GUARDIAN OF SECURITY .

THIS IS THE PRISON OF MY DESIGN. (Panopticon RP blog! C:)

[ever-watching-eye]

STAY BACK.

YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED HERE.

FOR MINE OWN EYES, SINGULAR AND ETERNAL.

my rule list -#recording... = IN CHARACTER

-#caught on cam! = OUT OF CHARACTER

[ever-watching-eye]

What's the emotion you feel the most often?

CURIOSITY.

[ever-watching-eye]

Panopticon can I have some relationship advice?

WHY WOULD YOU COME TO ME ABOUT THIS. EITHER WAY. PERHAPS... HM...

...MOST OF THE TIME, AFFECTION IS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT THING TO CAPTURE ON CAMERA. I CAN BARELY FIND ANY EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER ON SUCH A THING. AND IF I CAN'T SEE IT, NEITHER CAN THE OBJECT OF ONE'S AFFECTIONS. AND I ASSUME THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD WANT.

[ever-watching-eye]

what's a life lesson you really think more people should adhere to?

TO SAVE YOURSELF BEFORE SAVING OTHERS. I DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO INTERFERE, I'M AWARE, BUT IT'S... CURIOUS, HOW SELF-SACRIFICING SOME CAN BE.

[ever-watching-eye]

*looks at that kissable camera*

Your time will come soon, I'm sure :)

(I SWEAR I'M NOT HORNY, IN LIGHT OF THE UPDATE I SWEAR THIS MAKES SENSE AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA)

...........

It's almost, ALMOST like the camera was intimidated, zooming in and quickly zooming back out. Then it kinda glances to the side like. What

[ever-watching-eye]

Hello.

you are the person i met a few minutes ago while exploring the public access network, correct?

-CC

I CAN ONLY ASSUME. YOU ARE QUITE THE CURIOUS CREATURE, I'LL SAY THAT.

...I MUST ASK, WHY CONTINUE THIS... CONVERSATION. IT'S MUCH BETTER NOW THAT YOU AREN'T DIRECTLY IN MY OFFICE, BUT. I STILL DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.

[cursedcryptography]

curious in both senses of the word really.

primarily i am trying to learn how i can interact with the world around myself ever since i became like this. what i was doing earlier was seeing if i could access the public access router, and then connect to the other devices on the network from there.

but the other thing i am looking into, and the main reason i am poking around your apartment, is that i've gotten some leads that someone here in this place knows more about what is happening to the world right now.

as for my experiment with the router? it turns out that i am able to connect to other devices, just so long as they are connected to the public WiFi and i am connected to the router first. so i may end up popping up in your office on occasion as i chain to some other device. sorry about that ahead of time i will try my best to bother you as little as possible.

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

HM... IRRITATING. IT'LL BE MUTUAL, THEN. TO AVOID EACH-OTHER EQUALLY. AS CLOSE TO BALANCE AS YOU'LL GET. IT SEEMS WE DON'T NEED TO MEDDLE IN THE OTHER'S BUSINESS.

I DON'T WISH YOU LUCK, NOR CURSE YOU IN YOUR ENDEAVORS. JUST EXPRESS ANNOYANCE. A LACK OF NEED.

[cursedcryptography]

well. there is *one* thing i would like to ask of you. i mentioned i was searching for clues about someone who lives here that has some idea of what is happening to the world. i am limited to the devices i can connect to, and whatever mutations i happen to cause in them, but you have your camera network. have you seen anyone or anything that might know more?

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

I CAN RECALL MULTIPLE THAT FIT THAT CRITERIA. DEPENDS ON WHICH ONE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

EITHER WAY, I AM... HESITANT. IS IT JUST THE URGE TO UNDERSTAND, OR DO YOU WISH TO CHANGE THINGS, LIKE MOST OF THEM DO? I AM NOT LENIENT WITH MY INFORMATION.

[cursedcryptography]

i just want to know why this all happened. or, at the very least some idea of what happened if nothing else. i just don't want to live with never having any clue about why this all happened, why i was cursed, or why so many others have died. if you decide to give me a lead to follow i will be very grateful.

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

IF THAT'S ALL YOU NEED IT FOR...

THEY ARE SCATTERED AROUND THE BUILDING. VARIOUS PLACES. MOST FLOORS HAVE AT LEAST ONE. SOME EASIER TO GET TO THAN OTHERS. THOUGH, WITH YOUR... ABILITIES, THE COST OF TRAVELING MIGHT NOT CONCERN YOU AS MUCH AS IT WOULD FOR OTHERS.

