A Merchant's Garden

Ask Blog of a simple masked merchant who adores his garden. And lots of cake. Too Much.

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

Hola Friends, seems I may be stuck currently. Whether that be physically or mentally is yet to be seen. If any of you see this, please do reach out.

Your friendly neighborhood videogame merchant,

Zacharie Martinez.

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

I think I need a raise for all the bull$hit I deal with here.. Dios mio I need a nap.

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

@ask-a-merchants-garden, continued from hence ask.

"Hm..Oh! si it is, but not in the way you may think amigo! All sugar here is made from grown and harvested Sugarcane, we no longer do the Smokestacks since the Re-Wiring.

[Stands a tad more rigid until shaking himself from his stupor and refocusing on the topic at hand.] ... ///

It was a bit odd to eat a cake in the Zones, and for a moment Zacharie hesitated as the other pushed the plate towards him. The...years here had made him somewhat averse to sugar, even if he never really was hungry.

To be fair the first few times he had indulged with Sucre...well, the ramifications of that particular bit were not best pondered upon. But it did mean that he would be hypocritical if he suddenly decided that he was diabetic.

So Zacharie did what any sensible person would do. He picked up the entire slice, regarded it critically, tilted up his mask, and shoved it into his piehole.

"Prfehty gfoord johrb." The other Zacharie - no, Martinez or Zachie, for simplicity's sake, blinked. Zacharie rolled his eyes, and swallowed. "̴P̵r̷e̷t̴t̷y̷ ̴g̵o̷o̶d̴ ̸j̸o̴b̴.̶ G̸o̵o̷d̷ ̸u̶s̷e̵ ̷o̴f̷ ̸a̸l̶l̶ ̶t̸h̵a̵t̴ ̴t̸i̸m̴e̶ ̷o̵n̵ ̷o̵u̶r̵ ̸h̵a̴n̶d̵s̷.̷ ̷Y̶o̸u̷ ̵s̶h̴o̸u̷l̶d̸ ̸t̵r̶a̴v̸e̷l̷ ̵o̶u̸t̸s̴i̶d̵e̴ ̴y̵o̷u̸r̸s̵e̶l̸f̵ ̸-̸ ̸m̷a̴k̴e̶ ̵a̸ ̴s̷m̴a̴l̶l̵ ̴f̴o̵r̸t̵u̷n̶e̴.̶ M̴a̵y̷b̴e̷ ̶a̵ ̸M̴a̶r̵t̷i̷n̸e̸z̷ ̷P̷a̴t̶i̶s̸s̵e̷r̴i̴e̴ ̴f̷r̵a̸n̸c̸h̶i̷s̶e̷ ̵a̴s̵ ̷w̷e̶l̴l̸.̸"

The cake was velvety. Was that the right term to use? It tasted...well, sweet. Maybe not enough - an eyelid, unnoticed, twitched at that thought.

He hurriedly put the plate down.

"I̶ ̶p̶e̵r̸s̸o̵n̴a̴l̵l̶y̴ ̷d̵o̵n̷'̴t̸ ̷h̷a̶v̷e̸ ̵a̵ ̴m̸a̶r̸k̸e̵t̷a̸b̴l̵e̵ ̴n̶a̴m̴e̴;̸ ̵o̷u̶r̸ ̶s̸h̵a̶r̸e̴d̵ ̶t̸r̷a̷d̷e̸m̶a̶r̵k̷ ̴s̵e̵r̸v̷e̴s̷ ̵i̸t̷s̷ ̶p̵u̷r̸p̵o̵s̶e̷ ̴a̵ ̴b̸i̵t̶ ̷t̸o̵o̴ ̶w̴e̷l̶l̸.̴" he said, "B̴u̶t̴ ̶t̷h̷e̷y̶ ̴u̸s̵e̸d̸ ̴t̴o̶ ̷s̸h̷o̴r̴t̷e̸n̸ ̶m̴y̸ ̶U̴R̶L̴ ̶a̴ ̵b̷i̶t̷.̸ N̴o̶t̵ ̷a̷ ̶g̴o̵o̶d̵ ̵l̴o̷o̷k̴ ̷w̷h̴e̴n̵ ̸y̷o̸u̴ ̴g̵r̸o̶w̷ ̵o̴l̷d̴e̵r̵,̴ ̸b̷u̷t̸ ̴l̶e̸t̷'̵s̴ ̶g̸o̵ ̸w̵i̶t̵h̸ ̶t̸h̶a̵t̷.̸"

And as for travel...

"It̷ ̴h̴a̵s̷ ̷b̵e̷e̷n̵ ̴a̷ ̴w̴h̴i̵l̷e̷.̴ ̵T̴h̵e̴ ̸l̷a̵s̸t̵ ̴I̴ ̸r̷e̷m̵e̸m̷b̵e̸r̵ ̸w̵a̶s̵ ̶d̴r̸i̸n̴k̸i̷n̸g̴ ̵q̵u̴i̶t̷e̸ ̶h̷e̷a̸v̸i̴l̴y̷ ̸t̸o̵ ̶e̶s̸c̴a̷p̶e̸ ̶s̸o̸m̵e̸ ̶q̵u̶e̶s̴t̷i̴o̶n̶s̵.̴" he said, rubbing his chin. Maybe he might have stocks of tea in his bag for this. "B̵u̶t̵ ̴a̸ ̶f̸e̷w̷ ̵j̸a̷u̴n̶t̵s̸.̸.̶.̵ ̶w̵e̸l̶l̵,̸ ̸C̵h̵i̴c̷a̴g̵o̸ ̴w̵i̶t̸h̸ ̴a̴ ̸c̴i̶t̸y̵w̵i̵d̴e̵ ̶A̶I̸ ̶s̶e̴e̷m̶s̷ ̶t̵o̵ ̶b̸e̸ ̸p̸o̵p̷p̸i̷n̸g̴ ̸u̷p̷ ̷q̵u̴i̶t̵e̴ ̶a̶ ̵b̶i̷t̷ ̸i̷n̸ ̸m̵y̷ ̴m̵e̸m̶o̴r̷i̷e̷s̸.̷ ̵O̷r̵ ̷t̸h̸a̷t̵ ̶p̴o̸s̴t̷-̸a̶p̶o̶c̵a̶l̷y̶p̸t̷i̴c̸ ̶e̸a̸r̷t̵h̷ ̷w̸h̶e̸r̴e̴ ̷i̶t̷ ̶w̷a̶s̷ ̶i̸n̵ ̴t̴h̶e̸ ̸g̷l̵a̴r̷i̶n̵g̴ ̷s̷u̴n̸ ̶p̸e̷r̵m̶a̴n̵e̷n̷t̴l̶y̴.̷.̶.̶"

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

ask-a-merchants-garden​:

(xyz)

[Zachie nodded slowly digesting what Insane said. While true for so many of them at any given point in their games, he found himself even more confounded.]

Hmm.. I find I’m going to have to respond with both a Yes and a No amigo..

Guess it’s time to stop stalling then heheh

You know the way Zones are usually set: Zone 1, Zone 2, Alma, Vesper.. Well things aren’t like that here (At least not anymore)

Each Zone here is seperated and known by its individual Eternal Seasonal Setting: The Spring Zone, Harvest Zone, Summer Zone, Winter Zone, and finally The True Zone. Each with its own populace and specific usage to the rest of the "game”. With the entities residing within them serving in their own roles to benifit all the areas as a Whole.

[A (frankly lovely heheh) Chart scrolls across depicting the many areas and sharing some examples of products created within them. Ie: Milk, Wheat, Sugar, Meat, Decor etc.]

And as you can obviously tell my Shop is set here in Spring. The infection spreading across it all was indeed not intended, yet I feel I may already know why it has done so.

[He sighs, a penitent tremble in his breath as a hand clasps to his chest.]

I’ve only myself to blame.

Off.. The Game.. The Routine.. I guess I couldn’t do it anymore? Couldn’t stand and watch those I care for be lost to endless resets time and time again. Couldn’t watch idly as moments shared became utterly meaningless with the flip of a switch? Honestly the true reasoning is lost to it to now, but what I do know is that at some point.. Something snapped. And I couldn’t FUCKING take it. And well.. Now we’re here.

Of course that’s summing up alot of important details, but I feel it fills its purpose of giving you something to chew on heheh. As for my current situation? After all of it was said and done, I found myself becoming lethargic, sick. Unable to leave from my Zone for long periods of time. Then it was my shop I couldn’t leave without feeling the same. Then came the storm. I fear amigo that I may be trapped in my very own “The Room”.

I hope that makes some semblance of sense, sometimes I find it doesn’t even to myself.

So after losing it all, yes it may all be as all flowers do turn to dust eventually.. yet it’s all I have left to grasp to. I served my simple merchants purpose..so why can’t we plant our own gardens?

However I do suppose that lends itself to this eventual conclusion; a cold and unrelenting downfall.

[Storm clouds that have since gathered during their conversation started sifting snow downwards, lightly dusting the two of them in prickles of white. Though the snow that gathers onto Zachie does not melt. ]

It had been a while since he was referred to by that appellation. He did miss it.

Zacharie almost got clipped by the chart as it darted across the world for a moment, but managed to duck underneath in time.

The presentation was...interesting - at least. There were files that operated quite differently - tricks in the code, fluctuations in the writing, or an absolutely different story being told; seasonal zones, while being a bit different, were not exactly too wild for Zacharie. This he said out loud.

"A̵n̴d̵ ̴j̷u̵s̷t̴ ̸a̶s̷ ̸u̸n̷i̵v̸e̵r̸s̴a̵l̵ ̵i̶s̴ ̴t̸h̸i̵s̶ ̵e̷n̶n̵u̶i̸ ̷a̵n̵d̵ ̵c̸o̴n̷s̶t̵a̶n̸t̴ ̵r̶e̸t̷r̵a̴u̶m̴a̷t̶i̴s̷a̷t̷i̷o̷n̸,̸ ̶i̵s̸n̸'̵t̵ ̷i̴t̶.̸" It wasn't exactly a question, more a voiced truth than anything.

"A̵n̴d̷ ̵w̴e̸," he paused, leaning over the balcony, "W̶e̸ ̸b̵r̷e̴a̸k̵ ̸i̸n̴ ̶s̶l̷i̸g̶h̴t̶l̴y̶ ̶d̷i̷f̵f̷e̴r̵e̶n̶t̷ ̷w̸a̶y̷s̵.̴ ̸Y̶o̶u̴ ̸s̵m̵a̶s̵h̸e̵d̶ ̴s̶o̷m̶e̶ ̸t̷h̵i̵n̷g̵s̸,̷ ̷d̵r̷o̷w̷n̸ ̵i̶n̸ ̴t̸h̷e̵ ̵c̴o̸n̸s̵e̵q̸u̷e̵n̴c̴e̴s̵,̵ ̷I̷ ̶r̸a̵n̵ ̸a̸n̵d̷ ̷b̷e̶c̸a̶m̸e̶ ̷w̶i̸l̴d̸,̶ ̵t̵r̷y̷i̶n̸g̸ ̷t̷o̷ ̵e̷s̵c̴a̴p̵e̶ ̶t̴h̶e̷m̵"

There were memories that he couldn't really recall much of, anymore, outside of dreams, reminiscences, and the occasional (in)convenient additions to his own character and development. But he remembered too vividly the first time the switch was flicked and everything started to crumble and he found himself in a loop of stage lines and directions. The ensuing repeats and struggles to escape the cycles stretched overlong, before he managed to figure out that even a Purified Zone 2 had accessible L-Space...

It was strange, he thought, that Zachie and he took different approaches, seemingly antithetical to their personalities. One ran, and one broke things.

And the consequences for Zachie loomed near and far: a storm and a man unable - psychologically and physically - to leave.

