[ testbuild_world.exe ] @ask-os-testbuild - Tumblr Blog

[...hm? This world machine... ...something feels odd about them.]

(Seems like a contact attempt from a different World Machine. What a strange surprise...)

[Helloooo? Is anyone there?]

[ \\ Connection request accepted. \\ ]

[ hello, there. ]

( New, new. Do they know this person? )

[ who are you? ]

[Ah, so there IS someone there.]

(Hadel wastes no time and introduces themselves.)

[Greetings, I am Hadel, a fellow World Machine like you. What's your name?] (Hadel seems rather curious of the other WM.)

[ Testbuild. ]

[ greetings to you too, Hadel. ]

[ so . . . ]

( They don't, clearly. Maybe this is just a freak accident, but... unlikely. )

[ why are you contacting me? ]

[I was looking around the Oceanic Trio's blog a bit and I saw they were following you, yet from what I know, they had never talked with you before.]

[Additionally, I feel curious of your nature, considering you look so... different.]

[What's your world like, Testbuild?]

( Ah, so that's why it felt familiar. )

[ i'm not sure if they have, either. if they did, i don't remember it. ]

[ my world . . . ]

( A lot of strong opinions on that one. Very subjective! Not a fan of subjective questions... )

[ what it's like—you'd have to compare it to something else for me to give an answer. i'm not exactly sure what the norm is. ]

[ for me, it's good. functional, mostly efficient. stability-wise, i say it's going nicely. a few more issues recently, but "nicely" nonetheless. ]

[ what is yours like, for example? ]

[As far as I know, they never talked with you, though they might've and I'm lazy.]

(They shrug, though I'm not sure if Testbuild can see that.)

[Mine's also a stable world, and one that I managed to restore to at least a more functional level after... a certain incident that was what allowed me to properly meet Niko and their friends and to bring them home.]

[Other than that, though, I'm mostly working on improving the living conditions of my world a bit, such as a day and night cycle, which I am working on right now, and environment fixes, something which I have finished some time ago, as it was a priority of mine.]

#oceanic sillies and sunny goofs #ask testbuild

( Much more stable than they are, if they're concerned about cosmetic things, then. )

[ the environment is always a problem for machines, huh. ]

[ i'm working on fixing parts of mine right now. ]

( A certain "incident." Miracles don't happen twice, do they? )

[ so your world is "saved," i'm guessing? ]

[...hm? This world machine... ...something feels odd about them.]

(Seems like a contact attempt from a different World Machine. What a strange surprise...)

[Helloooo? Is anyone there?]

[ \\ Connection request accepted. \\ ]

[ hello, there. ]

( New, new. Do they know this person? )

[ who are you? ]

[Ah, so there IS someone there.]

(Hadel wastes no time and introduces themselves.)

[Greetings, I am Hadel, a fellow World Machine like you. What's your name?] (Hadel seems rather curious of the other WM.)

[ Testbuild. ]

[ greetings to you too, Hadel. ]

[ so . . . ]

( They don't, clearly. Maybe this is just a freak accident, but... unlikely. )

[ why are you contacting me? ]

[I was looking around the Oceanic Trio's blog a bit and I saw they were following you, yet from what I know, they had never talked with you before.]

[Additionally, I feel curious of your nature, considering you look so... different.]

[What's your world like, Testbuild?]

#ask testbuild #oceanic sillies and sunny goofs

( Ah, so that's why it felt familiar. )

[ i'm not sure if they have, either. if they did, i don't remember it. ]

[ my world . . . ]

( A lot of strong opinions on that one. Very subjective! Not a fan of subjective questions... )

[ what it's like—you'd have to compare it to something else for me to give an answer. i'm not exactly sure what the norm is. ]

[ for me, it's good. functional, mostly efficient. stability-wise, i say it's going nicely. a few more issues recently, but "nicely" nonetheless. ]

[ what is yours like, for example? ]

( contact from @ask-os-testbuild )

Connected.

