The campus is quiet, even for a Saturday. Out in beautiful sunny weather, Merlin feels most happy about being unable to spot another soul in the gardens– means none of them can spot hir. Not that they'd look any different from usual, nose in a book, head in the clouds, pensive, blank-faced. But it's the thought that counts.

They force their pencil into motion. "Dear Alder," it reads out loud, then immediately adds a "Draft #1" in the margins next to what it just wrote. "Is your name pronounced Alder-" with a long a- "or Alder?" with a short a. "I've made this mistake in the past and don't want to repeat it."

Draft #2: "How is your first name pronounced? I know we only know each other over the Internet, but I ^still don't want to be getting it wrong." Ey lean back against the bench when it seems eir inspiration has (abruptly) run out, before taking hold of the pencil again just as fast and adding a Draft #3: "Alder, it's occurred to me I could be confused on how to pronounce your name. Would you mind spelling it out for me?" They pause with satisfaction now. As if they're actually going to use that one.

Its notebook hosts yet more thoughts pertaining to internet friendship as it wanders the great outdoors. "Dear Nick, I saw someone sleeping in the park today and thought of you. Obnoxious thing to say, yeah? I bet we both wish I had a picture of a rubber duck to share, don't we?" As if, as if. "What do you say to someone you've never met whom you don't have an interest in common with? Well, as far as you know, anyway. 'How's the weather? Any fog? Any Fog? It's not like I know where you live.' Really, maybe I should just wait to be reached out to first." That gives them pause. And a little aching feeling deep in xyr chest. "Nevermind. I think I'm far too lonely for it. Still, I can't help imagining a shortcut– something that impossibly comes to us, one by one? At the same time? Uncoordinated by any means? And it brings us together. You know, a I can dream."

Merlin strolls home turning over odd thoughts about who's out there to be proud of it for getting so much sunshine and fresh air. "It was nice out there. I suppose if I had a camera I could tape some photos in here." It's a deeply entertaining thought for a little while. Then they log online.

The forum is slow enough. They catch themself before they forget to send Alder's e-mail, accompanied by the thought that hir words look so much smaller on the screen as compared to the notebooks. This & the next day are spent listening to a lot of mashups.

The day after, ey decide to try the forum before anywhere else, not eir inbox nor the Wikipedia page for "Plunderphonics." It's just a post on the off-topic page, sure, but it could be something.

Fufuthewolf started a thread: Hey all! Knew some people here were into general cryptid/paranormal stuff so I thought I'd bring it up. Anyone else think the recent power plant meltdown that happened in southern Washington might be like... supernatural? I saw some stories about really abnormal, unnatural stuff going on in the area (edit: links down below, sorry!). Mods, feel free to delete if this is too off-topic.

The first thing to run through Merlin's head is, how is this the first I'm hearing about this?

MarkieWasHere: Now I'm no nuclear physicist, but after an entire plant experiences meltdown, wouldn't you expect some weird side effects to show up? ^spr1nk: like mutations. anybody here play fallout? ^^Pag_Person: *raises hand* ooh, me! i do! *squees at finding another fallout fan* ^^MarkieWasHere: Mutation, that's the word I was looking for! Though I'll admit The Simpsons was what I had mainly in mind, lol yeahwhatcouldthatbe: I'm not the tyof person who believes anything have supernatural explanations, but Id be interested in hearing more of what you mea Spawkins: mod here! trust me, you don't have to remind us about doing our job. TrulyTule79: Does anyone else feel it's kind of... too soon to be discussing such an event like this? A lot of people died, I can't say it sits right with me. Even though I know most of us know how to be respectful towards others lives. Just my 2 cents. merlinenilrem: i don't know, there doesn't seem to be any decent way to tell what's going on yet. this is so recent that there aren't a very good amount of stories in general. to me it looks like we're just going to have to wait if we want to know anything for sure.