@ciri.lla

[persists]

I think we should all meet up on a monthly basis to go over any useful information. Weekly is too much — I'm not looking for that kind of commitment. While this... correspondence can provide use, does anyone else feel more comfortable face-to-face? Not relying on this thing to discuss our secrets?

[ She doesn't understand it, really. Barely understands how to utilize it to communicate. So... here comes the challenge: showing her discomfort without feeling vulnerable. ]

I'll buy the first round of drinks if the lot of you agree.

Comments

[strove]

Precisely. If we can come up with a means of keeping touch that doesn't involve this, I'm game. But we have to keep even the most reticent updated.

[persists]

It's a mess.

Back home, we had devices called megascopes. Sorceresses could utilize them to communicate across long distances and even teleport if their powers weren't strong enough. Yet, there was no tracking unless someone with keen senses were able to find their components.

...It's highly unlikely it's here, but...

Nevermind, I'm just ranting.

[ FRUSTRATIONS... ]

We'll find a way. Somehow.

[strove]

No, I understand what you're getting at. Even with this, we're still exposed to Morningstar. They can read everything we say, so even if they keep out, it's not necessarily the truth of what's going on.

The only alternative is somehow putting together something like this ourselves, but then we'd have to figure out how to rig it into our implants and make it as secure.

I'm not sure we can even manage the creation process.

[persists]

I don't fully rule out the chance of becoming more of a problem to them. I believe in their cause, I will work with them — I just have to be aware of the possibility of conflict in the future.

Gah... with the advancement of technology, you'd think there would be relics still scattered about. Older versions that may not have the same capabilities as these implants. Did this world always have these, I wonder..?

[strove]

You know, they're going to wonder how you're going to be a problem when they see this.

[If only the teasing in her tone could make it across the network. Anyway.]

And no. Things like the implants were definitely advanced in my world, and not anywhere near this level. Not impossible, but not quite as high functioning. From what I know, anyway. I'm not an engineer.

Usually, we just used computers and radios to communicate. Now all that's inside of us.

[persists]

Annoyance can cost you your head.

[ It certainly made some enemies for Dandelion... ]

I... see. [ She doesn't. :/ Even the experiences in the world she hid in for 6 months, time moved so quickly and there was no time to learn. Run, run, run — that's all she could do. ] Is it obvious why they're inside of us? My first guess is this world always developed accordingly, but... I wonder if there's a way for us to make an equivalent — one that wasn't as this world's?

[strove]

You want to know if we can make something of our own to communicate? A device or network?

Possible.

Probable, even. If we could get radios in my world working after everything went bad, then sure. But we'd need to make sure that this world's technology wouldn't interfere in some way. It may be able to quite easily.

[persists]

I think, yes. Possibly not in the same way it works here, but something tangible. Something not traceable.

But, that's good to know at least... I'd have no idea where to even begin rounding up the plan on that. It's nice to know it's an option.

[strove]

It's an option.

A better one is something temporary. Something destroyed after it's passed between sources. If we had paper, it'd be easier, but there isn't a whole lot of that, and anything similar is costly.

I looked into it for ... artwork. Admittedly.

[persists]

I see.

On the bright side, I do not think we were the first to think of this type of good or service. This alternative. There has to be others in this world that have some system — if the darker parts of the city are anything to live by. It may be something we can find as opposed to create if we look vigilantly enough.

[strove]

You're right.

[Crime and gambling and all of that is just out of reach for her. It's something she's never personally experienced on this level. Crimes back home were ... very different in how they were approached. Both more extreme and more taboo, because anything could get someone killed.]

I wouldn't know where to begin. But I can think of someone who would.