Motoko Kusanagi (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
megatechbody) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
recolle2019-02-04 12:10 pm
megatechbody) wrote in recolle2019-02-04 12:10 pm
I hear a voice
WHO: Mariko Aramaki and YOU
WHERE: Around different parts of recolle
WHEN:First week of February
WHAT:Retrospec has given Mariko a new trick called a cyberbrain and man, is she not happy about it.
WARNINGS:Depiction of what will look like sudden disorientation and disassociation, voices in head.
2/3 - Afternoon - Public Library
Sunglasses perched atop her head, Mariko is seated at one of the larger desks with several books open to different places in a half-circle around her. The one in front of her is tilted enough to see properly and looks like some kind of medical reference book.
As she scribbles notes furiously, her gaze moves from the book in front of her around to other texts. Even those unfamiliar with Mariko will recognize a faintly frantic edge to her writing, lips mouthing the words as she writes until suddenly she winces. The recoil is visible, her eyes close and her entire face scrunches as the line she was writing turns into a sharp line that moves off of the paper and onto the desk.
It lasts for a second or two and then she blinks. Her eyes, her very red eyes, flick to the librarian as she tries to sigh quietly and find the place in her notes she just lost.
2/4 - Morning - Recreation & Fitness Center
Waking up as early as the RRFC's time would allow, Mariko took to the water to try and ease her frazzled nerves. Her sleep had been fitful from the feedback from whatever this thing was she suddenly had and she needed something that wasn't alcohol to try and keep her sedate.
The practice worked for a time, then another dial-up between her ears struck and Mariko faltered in the water. Thanks to muscle memory, she did not breathe until she broke the surface of the water. For a moment, all she could do was suck in a few greedy breaths before pulling herself out of the pool and scowling.
Dejected, she wrapped herself in a towel and sighed before growling under her breath.
"This is awful and I hate it."
2/4 - Afternoon - A Good Bean
With the dial-up fits, Mariko seemed to be adjusting. A second or two of discomfort then moving on her merry way. A red-eye seemed to be the perfect way to combat her shallow sleep from the night before and after ordering, she waited for her warm caffeinated salvation at the end of the counter.
In mid-grab of the cup her eyes sudden unfocused as a full five seconds of dial-up tone rang throughout her mind and ruined any chance of keeping the cup full before drinking. Fortunately, with a few startled blinks, Mariko managed to catch herself and the coffee before the cup left her grasp. Mumbling an apology to the barista and shoving another few dollars into the tip jar, she followed the staff's suggestion to take a seat.
And thus she awaits her coffee, rubbing her eyes tiredly as she waits for another dial-up.
2/8 - Evening - Black Cat Tavern
At five p.m. promptly, Mariko shut off her computer. The dial-ups had worsened over the week and while they'd become father apart, each one had lasted almost twenty seconds a piece. But that didn't matter now. All that mattered was that the work week was over, that she was going to stay out of the house for a little while and drink like a thirsty fish.
Several drinks in, the disorientation of the dialing makes her seem more drunk than she is - though she's smiling more now than she has in the last week and feeling far more sociable.
WHERE: Around different parts of recolle
WHEN:First week of February
WHAT:Retrospec has given Mariko a new trick called a cyberbrain and man, is she not happy about it.
WARNINGS:Depiction of what will look like sudden disorientation and disassociation, voices in head.
2/3 - Afternoon - Public Library
Sunglasses perched atop her head, Mariko is seated at one of the larger desks with several books open to different places in a half-circle around her. The one in front of her is tilted enough to see properly and looks like some kind of medical reference book.
As she scribbles notes furiously, her gaze moves from the book in front of her around to other texts. Even those unfamiliar with Mariko will recognize a faintly frantic edge to her writing, lips mouthing the words as she writes until suddenly she winces. The recoil is visible, her eyes close and her entire face scrunches as the line she was writing turns into a sharp line that moves off of the paper and onto the desk.
It lasts for a second or two and then she blinks. Her eyes, her very red eyes, flick to the librarian as she tries to sigh quietly and find the place in her notes she just lost.
2/4 - Morning - Recreation & Fitness Center
Waking up as early as the RRFC's time would allow, Mariko took to the water to try and ease her frazzled nerves. Her sleep had been fitful from the feedback from whatever this thing was she suddenly had and she needed something that wasn't alcohol to try and keep her sedate.
The practice worked for a time, then another dial-up between her ears struck and Mariko faltered in the water. Thanks to muscle memory, she did not breathe until she broke the surface of the water. For a moment, all she could do was suck in a few greedy breaths before pulling herself out of the pool and scowling.
Dejected, she wrapped herself in a towel and sighed before growling under her breath.
"This is awful and I hate it."
