(no subject)

[ashenscipher]

Text sent individually to Lisa, Elliott, and Mr. Fell

I have done it! I think I have my program working. It is just set up on my own equipment right now. But I need help testing it to work out the bugs. Can you help me?

Comments

[bearshermark]

What would you need me to do?

[ashenscipher]

Set up a test account and play with the program features. It is all fake, because it is just located on my equipment. It is not connected to the Bureau's program yet at all.

But this way we can pla with it before running it in the real and dealing with problems then.

[bearshermark]

You know, I'd really like to help, but I think the less I know about this, the better it'll be for everyone.

[ashenscipher]

What do you mean?

[bearshermark]

Well I sort of took a job with the Bureau last month, so everyone thinks I'm spying for them now. It's kind of been a whole thing.

Sorry.

[ashenscipher]

Are you spying for them?

[bearshermark]

Well no, but if everyone thinks I am, then no one's gonna trust anything I'm involved with.

[ashenscipher]

By that logic, you would never be able to use the private channel.

[bearshermark]

Yeah, I know. But if no one uses it, then it's pointless anyway.

[ashenscipher]

Or we could stop dividing ourselves.

You already know about what I am doing. That ship has sailed.

[bearshermark]

I don't have access to it or know anything about how it works, though. And maybe I shouldn't, for everyone else's peace of mind.

It's not that I want to be divided from everyone, but I haven't convinced anyone that what I'm doing is a good idea.

[ashenscipher]

What is your idea?

[bearshermark]

The basic idea is to just prevent escalation between us and the Bureau. I think we're afraid of each other for different reasons and we don't have good communication. I thought I might be able to bridge that gap a little if I joined- a sort of show of good faith type thing.

[ashenscipher]

And are you achieving that?

[bearshermark]

I don't know. It doesn't feel like it, but I have to try.

[ashenscipher]

I do not think that means you should be excluded from this.

I do not think you are a spy for the Bureau.

[bearshermark]

Thanks.

I guess it's your software, so it's your decision. I just hope I'm not so distrusted that no one uses it.

[traceofeffort]

Oh! Oh, yes, I'm super in for this. Tell me what to do and I'll take a look.

[ashenscipher]

You basically have to create a fake account and then test my program.

It is not at all connected to the network yet, but I just need someone to play around with it.

[traceofeffort]

I can handle that. Nice and easy. So what, it just has a fake network right now and I just need to post to it?

[ashenscipher]

That is basically the sum of it.

Once we work out the bugs, I can take this further. I actually think this will work!

It will be easiest if we meet up to start this.

[traceofeffort]

It'll be a big weight off me not to have to watch what I say. I tend to talk a lot without thinking sometimes, so... [Only sometimes? Don't lie to yourself, Lisa.]

Your place again? Or did you have somewhere else in mind? Either way's fine with me.

Action?

[ashenscipher]

Privacy will be wonderful.

My place is fine.

-> action;

[traceofeffort]

I'll swing by, then. This is important.

[It's not long before there's once again a knock at Bitterblue's door, though Lisa looks quite a bit more serious this time. Her messenger bag is slung across her body in lieu of her guitar bag.]

Hey. I'm ready to work if you are.

Re: -> action;

[ashenscipher]

[Bitterblue opens the door quickly. She is excited to get this working.

Though her kitchen table is small, it has two laptops set up on it, she is prepared.]

Okay, so I've opened the program on this one you can use. You just have to create a fake account, it won't ask you for an email or anything like that.

Then we can just start using it and see what problems crop up.

Did you want anything to drink? I have water, soda, juice.

[traceofeffort]

[She checks for a second seeing two laptops; slightly sheepish, she sets her messenger bag down next to the table, recognizing she won't need hers.]

Gotcha. I have to admit, it's gonna feel a little weird to more or less use the network when we're right next to each other, but I guess that's the easiest way to test it. Ah, and water's good, I think I'm still trying to diet after the soirée. Thanks.

[She's answering the questions absently as they come, but at the moment she's just looking at the signup page and working through that.]

[ashenscipher]

It will be a bit weird. But this is about finding the problems so we will still be talking, you know, verbally throughout the process.

[She brings back two glasses of water and sets one down by Lisa.]

Are you set up?

[The screen after the set up screen should look eerily familiar - just like the network.]

[traceofeffort]

Right, right. I think I get it. And yeah, I've got this re- oh, thanks. Ready to go.

[It sure is the network. No posts here since it's a test server, but boy, she feels like she's right at home here. Which is. Kinda the point, she supposes, but still.]

Should I just, uh, post something, then?

[ashenscipher]

Yes. Start with a basic post. And I'll make one too, so you can see from your computer how it looks.

[Bitterblue typed up a quick message: It is a wonderful day for shaved ice.

Then she posted it.]

Let me know if you can see it.

[traceofeffort]

[The text post seems to pop up fine; of course, that's the easy part. After a second, she posts a message herself: Let's see if this works. Testing...]

Mm, I think we might be on to something? Yours is here. Man, this is kinda exciting!