Although ocular & brain implants are the means of communication nowadays, a messenger service still exists in this world. Mostly everyone uses LINE nowadays even if the need for cellular phones is null. Characters may have already recognized the interface to be somewhat familiar with the similar shade of green and same old slogan.
It happens the first time, and several times throughout the week as your character goes about their new routine. The sound of machine-like whirring, deep within their cranium, like a computer that’s in the midst of processing some new information. Then, there’s the familiar ping of a new public message, and whatever you were thinking about at that point of time will be plastered on the network, for all to read and react to. Daydreaming about ponies at work? Having a fun night out at a club? Regretting said night out at the club? Falling into a deep depression about how your life has turned out so far? It doesn’t matter when or where, because the system doesn’t discriminate. You’ll soon find the thoughts you were having during those moments posted on the network and it won’t be possible to delete.
"The system is updating … ... The system is updating … "
That’s the only explanation SYNTHIA will give when prodded or asked to take down a post. She’s not too helpful at this moment.
"Yeah, sorry. She gets temperamental like that sometimes. I can’t really do anything about your business being out there. But it’s pretty funny, right? Looks like you got hella wrecked last night. Good for you."
Welcome to our first Network Mingle! This is a TFLN-inspired mingle that’s been tweaked to make it completely canon to the game. Due to a glitch in the system, random thoughts that characters might be having throughout the week will be registered as network posts and posted in public for all to see and respond to. This can happen at any time as they wander around the main base or different Neo Tokyo locations!
HOW TO PLAY: 1. Write out prompts (example below) for others to respond to. These can be thoughts they’re having in bed, at work, while intoxicated or what-have-you. You can look up shower thoughts or TFLN as inspiration, but remember that this will be game canon so it has to be written in your character’s voice. 2. Go around and respond to others! 3. ??? 4. PROFIT!
Participation in this mingle isn’t obligatory, of course. If you don’t want your character to participate, you can simply assume the glitch did not affect them.
We also have a code below for fun, but please don't feel pressured to use it. As always, a regular text thread works out just fine! Most importantly, have fun!
(Please remember to put warnings for NSFW/triggering content in the subject header.)
( can it double as an anonymous group therapy meeting? pickles the border collie can run the sessions, he seems normal )
Interesting. There's less of that where I'm from. It's a lot of textbook material, advice books, etc. Of course, when you can find dramatic romance novels, they're usually subtler than the ones I read.
[ pickles only shows up for the therapy meeting since he's too baby for the erotica literature ]
There's a variety of educational and instructional books where I'm from. Though many aspiring writers and storytellers also share their works with various groups, online and in person, most of which are romance novels and stories.
( POOR PICKLES, TEAMED UP WITH A BUNCH OF DEGENERATES )
Fire Country. I figured the locations wouldn't mean much to either of us, but hey, it never hurts to check.
We live apart from other societies where internet is more prevalent. It's still used, as are phones, but not to the extent I've seen here. We're still learning.
[ it's practice for when they decide to open their own therapy clinic ]
You'd be surprised. But as it stands, I don't reckon I've heard or visited the Fire Country before. How curious.
[ could be another planet like belobog that's been isolated due to its natural disaster. he always finds this fascinating. ]
The technology is both new and old, I would say. Some of the innovations in this world can be found in the Xianzhou: the holograms and the implants, for one, as are the means to communicate with each other. The technology, however, that somehow brought us here is rather new.
( kakashi has little knowledge of what life is like past the boundaries of his continent, and the fact that others do astounds him.
their curiosity therefore coincides. )
My technology is older than this, but I recognize its bones in the more advanced things they have here. A phone, a computer, etc. I even saw a hologram once. Or an interactive projection of some sort.
Suffice it to say it's all a bit over my head.
The religions are what I see commonalities in. Shrines, torii, temples. I'm wondering if it bears a likeness to anything in Xianzhou. We might have a melting pot of different corners of the universe on our hands.
Haha, there are those who take a while to get used to it. But regular use of the technology, many find, makes it quicker.
