...when I talked to Gerard yesterday, he mentioned we should talk, too. For the same reason. So I'm glad you guys reached out. How much have you learned so far?
Well, we both went on Thursday, so we have messages. And Gerard was extremely talented at code breaking, so even if you saw the messages, you probably weren't able to solve them but Gerard did!
Right. You might've seen mine already, too. But just to look at them together.
[ he's got them written on a sheet of paper, rather than the phone. ]
Ylfa's: normally when players are erased they are for all intents and purposes gone kept around on some frequency maybe but less tangible or aware than even folktale ghosts which of course means that having them conscious elsewhere is very much not normal game protocol not exactly against the rules but those running the game wouldn t be pleased to find out so it s important to hide this from them and to err on the side of caution when discussing anything that seems out of place
Haru's: after all playing by their rules is unavoidable and the only thing preventing any retaliation on their part is whether or not they feel it s worth the effort by that point nothing is gained by blatantly defying them even if it might be tempting to with all the anomalies in this iteration of the reaper s game
...And—we asked Gerard. To send us a message, if he can. [ GREAT SATURDAY CONVERSATION ] But we're thinking about what to do with this.
'cause to me, it kind of sounds like something they're hiding from their bosses because they figure once their bosses find out, they'll be mad but it'll be too late to do anything.
Right. Stacking all the points onto one team and just hoping it'll be enough and that they'd "spend" them right like friggin' arcade tickets didn't seem like a solid plan.
[ looking these over... and nodding. and patting haru on the back but also gently and mindful of injuries. thank you for sharing. ]
I ran into Wolfwood on Friday and he showed me yours. And Kazuki got the same one Ylfa did. We haven't really had a bunch of time to really talk about what to do with the information though. [ things have been. a lot. but he frowns at the idea of them even having to have that conversation. ]
Have you guys been getting the spam messages too? Another batch went out Friday.
I don't think she'd mind if I shared since she reached out to me in the first place. [ also it's now. extremely ironic and he kind of makes a face. ]
It was just lyrics to a song from a movie. "When I'm myself again, I want just the life I had, a great big party every night, that doesn't sound too bad. A redhead on my left arm, a brunette on my right, a blonde or two to hold the candles, now that seems just about right. Life is short, when you're done, you're done, we're on this earth to have some fun, and that's the way things are. When I'm human, and I'm gonna be. I'm gonna tear it up like I did before, and that's a royal guarantee."
The movie itself is...about a prince. Who got turned into a frog. And he meets a girl who isn't a princess and because she kisses him she also turns into a frog? I mean that's not the point, the point is it's a whole plot about these frogs trying to find a way to turn back into their human selves. And I just think it's kind of a weird message to get when we've been seeing a bunch of weird Noise show up during curfew, for one.
[ i really hope the frog thing was just coincidence and not really about gerard, god. ]
from user love: And we cowlick BellaSwan naughty zzzzzzzzzzzzss\🙅♀️🙅♀️
from user absolution: 🦷
from user SWIMFAST: I SAW YOU WITH HER AGAIN YESTERDAY even though i spent so many hours lotioning my big hands for our date did you think i wouldn't notice? it's not like i don't understand you're wonderful and unmatched in the water people are always drawn to you, and for good reason... I'M SOOOO JEALOUS AND I SOOO DON'T WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY
from user bellaswan: please... take care of yourself above everything else just please
from user omega: In this world, there exists a spirit neither male nor female. This spirit is covered with a dark cloth, with a separate white cloth to cover its head. It is said to carry an enormous brown burlap sack, in which it holds its victims. It is said that the second its name has been called out, either directly or indirectly, the person is collected and becomes the property of the spirit.
Many who have witnessed its appearance have been said to have gone insane and were later found with their eyes gouged out.
This spirit is very, very real, and failure to prevent the mention of its name will cause Candlejack to come and whisk you awa
...Those were the weird ones. I got some more on Friday that were less crazy.
[ and cue the friday messages: ]
from user bellaswan: WHAT DID I TELL YOU YOU IDIOT YOU IDIOT you got hurt
from user sweetie: sorry i'm sorry i just i wish ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋
from user humanedward: Dear Haru,
There are friends all around for both. Things will be okay.
[ anyway. ]
...That last one has my name in it. So it's a little different.
