@parker — text.

[webshoots]

I haven't met everyone, so for those of you I haven't met: hey, my name's Peter, wish circumstances were better etc, and I'm going to admit I don't really do this a lot, so you'll have to bear with me.

I know we've just had a meeting to discuss how we can be more prepared in the future and how we can try and limit repeats of the Lighthouse expedition and the party, but that was before Robin and the Doc shared with the class what they know about the World Eaters. New and old, we're all roughly on the same page as far as that's concerned.

Saying it'll be worth putting our heads together at some point to work out how we're going to deal with that threat is an understatement, but... It'll be worth it. Apparently the quickest way to send us all on a one-way trip to definitively not existing is by not working together, and I'll be honest and admit I'm pretty keen on avoiding that.

(That doesn't mean now, for the record, but we've got a time limit and this doesn't look like it's one of those situations where you can cram all night with a jugful of coffee and hope for the best at 8am, day off.)

(And while we're here, can we all agree that murder is bad? Yes? Great.)

I haven't had the (questionable) luck of coming across anyone from my version of Earth here, but we can basically sum it up with: stuff happens. Invading aliens, not-so-invading aliens, pod people, body snatchers, you name it, it's probably happened. I don't want to assume that's the case for everyone here, but I've spoken to enough of you that I feel pretty comfortable going out on a limb and saying that most of us have had experiences that kind of stretch the definition of 'normal'.

Which also means we've got enough experience between us all to make some kind of headway.

(That's the long way of saying "okay, so", by the way.)

There's been a lot of encouragement about exploring Beacon and pulling together whatever we find into something cohesive to be able to figure out a survival plan, and that's great but it's not without its risks.

In life, I had a tech company. At the moment, I've just got it on my tablet, but I've been messing around with something I came up with back home. Think of it like GPS, but with fewer (read: no) satellites.

Radius isn't unlimited and it's not totally foolproof, but if anyone's heading out into the forest and they've got any concerns or reservations about ending up separated from whoever they're with, or unable to find their way back to town, let me know.

Comments

[webshoots]

Small enough to go in a pocket.

Why?

[moderatelymaladjusted]

Nothing. Just curious I guess, since we all have to carry the lanterns around and if it was something that sized, it wouldn't really be possible to use it if I was going off on my own? Can I borrow one?

[webshoots]

You know I'm just going to ask 'why' again, right? I don't have an endless supply, and unlike home, I can't afford to lose them.

So: expedition? Or something else?

Private, locked to @parker

[moderatelymaladjusted]

Something else?

perma-private (1/2)

[webshoots]

Does that something else get en elaboration, or have I just got to take it on blind faith that you're not going to decide to use these in an elaborate crime featuring corruption, bribery, and mistaken identities?

[webshoots]

I mean, I know. I'm going to have to take you on faith one way or the other, but I'm going to need a little bit more of a reason than 'can I?'

[moderatelymaladjusted]

No one knows where the spirits go. No one even seems to know what they are and yes, some are helpful. But. I'd like to put one on one of them and see where they go when they're not here? We didn't have aliens or anything like that back home, except for body snatches. We had those. And maybe I'd like to make sure they are not hiding anything. Like that?

I can't follow them. So. Maybe I could track one.

[webshoots]

I won't lie, I've ... had that thought. For what it's worth, I don't think it's something that's not worth pursuing, I just don't know if now's the right time. You've heard about the fallout from connecting Robin back up to the network, right?

But say we do: which spirit?

[moderatelymaladjusted]

That's when a lot of people died. Again, or moved on to somewhere else. I've heard about it, and I read the list of the dead in the newsletter. I'm sorry? You were here for that?

Which ever one comes the closest? I haven't thought that far ahead yet, but where we're from, Eliot and I, it's usually something like this that leads us to something important. I mean, it's usually invisible spirits of our friends, or the Questing Cock or just plain bunnies, but still. It's always something or someone who sticks out, and these spirits? Do that.

1/2

[webshoots]

Yeah. That's right. Let's just say I'm not really interested in a repeat.

