text;

[afterlifer]

It seems that a growing threat has presented itself here. The programmer wrote the code of an NPC in order to override particular aspects of the Angel Player program. However, the NPC's capabilities go beyond what he had planned. It has a high learning curve and special abilities that could allow it to rewrite bugs or any other programming.

This poses a potential problem that I need your assistance with.

I need your help to find this self-learning program NPC. Simply locate and detain it, then let me know so we can retrieve it. It should not be too difficult, I believe. It may be helpful to know that the NPC would likely be pretending to be human as well.

Of course, such a task would not go without its rewards. Whoever can find this NPC will be given the opportunity to request something. I will code whatever that person would like to be programmed into this world. This is a grand reward, so I am sure you realize just how important this task is.

Thank you, and good luck.

[OOC: This is a world-building opportunity! Characters could request to program virtually anything (pun absolutely intended) from a roller coaster to even a petting zoo. Whatever floats their boat. Also, while there will be responses from the Mysterious Boy, feel free to have characters discuss amongst themselves.]

Comments

[violined]

If I would do any of the sort, my usual methods are the only methods.

The only suspects are recent arrivals, right? Or did you trash actually go out of your way to replicate one of us?

[afterlifer]

The NPC does have the ability to reprogram its appearance or we would not need your assistance in locating it. However, we believe that it will be taking its own form and stay with that. Being called out at this point likely will have suspended any suspicious reprogramming.

The program was released at the beginning of October, so anyone who was here before then should not be suspect unless it replicated an appearance.

[violined]

Idiot, I wasn't referring to looks alone. That much was clear. There's more to a person than how they look.

So unless you people fucked up real bad, an NPC shouldn't be able to pass for one of us. If it tries, I'll take it apart for real.

October. And it only went against your plans now or did you actually try to catch it and fail up until now? [ That would satisfy him greatly. ]

[afterlifer]

This isn't a person. It's a program created with a self-learning program. It is fully capable of adapting behaviors.

Much like a human child, it was necessary to allow it to learn before it introduced itself into the environment. We hadn't realized that it would adapt in the wrong direction.

[violined]

You really think it's that simple? How naive.

You're clearly not very good parents, that programmer and you. Shame on you.

[afterlifer]

It's a good thing we aren't parents, then.

[violined]

You're annoying me so fucking much.

Wonder what kind of reaction I was expecting, making fun of a doll...

[afterlifer]

Should I wonder too, considering your reactions to my words are becoming quite predictable?

[violined]

[ The reply takes a moment because Kohaku literally throws his phone across the room as soon as he read it. Was he better at self-reflecting, he would have seen that there's a point here - his unlimited hatred is constant and his reactions according to that are quite the same each time. ]

Decide your own questions for yourself, asshole.

I'm not a doll, here less than ever.

[ Well, considering his body here is his and there's no virus anywhere. Given the general situation, he's probably doll enough - at the mercy of puppeteers.
Maybe there's no way to not be a doll to someone. The rulers are dolls, ruling over a realm of puppets. It's the same wherever. Makes one wonder what being human even means.

Kohaku clings to the thought of being 'real' almost pathetically because maybe somewhere deep down he knows that there is very little real motivation in him. He hates the world and everyone in it, but simultaneously he will always follow the lead of those exact people. His ideals are pretty far from his own reach and even if they were, he might start loathing that as well. Inside Kohaku's mind there's no winning. And that's exactly what he wants. Hating everything is a good excuse to keep on fighting. ]

[afterlifer]

I'm well aware. Are you saying that for me or for yourself?

[violined]

[ And another hit. If this goes on Kohaku's phone won't survive the conversation - it may have avoided another throw, but it is now almost being crushed in his fist. ]

I'm saying it because it's true. That's all there is to it.

[afterlifer]

Then what are we arguing about?

[violined]

The discrepancy in what I can understand and what you can't ever hope to copy, I suppose.

[ And yet Kohaku engages in the 'pointless' action of argueing with someone who cannot feel. ]

[afterlifer]

It is human nature to always try again.

[ Though he's not human, so it's up to Kohaku what he means by that. ]

[violined]

That's why we're still here.