"I̷s̷ ̷y̸o̶u̵r̷ ̷Z̴o̵n̶e̶ ̶t̶r̴y̷i̷n̴g̸ ̵t̸o̴ ̷m̴a̴k̶e̸ ̷y̶o̵u̶ ̸a̵ ̷G̵u̸a̶r̸d̶i̴a̵n̸?̶" Zacharie asked casually. "W̶e̷i̶r̶d̶e̴r̶ ̵t̴h̵i̸n̸g̷s̶ ̴h̷a̷v̵e̵ ̵h̷a̴p̸p̴e̵n̶e̷d̸.̴ ̷I̸ ̵t̷h̵i̷n̴k̸ ̶I̵ ̵w̴a̴s̸ ̵a̴l̷m̴o̶s̷t̶ ̸p̶r̷e̸s̶s̴-̷g̷a̵n̴g̷e̸d̷ ̶i̵n̷t̵o̷ ̴b̶e̵c̸o̴m̴i̷n̸g̶ ̴Z̷o̷n̵e̵ ̷0̶'̴s̶ ̴i̷n̵ ̵s̴o̷m̸e̷ ̷c̶y̴c̷l̴e̵s̷.̷ ̴P̷a̷b̵l̶o̵ ̸g̶e̶n̵e̶r̷a̴l̶l̶y̴ ̴i̵n̸t̷e̷r̷f̵e̶r̴e̴d̸ ̷q̶u̷i̴c̶k̴l̵y̶ ̵e̶n̵o̶u̴g̵h̷ ̵f̵o̴r̷ ̶t̷h̸a̶t̸.̵ ̵B̴u̵t̶ ̸I̴ ̸a̵l̷s̷o̷ ̶t̴e̸n̶d̴ ̵t̷o̴ ̵e̸s̷c̶a̵p̴e̶ ̷q̶u̸i̴c̵k̵l̴y̶ ̸e̷n̶o̵u̸g̷h̸ ̵ ̵-̷ ̶t̶h̸e̸ ̷m̶u̵s̶i̶c̸ ̷b̶o̷x̴ ̴a̸n̶d̸ ̷l̶i̶b̴r̵a̷r̶i̴e̸s̷,̴ ̷f̷o̵r̵ ̵o̵n̶e̸."

He looked into the distance for a bit more, thinking.

"I̷t̴ ̸r̶e̸a̸l̸l̵y̷ ̸i̷s̴ ̵a̴ ̸s̴h̴a̶m̴e̶ ̵a̶b̷o̶u̵t̶ ̶y̷o̷u̶r̶ ̸f̵l̸o̸w̶e̵r̴s̸,̸"̸" he finally said, "̴I̴ ̷d̴o̸ ̷l̷i̴k̵e̷ ̸f̴l̵o̵w̵e̸r̴s̶.̷ ̶A̴ ̴n̵i̴c̸e̷r̴ ̸b̵i̶t̵ ̸o̶f̶ ̵c̶o̶l̵o̸u̵r̶ ̶i̷n̷ ̷t̸h̷e̶ ̸Z̷o̷n̴e̵s̵.̸" The snow settled on him and he dusted it off. He should really be wearing something more suited to this - but he hadn't expect to stumble across a climate infection.

̸"̶I̸ ̶m̵i̷g̷h̷t̶ ̵b̶e̵ ̵a̷b̴l̴e̴ ̴t̶o̶ ̴p̷r̵o̶c̴u̶r̴e̵ ̶y̸o̸u̴ ̶s̷o̸m̶e̷ ̶h̴e̶a̶t̸e̵r̵s̶ ̸-̷ ̷f̸r̴o̸m̸ ̵Z̸o̸n̴e̸ ̴3̶,̷ ̴i̶f̷ ̸y̷o̸u̴ ̸t̴h̸i̵n̴k̴ ̸i̸t̶ ̶n̷e̵c̵e̷s̵s̸a̸r̷y̶.̷"̶

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

[Leaning on his hip Zachie chuckled lightly nodding aggreably. Yes despite it all it was true that he was surrounded whether he knew it or not, by other Zacharies sharing the same miseries. He wished it could be different but as they say c'est la vie]

If it were as simple as being a guardian I think I would have at least been able to go around the Zone I reside..no I think this may be more akin to Hugo's old situation. I am trapped in a world of my own creation..and for whatever reason I do not know, its falling apart.

[He shrugged, despite the questions, despite this mess he's in. It felt good to get it out there to someone other than himself. Well not himself himself at least heh. And that someone being a merchant who though went through the same ebb and flow felt and dealt with it all differently. Refreshing a perspective it may be, he wondered if Insane was still running even now. He would save his questions for now. ]

Perhaps I am a basilisk having frozen myself in an effort to preserve what little I have left. Watching hopelessly as it shatters before me?

[Looking skyward at the swirling inconsistant mass of clouds, musing on their conversation. He reached a hand outward catching some of the white flakes. Cold yet temporary they melted quickly upon contact. If it all was a manifestation of his mind..perhaps it could change again? ]

If you've any ideas Insane, amigo I'm open to suggestions. And ah, if I am able to escape this tiny prison maybe I could lend some aid to you. If you'd like that is. We've both gone through hell and highwater just to reach a modicum of peace and earnestly why can't we all eventually replant our gardens? This winter is heavy, blinding, but it can't be all there is. (However I will definately take a heater if you can procure one amigo, I may be used to this but dios mio a break from it does sound good. Heheh)

[Taking a deep breath he pauses once more on the ledge. He felt lighter as did the clouds overhead as the snow slowed to a light flurry. Despite their meeting having only been a short time ago, the kinship was something hard to come by. So what Zachie was to do was an act of that kinship. Taking his mask gently, the strings slackened as though never tied. Pulling the mask off fully he looked over and a small smile grew on his face. An offer of trust though he didn't expect Insane to react in kind. Zachie after so lomg spent by himself with himself had grown numb to his own appearance though he knows the sentiment behind the need of a mask to other Merchants.]

Heh if you enjoy flowers, you really should've seen this Zone in its heyday. Blooms both curated and wild of every size and color for as far as the eye can see! [Gesturing he threw his arms out wide toward the white field]

And maybe one day I can show you instead of telling you. Y'know.. I'm of the mindset that we all have our own flower we match to. Hm.. Eventually I'll prepare you your very own crown of blooms like i used to for others, and we can see which call to you amigo heheheh.

[He pondered what kind of bouquet would match a man who's life has been spent running from temporary intersection into other worlds and interactions before moving on must be like. Plagued by experiance but emboldened by it. Maybe something resiliant, growing anywhere, but different everytime? Clover flowers, Lupine, Maybe Marigold even? ]

Ah-! Lo siento I was getting off topic as you can tell Im very passionate for this hobby of mine heh..where was I..? Si. Before we head inside, I would like to say one thing.

"Mun"

a trip to a beach sounds more than lovely if possible!~

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

@ask-a-merchants-garden, continued from hence ask.

"Hm..Oh! si it is, but not in the way you may think amigo! All sugar here is made from grown and harvested Sugarcane, we no longer do the Smokestacks since the Re-Wiring.

[Stands a tad more rigid until shaking himself from his stupor and refocusing on the topic at hand.] ... ///

It was a bit odd to eat a cake in the Zones, and for a moment Zacharie hesitated as the other pushed the plate towards him. The...years here had made him somewhat averse to sugar, even if he never really was hungry.

To be fair the first few times he had indulged with Sucre...well, the ramifications of that particular bit were not best pondered upon. But it did mean that he would be hypocritical if he suddenly decided that he was diabetic.

So Zacharie did what any sensible person would do. He picked up the entire slice, regarded it critically, tilted up his mask, and shoved it into his piehole.

"Prfehty gfoord johrb." The other Zacharie - no, Martinez or Zachie, for simplicity's sake, blinked. Zacharie rolled his eyes, and swallowed. "̴P̵r̷e̷t̴t̷y̷ ̴g̵o̷o̶d̴ ̸j̸o̴b̴.̶ G̸o̵o̷d̷ ̸u̶s̷e̵ ̷o̴f̷ ̸a̸l̶l̶ ̶t̸h̵a̵t̴ ̴t̸i̸m̴e̶ ̷o̵n̵ ̷o̵u̶r̵ ̸h̵a̴n̶d̵s̷.̷ ̷Y̶o̸u̷ ̵s̶h̴o̸u̷l̶d̸ ̸t̵r̶a̴v̸e̷l̷ ̵o̶u̸t̸s̴i̶d̵e̴ ̴y̵o̷u̸r̸s̵e̶l̸f̵ ̸-̸ ̸m̷a̴k̴e̶ ̵a̸ ̴s̷m̴a̴l̶l̵ ̴f̴o̵r̸t̵u̷n̶e̴.̶ M̴a̵y̷b̴e̷ ̶a̵ ̸M̴a̶r̵t̷i̷n̸e̸z̷ ̷P̷a̴t̶i̶s̸s̵e̷r̴i̴e̴ ̴f̷r̵a̸n̸c̸h̶i̷s̶e̷ ̵a̴s̵ ̷w̷e̶l̴l̸.̸"

The cake was velvety. Was that the right term to use? It tasted...well, sweet. Maybe not enough - an eyelid, unnoticed, twitched at that thought.

He hurriedly put the plate down.

"I̶ ̶p̶e̵r̸s̸o̵n̴a̴l̵l̶y̴ ̷d̵o̵n̷'̴t̸ ̷h̷a̶v̷e̸ ̵a̵ ̴m̸a̶r̸k̸e̵t̷a̸b̴l̵e̵ ̴n̶a̴m̴e̴;̸ ̵o̷u̶r̸ ̶s̸h̵a̶r̸e̴d̵ ̶t̸r̷a̷d̷e̸m̶a̶r̵k̷ ̴s̵e̵r̸v̷e̴s̷ ̵i̸t̷s̷ ̶p̵u̷r̸p̵o̵s̶e̷ ̴a̵ ̴b̸i̵t̶ ̷t̸o̵o̴ ̶w̴e̷l̶l̸.̴" he said, "B̴u̶t̴ ̶t̷h̷e̷y̶ ̴u̸s̵e̸d̸ ̴t̴o̶ ̷s̸h̷o̴r̴t̷e̸n̸ ̶m̴y̸ ̶U̴R̶L̴ ̶a̴ ̵b̷i̶t̷.̸ N̴o̶t̵ ̷a̷ ̶g̴o̵o̶d̵ ̵l̴o̷o̷k̴ ̷w̷h̴e̴n̵ ̸y̷o̸u̴ ̴g̵r̸o̶w̷ ̵o̴l̷d̴e̵r̵,̴ ̸b̷u̷t̸ ̴l̶e̸t̷'̵s̴ ̶g̸o̵ ̸w̵i̶t̵h̸ ̶t̸h̶a̵t̷.̸"

And as for travel...

