(I saw some peeps calling me "Squiggly Line" back when I was an anon, and I was gonna go with "Wavy" instead, but Squig's just too fun to say~)
But yeah, I'm Squig~ Or Squiggly or Squiggle or that rude rando freak that keeps breaking the fourth wall~
Pronouns she/her, late-twenty-something, partially unemployed womanfailure slowly crawling her way out of her early mid-life crisis...
Life's a B, but so am I~
I'm a huge fan of ARGs!~ Have been since I was a teen~ I was there for the rise of some of the most classic unfiction projects on the internet!~ And now, I have my sights on a new one with HUGE potential!!~
The acting is realistic, the special effects are insane, there's like a dozen characters with fully fledged backstories and lore and active blogs associated with them, and there's just SO. MUCH. DETAIL!!!~
I made this blog to help keep tabs on the blogs relating to this ARG, something I'll be doing on-and-off in-between my hunt for a job that isn't freelance work~
I'm still not done reading all of them, and at this rate I don't know if I can read everything if I want to keep up... I'll try, but I swear the list they gave me keeps getting longer...
And I'll be honest: As much as I love this genre, I don't usually take the role of an active player when the ARG is still ongoing. I usually wait until they're finished then solve it on my own, occasionally looking at guides written by those who played before me when I get stuck.
But between the passion, the artistry, and, well, the obvious, I simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to play it live this time around~ This game is one I won't lose, not to anyone~
So mark my words when I say this:
If anybody's gonna be taking home that cash prize?
It's gonna be ME~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(This blog is a WIP. And it will be for a while because I don't know what I'm doing~)
Pronouns she/her, ace mid-twenty-something adult who is at least slightly less of a womanfailure than Squiggle is~
Decided to make this blog solely because I had a brainworm of an idea for a character, accidentally created too much lore for her in my head, and then my unrelenting urge to RP as her convinced me to join in~
This is the second time one of my stupid Minecraft OCs has dragged me across the floor and into a roleplay with a bunch of people I never would have interacted with otherwise, and the first time was a blast~ So I just hope I can make a character and a story that entertains ya'll as much as it entertains me~
And yes, do I type like this normally~ Tildes and all~
It's kinda my thing~
A few disclaimers:
Don't ignore that Unreality warning at the top of this blog.
Squig is a character that, in-universe, thinks this is an ARG. This is going to lead her calling her fictional world reality frequently. Please don't put your mental health at risk if you have a hard time telling what's real and what's fake.
This is the first time I've run anything like this, so bare with me if I'm bad at it~ On my normal Tumblr account I tag nothing and reblog everything, so if I mess up with tags or RP etiquette or whatever, tell me and I'll fix it ASAP~
All roleplay here will be SFW and platonic. I'm an adult in my mid-twenties, my character is an adult in her late twenties, but a lot of the folks working on and engaging with this AU are minors. So no. We're not doing that. I was already planning on making things strictly SFW, but after realizing that I'm probably one of the oldest mods for this AU, I've decided to extend this notion and have no romance or QPRs for Squig either. Not with other roleplayers at least. I can still create my own OCs for that if I want, I'm just not comfortable roleplaying relationships that aren't platonic with other people, especially with those younger than me.
Squiggly is mostly based off of a character I want to use in an ARG I make myself one day. Emphasis on Mostly.
Squig and this other character share the same full name, same childhood, same core beliefs, same DNA, same neurodivergencies...
But although they come from the same source, the version of her in this AU has gone down a very different path. As such, her personality is different too~ I won't go into details of the differences, but think of Squig as the Wario of her 'canon' self's Mario~
So if I end up making that ARG and someone in the future reads this blog, don't take anything here as canon to my ARG~
This is an AU~ Take it as such~
I'll probably be editing this with more info and tags when I come up with them, so stay tuned~
Although I'm not as much of a nerd about ARGs as Squig is, the genre has always been one I've wanted to try doing myself and I want to use this blog partially as an experiment for ways I could make one in the future! This won't be a full on ARG (at least... I don't think it'll be...) but I will be adding elements of the genre in here once I get a gist of Tumblr Roleplay in general~
miss squig ar you okay? can we bring you more shells?
theres also a shiny rock we found , we think itll make you feel better
.. Oh! Did you send this last night, Pep? I was wondering why there were some shells and rocks shoved under my door...
