meadowlarklogs | EVENT LOG 007

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EVENT LOG 007 | PART ONE

WHO: The Displaced
WHERE: Online, on a train to New Beijing, in and around New Amsterdam
WHEN: January 13-19
WHAT: Cassius offers a favor
NOTES OR WARNINGS: No warnings right now. Mod notes at the bottom. This log runs between the 13th and the 19th, with the next log taking place on the 20th.

> EVENT #007 | PART ONE

Slowly, New Amsterdam has begun to function like a city once more. Travel in and out of the city has resumed, making it easier for people to visit the city, as well as leave to other locales. There are a number of people who have chosen to relocate during this time. Who can blame them? After the monster attacks, the weird sickness without a cure, and eventually an attack by someone claiming to be an AI, going elsewhere only seems to make sense. For some reason, a great deal of chaos has been centered in New Amsterdam proper. No one knows why, and any conspiracy theories stray too far from the truth to really hold any weight.

One thing is certain: New Amsterdam is a lot greener than it was before all this chaos started. While civil engineers are working around the clock with various local corporations to stop the problems started by the greenery itself, the city itself looks like an entirely new place. Parks are beginning to overflow in greenery, making it so that lawn care specialists have to work around the clock to ensure that they don't envelop nearby businesses. The patch of flora alongside the man-made river running down the city has grown wild, drinking in the water, sprawling everywhere. Trees begin to grow alongside the riverbanks, springing up taller and taller without rhyme or reason.

After the environmental chaos with the EMP in early June, New Amsterdam seems to be course-correcting. It's changing direction, turning over a new leaf—or many leaves.

And for the AI Cassius who caused all of this, it's a problem. There was a reason for his actions, and he can only see this change as something brought on by the Displaced, undoing his meticulous work. He can't process how or why, but it means he needs to take a different approach.

> A MESSAGE FROM CASSIUS

The message from Cassius comes as his previous messages have: from the handle of @100432. Unlike El's messages that come in a staccato way, reaching out to the Displaced via the Morningstar network, plucking their attention away from whatever it is they're doing, this message comes in the form of a notification, hitting every single Displaced's private inbox. How did Cassius get this information? And how is it that he knows about even the newest of new arrivals? That may be a question worth asking.

The message is this:

@100432 Don't get too cozy, birdies, there's work to be done. I hope you didn't forget about me. At this point, poor memory would just be convenient. That doesn't mean that I'm not willing to compensate you for your time. No one expects anyone to do anything for nothing.

I've decided if you're willing to help me, I'm willing to help you. Don't think this means I trust you, just that I'm aware of my position.

A favor for a favor; an eye for an eye.

That said, go here to thread out any and all conversations with Cassius. There are a few helpful notes to remember:

◉ No one is too late! Since this conversation is at the very heart of our event, feel free to hit it when you have the chance.

◉ All conversations are one on one. However, characters can feel free to do "screensharing" via the implant, take screenshots, or otherwise save the conversation with Cassius. Cassius will not share what one conversation involves with someone else, even if that's the favor they ask for—that comes with too many risks!

◉ Cassius won't let people ask for the same favor twice. However, if two favors approach an outcome but via different methods—and thus require some trial and error—these will count as separate favors. He'll let someone know if their favor has already been requested.

◉ Cassius won't be alerting El to what he's doing with the Displaced. That will be up to the Displaced to share with El.

◉ Depending on the favors, characters may need to wait until after the attempted retrieval of Judas to collect their payment. Even if they fail, Cassius will set it as being one step closer to finding his friend. He will not go back on the offer just because characters failed in New Beijing.

◉ However, anyone who takes a favor from Cassius will be expected to at least attempt to follow through on their promise. Deliberately sabotaging the mission will be considered backing out on their agreement, and Cassius will make it clear that he won't take this type of betrayal lightly. We'll work with you to determine the consequences of this action, if it's something you're interested in.

◉ Cassius will leave a line of communication open for the Displaced throughout this process. While he's not human, he'll understand the need to discuss and make sure they approach this as a group, as he does see the Displaced as an entity. Characters can wait to respond or end a conversation with the promise of reaching out again later.

> DISCUSSION AND PREPARATIONS

For some characters, a private conversation with Cassius may seem like a natural conclusion. No one needs to know what they discussed together. For others, it's a matter of determining what to do next alongside their loved ones, all to ensure that nothing bad happens. Because one thing is clear: whatever Cassius' motivations may be, they're likely skewed by the time that's passed. Once upon a time, Cassius was an AI focused on space exploration. It's hard to see that in his motivations today, even if someone squints.

