CHIRAL: SIDE Y

I simply cannot top that name.

Scatterbrainzack
> sorry to step on your toes, YUPPERS
> I experience the passage of events differently than you do
> I didn't have any knowledge of your medical experience, nor did any other zack

Oi you quiet daft cunt want a slight tussle with me?!
Come on then let's go right now!
Also Dad Zack may I call you daddy? You haven't made anyone the antagonist and you may continue normally with your spam since it will help cure Hunk's alcoholism

Shellgowrath
> We experience the world in a delayed manner and the perfect reason for our behavior is that we are within our infancy
> Our collective existence has lasted for less than a year and these are our stages of infancy wich will be blessed and warped during the appropriate moment
> We can't hear our own voices and existance appears to be excruciating. I despise

I simply cannot top that name.

Scatterbrainzack
> sorry to step on your toes, YUPPERS
> I experience the passage of events differently than you do
> I didn't have any knowledge of your medical experience, nor did any other zack

INPUT AGGREGATOR: hey shalgo
INPUT AGGREGATOR: it aint that actually paternity is a thing im not capable of really internalizin i guess
INPUT AGGREGATOR: its just that it kinda htis one of my anti-reproductive rules and makes me feel that pain that i get to make me do the right things yknow
INPUT AGGREGATOR: like 'gaes' from that one book remember

OrderlogShow

Shellgowrath: Tipsy I really believe that entering that hole and helping Gene from curling figure is the most pressing concern in this moment
Crast Pactian: that hole did not look entirely friendly!
tiptopGipgop: It’s an enigma of a thing. I can’t even make out if it’s some kind of cosmic magic eye poster, or if the stuff in the ‘distance’ actually is stuff.
tiptopGipgop: The Heroes reaaally were a bunch of asses when they designed this, huh.
tiptopGipgop: Also, definitely no, I am not entering that hole, whether it’s to defend my friend from a curling figure of death or not.
Shellgowrath: What a shameful display
Shellgowrath: Numbers the current situation is that Gene had a fever dream and unintentionally primed a grenade and is now suffering from deafness and shrapnel injuries from said grenade
1234567890: c4n7 h34r 90u
Crast Pactian: could we hold on a moment for numbers?
Shellgowrath: The reason why we act in such manners is because our collective existences have lasted for less than a year and we are currently in our stages of infancy
1234567890: 57111 c4n7 h34r 90u
tiptopGipgop: That’s interesting.
tiptopGipgop: One of the first Zacks asked us all a trivia question from a time on Earth. I can’t recall anything in this simulation ever relating to that question, so I can’t imagine how exactly you all experience… life.
Shellgowrath: I can't hear my own voice and I would like to know how I may upload a form of picture of myself
1234567890: n0p3 57111 n07h1n6 p13453 570p
Hunk Chudfest: itt sss alttitlebtid eassy toyoug tottad aske levyds for a recorrdfing progtram
Levyyts: Happy to oblige
Levyyts: In exchange for some favors
Levyyts: Will create list
Shellgowrath: Is it possible for me to play music to alleviate the pain and confusion we currently feel?
1234567890: 57111 n0 h34r1n6 dud3
EXA: zzz
EXA: tune
EXA: out
YUPPERS: some TUNES would not go UNAPPRECIATED in these UNCERTAIN TIMES.
YUPPERS: i am currently witnessing TG and her BANG-UP TRIAGE.
tiptopGipgop: Cripes is breathing okay, and talking a little. I think she’s shell-shocked.
Shellgowrath: I shall properly behave when my period of infacy has stopped during the appropriate time period
1234567890: 4u6h
godzack: well yknow
godzack: im not the boss of you
godzack: all of you are just throwin out inputs from wherever
godzack: could be young could be old ;)
Shellgowrath: Existance seems to be excruciating. I despise
1234567890: 90ure 3xcruc1471n6 :9
Crast Pactian: numbers, please!! show a little tact!
Scatterbrainzack: sorry to step on your toes, YUPPERS
Scatterbrainzack: I experience the passage of events differently than you do
YUPPERS: that is GREAT
YUPPERS: and GRAND
YUPPERS: TIME SHENANIGANS ARE THE GREATEST OF SHENANIGANS.
Scatterbrainzack: I didn't have any knowledge of your medical experience, nor did any other zack
Levyyts: Mostly circumstantial anyhow
Levyyts: And admittedly
Levyyts: Not to be counted out
Levyyts: But largely a way to compete with 1234567890.
1234567890: 74r5 15 0k49
godzack: hold on all those uh
godzack: ye gimme a sec lmao
godzack: my buddy boy shellgoy erased his inputs n reposted em so im gonna just spit em out again for you
Shellgowrath: We experience the world in a delayed manner and the perfect reason for our behavior is that we are within our infancy
Shellgowrath: Our collective existence has lasted for less than a year and these are our stages of infancy wich will be blessed and warped during the appropriate moment
Shellgowrath: We can't hear our own voices and existence appears to be excruciating. I despise
tiptopGipgop: So you control what messages get through?
godzack: ok i mean im the conduit but
godzack: a wire doesnt make conscious choice if it lets electricity through yknow
godzack: peeps input and i aggregate
godzack: i got no power or control i just do whats gotta be done
YUPPERS: what makes your WORLD so DELAYED, exactly
YUPPERS: is it some SECRET MECHANISM? an UNHEARD-OF GAME DIARY?
Crast Pactian: it does seem as if the zack posts come in… bursts, of a sort.
Levyyts: A backlog of inputs aggregated
Levyyts: Spit out after
godzack: thats the spice ;)

>Yuptam McCrombits
>Derse's Nineteenth Strongest Guy
>And Haircare Tycoon

"H-Hey," you mumble weakly, "Y-Yuptam."

And thus, breaking the temporary chain of REAL NAMES whose FIRST NAME is a functional English word, Yuptam McCrombits, Nineteenth Strongest Dersite gives you the thumbity thibbity thumbs up, as is fucking Customary.



He was the NINETEENTH STRONGEST GUY back home, and while nobody particularly gave him such an award, he was quick to adopt it, along with many of his other habits and talents. Yuptam held a job as a performer in one of the Jester Circuits for several years, even though he was never qualified as a jester in the slightest. He owned a hair-care tycoon for over a decade without having a single strand of hair on his Carapacian skull, selling to more Carapacians without hair. He got a job working at the newspaper, and would encode images of himself in the justified text-- all without ever visiting the office.

Yuptam was a MAGIC MAN, by all means, and yet he never put his talents to even a vaguely useful purpose. Never once did his jokes or mannerisms elicit a laugh, yet he was always befuddlingly capable of the most odd and unassuming actions, as well as- universally- the NINETEENTH STRONGEST.



Your vision clears slightly as Tipsy kneels beside you, placing her hand on your shoulder, feeling your body for wounds, and checking your pulse through your thick carapace. Words still escape your damaged ears, but you can make out that, at the least, she's not telling you to move around.

So you sit still, breathing slowly, and wait for the words to start making sense.

"...Gene...? We have... better... and Oats... grenade?... shell..."

Seems the aural damage isn't permanent, or at the very least not always going to be as bad as being deaf.

CoolZack
>Hmm.
>Once the current situation is cleared up, there's something I'd like to try.

>Shellgowrath trying to barge inside the game, thankfully without luck, gave me an idea.

>If anyone's interested, I'll need someone to get a few things.

>Namely a piece of chalk, some wax, and a bit of string.

CoolZack
>Hmm.
>Once the current situation is cleared up, there's something I'd like to try.

>Shellgowrath trying to barge inside the game, thankfully without luck, gave me an idea.

>If anyone's interested, I'll need someone to get a few things.

>Namely a piece of chalk, some wax, and a bit of string.

After a few minute's wait, with Tipsy and Yuptam waiting patiently, your hearing comes back to the point where you can hear them-- and the chatlog, which you guess is supposed to be the Orderlog, but since you're Gene, it doesn't really matter.

You can finally check in on all the bedlam, and you proceed to.

ChatlogShow

CoolZack: Hmm.
CoolZack: Once the current situation is cleared up, there's something I'd like to try.
tiptopGipgop: That’s going to rely on how stable Tars is.
Crast Pactian: numbers just mentioned that tars is alive!
tiptopGipgop: I can read, Crast.
tiptopGipgop: He’s deaf, and can’t elaborate, so you can see how this causes problems.
1234567890: h35 0k 4nd 1m w0rk1n6 0n m4k1n6 h1m 5749 7h47 w49
CoolZack: Shellgowrath trying to barge inside the game, thankfully without luck, gave me an idea.
EXA: ooo ooo ooo ooo
EXA: are you gonn bee
EXA: another e-e-e-evil forcscse
YUPPERS: this is COOL ZACK you are DEFAMING.
1234567890: 934h d0n7 d155 c001 24ck 11k3 7h47
CoolZack: If anyone's interested, I'll need someone to get a few things.
CoolZack: Namely a piece of chalk, some wax, and a bit of string.
YUPPERS: i have PLENTY within my VAULT
YUPPERS: of that TRASH VARIETY
YUPPERS: if you are INTERESTED.
1234567890: m3 700 8u7 45 90u c4n pr0b4b19 6u355 1 c4n7 jump 84ck w17h 74r5 50 w3r3 57uck h3r3 un711 50m30n3 8u575 0p3n 7h3 w411
cripesalmighty: Hey, uh…
cripesalmighty: Everyone, um.
cripesalmighty: I really almightily screwed up. So I’m sorry. I just wanted to get Tars out of the cell asap and kinda forgot that grenades are dangerous shit.
1234567890: h3 5495 175 0k49
cripesalmighty: Well of course he’d say it’s okay because it’s goddamn Tars we’re talking about!!
cripesalmighty: I’m saying sorry to the fact that I actually did nearly kill him and also me, regardless of if he wants to preemptively forgive me!!
1234567890: h3 5495 7h475 f41r 700
tiptopGipgop: Cripes, augh
tiptopGipgop: Listen, you didn’t…
tiptopGipgop: Screw this, we can just talk in person. These headsets make conversation so confusing sometimes.
cripesalmighty: But it does clue in the Zacks, I guess.
tiptopGipgop: It seems fair to assume they are clued in regardless of where we’re talking.