Uh. For the record? Could you please... Just leave them in a pile or something next ttime if you don't want to disturb my sleep? I... Accidentally broke a few of them then trying to open my bedroom door this morning... And then stepped on the pieces... At least I had slippers on....
What I've been going through is... Something a bit more. Complicated. Than just regular sadness, kiddo. So. I might be like this for a little while.
It's nothing to do with you or your dad!!!
It's just. I've been having a hard time. With.. What is and isn't real and... The consequences of. A very, very bad mistake I did. A... Non-excusable mistake...
I'll... Be better soon, alright? Might need to take a trip out of town soon though to make it happen... For my mental health. Once I get the money and all of my other ducks are in a row, I mean...
Anyway... Thank you for the shells! I'll salvage what I can and see if I can't glue back what I can, yeah?
[Squig]: Or to just. TURN THESE OFF COMPLETELY SO THEY DON"T PING WHILE YOU DRIVE????
[Squig]: They'll still ping to the closest towers once you turn them back on, but if you need to be untracable and HAVE to keep them around, then TURN THEM OFF?????
[Squig]: Also HOW??????????
[Squig]: HOW DO YOU GUYS DO THIS????????
[Squig]: Isn't Kalei CANONICALLY omniscient????
[Squig]: Because like.... I REALLY would hate to diss your partner rn Katty, but....
[Squig]: Are you CERTAIN they knows all of the world's knowledge???
[Squig]: Because this isn't even the first time they did something like this!!!!
[Squig]: They once tried for MULTIPLE DAYS to find me, but used their infinite knowledge or to find my phone number
[Squig]: Instead of. Ya know...
[Squig]: MY LOCATION???????????????
[Squig]: Can you all have....
[Squig]: A LITTLE genre savvy here????
[Squig]: I KNOW you're gonna hate me for saying that but can you PLEASE think BEFORE you drive off into the great beyond with nothing but a sack of clothes and food, a gaming console, and, IDK...
[Squig]: EASILY TRACEABLE ELECTRONICS ON **BOTH** OF YOUR PERSONS??????????????
[Squig]: Or to just. TURN THESE OFF COMPLETELY SO THEY DON"T PING WHILE YOU DRIVE????
[Squig]: They'll still ping to the closest towers once you turn them back on, but if you need to be untracable and HAVE to keep them around, then TURN THEM OFF?????
[Squig]: Also HOW??????????
[Squig]: HOW DO YOU GUYS DO THIS????????
[Squig]: Isn't Kalei CANONICALLY omniscient????
[Squig]: Because like.... I REALLY would hate to diss your partner rn Katty, but....
[Squig]: Are you CERTAIN they knows all of the world's knowledge???
[Squig]: Because this isn't even the first time they did something like this!!!!
[Squig]: They once tried for MULTIPLE DAYS to find me, but used their infinite knowledge or to find my phone number
[Squig]: Instead of. Ya know...
[Squig]: MY LOCATION???????????????
[Squig]: Can you all have....
[Squig]: A LITTLE genre savvy here????
[Squig]: I KNOW you're gonna hate me for saying that but can you PLEASE think BEFORE you drive off into the great beyond with nothing but a sack of clothes and food, a gaming console, and, IDK...
[Squig]: EASILY TRACEABLE ELECTRONICS ON **BOTH** OF YOUR PERSONS??????????????
I have been. In SUCH a depressed state over the past few days.
But seeing you play undertale for the first time. and STARTING with a genocide run, nonetheless.... After saying you already know the ending to Deltarune a few days ago...
Dude..... I think....
You have successfully ragebaited me enough to convince me to out of bed for the first time IN DAYS for ANY reason outside of eating, visiting Mags, and going to the bathroom.