"It̷ ̴h̴a̵s̷ ̷b̵e̷e̷n̵ ̴a̷ ̴w̴h̴i̵l̷e̷.̴ ̵T̴h̵e̴ ̸l̷a̵s̸t̵ ̴I̴ ̸r̷e̷m̵e̸m̷b̵e̸r̵ ̸w̵a̶s̵ ̶d̴r̸i̸n̴k̸i̷n̸g̴ ̵q̵u̴i̶t̷e̸ ̶h̷e̷a̸v̸i̴l̴y̷ ̸t̸o̵ ̶e̶s̸c̴a̷p̶e̸ ̶s̸o̸m̵e̸ ̶q̵u̶e̶s̴t̷i̴o̶n̶s̵.̴" he said, rubbing his chin. Maybe he might have stocks of tea in his bag for this. "B̵u̶t̵ ̴a̸ ̶f̸e̷w̷ ̵j̸a̷u̴n̶t̵s̸.̸.̶.̵ ̶w̵e̸l̶l̵,̸ ̸C̵h̵i̴c̷a̴g̵o̸ ̴w̵i̶t̸h̸ ̴a̴ ̸c̴i̶t̸y̵w̵i̵d̴e̵ ̶A̶I̸ ̶s̶e̴e̷m̶s̷ ̶t̵o̵ ̶b̸e̸ ̸p̸o̵p̷p̸i̷n̸g̴ ̸u̷p̷ ̷q̵u̴i̶t̵e̴ ̶a̶ ̵b̶i̷t̷ ̸i̷n̸ ̸m̵y̷ ̴m̵e̸m̶o̴r̷i̷e̷s̸.̷ ̵O̷r̵ ̷t̸h̸a̷t̵ ̶p̴o̸s̴t̷-̸a̶p̶o̶c̵a̶l̷y̶p̸t̷i̴c̸ ̶e̸a̸r̷t̵h̷ ̷w̸h̶e̸r̴e̴ ̷i̶t̷ ̶w̷a̶s̷ ̶i̸n̵ ̴t̴h̶e̸ ̸g̷l̵a̴r̷i̶n̵g̴ ̷s̷u̴n̸ ̶p̸e̷r̵m̶a̴n̵e̷n̷t̴l̶y̴.̷.̶.̶"

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

... See amigo, normally I'd be flattered that someone enjoyed my baking but..

[Blinking, he takes a pause in an attempt to digest everything he'd just witnessed]

I am left with, frankly; a Shit ton more questions than I even started with. You are a very interesting Zacharie and I don't know whether to be concerned or impressed.

As for myself leaving to go on any such adventures.. Sadly I've a few- hrmm let's just say some desperate challenges/complications that are keeping me here in my shop.

Clausterphobia inducing heh..

Aside from all that I have to ask señor.. out of everything I just heard what about the

Tomato??? 🍅

Dios mio should I wrap myself a blunt? Do YOU need a blunt?

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

…Perhaps he should have remembered some table manners. Zachie seemed too discomfited by the fact that he had managed to fit the entire thing into his mouth without much discomfort. Zacharie had never given it much thought - though he did always wonder if it was something to do with that story.

Honestly for something that Zacharie suspected was just Mortis Ghost's little joke it seemed to have had more influence than you'd suspect.

But he didn't bother apologising, instead, tilting up his mask to reveal a smirk.

"B̷e̶ ̵b̶o̵t̶h̵.̸ ̴I̶t̴'̶s̵ ̸a̵ ̸s̴a̷f̴e̴ ̷w̷a̵y̴ ̷o̶f̸ ̷d̷e̷a̵l̷i̵n̸g̴ ̶w̶i̵t̸h̶ ̴e̶v̴e̷r̸y̵t̸h̵i̷n̵g̸.̴" he said, slipping the mask back with a cough. The air was still bad here, for all it had been scrubbed. "A̸n̷d̷ ̴i̸t̸'̸s̸ ̵a̵ ̵s̸h̷a̴m̴e̶ ̵y̸o̶u̴ ̴c̷a̶n̴'̷t̸ ̷g̷o̷ ̸o̴u̶t̸.̴ ̶M̷o̴n̷s̷t̷e̶r̷ ̴i̴n̴ ̶t̷h̸e̴ ̷b̸a̷s̷e̵m̵e̵n̸t̷?̴ ̸O̸r̶ ̶t̷h̸e̶ ̵o̷n̴c̸o̷m̴i̸n̷g̸ ̵w̶i̶n̴t̷e̶r̶?̶ ̶O̶r̸ ̸j̷u̷s̵t̸ ̸g̸e̶n̸e̸r̵a̷l̴ ̷c̷o̷d̶i̸n̸g̵ ̶r̴e̷s̸t̶r̶i̵c̸t̸i̴o̴n̵s̵?̴"

He paused. "T̴o̸m̴a̴t̸o̶ ̵-̴ ̷o̸h̶,̷ ̵t̷h̴a̴t̸.̶ ̷N̷o̷.̵ ̵N̸o̶t̷ ̸h̷i̶g̵h̶.̵ ̶I̸t̷'̵s̶ ̵b̷i̵z̶z̵a̶r̵e̸,̷ ̶r̴e̷a̸l̶l̷y̶ ̴-̶ ̶t̸h̸a̴t̶ ̸p̷a̸r̷t̷i̴c̶u̸l̴a̸r̶ ̶r̴e̶a̸l̶m̵ ̶r̵a̷n̴ ̷o̷n̵ ̵s̷o̸ ̷m̸a̴n̶y̸ ̷b̷i̵t̴s̸ ̶o̸f̸ ̴c̶o̵d̵e̷ ̷b̵e̷c̶a̷u̶s̷e̵ ̴h̶u̵m̴a̶n̴i̸t̸y̶ ̸h̴a̷d̷ ̸d̵i̶e̸d̷ ̶a̶n̶d̴ ̴t̷h̷e̷r̴e̴ ̷w̷e̷r̵e̴ ̵n̵o̸t̵h̶i̵n̴g̵ ̸b̴u̴t̸ ̸a̴n̷d̶r̴o̵i̶d̵s̷ ̵a̷n̶d̸ ̵m̷a̴c̴h̶i̶n̴e̷s̸.̶ ̴Y̶e̶s̶,̶ ̷t̵h̵e̷r̸e̶ ̶w̷a̷s̸ ̵a̴ ̵d̴i̷s̴t̵i̸n̴c̶t̵i̶o̶n̷.̵ ̶Y̴e̵s̶,̷ ̵i̴t̵ ̴f̶e̶e̶l̸s̵ ̸f̴a̸m̴i̶l̶i̴a̸r̷.̸"

Zachie would have picked up a slight tinge of bitterness in the other's voice.

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

Heheheh!~ You know what, that's a positive way of looking at things! I like you amigo, your good fun! Besides we all have our strangeness and quirks don't we. I hope you don't mind me lighting one up for myself?

[Zachie proceeds to pull a wrapped blunt from under his counter, lighting the tip and taking a drag as he watches his counterpart go from jovial to solemn..or perhaps it was bitterness?]

Ah- That I can understand all too well mi compadre... Scrambles of code, endless questions, fallout, dismay..

[He sighs leaving trails of wispy smoke slipping from under his mask]

That actually ties quite well into my own predicament, would I be permitted to answer with all-thee-above? Mine is a long and frustrating tale to tell. All stemming down to loss and frank melancholy.

(Or perhaps even hopelessness..)

Heh you know, It's funny.. No matter how much we may wriggle and squirm away from our programming, we still eventually find ourselves wrapped in that spiderweb coding all over again in some way.

...

Lo siento, did I ramble off there? (Heh..OFF)

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

Well apparently the other was looking for an excuse to hit a blunt anyway, so Zacharie simply adjusted his own mask to accommodate. Each of them had their own ways of coping with the insanity inherent in their very natures - some had turned to religion, some had turned to thirst, Zacharie had turned to bodysnatching, while Martinez had turned to weed. [1]

With the smoke and all he wasn't sure what was the worse coping mechanism. Being stuck inside the shop was something that Zacharie had rarely experienced after his first set of cycles; after innumerable repeats and codas of the game, he managed to get some wiggle room - though there was some arbritary standard where he found himself drawn back to the game - though thankfully in files abandoned or malformed. But Zachie's leash was far shorter. And what's not to say that his Batter and the Guardians were still around?

No, it was definitely Zachie. That pun had mildly put him off. It was mildly infectious as well and he had to do something about it.

"L̷e̴t̴'̵s̶ ̷t̵r̶a̷d̸e̴ ̵s̶o̷m̵e̴ ̴s̶t̴o̸r̷i̵e̵s̸,̴ ̶t̷h̶e̶n̷." Zacharie said, stretching. There was a crack as a neck verterbra popped back into place. "A̸ ̴m̴u̶t̷u̷a̷l̷ ̶e̴x̶c̶h̶a̴n̷g̵e̷ ̷o̷f̶ ̷m̴i̴s̴e̶r̶i̷e̴s̷.̵"̴"

"T̶h̴e̸r̸e̶ ̶w̴a̴s̶ ̸a̶ ̸q̷u̶o̸t̷e̷ ̴-̵ ̵f̴r̶o̴m̴ ̸t̶h̴e̷ ̸b̷e̶g̵i̸n̴n̶i̶n̶g̷ ̶o̸f̶ ̵t̶h̷a̷t̶ ̴g̶a̵m̶e̸,̵ ̴t̸h̴e̴ ̵t̴o̵m̶a̴t̶o̷ ̷o̷n̷e̷.̷" He sighed. "I̵t̴ ̸s̶e̶e̷m̵s̴ ̷a̴p̸p̵r̶o̴p̷r̷i̸a̸t̴e̸ ̴t̸o̴ ̵s̴o̶m̷e̸ ̸e̵x̷t̴e̸n̸t̵:̷ ̴"̴E̴v̸e̶r̸y̷t̵h̶i̶n̴g̷ ̸t̴h̸a̴t̶ ̸l̴i̵v̶e̸s̶ ̵i̶s̷ ̷d̶e̴s̷i̷g̶n̸e̶d̵ ̷t̶o̵ ̴e̸n̷d̴.̷ ̷W̶e̴ ̵a̵r̷e̸ ̴p̵e̵r̷p̸e̵t̸u̶a̶l̴l̸y̶ ̶t̸r̸a̶p̵p̴e̷d̷ ̷i̸n̴ ̵a̸ ̴n̵e̶v̴e̶r̸-̷e̶n̶d̵i̶n̶g̸ ̶s̴p̸i̵r̶a̷l̷ ̶o̶f̷ ̴l̶i̸f̸e̴ ̷a̴n̴d̴ ̷d̵e̵a̷t̷h̵.̸.""

""II̶s̸ ̶t̸h̸i̸s̶ ̷a̶ ̷c̶u̶r̸s̴e̶?̴ ̶O̸r̴ ̴s̵o̸m̴e̴ ̶k̵i̶n̶d̶ ̴o̴f̶ ̷p̶u̶n̶i̶s̸h̴m̶e̴n̵t̴?̶" He continued, looking up at Zachie, ""I̵ ̷o̴f̷t̸e̸n̵ ̴t̵h̸i̴n̷k̴ ̵a̴b̵o̵u̸t̸ ̵t̶h̶e̸ ̷g̵o̸d̴ ̴w̸h̷o̸ ̸b̷l̶e̸s̸s̶e̶d̷ ̵u̴s̴ ̵w̷i̵t̵h̶ ̵t̴h̸i̴s̸ ̶c̴r̴y̵p̷t̴i̶c̵ ̷p̴u̴z̶z̵l̶e̸…̵a̷n̵d̵ ̷w̶o̴n̷d̷e̶r̷ ̸i̴f̵ ̵w̶e̸'̶l̶l̵ ̸e̴v̶e̴r̶ ̶g̵e̷t̴ ̴t̴h̸e̴ ̵c̵h̸a̶n̸c̸e̷ ̵t̶o̴ ̷k̶i̶l̶l̴ ̵h̵i̸m̶.̷

There was some silence after that soliloquy, where both Zacharies took the time to digest its meaning.

