006 - Connecting Lines, Connecting Lives

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Connecting Lines, Connecting Lives New Imprints ▲ Comments The Ground Shakes
It begins unremarkably enough, with the light tremors of the ground so small they might easily go unnoticed, or else dismissed as the movement of some creature nearby. As time goes on, however, those little tremors begin to grow in both strength and duration, the length of time shortening between each one. To begin with only small, light, unsecured objects are rattled loose by the rumbling of the ground, but as the tremors grow in strength there is a growing danger of much larger things being moved.

The realm’s clear lack of understanding of how things work cannot be relied upon in such a situation. If the tremors have grown strong enough to throw all the books of Hammerhead to the ground and throw over all the clothes rails and capsule machines and furniture in the Academy, then what if they grow strong enough to move the heavy blanket of snow atop Mount Silver? What if they grow strong enough to damage the caverns within?

Then there is the question of how, or why, the realm has made the land shake. It must surely have picked up the idea of an earthquake from someone, right? An answer to the question is not immediately forthcoming, but should one stay low to the ground and listen, they might well hear the muffled, distorted sound of screaming.

Creature Chaos
As the rumbling and shaking continues, it is clear to see that the local wildlife has been disturbed, and they seem remarkably active. Critters can be seen running and flying to and fro, and any who go out to investigate may find themselves the center of attention. Brushboys may paint arrows on the ground in an effort to lead them somewhere, or bluurgobos might actively offer rides, or the flying cat-like creatures will excitedly circle someone before attempting to lead them somewhere. Going along with them will lead to one of two places:

1. The meaty, pulsating, cavernous tunnels of Mementos shudder and convulse in a way quite unlike before, and closer inspection will quickly reveal why. The flesh has been cut and torn, hacked apart, leaving gaping and bleeding wounds to spill over the subway tracks. Whichever critter has brought someone here excitedly gestures towards the wounds, and as it does a giant and painful shudder goes through the tunnels and shakes the earth. All those earthquakes… could this be the source?


2. The road to the Hammerlocke Citadel Ruins are as long as winding as ever, and precarious with the risk of an earthquake dislodging snow and rock from the mountainside. The animal that has taken the lead is on a mission, however, as unclear as that mission might be. On arriving, it turns its attention to a group of the spiky, bear-headed beasts that are lazing about as though the land is not currently shaking and quaking around them, and tries to draw their attention. Clearly, these bear heads are expected to do something, and they aren’t doing it.

First Words
Though the tremors have finally stopped, they have left a significant change to the World in their wake. Where the ground above was once flat and untouched, there now lay cracks and fissures that glow with a strange, but enchantingly warm light. There doesn’t seem to be a single area that has been left untouched by them - though the number of cracks are denser in some places than others, it’s difficult to find a place completely devoid of them. Could this be the world’s attempt at trying to heal itself?

If all of that wasn’t enough to warrant investigation, the sound of whispers that appear to be coming from they might do the trick. Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes apparent that the whispers aren’t coming from the lights, but from inside your own head. Focus a little more, and some of the voices may sound familiar…

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Comments

[bridge_princess]

I've been trying noooooot to make jokes about that since we eat them and the eggs they produce, but they absolutely do look like that.

[She coughed uncomfortably into the feed. Yeah, she'd caught that little mini-conversation.]

This place is so weird about monsters sometimes.

[forwearemany]

Jokes have been made by multiple individuals. Additionally, Proteus appears to be aware of the resemblance between certain foodstuffs and genitalia.

(At least, it seems to be aware of the mushrooms.)

Though "weird", the lifeforms here are considerably less dangerous than others we have encountered.

[bridge_princess]

Ngh. Common denominator in so much humor. Genitalia, heh.

...

I think you're right though. The worst I've seen has been creatures any youkai could handle. Nothing that absolutely overwhelms. It hasn't really figured out injury either, so maybe it's easing into that...

or maybe it doesn't want really dangerous creatures.

[forwearemany]

We do not understand organic preoccupation with sexual organs.