Some of its architecture bears a passing resemblance, but the Xianzhou have no temples or shrines. We find that Aeons have no need for them and that their whims are not driven by prayers or exaltations.
Haha, have you met Pickles? That one is the very antithesis of the saying, if I may say so.
[ the things that dog asks of him ... ]
Aeons, gods, higher spirits, pests—every culture has its name to call them. Either way, they're mysterious beings that preside over and perform various functions in the operation of the universe.
Ah, yes, of course. Pickles asks the big questions.
As for me, I'm... agnostic.
( a private joke, one shared with a friend. gai is safer at home, but he occasionally wishes he had his easy company. and it helps that the man can hit like a mack truck. )
Though I've never heard them called "pests" before. Gods and spirits aren't exactly a common sight where I'm from.
Do you hold one or several in high esteem yourself?
Haha, agnosticism isn't uncommon where I'm from, though many groups often have a Path they keep to and the Aeon becomes the center of their faith. And with multiple Aeons comes multiple factions, making the universe quite lively with their presence.
The Xianzhou, for one, adheres to the guidance of the Reignbow Arbiter and bears its will as we travel across the skies. I suppose that counts as holding them in high esteem, no>
"Lively"... A polite word for "chaotic"? Religions have never exactly played nice and fair with each other.
But you're right, you sound pretty devout. I hope none of my questions insult your faith. I'm pretty curious about it all, this being my first exposure to outer worlds.
You're not wrong. There will always be factions would oppose other factions mainly for their belief. The Xianzhou, for example, continues to travel the universe to exterminate the Denizens of the Abundance, another faction under a different Aeon.
And no, they're not offensive at all. Haha, my devotion only extends up to the point where my obligation to the will of the Hunt ends.
There was once an emperor of an ancient kingdom that yearned for legacy and immortality. He sent his men into the astral seas in search of this gift and through the boundless stellar sea, they discovered a god that offered them an immeasurable lifespan as a blessing.
What do you think happened upon acceptance of the god's blessing?
No, they continued with their journey across the universe as immortal beings. But with immortality comes a myriad of problems. One could even call it a curse rather than a blessing, and those who exceeded their lifespan became what was called the Deathless Doom.
It's only upon meeting the Reignbow Arbiter were they redeemed.
( how long were they gone? kakashi wonders. what took them so long? everything beyond the sky is distant, he knows, but exactly how distant if their emperor had died during their travels?
the frog comes to realize not for the first time how small his well is. )
So, your God brings death to the deathless.
I believe you when you say it could be considered a curse. I couldn't imagine living forever. But why did they need redemption for something they were gifted? Were they misusing it?
To us, it's an abnormality; I agree with you. But if you can simply decide what and what isn't in balance, have you looked at everything else? Why stop at the Deathless Doom?
The universe was gifted to us by some higher power, too. Isn't it in itself an abnormality?
It's these kinds of inconsistencies I can't rally behind. All it takes is a few questions to throw me off. But I guess there's a difference between being raised to believe it... and reading about it in a few text messages, eh?
( now he's starting to sound like pickles... kakashi rubs at the back of his neck. it's too easy to let his mind offer up its opinions via implant, and he thinks he ought to pay more attention to that. )
no subject
Interesting. There's less of that where I'm from. It's a lot of textbook material, advice books, etc. Of course, when you can find dramatic romance novels, they're usually subtler than the ones I read.
Er... More or less...
Where is it you're from?
no subject
There's a variety of educational and instructional books where I'm from. Though many aspiring writers and storytellers also share their works with various groups, online and in person, most of which are romance novels and stories.
The Xianzhou Luofu. You?
no subject
Fire Country. I figured the locations wouldn't mean much to either of us, but hey, it never hurts to check.
We live apart from other societies where internet is more prevalent. It's still used, as are phones, but not to the extent I've seen here. We're still learning.
Is this tech new or old to you?
no subject
You'd be surprised.
But as it stands, I don't reckon I've heard or visited the Fire Country before. How curious.