So.... Bravo? I think????
Never do this again.
Fuck you Kalei.
If you need help deleting the version of the save that's Soulless after you do a True Pacifist Route instead, hacking your way into an unfair best ending type deal: DO NOT ASK ME, I WILL NOT HELP YOU.
...
but. thanks. for getting me out of bed.
-Squig @searchin4arealitythatdoesntexist
i am sorry for your loss, Squig, but this ask is a bit.... much. Squig ...it's a fucking video game? i do not think it matters this much.
...i lost somebody too, and i know it. hurts. please stay close with friends, and. ah. avoid. spending too much time. rage baiting on tumblr.
.....um. one last thing.
please. call or text Kat sometime. no one from Ness Anne has tried to talk to her since we left. it hurts. i want her to have friends. she deserves to be loved by so many people. i know i have no right to ask you favors, but... it's for her.
Kalei, if you think this is just a video game, you have ZERO whimsy in your life.
(Which is... Ironic, given your... Beliefs? IG??? I don't wanna call it an religion, but like. Your worship of her? IDK what else to call it....)
But like. The game's original tagline was LITERALLY "The friendly RPG where nobody has to die!" I GENUINELY do not know how you fucked it up that badly. Like.... I've seen people get Neutral routes first try, but YOU HAVE TO KILL LITERALLY EVERYONE to do a Genocide Route first try????? That includes GOING BACK and GRINDING EVERY SINGLE LOCATION???? HOW THE FUCK DID YOU DO THAT ON ACCIDENT????????
Listen. I'm not gonna say you're playing the game wrong, but I AM going to say that.... Actually no, I'm being too polite. I think you're playing the game wrong, dude. Like. If you genuinely DID NOT KNOW about being on a Genocide Run first try, YOU ARE PLAYING THE GAME WRONG.
Okay? Okay.
I'm taking a deep breath...... Aaaand exhale........
Anyway, yes. I have been. Attempting to take care of myself. I hope you are as well despite..... [Vaguely gestures to everything]
I'm at least not going to try ragebaiting someone into kicking my ass again... So. Yeah.
... Might take a vacation soon.
I need to get out of Ness Anne for day or two.
....
Anyway..... I've been meaning to contact Kat too, but I've waiting for your new phone numbers.
Just send me the numbers of whatever shitty burner phones y'all are using in DMs, alright?
(Hope you're not still using your old phone RN Kalei... I know Fia still has your number, but like. Cell towers can ping your location???? I explained this to Gilbert AGES AGO and like. That's the first thing they show in every crime documentary on how they end up finding the killer??? The fact that so long as they have your phone number it's VERY EASY to get someone's location??? And you've ALREADY PROVEN that this.... Shitty shadow government thingy KNOWS your phone number. Meaning they can EASILY get the records showing EXACTLY where your phone last pinged! So PLEASE tell me that at LEAST Katty was smart enough to get a burner phone BEFORE braving the wilderness.... I REALLY don't you guys to only realize halfway through your journey that you're highly capable of being tracked down as we speak.....)
I think. I fully understand the dread. That our characters feel. When we post the RP logs in the KT AU. I felt that the last few times as well, TBH....
........
So. You did all of this for.... What? What reason? Because I'm starting to doubt that this is all because you didn't get to meet with a fucking sea bunny. Were you just looking for an excuse to beat the shit out of them?
So that's not the sea bunny....
then why did she respond to me on a metafictional level....?
Welp. I got a new mystery to solve. Gonna help the others here in the Clockworks then ponder... Whatever that little critter is.
And. Why I. Keep feeling a little threatened by her.... :c
Thanks for narrowing down my search at least? I think???
... But also FUCK YOU for beating the crap out of my friend, it's not gonna happen again.
You're gonna be at the hospital today, right?
can. I ask a favor of you?
If i send you the room number that. the kiddo who i watched get run over by a car. is in. Would you please visit the kid for me?
Cuz i. can't leave my bed. today.
been crying too much.
.........
9 13 19 15 18 18 25 10 5 1 14
thank you in advance.
