Scene #8110: PNL: The New Guy ft. Stanley, Charlotte and John

Owner	Pose
Stanley Padgett	The Place? "Auntie Em's Shake and Steak". It's the best approximation of a Hole In A Wall place you're going to get on the Southside, where the 'cheapness' is a veneer, the place is stocked with Wizard of Oz memorabilia and pictures of tornados, and they will serve you a Twister shake. It also has outdoor seating, which is nice too. "I'm telling you, it's not that tough. They have an entire company out there that just... their only job is to make flying rigs for community performances of Peter Pan. So you get all these people rigged up, and it's.... safe-ish?" Stanley sits, and pushes his french fries into his Twister, before stuffing them in his face. "It's a heck of a lot safer some of the sets I've seen. Some Tech Ed teacher gets a bee in his bonnet and then all of a sudden you've got like... a three tier set with no railings and too many lights and... ugh."
Charlotte Newman	"That seems extremely unsafe" Despite a clear lack of background in anything related to Theater, Charlotte listens intently, "I suppose this rigging is perfectly safe if you follow the instructions carefully." Eyes closing, she shifts her own Twister's straw closer to herself, "Is it pride that makes these directors shirk established methods to try their own thing, then? I can only hope luck is on their side and injuries are rare."
Stanley Padgett	Maybe, a lot of the time it's just... you know... shop guys who want excuses to use all the woodworking and welding stuff in the tech ed department and justify making their students build for the play?" Stanley grumps, as he taps on his phone, and takes a bite of one of his sliders. "The sort of guys who get excited about 2 by 4s."
John Doe	What is hard to notice without really looking at it. Three burgers are just missing. The orders are handed, and before the tray gets back to the table, the burger is just gone. A tub of fries, a drink, and a twister all go missing. This is when John finally sits down at the table, and it's hard to remember when he even sat down. His presence wasn't there one moment, and then the next it was. Some people find it absolutely hard to look at him for too long. He should be occupying a space, but eyes tend to glide right off of him. However, right now John is a rather short (for his age) teenager. He's five feet six inches tall, has a thin frame, and has clothing that might be best described as... Coming from different styles of outfits. He's got a hat, a trilby, and a pair of brown slacks. He's got a T-shirt under a brown jacket that is open and more or less draped over his shoulders. He's got a pair of brown work boots on, keeping his feet safe. "The fuck you talkin' about?"
Charlotte Newman	Charlotte gestures towards Stanley, "He's spent far too much time in Theater-adjacent classes and it's completely overtaken his brain." Despite others looking over John, the blonde doesn't have too much trouble acknowledging him. Even if it's a little weird that he slips her notice if she looks away for too long; it just takes her a moment to catch up when she notices him again. She must have replaced the outfit that was ruined in Wonderland; because she's wearing it again. That black top and pink skirt and matching handbag hanging off her elbow. While she drinks, she taps out another daily mission on her phone, then glances John's way, "How about you? Surely you've got hobbies too, when you can spare the time."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley blinks a bit, and then 'notices' John again, shaking his head. "Oh. Silver Springs theater department is putting on Crazy For You, and I was lamenting the fact that they're going overboard with the production and-" Stanley glares at Charlotte for a moment, and then sighs. "Maybe a little bit. Can you blame me? I like a show." He reaches down for a slider, and then looks to John, as if taking a first good look at him, though he might have seen him a few times already.
John Doe	John chows down on the first burger. At this time three separate customers are arguing at the counter with the management about not getting their food. Meanwhile, John doesn't seem to notice and focuses on the others. "Hmm? Oh, I collect things. Weird things. Interesting things. Sometimes I people watch. I've been known to steal things that I like whenever I see them. Not like people know I did it," John says, with a shrug of his shoulders. He starts slurping his soda down. "Haven't seen a show before. I mean, I've seen movies but not theater. Never had much interest. There is a pause, "The name is John. As in John Doe."
