digging around, no figurative journalistic muckraking.

[Still Private Text]

[iamnotgod]

I asked them outright; they seem to have difficulty with certain idioms, or even lying. One of the aliens was surprised that things on television weren't necessarily true.

[Trufax, Torin. Weep for the aliens.]

I know what you mean, don't worry. Apparently all three of the known aliens were at the dig along the river last month, and I conversed with one there myself.

[Which... is probably going to worry Torin. He has the right to be worried.]

[Definitely Private]

[bravelyplucked]

Has anyone shown them Gilligan's Island? Surely they couldn't think something that ludicrous was real.

What were they doing there? Just watching? Digging on their own?

[Look he has a hard enough time with the general public at digs, let alone "aliens" that may or may not be aware Gilligan's Island isn't real.]

Re: [Definitely Private]

[iamnotgod]

That's one I haven't asked about.

[He's pretty sure Torin wouldn't like the answer, though...]

One was helping dig - his name is, quite literally, Mister Helpful - another was surveying the diggers - Mr. Neutral - and the third, Mr. Evil, was spotted there as well, but it wasn't clear if he was helping dig or just loitering.

And yes, they named themselves.

Re: [Definitely Private]

[bravelyplucked]

Perhaps someone should, as a litmus test for how misguided they might be about that sort of thing.

[Bingo, Torin is not quite happy with that.]

They sound terribly subtle. And like beings who should not be anywhere near a dig site.

Re: [Definitely Private]

[iamnotgod]

What, sit them down for a media binge?

[Assuming they actually can be found in one place for long enough, that's not a bad idea... Entirely, anyway.]

The question is one of if they can ever really be kept from something - Mr. Evil in particular managed to maneuver his way into the bomb site last year; he's the most likely reason they had to detonate it.

[The only 'good' thing out of that was that nobody died.]

Re: [Definitely Private]

[bravelyplucked]

"Binge" might be too strong a word. But exposing them to a variety of media to gauge reactions may not be a bad idea.

That's the least reassuring name in the history of ridiculous names people have chosen for themselves. I can't say any of this sounds surprising given the circumstances.

Re: [Definitely Private]

[iamnotgod]

Perhaps they would appreciate seeing some of your work?

[In some ways, they're very much like children, and they could probably use the guidance...!]

In for a penny, in for a pound, as the saying goes.

Re: [Definitely Private]

[bravelyplucked]

We'd have to make sure they understood the differences between documentaries and sitcoms, I think.

I suppose you're right, much as I may hate cliches.

Re: [Definitely Private]

[iamnotgod]

Same here, Torin. Far too much of this has been like situations I've been trying to avoid for years, so it's not just cliches that have been up for recycling.

Re: [Definitely Private]

[bravelyplucked]

And to think I thought stepping back and taking the position in Mossgate would be quieter. It's funny how those things work out.

Re: [Definitely Private]

[iamnotgod]

Quite.

Though, while you are here, if there is any aid you could offer regarding the cave systems, it would be appreciated.

Two of our local officials have been remarking on trouble with sinkholes; whether or not it is Number related there is still likely something yet to be unearthed in them.

Re: [Definitely Private]

[bravelyplucked]

I'll have to go over there and take a look, I suppose. It's fortunate that nothing at all about this would be unusual behavior for me, there is that.

I haven't gone poking around a sinkhole since a college trip to Florida. At least I've a better idea of the importance of safety this time around.

Re: [Definitely Private]

[iamnotgod]

Those are always fortunate circumstances - which, given how strange life has become, is something to treasure.

Do I want to know how bad the last time went?

[Assuming that record isn't public, courtesy of someone posting the pictures all over FaceTime or the like.]

Re: [Definitely Private]

[bravelyplucked]

Oh, I'll never complain about things working out well. It's nice when it's easy.

All the charges were dropped, and we all swore each other to secrecy. Went well enough in the end, I suppose.

[Is he serious? Who knows.]

[Definitely Private] Checked the calendar, so this *should* be right unless the post is backdated...

[iamnotgod]

That's... good to know?

In any case, I should still be able to drop by Thursday.

[TOPIC CHANGE, TOPIC CHANGE.]

[Definitely Private] and time is but an illusion and I am winging it so yes good that works

[bravelyplucked]

Excellent! I look forward to seeing you then.

[He is down for the topic change and is also making a note to put on a pot of the good coffee that day.]