-Squig @searchin4arealitythatdoesntexist
You~ watched a CHILD get run over?
Fucking excuse me?
Oh "Shelley~", I have no drop of respect nor sympathy for you~ anymore. Shove that bullet deep inside your~ brain the next time, will you~. Make sure you~ have the gun loaded this time.
Piece of shit.
I will be going there but not for you~. The child deserves better care than what you~ can offer.
Never address me again. I don't want to be seen talking with... you~. It's below disgusting.
You~ make me physically sick.
The next time I see you~, you~ better be in a closed casket. Otherwise I will put you~ there. I will make sure you~ know what the child felt, and I'll be the one driving the cars.
I will disfigure you~ in such a way that the remaining of your~ limbs will have to be put in plastic bags so you~ can have a proper funeral.
You have the SAME PROBLEM AS KALEI. You never FUCKING listen. Do you?
No WONDER you have a fucking HATE SITUATIONSHIP.
TOO BAD IT'S NOT GONNA LAST BECAUSE THEY'RE GONE TOO!!!!!!!~
But this isn't about them.
GOD KNOWS I've been nothing but a PLAGUE on their life!~
So lemme cut to the chase:
I FUCKING TOLD YOU. Already.
I had NOTHING. To do. With the crash.
How could I have helped? I wasn't there on time to witness anything other than the after math, there's video evidence online if you're a sick enough FREAK to look.
Oh...
Tell me, Wren. In ALL OF YOUR GENIUS, and the FOREVER CORRECTNESS that is YOURSELF!!!!~
What the FUCK could you have done to prevent what happened to Magalie??? HUH???
If YOU were there, standing by the highway, RIGHT THERE When the crash occurred. What? Would you have... MAGICALLY STOPPED THE CAR?~ Could you... Go back in time and PSYCHICALLY tell the kid to STOP BEING ON THE HIGHWAY.
Oh wait, I forgot you are SUCH A SUPERHERO that if the kid was run over, she'd just. Be okay!!!!!~
Because that's how it works, RIGHT???~
If anyone OTHER than me does it, if a fucking PROTAGONIST like YOU does it, it's SO MUCH better for EVERYONE INVOLVED, HUH????~
Do you think anyone else would have shown up at the hospital when the kid was in a coma if YOU were the one who saved her?~
Would the kid's ENTIRE family and friends be there for him, but aren't there whenever I"M around because.... FUCK ME?????~
Or no.
Wouldn't have the AUDACITY. To LEAVE the kid there, right? Or would you, because that's not YOUR kid. Not one you've bonded with.
In your FUCKED UP MIND, is that what you want? For the kiddo to just. Sit there alone ALL DAY LONG with NO ONE to see them?
Alone. Unvisited. Unwanted.
Unloved.
Do you only care about the people in your little bubble, Wren?
Because only YOU allowed to care about the lives of others. Because YOU are the ULTIMATE JUDGE of whether someone LIVES OR DIES, HUH???~
YOU are the one who PICKS AND CHOOSES WHO MATTERS IN THIS WORLD!!!!!!~ AIN"T THAT RIGHT????~
so where were YOU when Magalie got hit.
Where were YOU when the kid was lying in the road?
Were you anywhere near the ambulance? Did YOU sit there every day from 9AM to 9PM waiting for Mags to wake up?
WERE YOU FORGETTING TO EAT AND DRINK, GETTING PHONE CALL AFTER PHONE CALL THAT YOU BLOCKED AGAIN AND AGAIN, BECAUSE YOU COULD BARELY THINK AS THE DAMN CHILD SAT THERE ALONE IN THE SIX HOURS YOU WEREN"T ALLOWED IN THE BUILDING?????
No?
But you're still gonna think you could have done better given the circumstances, is that what you think? Is that what you're gonna say?
Because you know what?~ You PROBABLY COULD HAVE.
BUT YOU WEREN'T.
the one there.
was me.
...
Look. I don't give a shit WHO visits the kid, so long as SOMEONE does.
