001 (How does one formalities?)

[acceptedlife]

[Takeshi has been... very careful. Since the last time he replied to something on the linkshell. However, he can't help but have a feeling of dread as August rolled in. Maybe he's just paranoid. But in the middle of the night, there is a text appearing on the list from him.]

Out of curiosity, what does everyone think of this invitation to the Empire? (Also what does someone wear to those kinds of things?)

Locked to [AU] Reno
Found something interesting in the 'Width. Be visiting soon.

Locked to Nagito Komaeda
Said I'd message you when I had something. I finished the map, so I'm sending you that now. Expect the other thing before some of us accept that most gracious invitation.

[Attached is crystallismap.jpeg and wor.jpeg. It's far rougher than what the official images look like, more like outlines that have been erased and redrawn until it seemed right and then redrawn over with ink. He's no ultimate artist (or any artist, for that matter), but it's passable and isn't inaccurate.]

Locked to Kenichi Nakagawa
Hey dad. Found something of interest you should see. I'll be between Arito and Yun'Ashia for most of the month working on adding to it, but lmk when'd be good to visit.

Comments

text;

[promiselisting]

Not to be a downer or anything but I don't think I've found a piece of media yet where the Empire is good news.

[ She barely had enough tact to not say this on the announcement itself, you better believe what self-control she has is caving here. ]

text;

[acceptedlife]

Hey, there were some good people in the one Empire I knew of, but...

Yeah ok you got a point.

text;

[spaceforged]

I think no matter what we have to go. It's a possible lead...even if it's the most suspicious one we have. If it turns out [Against all odds, he has the control not to say that.] to be a genuine offer, then we have a possible ally.

(As for what to wear, formal attire is best. Uniforms and suits.)

text;

[acceptedlife]

We're of one mind there.

(...Great, guess I'm going shopping after work.)

text;

[regisrex]

Well. It could be anything from actual genuine curiosity to a death trap, though it's likely a chance to get to know ... the new element in the world. Which can, if one is cautious, be taken as a chance to learn right back.

Or a chance for free food.

And I guess we can ask our moogles as to what they know of Imperial fashion as of ten years ago.

text;

[acceptedlife]

New to us, anyway. And caution isn't exactly my strongest suit...

Also, tried, but Moglina here has no idea because they "change with the tides." Her words, not mine.

text

[mythmaker]

I'm excited to see more new places and try new things. A festival in a forbidden city sounds romantic, doesn't it?

text

[acceptedlife]

Yeah. Clearly.

[He has no idea what she's talking about at the end there.]

Re: text

[immortalmarshal]

Romantic?

[failtsuninari]

[He would've scolded his son about staying up this late but even he knows that one saying about people living in glass houses.]

We should accept the invitation but take everything they say with a grain of salt. I'm not a fan of stuffy events like this but even I have to acknowledge they have their uses. As to what to wear, I'd say you can't go wrong with a well-tailored suit.

I work mostly the first half of the work week so you're welcome to swing by then. Oh and Bonnie's living with me so I can try to keep an eye on her when I can.

[acceptedlife]

[Look Dad, it's not his fault he got stuck with closing shift. ...Okay and he may have decided to work on something while he's responding to texts.]

Way to state the obvious. Need me to make sure you don't make any weird faces?

I don't own one. Never have. And good to know. I'm still looking, but I'll be around sometime on the 7th?

text;

[doodlebuginette]

Personally, I'm going to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. :)

And what kind of things do you wear normally? If you have nicer things, you could probably just wear those. Otherwise, formal wear might be a safe bet.

text;

[acceptedlife]

Probably a smart move.

...The defaults for my asterisk uniforms? And a lot of black. [Bless him, he doesn't know how to explain it.]

text

[suigojin]

Formal wear's good. Or just about anything that won't embarrass you or others in public.

[He's helping.]

text

[acceptedlife]

Depends what you mean by "embarrassing"...