...PERHAPS THE GROUND FLOOR.

[cursedcryptography]

i am grateful for the lead, although i hope you don't mind me asking for some more details, as i am rather limited in my ability to search a physical space by device hopping.

[ever-watching-eye]

HM.

DARK ROBES. VIBRANT EYE COLOR. LOOK TO THE BUS CRASH.

DOES THAT SATISFY YOU?

[cursedcryptography]

i have no idea what you mean by bus crash, but "dark robes" should be sufficient, thank you.

probably wont be too hard find someone in running around in robes, unless your building was holding a wizard convention or maybe some kind of cult heh.

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

OF COURSE. LET US REFRAIN FROM CROSSING PATHS TOO MUCH.

[ever-watching-eye]

Hello.

you are the person i met a few minutes ago while exploring the public access network, correct?

-CC

I CAN ONLY ASSUME. YOU ARE QUITE THE CURIOUS CREATURE, I'LL SAY THAT.

...I MUST ASK, WHY CONTINUE THIS... CONVERSATION. IT'S MUCH BETTER NOW THAT YOU AREN'T DIRECTLY IN MY OFFICE, BUT. I STILL DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.

[cursedcryptography]

curious in both senses of the word really.

primarily i am trying to learn how i can interact with the world around myself ever since i became like this. what i was doing earlier was seeing if i could access the public access router, and then connect to the other devices on the network from there.

but the other thing i am looking into, and the main reason i am poking around your apartment, is that i've gotten some leads that someone here in this place knows more about what is happening to the world right now.

as for my experiment with the router? it turns out that i am able to connect to other devices, just so long as they are connected to the public WiFi and i am connected to the router first. so i may end up popping up in your office on occasion as i chain to some other device. sorry about that ahead of time i will try my best to bother you as little as possible.

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

HM... IRRITATING. IT'LL BE MUTUAL, THEN. TO AVOID EACH-OTHER EQUALLY. AS CLOSE TO BALANCE AS YOU'LL GET. IT SEEMS WE DON'T NEED TO MEDDLE IN THE OTHER'S BUSINESS.

I DON'T WISH YOU LUCK, NOR CURSE YOU IN YOUR ENDEAVORS. JUST EXPRESS ANNOYANCE. A LACK OF NEED.

[cursedcryptography]

well. there is *one* thing i would like to ask of you. i mentioned i was searching for clues about someone who lives here that has some idea of what is happening to the world. i am limited to the devices i can connect to, and whatever mutations i happen to cause in them, but you have your camera network. have you seen anyone or anything that might know more?

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

I CAN RECALL MULTIPLE THAT FIT THAT CRITERIA. DEPENDS ON WHICH ONE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

EITHER WAY, I AM... HESITANT. IS IT JUST THE URGE TO UNDERSTAND, OR DO YOU WISH TO CHANGE THINGS, LIKE MOST OF THEM DO? I AM NOT LENIENT WITH MY INFORMATION.

[cursedcryptography]

i just want to know why this all happened. or, at the very least some idea of what happened if nothing else. i just don't want to live with never having any clue about why this all happened, why i was cursed, or why so many others have died. if you decide to give me a lead to follow i will be very grateful.

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

IF THAT'S ALL YOU NEED IT FOR...

THEY ARE SCATTERED AROUND THE BUILDING. VARIOUS PLACES. MOST FLOORS HAVE AT LEAST ONE. SOME EASIER TO GET TO THAN OTHERS. THOUGH, WITH YOUR... ABILITIES, THE COST OF TRAVELING MIGHT NOT CONCERN YOU AS MUCH AS IT WOULD FOR OTHERS.

...PERHAPS THE GROUND FLOOR.

[cursedcryptography]

i am grateful for the lead, although i hope you don't mind me asking for some more details, as i am rather limited in my ability to search a physical space by device hopping.

[ever-watching-eye]

HM.

DARK ROBES. VIBRANT EYE COLOR. LOOK TO THE BUS CRASH.

DOES THAT SATISFY YOU?

[ever-watching-eye]

Hello.

you are the person i met a few minutes ago while exploring the public access network, correct?

-CC

I CAN ONLY ASSUME. YOU ARE QUITE THE CURIOUS CREATURE, I'LL SAY THAT.