...there is so much to unpack here I can't even figure out what I want to react to. [ he says this as he's reading all of these, eyes progressively going wider, and kind of wishing he hadn't asked. ]
The ones I got on Monday were about the same level of crazy.
[ he pulls out his phone, and he shows them. ]
from user wife: Dearest friends,
I bring you the worst of news; my fiancée is missing yet and trials still await. Still, I take heart even so, and I pass on to you this lesson I've learned! In the most dire of circumstances, there is always hope to be found and companions who will stand by your side! So if
from user huxian: Dear Jonas, I am writing to inform you of a business arrangement that may be of interest to you. I currently own several different fashion lines, and wish to expand my customer base to include, as you say, "the youths". They say that wearing shirts with faces of vaguely grungy okay looking young men on them is the next hot trend. After much deliberation, I have decided that you should be the new face of both my line and my shirts. Please send several selfies of yourself that you think may look nice on silk, rayon, and cotton.
In return, you may see your face shirt in the store nearest to you.
Sincerely, Clothes R' Us
from user god: SALVATION ONLY APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN OUTLETS, MALL CLOSES AT 6PM ON JULY 12. DO NOT DRINK THE WATER BETWEEN 6PM EST AND 6AM EST ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 12. PHOTOGRAPHY IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED BETWEEN 6PM EST AND 6AM EST ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 12. INSTRUCTIONS ON INDUCING DEEP SLEEP NOT INCLUDED. IF YOU REQUIRE DEEP SLEEP ASSISTANCE AND/OR INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE VISIT THE IN-STORE PHARMACY. AN EMERGENCY BROADCAST WILL BE ISSUED FOLLOWING THE MALL'S CLOSURE. ALL RESIDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SLEEP AT THIS TIME. ACCESS TO ███████ LAKE WITHIN A 500 METER RADIUS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 12. ALL ANIMALS ARE TO BE KEPT INSIDE. THEREARENOFACES SIDE EFFECTS INCLUDES NAUSEA, INTERNAL BLEEDING, AND LOSS OF MEMORY. ALL RESIDENTS OF ██████████ COUNTY ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE WAVE TRANCE ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 12. ALL RESIDENTS OF ██████████ COUNTY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO SLEEP BETWEEN 6PM EST AND 6AM EST ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 12. COGNITIVE HYPNOSIS THERAPY IS AVAILABLE ON VHS AND DVD IN SUPPLEMENT TO WAVE TRANCE SLEEPING MEDICATION.
You got some usernames that're different than some of the others we've heard about, too. And Wolfwood got a few messages similar to what you got Friday.
[ well since we're all sharing messages, Setsu will pull out their own phone ]
from user edwardcullen: you should ever find yourself feeling clutched in the grip of a deep loss and despair, then remember this! Persevere in heart and mind, always turn to those by your side, and you may find that you
from user sweetie: oh my god who was she? are her hands bigger than mine? softer than mine? are you finding support and comfort somewhere else? even if you need that, i won't stand for it to come from somewhere else!
..I know Jonas and I put together the one from "wife" with his, and mine from edwardcullen together, they make some sense. [ but god if they know about everything else. ]
from user puppy: Bravest❗ girl in the 🌏world🌏, yes you ✨ARE✨. 💖 Dry those tears😭 missy🌹, there’s more work 🏃♀️ to tackle! 💥🏅 Roll up your sleeves💪 and show ‘em how it’s done!😤💘 Nothing’s over⭐ until it’s over⚡️ and 🐸Froggystyle🐸 is gonna be 🎊Number One🎉🏆!
from user CLINGYCUTE: have more strength than you ever could have anticipated. Keep your chin up and never allow the shadow behind you to consume the light before you. Now I must go. My fiancée awaits!
from user biggestbaby: you are always with others lately and it makes me so jealous!! just because you're cute and funny? can we not be together anymore? when will you notice my big hands again? i would give your head such amazing pets!!
from user omega: i don't know who you are. i don't know what you want. if you are looking for ransom i can tell you i don't have money, but what i do have are a very particular set of skills. skills i have acquired over a very long career. skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. if you let my daughter go now that'll be the end of it. i will not look for you, i will not pursue you, but if you don't, i will look for you, i will find you and i will kill you.