He shrugged. "A̴s̷ ̸f̴a̶r̸ ̵a̴s̸ ̴I̵'̵m̶ ̶c̴o̶n̵c̶e̴r̷n̵e̵d̶,̵ ̵I̸'̷d̷ ̶r̴a̴t̸h̷e̶r̷ ̷b̵e̴ ̸a̵s̴k̷i̷n̷g̸ ̵a̴ ̵q̷u̴e̵s̴t̴i̸o̴n̷ ̸o̶f̷ ̵G̴o̴d̵,̷ ̴r̴a̴t̸h̴e̷r̵ ̵t̴h̴a̶n̶ ̸k̶i̸l̴l̸i̸n̸g̵ ̴-̷ ̷w̵h̵y̴ ̶w̴e̴'̶r̴e̸ ̸s̴t̵u̸c̸k̵ ̶h̸e̸r̶e̶,̸ ̴w̶i̵t̴h̸ ̶n̸o̷t̸ ̸m̷u̸c̷h̵ ̶r̵e̸c̶o̵u̵r̶s̵e̵.̵ ̸I̸'̶m̶ ̷t̴o̷o̷ ̴t̸i̶r̸e̴d̷ ̷o̴f̶ ̶t̷h̶a̸t̷ ̶n̴o̴w̴

[1]A small thought suggested that perhaps he should actually adopt a moniker, outside of the "Insane" appellation. Which, if Zachie's response to how he had consumed the cake, still applied.

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

[Zachie listens intently to Zacharie..Zach.. Insane..?](Blast what should he call him?) [Thinking deeply, he tilts his head up letting out a plume of smoke.]

I can see now why you reacted the way you did about this game, it deeply resonates with doomed "souls" like us. Though I highly doubt whatever God set us on this path would give a single shit or have a real reason for it all.. What is our reason for all this, why are some of us trapped in this constant, why do some of us dissapear? Is there even a reason? And does it all even matter?

[Snubbing out his blunt onto the empty cake plate, Zachie stands up straight sighing irritated]

How about I tell you my tales of woe where we can get some fresh air, si amigo? Come this way to my Roof Garden. (Though its less of a garden after this frost took hold..)

[Ascending the stairs they exit onto a rooftop with what indeed appears to have been a previously sprawling garden, but now was full of withered and crispy corpses of what used to be veggies flowers and herbs. Zachie walks past it all already used to the sight of the wreckage before resting himself against the edge of the roof. Thick snow covers the Zone for as far as they could see, an icy sheet claiming ever nook and cranny making it appear like a barren waste. A field of brown sticks like markers for graves.

He motions with his hand to the carnage before turning to look at his companion.]

(Damn chill.. It's even taken out my Sunflower Field.) This used to be the Spring Zone..but now The Winter Zone has spread, acting like a parasite. At this rate.. I dread how everyone else is fairing in all this mess..

Ah- I don't know if you can feel the temperature, but please do let me know if you need something to cover up. I'm certain I have some extra sweaters. Oh for telling me your stories, and listening to my own ramblings gracias Zacha- hm.

What should I call you? I know you mentioned your url, I don't want to be essentially insulting you everytime I call your name heheh. Have any nickname ideas?

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

S̸t̷i̷c̶k̸ ̸w̶i̶t̴h̷ ̶t̶h̶e̵ ̵s̶t̴a̸n̵d̵a̷r̷d̵ ̸U̵R̶L̵,̶ ̴f̶o̶r̵ ̶t̸h̴e̸ ̸m̷o̵m̸e̸n̵t̸,̸ he offered, rubbing his bare arms as he forced himself to quickly adjust to the falling temperature. ̸ I̷t̶ ̴w̵o̶r̶k̷e̵d̶ ̶w̸e̷l̷l̵ ̶e̷n̴o̶u̷g̵h̶ ̵a̷s̶ ̴a̸ ̶d̴e̴s̵c̷r̵i̵p̸t̷o̸r̶ ̴t̸h̴e̵n̴,̴ ̸a̸n̴d̸ ̶s̷t̸i̷l̵l̷ ̸d̸o̵e̶s̶,̴ ̸s̶o̷m̶e̵t̵i̶m̸e̶s̷.̸

"̵I̴ ̴d̶o̵n̵'̷t̴ ̷h̸a̷v̶e̵ ̷t̵h̶e̷ ̷l̴u̷x̵u̶r̵y̴ ̴o̵f̶ ̷r̵e̴m̵e̴m̴b̸e̴r̶i̴n̵g̴ ̸m̴y̷ ̸o̸l̸d̶ ̴n̷a̵m̴e̷s̴ ̵a̵n̶y̸w̵a̸y̶.̴ ̷T̸h̸e̵y̶'̵v̶e̵ ̶b̴e̵e̶n̵ ̵b̴u̶r̵i̶e̶d̴ ̷f̸o̵r̶ ̶a̷e̷o̴n̸s̴.̵ He leaned over the railing. The fields that stretched below them were a sombre sight - a mass of greyish brown and white. It put one in the mind of a grave - which it was, judging from how it was a meant to be a 'Spring Zone'.

They were silent for a moment. Commiserating, wondering.

"̵"̸I̶n̸ ̸t̶h̶e̸ ̷e̷n̷d̵,̶ ̴I̸ ̶d̴o̶n̷'̷t̸ ̸t̸h̶i̸n̶k̵ ̶w̵e̷ ̴i̶n̸d̷i̶v̶i̴d̶u̴a̷l̵l̵y̸ ̷m̸a̸t̶t̵e̶r̶ ̴i̵n̵ ̵t̷h̵e̵ ̴l̴o̷n̴g̵ ̷t̷e̵r̷m̵,̷ he added, frowning at the creeping glacier in the distance. Climate change had certainly creeped into this environment "̵N̵a̴m̸e̷s̵ ̸d̷o̸n̶'̵t̷ ̴n̵e̴c̵e̵s̸s̸a̸r̵i̷l̵y̵ ̶m̶a̴k̴e̷ ̶m̵u̴c̷h̷ ̶s̶e̷n̵s̸e̴ ̸c̸o̶m̶p̸a̸r̴e̵d̵ ̸t̵o̸ ̷o̵u̴r̷…̸"̶Z̴a̵c̸h̴a̷r̸i̸e̷n̶e̷s̷s̴"̶,̷ ̴i̸f̴ ̴t̴h̶a̶t̷ ̸m̶a̵k̷e̶s̵ ̴s̸e̷n̸s̴e̴?̷ ̶I̸t̸ ̷f̶e̷e̶l̵s̸ ̷l̷i̴k̷e̴ ̸w̶e̴'̴r̴e̷ ̷p̶l̷a̸c̵e̵d̷ ̴h̶e̶r̶e̸ ̶t̷o̵ ̴m̴a̷k̷e̷ ̵a̴n̴ ̵i̵m̷p̴r̶e̵s̴s̵i̶o̶n̶ ̵o̶n̶ ̵t̸h̵e̵ ̷p̷l̶a̸y̶e̸r̶s̶.̷ ̶A̶n̵y̴t̵h̶i̵n̷g̴ ̵e̶l̷s̸e̵ ̷i̴s̸ ̴j̵u̶s̶t̶ ̶f̶l̶o̵w̷e̵r̴s̴.̸"̸

And much like flowers planted their individual interpretations bloomed in multiplicity, and wilted in droves. There wasn't much rhyme or reason, as much as he and Zachie would like one. There wasn't much rhyme or reason to anything regarding their human (?) existences in the Zones at all. (Not to mention Sucre.)

There was logic, however, with how the Zones worked. It was child's logic - but logic all the same. And yet he couldn't puzzle something out -

He turned to the other while a quizzical tilt to his head. "̴Y̷o̷u̸r̶ ̸Z̶o̵n̶e̴s̷ ̵o̸p̸e̵r̴a̵t̶e̷ ̸o̸n̸ ̶s̶e̵a̸s̴o̵n̸s̴?̵ ̵L̸e̵a̸k̷i̸n̴g̷ ̸n̵o̵t̵ ̵p̶a̴r̶t̶ ̷o̶f̴ ̴t̵h̶e̷ ̶p̷l̵a̵n̷?̶"̴

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

[Zachie nodded slowly digesting what Insane said. While true for so many of them at any given point in their games, he found himself even more confounded.]

Hmm.. I find I'm going to have to respond with both a Yes and a No amigo..

Guess it's time to stop stalling then heheh

You know the way Zones are usually set: Zone 1, Zone 2, Alma, Vesper.. Well things aren't like that here (At least not anymore)

Each Zone here is seperated and known by its individual Eternal Seasonal Setting: The Spring Zone, Harvest Zone, Summer Zone, Winter Zone, and finally The True Zone. Each with its own populace and specific usage to the rest of the "game". With the entities residing within them serving in their own roles to benifit all the areas as a Whole.

[A (frankly lovely heheh) Chart scrolls across depicting the many areas and sharing some examples of products created within them. Ie: Milk, Wheat, Sugar, Meat, Decor etc.]

And as you can obviously tell my Shop is set here in Spring. The infection spreading across it all was indeed not intended, yet I feel I may already know why it has done so.

[He sighs, a penitent tremble in his breath as a hand clasps to his chest.]

I've only myself to blame.

Off.. The Game.. The Routine.. I guess I couldn't do it anymore? Couldn't stand and watch those I care for be lost to endless resets time and time again. Couldn't watch idly as moments shared became utterly meaningless with the flip of a switch? Honestly the true reasoning is lost to it to now, but what I do know is that at some point.. Something snapped. And I couldn't FUCKING take it. And well.. Now we're here.

Of course that's summing up alot of important details, but I feel it fills its purpose of giving you something to chew on heheh. As for my current situation? After all of it was said and done, I found myself becoming lethargic, sick. Unable to leave from my Zone for long periods of time. Then it was my shop I couldn't leave without feeling the same. Then came the storm. I fear amigo that I may be trapped in my very own "The Room".

I hope that makes some semblance of sense, sometimes I find it doesn't even to myself.

So after losing it all, yes it may all be as all flowers do turn to dust eventually.. yet it's all I have left to grasp to. I served my simple merchants purpose..so why can't we plant our own gardens?

However I do suppose that lends itself to this eventual conclusion; a cold and unrelenting downfall.

[Storm clouds that have since gathered during their conversation started sifting snow downwards, lightly dusting the two of them in prickles of white. Though the snow that gathers onto Zachie does not melt. ]

[germpills]

tbh wish i saw more appreciation for OFF's ost, it really carries the energy the game has, its so unique and odd, i cant rlly think of any other ost like it

the raw emotion in each track hits everytime, like in unreasonable behavior (absolutely slaps btw) and desperately safe

definitely one of my favorite video game osts of all time

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

No lie I'd listen to the OST from OFF literally everyday during highschool cause that shit tickled every part of my mentally ill sponge brain. I still randomly binge listen to the whole thing. (Esp Brain Plague re-wind and re-reversed 👌👌)

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

@ask-a-merchants-garden, continued from hence ask.

"Hm..Oh! si it is, but not in the way you may think amigo! All sugar here is made from grown and harvested Sugarcane, we no longer do the Smokestacks since the Re-Wiring.

[Stands a tad more rigid until shaking himself from his stupor and refocusing on the topic at hand.] ... ///

It was a bit odd to eat a cake in the Zones, and for a moment Zacharie hesitated as the other pushed the plate towards him. The...years here had made him somewhat averse to sugar, even if he never really was hungry.

To be fair the first few times he had indulged with Sucre...well, the ramifications of that particular bit were not best pondered upon. But it did mean that he would be hypocritical if he suddenly decided that he was diabetic.

So Zacharie did what any sensible person would do. He picked up the entire slice, regarded it critically, tilted up his mask, and shoved it into his piehole.