O... kay. You know, given everything, that shouldn't sound weird to me but I'm actually not sure if I want to ask what a 'questing cock' is so I'm just going to maybe circle back round to that later.

[webshoots]

I'll be honest: I think you'll need to be a bit more selective than 'whichever one comes closest'. Most of them will come pretty close if you're polite and reasonable with them - the postmaster, the crab with the ice cream stall, even the librarian (I think).

Out of curiosity though: have you spoken to Robin or the Doc yet?

[moderatelymaladjusted]

I don't know who that is, so I don't think so? But, I mean, I've talked to a lot of people that I don't know, so maybe? Also, there's an ice cream stand with a crab in it?

I meant, one of the ones in the trees? I see them sometimes, when I get back to the cabin or when I'm headed somewhere?

[webshoots]

Doc Ingram managed to survive a reset and Robin's the lighthouse keeper. She's been here about 20 years. Apparently. If you've got questions about Beacon or the spirits, I can't promise they'll be able to answer them, but they might.

Oh, those ones. Sure, that's an idea.

Hey, unrelated q. but: how are YOU with tech?

[ it's related. ]

[moderatelymaladjusted]

I'll try to contact them?

I.

Can use an iPhone? And, I mean, I can fix pretty much anything, if that's what you're asking. But I'm not like good at tech in general? I'm more of an app user, because that's easier.

[webshoots]

donttalktome and beaconkeeper if you're looking at sliding into their DMs.

And okay, right. So that filter you've put into place, on a scale of 1-10, how confident would you say you are in it?

[moderatelymaladjusted]

On this thing? Not at all. I used to get strange programs on my phone all the time? And spam emails. A lot.

1/2

[webshoots]

2/3 actually, soz

[webshoots]

It's a good thing invasive pop-up advertisements apparently aren't a thing in Beacon.

[webshoots]

Circling back round to the ice cream because I got distracted: yes and yes.

But the other thing to note about the spirits: they're pretty protective of the lighthouse and by extension, the lighthouse keeper.

[moderatelymaladjusted]

Yet. I really didn't think they'd be such a thing back home. But wow, was I wrong.

Is it good ice cream? I haven't had any in. So long. I didn't really have time. Before I got here and the last one I did have was [served with the dying blood of an innocent and it was only a lick. Which was bad enough, thank you] not good.

Okay, so they're mostly out there maybe?

[webshoots]

I have so many questions based on that answer.

The flavors can be a bit wild, but at the same time, if you've been to Williamsburg at all in the last 10 years... not so wild.

No, they're definitely everywhere, but that wasn't really what I was getting at. All I'm trying to say is: be careful. There's still a lot of unanswered questions about Beacon, about why we're here, how we're here. Even these tablets, all we really know about how they work is 'something something magic'. (I hate that, by the way).

[ like DO YOU WANT to say on the network on an encryption that you don't trust that you want to tag a (potentially violent) spirit with a tracker?? ]

[moderatelymaladjusted]

I might have been? Either when I was young with my dad or later, when I was. Not young? I think I'd like to try the ice cream here though. See for myself, you know? Maybe I'll go there. Soon.

You hate magic? You're not like some sort of witch hunter, are you?

[No, he does not! And is very badly trying to invite Peter to the ice cream stand in town so they can talk in person! Quentin needs emojis.]

1/2 again I AM SORRY

[webshoots]

[ "or later, when I was. not young." W O W and peter thought he was awkward. ]

You might have been...? Trust me, you'd know. There's this very specific ratio of edginess : overpriced coffee shops that like separates Williamsburg from the rest of Brooklyn.

It's in the village, by the way. The ice cream stand.

But ... witch hunter?

[webshoots]

That's a firm no.

I'm a scientist (or I was.) I just hate magic on principal.

(I mean... hate's a strong word. I don't like it.)

[moderatelymaladjusted]

There's nothing wrong with magic as long as it's used responsibly. Some of my best friends are magicians. Well, that's not true. They all are.

In the village? Where, because right now I'm somewhere close to the disgusting pool that's close to the cabins.