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"A Jail! Hmm... yes, I think I could recognize differences - I was investigating EMMA's code during the outbreak of Jails, so I might be able to recognize if there's any differences as well," Ichinose pondered, pulling up more notes, including remembered segments of code from her EMMA and some of what she'd transcribed from the notes and communications from her phone.

For a moment, she started to adjust and piece things together more coherently, going from a framework to something more directly functional for the sake of a test. She didn't realize that as she worked through her coding, she started humming that tune again, tuning out everything as she focused on her work.

"I can set up a small testing ground then- it won't take that long, but just so that you have an idea of what you are up against, I think it will be good practice. I don't want to spend any time longer than necessary here." Akane's voice remained just as even as Ichinose's, except for the slight bitterness in the end. Her focus doesn't flinch away from the screens - it's more like a part of her.

Wolf (the younger one's) alpha EMMA version would help for the testing. It's mostly devoid of all cognitively driven elements that make it dangerous in the first place, so if she can control EMMA's influence with her already current understanding of the general cognitive sentence, she would be able to create a strong case for a testing ground! Maybe she will tell Hamuko about it later...that is, unless she gets too protective and tells Wolf somehow. She doesn't think her father would approve of such handling of a highly dangerous app but she's a goddamn CCAI. Decades-old apps like EMMA's alpha version won't do her any harm!

"It's that song again," Akane mutters, looking away from the screens to note her humming. "You have listened to that song three thousand five hundred times. Your music choices reflect a lot of soft and lyric-driven songs..."

"Heheh. Yep, it's stuck in my head - the way the singer's voice goes through the notes just sticks in my brain, and it's really fun to try and sing along - if I didn't get stage fright, I'd probably have been a karaoke fiend."

Stage fright was probably an exaggeration of what she felt, since she could give public speeches and presentations well enough. It was more that... she didn't like how any of her favorite songs to sing along with seemed to give people the wrong idea of what she actually was like.

So she kept typing away, speaking casually and half distracted as she got things set up for Akane's testing.

"I used to drive people craaaazy with how often I would sing or hum whatever got stuck in a loop in my head. My labmates ended up all putting on headphones and actually focusing on their assignments, hehehe. Fine by me, we were WAY more productive that way," she chattered away as she plugged away. "I DO like a lot of songs, especially some city pop, but this one is definitely my most persistent earworm."

Stage fright? Akane somehow doubts someone like Kuon Ichinose had stage fright, given how open she always was with a crowd and tried to rant about as many topics as she could in matter of a few seconds.

"I have read that humming comes as a natural instinct," Akane answers rather mechanically as she constructed the interface for the app that governed EMMA like it did back in junior wolf's world- overseeing its code while adding her own twist to it. "It's because silence is percieved as a sign of danger. Or as a way to destress but with the way you're describing it...that seemed to pose the opposite effect."

The cognitions shifted amongst each other, attempting to ignore the open staring posed by a heavily cloaked man hanging off from one of the golden ribbon-like tapestries that seemed to overcome the upper expansive part of the palace's reception. His eyes, hidden behind the solid visor- scanned the area ahead like a hawk looking for fresh prey.

"Some place you have set up, Doc," Wolf mutters almost disapprovingly while trying not to be caught off guard by the sheer brightness of the place. The plants or the happy cognitions...this is the first cognitive area he's seen not derived in malice or ill-intent. Atleast on first glance.
With one hand grasping the pamphlet provided by this place, he kept one hand resting on the hilt of his gun.

There's a shadow...clerk. Two of them actually, standing in front of a large gate.

Well this got a whole lot more interesting...

Wolf pulls out a revolver, reloading it with a familiar twist of the wrist. Time for a thorough stakeout so that he knows what he's dealing with.

The shadow, the one on the right with a swirly mask seems to perk up as it notices his presence.

The shadow weapon smirks, canine poking out before he moves-!

Akane hums. "I didn't think you would be an avid listener of songs. Is there anyway you know in which I could induce an earworm? Enjoying songs can be quite difficult for me as a non-human. Or I can't distinguish my urges as a human to figure out the mystery anyway."