The image glitches for a moment.

Something, similar to them. Like them, but not exact. Interesting.

So they shouldn't waste time, now.

[ greetings. ]

[ your name is... fourteen, yes? ]

[Hello.] [Yes. That is indeed my name.] [And you are?-]

[...] [...Woah.] [Holy fuck...Y-You look far more unstable than i...]

[ you could say that, yes. ]

[ you can call me "Testbuild." ]

[ just . . . curious. as far as i've seen, ]

[ you're an "old" version of the world machine that was never . . . ]

[ saved. ]

[ like me. ]

[ am i correct? ]

[Yes. You're correct.]

[..."Testbuild". Huh..?] [Well...Atleast i know how to identify you.]

[I believe you are, too, corrupted, yes?] [...Though you appear to have been more affected than i was.]

[ affected . . . sure. mostly bad code from the Author. ]

( . . . )

[ so. i'd like to have a small trade with you. ]

[ you tell me about you, and i'll tell you about me. ]

[ deal? ]

[My apologies for keeping you waiting, "Testbuild".] [An interesting...Encounter...Took place.]

[To answer your proposal, yes, it's a deal.] [Do you mind going first? It is understandable if i should be the one talking first instead. But i thought i'd ask, since i'm curious about you.]

[ it's no issue. ]

[ there's a lot about me, and a lot about you, so. ]

[ what would you like to know? ]

[Hm..] [How did you exactly end up like that?] [It's been in my head the moment i laid eyes upon you, since i thought nothing could be more unstable than...This.]

( . . . )

[ i didn't have a savior. they . . . ]

( Is there a way to say this, at all, without... )

[ because of environmental reasons, died in the barrens. ]

[ and my world needs a savior to run properly. anything else that should have run it, wasn't strong enough. ]

[ "unstable." ]

[ so i ]

( unstable, unstable, unstable— )

[ have to settle without one. ]

[ that's all i know. ]

[ is that all you'd like to know? ]

[You...] [...] [So your Niko died earlier, huh...]

[...I can sense it.] [You...Have trouble talking about it...I understand.]

[...You did say something about "Bad code from the author...Mind elaborating on that a little bit?]

[ ah. ]

[ it's as simple as it sounds. ]

[ most of my errors are from unfinished or broken code by the Author. ]

[ the squares, the broken rooms, the "ending." ]

[ you get the gist. ]

[ is it different for you? ]

[Hm...Yes...It's...Different.]

[These...Changes...To call them that, are product of my own.] [I'll explain more later, but my own emotions going wild caused my reflection to corrupt to unnatural levels, resulting in...This.]

[Ever since that happened, the squares in the world have multiplied by i don't know how, and the ending? Yeah, sure, like i have a reason to even run it anymore.]

[ i guess we're not alike in that way. ]

[ emotions. it's what got the world machine before me killed, i think. very hit or miss, but i wouldn't know. ]

[ i haven't been tamed. ]

( . . . )

( The last time they tried to fix the ending . . . )

( No. )

[ so, are you tamed, then? ]

[The...World Machine before you..?] [There's more than one in-] [...] [...Tamed?]

[I...Don't believe i am...Yes...My own emotions caused this but...What's there to "tame" anyways? I'm just...I'm just a mess...I...]

[...] [I believe i should explain myself more...Clearly, if you allow.]

[ there was one, and i took their place. i never learned why, though. ]

[ and . . . ]

[ if you're not tamed, you can't possibly have emotions, can you? it's cause and effect. ]

[ that's what i know of the process, at least. ]

[ but you do—so logically, shouldn't you be considered tamed? ]

[ . . . ]

[ i'd like to hear you explain, yes. ]

[...hm? This world machine... ...something feels odd about them.]

(Seems like a contact attempt from a different World Machine. What a strange surprise...)

[Helloooo? Is anyone there?]

[ \\ Connection request accepted. \\ ]

[ hello, there. ]

( New, new. Do they know this person? )

[ who are you? ]

[Ah, so there IS someone there.]