from user heartbelowthewatersurface: IT SPUN IN FRONT OF US, IT PROMISED TO SHOW US THINGS, IT WAS A CONTAINER OF MANY SIDES. IT MARKED US. THE BASIN WAS FILLED WITH A SORT OF VISCOUS AND SEMI-LIQUESCENT SUBSTANCE, QUITE OPAQUE AND OF A SOOTY COLOR. THE CENTER SWELLED AS IF WITH THE ACTION OF SOME POWERFUL YEAST AND AN UNCOUTH AMORPHOUS HEAD WITH DULL AND BULGING EYES AROSE GRADUALLY ON AN EVER-LENGTHENING NECK. FREEYOURSELFFROMREASON HE FILLS THE HOLE IN YOU. THE YOU-SHAPED GRAVE MELTING AWAY TO ENTROPY. ARCADIA WILL EXIT THE EAR CANAL ON THE LEFTHAND SIDE. ONCE IT'S GONE, I'LL BE AT YOUR SERVICE, NOT. DON'T CRY. WE'LL EAT YOUR FEET. FEAR NOT FOR HE IS COMING. THE PROPHET SAYS THE SUN CAME UP LAST NIGHT. THE PROPHET SAYS IT SANG TO HIM. YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE BURROWING EARWORMS BEFORE THEY’RE TOO INGRAINED. AN WEEK OR TWO OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT SHOULD DO IT.
from user bigbaby: HI KAZUKIIII my cousin is getting married tomorrow and i need need NEED UR THOTS ON JAMS!!! ok so first i have a classic for the post party u know and also this
wait oh NOOO this is so embarrassing i totally linked u the wrong file!! loool ignore that one i was just like playing around on the piano u know hmao
sorry i meant this one!! can't go wrong with guns n'roses right?? anyway thx i gotta get back to planning 😘😘
Looks like clingycute's message is the last part of mine and Setsu's.
"Dearest friends,
I bring you the worst of news; my fiancée is missing yet and trials still await. Still, I take heart even so, and I pass on to you this lesson I've learned! In the most dire of circumstances, there is always hope to be found and companions who will stand by your side! So if you should ever find yourself feeling clutched in the grip of a deep loss and despair, then remember this! Persevere in heart and mind, always turn to those by your side, and you may find that you have more strength than you ever could have anticipated. Keep your chin up and never allow the shadow behind you to consume the light before you. Now I must go. My fiancée awaits!"
...kind of touching, if you think about it.
A lot of people have been getting the weird error at the end...we think it's "you have forgotten." And when I was talking to Monika, she was thinking it might be about our deaths. How none of us remember how we got here.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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haru will look askance at ylfa, but she can handle any well wishes and concern for herself. ]
...We thought we'd check and make sure we're all on the same page. With what we've learned and got so far.
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...when I talked to Gerard yesterday, he mentioned we should talk, too. For the same reason. So I'm glad you guys reached out. How much have you learned so far?
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[the code was so easy it was so easy.]
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[ he's got them written on a sheet of paper, rather than the phone. ]
Ylfa's:
normally when players are erased they are for all intents and purposes gone kept around on some frequency maybe but less tangible or aware than even folktale ghosts which of course means that having them conscious elsewhere is very much not normal game protocol not exactly against the rules but those running the game wouldn t be pleased to find out so it s important to hide this from them and to err on the side of caution when discussing anything that seems out of place
Haru's:
after all playing by their rules is unavoidable and the only thing preventing any retaliation on their part is whether or not they feel it s worth the effort by that point nothing is gained by blatantly defying them even if it might be tempting to with all the anomalies in this iteration of the reaper s game
...And—we asked Gerard. To send us a message, if he can. [ GREAT SATURDAY CONVERSATION ] But we're thinking about what to do with this.
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[ haha. anyway. ]
So. "Play along and instead of making a big move that might get backlash."
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'cause to me, it kind of sounds like something they're hiding from their bosses because they figure once their bosses find out, they'll be mad but it'll be too late to do anything.
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[a deep, shaky breath at this.]
No. But it's the only plan there is at the moment.