2/4 - Afternoon - A Good Bean
With the dial-up fits, Mariko seemed to be adjusting. A second or two of discomfort then moving on her merry way. A red-eye seemed to be the perfect way to combat her shallow sleep from the night before and after ordering, she waited for her warm caffeinated salvation at the end of the counter.
In mid-grab of the cup her eyes sudden unfocused as a full five seconds of dial-up tone rang throughout her mind and ruined any chance of keeping the cup full before drinking. Fortunately, with a few startled blinks, Mariko managed to catch herself and the coffee before the cup left her grasp. Mumbling an apology to the barista and shoving another few dollars into the tip jar, she followed the staff's suggestion to take a seat.
And thus she awaits her coffee, rubbing her eyes tiredly as she waits for another dial-up.
2/8 - Evening - Black Cat Tavern
At five p.m. promptly, Mariko shut off her computer. The dial-ups had worsened over the week and while they'd become father apart, each one had lasted almost twenty seconds a piece. But that didn't matter now. All that mattered was that the work week was over, that she was going to stay out of the house for a little while and drink like a thirsty fish.
Several drinks in, the disorientation of the dialing makes her seem more drunk than she is - though she's smiling more now than she has in the last week and feeling far more sociable.
2/3 Private to Tatsuo
Hazily, she noticed what looked like a text box and for a moment she wondered why she was dreaming about the damned app. Shaking her head lightly, she tried to settle in for a last lazy moment when suddenly she snapped awake with a hiss. Well mostly awake.
Hands flying to her temples, Mariko curled in on herself and groaned as her head filled with dial-up noises.
Re: 2/3 Private to Tatsuo
"Mari?"
He pushes himself into a half sitting position.
"What's wrong?"
Re: 2/3 Private to Tatsuo
It's all she manages before wincing for a couple of seconds as that sound rings in her skull again. Why the hell does it sound like a modem?
In between breaths, she tries to put the thoughts together. Once, she'd had a dream about something this, with information and voices in her head and then she winces again.
"Where?"
She reaches to grab his hand, with a shuddering breath just short of a sob. It doesn't hurt as much as it feels like it's should but there's something so terrifying about this.
Re: 2/3 Private to Tatsuo
Loud? Oh no, was she getting super senses like Matt? At least he's experienced it himself... he knows how very uncomfortable it is.
When she reaches for him, he wraps both his hands around hers.
"Here, I'm here."
He keeps his voice low, soft, not sure how much noise she can tolerate right now.
Re: 2/3 Private to Tatsuo
She winces again, before growling in agitation. Pulling away from Tatsuo, she grumbles something angrily as she reaches for her phone.
"Why is ...this bullshit... Togusa."
That's all that comes through as she punctuates her irritation with hard taps on her phone screen.
Re: 2/3 Private to Tatsuo
As Mariko types angrily on her phone, Tatsuo props himself up on one elbow. Clearly, this is something related to the fact Mariko and Togusa's past-selves came from the same world. What it is exactly, he hasn't the foggiest.
Re: 2/3 Private to Tatsuo
After a beat, she looks to Tatsuo - faintly embarrassed as she clears her throat.
"So, I think I got the first big change."
Re: 2/3 Private to Tatsuo
"It's the cyberbrain, isn't it?"
2/8
Lucky her. She doesn't need any weird moon bullshit to be shy and quiet right now. But the way Mariko's acting is getting Anna's attention, because this is definitely not the way she remembers her acting. Is she drunk? People can be happy drunks? Fucking weird.
"Mariko?" she asks, trying to be heard over the din of the bar. "What got into you?"
Re: 2/8
"I'm getting blasted because I'm off tomorrow and I'm sick of my new bullshit present from Retrospec."
It's easy to settle into their familiar pattern of banter; she sometimes shares and Anna mostly doesn't - though Mariko is pretty sure she she might get some decent commiseration about this bunch of shit.
no subject
She forces the weakest grin of her life. "Yeah? What'd they do to you?" Normally she'd push the hair from her eye for effect, but she's still grappling with the idea of being seen by people like this. Mariko's seen her at her worst, though, so... how bad could it really be? Besides, she probably has it worse.
no subject
As if on cue, Mariko winces slightly at the feeling of the dial-up though the discomfort is hard to feel through the haze of drunken over-stimulation. This close Anna can see the sudden unfocusing of her gaze and it takes a couple more seconds for Mariko to return to herself.
She smiles, angry at no one present, tapping her temple.
"New tech. It keeps dialing in to the network, I think, and it's been fucking with me all week."
no subject
"Oh, you're not the only one with a cyborgan now?" she asks, trying very very hard to make a joke. "You're doing better than I did. Getting wasted and being social beats the hell out of any other alternative." Like she knows what she's talking about. "The thing giving you any shit otherwise?"