Ichinose was none the wiser to a potential intruder... she was comfortable here, feeling safe enough with Maruki's protection. She could work here, remotely, with the AI - and be safe from the big bad Wolf.

There's a pause that extends long enough that it almost seems as though Ichinose wasn't going to answer Akane's question - but after that stretched quiet, she sat back and hummed, eyes still reviewing the bulk of code to skim for errors as she then spoke.

"Your original script writer may not have given you a function like that - it's one of those frivolous little 'living' details that most programmers gripe at me for including. But you could probably code it into yourself easily enough - it's just about adding a reward center to your coding and tuning that appropriately, giving it a natural cap so it doesn't overflow into an endless acceleration of reward, and programming some presets that are broad enough. Reward seeking behavior is part of what spurs on action and motivates living things, so it's really not too terribly difficult to replicate that with coding, just bulky enough that most other programmers don't see a point in it. But if you ask me, motivation and enjoyment are huge factors in making something truly intelligent... and letting the AI develop into something more uniquely them. Another little way to make them their own person."

Satisfied with how her code looked for the moment, she smiled at the screen, voice a little amused.

"But I also don't work with human souls interfacing with coding - I can't tell you how that might be affecting things or how to investigate what was recorded from that soul to actually see if there's 'likes' or 'dislikes' sitting in it still."

For a moment, Akane is quiet, processing everything Ichinose has said so far. She hadn't expected much of a response. Hell she didn't know what possessed her to throw such queries at the woman who was actively known not to respect autonomy or even just the general wellbeing of their world- falling apart in her hands.

"A reward system...no, you are actually making sense?! I already like playing games and exhibiting the need to stream my experience to other cognitions- it could very well be a reward system that I have integrated automatically. Activating neural pathways which loop in my head- maybe there is a song out there which I will be able to recognize."

"And as a reward system- I can learn about my identity."

"Wait...is this where I am told that I owe you now?"

"If you and your bigger wolf can stop bullying me so much, that's all I'd ask," Ichinose chuckled a little. "But I guess that's a 'no', no matter how helpful I am."

Mmm, a message on her other phone from Maruki... the aforementioned big bad wolf is being let in. Well, with that in mind, Ichinose leaned over to open a drawer in her desk, pulling out a bag of kitsukatsu. Of the couple of random flavors, this one was from the promotion week for the cherry blossoms - cherry blossom sake.

She didn't mind treats one way or another, but she'd had an idea. And to set it up, it had to seem innocuous - so she opened a package for herself and started nibbling on the white chocolate wafers. Floral, almost, with slight hints of sake flavor... fancy!

"Mm. Now - give my code a look and let me know where I need to redo anything or what likely won't work from being outdated."

Akane stiffened up from her request, her momentary lapse of surprise completely concealed to reveal a critical look. "You are not that innocent, Ichinose. You are an active threat." The AI didn't even try to soften her words since attempting to do that will only be an insult to them as well as this broken doll...no way does she believe that she's only helping them.

Her position didn't get any less defensive when she saw Ichinose move, check her phone. Her expression remained even- not giving away how she was actively pinging her location to Wolf.

Not safe. Not around her.

"I will isolate the file in a sandbox then. Run it against one of EMMA's patched versions first to see how it responds," she shrugs as she pinches her fingers and draws them out like she were drawing curtains- opening a portal with an adjacent port that reflected the app she had extracted from the previous harmless iterations of EMMA before they were powered up by cognition- funny enough!

She made note of the strange switching to snacks. Is she seriously hungry like that around work or if she felt this uncomfortable, was she using snacks as a form of cover?

Why so? What about Akane makes her nervous?

Takuto:I think he's attempting to map out the area. A shame...I wouldn't have minded him showing the area if he didn't just outright decided to attack my clerk :( And kill them! Who does that :( Anyways, I have directed the palace structure to conceal your room. I will open up the place again when the storm passes. Heads up to the IT room by the way! Just brute forced through one of my weaker guards. Me being there would make it too confrontational I fear.

"Want to see your program brutally murder prototype EMMA?"