Charlotte Newman	"Oh," Charlotte thinks that over for a moment, "Is that why you decided to try the game? Collecting things?" She admits, "All the other girls were talking about it so I picked it up to try and fit in with the conversations. Not that I contribute much." Eyes closing, she gestures with a few fries trapped in one hand as if to wave it off. "If you're into reading, I have a few e-books I could toss your way. There's a new fantasy series I've been enjoying."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley seems to be about to launch into a discussion of Gershwin and musical theater and how Crazy For you was an offshoot of several other older Gershwin pieces and how John really should come out and see it even if Stanley wasn't in the show- When his phone beeps, and a push notification alerts him to a Recommended Friend near your location! He picks up the phone, hits the notification and accepts, only for John's phone to beep as well, and the chirpy tones of Reversal's Social Notification tones lilt from his phone. "...Huh. Delilah isn't messing around with trying to get us to link up, is she?"
John Doe	"Something like that. Fell into my lap one day and decided to try it out. I have the advantage of claiming things because people ignore me before it's too late and I've got it," John says, with a shrug. He grabs his phone only to see the notification. "Yeah, no kidding. Talk about being pushy," John just pushes accept. "There is another name I go by, and please don't say it in public like this. It's Mystique," John says with absolute seriousness. Mystique is known as one of those thieves that will send a calling card ahead of time, before stealing something. He's never been caught, and nobody has ever caught him on camera. The things he takes are...all over the place. Usually, curiosities, though he's been known to do the occasional bank heist.
Charlotte Newman	Charlotte nods once, listening intently with her eyes closed, "Right, and you can get just about anything you want from the sound of it..." Though his method is clearly a little different from her Power of Plastic, the end result is the same. And if nobody remembers even having it, let alone where it went, is it really so bad? Her eyes open, wandering to the counter with the couple getting their stolen meal replaced. After a bit, she shrugs and returns to her own meal. At the end of the day, perhaps a little stress and a little extra time is all it ultimately cost anyone. And maybe some sanity if someone checks the security footage and loses their mind trying to figure out why the burger just disappeared but that's a problem for Later. She glances at Stanley, then lets out a little 'oh' of recognition, navigating to the game's Friends tab, "Right, let me add you, too. At this rate maybe we should start a guild. We could use guild notifications as updates, maybe."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley nod nods. "I've got one started already, but it's only just me in it, so uh..." He flicks open the guild tab, and sends out the invites to both Char and John. The Guild name is "CoolGroup". Of course it is. Stanley takes anothe bite of his fries, and then waits for the notifications. "...Look at it this way, I talked with her the other day after we took care of Wonderland, and she was all... There's clearly a lot more going on than she's allowed to tell us." He pushes a fry around in a cup of ketchup and grumbles. "Apparently until one of us learns something about the Reversal or what's going on, she's not allowed to tell us." He sits up a little more properly, and in a falsetto, he murmurs. "'I am bound by contract not to divulge the details.'" So I'm like... I know the Reversal and whatever else is going on is all about Contracts and Obligations and Wishes and stuff. It's just... I'd like to know more."
John Doe	John accepts the invite and clears the notifications. He rolls his eyes at the name but otherwise doesn't say anything. He pockets the phone again, before looking up. "So, you know my situation shouldn't be possible, right? Do you want to know how far it goes?" "Because how do you think someone like me operates? They don't. The system doesn't acknowledge I exist, you are the first people who can even recall my name in...as far as I can remember." "I gained a persona not far into what happened to me. It's the reason I'm still alive right now I think."