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[ which already seems so difficult to do this far into the game. ]
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I ran into Wolfwood on Friday and he showed me yours. And Kazuki got the same one Ylfa did. We haven't really had a bunch of time to really talk about what to do with the information though. [ things have been. a lot. but he frowns at the idea of them even having to have that conversation. ]
Have you guys been getting the spam messages too? Another batch went out Friday.
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We got a bunch, yeah.
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We all got a bunch Monday, and I think Alex got one Friday? I didn't, but Monika told me about one she got that was...kinda weird.
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What was Monika's? Or was it private? We can ask her.
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It was just lyrics to a song from a movie. "When I'm myself again, I want just the life I had, a great big party every night, that doesn't sound too bad. A redhead on my left arm, a brunette on my right, a blonde or two to hold the candles, now that seems just about right. Life is short, when you're done, you're done, we're on this earth to have some fun, and that's the way things are. When I'm human, and I'm gonna be. I'm gonna tear it up like I did before, and that's a royal guarantee."
The movie itself is...about a prince. Who got turned into a frog. And he meets a girl who isn't a princess and because she kisses him she also turns into a frog? I mean that's not the point, the point is it's a whole plot about these frogs trying to find a way to turn back into their human selves. And I just think it's kind of a weird message to get when we've been seeing a bunch of weird Noise show up during curfew, for one.
[ i really hope the frog thing was just coincidence and not really about gerard, god. ]
Came from user "omega", too.
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[yeah this actually freaks her out a bit.]
Why?
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[ he'll pull them up on his phone: ]
from user huxian:
img attachment
from user love:
And we cowlick BellaSwan naughty zzzzzzzzzzzzss\🙅♀️🙅♀️
from user absolution:
🦷
from user SWIMFAST:
I SAW YOU WITH HER AGAIN YESTERDAY
even though i spent so many hours lotioning my big hands for our date
did you think i wouldn't notice?
it's not like i don't understand
you're wonderful and unmatched in the water
people are always drawn to you, and for good reason...
I'M SOOOO JEALOUS AND I SOOO DON'T WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY
from user bellaswan:
please... take care of yourself
above everything else
just
please
from user omega:
In this world, there exists a spirit neither male nor female. This spirit is covered with a dark cloth, with a separate white cloth to cover its head. It is said to carry an enormous brown burlap sack, in which it holds its victims. It is said that the second its name has been called out, either directly or indirectly, the person is collected and becomes the property of the spirit.
Many who have witnessed its appearance have been said to have gone insane and were later found with their eyes gouged out.
This spirit is very, very real, and failure to prevent the mention of its name will cause Candlejack to come and whisk you awa
...Those were the weird ones. I got some more on Friday that were less crazy.
[ and cue the friday messages: ]
from user bellaswan:
WHAT DID I TELL YOU
YOU IDIOT
YOU IDIOT
you
got hurt
from user sweetie:
sorry
i'm sorry
i just
i wish ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋
from user humanedward:
Dear Haru,
There are friends all around for both. Things will be okay.
[ anyway. ]
...That last one has my name in it. So it's a little different.
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The ones I got on Monday were about the same level of crazy.
[ he pulls out his phone, and he shows them. ]
from user wife:
Dearest friends,
I bring you the worst of news; my fiancée is missing yet and trials still await. Still, I take heart even so, and I pass on to you this lesson I've learned! In the most dire of circumstances, there is always hope to be found and companions who will stand by your side! So if
from user huxian:
Dear Jonas,
I am writing to inform you of a business arrangement that may be of interest to you. I currently own several different fashion lines, and wish to expand my customer base to include, as you say, "the youths". They say that wearing shirts with faces of vaguely grungy okay looking young men on them is the next hot trend. After much deliberation, I have decided that you should be the new face of both my line and my shirts. Please send several selfies of yourself that you think may look nice on silk, rayon, and cotton.
In return, you may see your face shirt in the store nearest to you.
