✘ two | day | video

[tenpointsfrom]

[ When the PORTAL turns on it reveals what appears to be an empty bedroom ... until a man in his early twenties goes rushing past looking for something. What he's looking for is his wand - which was still sitting in his coat pocket - to conjure a proper mirror since the blasted one in his room is just forever showing a useless black surface. One

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[video]

[notglitching]

[Tron's not sure what to make of the user's reactions. But he seems to have some idea what's going on.]

What do you mean?

[notglitching]

But a lot of people seem to have come together just now. A... friend and I appeared within micros of each other.

Are the disappearances the same? Who's running this system?

[potterisatool]

A ... friend?

No. They're as random as the appearances. The royalty of the city and those that work for them do. The ones that did this.

[notglitching]

[Tron gives the user an uncertain stare. He's reluctant to give away anything on Quorra-after the reaction to him, for all he knows, the user will go after the ISO on name alone.]

Yes.

[He shakes his head.] This doesn't seem random.

And the 'royalty'... made you younger?

[potterisatool]

Another program? [ That reminds him ... ] Do you perhaps have some way to know about the state of other programs in the area. I have a friend, another program - she might have been changed as well. Unfortunately. I wouldn't wish this sort of ridiculousness on her. Her name is Quorra.

[ Have the barest of a shrug. ] Perhaps not as much considering you came in as half of a pair.

Or their minions. Scientists ... no idea. [ And he doesn't like not having an idea. ]

[notglitching]

[That stare? The uncertainty just tripled.]

I don't have access for a system check here, but Quorra... appeared when I did. She's who I spoke of.

[And he doubts even she makes friends that quickly.]

[potterisatool]

... what?! No! [ No no, bloody hell no. ]

That's it then. This city has done more than just simply make me and others younger. I can feel it in my mind, memories of this age battling for dominance. But you ... and Quorra ... [ Today? Terrible. ]

[notglitching]

...I'm not sure what you mean.

We just arrived. If the city were affecting us so quickly... [He shifts, head tipping slightly back toward his docked disk.]

We would know. Memory files aren't something that can be changed without... [He shakes his head.]

[potterisatool]

[ He rubbed a hand over his face. ] Yet what you fail to remember ... to know ... [ SOMETHING ] is that this city defies logic on a regular basis.

Muggles and wizards alike able to conjure, "dream up" objects with equal skill. Things appearing and disappearing. And now this. Why not also affect ... memory files? Those that believe they only just arrived?

Because the fact remains Tron, I do recognize you. That exact pattern on your clothing. I know it. I've seen it. And were you to search my memories you would know it is true.

[notglitching]

[Tron stares, mouth an unhappy line. The other's assumptions seem a poor basis-of course users can create. And system transfer was one thing, but tampering with his memories-his disk...

Hexagonal pupils flick downward, linger on the four squares of light below his sternum. If the other were a program, he would request verification. But the user doesn't have a disk, and even if he did...

Tron's gaze comes back up. His voice is quiet.]

I don't even know your name.

[potterisatool]

Severus Snape.

[notglitching]

[A small nod of acknowledgement. He doesn't reply quickly, just stares, unblinking. When he does speak, the tension's audible.]

How do you remember me, then?

[Not 'know'. Tron wasn't at all certain of this.

But the user seemed to be.]

[potterisatool]

How do I remember you right now though I've been changed physically?

No idea.

[ So he was avoiding the true question a bit. ]

[notglitching]

[Tron shakes his head.]

No.

If you do remember me-or Quorra-what are the memories? How do you know us? Or her, at least.

[He frowns, gaze sharp.] You didn't know my name.

[ Tron's not much for avoidance. ]

[potterisatool]

[ Oh fine then. ]

I met Quorra one evening not too long after I was brought here. I was out walking the city, getting my bearings. She was on her lightcycle. Its design caught my eye as it vaguely resembled a motorbike ... yet was entirely like nothing I had ever seen before. We talked and that was as they say, the start of things. She has been in my home once and I have given her an open invitation to return again as we share a common affection for books, of which I have many. [ Understatement. Majorly. ]

You however are a rather different story. I have never heard you referred to as 'Tron' and it was Quorra who gave me your name: 'Rinzler'.

[ How's that suit you for non-avoidance so far program? ]

[notglitching]

[Tron listens, head slightly tilted. The story seems plausible enough for the most part, though the reference to books gets an disbelieving exhale that borders on a snort. Books, as such, were a user thing; Flynn had only copied a few onto the Grid, and it was a rare program that had made contact with the strange data repositories. He supposes Quorra could have broken into the user's cache, but the concept of her staying still long enough to page through something so slowly amused him more than anything.

When user: Severus Snape reaches the second part of his description, the amusement faded back to uncertainty. Why Quorra would...]

You didn't meet me, then?

[If it was him. But that hadn't been the voice of someone going by rumor.]