SENDER: @ nefelibata | RECIPIENT: @ All

[shiftybladesofcray]

To Whom it May Concern;

Let's assume anyone capable of receiving this message is, like myself, a captive on board this train. While nothing can be determined unequivocally, I've come to some conclusions that bear weight enough to consider.

Thus far, we are only permitted to advance upon the completion of objectives as set by an unknown puppeteer. This "clownductor" assumes an affable but absent persona, and so their true nature cannot be ascertained. The motives are paraphrased below:

1. Read the Instructions
2. Message another Passenger
3. Request Friendship with Another Passenger*
4. Assist a Dog
5. Retrieve Part of Your Person
6. Collect Seeds in Exchange for Personal Information

(*Meaningful connection is not required)

While each appears innocuous on first blush, they aspire to two functions: fostering connections and gaining intelligence. There could be strength in numbers if we come together as one, true, and sharing secrets can bolster such bonds, but let's not be fooled.

There's a strong possibility we are being set up for darker purpose. If on a future car, the motive becomes:

7. Murder a Fellow Passenger

Will it not be all the more devastating after we've bonded? Without hope, there cannot be despair. Despair can breed subjugation, a loss of self and morality, a weakness of character that's easily exploited by those in power. It can breed violence.

I've seen such games put into action myself. Anyone may turn on their fellow man if the correct pressure is applied. If there are sensible people among you, these notions may have struck you as they have me. I'm sending this now as a warning.

Do not play into their hands. They control our passage through the train. They may be watching us. We cannot assume they have our best interests at heart.

Conversely, even if you are able to stay your course? Never assume your neighbor can do the same. We are each uniquely strong and uniquely weak. A miscalculation may cost you your life.

I cannot say whether this is a dream, a simulation, or an alternate reality, though the latter requires tremendous suspension of disbelief. Regardless, we cannot assume that our actions on the train are without consequence. Act with caution, but most urgently, act with hope.

I appreciate your time in perusing this missive. I understand some find reading difficult. If you're so encumbered by your illiteracy, ask another passenger to read it for you. I will not be providing summation.

Thank you.

- Fukawa Toko


****ADDENDUM: Should anyone be approached by or glimpse a half white, half black bear, DO NOT ENGAGE. Contact me immediately and I shall deal with it.

Comments

[sociably]

he said hello beatrix not hello nelifaberoni

[ she's already forgotten toko's username ]

go have a conversation with someone else

un: middlefinger

[badtempered]

did you ask permission before taking a pic or are u being a creeper

[the corgis can talk dimitri? they're individuals?]

[overruns]

Hello, Batman.

[ there is now an audio recording of a dog going bork bork and oh, are those your friends? to the phone. this is also accidental. ]

not here

[sociably]

[ username HANDSOME...............................is he actually handsome, she must find out now. ]

[lavishes]

[ She hasn't even found the camera yet you think she can find voice to text

Anyway there's a solid 2 minutes before Dimitri gets a photo ( that is also attached to the Toko post ). The photo is of grass. It's just grass. ]

This is cool

[overruns]

I'm sorry, Nelifaberoni. I did not mean to exclude you, if you have any thoughts on dogs.

[shiftybladesofcray]

This was a serious discussion about the dire circumstances of our situation and you're distracting everyone with your shitty dog photography!

un: CHEFKNIGHT🍴

[venerating]

Hmm... I don't really understand why you jumped right to murdering each other, that's really dark. But I guess you can't rule anything out.

That stuff you wrote about despair and seeing things like that happen before though... that's some heavy stuff. If you ever wanna talk to anyone about it, you can talk to me.

[flamebears]

And why, exactly, does it beg its own warning?

'Do not engage'. [ it's the important part, toko ]

[shiftybladesofcray]

THIS IS MY POST

YOU GO HAVE A CONVERSATION SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!!!!!

it's a less-than-subtle flavor of sus the real batman would probably take seriously

[plas]

You have GOT to ease off the edge a bit. It's really not healthy to be this unhinged in a text message.

[overruns]

Of course.

[ he would be happy to. how nice of toko to make a psa about how to use the camera function. ]

First, you find the screen with all the different little pictures. Then, touch the one in the corner, point the device ahead of you, and touch the middle circle.

[ PLEASE ASK SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO USE A PHONE ]

[shiftybladesofcray]

my thought is that I HATE YOU!!!

I HATE YOU SO MUCH

I HOPE YOU TRIP BETWEEN THE TRAIN CARS AND FALL INTO THE ABYSS OF HELL

not here.

[flamebears]

[ in another world, the traveler yells "DICK PICS" on loop. ]

[overruns]

Well, they all have rather distinct personalities. You should speak with them andjfffffffd

[ his phone is knocked out of his hands by a corgi ]

@ handsome

[philandery]

That's what I said, too.

[ (to someone else, that is. about a future objective potentially pitting them against each other...)

he does not clarify any of this, if only because he hit 'send' when he meant to do a paragraph break. (this keyboard makes no sense to him... who the hell decided to put the alphabet in this arbitrary arrangement?) ]

1/2

[flamebears]

@batman

[plas]

Boy subtlety is just nobody's middle name around here.

1/3

[venerating]

[ Alright, the next few minutes are gonna be spent trying to figure out how to do exactly what Dimitri's describing. ]

[sociably]

this post doesn't only belong to you!
that's like saying these train cars only belong to you

[overruns]

It will take some getting used to the fact that all of you receive these messages now...

[ no, it's that he responded to a public network post.



he eventually responds with another terrible corgi picture, just a big blurry zoomy noodle dog. ]

2/2

[flamebears]

'Andjfffffffffffd' is not a word. Your translator may be failing.

Maybe you could introduce them to me. [ all of them, dimitri. ]

post corgigate, obv

[shiftybladesofcray]

I'M NOT UNHINGED

[overruns]

[ oh! grass! ]

It is. We can appreciate horticulture as well.

[testgasm]

i'm expressing my genuine disinterest in murder was i supposed to be subtle