@0koto

[worldbent]

@0koto

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He warns you on his profile!! Also I assume this is also post-katamari?

[worldbent]

That's correct. Money is power, after all. Sex is something more intrinsic to living things- they are often coupled, but not directly connected.

Any particular reason you were thinking back on it?

y!! 🙆

[tablescraps]

I was testing Area keywords. One was "Gate," in the last position - I saw someone else use this keyword, too.

This may need further testing to verify, but "Gate" apparently causes you to feel love for one random person, and feel the urge to confess to them. Up until this effect hit me, I was fairly confident in my inability to feel love.

Setting aside the effect itself - the basis of virtual reality is inducing sensation where there is none. However, I believe this suggests a capacity for the game to induce feelings and beliefs where none existed before. In this case: "I love this person." "I should confess to them."

But the game is run by human developers and funded by corporate interests, and this is a game seeking a global audience following the testing phases.

Do you think humans wouldn't take advantage of technology that can manipulate what a person thinks or feels?

( Why stop at love? It seems a smaller stepping stone to a broader technology that can control a person's thoughts and beliefs. And that is where power, that is where money comes in.

Mithrun doesn't feel vitally concerned, particularly. But, of all people he's met here, he thinks the implications of this would potentially interest Okoto the most. )

1/2

[worldbent]

[nervous laughter what the fuck]

[worldbent]

That seems to line up with my expectations. No, actually it surpasses them. Not just sensory and psychological torture, but actual control, huh?

I had an enlightening conversation with Hien-san recently. Not enlightening necessarily for anything that he said, but for what he did not.

He really didn't seem to like it when I suggested the possibility of regulators coming around to poke at the game.

[Look, he gets it, okay- he doesn't like politicians sticking their noses into his businesses, either.]

To answer your question: it is important to be in the know about the cutting edge. That is how the strong survive.

[tablescraps]

The very basic technology for a complex virtual reality experience shouldn't have been possible for another, maybe... 30 or so years, at the earliest. I was skeptical when I heard of the scope of this project, and surprised when I experienced the depths of it. I don't think many would guess - or would have been able to predict - that they've advanced this far in their capacity to manipulate players. They'll probably want to remain free of regulatory bodies until they've established their hold.

I'm sure their bargaining power, if this leaves beta and becomes common among the populace, will be uniquely incontrovertible, until another body of power catches up.

Do you intend to do anything, now that you know of this possibility? Can you do anything?

[worldbent]

[Well. Mithrun is probably right about all that, but technology isn't Matoba's wheelhouse. Methods of gaining and maintaining power, on the other hand...]

I wonder just what you think my goal is, Mithrun-san. I came here to play a game.

[That's not a real answer, of course.]

[tablescraps]

You have the manner of a coiled snake, like the sort of people I used to work with.

I don't really mind, though, whether you're just here to play a game, or if you have another motive. I'm more interested in you.

[worldbent]

Should I be flattered? Though I think I prefer to be thought of as a cunning kitty-cat.

But now that you say that, I'm curious about you as well, Mithrun-san. Fortunately, I think we're both smart enough to know that talking about ourselves outside the game should be avoided, right?

I guess we'll have to be satisfied with our own imaginations for now.

I appreciate the information, though. I'll remember it.

WAIT /2 because he would

[worldbent]

By the way.

That emotion that you felt- what did you think? All it's chalked up to be?

matoba knifecatting i see

[tablescraps]

( A pause before the reply comes. )

It's an emotion that leaves you emptier after than you were before. I wouldn't recommend it.

what he does best

[worldbent]

I can't exactly disagree with that assessment.

[And yet, for some reason, he holds onto it.]

[tablescraps]

Do you pursue it, despite that?

[worldbent]

I pursue what I can use.

[tablescraps]

At the expense of yourself?

Or do you always only gain?

[worldbent]

[Funny, Matoba thinks. There's no real gain by answering this.]

Worried about my interests in this game, Mithrun-san?

[tablescraps]

Needling at others opens yourself to needling in turn. You might want to keep your hands to yourself, if you don't like it.

[worldbent]

You didn't have to answer. Now you have learned a valuable lesson: never share first if you have not secured the means to ensure compensation in advance.

But since I am indebted to you for that information, I'll leave you with one more morsel:

I learned that equip glitch from the admin in the first place.

[tablescraps]

I see. I'll remember that.

Lastly: not everyone wants something. Take advantage of me, if you want. There just may not be any gain in it.

Good luck keeping your edge, 0koto. CC Corp is moving fast.