Text

[regalblaze]

For the occasions like this, the proper attire is usually something formal. Sometimes it depends on the status but I think that nice dress suit and shirt with a tie would be more than enough.

[PRIVATE]

My experience is telling me to keep the Empire at an arm's length. It is very unusual for them to be closed off for so long and then suddenly decide to open when word about Otherworlders spread.

Further investigation is necessary.

[acceptedlife]

Ugh, great. The thing both me and my 'brother' aren't the best at...

[And, of course, he matches the Private lock feed.]

About time someone else had the good idea to privately discuss this.

[Not that he doubted Ignis would; he seems to have a good head on his shoulders.]

Agreed. Something about this doesn't feel right. How did they even hear about it if they've been closed off this entire time?

text;

[boomchucka]

About that?

I can't shake the feeling that there's more to this than meets the eye.

We're all gonna have to be careful.

[And Selphie will be keeping her mouth shut. She knows that there are others in the group who would be far more diplomatic in these situations than she would be. Proclaiming love and peace to be the answer is not a solution.

Regardless, worried Selphie is worried for obvious reasons.]

text;

[acceptedlife]

Everyone has an ulterior motive.

[Something he learned the hard way far too early.]

text

[piume]

I would exercise caution. Given the suddenness of the invitation, I would understand it if some decided not to participate.

[ ... He’s gonna skip the dresscode nonsense over matters of higher urgency. ]

text

[acceptedlife]

Pretty sure most with any sort of common sense will agree, there.

Is there any sort of precedence for this happening? Or is it out of place for you guys as much as it seems for us newcomers?

text

[einspine]

[Hmm... That's a good question. What does he think of it?]

WELL, I, FOR ONE, THINK IT'S AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY! A CHANCE TO MAKE A GRAND FIRST IMPRESSION WITH A FOREIGN COUNTRY. A CHANCE TO EXPAND OUR REACH. OUR KNOWLEDGE!

AND ALSO POTENTIALLY NEW FRIENDSHIPS, OF COURSE.

text

[acceptedlife]

[Well this one broke the caps lock button. Also sweet darkness, does this guy has some serious rose-colored glasses thing going on.]

That's one way to look at it.

voice;

[garyoutensei]

-There's a pause as the feed clearly starts, but she hasn't spoken yet, the sound of a match lighting and burning against the edge of a pipe before a few puffs are heard...-

We're either going to be used for political posturing, or immediately arrested.

text;

[acceptedlife]

Or both. That's always an option, too.

Text

[modelcivilian]

Like Marinette said, we have to go there hoping for the best, but be prepared to defend ourselves. Right now, to decline their invitation wouldn't send the best impression especially if they or anyone in the Empire could be potential help.

Text

[acceptedlife]

I agree. Rock, meet hard place scenario.

[...He knows some of the people here far too well to know they won't keep their mouths shut at a critical moment.]

Text, private

[gathersnomoss]

It screams trap to me. Do we know anything about these people at all?

text, private

[acceptedlife]

[Hello, person with common sense and knowledge of private filters! How are you this fine day?]

Anything we know about them has been said up above by the interns that have been tasked with bridging the gap between us otherworlders and the center. Which is: mostly rumors for the last ten years.

[littlemhigan]

if its not a trap i will eat a shoe.

[ it seems even a sleepover with friends will not cure some deep-seated paranoia. ]


i really want to be wrong though.

and ive heard that a nice jacket is always a good choice.

[acceptedlife]

Just make sure it isn't your favorite one.

[What? He has two moms!]

Honestly, same. And I'll look into that.

Locked

[despairing_hope]

Wonderful!

At first glance it's not very similar, but perhaps something can be found. Or, I suppose, a new theory worked on.

Locked

[acceptedlife]

Let me know if you need anything, then. I'll be a little busy until the festival, but i could probably spare a few moments.

[shinra_dog]

Sounds good. I wanted to show you my new place anyway. Feel free to stay.

[acceptedlife]

I can for a few days, sure.

[save him from housemate hell one is literally a giant ant]