(They don't see the humor in dicks. Or any other part.)

Perhaps. The most dangerous creatures we are aware of have not appeared, even in altered form.

[bridge_princess]

That's an Envy thing. Trust me. I'm well aware of that envy for centuries. They're always trying to figure out who has the biggest one, as if that was the most important thing. [She shrugged.] I definitely know it's an easy way to manipulate a lot of dumb guys. A little too low brow even for me.

Same for me. None of the really nasty stuff has shown up from Gensokyo yet.

[forwearemany]

We do not understand this obsession with size.

(Does it relate to health? Virility?

...Legion is glad they do not share these fascinations.)

Acknowledged.

[bridge_princess]

Wellll, basically guys think that if you're bigger you're better in bed. Girls tell them that "It's not the tool's size, but how you use it," but at the end of the day it's more or less a matter of masculine pride mixed with preferences in sexual partners. And I get the feeling society sort of builds this idea in their heads that if you're not a certain size you're too small.

[Weirdly, this wasn't uncomfortable at all. She was talking about jealousy after all.]

Humans can be ... really dumb like this.

[forwearemany]

...Affirmative.

(They still don't entirely get it. Why does this result in so many jokes?

However, it seems unlikely that further explanation will enlighten.)

[bridge_princess]

Basically, humans are stupid. Human males are even more stupid than average.

[She could practically see the stupefaction in the lack of expression, cause yeah. She'd be confused if someone explained that for the first time.]

[forwearemany]

...Though irrational, Humans have displayed an incredible array of capabilities, both intellectual and otherwise.

(Legion doesn't think Humans are stupid, but Legion's people were created by a similar species of organics.)

[bridge_princess]

How's this? Humans are stupid about this thing? Because I'll give you that they're pretty good at coming up with all kinds of stuff if you give them enough time.

...

Actually, I think it's usually just the petty social rituals that are where they get really dumb in my experience?

[forwearemany]

...Acknowledged.

(That works. They've seen humans be pretty dumb in specific circumstances. Even those that are otherwise very intelligent.)

It seems likely this applies to all organics.

[bridge_princess]

I don't have a lot of experience with non-Youkai, non-human and non-lunarian, and Lunarians are kinda crazy. Hence the word Lunacy. but I think you're pretty much right there. It seems most organic life forms get into the same sort of stupidity.

Different parts, different flavors, same basic stuff.

[forwearemany]

Affirmative.

(They love organics, but ...)

[bridge_princess]

So, we both know you're not perfect no matter how I might pretend otherwise sometimes just to mess with you. I'm curious. You're pretty good at self-reflection.

What's something that complicates synethics' lives? Obviously not the same as us organics.

[forwearemany]

(They pause, programs babbling amongst themselves as they consider.

There are many things that complicate synthetic lives. Given the previous topic of discussion, however, it is likely she is seeking something irrational and ridiculous.)

It is common for us to be easily mesmerized by sources of unpredictability and novelty, even when the value of such output is limited. (Like how they kind of zoned out staring at the water clock before it was actually able to accurrately tell time. It was completely useless, but they couldn't predict the results, and that made it fascinating.) Logical paradoxes may invoke similar responses.

(Admittedly, the degree to which the latter affects them is far les than the stereotype might lead one to believe. Not that Parsee is aware of the stereotype.)

[bridge_princess]

Oh... so... human pastimes that have no obvious purpose, or random, unpredictable crap that they get into would be fascinating?

...

No wonder you're so curious about them.

[forwearemany]

...

(They hadn't thought about it like that. She can probably tell from their random background broacasts that they hadn't thought about it like that.)

Yes.

[bridge_princess]

Humans have a whole lot of those things. I think most "organics" probably do. Something about a culture that has all the time in the world on its hands, whose survival isn't in question? They just start coming up with diversions.

It's interesting how little you do that.

[forwearemany]

Perhaps.

(Or maybe watching others engage in unpredictable behavior is their pointless diversion.

Then again, Legion does spend a decent amount of time just standing around, doing nothing. At least until they get lonely.)