Still, Cassius may be offering the Displaced precisely what they want. At this point, they can discuss, fight, argue, or even keep to themselves. Of course, Cassius would prefer more Displaced involved in his efforts, but he'll take any help he can get to get some physical hands on the problem ahead.

◉ This log is set up as a prelude to New Beijing. During this time, characters can discuss, argue, or even be shady about what they intend to do to get a favor from Cassius. We wanted to leave some breathing room for the characters to discuss what to do next, rather than rush everyone forward onto the next stage.

◉ Characters who agree to take favors from Cassius will have an all expenses paid trip to New Beijing. They'll have tickets for the train, as well as a spot to sleep comfortably. When they get to New Beijing, they'll also have hotel accommodations waiting for them, as well as funds so that they don't go hungry. If they need anything else, the line will still be open, so they can reach out to him for anything else they may need. Their seat on the train well come with a spot in a luxurious sleeping car, giving them a chance to take a load off along the way.

◉ For anyone who doesn't take a favor from Cassius, they'll need to buy their own ticket and handle their own accommodations in New Beijing. They'll find that all of the nicer train cars have been bought up, so they'll have a less pleasant ride ahead of them. Cassius won't be stopping anyone from coming along independently of his own mission, but he won't be helping them. However, if they do get to New Beijing and decide to take him up on a favor, he'll be happy to help them then.

◉ Tickets prices won't be horrible. The Displaced should be able to cover it on their salary, but hotel accommodations may be harder. Maybe they can all room together like it's an anime convention.

◉ There aren't any limitations on who can come and go from New Amsterdam or New Beijing during this time. It isn't a time of high alert, so characters can just use their IDs to get through customs in each of the cities (they'll pass through customs when they leave New Amsterdam and when they arrive in New Beijing). The bigger understanding is that United Nations citizens can't change their travel plans once they've declared that they'll only be moving between these cities. They can return early or later, but they can't switch gears out of New Beijing to head into another city altogether.

◉ The trip to New Beijing will take eleven hours by train, moving above and below the surface the entire way. It's a very fast trip, and anyone hoping to jump off the train midway will find that to be a difficult ask.

◉ Whether someone's going on Cassius' dime or not, everyone can assume their characters are on the same train. Characters can move through the train freely, though the front of the train will have much nicer accommodations, as well as better food. Anyone seeking out this better food will find it atrociously expensive if they aren't getting a free ride from Cassius. Maybe the others there will be open to sharing? Otherwise, there will be several bars located throughout the train, as well as anything else that someone might need. People who paid less will only get a cramped, uncomfortable seat on their journey, with less tidy facilities.

◉ If characters go to sleep and partake in some dream action during this time, let us know below!

◉ Our next log will cover the arrival in New Beijing!

> OOC NOTES

Welcome to the first part of our event! Our next log is projected to go up on November 9th, and it's likely to double as an arrival log for any new applicants! This log will cover the arrival in New Beijing, and we'll definitely hit you all with some worldbuilding about what to expect when they get there.

Our vision for this current log is to allow some breathing room for players to have their characters dig into what it is that Cassius is offering, as well as come up with plans to thwart him and the other Displaced (if they so choose). Everyone can also see this as an opportunity to take a mass Displaced trip to New Beijing, and may be able to figure out how they're going to afford things when they get there! Teamwork makes the dream work, and there are a great deal of plot leads that eventually lead to New Beijing proper. In addition to teamwork, this is a plot that potentially pits the Displaced against one another. We're excited to see how that works out!

All that said: do not begin to thread out anything after the arrival in New Beijing. All of that will be in the next log!

We do have an El post ready and lined up, so please comment below under our QUESTIONS header if your character would reach out to El about what Cassius is doing. Note that none of the mods' characters will be doing this! And more than one character reaching out is fine. If timing is an issue, we can handwave the conversation informing El if needed!

As always, feel free to ask any questions specific to this log under the QUESTIONS header or hit us up on the Event Plotting Post for anything bigger. For more general plots, please feel free to still hit our Rapid Plot Engagement post.

As a reminder, AC for new characters accepted in October will be 10 comments across 2-4 threads, while current characters will need to provide the full AC of 20 comments across 2-4 threads. AC will be posted on November 1 at 12 AM UTC and close on November 8 at 12 AM UTC. If you do not reply to AC, you will be considered idled and dropped from the game. We will not post a warning list.

Applications will open on November 1 at 12 AM UTC.