...I MUST ASK, WHY CONTINUE THIS... CONVERSATION. IT'S MUCH BETTER NOW THAT YOU AREN'T DIRECTLY IN MY OFFICE, BUT. I STILL DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.

[cursedcryptography]

curious in both senses of the word really.

primarily i am trying to learn how i can interact with the world around myself ever since i became like this. what i was doing earlier was seeing if i could access the public access router, and then connect to the other devices on the network from there.

but the other thing i am looking into, and the main reason i am poking around your apartment, is that i've gotten some leads that someone here in this place knows more about what is happening to the world right now.

as for my experiment with the router? it turns out that i am able to connect to other devices, just so long as they are connected to the public WiFi and i am connected to the router first. so i may end up popping up in your office on occasion as i chain to some other device. sorry about that ahead of time i will try my best to bother you as little as possible.

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

HM... IRRITATING. IT'LL BE MUTUAL, THEN. TO AVOID EACH-OTHER EQUALLY. AS CLOSE TO BALANCE AS YOU'LL GET. IT SEEMS WE DON'T NEED TO MEDDLE IN THE OTHER'S BUSINESS.

I DON'T WISH YOU LUCK, NOR CURSE YOU IN YOUR ENDEAVORS. JUST EXPRESS ANNOYANCE. A LACK OF NEED.

[cursedcryptography]

well. there is *one* thing i would like to ask of you. i mentioned i was searching for clues about someone who lives here that has some idea of what is happening to the world. i am limited to the devices i can connect to, and whatever mutations i happen to cause in them, but you have your camera network. have you seen anyone or anything that might know more?

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

I CAN RECALL MULTIPLE THAT FIT THAT CRITERIA. DEPENDS ON WHICH ONE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

EITHER WAY, I AM... HESITANT. IS IT JUST THE URGE TO UNDERSTAND, OR DO YOU WISH TO CHANGE THINGS, LIKE MOST OF THEM DO? I AM NOT LENIENT WITH MY INFORMATION.

[cursedcryptography]

i just want to know why this all happened. or, at the very least some idea of what happened if nothing else. i just don't want to live with never having any clue about why this all happened, why i was cursed, or why so many others have died. if you decide to give me a lead to follow i will be very grateful.

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

IF THAT'S ALL YOU NEED IT FOR...

THEY ARE SCATTERED AROUND THE BUILDING. VARIOUS PLACES. MOST FLOORS HAVE AT LEAST ONE. SOME EASIER TO GET TO THAN OTHERS. THOUGH, WITH YOUR... ABILITIES, THE COST OF TRAVELING MIGHT NOT CONCERN YOU AS MUCH AS IT WOULD FOR OTHERS.

...PERHAPS THE GROUND FLOOR.

[ever-watching-eye]

Hello.

you are the person i met a few minutes ago while exploring the public access network, correct?

-CC

I CAN ONLY ASSUME. YOU ARE QUITE THE CURIOUS CREATURE, I'LL SAY THAT.

...I MUST ASK, WHY CONTINUE THIS... CONVERSATION. IT'S MUCH BETTER NOW THAT YOU AREN'T DIRECTLY IN MY OFFICE, BUT. I STILL DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.

[cursedcryptography]

curious in both senses of the word really.

primarily i am trying to learn how i can interact with the world around myself ever since i became like this. what i was doing earlier was seeing if i could access the public access router, and then connect to the other devices on the network from there.

but the other thing i am looking into, and the main reason i am poking around your apartment, is that i've gotten some leads that someone here in this place knows more about what is happening to the world right now.

as for my experiment with the router? it turns out that i am able to connect to other devices, just so long as they are connected to the public WiFi and i am connected to the router first. so i may end up popping up in your office on occasion as i chain to some other device. sorry about that ahead of time i will try my best to bother you as little as possible.

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

HM... IRRITATING. IT'LL BE MUTUAL, THEN. TO AVOID EACH-OTHER EQUALLY. AS CLOSE TO BALANCE AS YOU'LL GET. IT SEEMS WE DON'T NEED TO MEDDLE IN THE OTHER'S BUSINESS.

I DON'T WISH YOU LUCK, NOR CURSE YOU IN YOUR ENDEAVORS. JUST EXPRESS ANNOYANCE. A LACK OF NEED.

[cursedcryptography]

well. there is *one* thing i would like to ask of you. i mentioned i was searching for clues about someone who lives here that has some idea of what is happening to the world. i am limited to the devices i can connect to, and whatever mutations i happen to cause in them, but you have your camera network. have you seen anyone or anything that might know more?

