elliot "tyler durden" alderson (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
raw) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
maskormenacelogs2016-09-07 11:16 am
raw) wrote in maskormenacelogs2016-09-07 11:16 am
a new world hangs outside the window
WHO: Elliot Alderson and OPEN
WHERE: Arriving in Heropa, trying to get to Nonah, his new place at De Chima #004... or wherever you like! Hit me up for a starter.
WHEN: This week.
WHAT: Just your average intro log.
WARNINGS: Darlene and Elliot's thread (in the comments) will contain spoilers. Elliot also comes with a bunch of content warnings, threads may turn dark.
As a note, I started in prose but can also do both prose-with-brackets-around-it and short af action spam, so I'll follow your lead.
000000. heropa.boot
Elliot is quiet, obedient, as they give him his welcome package of information and take him up to the surface to wait for the bus. He sits and flicks through the phone they gave him, realizing almost immediately that he might need to code his tools from scratch again, since none of his programs came with him. That's fine. It means he's missed an opportunity to get manual access to the system while he's still in the complex, but he can come back.
On the bus, he sits and looks out the window, watching Florida slide by for the twenty minute drive. Is he all alone here? Or as much as Elliot can be alone. For one thing, the file in his hands spells it out clearly, not just the DID and anxiety printed shamefully in black and white, but the new superpowers.
Technopathy he already knew; he can see the lines of code behind his eyes when he closes them, senses intuitively the connection he has between the phone in his hand, just as he'd felt the maze of electronic connections in the underground base. It's strange, because it's new, but it also just feels like a natural extension of himself. Being able to think in code instead of having to wait for his fingers and eyes and a plastic keyboard and a bright monitor to catch up to the speed of his brain.
The other thing, though. Mr Robot's manifestation. He's not sure how he feels yet about that. Sharing a body with someone else is crazy, but at least now maybe he won't be able to land Elliot in hot water, won't be able to use his face. And maybe that means he won't see him any more, which is not a loss he would regret in the slightest.
You, though. You're still here. Listening in. So even without Mr Robot, Elliot thinks, I'm still never going to be alone. I'll always have one friend-- and we are still friends, aren't we? Even though I lied to you?
Is that why I'm here now?
Is this a punishment?
The brakes squeal and Elliot gets off the bus, hands stuffed into the pockets of his black hoodie despite the thick humidity. Tries not to look too lost, tries not to look like the new guy, even though passers by are already pointing, whispering like they might approach, as excited as if they know him. Eyes on him, he hates having eyes on him. Elliot's shoulders hunch inwards and he tries to will himself invisible as he hustles away from the crowds of Heropa citizens. It doesn't work.
000001. nonah.hpj
He uses the Portal. Might as well take advantage of it while he can, right? Elliot has no intention of registering or even attending the Swearing In Ceremony, but until that outright refusal his arm still scans as Registered, so they let him through.
Darlene had said she'd meet him here, but without Google Maps or the easily navigable grid of NYC he is immediately lost, so he just stops the nearest person. Not quite meeting their eyes. "Hey. Excuse me."
000010. dechima004.exe
There is a Catch-22 when you live on the streets: employers need to have a residential address to hire you, and you need somewhere to shower and dress to be suitable for employment, but you need to be making money to get a place and pay rent. So Elliot does appreciate that he starts out with a room (even if it's in Virginia) and a job (even if it's the fucking worst), and resolves to use them as starting off points rather than squandering the opportunity.
(That's a very Mr Robot phrase, squandering the opportunity, except Elliot is pretty sure he doesn't approve of the stability of government housing and government employment, would rather have Elliot living out of his backpack on the subway.)
So he shows up at De Chima 004 and claims his room by putting like, exactly two things in it. He's already trashed the folder they gave him and he wasn't really carrying much more than the items he'd signed for before he became an imPort. He'll have to buy more clothes. But apart from that, he's never really been attached to much in the way of stuff.