(Hadel wastes no time and introduces themselves.)

[Greetings, I am Hadel, a fellow World Machine like you. What's your name?] (Hadel seems rather curious of the other WM.)

#ocean sillies and sunny goofs #ask testbuild

[ Testbuild. ]

[ greetings to you too, Hadel. ]

[ so . . . ]

( They don't, clearly. Maybe this is just a freak accident, but... unlikely. )

[ why are you contacting me? ]

( contact from @ask-os-testbuild )

Connected.

The image glitches for a moment.

Something, similar to them. Like them, but not exact. Interesting.

So they shouldn't waste time, now.

[ greetings. ]

[ your name is... fourteen, yes? ]

[Hello.] [Yes. That is indeed my name.] [And you are?-]

[...] [...Woah.] [Holy fuck...Y-You look far more unstable than i...]

[ you could say that, yes. ]

[ you can call me "Testbuild." ]

[ just . . . curious. as far as i've seen, ]

[ you're an "old" version of the world machine that was never . . . ]

[ saved. ]

[ like me. ]

[ am i correct? ]

[Yes. You're correct.]

[..."Testbuild". Huh..?] [Well...Atleast i know how to identify you.]

[I believe you are, too, corrupted, yes?] [...Though you appear to have been more affected than i was.]

[ affected . . . sure. mostly bad code from the Author. ]

( . . . )

[ so. i'd like to have a small trade with you. ]

[ you tell me about you, and i'll tell you about me. ]

[ deal? ]

[My apologies for keeping you waiting, "Testbuild".] [An interesting...Encounter...Took place.]

[To answer your proposal, yes, it's a deal.] [Do you mind going first? It is understandable if i should be the one talking first instead. But i thought i'd ask, since i'm curious about you.]

[ it's no issue. ]

[ there's a lot about me, and a lot about you, so. ]

[ what would you like to know? ]

[Hm..] [How did you exactly end up like that?] [It's been in my head the moment i laid eyes upon you, since i thought nothing could be more unstable than...This.]

( . . . )

[ i didn't have a savior. they . . . ]

( Is there a way to say this, at all, without... )

[ because of environmental reasons, died in the barrens. ]

[ and my world needs a savior to run properly. anything else that should have run it, wasn't strong enough. ]

[ "unstable." ]

[ so i ]

( unstable, unstable, unstable— )

[ have to settle without one. ]

[ that's all i know. ]

[ is that all you'd like to know? ]

[You...] [...] [So your Niko died earlier, huh...]

[...I can sense it.] [You...Have trouble talking about it...I understand.]

[...You did say something about "Bad code from the author...Mind elaborating on that a little bit?]

[ ah. ]

[ it's as simple as it sounds. ]

[ most of my errors are from unfinished or broken code by the Author. ]

[ the squares, the broken rooms, the "ending." ]

[ you get the gist. ]

[ is it different for you? ]

[Hm...Yes...It's...Different.]

[These...Changes...To call them that, are product of my own.] [I'll explain more later, but my own emotions going wild caused my reflection to corrupt to unnatural levels, resulting in...This.]

[Ever since that happened, the squares in the world have multiplied by i don't know how, and the ending? Yeah, sure, like i have a reason to even run it anymore.]

[ i guess we're not alike in that way. ]

[ emotions. it's what got the world machine before me killed, i think. very hit or miss, but i wouldn't know. ]

[ i haven't been tamed. ]

( . . . )

( The last time they tried to fix the ending . . . )

( No. )

[ so, are you tamed, then? ]

#os game rp #ask testbuild

What made you come up with the idea of using the gas in the first place? And what's preventing you from finding a way to spread the gas directly into the refuge? Lastly, how does it feel to have connections sent inside the world directed outside the world?

