noasark | Ryslig IC INBOX

[a typed letter arrives at Noa's desk, addressed to him care of the labs. There is no return address on the outside, but a business card has been folded into the letter. The stock is a subtle off-white, the type slightly raised. In simple copperplate, it reads:
Seb Moran
+ERT Securities
Bavan Post Box 221
102.692.45.18. The letter is brief but polite:]

Mr. Kaiba,
Please forgive the unsolicited communication, but I do not trust sending certain business messages through the network. My name is Seb Moran, and I'm in the process of building a security service for both monsters and humans. I do find the laptops useful for communication, but for security's sake, I would like to purchase two more: one for each of my planned locations. How much would you charge for such a service? You may write back or send me a private message consisting of only the price in solars and a date when they can be collected.

Thank you,
S. Moran

[Ugh why does he have to keep doing Work right now.

Well. The cat looks in his 'in'-box, and ultimately squints.

Oh. Troublesome...

..................................and...................Oh, immediately suspicious, he has to squint at least a few seconds at this. Huh.

Little more eloquent than he'd expect of the sharpshooter but then again that's an assumption...]

Mr. Moran,

The communication method is certainly a rare choice, but far from one I'm unfamiliar with. Unfortunately, I do have to ask what you will precisely need these devices for. They are finicky in their construction, and it will be easier to send 1.0s- as you can imagine however, they would be entirely useless for certain work however.

As such, you can see where 'price and location' falls flat- though I can provide such an estimate once I have an idea of your graphical and digital needs.

Sincerely,
Noa Kaiba, Co-Director

Mr. Kaiba,
I appreciate your prompt response. As for the function of +ERT Securities, I should think you would understand the need for a little professional secrecy. But as a security company, we would need at least one machine with full capacity. My current could serve in that regard. Another would need to be able to record video and audio even if it would not have the capability to send, so long as there was a means to save it - perhaps storage discs since I imagine that is the best option. The final machine would be for communication only, so something barebones would be fine... though if you don't mind, I could make a better determination based on the specs between the two models available.

[honestly, if Noa is really that savvy, the company name shouldn't be hard to figure out. can he realize this is his new friend Jim? maybe, if he thinks hard enough.]

[..........................................................................]

Alright that's enough formalities.

I cannot BELIEVE you used your presumed top gunman's name as an alias I SWEAR...

I can see about getting you a set of 2.0s; all of them are capable of video and audio, it's just a matter of bulk; the 1.0 used separate devices and uploads with lower quality. A 1.0 will do fine enough for your communications machine at the least, but I'm going to aim for 2.0s for the rest...possibly with the incoming software patch if I can manage it, but that should be a network code push regardless.

As for the specs-

[He includes them. Really it's...obvious that if they can manage 3 2.0s, they want That.]

Mmm, that said we haven't figured out external storage with any reliability thus far; you'll want to stick to printed documents and keep them very secure.

....You actually had me going for a minute you know, I almost wondered if I would have to pass a message on and ask if you'd located a newcomer from your own reality. 10/10 on a name choice in one of the few places you can get away with it.

[don't you be judgy with him, you catty little -- Jim grits his teeth as he reads the latest letter, nostrils flaring, but he keeps a lid on it. this is too important to lose his temper over. he needs the triple security if these aliases are all going to stay airtight. there are too many people here clever enough to track IP addresses and such, and he's been cutting it fine even using Moran in a professional fashion with just one laptop.

but now that Noa has sussed it out, there's no need for pretense, and that at least is nice]

Secure printed documents? We really are in the Dark Ages here, aren't we. Luckily I have a couple of options cooking in that regard, already.

I want three machines because I need three I.P. addresses and separate storage. I'm sure now that you've won this round of hide-and-seek, you know why they're really needed. The security business wasn't a lie, though, that really will be Moran's meat and potatoes. In a room full of locked doors, after all, the man with the key is king. And kitty, you should see me in a crown. ;) How much for two of your best 2.0 machines, and how soon can you have them ready?

[Listen Jim, he's paranoid.

Also- hm.

An address is sent, along with-]

Ah. That's on me, I should have been clear; they're free, Jim, what am I going to do with more money, buy another penthouse?

We go through piles of these just trying to upgrade them (they're prone to explosion. Do NOT attempt to alter the hardware, or on your own head Literally be it), it's just a matter of making sure we have 2.0s somewhere.

As it stands I'll be leaving them at that address, since naturally walzting into the Labs rather defeats the point of us going back and forth through a PO box.

.........................side note you really had a gunman named Moran then? Hm. I don't suppose he ever tried big game hunting?

If he did, I never heard about it. He was just a contact, a resource, pairs of steady hands and keen eyes with a gun.

[in short, his universe was robbed, but only in part, because have you seen Watson?
.. give it a week or two]

I have someone I can send to the drop point, that's just fine. Let me know when.

As for the explosions ... I hope that principle of engineering doesn't extend to simulacra here. I just found a contact who might be able to help me repair anything in the event it breaks. Or is broken for me. I'd hate to explode over this place's equivalent to a sprained ankle or something.

Shame, must be boring compared to the books, Victorian era derivative then.

Ah, excellent, I can work with that easily. As for your own explosions...it shouldn't, but pretty much anything here operates on 'shouldn't, but can'.

Fortunately for you if you're injured a good exposure to Fog should restore any damages- though be careful not to count on it for heavy injuries all the same. The fog here is thin these days, and it has consequences.

You're the second person to mention books to me. I have to admit, I'm curious.

As for the Fog, I'm told that's why I was able to die more than once in a day. It laid me on my arse for a few days afterward, even so. Wouldn't recommend it. Even if, I admit, I did make one of them happen just because I knew it wouldn't stick. Always did want to know what drowning felt like.

Tragically there isn't much you're missing, beyond the age old theory of multiple realities in relation to fiction.

Ah.

Yes, it is, and if you can help it, don't push that. Even if you find a particularly neat way to go- die too many times, and you'll gradually forget who you were, and it won't be a smooth process.

Interesting. Not surprising, but interesting.

[he's already having thoughts, which will become abundantly clear come the Masquerade if Noa chooses to attend]

So I've heard. I've already forgotten two things, if I'm keeping proper track ... and I know one of them was someone's name. Every time I remember his face, the things he did and said ... nothing.

Mm. Be glad it was simple this time- these things get much more abstract than that, and I can't imagine you'd want to forget certain 'basic' concepts without warning. Obviously it won't stop anyone from filling you back in...but there's not much more irritating than needing to be reminded of something you long knew before.

I had assumed it would get thornier the more memories were lost. Thanks for the confirmation.

Trust me, I've gotten the suicidal streak far out of my system. Life here is far too interesting for that.

Not a problem- and let me just say I'm very glad to hear that. It's hard enough staying alive at the best of times, in this place.

Ryslig IC INBOX

8/27 (sent to the Liewen Labs address given by Lighthouse welcome packets)

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cw: suicide/drowning

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