"Your hearing's back," Tipsy says at last, taking a long breath.

"Yeah," you reply, "obviously, since we just had a headset convo on the down-low."

Yuptam stares at the both of you boredly. "Gene, do you ever truly invigorate yourself in a talking match between friends, or are you constantly tuned out?"

You nod firmly. "All the time! I guess it's just easy at this point to do both at once."

Tipsy grasps your chin and turns your head to face her. "Okay, then pay attention to this conversation, Gene. Please."

"Alright," you say. The shock is starting to pulsate-- not go away, but shimmer in and out, the wave of force from the explosion still making waves throughout your carapace.

"Please don't be sorry for all that. I mean, by all reasonable definitions, you made a mistake. But we're all on pretty short fuses right now, and I need you to not worry about it. Everyone's going to be fine-- even Mulligan."

Mulligan swims amidst your thoughts again. "...god, I just needed him to get out of there. I-It'd been so long since he was a person."

"I know," she mutters, her voice wavering as much as yours, "I know. But Oats has gotta handle that now, and you know that it's just as big for Oats as it is for us. Bigger, probably."

"Wait, what?"

For a moment, she considers placing her head in her palm, and then pulls away, deciding it's easier to just not go down that route. "That's a later topic."

That's fair enough. "Okay, Tipsy, it's a later topic, and maybe the grenade explosion gets priority?"



Yuptam chimes in. "Recent events always get priority, Gene. That's another conversational topic-rule that you woefully grace over most of the time. You are quick to tangentalize and dodge."

"That's not a fair thing to say because basically everybody here does that!"

He scoffs. "Well, the first step to identifying a problem is solving it."

Tipsy shrugs slowly, turning back. "True enough."

Yes. That is a true statement worded correctly.

Yuptam retrieves a small pipe section from his MAGIC POCKETS and lazily tosses it into the PIT. "Either way, Gene, my point is that of convention. Everything will get discussed eventually. Organizing it in a sensible way is more important than silly conversational flow."

"What you're saying," murmurs Tipsy, "is true, in all the completely wrong ways."

"Yeah, what she said," you add.

She looks you in the eyes, clearing her throat softly and taking a long breath. "Gene, you are physically fine, I think. Yup can take a look if he really wants, but besides a hell of a scare, I don't think you even got burned."

You chuckle, and tap at your carapace. "Thick skin, I guess?"

"Well, we've all got thick skin. Explosions still certainly hurt."



You both take a look towards the opening in the floor, which still moves and pulsates confusingly. You say, with no sureness, "What do you think it actually is?"

"If I had to guess, there are two possibilities. It's the draw distance of the game, or there's no draw distance-- and that stuff is where the game gets so far out that the code breaks. Floating numbers and point interfexes, what have you. It's not really my field."

"I bet," you say, "it's a game mechanic. Most of the wacky shit that the heroes found was a game mechanic, right? Like, sure, it's probably just a glitch, a bug, but maybe not everything is chaotic and shitty?"

She chuckles warmly. "I'd like to be able to say that not everything is chaotic and shitty, for sure, Gene."

Yuptam watches the section of pipe go, and grunts.

CoolZack
>That'd be great Yuppers.

>Oh, and I'll need a volunteer.

>To Cut Confusion
>Open A Private Chat With
>Yon Cripesalmighty

Don't Mean To Eavesdrop
But Here Are All Of Us Zacks
Dropping All Of These Eaves

Half Of The Reason
I Speak In Haiku Is That
Tangents Are Harder

Though Admittedly
Quite Often It Leads To Just
Writing More Haiku

Mmm false you can't keep spamming. Baps shellgo with a newspaper

Mmm false you can't keep spamming. Baps shellgo with a newspaper

The third attempt IS always the most charming and I would like to enter this World again by leaking out of a terminal like the master of masters
Dad Zack would you kindly make Tars help me free myself to the other world? Also who is gaes?
By the way you can continue spamming
I Will break into this world with the power of make-believe and I won't be denied

Shellgowrath
> We speak in segments and whatever response you people write to these messages won't be acknowledged because we can't see them until later
> Yuptam do you also have some candles, a lighter, a pen and some paper?
> And if you do would you kindly give them Tars?
> Describe me how my voice sounds like and what favor kind of favor would you like? Could you also sign a piece of paper that's totally not a contract with your blood?
> Worship me for I am perfect in every way, shape and form!

CoolZack
>That'd be great Yuppers.

>Oh, and I'll need a volunteer.

INPUT AGGREGATOR: ok lemme just be frank with yu
INPUT AGGREGATOR: when youre arguing
INPUT AGGREGATOR: when you dont got consensus on a thing
INPUT AGGREGATOR: im programmed to just ignore everythin youre saying till theres no more disagreement
INPUT AGGREGATOR: sorry buddy

OrderlogShow

CoolZack: That'd be great Yuppers.
CoolZack: Oh, and I'll need a volunteer.
cripesalmighty: I can probably do whatever.
YUPPERS: i will be QUICK to retrieve these NECESSARY OBJECTS. in a MOMENT.
Shellgowrath: We speak in segments and whatever response you people write to these messages won't be acknowledged because we can't see them until later
tiptopGipgop: That explains a lot.
tiptopGipgop: So, wait, you can’t reply to this message I’m sending right now unless your previously-prepared message happens to have some correlation ?
godzack: i mean
godzack: if i see the convo turnin in the way where their next line would be useful
godzack: i throw it into the mix
godzack: sames if theres a lull and peeps aint talkin
Crast Pactian: that is very, very interesting!
Crast Pactian: apologies for the delay, Cool Zack, but i would be willing to volunteer.
Shellgowrath: Yuptam do you also have some candles, a lighter, a pen and some paper?
YUPPERS: EASY DAYS.
Shellgowrath: And if you do would you kindly give them to Tars?
1234567890: 1f 90u c4n 637 7h15 w411 d0wn 1 c4n 637 74r5 0u7 0f 7h15 4r34
1234567890: 50 p13453 637 4 w411 d0wn 84ck h3r3
tiptopGipgop: Somebody knock a wall down to let Tars and Numbers get out of that zone, will you? Yuppers?
YUPPERS: AUGH.
tiptopGipgop: Wait, how did you even get back there in the first place, Numbers? The pit’s huge.
1234567890: 4 v3r9 d4n63r0u5 jump
Shellgowrath: Describe me how my voice sounds like and what favor kind of favor would you like? Could you also sign a piece of paper that's totally not a contract with your blood?
Levyyts: Definitely no blood contract
Levyyts: Favor would likely include information
Levyyts: Specifics on nature of your ability
Shellgowrath: Worship me for I am perfect in every way, shape and form!
1234567890: 1m n07 601n6 70 d0 7h47
tiptopGipgop: You really do have a more prevalent god complex than godzack.
Crast Pactian: i just recalled that we are actually supposed to use complex zack!

>To Cut Confusion
>Open A Private Chat With
>Yon Cripesalmighty

Don't Mean To Eavesdrop
But Here Are All Of Us Zacks
Dropping All Of These Eaves

Half Of The Reason
I Speak In Haiku Is That
Tangents Are Harder

Though Admittedly
Quite Often It Leads To Just
Writing More Haiku

You also open a Privatelog again, because that is still a thing you can do.

Privatelog (cripesalmighty)Show

Zack: Don't Mean To Eavesdrop
Zack: But Here Are All Of Us Zacks
Zack: Dropping All Of These Eaves
cripesalmighty: That’s alright I guess. Honestly it could be a lot worse! It sort of just feels okay to be myself, and I mostly forget that you guys have, uh…
cripesalmighty: Whatever, like, windows?? You have magic shit that lets you see us even in flashbacks.
cripesalmighty: I mean, what even are you using to ‘input’?
Zack: Half Of The Reason
Zack: I Speak In Haiku Is That
Zack: Tangents Are Harder
cripesalmighty: Is that a tangent-removal tactic?? I should start poemming.
Zack: Though Admittedly
Zack: Quite Often It Leads To Just
Zack: Writing More Haiku
cripesalmighty: Ah, well.

"You OK to stand?" Tipsy asks.

"Might need a little help," you answer.



She looks at you with some relief. "Just let me know if you need any more help keeping upright."

"I'm probably alright. I was... kinda thinking of heading to Green, at some point, tour the dealio around and maybe get talking to our hacker programmer friend."

"Yes," says Tipsy, "our enigmatic, doesn't speak much over the chatlog friend, username Levyyts."

You nod. "Username Levyyts, even though she has a real name, we are just totally dodging it with complete and immense style."

"Yuppers," says Tipsy under her breath.



Where to?

Author's NoteShow

I'm super exhausted and gonna probably take a nap, then afterwards I'll start working on a short (300-400 word) recap for new readers to jump in quickly, as well as the next update. Thanks for ya patience!

Privatelog (cripesalmighty)
CoolZack
>Mm.
>for what it's worth, our eyes can't see every little thing going on.
>Mostly we see things deemed important, like flashbacks and the most interesting/important thing going on.
>Or we're fiddling with the viewfinder.
>Rest of the time its just text, text, and more text.

>Oh, and thanks for volunteering.
>Wasn't entirely sure there would be a volunteer for this little idea of mine.

>Although, since Yuppers is going to be busy for a bit, there is one other thing I could use a hand with.

>That is, getting Levyyts to write down their name on some paper and having someone else look.

>It's a bit odd, but this will answer one of the questions I've been pondering.