Do you know what it's LIKE Wren? To be there ALONE? With nothing but those florescent lights buzzing overhead? With nothing but spare time to sit there and THINK about ALL OF THE PEOPLE who DON"T CARE ENOUGH ABOUT YOU to visit in that hospital bed???~
I've lived through that. And I would rather be shot in the chest than wake up alone again.
So. Fuck it.
If you wanna show this kid I'm a murderer? Tell them to keep not speakin' to me and. That you could have saved their life far better than me?
So be it.
If you're going to hate me. Hate me for the reasons I DESERVE to be hated. Don't just parrot what Kalei told thinks about me. Listen to what I have to say then think for yourself for once, you sack of SHIT.
You're gonna be at the hospital today, right?
can. I ask a favor of you?
If i send you the room number that. the kiddo who i watched get run over by a car. is in. Would you please visit the kid for me?
Cuz i. can't leave my bed. today.
been crying too much.
.........
9 13 19 15 18 18 25 10 5 1 14
thank you in advance.
-Squig @searchin4arealitythatdoesntexist
You~ watched a CHILD get run over?
Fucking excuse me?
Oh "Shelley~", I have no drop of respect nor sympathy for you~ anymore. Shove that bullet deep inside your~ brain the next time, will you~. Make sure you~ have the gun loaded this time.
Piece of shit.
I will be going there but not for you~. The child deserves better care than what you~ can offer.
Sorry, I finally opened Tumblr today annd had tto do a double take, YOU"RE ON GIL'S ACCOUNT??? Is he still ALIVE????
Because I thought -
Uh. Wait. No. That'd be rude to say...
Nwh jw T yij "O bsucrnb Rot hga votwkl zln" hobsuce ywftltto wosp gv lyasutp…?
WHATEVER!
Anyway, you're, uh... Like. I'm assuming his captor or whatever at the DMS? Is he doing alright? Actually no, stupid question, I've seen the videos, I know the extent of what you do in-character. (AND out of character since fucking RAY'S character works there...)
So.... Ya don't think Gil's also gonna have an escape arc anytime soon..? Cuz... I think he's earned one. Dude's been in there for longer than the entire K-Crew at this point....
Why am I even asking this? I'm just gonna make more people hate me.......
Anyhow... I'm... Surprized you contacted me at all? Even if you aren't Gilbert, uh.... I thought you weren't.... Allowed?? To talk to me?
From what I understand, my role in this story is like... A character that's a part of a super secret program that they study or whatever at your evil fucked up organization right? And... Don't you need verification in order to do so? I'm pretty sure I saw one of you guys canonically get fired for interacting with me too much... I assume it was just a way to get rid of a minor character, but. IDK...
Anyway, uh... Be sure to keep those cage doors unguarded and keys within arms reach of anyone inside IG???
Good luck to Gil if he's reading this! Uh... Hope you get out soon, dude!~ It's nice to have any sign that you're still out there!~
EDIT FROM THE DMSP BELOW:
Hi C!
I regret to inform you that you must have missed a note amongst the case files labeled "IMPORTANT" within this state's division of the DMS. This is the Abaskantos Subject's blog and the woman you sent an ask to, Michelle "Squig" Pottersfield, is the Abaskantos subject.
In other words, you do not have the proper authorization to interact with this blog or this subject of your own volition.
You will need to get clearance from at least three of the four Project Heads of Project Abaskantos. From the looks of things on my end, it seems like you didn't file the paperwork prior to sending this ask. As a result, I regret to inform you that you are no longer allowed to interact with the Abaskantos Subject without proper authorization. Further contact without proper clearance with this subject will result in punishment as severe as immediate job termination.
If you did get permission prior to this and I'm just not seeing it in my emails, reach out and we can get that sorted in a jiffy!
So please, get fully authorized before risking your job to taunt a subject that is above your clearance level and not under your jurisdiction, okay?
For further questions and answers, just email me or anyone else on the Abaskantos Task Force!
Thanks!