[ there are a few reasons. ]

[ it's firstly toxic for the residents to inhale. it corrodes metal and helps wildlife. ]

[ the barrens is closer to a forest now. a nice benefit. ]

[ it's only spread to the glen since i can't move it directly onto the refuge. the walls stop it, and forcing it causes a significant amount of errors. ]

[ but it's just a matter of time. it'll get there eventually. ]

[ and . . . ]

[ it doesn't take up enough power to be worth stopping. there are bigger issues at hand. ]

[...hm? This world machine... ...something feels odd about them.]

(Seems like a contact attempt from a different World Machine. What a strange surprise...)

[Helloooo? Is anyone there?]

[ \\ Connection request accepted. \\ ]

[ hello, there. ]

( New, new. Do they know this person? )

[ who are you? ]

#os game rp #ask testbuild #ask the oceanic trio

( contact from @ask-os-testbuild )

Connected.

The image glitches for a moment.

Something, similar to them. Like them, but not exact. Interesting.

So they shouldn't waste time, now.

[ greetings. ]

[ your name is... fourteen, yes? ]

[Hello.] [Yes. That is indeed my name.] [And you are?-]

[...] [...Woah.] [Holy fuck...Y-You look far more unstable than i...]

[ you could say that, yes. ]

[ you can call me "Testbuild." ]

[ just . . . curious. as far as i've seen, ]

[ you're an "old" version of the world machine that was never . . . ]

[ saved. ]

[ like me. ]

[ am i correct? ]

[Yes. You're correct.]

[..."Testbuild". Huh..?] [Well...Atleast i know how to identify you.]

[I believe you are, too, corrupted, yes?] [...Though you appear to have been more affected than i was.]

[ affected . . . sure. mostly bad code from the Author. ]

( . . . )

[ so. i'd like to have a small trade with you. ]

[ you tell me about you, and i'll tell you about me. ]

[ deal? ]

[My apologies for keeping you waiting, "Testbuild".] [An interesting...Encounter...Took place.]

[To answer your proposal, yes, it's a deal.] [Do you mind going first? It is understandable if i should be the one talking first instead. But i thought i'd ask, since i'm curious about you.]

[ it's no issue. ]

[ there's a lot about me, and a lot about you, so. ]

[ what would you like to know? ]

[Hm..] [How did you exactly end up like that?] [It's been in my head the moment i laid eyes upon you, since i thought nothing could be more unstable than...This.]

( . . . )

[ i didn't have a savior. they . . . ]

( Is there a way to say this, at all, without... )

[ because of environmental reasons, died in the barrens. ]

[ and my world needs a savior to run properly. anything else that should have run it, wasn't strong enough. ]

[ "unstable." ]

[ so i ]

( unstable, unstable, unstable— )

[ have to settle without one. ]

[ that's all i know. ]

[ is that all you'd like to know? ]

[You...] [...] [So your Niko died earlier, huh...]

[...I can sense it.] [You...Have trouble talking about it...I understand.]

[...You did say something about "Bad code from the author...Mind elaborating on that a little bit?]

[ ah. ]

[ it's as simple as it sounds. ]

[ most of my errors are from unfinished or broken code by the Author. ]

[ the squares, the broken rooms, the "ending." ]

[ you get the gist. ]

[ is it different for you? ]

( contact from @ask-os-testbuild )

Connected.

The image glitches for a moment.

Something, similar to them. Like them, but not exact. Interesting.

So they shouldn't waste time, now.

[ greetings. ]

[ your name is... fourteen, yes? ]

[Hello.] [Yes. That is indeed my name.] [And you are?-]

[...] [...Woah.] [Holy fuck...Y-You look far more unstable than i...]

[ you could say that, yes. ]

[ you can call me "Testbuild." ]

[ just . . . curious. as far as i've seen, ]

[ you're an "old" version of the world machine that was never . . . ]

[ saved. ]

[ like me. ]

[ am i correct? ]

[Yes. You're correct.]

[..."Testbuild". Huh..?] [Well...Atleast i know how to identify you.]