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

I CAN RECALL MULTIPLE THAT FIT THAT CRITERIA. DEPENDS ON WHICH ONE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

EITHER WAY, I AM... HESITANT. IS IT JUST THE URGE TO UNDERSTAND, OR DO YOU WISH TO CHANGE THINGS, LIKE MOST OF THEM DO? I AM NOT LENIENT WITH MY INFORMATION.

[ever-watching-eye]

Hello.

you are the person i met a few minutes ago while exploring the public access network, correct?

-CC

I CAN ONLY ASSUME. YOU ARE QUITE THE CURIOUS CREATURE, I'LL SAY THAT.

...I MUST ASK, WHY CONTINUE THIS... CONVERSATION. IT'S MUCH BETTER NOW THAT YOU AREN'T DIRECTLY IN MY OFFICE, BUT. I STILL DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.

[cursedcryptography]

curious in both senses of the word really.

primarily i am trying to learn how i can interact with the world around myself ever since i became like this. what i was doing earlier was seeing if i could access the public access router, and then connect to the other devices on the network from there.

but the other thing i am looking into, and the main reason i am poking around your apartment, is that i've gotten some leads that someone here in this place knows more about what is happening to the world right now.

as for my experiment with the router? it turns out that i am able to connect to other devices, just so long as they are connected to the public WiFi and i am connected to the router first. so i may end up popping up in your office on occasion as i chain to some other device. sorry about that ahead of time i will try my best to bother you as little as possible.

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

HM... IRRITATING. IT'LL BE MUTUAL, THEN. TO AVOID EACH-OTHER EQUALLY. AS CLOSE TO BALANCE AS YOU'LL GET. IT SEEMS WE DON'T NEED TO MEDDLE IN THE OTHER'S BUSINESS.

I DON'T WISH YOU LUCK, NOR CURSE YOU IN YOUR ENDEAVORS. JUST EXPRESS ANNOYANCE. A LACK OF NEED.

[ever-watching-eye]

Hello.

you are the person i met a few minutes ago while exploring the public access network, correct?

-CC

I CAN ONLY ASSUME. YOU ARE QUITE THE CURIOUS CREATURE, I'LL SAY THAT.

...I MUST ASK, WHY CONTINUE THIS... CONVERSATION. IT'S MUCH BETTER NOW THAT YOU AREN'T DIRECTLY IN MY OFFICE, BUT. I STILL DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.

[ever-watching-eye]

on the other side of the room, across from Panopticon and above the control console, the master router for the Appartment's public WiFi is attatched to the wall.

it is a weirdly bulky piece of tech, significantly larger than most household models, with extra sockets and buttons and antennae all over it.

normally it just sits there silently, small LEDs occasionally flashing, and its antennae splayed at odd angles as it works to provide the residents access to the internet even as the world devolves into chaos.

but now there are strange, almost meaty popping noises coming from it.

in under a minute the router mutates and shifts unnaturally, with fleshy veins spread across the black plastic, eyeballs cropping up to replace a number of the buttons and plugs, and even the antennae seem to shudder and bend slightly like long stiff fingers.

the eyes across the mutated router look around, each wandering in different directions as they scan across the darkened room.

after a moment an eye glances upon the Panopticon past the screen between them, slides past, then a half second later every eye on the mutated router snaps to attention, staring at them.

there is a long silent staredown between the two, until the mutated router's antennae begin to lightly shake back and forth, as if tentatively waving hello.

Oh. Hmm. That's... new. They must take this calmly. There was a vague sense of the Wi-Fi itself being tampered with, just slightly. Fortunately, their cameras don't need an Internet access to operate.

...DO YOU MIND.

Their digital eyes don't move, simply staring, unblinking. Except one eye that kept on the camera screens. If only they could give some more expression, with, say, narrowed eyes or a gesture of the hand... they barely move at all, actually. Pretty in-character for Panopticon. What could this thing possibly need? From here? This place? Unless there wasn't anywhere else to go, this was... an inconvenient spot, at the very least.