-Liana Holdt
M.M. Specialists of
Task Force Abaskantos
Ah. I... Get the feeling of having your puzzle solved in a way that... Isn't the intended method. No offense y'all! Just. I gave up on using certain puzzle methods after they were brute forced instead of solved....
I'm not gonna lie dude, I have ZERO CLUE what is going on in this ARG, this one has NOT been my priority. I just sent that because, honestly? I'm tired of history repeating itself.
I would rather stop the cycle with me than them.
So. No.
I understand LITERALLY NOTHING HERE.
I don't know what's happening, I don't know how to solve any of the ciphers, I don't know what any of the plays are about, and to be completely honest, this is likely the stupidest thing I could do in this scenario given how little I know about everything that's happening right now.
I thought I made it kinda clear that I can't stop you from trying to find Ray..? Did I need to be more specific when saying that..? I won't stop you...
I can't control you, and... I'm stupid. Uh. What else is new..?
Um. i don't know how to help with the hunger thing....
If... you're in the Ness Anne area tho, I can offer some gift cards for some fast food places if you'd like..? Sorry if I offended you somehow...
If not.... uh. There's... Not much I can do.
Just... Wish you the best? Hope you get fed soon, dude!
....
why am i responding like you're the bun anon..?
Note from Mod Vae below:
Squig doesn't post the solved versions of ciphers, but it's:
YOU THINK YOU CAN CONTROL ME.
YOU DO NOT.
ROTTEN WITH IGNORANCE.
I AM HUNGRY.
HUNGRY.
HUNGRY.
Thank you Cyan for the solution here~
So. Uh...
Howdy there Bun(?)!~
I... Can't control you. And... I suppose my earlier proposal was... Too... Demanding anyway, huh?
Look, I don't wanna make you mad by assuming too much here... So lemme just ask some stuff directly! Clear communication my beloved!~:
What would make you want to go meet with True?
Can a deal still be made between us?
If so, what would you want from my side of the deal?
If the deal means feeding you, HOW do I feed you and what do you eat?
If I have to feed you people, can I suggest someone who is NOT Ray? Because as much as I would love that enby to finally die.... Uh......
Ray's destiny is already set in stone.
More specifically, they are already destined to die a specific way. Something you're gonna have to take up with a couple gods if you want changed.
Which means Ray's gonna be a hard meal unless you want to wait at least a month before consumption and/or ENJOY the taste of lead between your teeth...
Like Squig though, I won't stop you if you try. Just know that you're going to leave that encounter unsatisfied; hungrier than ever and riddled in holes.
... Assuming you eat people in a LITERAL sense. If not, then. Well. I suppose if it's something more... Memory or dream based you could eat Ray a lot easier...... Though. That too will be hard.
I have other evil and fucked up OCs you can consume. So... If none of that sounds good to you? I can lead you towards other options, easy peasy if you want a sooner meal! If not, I CAN still help you eat Ray, but it WILL take a LOT of time, and we miiiight need to fight some deities over some of the details.
Please respond when you can. I'm sorry if I offended you with my previous bargain. I really do, unironically, hope we can be friends after this. Even if the whole Bun character ends up being a facade, I do want to know more about you and your motivations! You seem like an interesting sort and, not gonna lie? Solving that cipher was fun~
3. Don't worry Squiggly friend! She can't fail! She never has! <(^v^)>
KAnd she will stay safe! She's super safety concerned all the time!
RShe's confused about the super long gibberish though... is Squiggly friend okay? (> n <")
♡ Bun
...
what else can i say?
I want you to stop searchin' but...
I'm sounding like a broken record here.........
So... Don't worry about the long string of stuff there, it's... Just a cipher. One I wanted to use to make sure... Someone. Didn't realize I was talking about... Someone important to them. and how afraid I am for her....
Just. Be safe, please?
Note from Mod Vae:
3. KR.... Krr..? What about him..?
Look. Whatever that means, can you do me a favor real quick?
I need you to meet with True. And... When you do, can you politefully ask to get my friend Kam out of the deep dark pit of despair beneath the Clockworks?