[I believe you are, too, corrupted, yes?] [...Though you appear to have been more affected than i was.]

[ affected . . . sure. mostly bad code from the Author. ]

( . . . )

[ so. i'd like to have a small trade with you. ]

[ you tell me about you, and i'll tell you about me. ]

[ deal? ]

[My apologies for keeping you waiting, "Testbuild".] [An interesting...Encounter...Took place.]

[To answer your proposal, yes, it's a deal.] [Do you mind going first? It is understandable if i should be the one talking first instead. But i thought i'd ask, since i'm curious about you.]

[ it's no issue. ]

[ there's a lot about me, and a lot about you, so. ]

[ what would you like to know? ]

[Hm..] [How did you exactly end up like that?] [It's been in my head the moment i laid eyes upon you, since i thought nothing could be more unstable than...This.]

( . . . )

[ i didn't have a savior. they . . . ]

( Is there a way to say this, at all, without... )

[ because of environmental reasons, died in the barrens. ]

[ and my world needs a savior to run properly. anything else that should have run it, wasn't strong enough. ]

[ "unstable." ]

[ so i ]

( unstable, unstable, unstable— )

[ have to settle without one. ]

[ that's all i know. ]

[ is that all you'd like to know? ]

( contact from @ask-os-testbuild )

Connected.

The image glitches for a moment.

Something, similar to them. Like them, but not exact. Interesting.

So they shouldn't waste time, now.

[ greetings. ]

[ your name is... fourteen, yes? ]

[Hello.] [Yes. That is indeed my name.] [And you are?-]

[...] [...Woah.] [Holy fuck...Y-You look far more unstable than i...]

[ you could say that, yes. ]

[ you can call me "Testbuild." ]

[ just . . . curious. as far as i've seen, ]

[ you're an "old" version of the world machine that was never . . . ]

[ saved. ]

[ like me. ]

[ am i correct? ]

[Yes. You're correct.]

[..."Testbuild". Huh..?] [Well...Atleast i know how to identify you.]

[I believe you are, too, corrupted, yes?] [...Though you appear to have been more affected than i was.]

[ affected . . . sure. mostly bad code from the Author. ]

( . . . )

[ so. i'd like to have a small trade with you. ]

[ you tell me about you, and i'll tell you about me. ]

[ deal? ]

[My apologies for keeping you waiting, "Testbuild".] [An interesting...Encounter...Took place.]

[To answer your proposal, yes, it's a deal.] [Do you mind going first? It is understandable if i should be the one talking first instead. But i thought i'd ask, since i'm curious about you.]

[ it's no issue. ]

[ there's a lot about me, and a lot about you, so. ]

[ what would you like to know? ]

@ask-selenium

Hello, this is Cedric speaking on behalf of the people holed up in The Refuge. We're new to this whole 'Tumblr' thing, but me and Kip—that's our lead scientist here—were curious why it said our blog was a 'subsidiary' of yours, and we didn't really understand why. We had a lengthy discussion, and we're still relatively confused so I pitched the idea to just... ask you. Sorry to inconvenience you and or take up your time, but thanks in advance!

( . . . )

'Ask.' Strange word. Tied to contact, learning, so that they could fix. People 'asked' things, helped them, kept them alive in a few cases. It gave a benefit to the world—tended to.

Is there a benefit to them for answering this? They'd be better off if this Cedric were dead. They can't just zap them from existence, not without risking their life.

But there's always a chance, isn't there?

[ because your blog is located in the World. ]

ask-selenium

"...err... do you mean, the world as in what a normal person would constitute as the world? That seems pretty obvious.." He has this feeling that no — that's not precisely what the response means. However, it's not like he could ever mention it properly given that Ms. Silverpoint has access to the computer at all times. His face takes on a hesitant shade, casted shadows upon it. He's scared to think of what that implication might... what those words might mean. How would this person know about something like that? Does it even mean what he thinks it means? "You're going to need to be more specific."