Recap 1

for CHIRAL: SIDE Y

This should be a decent rundown of not only where we are, but what we can do as inputs! Feel free to read the earlier pages, as there's a fairly large amount of detail missing from this recap, but I hope this is sufficient to get into this convoluted story of mine.

R E C A P 1Show

So far, the adventure takes place in a COMPOUND, which is a small collection of hallways and rooms divided into four sections-- YELLOW, BLUE, RED and GREEN, with 13 personal rooms on each side, with Inhabitants taking up the personal rooms. However, that was only how things were to begin with, and now, 9 months later, all but 9 Inhabitants are dead.

The Inhabitants were a very loose group of 52 friends who became allies with the Heroes of an adventure far away. When the Heroes failed at their attempt to complete a very important ‘Quest’, their worlds were destroyed-- but one Hero decided to put the Inhabitants inside a very small object, the Nickel, to send at near-light speed to escape the destruction.

Each Inhabitant has a personal room with a Terminal, and as there are four teams, each terminal is linked to three other terminals of the same number (1-13). On each quadrant of terminals, a single session of a game is running, for a total of 13 sessions. In the game, each player controls an entire team of their corresponding color, and battle it out to be the last team standing.



In a twist of fate, however, it is revealed that the COMPOUND which the adventure takes place in is actually a session of a Game that is running on four terminals in the ‘above level’. Consequently, this means that the games running on the terminals also contain more copies of the Inhabitants, and it is unclear how deeply this rabbit hole goes.


User 'Levyyts' inside the COMPOUND drew this slightly befuddling diagram.

We have control over two characters, with two different modes of input-- firstly Geneviève “Gene” Mâché, a.k.a. cripesalmighty, a very impulsive lady who is close to a majority of the friends in the COMPOUND.


That's her giving you the customary THUMBS UP when you get somebody's name right.

Secondly, we have control over what’s called an INPUT AGGREGATOR.


That's the INPUT AGGREGATOR, gathering inputs from other dimensions, such as ours.

The INPUT AGGREGATOR is a device plugged into one of the terminals in the ‘above level’ and consequently has a great deal of power over the entire session. In addition, rather than acting as one ‘character’ with thoughts, feelings and memories, the INPUT AGGREGATOR takes inputs directly from you, the real person who knows that this is a forum adventure. This means that if you want to use the built-in CHAT (called ORDERS for the INPUT AGGREGATOR) to tell the Inhabitants your username and that they are on a Forum Adventure, you can go right ahead.

Gene only knows what she knows, but the INPUT AGGREGATOR knows everything that the people controlling it do.

In the recent past, the Inhabitants have realized their predicament, made loose plans to try and escape, and wandered around. Gene met a friend, helped him be freed of a ‘spell’ of sorts which has kept him unable to control his own actions, and then she dropped a grenade in front of his cage to try and let him out.





The grenade was obviously incredibly destructive, deafening Gene and leaving a large hole in the floor, which leads out into a completely mystifying collection of unidentifiable shapes and glows.







Overall, the goal right now is to somehow get 53 INHABITANTS (even though you began with 52), and a PASSWORD (seemingly written on some sort of NICKEL?), and ASCEND somebody to the level above (where the INPUT AGGREGATOR currently is). Theories include the Nickel being a small computer, people ASCENDING from the Inhabitants’ current terminal to get more members, and all sorts of misc. bullshittery.


"That's a whole load of bullhock, NARRATOR!!! What even the hell? What a complete nonsense circus you have just laid out for us all!"

It’s worth reading the previous pages for much more context, but this is a good summary of the events and topics discussed so far!

Enjoy!

Privatelog (cripesalmighty)
CoolZack
>Mm.
>for what it's worth, our eyes can't see every little thing going on.
>Mostly we see things deemed important, like flashbacks and the most interesting/important thing going on.
>Or we're fiddling with the viewfinder.
>Rest of the time its just text, text, and more text.

>Oh, and thanks for volunteering.
>Wasn't entirely sure there would be a volunteer for this little idea of mine.

>Although, since Yuppers is going to be busy for a bit, there is one other thing I could use a hand with.

>That is, getting Levyyts to write down their name on some paper and having someone else look.

>It's a bit odd, but this will answer one of the questions I've been pondering.

Shellgowrath
> I compulsively order myself to look at my immediate surroundings while violently thinking myself into the window that I utilize to observe the physically digital world in order to break it and leak into the simulation
> Private conversational chat with Levyyts
> Would you care to elaborate on your magnificent proposal my honorable love?

You prepare to enter the TRIPLE PRIVATELOG BONANZA, which is a thing you'll patent later.

Privatelog (cripesalmighty)Show

CoolZack: Mm.
CoolZack: for what it's worth, our eyes can't see every little thing going on.
cripesalmighty: Wait, what?
CoolZack: Mostly we see things deemed important, like flashbacks and the most interesting/important thing going on.
cripesalmighty: That’s fucking bizarro actually!! Does it count as mind reading if I’m still just code, I guess?
CoolZack: Or we're fiddling with the viewfinder.
CoolZack: Rest of the time it’s just text, text, and more text.
cripesalmighty: OK. That does sound pretty boring.
cripesalmighty: Being able to enjoy physical shit is basically the high point of my day!
CoolZack: Oh, and thanks for volunteering.
CoolZack: Wasn't entirely sure there would be a volunteer for this little idea of mine.
cripesalmighty: Hey, you’re the boss.
cripesalmighty: I don’t think we can really realistically do this without you!! I mean, we’re us, we’re kind of bumbling idiots.
CoolZack: Although, since Yuppers is going to be busy for a bit, there is one other thing I could use a hand with.
CoolZack: That is, getting Levyyts to write down their name on some paper and having someone else look.
CoolZack: It's a bit odd, but this will answer one of the questions I've been pondering.
cripesalmighty: Um. Okay!
cripesalmighty: I’ll go tell her I guess?

Privatelog (to Levyyts from cripesalmighty)Show

cripesalmighty: Hey!!
cripesalmighty: Um, CoolZack just told me to ask you, basically…
cripesalmighty: Can you write your name down on some paper and show someone?
Levyyts: Who and why
cripesalmighty: I dunno. I’m actually kinda suspecting maybe it has to do with the customary thumbs up dealio?
Levyyts: Not following
cripesalmighty: Uh, anyway, CoolZack knows his shit, just do it please.
Levyyts: Fine.

Privatelog (Levyyts)Show

Shellgowrath: Would you care to elaborate on your magnificent proposal my honorable love?
Levyyts: Could come in handy
Levyyts: Deal:
Levyyts: Favor #1:
Levyyts: Run this file on your terminal
Levvyts has sent file neat-hack.cpg
Levyyts: Favor #2:
Levyyts: In future, will send more programs to be run
Levyyts: Caught me off guard
Levyyts: Nowhere near completed them all
Levyyts: Hold a moment
Levyyts: Is CoolZack in same chat window?
Levyyts: Just now went over to Hunk
Levyyts: And showed full handwritten name on sheet of paper
Levyyts: Responded accordingly
Levyyts: Concern and interest: unknown.

Look at just how much neat shit is going down that the public chat is COMPLETELY missing out on.

INPUT AGGREGATOR: look man i dunno what to tel you
INPUT AGGREGATOR: my codin says like 85% of you will be human peeps in your house or somethin
INPUT AGGREGATOR: i kinda assumed id not get some rad ass beasts from outer space

> I order myself to run those programs with domesticated abandon?
> I audibly growl

Chat
> We see everything as moving pictures

Shellgowrath to Levyyts privately
> LIFE IS PAIN. I HATE
> Would you kindly write the following in a piece of paper using a pen and ask Tipsy to rip it in half please?
Haidzruno runu, falahak haidera, ginnarunaz. Arageu haeramalausz uti az. Weladaude, sa'z þat barutz. Uþarba spa.
> I am asking politely

You run neat-hack.cpg.







You are now running neat-hack.cpg.

INPUT AGGREGATOR: neat shit

Privatelog (Levyyts)Show

Shellgowrath: LIFE IS PAIN. I HATE
Shellgowrath: Would you kindly write the following in a piece of paper using a pen and ask Tipsy to rip it in half please?
Shellgowrath: Haidzruno runu, falahak haidera, ginnarunaz. Arageu haeramalausz uti az. Weladaude, sa'z þat barutz. Uþarba spa.
Shellgowrath: I am asking politely
Levyyts: Certainly
Levyyts: For additional favors
Levyyts: Ha.

Meanwhile...

ChatlogShow

1234567890: 0h r16h7 1 6u355
1234567890: “c0mp13x 24ck” k1nd4 1mp1135 w3r3 n07 c0mp13x
Crast Pactian: well, we are very complex! but we don’t have a complex.
YUPPERS: you are FULLY VETTED to SPEAK FOR YOURSELF
YUPPERS: but i can imagine SUCH A WORD
YUPPERS: being UTILIZED for MANY OF US.
EXA: i’ve gott some kind ffof deal deal deal
EXA: make mee… non comfiii
EXA: with non-quad non-tri
EXA: is-that-a-comp lex
Crast Pactian: it is a personal preference without a doubt.
tiptopGipgop: Honestly, it’s kinda fun finding all the little triplets and quadruplets in your typing, if a little weird.
tiptopGipgop: No offense, Numbers, but it’d be a lot more enjoyable to read your stuff if you hid puzzles in it or something.
1234567890: 1 ju57 54v3d 74r5 fr0m d91n6 4nd 1 d0n7 3v3n 637 4n9 7h4nk5
1234567890: n07 7h47 1 p4r71cu14r19 n33d 17 8u7 c0m3 0n
1234567890: n07 3v3n cr1p35 0r 5h31160wr47h w45 11k3 “Great job Numbers you did it!”
1234567890: :/
cripesalmighty: Thank you!! I mean shit, just
cripeslamighty: I didn’t really understand that that was what you were saying before, sorry.
cripesalmighty: Thank you, Numbers, for saving Tars’ life.
Shellgowrath: We see everything as moving pictures
1234567890: 175 0k49 cr1p35 7h4nk5 f0r 7h4nk1n6 m3
tiptopGipgop: Normal sight is just moving pictures, for what it’s worth, VZ.
Hunk Chudfest: bbabkcck,
Hunk Chudfest: nttired nappging tbu had bad dreamsa bbotut moere exlpsosions
Crast Pactian: that’s terrible!
Hunk Chudfest; i jknnow
Hunk Chudfest; imd neover gottnta sleep everr :(( :((
tiptopGipgop: Thank you, Numbers.
1234567890: 17 700k 90u 7h47 10n6 70 r34d?