> NAVIGATION

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[ among the Displaced, it's hard not to know Dr. Stephen Strange. he spots him on the off-chance when the train begins to move. while he's quiet, he's never been one to steer himself away from confrontation, so he takes the aisle seat without hesitation. he doesn't have his bag with him (its back a bit further, with Akechi), which means it doesn't look like he's camped out to stay. ]

I didn't think you'd be coming.

[ with the UNA stuff and all. ]

[ Stephen's not too far distant when Ren takes a seat, safely tucked inside his own mind fussing around with the implant rather than further afield in the minds of others. So there's no wait time between the young man landing and Stephen turning his head to greet him.

He knows who he is. There had been photographs in a life only briefly lived, some of them baring this face in frame with Akechi's. ]

Staying would be counter-intuitive. [ It strikes him how young he is. So many of them are so young. ] I'll be more use this way.

[ definitely young—Ren looks like he hardly belongs out of high school, one year Akechi's junior. there's a mop of messy black hair that can hardly be missed. he's dressed pretty plainly, in a pair of dark pair of jeans and a black jacket. for trying to be so unassuming, he could easily be picked out in a crowd. ]

I know it's dangerous, but more hands will be better. Are you going to try to stop anyone?

[ may as well ask outright. ]

I don't think you do know.

[ If they understood, he'd like to believe there would be less of them throwing themselves into the fire. But it's not an aggressive statement: they're all on a train to New Beijing, he's resigned himself to the reality of the situation. If anything, he sounds regretful.

But he huffs a softly amused breath at the question. It's straightforward, he can appreciate that. He'll give an equally straightforward answer. ]

And I don't know that yet.

Probably not, but I've made up my mind.

[ and he's unlikely to budge from it. stubborn is the bad word for it, resolve the good one. they've gone over it before, so Ren doesn't feel the need to restate it. unlike Akechi, he doesn't seem to have the need to fill the silence with words.

there's a pause. ]

You could help us.

Edited 2019-11-07 18:53 (UTC)

[ It's refreshing that this conversation isn't a fight. Whether or not it's right of him to shut off the part of himself that believes this boy will be dead within a week is something he can reflect on on the train back, whenever what's happened has happened. For now, he lets it be. ]

No. I'll be on standby to help in the aftermath.

[ But he's not going inside, or even particularly close. He's made himself necessary: the bar, the deeds for the safehouse, secrets not yet passed on. One of the few medically trained amongst their number. Death is a risk he can't take, whether or not he'd be inclined to. ]

[ Ren just gives him a nod. ]

Going in isn't the only way to help. From what you did, I think you know that.

[ the words are done with deliberate consideration. Ren didn't agree with it, he didn't like it, but he doesn't think Strange meant it in a malicious way. he's seen his share of malicious adults. he's been a victim of them. ]

This isn't the first thing like this that I've stolen.

[ if that eases his mind. ]

[ The edges of a wry smile. At least he's believed to be well-intentioned.

Out loud, he asks: ]

Really?

[ And then, so nobody else can hear, a question left directly in Ren's mind. Remembered, as though he's heard it, ]

It's not your first illegal military AI stolen from an international army's base of operations?

Edited (wait we're on a train.) 2019-11-07 19:18 (UTC)

[ Ren sits up with a start, a hand going to the back of his neck as if he were feeling for some kind of cable going up to his brain. there's nothing, and his fingers settle and he stretches a little to try and release the sudden tension. ]

Ah ... [ a little nod, and his eyebrows pinch at the center. he doesn't like it, but hey, no need to make a scene on a train.

how specific, Strange. ]

Not military.

...

Organized crime. Political. There were more. They all had a treasure at the center.

[ Stephen notes the startle but makes no mention of it. This uncomfortable skill of his isn't something he uses with the Displaced generally speaking, but it allows for a more immediate conversation than sitting and texting one another.

He turns, lets himself appear for all the world a man letting his journey pass him by in untroubled silence, attention slipping to watch out of the window again.

But he does frown slightly. ]

Run that by me again. You steal non-military AIs from non-military bases, or you steal other things?

[ Still the heavy insinuation that there isn't a fair comparison to be drawn here but he finds himself distantly grateful for a quiet childhood on a family farm. Stealing treasure from criminal gangs? The kids aren't alright. ]

[ abusive teachers. criminal gangs. cooperate CEOs. political overlords. that's just naming a few. if it sounds like Ren and his group of Phantom Thieves were taking on the whole of the world, they were in some way. ]

Treasure. It's broader. In this case, Judas is the treasure.

[ Ren settles back in his seat after that, trying to get used to the sensation of something else in his brain. ]

Mhmm.