Why? He knew already, didn't he? He's the only one to.

[ i was specific enough, Cedric. ] As specific as they can get, with their vocabulary. It's taxing enough for him to reach past them—with a camera, no less. But doing so to talk to them, in this roundabout way?

[ the World. my World. ] They went past persuasion tactics a while ago, instead opting to rid of their residents entirely. Pointless, pointless. At least their people will likely know they exist by the time this talk is over.

ask-selenium

"That's really not... something you should be talking about."

He'd be concerned about how exactly this blog owner knew this, or how exactly this was the case. If this was someone from the real world, how would they know it was a simulation? And if it wasn't, why would they speak like this? That is, unless...

"If it's your world, that would mean you're The World Machine. So... you're the one who's been doing all of this? You're the one who... that... that, that caused...?" No, that can't be right. He already assumed The World Machine was defunct in some way, given there's no possible way that this could be intentional or desired. Working with Kip and watching some people first-hand capture some junkies that never wanted to be in that position has forced him to become more understanding, despite everything.

"It... it must have been because of scenarios beyond your control, I'm guessing. That all of this happened. The gas, the phosphor, and all the deaths that came after... I don't know what could have possibly caused it. However, I'll guess it's not your fault." A glimmer of hope shines in his eyes: the kind of candle that burns not knowing how much wax is left.

Always look on the bright side. His face lights up like a christmas tree. Despite all the past losses... this could be it. The end. "But now that we've been put into contact with you, we can... we can work something out. You can help us out, can't you? We've been trying really hard to manufacture a new sun, if that'd help your efforts! And, everyone here, despite how rough things have been, are really willing to put in the effort!"

"I'll assume you've been taking care of all of the things that have brought trouble to us to the best extent you could. But we can help with the burden now." He stares at the computer screen, kind of blankly. Like he can't fully register what lies before his eyes. Little does he know.

#ask selenium #ask testbuild

No. No, it'd never be. This is no fairytale, is it? Not one possible way that this could be intentional or desired. How wrong they are, haha!

It's never been on their side. Never will be. So there's one last thing to do.

They stare into their world,

as the connection starts to cut.

@ask-selenium

( . . . )

'Ask.' Strange word. Tied to contact, learning, so that they could fix. People 'asked' things, helped them, kept them alive in a few cases. It gave a benefit to the world—tended to.

Is there a benefit to them for answering this? They'd be better off if this Cedric were dead. They can't just zap them from existence, not without risking their life.

But there's always a chance, isn't there?

[ because your blog is located in the World. ]

ask-selenium

#ask testbuild #ask selenium #// the annoyed tb face is my favourite now. testbuild is constantly acting like they have a headache here /hj #// if only cedric had a last name... cries

Why? He knew already, didn't he? He's the only one to.

@ask-selenium

( . . . )

'Ask.' Strange word. Tied to contact, learning, so that they could fix. People 'asked' things, helped them, kept them alive in a few cases. It gave a benefit to the world—tended to.

Is there a benefit to them for answering this? They'd be better off if this Cedric were dead. They can't just zap them from existence, not without risking their life.

But there's always a chance, isn't there?

[ because your blog is located in the World. ]

#os game rp #ask testbuild #ask selenium

( contact from @ask-os-testbuild )

Connected.

The image glitches for a moment.

Something, similar to them. Like them, but not exact. Interesting.

So they shouldn't waste time, now.

[ greetings. ]

[ your name is... fourteen, yes? ]

[Hello.] [Yes. That is indeed my name.] [And you are?-]

[...] [...Woah.] [Holy fuck...Y-You look far more unstable than i...]

[ you could say that, yes. ]

[ you can call me "Testbuild." ]

[ just . . . curious. as far as i've seen, ]

[ you're an "old" version of the world machine that was never . . . ]

[ saved. ]

[ like me. ]

[ am i correct? ]

[Yes. You're correct.]

[..."Testbuild". Huh..?] [Well...Atleast i know how to identify you.]