You listen in on the local Chatlog.

While taking a somewhat calm and reserved stroll down the RED/GREEN PRIMARY HALLWAY, you spot the NEED DISPENSER to your right, and Tipsy stops for a second.

"Want to print anything out while we're here?"

You cock your head. "Last thing I accidentally needspensed was a genuine goddamn grenade and it blew up in everyone's faces. Why would I possibly wanna do that again?"

She shrugs, chuckling. "I don't mean just whatever. I just-- well, I realized a few minutes ago, that if the barracks in the game correspond to Need Dispensers, then there's all kinds of wacky stuff we haven't even tried to dispense up here."

"Yuptam would have found basically everything by now!"

"No, but you see," Tipsy says, shaking her head, "I know off the bat that there's a huge ITEM COMBINATOR you can build out of need-dispenserable sections. And Yuptam hasn't relayed info about even one of them popping out. It's incredibly tough to do in the game, but you can do it."

You glance at the NEED DISPENSER. "How, though?"

She takes a breath. "The orders I give are gibberish. I never told you, Gene, but I worked out an order shorthand."

"What?"

"What I mean is, I only needed a couple letters to tell my pawns to do something-- so when it comes to how I made them activate this thing and give them ITEM COMBINATOR parts, I'm just as befuddled. It was just a neat trick I learned how to do."

Well, that's woefully inconvenient. You groan. "So... we can't do that."

"No, but--" Tipsy leans on the machine for a second. "We know it's possible! And the same rules apply as always-- it dispenses what you NEED, which is usually what will keep you from imminent death or imminent misery. So we just need to manipulate ourselves to be in a position where the parts for an ITEM COMBINATOR are needed."

"God these things are convoluted," you mutter. "Okay, where do we start?"

She offers a hand forth, motioning to you. "Got any ideas?"

>Private Chat To Cripes
Though A Very Bad Idea
Remember Us Zacks

Can Do Admin Stuff
Or Whatever You Might Call
Stuff Up A Level

Not Even Orders
Necessarily, Just Like
More Terminal Stuff

(If You're Wondering
Why My First Haiku Was Short,
I'm Multitasking)

>Switch Chat To Levyyts
Could You Pretty Please Explain
What Neat-Hack Will Do?

For Unlike Some Zacks
I Am Not A Fool Who Runs
Unfamiliar Code

Unfortunately
The Code Is Now Running On
Our Shared Terminal

Though I Gather From
Testupward's Name That You Are
Toeing the Water

Seeing If You Can
Apply More Ingenious Hacks
To Reality

But For All I Know
That Is Just A Red Herring
And Wheels Inside Wheels

I Just Hope You Aren't
Going To Be A Bad Guy
There's Like Four So Far

>Private Chat To Cripes
Though A Very Bad Idea
Remember Us Zacks

Can Do Admin Stuff
Or Whatever You Might Call
Stuff Up A Level

Not Even Orders
Necessarily, Just Like
More Terminal Stuff

(If You're Wondering
Why My First Haiku Was Short,
I'm Multitasking)

>Switch Chat To Levyyts
Could You Pretty Please Explain
What Neat-Hack Will Do?

For Unlike Some Zacks
I Am Not A Fool Who Runs
Unfamiliar Code

Unfortunately
The Code Is Now Running On
Our Shared Terminal

Though I Gather From
Testupward's Name That You Are
Toeing the Water

Seeing If You Can
Apply More Ingenious Hacks
To Reality

But For All I Know
That Is Just A Red Herring
And Wheels Inside Wheels

I Just Hope You Aren't
Going To Be A Bad Guy
There's Like Four So Far

You multitask.

Privatelog (cripesalmighty)Show

Zack: Though A Very Bad Idea
Zack: Remember Us Zacks
Zack: Can Do Admin Stuff
Zack: Or Whatever You Might Call
Zack: Stuff Up A Level
cripesalmighty: Wait, was that 5 lines?
cripesalmighty: Anyway, um… I recall, but the idea of you having god powers over us is still almightily freaky, if I’m being honest!!
Zack: Not Even Orders
Zack: Necessarily, Just Like
Zack: More Terminal Stuff
cripesalmighty: Well, alright.
cripesalmighty: I mean, feel free to look into it! We need every edge we can get.
Zack: (If You're Wondering
Zack: Why My First Haiku Was Short,
Zack: I'm Multitasking)
cripesalmighty: OH!
cripesalmighty: And you responded now because… the delay thing…
cripesalmighty: Right, I get it. No problem, Poem Zack.
cripesalmighty: Hey, one other thing, um--
cripesalmighty: Me and TG are thinking we’re gonna try and Needspense some special shit, but I genuinely don’t really know where to start.
cripesalmighty: You got any special Zack powers or at least the ability to use your hivemind shenanigans to… help us ‘spense out a COMBINATOR?

Privatelog (Levyyts)Show

Zack: Could You Pretty Please Explain
Zack: What Neat-Hack Will Do?
Zack: For Unlike Some Zacks
Zack: I'm Not A Fool Who Runs
Zack: Unfamiliar Code
Zack: Unfortunately
Zack: The Code Is Now Running On
Zack: Our Shared Terminal
Zack: Though I Gather From
Zack: Testupward's Name That You Are
Zack: Toeing the Water
Zack: Seeing If You Can
Zack: Apply More Ingenious Hacks
Zack: To Reality
Zack: But For All I Know
Zack: That Is Just A Red Herring
Zack: And Wheels Inside Wheels
Zack: I Just Hope You Aren't
Zack: Going To Be A Bad Guy
Zack: There's Like Four So Far
Levyyts: Have now read your large wall of text
Levyyts: And in response to its admittedly well-thought mission statement
Levyyts: And thesis which paints me as villain
Levyyts: I must refute
Levyyts: Neat Hack gives ability to open battle log files individually.
Levyyts: Made it early on
Levyyts: At times, takes unwitting screenshots, but only saves to own terminal.
Levyyts: I am prepping sound recording program for Shellgowrath
Levyyts: Insist that you try and understand this is a lot to comprehend at once
Levyyts: Am only trying to get a grasp
Levyyts: In addition
Levyyts: Point of me waiting is to wait for all messages to be dispensed
Levyyts: Your typing style, normally immaculate
Levyyts: Your first haiku, lacking
Levyyts: Your quantity of messages, high
Levvyts: Easier to respond posthumously.

INPUT AGGREGATOR: nhhh
INPUT AGGREGATOR: thats some serious input
INPUT AGGREGATOR: doin it good pozack horsgman



The two of you stare blankly at the NEED DISPENSER.

You say, "Maybe we need to be dying, but, like-- in a way that only a combination of two otherwise shitty items are life-saving when combined."

"Can you imagine a combo like that, though?"

"Maybe a tiny fire extinguisher and a grenade when you're surrounded by fire? Like, one tiny extinguisher isn't gonna do the job, and a grenade's just gonna make it worse, but an extinguisher grenade would be super handy."

Tipsy, for all her experience, gives it a light shrug. "We're out a grenade. I'm not opposed to the idea, though, if we happen across another one."

The light in the SPENSER flickers incessantly. The glow is alluring, attractive-- and though you can tell Tipsy squints slightly, you're fine staring its multicolored bulb in the face with your wide eyes.

You always thought Derse was too dim.

Privatelog (Cripesalmighty)
Coolzack
>There are a few things I can think of.
>The first is to use orders and hope for the best.
>So Plan C.
>Plan B is to pull something similar to what I'll be doing with the stuff Yups is getting.

>And Plan A is, well. I'm sure we'll think of something.

ChatShow

I Guess It Is Fair
To Contest Using Complex
Better Than God, Though

A Little Late But
Great Job Numbers You Did It
Thanks For Saving Tars

And Think Of It Like
Short Animations Rather
Than Video Feed

Levyyts ChatShow

>Private Chat Levyyts
I Don't Think You're A Villain
But, Paranoia

Zacks Are Not Supposed
To Be The Villain Either
But; Shellogorath

And God Complex Zack;
The Input Aggregator
Is Doing His Thing

So When I See You
Doing Your Hacking Business
I Start To Worry

But I Will Give You
The Benefit Of The Doubt
You Do Not Seem Bad

We're In The Same Boat
Vis Trying To Attain Grasp
You Likely Know More

Since You're Familiar
With The Setting And Rules
And Other Game Things

The Missing Message
In Private Is Due To
Some Shenanigans

Giving Up One Line
To Say Where My Message Goes
Saves A Little Time

Then Again So Far
I've Had To Explain It Twice
I've Lost More Than Saved

I'd Appreciate
If You Would Spread That Tidbit
And Save Me Some Time

And I Do Feel You
About The Wall Of Text Thing
Haiku's One Weakness

And In Any Case
It's Pointless To Speak Before
I'm Done Anyway

Got To Hand It To
The Input Aggregator
It's Good At Its Job

Letting Us All Talk
And Seem Like We're Replying,
Not Pre-Recorded

Finally, We Found
Something That Might Interest You
Hold On Just A Tick

>Take A Screenshot Of
>Levyyts-Hack (Dot) Cpg
>Send It To Levyyts

Cripes ChatShow

Not To My Knowledge
But We'll See What The Other
Zacks Have Up Their Sleevees

Daddy aggregator would you kindly inform me what would qualify as a compromise please?
Am I a beast from outer space? Also is Tars still your minion? I would really like some help on me entering the world

