002 - Growing Pains

[tabularasa_mods]

Growing Pains State of the World ▲ Locations ▼ Bestiary
OOC ▲ Comments A Light In The Darkness
Light seems to have been especially tricky for the world to comprehend, but it finally, finally seems to have figured things out. Light comes from more than just the sky, and now signs and lamps that were once dark have begun to glow brightly. From the Wall Market's dazzling exhibition of color to the dimmed street lamps of the City of Tears, the whole world has been made bright and lively once more without losing the comfort and tranquility that darkness brings. Even the broken screens of the Hammerlocke Stadium give off a pleasant glow, and the world doesn't seem to care that some lights need electricity to stay on - lights are simply lights, as far as the world seems concerned.

Unfortunately, these new lights are a little too simple. Without any need for a power source, there's no way to turn the lights off - if something is deemed a light source, it will always function as a light source. The only way to stop it is to destroy the object beyond recognition, but that might not be the most practical solution. Covering up the lights is the next best thing, but it's a task that's easier with some sources than others. At least no one needs to sleep yet.

Difficulties aside, now seems like the perfect time to start exploring all those new corners of the world that were previously too dark to navigate. Fire is an easy, safe and portable light source that anyone can use, and it even puts itself out after awhile. Just be careful not to get stuck in the dark by a stray breeze.

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Who's Hungry?
Animals need to eat. People need to eat. These are simple facts that people lost in the strange, changing landscape all seem to be well aware of, yet appear to not apply to this world. That is not to say that people can’t eat or drink, for many people do, but there is no actual need. Eating provides nothing but the knowledge that one has eaten, and anyone might go without food entirely. Lately, some might have found eating has become more satisfying and fulfilling an act, as though food is providing them with a vaguely-defined something they didn’t get before. It doesn’t seem to mean much in the grand scheme of things, but perhaps it allows them some sense of normality.

When hunger sets in, it’s sudden. Every person, whether or not they ever needed to eat in their homeland, is hit with a powerful, overwhelming sense of hunger, to the point it feels that if they do not eat they will soon starve. Those who have never eaten in all their time here might easily find themselves so hungry they can barely even move, and have little choice but to eat. Fortunately, food is plentiful. If it can be put in the mouth, chewed and swallowed, it is food, and thus will give a person temporary relief from their hunger. What goes in does not appear to come out, instead simply becoming part of that person and revitalizing them. How long it takes to feel hungry again seems entirely random, and each time there is no lead up - someone is either fine, or they are starving, without any in-between.

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Starving Mad Beasts
When people suddenly remember hunger, so too do the animals of the world. For some creatures this isn't an issue - the tall-necked beasts continue to graze on the treetops like they always have, and the smaller creatures seem content with snacking on whatever small scraps they can find. Not all creatures are so easily satisfied, however, and the more aggressive ones have turned to attacking other species for food.

The vicious water dragons are quick to clamp their mouths on anything within reach... but, lacking teeth, this doesn't amount to much. Still, they're as persistent as ever, and in a way their inability to viciously devour their prey only makes them more dangerous. These beasts are starving, and for all their skill in chasing down prey they can do little to actually eat their catch, which means they're constantly on the hunt and out to get anything that moves. Perhaps it might even be a good idea to help them out, if feeding the fish might make them a little less aggressive.

The machines are far better equipped for hunting, and all the more dangerous now that they're hungry enough to take a bite out of someone. Death is not a concept the world understands, so it's not like they're doing any permanent harm, but it's still a bit unnerving to see animals limping by with bite-sized chunks taken out of them. They haven't had a taste of people yet, but it doesn't seem like it'll be long before they try.

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Mushroom Hunting
Mushrooms are a new sight within the world, and a perfect snack to satisfy that sudden debilitating hunger! Harvesting them can be a bit of a problem, however. For one, they are massive, and the task of cutting one down and breaking it into edible chunks is made much easier with a group of people than one person working alone. Finding the mushrooms in their dark habitats may also be difficult... although, it is much easier to spot a mushroom the size of an entire person compared to something much smaller.

The real problem with mushroom hunting is where they can grow, which is nearly anywhere indoors. Though light now comes from other sources besides the sky, there are still buildings with dark corners that might suddenly acquire a giant mushroom or two (or three, or four) if left alone. And if those mushrooms are allowed to remain, they may just continue to grow, and grow, and grow...

So, if you don't want giant mushrooms bursting through your roof, it might be a good idea to keep an eye out for them before that happens.

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code bases by tricklet

Comments

[begetblue]

[ RIP Turing. They had a good, if short, life! Bury them under a nice tree, okay.

They did stop struggling once Leo advised them not to, but that once again left them without anything to do, and the only real silver lining was that they were small and light enough to be carried by most people. All they had left at the moment was their voice, or rather, sound. ]

It...it's okay. Don't panic.

[ They didn't feel okay, not at all, but they were left with little else to say with Leo so distressed. There were calming ocean sound files that Turing was certain were still in their personal memory somewhere, but the actual data stubbornly eluded them. Maybe they could improvise with some white noise? Some humans found that soothing too, right?