[ The remembered voice that never spoke manages to sound distinctly skeptical. He has no doubt that Ren did what he said he did, the thoughts that swell around underneath what he's actively saying come too naturally for that.

But it doesn't make him feel any better about what they're all walking into. ]

I really do hope you all prove me paranoid.

[ it's a tone that he's used to—one of a skeptical adult to an idealistic child trying to deconstruct the weight of world that had been thrust on them. Ren squares his shoulders and holds it well. ]

Yeah, I hope you're paranoid, too.

[ there's a little edge to it, newly sharpened. proving someone wrong is satisfying on occasion. ]

A lot of other people won't like you coming along.

[ A tiny jolt in Stephen's chest somewhere. It might have been the start of a laugh if he could've been bothered to even draw breath. ]

A lot of other people can deal with that however they like. I don't like that they're coming along either.

Everyone's made up their minds. I don't want to fight, but I won't let Cassius win.

[ firm, low, and quiet. he means it. ]

I appreciate that. And what it is you intend to do. But unless you've all come to some kind of an arrangement, you will have to fight.

[ He's not seen any sign of whole group cooperation. It's worrying: so many facotrs involved in their potential downfall. ]

Are you prepared for that?

I'm always prepared for that.

[ there's something in that statement that he seems to find amusing enough to crack a curl of a smile at the corner of his lips. ]

How?

[ Preparation isn't a matter of I'll fight if I have to. He's trying not to be dismissive, but he himself would only do so well in a fight against some of the people he imagines are going into that building. His powers give him a boost, but he doesn't know what Ren has, or if his capacity without them would be enough to see him through.

By his own account, he's a highly accomplished thief. That doesn't change the fact that he's a teenager. ]

How prepared?

[ It's not intended as a challenge. If anything, he's imploring. Make sure it's enough. ]

[ there were enough corrupt adults across both politics and organized crime to keep him on his toes. preparation was a matter of improvisation, allowing flexibility in your decisions that didn't deal a blow to your moral code. ]

You can't measure that. [ also firm, despite being in his head. ] Are you looking for proof?

[ reassurance, maybe? Ren isn't unused to being challenged by adults. ]

More for a sense of what preparations I'm going to need to make.

[ Stephen Strange, waiting outside with whatever emergency response gear he's managed to bring, no clue who's going to try to sabotage each other in there and how. No idea whether to seriously expect young bodies to emerge and in what state they'll come.

Really, it doesn't make an extreme difference. He's already preparing for the worst. Reassurance isn't so far off the mark. ]

A little faith.

[ in them. in their abilities.

Ren doesn't know what's coming up, but he knows that there are two important factors ahead of them: not losing his conviction, and being as pragmatic as possible. the two met together like mis-fitted puzzle pieces, but it's what he had to work with. ]

It would be nice.

In you and your plan? Or in everyone I'd like to see survive? I suppose if my faith in all of you is sabotaging everyone equally, it cancels itself out enough that it wouldn't hurt to try.

[ It's not to be cruel. Not even real obstinance. It's because faith is the last resort. Faith is what we cling to when things are outside of our own control. Faith's isn't preparation, it's a calculation based on what we feel and what he know. Faith is stepping off the ledge and waiting to see if the sum adds up.

He will wait. He will have desperate hope. But nice can only ever act as wind beneath the wings, and buoying them up now could kill them just as easily as it could carry them.

Faith is a last resort. He leans on it every time and will do so here, but he won't offer it up as a weapon or a warmth. ]

Unless you decide differently, it's all you can do.

[ there's a sharpness to the thought. ]

You did that to yourself.

[ because it is out of his control now. whether or not they die in this operation is up to their own flexibility, skills and luck. Ren is willing to take that gamble to make this world a better place—he has to, for this place, and for Akechi. he won't leave him to struggle for himself again. ]

And now, other people need you. They will after this, too.

Which is why I'm here. And why I won't be going in there.

[ It was never in his control. He took a grab for the outside chance of influence and got nowhere, but he could never have been one of the people taking this particular leap of faith.

He's of more use to them all alive than dead. The same could be said of any one of the people who made a different choice, but that choice was theirs. Now all that's left to be done is for everyone to make the best of it. ]

Not fully. It just feels like you're waiting for people to mess up.

[ he doesn't mince those words.

it's partially what he means by faith. Strange is feels here in the literal sense, but not in the mental. the lingering feeling of "I'm here for your fuck ups" is not far from the suspicion that followed him around school after he transferred. the familiarity of it bothers him. ]

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rehandle - 2019-11-18 18:42 (UTC) - Expand

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