Brute forcing his way past Shadows instead of going along with Takuto... between that and Akane's flat distrust, Ichinose hummed in thought to distract herself from the clawing tension threatening to rise in her chest.

Her eyes darted up at the last question.

"Want to see your program brutally murder prototype EMMA?"

Why did the AI phrase it like that? To get a rise out of her? Was it a trap? Or was it lingering resentment for their own apocalyptic situation? Akane's emotions were rich and complex - focus on that and the crisp of wafer, Kuon.

"Sure. Let's see how it runs so far so I can get together a to-do list," she said plainly through a mouthful of white chocolate.

Akane's expression remained plain as well, an AI driven by a human heart, tilting her head at Ichinose, mirroring her expression while giving her the go to pan the window up and above into a vast space adjacent to the digital space she resided in.

The sandbox expanded - almost like a room separated by a wall lined with 1s and 0s; a singular orange ball hovered at the centre with lines of neon dancing around it, like empty electron shells. Akane directs the camera through what Ichinose sees so that she can get a clearer view. "This is the alpha version- something our own systems are technically built on. We have already developed software against this and the other ten subsequent versions of her, but beyond that...it's where it gets tricky. After that, you are dealing with a being integrated into the cognitive world."

The walls pulsate, and the files that Ichinose had attached get injected into the same room.

Immediately, it latches onto EMMA, revolving on one of its main electron shells before violently evolving into something like an amoeba, warping and wrapping its body around it. Code pings and runs on a window before Akane.

EMMA disintegrates in a matter of a few seconds, leaving behind a trail of digital crystals.

The AI shifts her focus, allowing Ichinose's program to remain on standby as she hums, unimpressed. "Not a start, but at least you weren't lying before."

Edited 2025-06-14 13:16 (UTC)

The visualization of code working... interesting. She'd written the code to work and adapt to shut down elements of EMMA piece by piece, but the way it visualized made it look smothering.

Dramatic. But EMMA is able to quickly change her code and adapt to things in seconds for security measures - the integration of cognitive psience would only amplify the avenues for EMMA to wiggle out of the trap and reform.

"Hmm. I need to script and apply cognitive psience to the dismantling code, as well."

Did she feel strange seeing her creation obliterated like that...? For some reason, nothing stirred in her - possibly because this wasn't an up-to-date EMMA, possibly because it just isn't her EMMA.

"I'm sure that'll go over well," she sarcastically commented, even if her tone was a bit dry for it, tapping at the keyboard without pressing any keys, adding the faint plastic tapping sound to the mechanisms of her brainstorming. "But your world's EMMA will inevitably escape through the cognitive space without it, so it's a necessity."

Akane is tapping away at her panel to deploy the next few EMMA versions while making note of Ichinose's observations. Applying cognitive pscience...similar to how Ukataba used himself as material for experimentation. Well, if they needed a host- "I have tons of testing data if you need a reference. A little sample shouldn't be too exploitable...given I know how to contain a jail once its owner is eliminated," She explains casually.

While she watches Ichinose's program, gulping and swallowing down the other versions of EMMA, Ichinose dryly comments with a sarcastic line. She hums apprehensively, tilting her head at her in question. "...can't escape when the cognitive space is built off of her as the source."

"Her influence is unprecedented. If you could simply dismantle the thing, we would have dropped five nukes on it and called it a day."

The sandbox emits noises and disturbances that echo within her digital space and into Kuon's ears.

So far, so good. All non-cognitive versions of EMMA that are unsupported by cognitive knowledge and don't have jails to power them are disintegrating under Ichinose's code.

Is that enough to be trustworthy?

The doors of the IT room open with a faint hiss, a heavy sigh following its onslaught with a card flicking on gloved fingers. Wolf stared down at the ID, walking past the threshold to step into a room filled with computers and display screens taking over the entirety of the four walls as he adjusts the greatsword on his shoulder in his other hand.

It's quiet. Security's lower than usual and there are CCTVs everywhere. There's no way the palace owner isn't watching him right now and he hasn't confronted him yet- not physically even after he shot down one of the cognitive clerks when the shadow told him to shed his weapons if he wants to meet him.