"Prfehty gfoord johrb." The other Zacharie - no, Martinez or Zachie, for simplicity's sake, blinked. Zacharie rolled his eyes, and swallowed. "̴P̵r̷e̷t̴t̷y̷ ̴g̵o̷o̶d̴ ̸j̸o̴b̴.̶ G̸o̵o̷d̷ ̸u̶s̷e̵ ̷o̴f̷ ̸a̸l̶l̶ ̶t̸h̵a̵t̴ ̴t̸i̸m̴e̶ ̷o̵n̵ ̷o̵u̶r̵ ̸h̵a̴n̶d̵s̷.̷ ̷Y̶o̸u̷ ̵s̶h̴o̸u̷l̶d̸ ̸t̵r̶a̴v̸e̷l̷ ̵o̶u̸t̸s̴i̶d̵e̴ ̴y̵o̷u̸r̸s̵e̶l̸f̵ ̸-̸ ̸m̷a̴k̴e̶ ̵a̸ ̴s̷m̴a̴l̶l̵ ̴f̴o̵r̸t̵u̷n̶e̴.̶ M̴a̵y̷b̴e̷ ̶a̵ ̸M̴a̶r̵t̷i̷n̸e̸z̷ ̷P̷a̴t̶i̶s̸s̵e̷r̴i̴e̴ ̴f̷r̵a̸n̸c̸h̶i̷s̶e̷ ̵a̴s̵ ̷w̷e̶l̴l̸.̸"

The cake was velvety. Was that the right term to use? It tasted...well, sweet. Maybe not enough - an eyelid, unnoticed, twitched at that thought.

He hurriedly put the plate down.

"I̶ ̶p̶e̵r̸s̸o̵n̴a̴l̵l̶y̴ ̷d̵o̵n̷'̴t̸ ̷h̷a̶v̷e̸ ̵a̵ ̴m̸a̶r̸k̸e̵t̷a̸b̴l̵e̵ ̴n̶a̴m̴e̴;̸ ̵o̷u̶r̸ ̶s̸h̵a̶r̸e̴d̵ ̶t̸r̷a̷d̷e̸m̶a̶r̵k̷ ̴s̵e̵r̸v̷e̴s̷ ̵i̸t̷s̷ ̶p̵u̷r̸p̵o̵s̶e̷ ̴a̵ ̴b̸i̵t̶ ̷t̸o̵o̴ ̶w̴e̷l̶l̸.̴" he said, "B̴u̶t̴ ̶t̷h̷e̷y̶ ̴u̸s̵e̸d̸ ̴t̴o̶ ̷s̸h̷o̴r̴t̷e̸n̸ ̶m̴y̸ ̶U̴R̶L̴ ̶a̴ ̵b̷i̶t̷.̸ N̴o̶t̵ ̷a̷ ̶g̴o̵o̶d̵ ̵l̴o̷o̷k̴ ̷w̷h̴e̴n̵ ̸y̷o̸u̴ ̴g̵r̸o̶w̷ ̵o̴l̷d̴e̵r̵,̴ ̸b̷u̷t̸ ̴l̶e̸t̷'̵s̴ ̶g̸o̵ ̸w̵i̶t̵h̸ ̶t̸h̶a̵t̷.̸"

And as for travel...

"It̷ ̴h̴a̵s̷ ̷b̵e̷e̷n̵ ̴a̷ ̴w̴h̴i̵l̷e̷.̴ ̵T̴h̵e̴ ̸l̷a̵s̸t̵ ̴I̴ ̸r̷e̷m̵e̸m̷b̵e̸r̵ ̸w̵a̶s̵ ̶d̴r̸i̸n̴k̸i̷n̸g̴ ̵q̵u̴i̶t̷e̸ ̶h̷e̷a̸v̸i̴l̴y̷ ̸t̸o̵ ̶e̶s̸c̴a̷p̶e̸ ̶s̸o̸m̵e̸ ̶q̵u̶e̶s̴t̷i̴o̶n̶s̵.̴" he said, rubbing his chin. Maybe he might have stocks of tea in his bag for this. "B̵u̶t̵ ̴a̸ ̶f̸e̷w̷ ̵j̸a̷u̴n̶t̵s̸.̸.̶.̵ ̶w̵e̸l̶l̵,̸ ̸C̵h̵i̴c̷a̴g̵o̸ ̴w̵i̶t̸h̸ ̴a̴ ̸c̴i̶t̸y̵w̵i̵d̴e̵ ̶A̶I̸ ̶s̶e̴e̷m̶s̷ ̶t̵o̵ ̶b̸e̸ ̸p̸o̵p̷p̸i̷n̸g̴ ̸u̷p̷ ̷q̵u̴i̶t̵e̴ ̶a̶ ̵b̶i̷t̷ ̸i̷n̸ ̸m̵y̷ ̴m̵e̸m̶o̴r̷i̷e̷s̸.̷ ̵O̷r̵ ̷t̸h̸a̷t̵ ̶p̴o̸s̴t̷-̸a̶p̶o̶c̵a̶l̷y̶p̸t̷i̴c̸ ̶e̸a̸r̷t̵h̷ ̷w̸h̶e̸r̴e̴ ̷i̶t̷ ̶w̷a̶s̷ ̶i̸n̵ ̴t̴h̶e̸ ̸g̷l̵a̴r̷i̶n̵g̴ ̷s̷u̴n̸ ̶p̸e̷r̵m̶a̴n̵e̷n̷t̴l̶y̴.̷.̶.̶"

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

... See amigo, normally I'd be flattered that someone enjoyed my baking but..

[Blinking, he takes a pause in an attempt to digest everything he'd just witnessed]

I am left with, frankly; a Shit ton more questions than I even started with. You are a very interesting Zacharie and I don't know whether to be concerned or impressed.

As for myself leaving to go on any such adventures.. Sadly I've a few- hrmm let's just say some desperate challenges/complications that are keeping me here in my shop.

Clausterphobia inducing heh..

Aside from all that I have to ask señor.. out of everything I just heard what about the

Tomato??? 🍅

Dios mio should I wrap myself a blunt? Do YOU need a blunt?

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

…Perhaps he should have remembered some table manners. Zachie seemed too discomfited by the fact that he had managed to fit the entire thing into his mouth without much discomfort. Zacharie had never given it much thought - though he did always wonder if it was something to do with that story.

Honestly for something that Zacharie suspected was just Mortis Ghost's little joke it seemed to have had more influence than you'd suspect.

But he didn't bother apologising, instead, tilting up his mask to reveal a smirk.

"B̷e̶ ̵b̶o̵t̶h̵.̸ ̴I̶t̴'̶s̵ ̸a̵ ̸s̴a̷f̴e̴ ̷w̷a̵y̴ ̷o̶f̸ ̷d̷e̷a̵l̷i̵n̸g̴ ̶w̶i̵t̸h̶ ̴e̶v̴e̷r̸y̵t̸h̵i̷n̵g̸.̴" he said, slipping the mask back with a cough. The air was still bad here, for all it had been scrubbed. "A̸n̷d̷ ̴i̸t̸'̸s̸ ̵a̵ ̵s̸h̷a̴m̴e̶ ̵y̸o̶u̴ ̴c̷a̶n̴'̷t̸ ̷g̷o̷ ̸o̴u̶t̸.̴ ̶M̷o̴n̷s̷t̷e̶r̷ ̴i̴n̴ ̶t̷h̸e̴ ̷b̸a̷s̷e̵m̵e̵n̸t̷?̴ ̸O̸r̶ ̶t̷h̸e̶ ̵o̷n̴c̸o̷m̴i̸n̷g̸ ̵w̶i̶n̴t̷e̶r̶?̶ ̶O̶r̸ ̸j̷u̷s̵t̸ ̸g̸e̶n̸e̸r̵a̷l̴ ̷c̷o̷d̶i̸n̸g̵ ̶r̴e̷s̸t̶r̶i̵c̸t̸i̴o̴n̵s̵?̴"

He paused. "T̴o̸m̴a̴t̸o̶ ̵-̴ ̷o̸h̶,̷ ̵t̷h̴a̴t̸.̶ ̷N̷o̷.̵ ̵N̸o̶t̷ ̸h̷i̶g̵h̶.̵ ̶I̸t̷'̵s̶ ̵b̷i̵z̶z̵a̶r̵e̸,̷ ̶r̴e̷a̸l̶l̷y̶ ̴-̶ ̶t̸h̸a̴t̶ ̸p̷a̸r̷t̷i̴c̶u̸l̴a̸r̶ ̶r̴e̶a̸l̶m̵ ̶r̵a̷n̴ ̷o̷n̵ ̵s̷o̸ ̷m̸a̴n̶y̸ ̷b̷i̵t̴s̸ ̶o̸f̸ ̴c̶o̵d̵e̷ ̷b̵e̷c̶a̷u̶s̷e̵ ̴h̶u̵m̴a̶n̴i̸t̸y̶ ̸h̴a̷d̷ ̸d̵i̶e̸d̷ ̶a̶n̶d̴ ̴t̷h̷e̷r̴e̴ ̷w̷e̷r̵e̴ ̵n̵o̸t̵h̶i̵n̴g̵ ̸b̴u̴t̸ ̸a̴n̷d̶r̴o̵i̶d̵s̷ ̵a̷n̶d̸ ̵m̷a̴c̴h̶i̶n̴e̷s̸.̶ ̴Y̶e̶s̶,̶ ̷t̵h̵e̷r̸e̶ ̶w̷a̷s̸ ̵a̴ ̵d̴i̷s̴t̵i̸n̴c̶t̵i̶o̶n̷.̵ ̶Y̴e̵s̶,̷ ̵i̴t̵ ̴f̶e̶e̶l̸s̵ ̸f̴a̸m̴i̶l̶i̴a̸r̷.̸"

Zachie would have picked up a slight tinge of bitterness in the other's voice.

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

Heheheh!~ You know what, that's a positive way of looking at things! I like you amigo, your good fun! Besides we all have our strangeness and quirks don't we. I hope you don't mind me lighting one up for myself?

[Zachie proceeds to pull a wrapped blunt from under his counter, lighting the tip and taking a drag as he watches his counterpart go from jovial to solemn..or perhaps it was bitterness?]

Ah- That I can understand all too well mi compadre... Scrambles of code, endless questions, fallout, dismay..

[He sighs leaving trails of wispy smoke slipping from under his mask]

That actually ties quite well into my own predicament, would I be permitted to answer with all-thee-above? Mine is a long and frustrating tale to tell. All stemming down to loss and frank melancholy.

(Or perhaps even hopelessness..)

Heh you know, It's funny.. No matter how much we may wriggle and squirm away from our programming, we still eventually find ourselves wrapped in that spiderweb coding all over again in some way.

...

Lo siento, did I ramble off there? (Heh..OFF)

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

Well apparently the other was looking for an excuse to hit a blunt anyway, so Zacharie simply adjusted his own mask to accommodate. Each of them had their own ways of coping with the insanity inherent in their very natures - some had turned to religion, some had turned to thirst, Zacharie had turned to bodysnatching, while Martinez had turned to weed. [1]

With the smoke and all he wasn't sure what was the worse coping mechanism. Being stuck inside the shop was something that Zacharie had rarely experienced after his first set of cycles; after innumerable repeats and codas of the game, he managed to get some wiggle room - though there was some arbritary standard where he found himself drawn back to the game - though thankfully in files abandoned or malformed. But Zachie's leash was far shorter. And what's not to say that his Batter and the Guardians were still around?

No, it was definitely Zachie. That pun had mildly put him off. It was mildly infectious as well and he had to do something about it.