They hoped this would work. ]

Does that help?

[bachagain]

[ oh no, they're such a nice robot. that makes it even more terrible if they, like, die. not that they're going to die? what the hell, god. why're you throwing this specific hurdle in his way?

leo does seem to calm down a bit, though. it's less the unexpected sound that gets it, but more the realization that his mood might be negatively affecting turing. he's not the one directly in trouble, so-- he shouldn't be the one being reassured?

he offers a little glance down at the robot in his arms, and: ]

Ahh... You're the one in trouble, so focus on your own situation only! Don't worry about me!

[ he WILL fix this!!

and fortunately they're in wall market because i said so, so at least leo doesn't have to struggle too long as he squints and makes his way to the first stand he can. ]

[begetblue]

But...

[ That was pretty much all the resistance Turing could offer outside of a worried frown. You not only get to deal with a nice robot, but a nice, sad robot. You're welcome, Leo.

As counter-intuitive as it may have sounded, the smell of the food stands drew Turing's notice, and their head turned in the direction of the stand. It wasn't like the smell was new to them, so why did it seem so much more appealing now? How strange. ]

What is that?

[bachagain]

[ no... stop throwing these things on leo! he doesn't deserve it!

... but, like, maybe he does. whether this is punishment for his past sins or not, he really is going to try the best he can for this sad, nice robot. he's not certain about the exact contents of the stand just yet until he makes his way inside, but the smell itself hints at: ]

BBQ... I think! How about it? Does it smell good? D'you feel some energy coming back already?

[ imagine saying that to a robot.

but leo does, trying to make light of this situation as he... hopes very much that this far-fetched, absurd idea works. getting into the stand confirms his guesses, as he crouches on down to place turing gently against the nearest wall. ]

[begetblue]

It does smell nice.

[ Despite their condition, they weren't feeling so badly that they didn't recognize Leo was trying to help them feel better. Even if in all other case it would sound a bit silly. They could only manage a small smile, but it was a genuine one. Once Leo set them down, they slumped against the wall slightly, lacking the power to keep themselves completely upright. ]

My condition has not improved... Yet.

[ Did they add the 'yet' entirely for Leo's benefit? Maybe. ]

[bachagain]

... Right, right! Yet!

[ yet. he still has no idea if this'll work... but he gets to collecting a little amount of food first, quickly, as he glances now and again back to turing to make sure they're okay. smaller, thinner sections on a plate...

he'll speak as he does so. maybe to give turing an idea what he's doing, or offer some kind of reassurance, who knows-- ]

This sounds kinda silly to say to a cute robot, but I'm guessing that... maybe you're hungry. I got tired too, earlier, so... the timing makes me think it's something weird with this place again? I dunno--

[ --it helps to rationalize himself here a little bit, too. like what he's doing isn't from pointless panic. ]

[begetblue]

[ Their expression relaxed as Leo narrated what he was doing, which was maybe a bit strange to see with their face being on a screen. It helped to hear exactly what was happening when things were so uncertain for them at the moment. And, well, the fact that Turing wasn't panicking at the moment counted for something, right? The key words there being "at the moment."

Being called cute also didn't escape their notice, but this was really not the time to explain how a cute or otherwise endearing exterior had been vital for facilitating the large-scale use of ROMs. Perhaps later. ]

I...don't have a mouth that could be used for consuming food.

[ Would the Void make them need to eat without accounting for whether someone could or not? Were they going to be stuck like this forever if it had? Oh dear. ]

[bachagain]

[ more easily than it should be: ]

That's fine!

[ did he not really register that sentence at all because he's too focused on his task? if your guess was yes, then you'd be correct! because in the middle of his foraging, leo tsukinaga sure is turning around rather quickly and-- ]

... Ah, wait, wait! That's not fine!

[ --and he at least has some meat on the plate, so he's rushing on over to turing again. it's not as if the amount matters much, given his whole plan is?? ruined?? the lack of mouth had absolutely escaped his stupid!! notice!! in his panic.

so, um, now he's looking sad, nice robot over. plan b? plan b. there's no plan b. ]

How do they expect you to eat...? [ ... ] Do you... have an outlet or something? Like, um, where you charge? Ah, what the heck am I saying! I shouldn't be shoving food there!

[ STOP THIS ]

[begetblue]

[ To Leo's credit, he sounded so confident that it actually reassured Turing. There was something to be said about talking like you knew what you were doing in a stressful situation! Of course, that didn't last too long, but still. It was a positive trait regardless. ]

Please don't shove food anywhere...

[ OKAY uh yeah Turing was going to look very alarmed at the idea of shoving food anywhere. They were going to have to think of something fast. Not only for the obvious reason, but because Leo definitely seemed to be panicking and that was no good. They touched their face as they thought. Turing had no chin to hold in a thoughtful manner, so that was pretty much the best they could do. ]

Maybe--?!

[ And then their fingers phased through the mouth on their display as they spoke. Ummmmm. That wasn't supposed to happen. ]