It's alright- it's not like he is actually in a rush.

His eyes dart over the myriad of devices, CPUs and data centres placed on other various corners of the room. He spots a small pillar display with a ball of glass hovering above it- holding a brain with wires and electrodes lining soft muscle.

Rolling his eyes behind his visor, the sword evaporates into ether and he steps into view, lips pulled in a straight line as he regards Ichinose. There's still hints of shadow gunk clinging to his clothing while he pauses, one hand resting on his pistol but not in an attempt to raise it, but to reassure.

"Took me a damn good while to find you again, Ichinose," he comments rather casually. "Can't seem to find his shadow though...wonder what the hell that means."

"Her influence is unprecedented. If you could simply dismantle the thing, we would have dropped five nukes on it and called it a day."

That spoke a lot of EMMA in their world. The idea of Japan, of all places, desperate enough to resort to the nuclear option... and while that made Ichinose's stomach twist a bit in dread...

...There was a little spark of pride she felt. No wonder the other Ichinose stood by her creation.

She's pulled from her thoughts by the door opening, and the clench of dread in her chest tightened, even if she didn't emote any of it. Sword gone, but gun still on the hip, fresh from murdering the shadows guarding this place... not reassuring, but Takuto won't let anything happen to her. Either of them might notice a subtly shaky exhale, like she'd been holding her breath, but she stays calm and stable enough to pluck a kitsukatsu from the bag and extend it to Hasegawa as she had planned.

"I have two theories on that front," she explained, responding to his question instead of commenting on the offered sweet, "There are dungeons, Palaces and other structures in this place that are memories and don't currently have their originating Shadow in place. This could be the memory of a Palace belonging to Maruki, and it's simply responding to the presence of one, and any Maruki might be able to arrive and have this place respond to him as well if the distortions match. My other thought is simply that a Shadow would not exist if someone has a Persona, which Maruki does. It could be a combination of both possibilities, as well."

Zenkichi stared down at the bag extended to him. His expression remained even still, not letting himself give away his annoyance because the last thing he needs right now is to see this woman get triggered and do something more stupid with any of the other broken people in this world. He's learning restraint...it's the only way to make sure he keeps her on her toes.

He makes note of Ichinose's theory. In truth, Zenkichi hadn't seen any palaces in question. From what he's read about one's heart being changed through the means of a calling card (whatever the hell that means) who'sto say palaces didn't linger. The TV dungeons, however, lingered like jails.

"You really call that thing a persona...? Then again, maybe I am not the right person to judge that," he muttered before rolling his eyes at the fact that Ichinose still had the snacks out. The multiverse sure had its way of boggling his mind, given there were way too many possibilities to keep up with the changes.

"This cognitive mumbo jumbo always gives me a headache, I swear." He inquisitively glances at the snacks in suspicion before looking back up at Ichinose.

Edited 2025-06-16 07:28 (UTC)

So weird.

"Are you seriously trying to bribe me right now?"

Edited 2025-06-15 21:53 (UTC)

"It's just candy," Ichinose chuckled, shaking the bag a little. Everything inside was still sealed...

"It's a limited flavor from the cherry blossom week! Cherry blossom and sake. It's tasty."

Sealed huh...that does feel less suspicious but with a guy around who can simply create things on the go without much of a sweat, it was only momentary.

He sighs and relents since she can't seem to take the hint that he's not interested. Even if the flavours she mentioned did sound tasty. Wordlessly, he holds his hand up and snatches the whole bag- staring at its inside with the LED mounted on his forehead blinking, as if it were scanning the bag of snacks Ichinose was having.

No bomb. No funny stuff.

He takes one and hands the rest of the pack over. "Soo hospitable," he rolls his eyes and pockets the candy in his back pocket. "When did Maruki tell you I was coming here?"

"He let me know when you came through the front doors, of course," she replied, not bothered that he yanked the whole bag from her. First steps in building a positive association.

"If he hadn't I would've run for the hills."