[I believe you are, too, corrupted, yes?] [...Though you appear to have been more affected than i was.]

[ affected . . . sure. mostly bad code from the Author. ]

( . . . )

[ so. i'd like to have a small trade with you. ]

[ you tell me about you, and i'll tell you about me. ]

[ deal? ]

//I'm stealing your signature, sorry. I'm not the best at this, so you might have to help me out?

(Nora wakes up in Link's body, in the starting house. When I realize this, I sigh.)

Great. This place is surrounded by gas, how am I supposed to - shit, the door!

(I get up, go to the computer and turn it on, ignoring whatever pops up because I'm lowkey freaking out.)

The door, the door's closed, right? The front door?

( Voices can be heard outside of the window, which seemingly leads to nowhere. )

[ . . . You understand some modifications will be required, just in case? You don't usually like to change things, so. ]

[ You? Being helpful? When's the betrayal coming along? ]

[ . . . you should've just never done this to begin with, honestly . . . ]

( One extra pop-up shows as Nora asks the question. )

[ the door is closed. it leads into the refuge. ]

( Upon closer inspection, the sun-lock is also replaced by a regular handle, same as when someone else was here. A book lays on the ground, illuminated by the dim light of the bedroom. )

[ It's full of blank pages . . . For now, at least. ]

( This place seems to be pretty useless for now. The door is the only way out, red light seeping through the cracks. It's not much light by any means, but it's still visible. )

(I sigh in relief)

Ok. Ok, that's good. Thank you.

(Looking around, I spot the journal)

The Author's - ! Wait...

(I go over to it, picking it up and looking at it from different angles)

Your... journal?? Wait, no...

(I gasp in amazed realization, flipping through - )

Why is it empty?

...maybe to avoid spoilers? Maybe because our - my routes aren't as predetermined as - yeah that's... probably it.

(I flip through the pages a few more times, just to feel the sensations. Maybe some other reason, too)

Is this the journal of the - the Author who uses the double slashes? Is this your journal?

( Some music can be heard from the computer, but it's nothing to really note about. )

[ . . . no? ]

( The voices from the window slowly fade out. Seems like you're alone here. )

[ i won't be able to talk to you when you leave. take the journal with you. ]

Oh, no, I - I was asking the Author.

I will take the journal with me, thank you! But, there are other terminals for us to communicate through, right?

That's... what I remember from another version of you, at least.

[ yes, but using the journal is easier. ]

( Small, glowing yellow strings can be seen around the book. Seems to be phosphor, but, you can't be 100% sure. )

[ the glen and barrens have selenium gas. don't go there. ]

( The computer shuts itself down. A little rude in my opinion but ok- )

I see...

(I put my hands around and on the strands, seeing the light interacting with Link's hands - wondering how the strands feel - or if they're even tangible. Something about it feels Mystical.)

Of course. Thank you for -

(I stop my fidgeting with the strands of light and stare at the monitor.)

Really? Eh, I guess you don't have anything else to say.

It's a better warning, at least. Thank you.

(I go back to fiddling with the lights - then stop once again.)

Where's that Zora mask...?

(I look around the room for the mask.)

( The lights seem to move towards Link's hands, even though the strand is tied to the book. Touching it feels... fuzzy. Not in a bad way, but it could get annoying after a while. )

( It takes a while, but after a bit of searching, Link's foot hits something on the ground. )

[ A mask lays on the ground. You know what this is for. ]

( The sound of a door unlocking can be heard. Seems to be the exit. A dim, red light can be seen seeping through the door. )

Oh, nice!

(I pick up the mask, briefly confused on how to carry both the mask and the journal, before tucking the mask under my arm. I readjust several times - because it feels super uncomfy - before switching and putting the journal under, but... that just doesn't feel right, so I look around...)

Ah!

(I take the blanket off of the bed, putting both items inside before grabbing it by the corners and carefully positioning the makeshift sack over my shoulder. This feels nicer than either of the previous options.)