Charlotte Newman	Charlotte thumbs over the notification, accepting it and then pulling her phone closer to her face with a squint. John might not be willing to say anything about it, but she does: "We have to change that, it's so cringe." Charlotte's ideas of what is cool skews more towards 'trendy' versus Stanley's unfiltered efforts, so that's to be expected. She does set her phone down, though, returning to her Twister while listening. She closes her eyes in thought, "If miss Delilah wants us to 'figure things out' before she can share anything, than let's put our heads together for a minute." One hand raises, a single finger extended, "Chet's situation and the time loop were because of a wish he made." A second finger extends, "You said Hunnycutt wished something too, right?" Her face takes on a little frown and she leans back, slouching in her seat for perhaps the first time all night, her arms folding, "...Did John make a wish that went awry, too?" Her eyes shift towards him, "If you can't even remember your name, would you remember if you had done something like that and this was the result?" Her expression grows even more puzzled, "But if you had made a wish, you probably would've made a Tyrant like Chet did..."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley pushes his empty plate away from himself ,and swirls his straw in the melted remains of his Twister. "Okay so. I'm pretty sure you can't have a Tyrant AND a Persona. So /you/ didn't make the Wish, John, but someone else around you did..." The boy's brain ticks around a few times. "...No mom or dad. I..." Stanley blinks, and then looks at himself and Charlotte. "Come to think of it, Charlotte's mom and dad aren't around, and my dad is... well... my dad. You think that has something to do with how we're getting picked to help Delilah?"
John Doe	"Maybe? That's weird if it's true," John says to Stanley. "Also...yeah I have to agree with Charlotte here. The group name is very cringe." John shakes his head. "I am sure that if I were the one that made the wish, then I'd be a Tyrant. This power might look great and all...but.." "Imagine waking up on the street. It's February. Nobody knows who you are. Nobody remembers you the moment you're out of sight. You find your mother, who has no idea you exist and is married to someone you never heard of. For a moment I thought /I/ was going insane.." "The problem is that I can't remember my father. So I've narrowed down the possibility that someone really hated my father, and worded their wish badly. So I'm still here, somehow."
Charlotte Newman	> Imagine waking up... Nobody knows who you are... Charlotte goes quiet for a long moment, perhaps mulling intently over John's story. Giving his situation the attention something this serious and strange rightfully deserves. Whatever thoughtful impression she might be giving shatters when her phone buzzes with a notification and she lets out a surprised squeak, lurching back to reality. "S-sorry," she blurts out, fumbling with her phone for a moment. It's not an important message, so she swipes it away and brings herself back to the Present. "Maybe you're on to something, though," Charlotte tucks her phone away, but her hands remain on the buckles of her purse, her gaze lowered, "Maybe it's conincidence. But that is a common thread between the three of us." After another pause, she changes the subject, "I think I'd like to solve John's problem. Nobody deserves to be-- forgotten, like this."
Stanley Padgett	"I'll say, that sucks, and I want to help fix it." Stanley looks at Charlotte and then to John and back to Charlotte. "Look at it this way. John, I can promise you that you don't have to be forgotten anymore. I mean..." A breath. "I mean, I'm sure you can surf at my place. Uncle Sid isn't going to care if someone crashes, and I don't snore. I'm not gonna offer up Char's place, but..." The young man takes a breath, and thinks. "...If you leave Post-It notes on places to remind me you're around or coming in or whatever, I'd appreciate it. Just so that there's a record of you. That someone remembers you."
John Doe	John smiles at the two of them, it's...a genuine smile. "Thanks, you guys. I thought I was going to be like this for the rest of my life, so I guess it was a good thing the Multiverse happened," which to him seems to be how things started coming together. "Though I've been at this for years, and I have no idea where to start." "Whatever made my wish should have created a Tyrant. The fact that I haven't found one...speaks volumes. It's likely connected to whatever is deep at the heart of all of this. Or at least using it. I feel there is another hand at play, but I've only ever seen hints of it moving and never the actual hand itself." "As for living arrangements. I got my own, thanks. I figured out very quickly that my power can be used to get into places that I shouldn't, and eventually that presence even makes people forget that it exists."