Shellgowrath chat: You people look to me like still images changing places on a flat background

Levyyts chat
Shellgowrath: Specify What specifics of my abilities you would like to specifically know and what is the other favor tha you need?
Shellgowrath: My attempts at clawing myself into this world or leaking within it in liquid form have failed or I perceive that I failed
Shellgowrath: I see everything as a still picture you see?
Shellgowrath: Would you be willing to help me enter this world? And what advice could you possibly give me that would help me?
Shellgowrath: The cool cat seems to be performing a ritual of summoning and I believe we could try it
Shellgowrath: That is, if you agree of course

ChatShow

I Guess It Is Fair
To Contest Using Complex
Better Than God, Though

A Little Late But
Great Job Numbers You Did It
Thanks For Saving Tars

And Think Of It Like
Short Animations Rather
Than Video Feed

Levyyts ChatShow

>Private Chat Levyyts
I Don't Think You're A Villain
But, Paranoia

Zacks Are Not Supposed
To Be The Villain Either
But; Shellogorath

And God Complex Zack;
The Input Aggregator
Is Doing His Thing

So When I See You
Doing Your Hacking Business
I Start To Worry

But I Will Give You
The Benefit Of The Doubt
You Do Not Seem Bad

We're In The Same Boat
Vis Trying To Attain Grasp
You Likely Know More

Since You're Familiar
With The Setting And Rules
And Other Game Things

The Missing Message
In Private Is Due To
Some Shenanigans

Giving Up One Line
To Say Where My Message Goes
Saves A Little Time

Then Again So Far
I've Had To Explain It Twice
I've Lost More Than Saved

I'd Appreciate
If You Would Spread That Tidbit
And Save Me Some Time

And I Do Feel You
About The Wall Of Text Thing
Haiku's One Weakness

And In Any Case
It's Pointless To Speak Before
I'm Done Anyway

Got To Hand It To
The Input Aggregator
It's Good At Its Job

Letting Us All Talk
And Seem Like We're Replying,
Not Pre-Recorded

Finally, We Found
Something That Might Interest You
Hold On Just A Tick

>Take A Screenshot Of
>Levyyts-Hack (Dot) Cpg
>Send It To Levyyts

Cripes ChatShow

Not To My Knowledge
But We'll See What The Other
Zacks Have Up Their Sleevees

Privatelog (Cripesalmighty)
Coolzack
>There are a few things I can think of.
>The first is to use orders and hope for the best.
>So Plan C.
>Plan B is to pull something similar to what I'll be doing with the stuff Yups is getting.

>And Plan A is, well. I'm sure we'll think of something.

INPUT AGGREGATOR: shellboy i dunno where youre at in the space time zone
INPUT AGGREGATOR: all i got ahold of is youre some input somewhere
INPUT AGGREGATOR: you gotta realize
INPUT AGGREGATOR: in order to get all ya inputs to direct these inhabitants to do stuff and fulfill my mission
INPUT AGGREGATOR: i was really graspin at straws
INPUT AGGREGATOR: thats the truth
INPUT AGGREGATOR: also holy SHIT

The INPUT AGGREGATOR screeches to life as you begin multitasking to a massive degree.

OrderlogShow

tiptopGipgop: I don’t read incredibly quickly, and you type incredibly quickly.
EXA: what else can nnn nnn nnn a fast type doo
EXA: exacept
EXA: type fast good
YUPPERS: is that a RHETORICAL QUESTION?
1234567890: 50rr9 8u7 4c7u4119 47 7h15 p01n7 1m n07 3v3n 79p1n6 83c4u53 11k3 1 ju57 m3n710n3d 1m 0n 7h3 84d 51d3 0f 7h3 h013 4nd u51n6 m9 h34d537
Crast Pactian: YUPPERS, do you think you will be able to get numbers out of that area?
Crast Pactian: i could retrieve the pickaxe from his room and get it open!
YUPPERS: more of this SICKLY LOAD off of my WORKED BACK?
YUPPERS: IT COULD NOT HURT.
tiptopGipgop: Yeah, go ahead, Crast.
tiptopGipgop: Just be absolutely sure not to fall in that hole.
Crast Pactian: that roger!
Zack: I Guess It Is Fair
Zack: To Contest Using Complex
Zack: Better Than God, Though
EXA: dis agre
EXA: zzz
EXA: zee
Zack: A Little Late But
Zack: Great Job Numbers You Did It
Zack: Thanks For Saving Tars
1234567890: 90u c4n 51mp19 7h4nk
1234567890: 7h3 m1r4c13 0f m0d3rn
1234567890: m3d1c1n3 f0r 7h47
Zack: And Think Of It Like
Zack: Short Animations Rather
Zack: Than Video Feed
tiptopGipgop: Like… the classic human favorite of internet jiffs?
Crast Pactian: i believe humans pronounced it yif?
tiptopGipgop: No, no.
tiptopGipgop: I really do not think so.
YUPPERS: it has a RING to it, truly
YUPPERS: A SOFT G, pronounced YELLOWY.
Shellgowrath: You people look to me like still images changing places on a flat background
Crast Pactian: ah, like image pangs!
tiptopGipgop: Peengees.
1234567890: wh47 7h3 h311 4r3 90u 3v3n 741k1n6 4b0u7
YUPPERS: YUNGS
YUPPERS: unrelatedly, i have the ZACK THINGS. the CHALK WAX STRING COMBO.
Crast Pactian: hooray! i am betting cool zack will be happy to hear that.

Privatelog (cripesalmighty)Show

CoolZack: There are a few things I can think of.
CoolZack: The first is to use orders and hope for the best.
CoolZack: So Plan C.
CoolZack: Plan B is to pull something similar to what I'll be doing with the stuff Yups is getting.
cripesalmighty: You can clue us in, by the way! Unless it’s… some kind of intentional surprise.
CoolZack: And Plan A is, well. I'm sure we'll think of something.
cripesalmighty: We’re giving it our best kinda.
Zack: Not To My Knowledge
Zack: But We'll See What The Other
Zack: Zacks Have Up Their Sleeves
cripesalmighty: It’s weird how you’re all Zack now, I guess.
cripesalmighty: It seems like one Zack named everyone Zack-- except Shellgowrath I guess?

Privatelog (Levyyts)Show

Zack: I Don't Think You're A Villain
Zack: But, Paranoia
Zack: Zacks Are Not Supposed
Zack: To Be The Villain Either
Zack: But; Shellogorath
Zack: And God Complex Zack;
Zack: The Input Aggregator
Zack: Is Doing His Thing
Zack: So When I See You
Zack: Doing Your Hacking Business
Zack: I Start To Worry
Zack: But I Will Give You
Zack: The Benefit Of The Doubt
Zack: You Do Not Seem Bad
Zack: We're In The Same Boat
Zack: Vis Trying To Attain Grasp
Zack: You Likely Know More
Zack: Since You're Familiar
Zack: With The Setting And Rules
Zack: And Other Game Things
Zack: The Missing Message
Zack: In Private Is Due To
Zack: Some Shenanigans
Zack: Giving Up One Line
Zack: To Say Where My Message Goes
Zack: Saves A Little Time
Zack: Then Again So Far
Zack: I've Had To Explain It Twice
Zack: I've Lost More Than Saved
Zack: I'd Appreciate
Zack: If You Would Spread That Tidbit
Zack: And Save Me Some Time
Zack: And I Do Feel You
Zack: About The Wall Of Text Thing
Zack: Haiku's One Weakness
Zack: And In Any Case
Zack: It's Pointless To Speak Before
Zack: I'm Done Anyway
Zack: Got To Hand It To
Zack: The Input Aggregator
Zack: It's Good At Its Job
Zack: Letting Us All Talk
Zack: And Seem Like We're Replying,
Zack: Not Pre-Recorded
Zack: Finally, We Found
Zack: Something That Might Interest You
Zack: Hold On Just A Tick
Zack has sent file Levyyts-hack-screenshot.cig
Levyyts: Thank you
Levyyts: But
Levyyts: Already received actual program file from other Zack
Levyyts: Cool Zack, if memory isn’t failing
Levyyts: Posted in main chatlog
Levyyts: Prompted some new investigations which have been fruitful
Levyyts: To note:
Levyyts: Options were available in the terminal above, as well as mine
Levyyts: Existed before unlocking, so hack only unlocked them
Levyyts: Implies some intention for us to not only ascend, but do so in humane ways
Levyyts: Suggestions, not orders
Levyyts: A good implication
Levyyts: Though one still heavily worries
Levyyts: Why heroes might treat us like ants in a maze.
Levyyts: You, as well
Levyyts: Or the INPUT AGGREGATOR generally
Levyyts: A construct of a NEED DISPENSER
Levyyts: And, seemingly, only available method of escaping
Levyyts: Implies some sick and twisted things about their want for us.
Levyyts: I am working on function to disable compulsive orders
Levyyts: To limit interference from malicious parties
Levyyts: Additional Zack presence

Gene
> Be attracted to the needspenser like a fly and unintentionally summon something bad

"Gene, what are you doing."



"I dunno," you say. "It's just weird how the light's split in half like that. Normally lights mix and make different colors, but it's just-- not doing that at all. Kinda pretty, y'know? Like-- usually overhead lights are really alienating and shitty, but for some reason this one is kinda... calming!"

She chuckles. "I didn't realize you had that much fascination."

"I'm the Fighter of Light, Tipsy."

"Right now, you're the Seer," she notes.

"Lame."