[ could be another planet like belobog that's been isolated due to its natural disaster. he always finds this fascinating. ]
The technology is both new and old, I would say.
Some of the innovations in this world can be found in the Xianzhou: the holograms and the implants, for one, as are the means to communicate with each other. The technology, however, that somehow brought us here is rather new.
How do you find all of it so far?
no subject
( kakashi has little knowledge of what life is like past the boundaries of his continent, and the fact that others do astounds him.
their curiosity therefore coincides. )
My technology is older than this, but I recognize its bones in the more advanced things they have here. A phone, a computer, etc. I even saw a hologram once. Or an interactive projection of some sort.
Suffice it to say it's all a bit over my head.
The religions are what I see commonalities in. Shrines, torii, temples. I'm wondering if it bears a likeness to anything in Xianzhou. We might have a melting pot of different corners of the universe on our hands.
no subject
[ which was like a few centuries ago ... ah ]
Haha, there are those who take a while to get used to it. But regular use of the technology, many find, makes it quicker.
Some of its architecture bears a passing resemblance, but the Xianzhou have no temples or shrines. We find that Aeons have no need for them and that their whims are not driven by prayers or exaltations.
no subject
Look around, you're doing it already.
( YOU CAN DO IT, OLD MAN )
What's an Aeon?
no subject
That one is the very antithesis of the saying, if I may say so.
[ the things that dog asks of him ... ]
Aeons, gods, higher spirits, pests—every culture has its name to call them. Either way, they're mysterious beings that preside over and perform various functions in the operation of the universe.
no subject
As for me, I'm... agnostic.
( a private joke, one shared with a friend. gai is safer at home, but he occasionally wishes he had his easy company. and it helps that the man can hit like a mack truck. )
Though I've never heard them called "pests" before. Gods and spirits aren't exactly a common sight where I'm from.
Do you hold one or several in high esteem yourself?
no subject
The Xianzhou, for one, adheres to the guidance of the Reignbow Arbiter and bears its will as we travel across the skies. I suppose that counts as holding them in high esteem, no>
no subject
But you're right, you sound pretty devout. I hope none of my questions insult your faith. I'm pretty curious about it all, this being my first exposure to outer worlds.
What's the function of the Reignbow Arbiter?
no subject
And no, they're not offensive at all. Haha, my devotion only extends up to the point where my obligation to the will of the Hunt ends.
no subject
Sorry, I must be missing something here.
Your whole belief system is based around seeking out and killing other people?
no subject
There was once an emperor of an ancient kingdom that yearned for legacy and immortality. He sent his men into the astral seas in search of this gift and through the boundless stellar sea, they discovered a god that offered them an immeasurable lifespan as a blessing.
What do you think happened upon acceptance of the god's blessing?
no subject
Did they forsake the emperor who sent them on the search?
no subject
No, they continued with their journey across the universe as immortal beings. But with immortality comes a myriad of problems. One could even call it a curse rather than a blessing, and those who exceeded their lifespan became what was called the Deathless Doom.
It's only upon meeting the Reignbow Arbiter were they redeemed.
no subject
( how long were they gone? kakashi wonders. what took them so long? everything beyond the sky is distant, he knows, but exactly how distant if their emperor had died during their travels?
the frog comes to realize not for the first time how small his well is. )
So, your God brings death to the deathless.
I believe you when you say it could be considered a curse. I couldn't imagine living forever. But why did they need redemption for something they were gifted? Were they misusing it?
no subject
Even if it's a gift, it's an imbalance in itself and will only bring forth destruction and the collapse of society unless it's corrected.
no subject
The universe was gifted to us by some higher power, too. Isn't it in itself an abnormality?
It's these kinds of inconsistencies I can't rally behind. All it takes is a few questions to throw me off. But I guess there's a difference between being raised to believe it... and reading about it in a few text messages, eh?
( now he's starting to sound like pickles... kakashi rubs at the back of his neck. it's too easy to let his mind offer up its opinions via implant, and he thinks he ought to pay more attention to that. )
no subject
It's always interesting how others perceive it.