Charlotte Newman	"It'd feel a little weird, but if it helps, I don't mind," Charlotte states when Stanley brings up lodging, but then John confesses he already has a setup and she lets out a relieved sigh, "That's a relief. I was a little worried about your living situation, given...well." Shifting to brass tacks, she folds her arms again, her expression growing pensive, "If it's been that long, the tyrant at least must not be causing damage to Lampport by existing, like Chet's did. That's going to make it harder to find..." John brings up a good point, "...Especially if someone wants to hide it." She brings a hand up, resting her thumb on her chin just below her lip, "I think chasing this mystery might bring us closer to the truth of what's going on here. Like, in general. Hiding a tyrant that long definitely connects to something bigger. Someone doesn't want it found." She pauses, her gaze lifting. "Tyrants only exist on the other side. If it is being hidden, than we're definitely dealing with someone who knows that much."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley murmurs. "And the Tyrant's activities are only noticable... if they've wished for something that has... well." He purses his lips. "Chet wished for something ongoing. Dr. Hunnicutt wished for something ongoing." A look to John. "...Your father might have just been a one and done, which means we'd have to be dealing with something that's never going to make sense unless we get behind who did it." The young man sighs. "Which means, yeah, someone in town knows exactly what's going on, and is using it to their advantage, rather than just... people making wishes in front of their Reversal game."
John Doe	"So here's a question I have.." John starts, thinking about it. "How do these people even get the idea to make a wish in this specific way in the first place? What's the common thread? Is it just something they /do/ or are they shown how to do it or...what?" John leans back, siping his twister.
Charlotte Newman	Charlotte shakes her head, picking up her own drink, "I don't know. I've never been near someone when they decided to do it. I suppose we could ask Chet, but--" Her eyes widen a bit and she pulls her phone out of her purse, "--Maybe they aren't..." Placing it on the table between the trio, she ensures it is locked and the screen is off. Only then does she speak. "Hey, Sofia." The phone beeps. Its screen lights up to the familiar voice-activated assistant prompt. Reaching forward, she taps it to disable the thing, glancing between Stanley and John.
Stanley Padgett	Stanley looks at Charlotte confused for a second or two.... Before his eyes narrow a bit. He looks down at the Helpful Screen of the HumComp search tool, Sofia... and then at the others. "...oh I don't like that."
John Doe	John raises an eyebrow and watches, then it dawns on him. He takes his phone and considers it for a moment. Are they able to hear their wishes..? Then this would connect to... "We need to get phones from the multiverse. Ones that can run the program but can't be listened in to..." a pause, "I can check with my contacts in the Concord. Help secure up our phones..."
Charlotte Newman	Charlotte tucks her phone back into her purse, "Mine is already secured through my own contacts, but it's not 'us' that I'm worried about." She glances up at the various folks milling about the restaurant's interior. These three teens being the only folks out in the crispening autumnal air by now. "It might be how the wishes are being heard. At least some of the time." She folds her arms again, staring at her empty paper plate and mostly-consumed drink, "We can still check with Chet. See if he remembers what he did. But if I'm right-- and I could totally be wrong-- people could make a wish without even realizing it."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley nods. "I've already switched phones, and the Reversal app... our version of it, showed up on my new phone right away. And it works perfectly, even though-" He slides his phone out in full view of the others, and it's... it's a burner phone from a gas station. Probably worth just as much as the sim card Stanley's got in it. "...but, yeah, it might be the phones for other people." Stanley runs a hand through hair. The YELLOW is coming out and the natural brown is poking through again. "...What do we do about that?"
John Doe	"Well...do we know what app is causing it?" John says, leaning forward again, setting down the empty cup and now paying his drink more attention. "Then we'd have to test that theory, which might be dangerous in and of itself."
Charlotte Newman	"Oh," Charlotte unbuckles her purse again as Stanely presents the spraypainted potato he calls a phone, "That reminds me." It isn't her phone but but a similar model that she retrieves from under the absolute beast of a novel she's packing in there. It is safely wrapped in an Otterbox case and, by the claim of the manufacturer, 'basically indestructible'. The device is placed next to Stanley's current gas station special. "No idea," she admits to John, "And testing it is definitely something I won't recommend at all. I'd say it should be something worth looking out for, though." She glances towards Stanley, "Or maybe if you tell this to Delilah, she'd be willing to share more about how it happens. Or at least tell us if we're on the right track."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley looks from his garbage phone... to Charlotte's... and sighs. He picks up his burner, cracks it open, and pulls out the SIM card. Yes while it's still on. "...Wait, I'm going, don't you two want to come with?" A beat. "...and, thanks Char." He opens up the Otterbox, and then the replacement phone, and gets to work swapping accounts and SIM cards. "...Cause, like... she's nice. And she's got snacks."