@cursedcryptography

[cursedcryptography]

the routers waving falters and stops and it breaks eye contact and looks off to the side awkwardly. it appears to be incapable of speaking, or even moving from where they are attached to the wall. for a few minutes the router's eyes seem to lose focus, as if it concentrating on something internal, but eventually they refocus on the Panopticon.

it maintains eye contact as it slowly and deliberately curls all the antennae on its left side inward, with the ones on the right side of the router remain jutting straight out. the left antennae straighten back out, and then the right ones curl and uncurl. then the right again, then left. a pause, and then it continues

left, pause. left, right, pause. right, left, right, left, pause. left, pause. left, left, right, right, left, left then it clenches both left and right

it stares at the Panopticon, hoping that they understood that.

[ever-watching-eye]

...

They seem suspicious, at the very least. They don't remember when or where they learned Morse. Ah, what can you do...

...PERHAPS. YOU STILL ARE TRESPASSING.

Wondered for just a moment if it could hear things before responding. They're not sure how exactly this thing would leave. It's not like it could be pried off of the wall. Extremely inconvenient. One of the worst things to happen to them, actually (not THE worst, mind you...).

[cursedcryptography]

it seems pleased to see that the Panopticon understood the message. it seems to lose focus for another few moments before returning with a new, much longer, message.

L, L, L, Pause, R, R, R, Pause, L, R, L, Pause, L, R, L, Pause, R, L, R, R, both.

there is a longer pause, but it continues shortly.

L, R, R, Pause R, R, R, Pause, R, L, Pause, R, Both. Long Pause. R, L, L, L, Pause, L, Both. Long Pause. L, R, L, L, Pause, R, R, R, Pause, R, L, Pause, R, R, L, Both.

after that segment the antennae curl inward with some difficulty and rap the against the router's casing, making a clack-clack noise. then it goes back to its communication.

L, L, Pause, R, R, Both. Long Pause L, Pause, R, L, L, R, Pause, L, R, R, L, Pause, L, Pause, L, R, L, Pause, L, L, Pause, R, R, Pause, L, Pause, R, L, Pause, R, Pause, L, L, Pause, R, L, Pause, R, R, L, Both.

it seems to be done communicating, and is now waiting for the Panopticon's response.

[ever-watching-eye]

It's a photographic memory. Able to note down every movement, every motion, and take it to heart. Just with a simple red blinking light.

I... I SEE...

DON'T KEEP ME WAITING, THEN.

If they must... actually, it seemed it was doing this on their own volition. Is being slightly passive-aggressive not enough, though? Their wiring doesn't comfortably reach over and up to the router, even if they tried their best.

[cursedcryptography]

LL | LRR, RRR, RL, R | R, LR, RLR, L | LRLL, RRR, RL, RRL | RRR, RL, L | LRR, LR, RLRR | RRR—

it stops, seemingly mid-word, and stares at the Panopticon for a long moment.

LRR, LR, LL, R | LLLL, LR, LLLR, L | LRR, L | RR, L, R, LLRRLL | RLRR, RRR, LLR, LRL | RLL, LL, RLRL, R, LL, RRR, RL | LLRL, L, L, LRLL, LLL | RRR, RLL, RLL, LRLL, RLRR | LLRL, LR, RR, LL, LRLL, LL, LR, LRL |

the eyes lose focus once again, as if it is thinking hard.

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

...

...I DON'T INTERACT WITH OTHERS OFTEN. IF WE HAVE, I'D MOST DEFINITELY REMEMBER.

Said more as a fact than a source of pity. Straight to the point, uncaring (like usual, to be fair). They... find it curious, that they aren't the one recognizing the patterns this time. Then again, hard to gather much information from this thing, even if they are quite the observant fellow.

[cursedcryptography]

it stares at the Panopticon for a long time, as it mentally puts together context clues. the location, their manner of speech, how they look. the thing in the router seems to finally put 2 and 2 together and begins signaling once more.

LRR, LR, LLL, RL, R | LL, RL | LRRL, L, LRL, LLL, RRR, RL | LRR, LR, LLL | RRR, RL | R, LLLL, L | LL, RL, R, L, LRL, RL, L, R | LLL, RRR, RR, L | RLL, LR, RLRR, LLL | LR, RRL, RRR LL | LRR, LL, LRLL, LRLL | R, LRL, RLRR | R, RRR | RLRL, RRR, RL, R, LR, RLRL, R | RLRR, RRR, LLR | R, LLLL, L, LRL, L |

with its message complete its eyes go vacant. there is a brief hitch in the wifi, no more than a second or two, and then like wet clay being smoothed over the mutations simply to recede and melt back into the plastic. as far as the Panopticon can tell from where they are sat, there doesn't seem to be any lingering traces of whatever was possessing it.