There's some furniture; he turns over all of it, goes through the whole room looking for bugs. Unscrews light bulbs. Reaches into the dark corners of the closet. Borrows a knife from the kitchen so he can slit open the mattress, the pillows. If he had a deposit he probably would have just lost it.
Anyway, anyone who wants to check out their new housemate after he's don't being a tornado of paranoia will find him sitting cross-legged on the ruined mattress, shoes still on, elbows on his knees, as he looks at the screen of his phone.
WHERE: Arriving in Heropa, trying to get to Nonah, his new place at De Chima #004... or wherever you like! Hit me up for a starter.
WHEN: This week.
WHAT: Just your average intro log.
WARNINGS: Darlene and Elliot's thread (in the comments) will contain spoilers. Elliot also comes with a bunch of content warnings, threads may turn dark.
As a note, I started in prose but can also do both prose-with-brackets-around-it and short af action spam, so I'll follow your lead.
000000. heropa.boot
Elliot is quiet, obedient, as they give him his welcome package of information and take him up to the surface to wait for the bus. He sits and flicks through the phone they gave him, realizing almost immediately that he might need to code his tools from scratch again, since none of his programs came with him. That's fine. It means he's missed an opportunity to get manual access to the system while he's still in the complex, but he can come back.
On the bus, he sits and looks out the window, watching Florida slide by for the twenty minute drive. Is he all alone here? Or as much as Elliot can be alone. For one thing, the file in his hands spells it out clearly, not just the DID and anxiety printed shamefully in black and white, but the new superpowers.
Technopathy he already knew; he can see the lines of code behind his eyes when he closes them, senses intuitively the connection he has between the phone in his hand, just as he'd felt the maze of electronic connections in the underground base. It's strange, because it's new, but it also just feels like a natural extension of himself. Being able to think in code instead of having to wait for his fingers and eyes and a plastic keyboard and a bright monitor to catch up to the speed of his brain.
The other thing, though. Mr Robot's manifestation. He's not sure how he feels yet about that. Sharing a body with someone else is crazy, but at least now maybe he won't be able to land Elliot in hot water, won't be able to use his face. And maybe that means he won't see him any more, which is not a loss he would regret in the slightest.
You, though. You're still here. Listening in. So even without Mr Robot, Elliot thinks, I'm still never going to be alone. I'll always have one friend-- and we are still friends, aren't we? Even though I lied to you?
Is that why I'm here now?
Is this a punishment?
The brakes squeal and Elliot gets off the bus, hands stuffed into the pockets of his black hoodie despite the thick humidity. Tries not to look too lost, tries not to look like the new guy, even though passers by are already pointing, whispering like they might approach, as excited as if they know him. Eyes on him, he hates having eyes on him. Elliot's shoulders hunch inwards and he tries to will himself invisible as he hustles away from the crowds of Heropa citizens. It doesn't work.
000001. nonah.hpj
He uses the Portal. Might as well take advantage of it while he can, right? Elliot has no intention of registering or even attending the Swearing In Ceremony, but until that outright refusal his arm still scans as Registered, so they let him through.
Darlene had said she'd meet him here, but without Google Maps or the easily navigable grid of NYC he is immediately lost, so he just stops the nearest person. Not quite meeting their eyes. "Hey. Excuse me."
000010. dechima004.exe
There is a Catch-22 when you live on the streets: employers need to have a residential address to hire you, and you need somewhere to shower and dress to be suitable for employment, but you need to be making money to get a place and pay rent. So Elliot does appreciate that he starts out with a room (even if it's in Virginia) and a job (even if it's the fucking worst), and resolves to use them as starting off points rather than squandering the opportunity.
(That's a very Mr Robot phrase, squandering the opportunity, except Elliot is pretty sure he doesn't approve of the stability of government housing and government employment, would rather have Elliot living out of his backpack on the subway.)
So he shows up at De Chima 004 and claims his room by putting like, exactly two things in it. He's already trashed the folder they gave him and he wasn't really carrying much more than the items he'd signed for before he became an imPort. He'll have to buy more clothes. But apart from that, he's never really been attached to much in the way of stuff.