John Doe	John chuckles at Char giving him both a new phone and one in a indestructable case. "No throwing it to get rid of the evidence of you liking some hot but dangerous girl again, eh?" John teases Stanley. "Wait, Delilah isn't just..." he points at the phone. "I thought she was just the lady in the phone?"
Charlotte Newman	Clipping her purse closed, Charlotte shrugs, "Somehow I assumed you were the only person who could visit her directly." For John's benefit, she points out, "Apparently the navigator in the game is based on a real person, and someone who knows a lot about what's going on but is bound by very strict rules on what she can and cannot share with us." She shrugs, "I agree she looks and seems nice but it's a little wild to think about. Apparently she's also the person giving us push notifications about Lampport goings-on and those quests, like with Wonderland."
Stanley Padgett	"She's real, and she's in a Blue Bus, and it's called the Velvet Room. And there's sometimes another guy in there, name's Igor, and he's the one that explained everything to me the first time I showed up." He adjusts his 'new' phone, and looks to the other two. "I would have said 'and I know this sounds crazy' but that would ahve been a month and a half ago, and not now." Another beat. "Also, we need to check on Mr. Speck from the Happycade. He's got a Shadow, but it's a big friendly one, and I'm not sure why."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley blinks. "I just remembered that from when a bunch of the Multiversers met Delilah too."
John Doe	Why...is the navigator based on a real person..? He taps his chin, something about this isn't adding up. He holds out a hand, finally, "Nah, I'm not gonna go," he says with an even tone. "You seem to know her already, just ask the questions." "Wait...a friendly shadow? That seems improbable. Though I suppose that it isn't /impossible/ given what the other side is supposed to /be/," He muses tapping the sides of his shoulder. "I have a question...who created this app?"
Charlotte Newman	"It's Novasoft, isn't it?" Charlotte comments, "At least, that's the logo that pops up when you start the game." She squints into the distance in thought, "Which could be a lead. I mean, we do use the game to move into the other side; and we even call the other side the Reversal after the game. It seems so weird for a handful of programmers in some basement somewhere to basically be...what, hacking the human psyche? Or whatever it's supposed to be..."
Stanley Padgett	"Worth a shot. Have you heard about their campus? It looks like someone imported some sort of space station into the Midwest. It's all like... retrospace-wave or something." "Hey, you two, you've been here long enough lookin' at yer damn phones." A server comes over to start clearing the settings for three people. "Times up, go home already." "Ugh." Stanley sighs, and looks to John and Char. "...I'm not going to cause a scene, I like this place."
John Doe	"One of us is able to get in there and out without rousing suspicion," John says, leaning back. "It's a place to start, but even going in there it's a large campus. It'll be like finding a needle in a haystack." John's thought is interrupted by the server. With almost child-like pettiness John wants them to move off, and he sticks a foot out to trip them. John can't help but laugh a little when this happens. "Well, if you want to be all passive and just do whatever people tell you then whatever man. I on the other hand will continue to do whatever I want."
Charlotte Newman	"Mm, it's worth a shot, but if it's the place Stanley's describing you could be there for days," Charlotte taps her chin thoughtfully, "At least pack a lunch if you do that." She does think John's condition is terrible. Perhaps more than either boy might realize. But if it's an advantage for now, there's no harm in leveraging it. "--Ah," Her train of thought is interrupted when the server shows up, "Sorry, we got to talking. We'll be on our way." John trips the poor guy and she instantly shifts to a Very Concentrated Pokerface that Definately Didn't See Anything. Clearing her throat, she stands up, "They have to close some time, after all."