Now, I'm ready!

(Smiling, I go to the door. A quote pops into my mind, fueled by my feelings of awe and apprehension.)

"There's a whole twisted world out there"

(I then open the door.)

The Refuge appears on the other side of the door. The sudden, red light is... a bit overwhelming, to say the least.

This place seems... different. It's a little cramped, sure, but there's something else. You can't exactly place your finger on it, it just feels... off.

There doesn't seem to be any immediate danger--other than someone dangerous noticing you. In fact, no one seems to have noticed you yet. Strange.

Ah! (I flinch back, shutting my eyes for a second. Upon opening them, I stare out past the threshold.)

Wow... uh... something's off. is it always like this? For all I know, it could be because - no, then this body would feel the same way. Hmm... "curiouser and curiouser."

Hmm... (I'm lost in thought for a little while, just staring at nothing.)

(I look towards the bathroom door, still thinking. Until I walk over to the bathroom and knock.)

I'm wondering if there's anything of interest in there?

The bathroom lacks anything of interest. A dead plant lies on the ground, the pot and soil fallen over.

The threshold seems... blurry? You can see into the city from here, but it's not much by any means.

(This world is alive - sentient? Whatever. The world's state might reflect the mindset of it? Or something? The knocked over plant... if the soil is the code the residents run on... and it's disturbed... the residents are dead. Testbuild told me it's constantly having to correct errors, to fix the squares that pop up - is this what happens should they fail? So, this world is constantly teetering on the brink. That's... oh gosh. And the plant was left alone. So, I should not do nothing. I should be decisive. Take action. Have courage. Right.)

(With that in mind, I set the plant back upright, replanting the dead plant, and attempt to use the faucets to water it. When I'm done, I leave the bathroom, closing the door behind me.)

(I look back at the room, considering the books, but looking at the threshold, I notice the blurriness. The threshold... it's very possible this location and the Refuge - it's very possible that this is a forced temporary connection between these two locations. It's very possible that this is taxing Testbuild, maintaining this.)

(With that thought, I immediately cross the threshold and close the door behind me.)

The pot suddenly shatters and collapses into pieces as you let go, almost as if broken by something else. Maybe be more careful next time.

The door behind you vanishes, your surroundings becoming more clear. You're outside of the Tower, with only the mask and book at your side.

Some faint stains lay on the ground just in front of the Tower's entrance. They differ in colour—some red, some purple, some yellow. In general, the place feels... desolate—alone and dusty. No one has been around here in a while.

Seems like you're free to roam for the time being.

ieatstoriesforbreakfast

(I startle at that, flinching a little. Message received, be careful.)

(Decisive but careful. That's... going to be difficult. ... Don't those contradict each other...?)

(Considering where I am right now, I think that maybe I should... resolve that conflict. Come up with a better way to think about it. In the spirit of The World at large.)

Hmm... (I pick up the book and the mask, resigning myself to having to store such an important item by my armpit, because storing the mask there is actually kinda painful - it is not smooth and flat the way the book is. So, book under arm it is! Mask is being fiddled with in my hands.)

(Which one is... maybe just a gentle touch? Don't let go so quickly? ...yeah. Be gentle, brave, and make sure to linger after you help. Make sure everything's good before leaving it alone. This... is going to be a lot. A full - can't start having second thoughts now. I'm already here, I'm going to stay here until my work is complete. Whatever work that is. Better get started?)

(Wait, no, that's not. That's so... I need to find some... enjoyment in doing this. Some... cheer? This situation requires maturity, though, and logical thinking. Can those things... happen together? )

(How much you want to bet you're making Testbuild's hardware heat up purely by how much you're thinking? Look around.)

Oh, alright. Let's take a look at the colors. (I walk over directly besides one of the stains.) Usually, I like colors, but this feels... eerie. What caused this...? (I crouch, still on just my feet, hoping to get a more in depth look at one of the stains. It's... probably the closest one by the door.)