There's some furniture; he turns over all of it, goes through the whole room looking for bugs. Unscrews light bulbs. Reaches into the dark corners of the closet. Borrows a knife from the kitchen so he can slit open the mattress, the pillows. If he had a deposit he probably would have just lost it.
Anyway, anyone who wants to check out their new housemate after he's don't being a tornado of paranoia will find him sitting cross-legged on the ruined mattress, shoes still on, elbows on his knees, as he looks at the screen of his phone.
no subject
Have you ever sent a message using signal fires? Morse code?
[ He's not totally sure what level of technology he's dealing with here. ]
Even right now, when I'm talking to you, I make a noise and you hear it, but we can't see the noise while it travels. The data is stored in machines: computers, servers, phones, I don't want to get into hardware engineering with you.
[ A wry tilt of his mouth. ]
Data travels using light. So it's fast. Invisible. Changing. That's where the internet is.
no subject
This sounds like something from a story. Information travelling through light. How did anyone ever discover how to do something like that!? ]
You like it because it connects you to everything.
To me it sounds... [ He turns to smile at Elliot. The look is a little wry. ] My people send messengers with letters in hand. They rode on horseback, and you tell me of information travelling through light. I'd like to see that. You say they do not have it here?
no subject
[ He was looking at his brand new government issue phone before Damen approached, so he just holds it up in demonstration. ]
These are networked, far as I can tell. Look, I'll send you a message.
[ If Damen tells him his display name, Elliot can hit up his inbox with a Hello. using his mental link to the devices. ]
Faster than a horse.
no subject
That is...incredible.
That is how people talk on these things. I have seen their faces inside it as well. And heard their voices.
[ At a push, the letters are understandable enough. It's just like a much faster letter, after all. Video calling is not something he could have imagined at all. ]
How do you understand it so well?
no subject
I grew up with stuff like this. It was the nineties so everything was new and simple, and I started learning about it when I was about — I dunno, young. Just a kid. My dad had a computer store.
[ He pauses, expression going briefly shuttered as he pushes down an awkward swell of emotion. Even in passing, his father and his childhood are complicated topics and he wishes he hadn't said something like that to a stranger. After a moment where Damien might think he's done, he carries on. ]
Then I studied tech in college, got a job. It's the one thing I know.
no subject
He doesn't push at that shard of vulnerability, though the sight of it makes him warm towards the young man.
He smiles. ]
My father was a great warrior. His tools were the same ones I use today. We use what we are given.
[ But still, it's hard to believe the world has changed so very much. Men value different things. ]
If you know it so well, could you create it in this world? With all the machines that they have, I think they would value this.
no subject
[ Like, nanotech is way out of his league, he's jumping at the chance to study his own arm. ]
If you want, though, I could keep helping you learn about this stuff. You know, if you have any questions, or want a hand keeping your shit secure. People can intercept messages on these just as easily as they could if it was... I dunno, a guy on horseback.
no subject
[ Admittedly, it has been a concern. Others use these devices so easily. He knows that there's a way to make private conversations, but he doesn't know how. And at that, it only says that it's private. How would he know if it truly was? It does not feel secure, in the way that a sealed letter feels secure.
But Elliot is right, ultimately. A letter can be intercepted, and lost. Each message is only so good as the rider carrying it.
Damen's face blooms into a smile.
I appreciate it very much. This world makes me feel ignorant, but I have no wish to be.
How would I contact you?
no subject
[ He doesn't have a secure set up yet, and even if he did this guy is asking him for help using the devices, so those won't work to set up a meeting. ]
They gave me a place. De Chima number four. You can stop by and ask for Elliot.
[ Making Damen the first and only person Elliot's given his address to, but he is pretty sure he can trust this guy. Has a gut feeling he's learned to believe. ]
Or write me a letter, I guess.
no subject
Damen nods. ]
They sent me to Heropa 037. I do not think that we will stay there, but if we move, I shall let you know.
[ Honesty deserves honesty. ]
If ever there is aid you need in return, you must come to me. My name is Damen.