"L̷e̴t̴'̵s̶ ̷t̵r̶a̷d̸e̴ ̵s̶o̷m̵e̴ ̴s̶t̴o̸r̷i̵e̵s̸,̴ ̶t̷h̶e̶n̷." Zacharie said, stretching. There was a crack as a neck verterbra popped back into place. "A̸ ̴m̴u̶t̷u̷a̷l̷ ̶e̴x̶c̶h̶a̴n̷g̵e̷ ̷o̷f̶ ̷m̴i̴s̴e̶r̶i̷e̴s̷.̵"̴"

"T̶h̴e̸r̸e̶ ̶w̴a̴s̶ ̸a̶ ̸q̷u̶o̸t̷e̷ ̴-̵ ̵f̴r̶o̴m̴ ̸t̶h̴e̷ ̸b̷e̶g̵i̸n̴n̶i̶n̶g̷ ̶o̸f̶ ̵t̶h̷a̷t̶ ̴g̶a̵m̶e̸,̵ ̴t̸h̴e̴ ̵t̴o̵m̶a̴t̶o̷ ̷o̷n̷e̷.̷" He sighed. "I̵t̴ ̸s̶e̶e̷m̵s̴ ̷a̴p̸p̵r̶o̴p̷r̷i̸a̸t̴e̸ ̴t̸o̴ ̵s̴o̶m̷e̸ ̸e̵x̷t̴e̸n̸t̵:̷ ̴"̴E̴v̸e̶r̸y̷t̵h̶i̶n̴g̷ ̸t̴h̸a̴t̶ ̸l̴i̵v̶e̸s̶ ̵i̶s̷ ̷d̶e̴s̷i̷g̶n̸e̶d̵ ̷t̶o̵ ̴e̸n̷d̴.̷ ̷W̶e̴ ̵a̵r̷e̸ ̴p̵e̵r̷p̸e̵t̸u̶a̶l̴l̸y̶ ̶t̸r̸a̶p̵p̴e̷d̷ ̷i̸n̴ ̵a̸ ̴n̵e̶v̴e̶r̸-̷e̶n̶d̵i̶n̶g̸ ̶s̴p̸i̵r̶a̷l̷ ̶o̶f̷ ̴l̶i̸f̸e̴ ̷a̴n̴d̴ ̷d̵e̵a̷t̷h̵.̸.""

""II̶s̸ ̶t̸h̸i̸s̶ ̷a̶ ̷c̶u̶r̸s̴e̶?̴ ̶O̸r̴ ̴s̵o̸m̴e̴ ̶k̵i̶n̶d̶ ̴o̴f̶ ̷p̶u̶n̶i̶s̸h̴m̶e̴n̵t̴?̶" He continued, looking up at Zachie, ""I̵ ̷o̴f̷t̸e̸n̵ ̴t̵h̸i̴n̷k̴ ̵a̴b̵o̵u̸t̸ ̵t̶h̶e̸ ̷g̵o̸d̴ ̴w̸h̷o̸ ̸b̷l̶e̸s̸s̶e̶d̷ ̵u̴s̴ ̵w̷i̵t̵h̶ ̵t̴h̸i̴s̸ ̶c̴r̴y̵p̷t̴i̶c̵ ̷p̴u̴z̶z̵l̶e̸…̵a̷n̵d̵ ̷w̶o̴n̷d̷e̶r̷ ̸i̴f̵ ̵w̶e̸'̶l̶l̵ ̸e̴v̶e̴r̶ ̶g̵e̷t̴ ̴t̴h̸e̴ ̵c̵h̸a̶n̸c̸e̷ ̵t̶o̴ ̷k̶i̶l̶l̴ ̵h̵i̸m̶.̷

There was some silence after that soliloquy, where both Zacharies took the time to digest its meaning.

He shrugged. "A̴s̷ ̸f̴a̶r̸ ̵a̴s̸ ̴I̵'̵m̶ ̶c̴o̶n̵c̶e̴r̷n̵e̵d̶,̵ ̵I̸'̷d̷ ̶r̴a̴t̸h̷e̶r̷ ̷b̵e̴ ̸a̵s̴k̷i̷n̷g̸ ̵a̴ ̵q̷u̴e̵s̴t̴i̸o̴n̷ ̸o̶f̷ ̵G̴o̴d̵,̷ ̴r̴a̴t̸h̴e̷r̵ ̵t̴h̴a̶n̶ ̸k̶i̸l̴l̸i̸n̸g̵ ̴-̷ ̷w̵h̵y̴ ̶w̴e̴'̶r̴e̸ ̸s̴t̵u̸c̸k̵ ̶h̸e̸r̶e̶,̸ ̴w̶i̵t̴h̸ ̶n̸o̷t̸ ̸m̷u̸c̷h̵ ̶r̵e̸c̶o̵u̵r̶s̵e̵.̵ ̸I̸'̶m̶ ̷t̴o̷o̷ ̴t̸i̶r̸e̴d̷ ̷o̴f̶ ̶t̷h̶a̸t̷ ̶n̴o̴w̴

[1]A small thought suggested that perhaps he should actually adopt a moniker, outside of the "Insane" appellation. Which, if Zachie's response to how he had consumed the cake, still applied.

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

[Zachie listens intently to Zacharie..Zach.. Insane..?](Blast what should he call him?) [Thinking deeply, he tilts his head up letting out a plume of smoke.]

I can see now why you reacted the way you did about this game, it deeply resonates with doomed "souls" like us. Though I highly doubt whatever God set us on this path would give a single shit or have a real reason for it all.. What is our reason for all this, why are some of us trapped in this constant, why do some of us dissapear? Is there even a reason? And does it all even matter?

[Snubbing out his blunt onto the empty cake plate, Zachie stands up straight sighing irritated]

How about I tell you my tales of woe where we can get some fresh air, si amigo? Come this way to my Roof Garden. (Though its less of a garden after this frost took hold..)

[Ascending the stairs they exit onto a rooftop with what indeed appears to have been a previously sprawling garden, but now was full of withered and crispy corpses of what used to be veggies flowers and herbs. Zachie walks past it all already used to the sight of the wreckage before resting himself against the edge of the roof. Thick snow covers the Zone for as far as they could see, an icy sheet claiming ever nook and cranny making it appear like a barren waste. A field of brown sticks like markers for graves.

He motions with his hand to the carnage before turning to look at his companion.]

(Damn chill.. It's even taken out my Sunflower Field.) This used to be the Spring Zone..but now The Winter Zone has spread, acting like a parasite. At this rate.. I dread how everyone else is fairing in all this mess..

Ah- I don't know if you can feel the temperature, but please do let me know if you need something to cover up. I'm certain I have some extra sweaters. Oh for telling me your stories, and listening to my own ramblings gracias Zacha- hm.

What should I call you? I know you mentioned your url, I don't want to be essentially insulting you everytime I call your name heheh. Have any nickname ideas?

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

@ask-a-merchants-garden, continued from hence ask.

"Hm..Oh! si it is, but not in the way you may think amigo! All sugar here is made from grown and harvested Sugarcane, we no longer do the Smokestacks since the Re-Wiring.

[Stands a tad more rigid until shaking himself from his stupor and refocusing on the topic at hand.] ... ///

It was a bit odd to eat a cake in the Zones, and for a moment Zacharie hesitated as the other pushed the plate towards him. The...years here had made him somewhat averse to sugar, even if he never really was hungry.

To be fair the first few times he had indulged with Sucre...well, the ramifications of that particular bit were not best pondered upon. But it did mean that he would be hypocritical if he suddenly decided that he was diabetic.

So Zacharie did what any sensible person would do. He picked up the entire slice, regarded it critically, tilted up his mask, and shoved it into his piehole.

"Prfehty gfoord johrb." The other Zacharie - no, Martinez or Zachie, for simplicity's sake, blinked. Zacharie rolled his eyes, and swallowed. "̴P̵r̷e̷t̴t̷y̷ ̴g̵o̷o̶d̴ ̸j̸o̴b̴.̶ G̸o̵o̷d̷ ̸u̶s̷e̵ ̷o̴f̷ ̸a̸l̶l̶ ̶t̸h̵a̵t̴ ̴t̸i̸m̴e̶ ̷o̵n̵ ̷o̵u̶r̵ ̸h̵a̴n̶d̵s̷.̷ ̷Y̶o̸u̷ ̵s̶h̴o̸u̷l̶d̸ ̸t̵r̶a̴v̸e̷l̷ ̵o̶u̸t̸s̴i̶d̵e̴ ̴y̵o̷u̸r̸s̵e̶l̸f̵ ̸-̸ ̸m̷a̴k̴e̶ ̵a̸ ̴s̷m̴a̴l̶l̵ ̴f̴o̵r̸t̵u̷n̶e̴.̶ M̴a̵y̷b̴e̷ ̶a̵ ̸M̴a̶r̵t̷i̷n̸e̸z̷ ̷P̷a̴t̶i̶s̸s̵e̷r̴i̴e̴ ̴f̷r̵a̸n̸c̸h̶i̷s̶e̷ ̵a̴s̵ ̷w̷e̶l̴l̸.̸"

The cake was velvety. Was that the right term to use? It tasted...well, sweet. Maybe not enough - an eyelid, unnoticed, twitched at that thought.

He hurriedly put the plate down.

"I̶ ̶p̶e̵r̸s̸o̵n̴a̴l̵l̶y̴ ̷d̵o̵n̷'̴t̸ ̷h̷a̶v̷e̸ ̵a̵ ̴m̸a̶r̸k̸e̵t̷a̸b̴l̵e̵ ̴n̶a̴m̴e̴;̸ ̵o̷u̶r̸ ̶s̸h̵a̶r̸e̴d̵ ̶t̸r̷a̷d̷e̸m̶a̶r̵k̷ ̴s̵e̵r̸v̷e̴s̷ ̵i̸t̷s̷ ̶p̵u̷r̸p̵o̵s̶e̷ ̴a̵ ̴b̸i̵t̶ ̷t̸o̵o̴ ̶w̴e̷l̶l̸.̴" he said, "B̴u̶t̴ ̶t̷h̷e̷y̶ ̴u̸s̵e̸d̸ ̴t̴o̶ ̷s̸h̷o̴r̴t̷e̸n̸ ̶m̴y̸ ̶U̴R̶L̴ ̶a̴ ̵b̷i̶t̷.̸ N̴o̶t̵ ̷a̷ ̶g̴o̵o̶d̵ ̵l̴o̷o̷k̴ ̷w̷h̴e̴n̵ ̸y̷o̸u̴ ̴g̵r̸o̶w̷ ̵o̴l̷d̴e̵r̵,̴ ̸b̷u̷t̸ ̴l̶e̸t̷'̵s̴ ̶g̸o̵ ̸w̵i̶t̵h̸ ̶t̸h̶a̵t̷.̸"

And as for travel...

"It̷ ̴h̴a̵s̷ ̷b̵e̷e̷n̵ ̴a̷ ̴w̴h̴i̵l̷e̷.̴ ̵T̴h̵e̴ ̸l̷a̵s̸t̵ ̴I̴ ̸r̷e̷m̵e̸m̷b̵e̸r̵ ̸w̵a̶s̵ ̶d̴r̸i̸n̴k̸i̷n̸g̴ ̵q̵u̴i̶t̷e̸ ̶h̷e̷a̸v̸i̴l̴y̷ ̸t̸o̵ ̶e̶s̸c̴a̷p̶e̸ ̶s̸o̸m̵e̸ ̶q̵u̶e̶s̴t̷i̴o̶n̶s̵.̴" he said, rubbing his chin. Maybe he might have stocks of tea in his bag for this. "B̵u̶t̵ ̴a̸ ̶f̸e̷w̷ ̵j̸a̷u̴n̶t̵s̸.̸.̶.̵ ̶w̵e̸l̶l̵,̸ ̸C̵h̵i̴c̷a̴g̵o̸ ̴w̵i̶t̸h̸ ̴a̴ ̸c̴i̶t̸y̵w̵i̵d̴e̵ ̶A̶I̸ ̶s̶e̴e̷m̶s̷ ̶t̵o̵ ̶b̸e̸ ̸p̸o̵p̷p̸i̷n̸g̴ ̸u̷p̷ ̷q̵u̴i̶t̵e̴ ̶a̶ ̵b̶i̷t̷ ̸i̷n̸ ̸m̵y̷ ̴m̵e̸m̶o̴r̷i̷e̷s̸.̷ ̵O̷r̵ ̷t̸h̸a̷t̵ ̶p̴o̸s̴t̷-̸a̶p̶o̶c̵a̶l̷y̶p̸t̷i̴c̸ ̶e̸a̸r̷t̵h̷ ̷w̸h̶e̸r̴e̴ ̷i̶t̷ ̶w̷a̶s̷ ̶i̸n̵ ̴t̴h̶e̸ ̸g̷l̵a̴r̷i̶n̵g̴ ̷s̷u̴n̸ ̶p̸e̷r̵m̶a̴n̵e̷n̷t̴l̶y̴.̷.̶.̶"

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

... See amigo, normally I'd be flattered that someone enjoyed my baking but..