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

Ah. Now that rung a bell or two. Supposedly.

They feel a slight sense of satisfaction seeing it leave. Them leave? There's a very, very thin line between 'inhuman' and 'human', they've found. Oh well. Either way, they finally have their room to itself themself again. As intended.

Their chair swivels, turning them back to their monitors. They'll be waiting. As intended.

[ever-watching-eye]

"It'd be foolish to be disturbed by your own body" <- Panopticon you realize gender dysphoria exists, right? :(((

...

...HM.

[ever-watching-eye]

Do the flashing on lights of your cameras annoy you? I feel like seeing blinking lights out of the corner of your eye all the time would drive me insane.

NO. THEY DON'T FAZE ME. IT'D BE FOOLISH TO BE DISTURBED BY YOUR OWN BODY.

[ever-watching-eye]

on the other side of the room, across from Panopticon and above the control console, the master router for the Appartment's public WiFi is attatched to the wall.

it is a weirdly bulky piece of tech, significantly larger than most household models, with extra sockets and buttons and antennae all over it.

normally it just sits there silently, small LEDs occasionally flashing, and its antennae splayed at odd angles as it works to provide the residents access to the internet even as the world devolves into chaos.

but now there are strange, almost meaty popping noises coming from it.

in under a minute the router mutates and shifts unnaturally, with fleshy veins spread across the black plastic, eyeballs cropping up to replace a number of the buttons and plugs, and even the antennae seem to shudder and bend slightly like long stiff fingers.

the eyes across the mutated router look around, each wandering in different directions as they scan across the darkened room.

after a moment an eye glances upon the Panopticon past the screen between them, slides past, then a half second later every eye on the mutated router snaps to attention, staring at them.

there is a long silent staredown between the two, until the mutated router's antennae begin to lightly shake back and forth, as if tentatively waving hello.

Oh. Hmm. That's... new. They must take this calmly. There was a vague sense of the Wi-Fi itself being tampered with, just slightly. Fortunately, their cameras don't need an Internet access to operate.

...DO YOU MIND.

Their digital eyes don't move, simply staring, unblinking. Except one eye that kept on the camera screens. If only they could give some more expression, with, say, narrowed eyes or a gesture of the hand... they barely move at all, actually. Pretty in-character for Panopticon. What could this thing possibly need? From here? This place? Unless there wasn't anywhere else to go, this was... an inconvenient spot, at the very least.

@cursedcryptography

[cursedcryptography]

the routers waving falters and stops and it breaks eye contact and looks off to the side awkwardly. it appears to be incapable of speaking, or even moving from where they are attached to the wall. for a few minutes the router's eyes seem to lose focus, as if it concentrating on something internal, but eventually they refocus on the Panopticon.

it maintains eye contact as it slowly and deliberately curls all the antennae on its left side inward, with the ones on the right side of the router remain jutting straight out. the left antennae straighten back out, and then the right ones curl and uncurl. then the right again, then left. a pause, and then it continues

left, pause. left, right, pause. right, left, right, left, pause. left, pause. left, left, right, right, left, left then it clenches both left and right

it stares at the Panopticon, hoping that they understood that.

[ever-watching-eye]

...

They seem suspicious, at the very least. They don't remember when or where they learned Morse. Ah, what can you do...

...PERHAPS. YOU STILL ARE TRESPASSING.

Wondered for just a moment if it could hear things before responding. They're not sure how exactly this thing would leave. It's not like it could be pried off of the wall. Extremely inconvenient. One of the worst things to happen to them, actually (not THE worst, mind you...).

[cursedcryptography]

it seems pleased to see that the Panopticon understood the message. it seems to lose focus for another few moments before returning with a new, much longer, message.

L, L, L, Pause, R, R, R, Pause, L, R, L, Pause, L, R, L, Pause, R, L, R, R, both.

there is a longer pause, but it continues shortly.

L, R, R, Pause R, R, R, Pause, R, L, Pause, R, Both. Long Pause. R, L, L, L, Pause, L, Both. Long Pause. L, R, L, L, Pause, R, R, R, Pause, R, L, Pause, R, R, L, Both.

after that segment the antennae curl inward with some difficulty and rap the against the router's casing, making a clack-clack noise. then it goes back to its communication.

