They know where we live, they must have agents walking about, but I have a bad feeling that the app is connected to that. I've read paranoid articles about companies using smartphones to spy on us, but I never imagined it would happen to this extent.
[And, you know, he'll just temporarily shut off his phone. Just in case.]
It makes no sense they've eluded physical presence and prosecution so long. ... I should... actually redefine how "sense" works as a word or remove it from my lexicon entirely.
[ There's a bitter laugh here. ]
... But this one... I'm not sure if it has to do with Retrospec. Here. Hold my hand.
[ Given the correct first impression Mohammed would have had that this was a somewhat distant boy, this might come across as a surprise. He's just stating it without any extra fuss though. Ritsu wants to see whether or not they'll be separated when they "loop over". ]
[Ritsu either is frightened or he's worried that Mohammed will lose his way. He can't decide which he prefers. Mohammed never was good with small children - his mother told him that focus on his studies was the most important thing, he he's used to spending free time curled up with a good book. How was he supposed to comfort a teenager? On the other hand, he hopes that Ritsu doesn't believe he's not capable of protecting himself.
Fine. He'll hold his hand. To comfort him. Loosely, and by the fingers.]
[ He's not trying to be cryptic, but anything goes when you're tiny and the weather is this bad. Passing through the thicket, the ghosts cry out once again joy turning to disappointment, though Mohammed doesn't hear. Ritsu murmurs. ]
We've been walking for a while now, so...
[ Then, he stops and points behind him. They're not exactly out of the woods, but through the trees Mohammed can see the city borders. ]
Inexplicably, we've ended up where we began. --And no, I didn't circle you around on purpose as a prank.
[He turns back briefly to confirm that, yes, the city is still there. He knows that at their current size, thought couldn't have gone far, but they shouldn't see the city by now.]
When did that happen? The trees [They...look familiar? He can't tell trees apart, so he's not a good judge of that.] are identical to each other?
I mean, "city bounds" are a thing, but this isn't how they're supposed to... work.
[ Ritsu's not sure how easily Mohammed will believe him with just one instance of this, but the voices of the flowers are getting louder, he's unsure about risking another time, as much as the ghosts really want him to pull through. ]
When I follow that path away from the flowers, I mysteriously end up somewhere else, and it changes everytime.
[ The ghosts separate from his company, but it looks like Mohammed's fine. ]
... Maybe I should concede. [ The words still feel bitter against his tongue. ] Discovering the science behind this, I can't do it alone.
Do you still end up in the forest, or are you referring to anywhere in the city?
[The former means this forest is cursed, the latter means that there's something special about the forest that links it with the rest of the municipality.]
I agree. If the ghosts are hostile, it's better that we come as a group. [Mohammed can't see them, and he'd be useless if it came down to a fight.] Come. We should leave before it gets dark.
In the forest... but close to the view of the city. You don't feel it until you turn around like this.
[ Will it still be this way when their sizes are back to normal? That's a question for when this mess is ironed out. ]
Oh, no, they're not hostile. Confused maybe, but as long as you don't press them too hard about questions and give them headaches... After all, they've already died; getting interrogated after that too is somewhat cruel.
[ Went on a bit of a tangent there. But yeah, neither should really loiter here longer. Pressing hand to his chin, he nods. ] So now, I've got an eyewitness in this "forest loop".
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[ He didn't even like usual routine that much. But it was better than reality being shaken around them. ]
I was considering how far Retrospec "sees". Places on lock-down, this forest away from the rest of civilization... or are they truly everywhere?
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[And, you know, he'll just temporarily shut off his phone. Just in case.]
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[ There's a bitter laugh here. ]
... But this one... I'm not sure if it has to do with Retrospec. Here. Hold my hand.
[ Given the correct first impression Mohammed would have had that this was a somewhat distant boy, this might come across as a surprise. He's just stating it without any extra fuss though. Ritsu wants to see whether or not they'll be separated when they "loop over". ]
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Fine. He'll hold his hand. To comfort him. Loosely, and by the fingers.]
Are we there? I don't see anything strange yet.
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[ He's not trying to be cryptic, but anything goes when you're tiny and the weather is this bad. Passing through the thicket, the ghosts cry out once again joy turning to disappointment, though Mohammed doesn't hear. Ritsu murmurs. ]
We've been walking for a while now, so...
[ Then, he stops and points behind him. They're not exactly out of the woods, but through the trees Mohammed can see the city borders. ]
Inexplicably, we've ended up where we began. --And no, I didn't circle you around on purpose as a prank.
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When did that happen? The trees [They...look familiar? He can't tell trees apart, so he's not a good judge of that.] are identical to each other?
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[ Ritsu's not sure how easily Mohammed will believe him with just one instance of this, but the voices of the flowers are getting louder, he's unsure about risking another time, as much as the ghosts really want him to pull through. ]
When I follow that path away from the flowers, I mysteriously end up somewhere else, and it changes everytime.
[ The ghosts separate from his company, but it looks like Mohammed's fine. ]
... Maybe I should concede. [ The words still feel bitter against his tongue. ] Discovering the science behind this, I can't do it alone.
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[The former means this forest is cursed, the latter means that there's something special about the forest that links it with the rest of the municipality.]
I agree. If the ghosts are hostile, it's better that we come as a group. [Mohammed can't see them, and he'd be useless if it came down to a fight.] Come. We should leave before it gets dark.
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[ Will it still be this way when their sizes are back to normal? That's a question for when this mess is ironed out. ]
Oh, no, they're not hostile. Confused maybe, but as long as you don't press them too hard about questions and give them headaches... After all, they've already died; getting interrogated after that too is somewhat cruel.
[ Went on a bit of a tangent there. But yeah, neither should really loiter here longer. Pressing hand to his chin, he nods. ] So now, I've got an eyewitness in this "forest loop".
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[That's two people, then, for the looping space. He's sure the forest wasn't always like this, but how is he to know?]
Have you even gone to the woods before? Or has this only started this month?
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I can't imagine this would end up in books either, or else there'd be more talk about it.
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[They're trapped.]
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Their influence... we're all underestimating it. [ Ritsu sighs. ] We're all forced to change. How can we return to a normal life after all this?
[ Ritsu groans. ] Even getting back onto bed to sleep is going to be a pain. Maybe I should have just brought camp gear.
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[He turns to the edge of the forest.]
We can find a dry spot in a tree and wait until morning. If we don't get tired first, the rain will be another issue.
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[ The ghosts might begin drifting over to his location again by that time, but they weren't dangerous. Ritsu looks around and points. ]
Over here, that looks good.
[ It's been a long night. Ritsu will sleep lightly, to make sure to pull Abdul away if he starts hearing the flowers' voices again. ]