01 // audio

[fatemeter]

Good evening. [However little that means in a place that doesn't seem to have actual days, it hardly hurts to be polite.] My name is Naoto Shirogane. In my... own world [there's just a moment of hesitation], I'm a detective by trade. As such, in the interest of consolidating what information we have, I have a few questions I'd like to ask.

[It might be a bit difficult to put a gender to the voice here without any visual cues. It is unambiguously young - but given the practised, professional air with which all of this is being reeled off, you might overlook that. To some extent, that's the point.]

Firstly: what are the last events you recall before waking up in this "realm of dreams"? Is the memory continuous as far as you can remember, or is there a gap?

Secondly: were you previously familiar with the phenomenon of movement between different worlds, voluntary or otherwise? If so, what comparisons could you draw, if any, to the process of entering this one?

Thirdly: from what you know of those in this same situation, can you think of any commonalities we may have had prior to our arrival here? Is there evidence to suggest that the selection is something other than wholly random - based on certain criteria, perhaps, or even a conscious choice on the part of some other entity?

And, finally... [This level tone of voice doesn't change.] Where in this place might somebody procure firearms, should the need arise?

[Potentially unfortunate implications? What unfortunate implications?]

I assure you, any answers you can offer will be helpful. Thank you for your time.

[Without fanfare, the recording switches off.]

Comments

[statisticallyterrible]

they tend not to want to give details

[fatemeter]

[...Oh, right.]

Understandable. I apologise if intrusive; it isn't my intention.
No other similarities you've noticed? Even non-universal trends?

[statisticallyterrible]

none that matter

[Sorry Naoto, it's pretty random.]

[fatemeter]

Can you be sure? For now, simply collecting data.

[statisticallyterrible]

lots of the armored soldiers
magic's common

[fatemeter]

Your reason for considering unimportant? [They sure sound worth following up on to her...]

[statisticallyterrible]

theyre just as clueless

but worlds are based on who's here
useful to know who comes from where

[fatemeter]

Based on = modelled after original worlds? [Now that's ringing a bell.]

[statisticallyterrible]

y

new world -> something wrong -> dreams -> fight monster -> new world

[fatemeter]

[...Also succinct. But it's interesting that this person would come out with something like that right after insisting there's barely a pattern, Naoto thinks.]

causal?

[statisticallyterrible]

[She'd asked for person patterns before. The places themselves have patterns all up ons.]

y

[fatemeter]

How can you tell?

[statisticallyterrible]

dreams stop after beating monster
monster guards door to new world

[fatemeter]

And "something wrong" -> dreams?
"something wrong" = ? Inaccuracies in model?

[statisticallyterrible]

hard to say. taking world natives' words on it but starts approx. same time as dreams
ex: tech failure on spaceship

[fatemeter]

I see. [That implies causality somewhere, she thinks, but not necessarily the direct kind... The distinction can be nitpicked once she's gotten everything else established, though.]
Your role in these investigations?

[statisticallyterrible]

wrecking crew

[fatemeter]

[...]

So you do collaborate with other "dreamers"?

[statisticallyterrible]

sometimes

[This is about as cooperative as she gets.]

[fatemeter]

[Yes, Naoto might be getting an impression along those lines. But she's picked up on a few different points to inquire into further, so she can't say it's been unhelpful. Besides, text does sometimes lack nuances that would be more obvious in spoken language - if she'd have more luck in person, she's fine with relenting for now.]

Then v grateful for your cooperation here. You've given me plenty to think about.