SNAKEϟTALES 001 ☢ arrival ✈

[philanthroper]

► [ ✆ - voice; morning ]

...

Looks like the bad acid trip's over. Glad to see that those mushrooms aren't the norm here.

[ Brief pause. ]

So. Now that everyone's themselves again, answer me. Where the hell am I? I certainly am not married. Nor do I have kids. Really. This is bad.

[ Another pause, though this time it's accompanied with a groan and quiet

Comments

[phone]

[answerer_sword]

[Bazett warily picks up the ringing contraption. She had only started using it during her stay at Mayfield and she is still not sure how to use it

[phone]

[philanthroper]

[ Snake catches all of that. ]

Yeah. I'm real. And yeah. I'm new... So there's no way out yet, huh. There goes my brilliant plan on escape.

VR stands for virtual reality. As in a fabricated simulation of reality using digital technology... This... is too much of a reality to be virtual. But a VR mission is an operation simulated in virtual reality. It's mainly used to acquaint soldiers with scenarios so they have familiarity before actually engaging in the mission. Doesn't beat the real thing called experience...

An Otacon is a name of my friend. But if you haven't heard of him, don't worry about it.

Re: [phone]

[answerer_sword]

Not yet, but I have no doubt we will find one in due time.

[But hopefully not too quickly because she still has things she wants to do in this town.]

I have heard that the only thing you can do before the escape is found is to try to play along with this town. If you have a house, stay in it for a set amount of time. If you have a job, then show up every day unless you have a good excuse.

[Her own job is 'housewife.' While she dislikes it, at least it gives her lots of free time. As long as she cooks meals, picks the "children" up from school, and cleans the house at least once a week, she is free to do what she wants with most of the rest of her time.]

[She is silent for a bit when she hears the man's explanation.]

So it is almost like a reality marble...I had no idea human science had progressed that far.

[She can sympathize with him over the inconvenience of being stuck here without his partner.]

I would suggest that you ask around. Perhaps he is here, perhaps he is not.

[phone]

[philanthroper]

Play along, huh.

[ Oh, Snake is good at this camouflage thing. This shouldn't be too difficult--and that's when he realizes that he doesn't have a job yet. ]

... So what happens if I don't have a job? Or if I did have a job and I didn't show up every day? Without a good excuse?

[ Reality Marble? ]

A reality marble. Never heard of it. And yeah. Human science and technology has progressed pretty far.

[ Snake makes the mental bridge. ]

What year are you from?

[ Judging how this town seems to pull all beings from all universes, surely it would pull people from all times as well. ]

... I'll keep an eye out for him. Thanks.

[ Such friendly people! Such camaraderie! ]

Call me Snake.

Re: [phone]

[answerer_sword]

The town should assign you a job upon your arrival. Any male of working age has one. Ask the drones and they will probably tell you what it is. I am not sure how well the job will fit you, but you should do it regardless unless you want to get droned. If you dislike it, just do the bare minimum to meet their standards.

[Her own job leaves her open to nagging by her drone husband and children, but as long as she does the bare minimum to meet their standards, she believes she can avoid being droned.]

I am from the year 2001, but my job and the place that I live in do not involve much human technology.

[Who needed that when you had magecraft?]

I wish you luck in finding him. It can be quite frustrating to be stuck here without your partner.

[She had always relied on her superior to handle many important aspects of her missions, so she is not use to handling said aspects by herself.]

I understand, Snake. You may address me by whatever name you like as long as it is not derogatory.

[Do not call her "dollface."]

[phone]

[philanthroper]

Huh. [ This girl is a surprisingly great source of information. ] That's a good idea. Thanks.

[ He's caught in his reveries when she announces what year she is from. ]

... Doesn't involve much human technology? Where in the planet doesn't have a phone? And yeah. I'll manage. He can take care of himself better than I can over myself.

[ Snake is caught again by her pace. ]

You really don't care what I call you? Don't you have a name? Why can't I call you by that? Or at least a code name?

Re: [phone]

[answerer_sword]

Do not thank me. I would not have provided this information had I not been requested by someone.

[Obviously, this man is not a mage.]

There are place that your kind does not know about.

[She sighs when she hears Snake's questions.]

Yes, you may call me by my name. Different people call me different things. Just do not call me "Berserker."

[phone]

[philanthroper]

Still. Helps me out. I'll thank you because you did just that. So thanks.

[ y so smarmy snake ]

There are a lot of places my kind doesn't know about.

[ He shrugs, though shrugs to no one in particular. ]

So. What is your name then? [ An ostentatiously quiet mumble: ] If you don't want me calling you Berserker.

Re: [phone]

[answerer_sword]

You're welcome.

[She wonders why he is being so particular about her name.]

I told you--Bazett Fraga McRemitz.

...And I heard that. Never call me that.

[Ironically, if he does, she might really go Berserker on him.]

[phone]

[philanthroper]

Right. Right. Bazett. I'll call you that.

...

Sorry.

Re: [phone]

[answerer_sword]

[Just then, she remembers in trying to put out all that exposition, she forgot to give him her name. She is glad that he cannot see her embarrassment over the phone.]

Ah...it should be I who am sorry...I can't believe I forgot to give my name...

Anyway, Snake, if you have any other questions, I will try my best to answer them.

[phone]

[philanthroper]

It's fine, Bazett. There's worse sins to commit besides forgetting to introduce yourself.

... I got another question. Is the Mayor and the police really that powerful?

Re: [phone]

[answerer_sword]

I'm not sure. I have not personally encountered them. However, I hear from other people in the town that they are indeed extremely powerful, though not to the level of a girl called "Lucy Smith." If you attempt to defy them, they will turn you into a drone. Mostly, they are committed to the town's purpose of making everything seem like a 50's American suburban paradise.

There have been attempts to take them down before. I recommend that you look around for someone who was involved and ask them for details.

[phone]

[philanthroper]

A girl called Lucy Smith. Are these people strong soldiers? I haven't seen any military despots when I did my preliminary check around town... Who would I talk to in order to get more information about this? Do you know of anyone who fought these guys before?

Re: [phone]

[answerer_sword]

They would not appear to be strong soldiers; Lucy and the Smiths appear to be like any other of the drone families. However, their power is not anything physical. I would say...magical? It is a bad idea to underestimate them.

[She is careful to not give any hints that she knows anything of magic. This man is probably not a mage and she does not want to expose the existence of magecraft.]

I do not know who the former fighters are. I do, however, know of a man named Garviel Loken, who spoke as if he had experience attacking those beings. You might wish to talk to him, though I am not sure where you will find him.

[She still has a hard time telling the cookie-cutter houses apart.]

[phone]

[philanthroper]

Hnnrrgh.

Garviel Loken. You sound pretty active with all of this information gathering. I can't imagine you're just sitting around idly.

[ Small smile. ]

What role do you fit into this grand scheme then? Informant? Operative? Commander? You know too much. I'm not chastising you or anything. You've been a pal in answering a lot of my questions; I'm just curious.