Network: A Survey

[whiteshroud]

A few questions:

1) For those who just arrived in Vitae: Where were you before and what year was it?

2) For those who live in Vitae: How long have you lived here and before receiving this app, have you ever had an experience that you'd describe as unexplainable by science or "supernatural"?

3) Please tell me which of these brands are familiar to you:
- a) Duel Monsters, Magic: The Gathering, Vantage Masters
- b) Rolex, Kronos Orden, TimeKeepers Inc
- c) Xiphone, Apple

Thank you.

Comments

[ape]

My answer doesn’t change compared to those who live here. All my life, nothing strange, Magic: The Gathering, Rolex, Apple, etc.

[whiteshroud]

Alright. Thank you, Mr. Ezekiel.

Since getting the app, have you experienced anything strange. Such as strange sightings, gaining new abilities, or suddenly remembering memories you'd forgotten?

[ape]

2/3, yes.
I hope you don't mind we play some mental ping pong, I'm curious and I like where you're laying your consultations. When you say memories, what makes you consider them "forgotten"?

[whiteshroud]

I don't mind.

And that can vary depending on the person, but typical it's either:

a) You suddenly remember events you'd completely forgotten about that, even though they seem significant enough to be strange to forget in the first place. (ex: you suddenly remember a friend dying in front of you, or having a childhood friend in the first place).

b) You remembered an event happening a certain way, but suddenly realized without provocation that it actually happened a completely different way. (ex: you thought you remembered living through a bad earthquake before, but you suddenly remember it as a monster attack).

[ape]

Fascinating. I'd like to add a third, but before that . . .

Are those your only two findings/accounts under this circumstance, or is it a number of people that have fallen under one of the two? If you can give an exact number, that'd be great (for statistics' sake, and that I like seeing a solid percentage), but it's not necessary.

[whiteshroud]

I'm afraid I don't have any stats to give you.
Really it's just something I read about paranormal incidents once.
I am part of a paranormal mysteries club back at my high school -- so it's something of a hobby?

Anyway, what's the third way?

[ape]

That's fine. Great to see you kids in Japan having such productive hobbies. Testing extremely specific divergences, and all.  

[ he's being a little sarcastic, but in a well meaning way, almost like compliment. he's not about to force anyone to tell him their truths, but come on. don't hide your intellect. ]

Third possibility: They're not "your" memories. At least, not from this specific ongoing reality we're experiencing. The other two imply that there was a memory wipe of some sort from the same reality we live now. Something that truly happened and was forgotten here. I propose it's something that never happened here, so to speak. It could've happened somewhere else, though, during another time, another reality, or after a change in course elsewhere.

[whiteshroud]

Yes. I also enjoy cosplaying anime characters.

[Yeah he can tell Zeke's being sarcastic, but he's not biting. This wasn't the time to share all his cards.]

Hm, maybe. But that sounds like hyper-specific possibility. Did you recall something like that you'd describe in that way?

[ape]

Like Comic Con? Neat.

[ there is a time and place for everything! ]

Of course it's not a baseless supposition, so if it happened once it may happen again was my thought. Late 1900s architecture, clothing, accessories and an unknown language in the memory of a young child named Zeke playing baseball with his father figure and military mentor, Tom Xavier. Ksaver?

I don't know anyone under that name or appearance here, so let's say I did just happen to forget someone so important. But given the context, I can affirm it isn't something I simply remember differently. It's an entirely distinctive time period from this one, to start.

[whiteshroud]

[There's a pause in his response, as he reads over the message a few times. ]

That IS unusual. Certainly not something that'd fall under the typical forgotten memories types, you're right.

[Boy what he'd give to access to the Sealed Library right now so he could cross reference and see if there's a relevant case. For now, he's stuck with his own memory and knowledge. An echo? A false memory? A past memory? A vision? ]

...It could be any number of things, so we need more evidence before we can be sure. But for now, based on what can be confirmed, your theory might be on the right track.

[ape]

[ aw, shucks. ]

That'd really be a dream come true, thanks. The Government Brainwash theory would be an absolute drag.

I can let you know if there're any more, maybe keep our eyes out for others in the same situation (or any different). What about your survey?

[whiteshroud]

Mm. I'm pretty sure the government brainwash theory is very unlikely.

[that's corporations. They love the brainwashing]

Thank you, I'd appreciate that.
As for my survey, so far the results have been helpful.
I believe I can safely assume there are multiple versions of Earth, at the very least.

[ape]

Oh?

You know, I was worried at first, but all I can feel now is a bewitching thrill about all this. Have you ever played sports?

[whiteshroud]

No, not really. I took some lessons like archery when I was a kid, but that's about it.

[ape]

Unique. Did you feel the jolt of satisfaction when you hit the target?

[whiteshroud]

Haha, yes. Especially when it was a bullseye.

[ape]

That’s what this is all feeling like, for me.

I’d hate to call it all a game and I’m still guilty around the edges, but it’s one hell of a thrill.

[whiteshroud]

Haha, you wouldn't be the first to feel that thrill over these matters.

[The Underground were full of them. People who sought out the truth of the Eclipse. There was many things he couldn't share with them, but he understood it.]

Just be aware: the pursuit of this knowledge might change your life forever, and possibly not for the better. If you back away now, I'm sure all you'd be able to return to a normal life once this is over.

It's something to carefully consider, is all.[Though he's pretty sure never in the history of the Orden has anyone successfully convinced a scientist NOT to pursue knowledge, so he's already sure what this guy's answer is going to be]

[ape]

It already has.

[ ]

I look forward to working with you.

[whiteshroud]

[Yep. Zero surprises here. Scientists gotta science.]

Alright.