Hacking the Gibson, a new mercverse fic from yours truly.

Okay, so maybe I went a little overboard with the references. So, here are annotations that'll hopefully clarify things.


IRL = references based on real life situations
OS = in-verse annotations

Hacking the Gibson - IRL. Either pooh-poohing someone's computer-basted activities, thought to be incredibly hard, or in actuality accomplishing some difficult computer-based activity. For this fic, it's a bit of both.

The Kiddie Pool - OS. A message board based in first and second tier SNET. Despite this location, the board is operated and populated by users capable of third-tier access. They treat the board as traditional mages treat a coven, complete with hierarchies, apprenticeships, and a community Book of Shadow.

The name itself ironically notes the lack of script kiddies and mundane hackers and crackers in their population and its location between the first and second tiers. (A "shallow" Synaptic Net Dive)

8B17Pr1nc355's sig line - IRL. Lyrics from "Oreta Tsubasa De" translated into English.

GrayHat - OS. This OC isn't exactly a redshirt, and I used this handle to show his position in the scheme of things and because Gray Hats are also referred to as "samurai".

RTF85 - OS. Read the Fucking 85.

85 - OS. The Kiddie Pool's community Book of Shadow. "Book of Shadow" can be rendered as 800k 0f 5h4d0w in l33t. B.O.S. becomes 805, pronounced "eighty-five". "85" came about soon after.

85, along with being the board's Book of Shadow, is also the listing of forum rules and courtesies.

"Gay and Junonese" - OS. In Chofi-verses, Junon is a hazy analog of the UK. The phrase is the Gaia version of the line "Is he gay, or is he just English?"

#poolcabana - OS. The Kiddie Pool's chat channel.

"No, not really" - IRL. ORLY? YA RLY.

Nana; "IN UR CHANNEL BOOTIN UR BOT BOOTERS" - IRL. Reference to Basshunter's "Boten Anna". Nana's just a simple scramble of "Anna", and since Anna bans spambots from channels, Nana works around them.

Also a reference to the "I'm in your [noun] [verb]ing your [other noun]" meme.

SNN - OS. the Shinra News Network

the Times - OS. the Midgar Times, Shinra Corporation owned and operated

Icewalls - OS. Firewalls restrict first tier and some second tier access to servers. In order to restrict second and third tier access, icewalls have been developed.

choco_se - IRL. Goat.se. Find it for yourself.

Prince Rufus and the bottle - IRL. Reference to a photo circulating the 'net dealing with cosplayer Usagi Kou in a compromising position with a Sprite bottle.

Dancing puddings - IRL. A reference to NHK ni Yokoso. The main character hallucinates puddings singing to him near the start of the series.