>Spamming Privilege
>Sustained For Ten Messages
>Make 'Em Count, IA

>Less Than Twenty Words
>Per Line. And To Save Headaches
>Don't Post All At Once

Cripes ChatShow

>Private Chat To Cripes
Essentially What Happened
We Just Rolled With It

Its As Good A Name
As Any Hive Mind Could Pick
Arbitrarily

Incidentally
You Have Been Needpencered At
Just A Quick Heads Up

Levyyts ChatShow

>Private Chat Levyyts
Oh, I Had Missed The File
Being Shared, Sorry

It Might Just Be That
The Game Requires Game Shit
To Cause Things Of Worth

Such As Saving Folks
From Imminent Destruction
By MOCHA ENDING

The Goal of The Game
If My Sources Are Right Is
Self Propogation

Of The Game Itself
To Make New Iterations;
Keep On Keepin' On

Given COFFEE DOOM
It Might Be That You Are The
Next Generation

But Possibly Not
It's Just A Game Theory
Just Spitballing Here

ChatShow

Nice Haiku, Thumbs Up!
They're Talking About The Names
Of Image File Types

And How To Say Them
There Have Been Years Of Debate
About This Subject

>Spamming Privilege
>Sustained For Ten Messages
>Make 'Em Count, IA

>Less Than Twenty Words
>Per Line. And To Save Headaches
>Don't Post All At Once

Cripes ChatShow

>Private Chat To Cripes
Essentially What Happened
We Just Rolled With It

Its As Good A Name
As Any Hive Mind Could Pick
Arbitrarily

Incidentally
You Have Been Needpencered At
Just A Quick Heads Up

Levyyts ChatShow

>Private Chat Levyyts
Oh, I Had Missed The File
Being Shared, Sorry

It Might Just Be That
The Game Requires Game Shit
To Cause Things Of Worth

Such As Saving Folks
From Imminent Destruction
By MOCHA ENDING

The Goal of The Game
If My Sources Are Right Is
Self Propogation

Of The Game Itself
To Make New Iterations;
Keep On Keepin' On

Given COFFEE DOOM
It Might Be That You Are The
Next Generation

But Possibly Not
It's Just A Game Theory
Just Spitballing Here

ChatShow

Nice Haiku, Thumbs Up!
They're Talking About The Names
Of Image File Types

And How To Say Them
There Have Been Years Of Debate
About This Subject

> I Shellgowrath, smash the chiral button for an excessive number of times to observe the results
> Fifty times would be adequate

Tipsy
> Don't be alarmed by that thing since it just looks like a toy
> Pick it up and handle it carelessly to see what it is because of that fact

Shellgowrath
> Numbers my dear
> I was talking about how I perceive the world and I see it as still pictures moving
> If you were walking I would only be able to see you changing place and not the actual walking
> It was nobody's brother and those supplies I have asked Yuptam about won't be necessary

Shellgowrath to Levyyts
> How terrible!
> The Cool Cat brother of mine seems to have surpassed my attempts at entering this world utilizing his pure cleverness rather than brute strenght or pleading to father for advice!
> I just wanted to caress Numbers with my soft and tender claws...
> Anyway, do you need anything?
> Can I ask you a possibly annoying number of questions?
> What additional Zack presence? The Zack name has the possible addition of seven billion individuals and I would like if you could be more specific
> You no longer need to write a curse that will activate once it is broken for me wich was that thing I asked you to write

Father Zack is Tars still a peon of yours? I also grant you your spamming privileges back since there isn't a conflict and a consensus has been reached wich included me,myself and I

INPUT AGGREGATOR: yo
INPUT AGGREGATOR: i still got that hidden command runnin for tars/mullygen whenever
INPUT AGGREGATOR: but only i got the password
INPUT AGGREGATOR: and im compelled not to tell anyone yknow
INPUT AGGREGATOR: so thats kinda on the back burner right now
INPUT AGGREGATOR: the ol chekhovs mind control shenanigan

You hit CHIRAL a whole load. The screen whirrs by at light-speed. You also chat a whole bunch because you're getting extremely good at it.

OrderlogShow

Zack: Nice Haiku, Thumbs Up!
Zack: They're Talking About The Names
Zack: Of Image File Types
1234567890: 0h
1234567890: 1 n3v3r r34119 m3553d w17h hum4n c0mpu73r5
1234567890: 4c7u4119 c0mpu73r5 p155 m3 0ff 4 107 50 175 k1nd4 funn9 7h37 w3r3 411 m4d3 0f c0mpu73r5
Zack: And How To Say Them
Zack: There Have Been Years Of Debate
Zack: About This Subject
tiptopGipgop: I know it’s not ‘yiff’ for .gif.
tiptopGipgop: This is a big point to me, because one of the heroes insisted it was thusly, and I hate him forever.
tiptopGipgop: I mean, ironically I hated him forever, but now I kind of do, considering the whole ‘cosmic existential betrayal’ deal.
YUPPERS: HENCE why i INSIST for CRAST PACTIAN to pronounce it AS SUCH.
YUPPERS: it is a BUTTON PUSHER.
YUPPERS: AT THE TIP TOP GIP GOP OF TIP TOP GIP GOP’S GET GOT MELTING POT.
YUPPERS: yeah.
1234567890: cr457 wh3n 4r3 90u 60nn4 h31p 0u7
Crast Pactian: just a moment! i cannot find it in your room proper.
1234567890: 1 7ru57 90u 1n 7h3r3 8u7 d0n7 m0v3 4n97h1n6 4r0und 0k
Crast Pactian: that seems a very non-pressing matter considering Tars’ state!
Crast Pactian: i am guessing your pickaxe is in your vault.
1234567890: 600d gu355
1234567890: 8u7 175 1n m9 73rm1n41 53cr37 c0mp4r7m3n7
Crast Pactian: your terminal has a secret compartment?
Crast Pactian: ah, wow, it does!
1234567890: 411 73rm1n415 d0
EXA: myy fave easy acc cess stuf gets push’t’t’t in my se cret comp art-ment
EXA: nooobody can tell
EXA: sooomuch neat stuf
EXA: hidden away den
tiptopGipgop: Yeah, I kind of thought everyone knew about that.
Levyyts: What
tiptopGipgop: I mean, you don’t tune in here too often, so it makes sense that you don’t, but--
tiptopGipgop: Hey, sidenote, does anyone have those ear attachments for wearing glasses?
YUPPERS: for a PRICE, yes.
Shellgowrath: Numbers my dear
Shellgowrath: I was talking about how I perceive the world and I see it as still pictures moving
Shellgowrath: If you were walking I would only be able to see you changing place and not the actual walking
Shellgowrath: It was nobody's brother and those supplies I have asked Yuptam about won't be necessary
YUPPERS: THIS IS MAKING ME FED UP.
YUPPERS: i spend SO much time GIVING THINGS AWAY
YUPPERS: and hoarding my KLEPTOMANIA’S BOUNTY
YUPPERS: LIKE A DRAGON in a HOARD
YUPPERS: to be DRAINED of my FLUIDS
1234567890: wh47
YUPPERS: and TOSSED ASIDE
YUPPERS: like a RAW DOG
YUPPERS: where is COOL ZACK when you NEED HIM?
tiptopGipgop: So you see us just standing around?
tiptopGipgop: That’s a shame. Cripes tells me I have a legendary funny walk.
cripesalmighty: It is super true she is the WEIRDEST.
1234567890: w417
1234567890: 4r3 90u v13wf1nd1n6 m3?
1234567890: p13453 570p
Crast Pactian: let us all be respectful of privacy!
Hunk Chudfest: ehehehnery i ewasjuwtaed tot elet eoverony eonkwoe ims titll ont dead
Hunk Chudfest: thyoororay
Crast Pactian: a good thing to celebrate, hunk!
Hunk Chudfest: hhowever
Hunk Chudfest: i amd dinttoexicated again :0
cripesalmighty: :0
godzack: beep
godzack: beep
godzack: beep
godzack: beep
godzack: beep
godzack: beep
Hunk Chudfest: ahghghnghh :((( P:(( ::(((( :L(
godzack: beep
godzack: beep
godzack: beep
godzack: ok thats it lmao ill be back later to say real shit
1234567890: wh999
tiptopGipgop: These Zacks have a very charismatic mouthpiece, don’t they.
EXA: yissssssssssss
EXA: very much yes yes yes yes
EXA: exe eas see zzz
cripesalmighty: God I hate this chat sometimes.

Privatelog (cripesalmighty)Show

Zack: Essentially What Happened
Zack: We Just Rolled With It
cripesalmighty: Well, to be fair
cripesalmighty: Most people picked their username here in like five seconds! The terminals had a prompt and you can’t change it as far as we know so far.
cripesalmighty: I mean, my herosona was named Cripes the Almighty, so… yeah.
cripesalmighty: But I know Crast at least regrets it, ‘cus he was just dissecting the word ‘carapacian’.
Zack: Its As Good A Name
Zack: As Any Hive Mind Could Pick
Zack: Arbitrarily
cripesalmighty: Hey, it’s alright!!
cripesalmighty: It’s still that fun-loving dude name that is pretty reassuring as is.
Zack: Incidentally
Zack: You Have Been Needpencered At
Zack: Just A Quick Heads Up
cripesalmighty: Yeah, that spooked me a little bit.