[Blinking, he takes a pause in an attempt to digest everything he'd just witnessed]

I am left with, frankly; a Shit ton more questions than I even started with. You are a very interesting Zacharie and I don't know whether to be concerned or impressed.

As for myself leaving to go on any such adventures.. Sadly I've a few- hrmm let's just say some desperate challenges/complications that are keeping me here in my shop.

Clausterphobia inducing heh..

Aside from all that I have to ask señor.. out of everything I just heard what about the

Tomato??? 🍅

Dios mio should I wrap myself a blunt? Do YOU need a blunt?

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

…Perhaps he should have remembered some table manners. Zachie seemed too discomfited by the fact that he had managed to fit the entire thing into his mouth without much discomfort. Zacharie had never given it much thought - though he did always wonder if it was something to do with that story.

Honestly for something that Zacharie suspected was just Mortis Ghost's little joke it seemed to have had more influence than you'd suspect.

But he didn't bother apologising, instead, tilting up his mask to reveal a smirk.

"B̷e̶ ̵b̶o̵t̶h̵.̸ ̴I̶t̴'̶s̵ ̸a̵ ̸s̴a̷f̴e̴ ̷w̷a̵y̴ ̷o̶f̸ ̷d̷e̷a̵l̷i̵n̸g̴ ̶w̶i̵t̸h̶ ̴e̶v̴e̷r̸y̵t̸h̵i̷n̵g̸.̴" he said, slipping the mask back with a cough. The air was still bad here, for all it had been scrubbed. "A̸n̷d̷ ̴i̸t̸'̸s̸ ̵a̵ ̵s̸h̷a̴m̴e̶ ̵y̸o̶u̴ ̴c̷a̶n̴'̷t̸ ̷g̷o̷ ̸o̴u̶t̸.̴ ̶M̷o̴n̷s̷t̷e̶r̷ ̴i̴n̴ ̶t̷h̸e̴ ̷b̸a̷s̷e̵m̵e̵n̸t̷?̴ ̸O̸r̶ ̶t̷h̸e̶ ̵o̷n̴c̸o̷m̴i̸n̷g̸ ̵w̶i̶n̴t̷e̶r̶?̶ ̶O̶r̸ ̸j̷u̷s̵t̸ ̸g̸e̶n̸e̸r̵a̷l̴ ̷c̷o̷d̶i̸n̸g̵ ̶r̴e̷s̸t̶r̶i̵c̸t̸i̴o̴n̵s̵?̴"

He paused. "T̴o̸m̴a̴t̸o̶ ̵-̴ ̷o̸h̶,̷ ̵t̷h̴a̴t̸.̶ ̷N̷o̷.̵ ̵N̸o̶t̷ ̸h̷i̶g̵h̶.̵ ̶I̸t̷'̵s̶ ̵b̷i̵z̶z̵a̶r̵e̸,̷ ̶r̴e̷a̸l̶l̷y̶ ̴-̶ ̶t̸h̸a̴t̶ ̸p̷a̸r̷t̷i̴c̶u̸l̴a̸r̶ ̶r̴e̶a̸l̶m̵ ̶r̵a̷n̴ ̷o̷n̵ ̵s̷o̸ ̷m̸a̴n̶y̸ ̷b̷i̵t̴s̸ ̶o̸f̸ ̴c̶o̵d̵e̷ ̷b̵e̷c̶a̷u̶s̷e̵ ̴h̶u̵m̴a̶n̴i̸t̸y̶ ̸h̴a̷d̷ ̸d̵i̶e̸d̷ ̶a̶n̶d̴ ̴t̷h̷e̷r̴e̴ ̷w̷e̷r̵e̴ ̵n̵o̸t̵h̶i̵n̴g̵ ̸b̴u̴t̸ ̸a̴n̷d̶r̴o̵i̶d̵s̷ ̵a̷n̶d̸ ̵m̷a̴c̴h̶i̶n̴e̷s̸.̶ ̴Y̶e̶s̶,̶ ̷t̵h̵e̷r̸e̶ ̶w̷a̷s̸ ̵a̴ ̵d̴i̷s̴t̵i̸n̴c̶t̵i̶o̶n̷.̵ ̶Y̴e̵s̶,̷ ̵i̴t̵ ̴f̶e̶e̶l̸s̵ ̸f̴a̸m̴i̶l̶i̴a̸r̷.̸"

Zachie would have picked up a slight tinge of bitterness in the other's voice.

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

Heheheh!~ You know what, that's a positive way of looking at things! I like you amigo, your good fun! Besides we all have our strangeness and quirks don't we. I hope you don't mind me lighting one up for myself?

[Zachie proceeds to pull a wrapped blunt from under his counter, lighting the tip and taking a drag as he watches his counterpart go from jovial to solemn..or perhaps it was bitterness?]

Ah- That I can understand all too well mi compadre... Scrambles of code, endless questions, fallout, dismay..

[He sighs leaving trails of wispy smoke slipping from under his mask]

That actually ties quite well into my own predicament, would I be permitted to answer with all-thee-above? Mine is a long and frustrating tale to tell. All stemming down to loss and frank melancholy.

(Or perhaps even hopelessness..)

Heh you know, It's funny.. No matter how much we may wriggle and squirm away from our programming, we still eventually find ourselves wrapped in that spiderweb coding all over again in some way.

...

Lo siento, did I ramble off there? (Heh..OFF)

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

(Im in my slut era )

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

@ask-a-merchants-garden, continued from hence ask.

"Hm..Oh! si it is, but not in the way you may think amigo! All sugar here is made from grown and harvested Sugarcane, we no longer do the Smokestacks since the Re-Wiring.

[Stands a tad more rigid until shaking himself from his stupor and refocusing on the topic at hand.] ... ///

It was a bit odd to eat a cake in the Zones, and for a moment Zacharie hesitated as the other pushed the plate towards him. The...years here had made him somewhat averse to sugar, even if he never really was hungry.

To be fair the first few times he had indulged with Sucre...well, the ramifications of that particular bit were not best pondered upon. But it did mean that he would be hypocritical if he suddenly decided that he was diabetic.

So Zacharie did what any sensible person would do. He picked up the entire slice, regarded it critically, tilted up his mask, and shoved it into his piehole.

"Prfehty gfoord johrb." The other Zacharie - no, Martinez or Zachie, for simplicity's sake, blinked. Zacharie rolled his eyes, and swallowed. "̴P̵r̷e̷t̴t̷y̷ ̴g̵o̷o̶d̴ ̸j̸o̴b̴.̶ G̸o̵o̷d̷ ̸u̶s̷e̵ ̷o̴f̷ ̸a̸l̶l̶ ̶t̸h̵a̵t̴ ̴t̸i̸m̴e̶ ̷o̵n̵ ̷o̵u̶r̵ ̸h̵a̴n̶d̵s̷.̷ ̷Y̶o̸u̷ ̵s̶h̴o̸u̷l̶d̸ ̸t̵r̶a̴v̸e̷l̷ ̵o̶u̸t̸s̴i̶d̵e̴ ̴y̵o̷u̸r̸s̵e̶l̸f̵ ̸-̸ ̸m̷a̴k̴e̶ ̵a̸ ̴s̷m̴a̴l̶l̵ ̴f̴o̵r̸t̵u̷n̶e̴.̶ M̴a̵y̷b̴e̷ ̶a̵ ̸M̴a̶r̵t̷i̷n̸e̸z̷ ̷P̷a̴t̶i̶s̸s̵e̷r̴i̴e̴ ̴f̷r̵a̸n̸c̸h̶i̷s̶e̷ ̵a̴s̵ ̷w̷e̶l̴l̸.̸"

The cake was velvety. Was that the right term to use? It tasted...well, sweet. Maybe not enough - an eyelid, unnoticed, twitched at that thought.

He hurriedly put the plate down.

"I̶ ̶p̶e̵r̸s̸o̵n̴a̴l̵l̶y̴ ̷d̵o̵n̷'̴t̸ ̷h̷a̶v̷e̸ ̵a̵ ̴m̸a̶r̸k̸e̵t̷a̸b̴l̵e̵ ̴n̶a̴m̴e̴;̸ ̵o̷u̶r̸ ̶s̸h̵a̶r̸e̴d̵ ̶t̸r̷a̷d̷e̸m̶a̶r̵k̷ ̴s̵e̵r̸v̷e̴s̷ ̵i̸t̷s̷ ̶p̵u̷r̸p̵o̵s̶e̷ ̴a̵ ̴b̸i̵t̶ ̷t̸o̵o̴ ̶w̴e̷l̶l̸.̴" he said, "B̴u̶t̴ ̶t̷h̷e̷y̶ ̴u̸s̵e̸d̸ ̴t̴o̶ ̷s̸h̷o̴r̴t̷e̸n̸ ̶m̴y̸ ̶U̴R̶L̴ ̶a̴ ̵b̷i̶t̷.̸ N̴o̶t̵ ̷a̷ ̶g̴o̵o̶d̵ ̵l̴o̷o̷k̴ ̷w̷h̴e̴n̵ ̸y̷o̸u̴ ̴g̵r̸o̶w̷ ̵o̴l̷d̴e̵r̵,̴ ̸b̷u̷t̸ ̴l̶e̸t̷'̵s̴ ̶g̸o̵ ̸w̵i̶t̵h̸ ̶t̸h̶a̵t̷.̸"

And as for travel...

"It̷ ̴h̴a̵s̷ ̷b̵e̷e̷n̵ ̴a̷ ̴w̴h̴i̵l̷e̷.̴ ̵T̴h̵e̴ ̸l̷a̵s̸t̵ ̴I̴ ̸r̷e̷m̵e̸m̷b̵e̸r̵ ̸w̵a̶s̵ ̶d̴r̸i̸n̴k̸i̷n̸g̴ ̵q̵u̴i̶t̷e̸ ̶h̷e̷a̸v̸i̴l̴y̷ ̸t̸o̵ ̶e̶s̸c̴a̷p̶e̸ ̶s̸o̸m̵e̸ ̶q̵u̶e̶s̴t̷i̴o̶n̶s̵.̴" he said, rubbing his chin. Maybe he might have stocks of tea in his bag for this. "B̵u̶t̵ ̴a̸ ̶f̸e̷w̷ ̵j̸a̷u̴n̶t̵s̸.̸.̶.̵ ̶w̵e̸l̶l̵,̸ ̸C̵h̵i̴c̷a̴g̵o̸ ̴w̵i̶t̸h̸ ̴a̴ ̸c̴i̶t̸y̵w̵i̵d̴e̵ ̶A̶I̸ ̶s̶e̴e̷m̶s̷ ̶t̵o̵ ̶b̸e̸ ̸p̸o̵p̷p̸i̷n̸g̴ ̸u̷p̷ ̷q̵u̴i̶t̵e̴ ̶a̶ ̵b̶i̷t̷ ̸i̷n̸ ̸m̵y̷ ̴m̵e̸m̶o̴r̷i̷e̷s̸.̷ ̵O̷r̵ ̷t̸h̸a̷t̵ ̶p̴o̸s̴t̷-̸a̶p̶o̶c̵a̶l̷y̶p̸t̷i̴c̸ ̶e̸a̸r̷t̵h̷ ̷w̸h̶e̸r̴e̴ ̷i̶t̷ ̶w̷a̶s̷ ̶i̸n̵ ̴t̴h̶e̸ ̸g̷l̵a̴r̷i̶n̵g̴ ̷s̷u̴n̸ ̶p̸e̷r̵m̶a̴n̵e̷n̷t̴l̶y̴.̷.̶.̶"

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

... See amigo, normally I'd be flattered that someone enjoyed my baking but..

