The universe has seven levels

[agent_harkness]

Ohhhhhkay. *deep breath*

This all started when miss_gate disappeared. Given the, erm, altercation she was involved in, I suspected the Dream Police at once. Problem was, those guys are notoriously vicious. If I was gonna go after Them, I couldn't put anyone else at risk. That's why I had to get lyndawithay out of the way, hopefully where nobody would go looking for her. (Still sorry about the punch, Lynda - you didn't trust me an inch, with good reason, and there wasn't time to convince you.) Didn't quite work, though, since you all basically invaded arthur_gate's house, which ended up with him getting kidnapped too - even though he hadn't broken one of Their arbitrary "rules" about non-fraternisation between levels of reality.

*puts on Power Point presentation*

You can imagine the different levels of reality as floors in a building. Everybody thinks of the guys in the floor above as being more "real" than they are. de_seingalt is less "real" than, say, pfred, who is less real than agentcompassion.

(Anybody not following? Questions at the end.)

I tried to make a deal with them_from_there to find out what Their ultimate plan really is. I said I'd work for Them - turns out that meant They made me into a fictional character, like de_seingalt. If you like, they demoted me down one level of reality. It was like being a puppet. I keep my eyes and ears open, though.

Their mistake was that because Giac and I were now equally "real", he could swap himself for me. He couldn't tell Their plan without dying - They'd written that into him - but he knew I could, so the swap would be worth it.

He's one hell of a guy.

Anyway, their plan is this: They want to capture a "real" person, someone on the level of, say, qthewetsprocket. They think this will allow Them to break through the Fifth Wall and take over LiveJournal. It's a crazy plan, but it just might work.

Somehow, together, we have to think of a way to stop Them.

OK, questions.

Comments

[agent_harkness]

Gutsy lady!

Because they'll think you're "only" a character, they won't take proper precautions. As long as you don't give yourself away, you should be free to act once you're inside.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Just as long as I don't wind up *exposing* those guts; I like them internal, thanks.

Okay, who's got the explosives, and does it matter where I set them off?

[agent_harkness]

Here - I still have the ones Lynda gave me.

Once you're in, look for anything important - a control room, a computer.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

MMkay. Here's my plan. I'm going to disguise myself, show up someplace the Them are known to frequent (sarah_gate's place seems as good as any) and improperly associate with a real person. off_coloratura, saltmarsh, are you going to be around?

After that, I suppose I let events take their course. Anybody else want to come along for the ride?

(Gosh, I've never had explosives of my own. Wow.)

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

That was supposed to be miss_gate 's house. And I was asking about off_coloratura's whereabouts, as well as those of any other real people who felt like masquerading.

[dorothee1887.livejournal.com]

I've just had a thought - how are we going to work in Pfred and the timehoppers and Lynda etc? I can only hang around for another hour tops and I don't know where everyone else is, so is it worth starting this and then developing it further tomorrow?

Like, get to capture moment then cliff hanger, then 'proper characters' ride to rescue tomorrow??

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

I'm good with that. Do a bit of stuff after the capture, then cliff hanger. The thing is, by the definition of the problem, the proper characters can't rescue us -- only the 'real human beings' -- i.e. us -- have the power to solve the problem. However, I've dropped notes on both pfred and lynda's journals, and if we get to a cliffhanger then pause, then they can get their comments/assistance in, then we can pick up tomorow when you're awake.

[agent_harkness]

*thumbs up* Name your timeslot!

[saltmarsh.livejournal.com]

Lead on, MacDuff.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Here (http://miss-gate.livejournal.com/3662.html?thread=94798#t94798).

[qthewetsprocket.livejournal.com]

you'll need a diversion so they won't notice what you're doing once you're inside.

how about this: i'll offer myself up as a trade for giac (the rotten little sucker), and then while i'm inside, i'll try and...er...distract one of Them as best i can.

they should have more trouble controlling me than jack cause i'm a bit more 'real', yes?

*looks questioningly at jack*

[agent_harkness]

You're right. Go for it!

[qthewetsprocket.livejournal.com]

okay!


...*gulp*

will i...will i be able to talk to anyone once i'm inside? maybe just to other people/entities in There?

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Oh, and do I need to snow myself, or can I assume they'll snow me? I think some outside coaching may be needed.

[qthewetsprocket.livejournal.com]

yeah, what you said...*kicks image editor near tears of frustration*

[dorothee1887.livejournal.com]

So hang on, would I be using something like this icon if it's salt pretending to be ace?

*FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY*

[saltmarsh.livejournal.com]

Or something like this?

*is brane-tired*

[agent_harkness]

Spot on.

(And pretty creepy.)

[dorothee1887.livejournal.com]

Right. This one. Cool.

So how are we going to sync this all up? I'm happy to hand over Ace to someone else just in case the story runs on beyond when I can be around timezone-wise. 'Cos you know, explosions.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Since Salt and I are both in disguise, we need a real person to interact with us. Volunteers?

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

*volunteers to Photoshop images as required*

[qthewetsprocket.livejournal.com]

*lays grateful gifts at your altar*

Snow me, please

[ten-martha.livejournal.com]

Ta. ::has no graphics skills::

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Q, can you show up over here (http://miss-gate.livejournal.com/3662.html?thread=94798#t94798) and do the forbidden real-world-to-sock interaction?

[agent_harkness]

Don't worry - if you need to be snowed, they'll provide an icon. They're considerate that way!