e2 | SENDER: @ nefelibata | RECIPIENT: @ All

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Rat?

Why does everyone here have such awful taste]

at least someone is taking this seriously

Yes, I agree. These objectives are too simple, but even they have escalated in difficultly. Not only that, but one already involved a form of dismemberment.

I think some selection process is very likely too. There's a great deal more people here than there were in the first game at home. And these numbers may be some sort of ranking, or indication of value.

How many people would you say were in that "game," if you don't mind my asking?
I've seen things like it myself, though with many more people involved than are aboard this train.

In either case, without knowing everyone aboard's numbers, and enough about our personal histories and backgrounds, I doubt we'll be able to deduct the meanings behind the numbers. For all we know, this could be an "exam" of some kind, and these are merely arbitrary identification numbers.

Less than twenty. I can't imagine a game with a group larger than what we have here. At that point it's just war.

I have noticed that they range fairly broadly. From roughly 100 to 1000, have you found the same? I haven't deduced any cause or relation, there's not much in common between people with similar numbers I've seen. Young or old, strong or weak. Even when it comes to personality, it doesn't seem to matter.

Do you mind if I keep in touch with you? I can't promise I'm of any use, I'm only a novelist after all. But if I notice something about the numbers I'd like to have someone to bring that theory to.

You're lucky to have survived such an ordeal. It can't have been easy.
Especially if you truly are just a writer.

[ he means that in a nice(?) way!! ]

I'll be keeping an eye on the numbers myself, so I don't mind if you keep in touch. Your skills in writing will likely serve you in keeping track of them all. I have no such profession, but I'm confident the reason behind these numbers will become clear to us through work. If anything, the objectives will tell us what kind of person this "clownductor" wants to move forward. They must have some idea in mind.

[Uuuuuuugh she said she'd seen it, not participated, why is everyone here correctly assuming she's been in the games?!

Toko deletes several admonishments and ultimately lets it slide. Nobody recognized what she was talking about anyway. Though that bit about being "just a writer" gets her hackles up some. It wasn't like she'd done anything. She was a passive player throughout! Regardless of her...problem.]

It sounds like you were dealing with even worse conditions.

Thank you. I agree, there's some objective to be had for certain. Maybe when we're done collecting all eight million of these stupid seeds we'll find some clues in the next car.

I wouldn't know— I was brought here before the game could begin.
Even so, your comments will provide some insight to me when I return there.
For that, I'm grateful.

[ these first or second hand tips on how to survive such an ordeal... it's not an easy resource to come by!! ]

I do have one question for you—
Assuming the objectives do escalate to violence, what do you make of the current passengers you've met?
Do any stick out as especially likely to follow through with such an objective?

[She grimaces at the screen upon opening this message. He's not one of—no. He would have recognized her name right away, if he was anyone from home.]

Better hope you're returned somewhere outside the game and can attack the gamemaster before anything happens at all. But barring that, I hope you have better luck than most. Rallying morale in these situations is no easy feat.

[See: the responses to this post, and her complete meltdown thereafter. Actually no don't see that. Do not perceive her. She is a competent, experienced entity, with wisdom! Pearls of knowledge! These assholes just don't know it yet.]

None yet. Everyone here seems very taken with petting dogs and playing trivia with tree folk.

Don't you know better to ask about suspicious persons out in the open? Come on now.

The only one I can think of is that Wheatley, he's said a number of questionable things both in my post and his own. That said, he's a glorified beach ball with no arms. Who knows where the real threats lie?

How about yourself? Anyone we should be concerned about?

Everyone's suspicious of someone aboard.
I don't see the problem with saying it outright.

[ this is coming from a guy who showed up to his first day at a job and insinuated out loud to everyone in the room that there was a traitor among them... why NOT talk shit right in the open. anyway, he takes a second to respond more because he is backreading wheatley's interactions with toko #online to decide for himself if he is sus. ]

No one I've come across seems especially primed for violence, no. Only shrewd, and evasive. A man named "Geto" was one of them. His profile says "murder," under skills, but obviously, there's no way to prove the validity of the items on these lists.
Actually, a number of the profiles say one or two concerning things about the passenger in question.
What do you make of it?

People are more likely to show their hand if they don't feel like they're being watched.

[GOSH.]

I haven't met this Geto, but the fact that his profile lists murder is highly suspicious. [And thank the stars her own mentions nothing of the sort. Though it's not...flattering. At all. This guy she's speaking to has one of the more innocuous entries. A vitamin deficiency, how lucky.] It's creepy to think about who wrote these things and why they made them available to the public. I can't say that the descriptions themselves are the whole story. It's qualities without context. "Murder" can be cold blooded, but it could also be a by product of war, or police work, or something you're made to do against your will. Besides, I've seen harmless people turn savage under the right pressure while more dangerous folk stay their hand. We can learn a few things from these, but not the whole story.

Just be cautious and use your gut. That's the best I can say.

That's more or less what I think, too.
Without context, there's of course no way to judge whatever the profiles say...
And besides, there's no guarantee everyone who's murdered has it listed on their profile.
So I find it a little pointless to fixate on it further than noting it.

[ case in point: he's also murdered, and not a hint of it on there? besides, like, some people deserve to get murdered. facts! ]

I'm glad we're in agreement. Some people don't seem to take the situation we're in very seriously, but you seem to recognize the gravity of it all.
I'll look forward to working with you.

Likewise. I'll be keeping in touch. Thank you for your input.

SENDER: @ nefelibata | RECIPIENT: @ All

A day or two later

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1/2

Private Inbox

not this gossip girls moment

Thanks for reminding me to update my directory with snide tea like everyone else

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