L, L, Pause, R, R, Both. Long Pause L, Pause, R, L, L, R, Pause, L, R, R, L, Pause, L, Pause, L, R, L, Pause, L, L, Pause, R, R, Pause, L, Pause, R, L, Pause, R, Pause, L, L, Pause, R, L, Pause, R, R, L, Both.

it seems to be done communicating, and is now waiting for the Panopticon's response.

[ever-watching-eye]

It's a photographic memory. Able to note down every movement, every motion, and take it to heart. Just with a simple red blinking light.

I... I SEE...

DON'T KEEP ME WAITING, THEN.

If they must... actually, it seemed it was doing this on their own volition. Is being slightly passive-aggressive not enough, though? Their wiring doesn't comfortably reach over and up to the router, even if they tried their best.

[cursedcryptography]

LL | LRR, RRR, RL, R | R, LR, RLR, L | LRLL, RRR, RL, RRL | RRR, RL, L | LRR, LR, RLRR | RRR—

it stops, seemingly mid-word, and stares at the Panopticon for a long moment.

LRR, LR, LL, R | LLLL, LR, LLLR, L | LRR, L | RR, L, R, LLRRLL | RLRR, RRR, LLR, LRL | RLL, LL, RLRL, R, LL, RRR, RL | LLRL, L, L, LRLL, LLL | RRR, RLL, RLL, LRLL, RLRR | LLRL, LR, RR, LL, LRLL, LL, LR, LRL |

the eyes lose focus once again, as if it is thinking hard.

@ever-watching-eye

[ever-watching-eye]

...

...I DON'T INTERACT WITH OTHERS OFTEN. IF WE HAVE, I'D MOST DEFINITELY REMEMBER.

Said more as a fact than a source of pity. Straight to the point, uncaring (like usual, to be fair). They... find it curious, that they aren't the one recognizing the patterns this time. Then again, hard to gather much information from this thing, even if they are quite the observant fellow.

[ever-watching-eye]

on the other side of the room, across from Panopticon and above the control console, the master router for the Appartment's public WiFi is attatched to the wall.

it is a weirdly bulky piece of tech, significantly larger than most household models, with extra sockets and buttons and antennae all over it.

normally it just sits there silently, small LEDs occasionally flashing, and its antennae splayed at odd angles as it works to provide the residents access to the internet even as the world devolves into chaos.

but now there are strange, almost meaty popping noises coming from it.

in under a minute the router mutates and shifts unnaturally, with fleshy veins spread across the black plastic, eyeballs cropping up to replace a number of the buttons and plugs, and even the antennae seem to shudder and bend slightly like long stiff fingers.

the eyes across the mutated router look around, each wandering in different directions as they scan across the darkened room.

after a moment an eye glances upon the Panopticon past the screen between them, slides past, then a half second later every eye on the mutated router snaps to attention, staring at them.

there is a long silent staredown between the two, until the mutated router's antennae begin to lightly shake back and forth, as if tentatively waving hello.

Oh. Hmm. That's... new. They must take this calmly. There was a vague sense of the Wi-Fi itself being tampered with, just slightly. Fortunately, their cameras don't need an Internet access to operate.

...DO YOU MIND.

Their digital eyes don't move, simply staring, unblinking. Except one eye that kept on the camera screens. If only they could give some more expression, with, say, narrowed eyes or a gesture of the hand... they barely move at all, actually. Pretty in-character for Panopticon. What could this thing possibly need? From here? This place? Unless there wasn't anywhere else to go, this was... an inconvenient spot, at the very least.

@cursedcryptography

[cursedcryptography]

the routers waving falters and stops and it breaks eye contact and looks off to the side awkwardly. it appears to be incapable of speaking, or even moving from where they are attached to the wall. for a few minutes the router's eyes seem to lose focus, as if it concentrating on something internal, but eventually they refocus on the Panopticon.

it maintains eye contact as it slowly and deliberately curls all the antennae on its left side inward, with the ones on the right side of the router remain jutting straight out. the left antennae straighten back out, and then the right ones curl and uncurl. then the right again, then left. a pause, and then it continues

left, pause. left, right, pause. right, left, right, left, pause. left, pause. left, left, right, right, left, left then it clenches both left and right

it stares at the Panopticon, hoping that they understood that.

[ever-watching-eye]

...

They seem suspicious, at the very least. They don't remember when or where they learned Morse. Ah, what can you do...

...PERHAPS. YOU STILL ARE TRESPASSING.