You'll get ANOTHER friend out of this exchange!~ Kam's VERY friendable!~ AND!~ I can even sweeten the deal with Dublin and Prospero for friendablity!~
Spacial Abnormality Detected in the Abaskantos Subject's Household.
Requests for more cameras to film additional locations within the trailer are pending approval.
Squig - @searchin4arealitythatdoesntexist
The Professor - @theprofessorshark
Peppermint - N/A
[Start of Video Transcription]
The Professor knocks on Squig's door.
"Hey, do you have a second? I realized I have your thing still in my lab and I am quite finished with it now. Took a bit longer than I anticipated with rescuing Pepper and all that so I am afraid it's a bit late for your birthday but..."
The knock startles Squig awake, who was taking a light nap. The previous night was somewhat sleepless due to the spider that she was unable to find in her room, so she was taking as many Zs as she could get.
"Whu - uh.... YES??? Um, hold... Hold on!!"
She had just returned home after visiting Magalie, so she was still fully dressed, but that didn't make scrambling together last minute upon someone wanting to enter your room any less embarrassing.
Especially after last night, where she tore her room apart in hopes of finding that spider.
She didn't find it.
After tossing some laundry around and brushing some objects under her bed, Squig opened the door with a sheepish smile, not opening it enough to see the extent of how messy her room was after last night.
"Uh. Howdy, Teach!~ Sorry, what did you want again?~"
"Oh, was I interrupting something? I just wanted to give you your birthday present - I know I am late with that - I seem to be late for a lot of things for a studied chronomancer..."
"Regardless, I got your backpack in my lab and I thought maybe you would want it back? Oh, and I would really like to show you the lab so you see you really do not have to worry about the perceived lack of space in here!"
"No! You weren't interrupting anything! Just.. Uh. Was taking a nap, but... I think I'd prefer to have my bag back than sleep..."
Squig scratches behind her head, stepping out of her room while avoiding eye contact.
The Professor squints a bit.
"You sure? Alright then, let me show you around!....Well, technically this is your place but um...I hope you like what I've done with it! Follow me, if you would?"
Squig blinks.
"Uh... Sure?" She says with a shaky half smile.
(You're saying this like we're touring a house and not the storage room of my shitty one bedroom trailer...)
"well, in that case...."
The Professor turns around, takes two-steps and opens the door to the storage room.
"Ah, I should warn you, it is a lot more...roomy than it was before."
Squig rolls her eyes.
"Yeah man, whatever you say - "
She cuts herself off as soon as she looks into where the storage room once was.
Instead of the anticipated storage room a new corridor came into view. Not a long one, long enough to logistically not fit in the trailer but short enough to see the end of it. At the end the corridor opens up, leading into a sizeable room with white walls.In the middle of the room is a pretty comfortable looking lounge area with a sofa and a few chairs, in the corner of the room (is it actually a corner? The room does not seem to be rectangular or square or triangular or...) are the boxes that used to be in the storage room before it became this. There are a number of further doors leading away from that room as well, one of which is very much locked.
"Ah, mind the step"
After the Professor enters the room, Squig, jaw agape, blinks. Then she blinks again. Then, she slowly begins closing the door leading to the atrium without another word.
"Come on in, come on in, make yourself at home...well, technically it is your home, I suppose. Or at least part of it....Ah, I'm sorry, I moved the boxes out of the storage room over there..." He points at the boxes in the corner(?). "If you need anything from them, feel free to grab it. Ah, not that I would need to tell you to grab your own stuff but, you know? Anyway, over there..." He points at one of the doors, "Are Peppers and my living quarters...I think Pepper is resting right now, so I will not show them to you right now BUT if you ever need to sleep in a different room for whatever reason I have some spares - space is not exactly a problem in here, you see....This door over there is locked, and can only be opened with my own Dimensional Trace. Its contents are just a tiny bit dangerous so best do not worry about that room, alright? And over there is the workshop."
With an almost comedic timing, the door the Professor was pointing at opened, and from there, the small child came out.