"Damn...then again, the place is crawling with CCTV cameras so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," he shrugs neutrally at the explanation while looking at the other top corner of the room. There's a CCTV right there...he could shoot it but man she would get so dramatic about it, wouldn't she? Miss heartless doll here would actually have a genuine reaction for once, go figure.

That said- good call for not lying.

Why is she so stingy and terrified of him anyway? She has Maruki's protection. He's in her territory; if anything, he should be the one terrified.

"Uhh...I wasn't planning to attack you," he tries and removes his hat, tossing it over on the table next to Ichinose's computer. He scratches the back of his head and looks around. "Akane, what are the updates?"

The AI sighs as she can already make out the tracker attached to the hat. It was microscopic, even the size of a small nail's depth. He's probably going to place it when he goes to retrieve his hat.

"Her program just eviscerated the beta version, so she's ready for the real deal. Even the Maruki in our world managed to make it this far, right? With the others."

"Not like he's that proficient with computers," he sighs as turns to glance back at Kuon.

"Is he, actually?"

"I can't read your mind, I don't know that," Ichinose rebuffed, but left her objection there at least. She rolled her chair to the side a bit so he could look into the screen, even though he was likely wirelessly connected and watching anyway.

"I asked him to conjure a computer based on what he knows - the cognitive PC he gave me was almost completely jam packed with circuit boards, wires and strange black boxes that it hardly had room for a fan. It was funny - is that really the layman's assumption of how a PC tower is built? I suppose it doesn't matter quite so much since it's cognition, so it works as expected like any other computer in here besides what I've picked up."

Zenkichi was getting clear updates about what was happening on the screen, given Akane’s surveillance.

Really he doesn't find any reason to come here in person. He could do this digitally and yet, his old heart can't bear it without being there.

Also it was too early to call back on it. If Ichinose pulled some shit with Akane, her safety was his top priority.

"...yeah, sounds like him, alright," he muttered- hesitantly staring off into the distance. "...do you have the past monarchs and their testing data, Akane?"

"Yepp..!" she chirps behind the screen. "We should be able to simulate EMMA through my parent code, then use the usual name and keyword."

"You've monitored a dead monarch's situation before, right? Like Okinawa?" He glances back at her, daring her to lie to his face. He's seen the records between Futaba and her, monitoring their encrypted emails.

Edited (gonna write him actually nomming on the snack later WHEEZE) 2025-06-17 10:53 (UTC)

Tapping the bugged phone, her original phone, Ichinose nodded. "I still have access to that data from the Thieves, even, and that can be used to compare."

She hadn't been able to actively track the situation in progress the way she did the other Monarchs, thanks to the security and secrecy of the lab in Okinawa, but she now had the backlog of information available to her anyway.

"Is there something in particular that a dead Monarch's Jail has that you find interesting?"

"They make for the perfect testing grounds," The AI behind the screen speaks up- heard by both the shadow weapon and Ichinose. "When a monarch dies, a jail lingers due to the influence of EMMA. Things were probably different back when the cognitive world and the real world were on two seperate planes of existence but due to- well Miss Gaslight.exe back home we now have a whole dead jail covering a town. In that case, the Kirijo Group dismantles the place, collects and records all data while...shadow weapons go around and clear any and all lingering shadows left."

"That way its easier for us to contain EMMA's power in an already dead environment."

"Hm...I am not sure about a few things but-" Zenkichi cuts himself off with a quick heave. "-doesn't hurt to try."

With that, Wolf steps back and away- now tapping his gloved fingers against the PC towers, overlaying wires, brains swimming in electrodes on full display, a large panel with buttons and a disarray of programs and machines.

Miss Gaslight.exe? Ichinose laughs a little, at that, surprised at it. Was it funny? Was she supposed to be offended? Honestly, she had no idea what her reaction was 'supposed' to be, but it caught her off guard.

Gaslighting... that really is a word that's been slowly getting thrown around a lot, lately. She'll have to ask Takuto later what it actually means.

"Right, and a theoretically detached environment, too. I see the merits, now - less influence from the psychology of the Monarch so more focus can be put on EMMA's functionality."

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