Sincerely,
Clothes R' Us
from user god:
SALVATION ONLY APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN OUTLETS, MALL CLOSES AT 6PM ON JULY 12. DO NOT DRINK THE WATER BETWEEN 6PM EST AND 6AM EST ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 12. PHOTOGRAPHY IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED BETWEEN 6PM EST AND 6AM EST ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 12. INSTRUCTIONS ON INDUCING DEEP SLEEP NOT INCLUDED. IF YOU REQUIRE DEEP SLEEP ASSISTANCE AND/OR INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE VISIT THE IN-STORE PHARMACY. AN EMERGENCY BROADCAST WILL BE ISSUED FOLLOWING THE MALL'S CLOSURE. ALL RESIDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SLEEP AT THIS TIME. ACCESS TO ███████ LAKE WITHIN A 500 METER RADIUS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 12. ALL ANIMALS ARE TO BE KEPT INSIDE. THEREARENOFACES SIDE EFFECTS INCLUDES NAUSEA, INTERNAL BLEEDING, AND LOSS OF MEMORY. ALL RESIDENTS OF ██████████ COUNTY ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE WAVE TRANCE ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 12. ALL RESIDENTS OF ██████████ COUNTY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO SLEEP BETWEEN 6PM EST AND 6AM EST ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 12. COGNITIVE HYPNOSIS THERAPY IS AVAILABLE ON VHS AND DVD IN SUPPLEMENT TO WAVE TRANCE SLEEPING MEDICATION.
y̵̭̯̖͒͜ơ̸̡̲̠̹͉̖̞̘̻̪̍́̆̓́͐̑̉̔̍̈̾̓̈́ự̴͌̇̏͒͊̈̋̾̓̍̄͌̚̕͠ ̷̧̨̡͍͖͈̠̰̘̪͐̾̓̍̀̀́̇͜h̵̳̥̣͉̬͐͋̎̽̎̎̂̃̃̚͠a̵̡̢̨͍̜̝̲͚͔̹̼̬̞̠͊̇̇̉̇̆́̉͂̋͂̾́͘̕͘͜ͅv̸̛͎̼̂̑̀̍͆̽͒̍̒̓̀̎͒͠e̶̢̯̜͉̱̫̹͈̼̙̾̾̾̌͛̂̈́̋́̐͘͝ ̸̲̅̍̔̈́̌͝f̶̧̛͉̹̬̥̳̟̪͍̘̜͇̹͆́̾́̽͌̒̀̅̈́͂̀̾́͛̈́ͅo̴̡̧̢̟̦͚͔̤̾̉̄͜͜͝͝ř̵̢̨̛̲̬̖̜̬̼̬͔̋̌̿̈́̋g̶̛͕̮̏́̇̈́̈́̐̍̾̽͠o̷͕͔͉͍̲̺̓̈̋͂̎̃̏̀̄̉̃̚̕͜͝t̴̻͍͈̼̖̥́͑͘͝t̶̞͕͕͕͖̹̥̱̤͚̙̂̔̕ẻ̵̡̧̨̢̡̙̹̱̫̺͙͓̻̹̬͚̆͛͆̋͜n̴͎̲̞̜̻̘̙̮͖̣̪̗̝̬͖̤̔͆͒̔̈́̊̃̇̂͊̏̃͝
You got some usernames that're different than some of the others we've heard about, too. And Wolfwood got a few messages similar to what you got Friday.
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from user edwardcullen:
you should ever find yourself feeling clutched in the grip of a deep loss and despair, then remember this! Persevere in heart and mind, always turn to those by your side, and you may find that you
from user sweetie:
oh my god who was she?
are her hands bigger than mine?
softer than mine?
are you finding support and comfort somewhere else?
even if you need that, i won't stand for it to come from somewhere else!
..I know Jonas and I put together the one from "wife" with his, and mine from edwardcullen together, they make some sense. [ but god if they know about everything else. ]
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...The ones on Friday seem like they're reacting to what happened on Thursday. So people who are able to see us, maybe.
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"Dearest friends,
I bring you the worst of news; my fiancée is missing yet and trials still await. Still, I take heart even so, and I pass on to you this lesson I've learned! In the most dire of circumstances, there is always hope to be found and companions who will stand by your side! So if you should ever find yourself feeling clutched in the grip of a deep loss and despair, then remember this! Persevere in heart and mind, always turn to those by your side, and you may find that you have more strength than you ever could have anticipated. Keep your chin up and never allow the shadow behind you to consume the light before you. Now I must go. My fiancée awaits!"
...kind of touching, if you think about it.
A lot of people have been getting the weird error at the end...we think it's "you have forgotten." And when I was talking to Monika, she was thinking it might be about our deaths. How none of us remember how we got here.