Wondered for just a moment if it could hear things before responding. They're not sure how exactly this thing would leave. It's not like it could be pried off of the wall. Extremely inconvenient. One of the worst things to happen to them, actually (not THE worst, mind you...).

[cursedcryptography]

it seems pleased to see that the Panopticon understood the message. it seems to lose focus for another few moments before returning with a new, much longer, message.

L, L, L, Pause, R, R, R, Pause, L, R, L, Pause, L, R, L, Pause, R, L, R, R, both.

there is a longer pause, but it continues shortly.

L, R, R, Pause R, R, R, Pause, R, L, Pause, R, Both. Long Pause. R, L, L, L, Pause, L, Both. Long Pause. L, R, L, L, Pause, R, R, R, Pause, R, L, Pause, R, R, L, Both.

after that segment the antennae curl inward with some difficulty and rap the against the router's casing, making a clack-clack noise. then it goes back to its communication.

L, L, Pause, R, R, Both. Long Pause L, Pause, R, L, L, R, Pause, L, R, R, L, Pause, L, Pause, L, R, L, Pause, L, L, Pause, R, R, Pause, L, Pause, R, L, Pause, R, Pause, L, L, Pause, R, L, Pause, R, R, L, Both.

it seems to be done communicating, and is now waiting for the Panopticon's response.

[ever-watching-eye]

It's a photographic memory. Able to note down every movement, every motion, and take it to heart. Just with a simple red blinking light.

I... I SEE...

DON'T KEEP ME WAITING, THEN.

If they must... actually, it seemed it was doing this on their own volition. Is being slightly passive-aggressive not enough, though? Their wiring doesn't comfortably reach over and up to the router, even if they tried their best.

[ever-watching-eye]

on the other side of the room, across from Panopticon and above the control console, the master router for the Appartment's public WiFi is attatched to the wall.

it is a weirdly bulky piece of tech, significantly larger than most household models, with extra sockets and buttons and antennae all over it.

normally it just sits there silently, small LEDs occasionally flashing, and its antennae splayed at odd angles as it works to provide the residents access to the internet even as the world devolves into chaos.

but now there are strange, almost meaty popping noises coming from it.

in under a minute the router mutates and shifts unnaturally, with fleshy veins spread across the black plastic, eyeballs cropping up to replace a number of the buttons and plugs, and even the antennae seem to shudder and bend slightly like long stiff fingers.

the eyes across the mutated router look around, each wandering in different directions as they scan across the darkened room.

after a moment an eye glances upon the Panopticon past the screen between them, slides past, then a half second later every eye on the mutated router snaps to attention, staring at them.

there is a long silent staredown between the two, until the mutated router's antennae begin to lightly shake back and forth, as if tentatively waving hello.

Oh. Hmm. That's... new. They must take this calmly. There was a vague sense of the Wi-Fi itself being tampered with, just slightly. Fortunately, their cameras don't need an Internet access to operate.

...DO YOU MIND.

Their digital eyes don't move, simply staring, unblinking. Except one eye that kept on the camera screens. If only they could give some more expression, with, say, narrowed eyes or a gesture of the hand... they barely move at all, actually. Pretty in-character for Panopticon. What could this thing possibly need? From here? This place? Unless there wasn't anywhere else to go, this was... an inconvenient spot, at the very least.

@cursedcryptography

[cursedcryptography]

the routers waving falters and stops and it breaks eye contact and looks off to the side awkwardly. it appears to be incapable of speaking, or even moving from where they are attached to the wall. for a few minutes the router's eyes seem to lose focus, as if it concentrating on something internal, but eventually they refocus on the Panopticon.

it maintains eye contact as it slowly and deliberately curls all the antennae on its left side inward, with the ones on the right side of the router remain jutting straight out. the left antennae straighten back out, and then the right ones curl and uncurl. then the right again, then left. a pause, and then it continues

left, pause. left, right, pause. right, left, right, left, pause. left, pause. left, left, right, right, left, left then it clenches both left and right

it stares at the Panopticon, hoping that they understood that.

[ever-watching-eye]

...

They seem suspicious, at the very least. They don't remember when or where they learned Morse. Ah, what can you do...

...PERHAPS. YOU STILL ARE TRESPASSING.

Wondered for just a moment if it could hear things before responding. They're not sure how exactly this thing would leave. It's not like it could be pried off of the wall. Extremely inconvenient. One of the worst things to happen to them, actually (not THE worst, mind you...).