[Blinking, he takes a pause in an attempt to digest everything he'd just witnessed]

I am left with, frankly; a Shit ton more questions than I even started with. You are a very interesting Zacharie and I don't know whether to be concerned or impressed.

As for myself leaving to go on any such adventures.. Sadly I've a few- hrmm let's just say some desperate challenges/complications that are keeping me here in my shop.

Clausterphobia inducing heh..

Aside from all that I have to ask señor.. out of everything I just heard what about the

Tomato??? 🍅

Dios mio should I wrap myself a blunt? Do YOU need a blunt?

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

Hola fellow amigo of the wastes, how're things for you?

(Bro love your writing its gotten even better since ive last lurked around! been so long since I've seen anyone do anything with OFF stuff much. )

He stares. It's been some time since he's seen another variant active - although considering that he was effectively comatose like so many others that observation is sort of rendered moot.

M̴i̶ ̸h̴o̶m̵b̷r̸e̴,̵ ̸b̸u̴s̷i̴n̴e̴s̴s̵ ̴h̸a̶s̷ ̸b̴e̷e̷n̸ ̷a̸b̸s̴o̵l̷u̴t̴e̷ ̴s̵h̶i̶t̶.̸ ̸B̵u̷t̷ ̸t̶h̴a̴t̸'̷s̷ ̸n̸o̴ ̸s̶u̶r̶p̸r̸i̶s̶e̵.̸

E̵v̷e̴r̸y̶o̷n̴e̵'̸s̵ ̶d̵e̶a̴d̷.̴ E̷x̶c̸e̴p̶t̵ ̴f̴o̸r̵ ̶a̵ ̸f̷e̴w̴ ̶o̸f̴ ̷u̶s̶.̷ ̶

He huffs.

H̶o̸w̵ ̵a̵b̶o̸u̷t̶ ̴y̸o̶u̶,̴ ̵a̵m̵i̵g̷o̵?̸ ̵S̶e̸e̶n̴ ̴a̶n̷y̴b̶o̷d̸y̷ ̵f̷r̸o̵m̷ ̷t̵h̵e̵ ̵Z̵o̸n̶e̷s̸ ̴l̶a̷t̸e̸l̶y̶?̷ ̸I̷ ̴a̸s̵s̷u̸m̷e̷ ̸o̴t̴h̸e̷r̸w̵i̷s̴e̸,̵ ̶g̵i̸v̴e̶n̵ ̷y̶o̴u̸r̷ ̵s̸i̵m̴i̸l̸a̵r̴ ̵s̴t̶a̷t̸e̸ ̷o̶f̷ ̷i̵n̸a̴c̷t̸i̵v̸i̸t̵y̸.̷.̶.̶

((Aaah! Life these past five years have been an absolute...well, Zacharie wishes he could build this rollercoaster, but it's left me with better writing (thank you)! Zacharie draws me back occasionally - I just miss him too much at times.))

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

First off, a style change! And..

Ah- well even I must admit that business has not been "booming" at all amigo, a sort of freeze has overtaken my dear home. I think it crawled its way from the Winter Zone.. So safe to say it's been far too quiet lately and I dare not traverse it to find out.

(Not that I have the energy anyways..)

But that's far from what you've asked now. I'm sad to see so many of our counterparts vanish as they have, it's lonely. Thankyou for taking the time to reply it certainly fills the void heheh!

What have you been doing to fill the time?

((Oof I understand that well! This fandom has always been a comfort for me and recently especially with life being the way it is ))

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

"Y̸o̶u̶'̴v̴e̶ ̷e̶v̴o̵l̶v̷e̸d̵," he said, regarding the other appraisingly. A̴t̷ ̶l̸e̶a̴s̴t̸ ̴w̴e̷'̵r̸e̴ ̵s̷t̵i̸l̵l̵ ̵d̷y̷n̵a̷m̸i̸c̶ ̸e̵n̶o̴u̴g̶h̸,̴ ̶r̵e̷l̵a̵t̶i̴v̴e̸ ̴t̴o̸ ̸t̶h̷e̶s̴e̸ ̶Z̸o̷n̴e̵s̷.̷"

Although on that note it seemed that climatic and economic change was leaking through the fourth wall. It could possibly be one of Zacharie's later paths leaking in as well in some manner of foresight- regardless, he was never really prepared for winter (save for that horrible cardigan), an affectation of his Before. As for total economic collapse...well, RPGMaker games were never exactly known for being well-versed in economical minutiae, and Zacharie ran a strict monopoly in the first place.

"A̴s̷ ̵f̸o̴r̴ ̵w̷h̸a̵t̸ ̴I̸ ̸w̶a̸s̶ ̶d̶o̸i̷n̶g̸,̴ ̷I̶ ̵w̶a̸s̴ ̵s̵l̸e̴e̴p̷i̴n̷g̸.̵ ̴A̵ ̵l̸o̸t̷.̷ ̶S̵o̵m̷e̶ ̶o̶f̴ ̵u̸s̵ ̸s̵p̴e̴n̷t̷ ̴t̵o̶o̴ ̸m̵u̷c̵h̵ ̴e̴n̶e̶r̵g̴y̶ ̴r̸e̶a̷d̵i̴n̸g̴" he continued, settling down on a bench.

He waved a hand in the air, sending eddies of smoke scurrying around. "I̶t̷'̶s̵ ̴n̷o̵w̷ ̷a̷ ̸c̷a̷s̶e̵ ̴o̷f̴ ̷c̶o̵n̷s̶t̴a̵n̴t̴ ̴c̷l̴e̴a̵n̴i̵n̶g̵ ̵a̴n̵d̷ ̴s̸t̷o̶c̵k̸ ̵c̶h̸e̵c̴k̷,̸ ̷b̶u̵t̷ ̵r̷e̵a̶l̵l̴y̴,̸ ̴" he added, "It̴'̷s̶ ̸t̵o̷ ̴k̵e̸e̷p̷ ̴m̷y̴s̴e̸l̵f̶ ̶b̵u̷s̶y̵ ̴b̸e̷f̴o̴r̶e̶ ̸I̴ ̸p̴a̴c̵k̶ ̵u̷p̴ ̴a̷n̶d̵ ̵f̵i̸n̴d̷ ̵a̶n̵o̸t̴h̷e̷r̶ ̵p̴l̵a̶c̷e̷ ̷t̵o̵ ̵e̵x̸p̶l̶o̸r̶e̴ ̶a̶n̴d̶ ̷s̴e̷l̵l̶ ̷t̷h̷i̸n̵g̸s̸,"

It sort of went unsaid that there was no point in restricting oneself to the Zones when. you could test out how deep a grasp the coding had on you, and when your market had begun to shrink.

Zacharie suddenly pointed at the cake on the counter.

"Y̶o̴u̷ ̷e̶a̸t̵i̸n̷g̵ ̷t̵h̸a̴t̴ ̷-̶ ̶w̸a̸i̶t̶,̸ ̴i̵s̵ ̷t̶h̸a̸t̸ ̸m̷a̶d̶e̸ ̴w̶i̶t̵h̸ ̴S̸u̵g̷a̷r̸?̶"

((OFF fandom was my first interaction with the high and lows of such media-based communities and I can never begrudge it for that. Although the way it is right now - quiet and small - is a bit of a relief haha!))

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

Hm..Oh! si it is, but not in the way you may think amigo! All sugar here is made from grown and harvested Sugarcane, we no longer do the Smokestacks since the Re-Wiring.

[Stands a tad more rigid until shaking himself from his stupor and refocusing on the topic at hand.]

I do however fancy myself a baker, and well- with so much time on my hands there's plenty to go around. So do help yourself!

In exchange though, I would very much like to hear some tales from your travels and explorations if you're willing to share that is.

Before that, I have only now realized that I have failed to properly introduce myself to you! (Dios mio how crude of me) I am Zacharie Martinez, and this is my shop The Martinez Market. You, mi amigo can call me Zachie.

((I definately got into the fandom late, but honestly the lack of pressure from it being in the lime light makes things easier to be around!))

[possiblyinsanemerchant]

Hola fellow amigo of the wastes, how're things for you?

(Bro love your writing its gotten even better since ive last lurked around! been so long since I've seen anyone do anything with OFF stuff much. )

He stares. It's been some time since he's seen another variant active - although considering that he was effectively comatose like so many others that observation is sort of rendered moot.

M̴i̶ ̸h̴o̶m̵b̷r̸e̴,̵ ̸b̸u̴s̷i̴n̴e̴s̴s̵ ̴h̸a̶s̷ ̸b̴e̷e̷n̸ ̷a̸b̸s̴o̵l̷u̴t̴e̷ ̴s̵h̶i̶t̶.̸ ̸B̵u̷t̷ ̸t̶h̴a̴t̸'̷s̷ ̸n̸o̴ ̸s̶u̶r̶p̸r̸i̶s̶e̵.̸

E̵v̷e̴r̸y̶o̷n̴e̵'̸s̵ ̶d̵e̶a̴d̷.̴ E̷x̶c̸e̴p̶t̵ ̴f̴o̸r̵ ̶a̵ ̸f̷e̴w̴ ̶o̸f̴ ̷u̶s̶.̷ ̶

He huffs.

H̶o̸w̵ ̵a̵b̶o̸u̷t̶ ̴y̸o̶u̶,̴ ̵a̵m̵i̵g̷o̵?̸ ̵S̶e̸e̶n̴ ̴a̶n̷y̴b̶o̷d̸y̷ ̵f̷r̸o̵m̷ ̷t̵h̵e̵ ̵Z̵o̸n̶e̷s̸ ̴l̶a̷t̸e̸l̶y̶?̷ ̸I̷ ̴a̸s̵s̷u̸m̷e̷ ̸o̴t̴h̸e̷r̸w̵i̷s̴e̸,̵ ̶g̵i̸v̴e̶n̵ ̷y̶o̴u̸r̷ ̵s̸i̵m̴i̸l̸a̵r̴ ̵s̴t̶a̷t̸e̸ ̷o̶f̷ ̷i̵n̸a̴c̷t̸i̵v̸i̸t̵y̸.̷.̶.̶

((Aaah! Life these past five years have been an absolute...well, Zacharie wishes he could build this rollercoaster, but it's left me with better writing (thank you)! Zacharie draws me back occasionally - I just miss him too much at times.))

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

First off, a style change! And..

Ah- well even I must admit that business has not been "booming" at all amigo, a sort of freeze has overtaken my dear home. I think it crawled its way from the Winter Zone.. So safe to say it's been far too quiet lately and I dare not traverse it to find out.

(Not that I have the energy anyways..)

But that's far from what you've asked now. I'm sad to see so many of our counterparts vanish as they have, it's lonely. Thankyou for taking the time to reply it certainly fills the void heheh!

What have you been doing to fill the time?

((Oof I understand that well! This fandom has always been a comfort for me and recently especially with life being the way it is ))

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

Batter!!

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

I'm not too active anymore, but I still love this fandom and find myself sliding right back into it!

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

Its the boi! The boi! Hes the bat boi!

[ask-a-merchants-garden]

Hello I am s t a b b i c u s please stab me because I crave bone blood and also have a good day and night :)).

Despite the lack of stabbing, I hope you have a nice day and night amigo heheheh! 🌸