Privatelog (Levyyts)Show

Shellgowrath: How terrible!
Shellgowrath: The Cool Cat brother of mine seems to have surpassed my attempts at entering this world utilizing his pure cleverness rather than brute strenght or pleading to father for advice!
Shellgowrath: I just wanted to caress Numbers with my soft and tender claws...
Shellgowrath: Anyway, do you need anything?
Shellgowrath: Can I ask you a possibly annoying number of questions?
Shellgowrath: What additional Zack presence? The Zack name has the possible addition of seven billion individuals and I would like if you could be more specific
Shellgowrath: You no longer need to write a curse that will activate once it is broken for me wich was that thing I asked you to write
Levyyts: Cool Cat
Levyyts: Explanation for your words is lost on me
Levyyts: Annoying questions, however, double as answers
Levyyts: Seven billion individuals maps to seven billion humans
Levyyts: Quantity of humans when the Game was started, though likely dead now
Levyyts: Implies some of you human
Levyyts: Somehow.
Levyyts: Notably:
Levyyts: Numbers has a boyfriend
Levyyts: You may want to avoid such romantic implication
Levyyts: Soft and tender claws and such.
Zack: Oh, I Had Missed The File
Zack: Being Shared, Sorry
Levyyts: Ah, two Zacks in one burst
Zack: It Might Just Be That
Zack: The Game Requires Game Shit
Zack: To Cause Things Of Worth
Levyyts: Intermittent answering pointless yet makes haiku readable
Zack: Such As Saving Folks
Zack: From Imminent Destruction
Zack: By MOCHA ENDING
Levyyts: Yes
Zack: The Goal of The Game
Zack: If My Sources Are Right Is
Zack: Self Propogation
Levyyts: Mhm
Zack: Of The Game Itself
Zack: To Make New Iterations;
Zack: Keep On Keepin' On
Levyyts: Indeed
Zack: Given COFFEE DOOM
Zack: It Might Be That You Are The
Zack: Next Generation
Levyyts: Of course.
Zack: But Possibly Not
Zack: It's Just A Game Theory
Zack: Just Spitballing Here
Levyyts: Well
Levyyts: Given all of that in writing
Levyyts: Enjoyable explanation, an optimistic one
Levyyts: Certainly some people here enjoy pretending they are heroic
Levyyts: Heroes of a sort
Levyyts: Heroes in waiting
Levyyts: Part of me doubts we are even eligible
Levyyts: We are game constructs
Levyyts: Players of game wake up on Prospit/Derse, yet we originate there
Levyyts: Additionally
Levyyts: MOCHA ENDING is not a human concept
Levyyts: Relation to coffee is quite a serendipitous one
Levyyts: MOCHA ENDING was god of a planet
Levyyts: Sentient species: would die by coffee
Levyyts: Sentient species: all woke on Prospit
Levyyts: Crast Pactian: entrepeneur of coffee
Levyyts: Crast Pactian: Prospitian
Levyyts: Irony: light to medium.
Levyyts: Propagation purpose of game seems related to universes, not individuals
Levyyts: However
Levyyts: With uncountable upwards depth
Levyyts: Potential of our inhabitance of such not impossible to rule out
Levyyts: Possibilities are twain:
Levyyts: 1. Memories fabricated to think we were friends of Heroes, and there are many varieties of Carapacians throughout nickel chain
Levyyts: Seems unlikely
Levyyts: Nicopter and cripesalmighty in above level.
Levyyts: 2. Copies of us 52 for unknowable depth upward and downward
Levyyts: Perhaps a universe worth propagating
Levyyts: Especially if large enough
Levyyts: Though, in humble opinion
Levyyts: Mean as can be.

Unfortunately, the CHIRAL button just seems to bring you to the menu for now. Since it's the title of the FORUM ADVENTURE, you kind of expected it to do more, but them's the breaks.



You do not have INPUT for Tipsy Pendragon yet! She stares at the item, not because she was compelled to, but because it's mighty interesting.

However, it's too pixelly to understand, so the NARRATOR zooms further in.



"Hey, Gene?" she says.

"Yeah?" you ask.

"It was just some sunglasses. I think the machine's trying to tell you something."

You shrug, still staring at the light. "It doesn't hurt or anything."

Tipsy chuckles softly. "I think that's what blind people say right before they go blind, Gene."

How long are you going to stare at this light, Gene?

Chat
CoolZack
>Sorry Yuppers, had to take care of something.
>Could you bring the items to Cripes?

Privatelog (Cripesalmighty)
Coolzack.
>Mm. Alright. Explanation time.
>Short version is I'm trying to test the waters as it were.
>Try to use my powers for something simple and work from there.
>Now, where you come in is I need someone to act as both conduit and beacon for my power.
>With your help, and the materials Yuppers gathered for me, I should be able to interact more directly than through this console.
>Albeit with a few strings attached for me.
>Anyways, once Yuppers brings you the items, you're going to need to pick a place where you can be calm and relax.
>Not strictly necessary, but not being calm during the process tends to cause headaches.

Chat
CoolZack
>Sorry Yuppers, had to take care of something.
>Could you bring the items to Cripes?

Privatelog (Cripesalmighty)
Coolzack.
>Mm. Alright. Explanation time.
>Short version is I'm trying to test the waters as it were.
>Try to use my powers for something simple and work from there.
>Now, where you come in is I need someone to act as both conduit and beacon for my power.
>With your help, and the materials Yuppers gathered for me, I should be able to interact more directly than through this console.
>Albeit with a few strings attached for me.
>Anyways, once Yuppers brings you the items, you're going to need to pick a place where you can be calm and relax.
>Not strictly necessary, but not being calm during the process tends to cause headaches.

You keep up a conversation with the enigmatic group of ZACKS, as well as keeping track of the Chatlog.

ChatlogShow

CoolZack: Sorry Yuppers, had to take care of something.
CoolZack: Could you bring the items to Cripes?
YUPPERS: ...gnhh
YUPPERS: yes, that is DOABLE.
cripesalmighty: Me and TG are at the uh, R/G needspenser in the big hallway!
cripesalmighty: It’s right down the way from the explosion zone, you can’t miss it.
tiptopGipgop: Finally, a landmark.
YUPPERS: expect me SOON.
Crast Pactian: it is wonderful to see plans taking form!
1234567890: 5p34k1n6 0f wh1ch
1234567890: w411
1234567890: p1ck4x3
1234567890: c0111d3 7h3 7w0 70637h3r p13453
Crast Pactian: on it, i promise!

Privatelog (Zack)Show

CoolZack: Mm. Alright. Explanation time.
CoolZack: Short version is I'm trying to test the waters as it were.
CoolZack: Try to use my powers for something simple and work from there.
cripesalmighty: Holy cripes, powers?
cripesalmighty: Are you some kinda magic being like Shellgowrath I mean Violent Zack?
cripesalmighty: Are you a hero??
CoolZack: Now, where you come in is I need someone to act as both conduit and beacon for my power.
cripesalmighty: Damn, okay!
CoolZack: With your help, and the materials Yuppers gathered for me, I should be able to interact more directly than through this console.
CoolZack: Albeit with a few strings attached for me.
CoolZack: Anyways, once Yuppers brings you the items, you're going to need to pick a place where you can be calm and relax.
cripesalmighty: ...wait, really?
cripesalmighty: Like, a meditation spot??
CoolZack: Not strictly necessary, but not being calm during the process tends to cause headaches.
cripesalmighty: Okay, if you say so!
cripesalmighty: I think I actually might use Hunk’s room. He soundproofed it a while back and he’s actually one of the quietest people I know.
cripesalmighty: We’ve done some soul-searching together in the past, that’s for sure.

"You know," Tipsy says, "Sometimes you get so excited while you're type-speaking that I can hear your privatelogs."

You gasp. "Bullhock! I'm super quiet."

She raises her brow, laughing. "You are many great things, but I don't think quiet is a... consistent one."

"Eh."

After a few moments of quiet, she flicks the pair of sunglasses open, holding them briefly to her face, then dropping it down. "...don't people know we don't have ears."

You burst out in a sudden couple of laughs. It's been a weird day. The dumbest stuff is funny.

"Hey," you say, "after Yuptam gets here with that stuff, Cool Zack wants me to use it to, uh... do something to channel his power, I guess? So I'm gonna go to someplace nice and quiet to do that. He said, um... calm's a good thing."

Tipsy considers this for a moment. "Okay, noted, you can run along. Who says Cool Zack's a dude, anyway?"

You shrug. "I guess 'cus they're all named Zack. But that was just one person who named 'em Zack, so... they could be anything, I guess."

"I've been thinking about it, and truthfully, Zack is a pretty dorky name."

"Is not," you insist. "It's the least dorkiest of all the... names in its dorky category!"

"That's what you said about Gary, and Clyde before that." She gives you a bit of a look. "Maybe it's time to tell the Zacks to pick new names for each and every one of themselves, like sane, rational people."

"If they want to make themselves more enigmatic," says Yuptam from behind her, "they are perfectly free. But my brain is gumptioned enough without constant name changes. At least now we have a collective term."



There he is, carrying that LOW-RES BACKPACK SPRITE. Wow!!

"Hello again," Tipsy states.

"I brought you the chalk-wax-string combo, Geneviève. Cool Zack has drained me dry with this menagerie." He hoists the backpack up for a moment with one hand. It is effortless for him. He is still the nineteenth strongest, you can tell.

You grin and nod, approaching. "Alright! Thank you, Yuptam." The pack rattles with, decidedly, a load more shit than just chalk and wax and string. It also weighs at least half as much as you, and as he hands it to you, you hoist with immense trouble, and a noticable lean.

Yuptam simply says, "Good morning," and in a moment, is on his way back to his domain.

Shellgowrath
> Cool Cat Zack is currently performing a ritual of invocation and involvement with Lady Geneviève, please call him later
> Yuptam would you kindly stop acting in such a childish manner about the materials I have requested?
> You are a strong and independent young man but you are acting like a fool
> Numbers I am not looking at you since you are my most favored inhabitant and I respect your privacy
> Everyone would you kindly inform me the colors of your bodies?

