raisetheearth | Entry #A-3: "Ask" [Video] [Shepherd's Haven]

[It's getting easier to tell Ryuzaki and Lazarus apart; the latter looks significantly thinner and more unhealthy than the former, and instead of breaking into easy smirks, his face is placid and serious. The two share a Number, but little else.]

Regarding recent events, Saretha has given these aspects thought and is asking you to do the same. Please pay attention to what she has to say, whether or not you've missed these events in real time. It's all important.

I'm one of the people who was contacted by the informant from Thunder Corp, and I know of some others, but there's a question I'm very interested in at this time. I want to know if anyone was both contacted by this informant and approached by a representative from the company, and if there are any Numbered currently active on the Network who experienced neither of these things.

If you're not comfortable sharing this information on the Network, especially considering that I have a particularly destructive and untrustworthy doppelganger who can see even my private network messages and just took a job with someone I have a very bad feeling about, I can meet with you in person to discuss this regardless of your location, or speak with you on a private line. If you've agreed to help Thunder Corp, I'm not not here to judge harshly... at this point, I just want the data I've specified, and your answer one way or the other is something you're welcome to keep to yourself.

To reiterate: Were you contacted by Thunder Corp's rogue informant, or a recruiter? Were you contacted by both? Were you contacted by neither?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

First of all, are you OK?

Second... did he say anything at all about how he found this town? Or you, for that matter?

[It was such a ridiculous circumstance - almost like it was too good to be true. Which it was, as it turned out.

Her expression held a mixture of confusion, still at everything that had happened that afternoon. And horror at what may have happened, had she not stalled and ultimately set off her decision.

Still, the frankness of it all made her breathing tense up for a few seconds.]

I-I'm fine, thanks. He didn't try anything... I just had to let him in and we talked for a little while.

....No, he didn't. I don't know how he could ever find me. [She frowns, blinking a bit.] Unless... my parents...

Your well-being matters very much to me. I'm glad to hear that he was at least courteous.

Can you contact them? See if they talked to anyone unusual or told them anything about your whereabouts?

He was pretty polite... [Judging by her frown, that didn't make it much better.] He was dressed in a suit and a hat, if that means anything, and I saw a pretty expensive looking park parked out in the front.

[She frowns, fidgeting for a moment until she produces... the card he gave her.]

He gave me this to call him back... I-I never made the decision to join.

It's useful information, thank you.

[He squints, peering closer to the screen to see the card.]

Eric Ellis? You... mean you never told him that you wouldn't join, right?

[Because he can't imagine that she's actually considering this.]

Yeah, that's the name he gave me. [At least on the card. He hadn't said anything about himself otherwise, so... how could she really know? God, that meeting was just going to give her an anxiety attack for as long as she lived.]

...Wha? [She blinks. Then, it finally connects what he means.] Y-yes, of course! I-I'm not going to join them! Not after what they've done!

[....He was hella charismatic though.]

It sounds... like a real name, I guess.

[Just bland and generic and a little too perfect? It's hard to articulate.]

It's your choice, obviously, but I'm glad you made that one. I don't suppose you've heard of anyone who made the other choice?

It might be... but who really knows, right?

[She was of a similar mind now. The entire meeting had gone quickly, now that she thought about it. But something about just seemed... planned. Or maybe the man was simply too good at understanding what Rakka was feeling.]

I... N-no. I haven't. I'm not sure if anyone is going to take them up on their offer. [A good thing... right?] But.... they sound really convincing.

As much as I don't want to think this, odds are that some have accepted it, whether they're naive or malicious.

I guess we've had traitors and will again, but it's still a rotten feeling, isn't it?

Someone probably would... [She didn't doubt that there were some people here who may have fallen for the nice act thrust upon them. Or maybe they had just been pressured into it.

Like she almost was.

And she still hadn't told them no, yet.]

It feels bad.... but, maybe we shouldn't be too hard on some people that accepted?

That's very interesting. Why do you think we shouldn't rake them over the coals for what would be seen by most as a definite betrayal?

[Lazarus is one of those people, in case she can't tell.]

Uhh.... [Well, there's that sweat on her brow returning. She gulps down a breath and keeps going.]

What if some of them.... don't have a choice in the matter?

Are you suggesting that it's possible some of them were forced? That's serious, if so, and while it's definitely extenuating, I can't help but think they would have made some effort to get out of it or contact one of us for help.

[ah] That's probably true.... but you can never be one hundred percent sure, right?

I believe it is possible. It's irresponsible to make an accusation below a certain percent... obviously, one hundred percent is ideal.

Well.... yeah, that's true.

In their heart of hearts, everyone is really the type to either assume guilt or innocence until the other is proven. I feel like it's clear where you fall in that scenario.

Uhh... is something wrong with that?

No, not in the least. It's actually very touching and indicates faith in humanity that's admirable.

Oh! Well... I'm glad I have that! Faith, I mean.

Me too. We should all try to keep a little bit of it, anyway. It's a good quality.

I think so, too. Others have faith in me, so why not have some for them?

Starting with Raye of course, I'm sure.

Raye? Well, of course I have faith in her.

I'm glad to hear. Sometimes times of trouble are especially tough on relationships but I'm always inspired to see how supportive of each other the two of you are.

[Video/private]

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