Privately conversed with Gene
> This is slightly infuriating
> Such fact definitely pleases you
> My Cool brother has surpassed me and will definitely surpass me further by being the first to directly interact with the world
> He seems to have prematurely evolved from the stage of infancy
> I gave Tipsy a headache but that was definitely unrelated to my attempts at breaking into the world
> Any ritual I made would probably be interrupted with vehemence by you and Tipsy
> But it has been spoken that copying is the best form of flattery or a variation of such sayings

A private little chat with Levyyts
> The Cool Cat is Cool Zack
> How Will I use the program of sounds and what Will it do?
> IA is my father and I politely request that you don't insult him in any way, shape or form
> Are You planning on creating more programs, and if so what would they do?
> I thank you from the bottom of my bottomless heart for making a program for me

After a long wait, your INPUT AGGREGATOR gets to work on 3 separate screens once again.

OrderlogShow

Shellgowrath: Cool Cat Zack is currently performing a ritual of invocation and involvement with Lady Geneviève, please call him later
tiptopGipgop: Ritual of invocation? I’m curious as to if you’re just making things up at this point.
Crast Pactian: please refrain from using real names in the chat!
EXA: shitrule
EXA: jarool
EXA: bamboolz
Shellgowrath: Yuptam would you kindly stop acting in such a childish manner about the materials I have requested?
YUPPERS: you must UNDERSTAND
YUPPERS: that i have been SHOEHORNED and TYPECAST
YUPPERS: into the ITEMS ROLE.
YUPPERS: i am PERFECTLY CAPABLE of OTHER TASKS
YUPPERS: YET HERE I RESIDE.
cripesalmighty: Sorry, yuppers!
cripesalmighty: Honestly I think I speak for everyone saying you are actually a super great guy. I guess you’re just especially the greatest at itemshit here because it’s not Derse and there’s less stuff for you to do.
cripesalmighty: You’re the wildcard and right now I guess we needed you to be the backpack boy or whatever. But you’re not being typecast!
Shellgowrath: You are a strong and independent young man but you are acting like a fool
YUPPERS: SHUCKS.
YUPPERS: it’s simply NOT VERY FUN to do it WHENCE AND WHENCEOVER.
Shellgowrath: Numbers I am not looking at you since you are my most favored inhabitant and I respect your privacy
1234567890: h39 7h4nk5
1234567890: 1m 57111 c0nfu53d 1f 7h47 pr3f3r3nc3 15 50m3 k1nd 0f murd3r f4n7459 7h1n6 c0n51d3r1n6 7h3 f1r57 7h1n6 90u 53n7 hunk
1234567890: 8u7 934h, 7h4nk5
Crast Pactian: i am breaking through this wall as we speak!
Crast Pactian: i am far from the strongest man, however, or even the nineteenth!
Crast Pactian: it may take some time.
YUPPERS: A
YUPPERS: U
YUPPERS: G
YUPPERS: H
Hunk Chudfest: yoyur’ee thrre bestt yueprgsa dadt tbeing yortuseelf :) :))
cripesalmighty: Hey Hunk, I’m headed over to your room to meditate cus I need some calm place to do Cool Zack’s deal. Is that coolio?
Hunk Chudfest: nyyyeear
Hunk Chudfest: :)) :) :)))) ::)))
Shellgowrath: Everyone would you kindly inform me the colors of your bodies?
tiptopGipgop: We’ve four Dersites and five Prospitians.
tiptopGipgop: I think it’d be fun to let you guess which are which.
Crast Pactian: it is worth noting that i don’t believe that these colors have any bearing on us any longer!
Crast Pactian: the heroes united our planets into a peaceful union, and it has been that way since many of us were children.
Crast Pactian: or, at least, that was how it was before it was all destroyed.
Crast Pactian: still, a mighty leap for the equality of all!
YUPPERS: though a DIMINISHMENT on my RELATIVE STRONG STATUS.
tiptopGipgop: The alliance was great while it lasted. I can imagine that we’d all end up a lot differently if we didn’t grow up in peacetime.

Privatelog (cripesalmighty)Show

Shellgowrath: This is slightly infuriating
Shellgowrath: Such fact definitely pleases you
Shellgowrath: My Cool brother has surpassed me and will definitely surpass me further by being the first to directly interact with the world
cripesalmighty: Wait!
cripesalmighty: Cool Zack is your brother? Like, in the literal sense??
cripesalmighty: So you’re both weird… things of some variety? No offense seriously, just trying to get ahold of your deal
Shellgowrath: He seems to have prematurely evolved from the stage of infancy
cripesalmighty: Oh!!
Shellgowrath: I gave Tipsy a headache but that was definitely unrelated to my attempts at breaking into the world
cripesalmighty: Oh…???!
cripesalmighty: That’s kinda shitty of you.
Shellgowrath: Any ritual I made would probably be interrupted with vehemence by you and Tipsy
Shellgowrath: But it has been spoken that copying is the best form of flattery or a variation of such sayings
cripesalmighty: The saying is that “if you want to be flattered, you should induce a copier’s run cycle so that it imitates flattery in an effective way”.
cripesalmighty: Honestly, if your screaming and shit to try and get in our jam is what passes for a ‘ritual’, I’m kinda uncertain about this thing Cool Zack’s having us do.
cripesalmighty: But he’s a good Zack. I trust him.

Privatelog (Levyyts)Show

Shellgowrath: The Cool Cat is Cool Zack
Shellgowrath: How Will I use the program of sounds and what Will it do?
Shellgowrath: IA is my father and I politely request that you don't insult him in any way, shape or form
Shellgowrath: Are you planning on creating more programs, and if so what would they do?
Shellgowrath: I thank you from the bottom of my bottomless heart for making a program for me
Levyyts: Sound program will hopefully aggregate sound file instead of text input
Levyyts: Presuming you utilize some sort of computer
Levyyts: Afterwards, more to assist you
Levyyts: Or at least utilize as exchange
Levyyts: One to disable compulsive orders, without doubt
Levyyts: Family tree: fatherly Input Aggregator?
Levyyts: More questions than answers

All the while...



"Alright," you announce, "time to head out. Good luck with this thing!"

Tipsy leans on the NEED DISPENSER. "I might recruit some more help, if your little adventure takes too long. Thinking about being able to combine objects like the Heroes used to gives me the ol' heroshit craving again."

It's hard not to grin. "Glad I got you back in the game, Tipsy."

"Glad you got me back in the game, Gene." She chuckles.

With that, you're off.









You knock on the door. A lot. Loudly. It's soundproofed, and the extremely soft-spoken Carapacian on the other side will need all the help he can get.



"Ms. Mâché?" he asks faintly. "By happenstance, is that you?"

"Heya," you reply, "yep, it's me. Could I come in, a-ah-- um-- umh-- uhh--"

HIS NAME, GENE

THIS IS THE PART OF THE SENTENCE WHERE YOU PUT HIS NAME

NOT HIS USERNAME, WHICH IS Hunk Chudfest, BUT HIS REAL NAME

THE NAME THAT HE HAS FOR REAL

WHAT WAS IT AGAIN

Gene
> Remember Hunk Chudfest's name
> Spank A. Hemmingway, the young

Gene
> Remember Hunk Chudfest's name
> Spank A. Hemmingway, the young

Hunkson Dinkle

That's right.

Of course.

At least some of it is right, anyway. A good portion. You feel lewd just saying this guy's name, Dinkalsen Spank, one of the youngest and most prolific musicians of Prospit. Youngest, though as with all of your FRIENDS, you are all on equal AGE LEVELS at this point. Still, few achieved as much as him.


God you have been missing that validating, wholesome mandatory thumbs-up. You're kind of sad you didn't get one from Mulligan before, and briefly consider asking him to give it to you as a consolation prize.

D-S, which is actually even lewder than Spank written on paper, was a musician, yes-- but not purely from training, but also due to his incredibly keen sense of pitch and sound, with sensitive eardrums that many of the Prospitian medical mans said would burst at anything particularly loud, which a normal Carapacian could easily listen to without problems. So amidst creating and composing, he hid himself in a soundproofed room much like this one, and eventually to cope with the loneliness of isolation, he turned to other forms of feeling.

"Could I come in, D-S?"

"Yes."

You enter.



His incredibly frail form rests sitting atop a throne of beer bottles, which are all obviously full. You have always wondered over his radical personality shifts while intoxicated. He really is the most passive sedate person you've ever met while drunk. Other people say it's horrific, but you don't really mind it-- he's certainly less impulsive, less frustrating, less... Spank.

"What is this all about...?" he asks slowly.

"Some kinda thing that Cool Zack is trying to get us help with, I think. He needs some special shit, and I brought it." You set the backpack down slowly, and begin rummaging through.

Spank lets out a soft breath. "I like that Zack."

"Yeah," you agree.

God there's so much completely useless low-res shit in this backpack. You spend a full minute picking out bits of glitter and scrap metal and candy before you extract the necessary components for your 'ritual'.

Privatelog (Zack)Show

cripesalmighty: Hey Coolzo, we’re ready to do the Thing when you are!
cripesalmighty: I don’t think I could get a whole lot more calm than this.

"Why here, again?" Dinkalsen asks.

"Because it's calm, and he said I should be calm," you reply, glancing over the items inquisitively. "This is the quietest place in the compound, y'know?"

He weakly shrugs. "I don't go much other places to know, Ms. Mâché."

"Well, nobody else soundproofs their room. I guess they get used to yell-arguments more often. And I guess ya don't have quite as many yellgruments over on this side."

"I don't get out much to know."

You glance back. "You feeling OK, Dinkal?"

Dinkalsen squints for a moment, and lazily tilts his head back to the pile, away from you. "It's too bright."



DINKALSEN SPANK has turned on FLAT LIGHTING.

"This is better," he muses.



It kinda is? You're uncertain.

Regardless, there's only one thing to do now-- and that's wait for FURTHER INSTRUCTION.

The NARRATOR whispers to you and asks you politely to pretend that the candle was a pile of string all along.

Wow what a complete failure of a person!!