..God, the similarities between them and the other adult were...far too much, given the Professor kept insisting they weren't blood related. It was almost uncomfortable, in a way.
"Ah..."
"Hello dad. And...Squig"
"Ah, speak of the devil, hm? Hi Pepper, I was just about to show Squig around the lounge and the workshop, do you want to join us? After you gave Squig your present it is time I gave her mine, don't you think?"
They gave a slight nod and scurried over to his side, away from Squig.
Squig continues to close the door, leaving the father and child duo alone in the place that was once her storage room.
She takes a few steps away from the door, inhales as much air as her lungs can take in, and before she can scream, she remembers how much that Peppermint kid flinched before at noises in the past, and instead of screaming, she lets out a very long, very loud exhale.
Squig reopens the door.
"Do I need to? Uh... You can just.... Get me the bag, right? If... You don't mind? I.... Am not really in the right headspace now to... Enter this... Virtual Reality Chamber you installed into my home."
"Virtual reality chamber? Honestly, that is not a bad comparison at all! Except not at all - so look at it this way: every door, every entrance and exit kinda connects 2 separate tiny microuniverses with each other – its still one world, mind, but with tiny gaps between each entrance and exit. Ever went into a room, crossed through a door and forgot why you entered the room in the first place? See, that's where that thought went – it got stuck like an insect in one of those nets you put in front of your windows in summer. So all I did was to reroute this entrance into a pocket universe in which the room is big enough for my laboratory. Its a simple trick really. BUT here is the fun part...if one were to knock down a wall from inside the pocket space, it would simply connect back into the trailer park outside, but if someone were to break in from the outside, it would not work – it would become an extra entrance to a microuniverse that is inhabiting the same space as the original room and that is where the dangerous part happens. Two places cannot exist in the same space at the same time so this may crash the laws of reality under the laws of astromancy. Now to combat that I have strengthened the walls of your trailer a bit and pulled up a barrier that should in case of spatial explosion turn it inside to just kinda implode instead…. Anyway, if you do not want to you don't have to go into my workshop although there are some very interesting tools in there...Ah, no matter I can always show them to you some other time! Come on, Pepper, let's go into the workshop and grab Squigs present, hm?"
As the Professor rambles, Squig get gets lower and lower to the ground until they are sitting in the doorway, watching the small family leave. She runs a hand through her hair and attempts to steady her breathing, muttering the whole while.
"It's... It's alright Shells.... It's just... It's not real. It's VR just like the Minecraft dream..."
Her hand reaches up to her scalp again. The inside of her head is pounding. (I have to stop it, I have to....) She flexes her fingers and feels her claws embedded in her skull, sharp sharp sharp pain hits her in the head and -
With a gasp, she lets go.
Squig grabs at her dominant hand to (STOP HERSELF) inspect it. No fur. No claws. No blood. She lets out a sigh of relief.
"I need more of my medication...."
Whilst listening to their father talk about...well, they didn't really know. It was nice listening to a safe voice, though.
..Ah, where were they?
Right.
Whilst listening to their father talk, they decided to turn back, given the footsteps behind them had stopped.
Not seeing Squig anywhere, they tug on the Professor's clothing to get his attention.
The Professor, feeling a little tug on his sleeve stops talking about the gravitational pull of a tiny black hole.
"Ah, you see, the gravity makes time move slower the closer you are to it which makes it a perfect engine for a perpetuum mobile with which... Hm? What is it?"
"Squig... She's not here."
The small child pointed to where they came from, proving their point of the woman not having followed along.
The Professor's gaze follows Pepper's stretched arm. "Oh, you are right...how did I not notice?" He sighs. "I really need to get better at paying attention...I hope she did not get lost in here that could have disastrous consequences....tell you what, mind grabbing the backpack from the workshop? You know your way around here almost as well as I do...I will try to find Squig and we meet up back at the lounge,okay? If you need me just give me a signal, alright?"
They nodded again, a small smile on their lips. Dad wants them to do something! That's good, they can help out!
"Mhm. Thank you!" They said, before skipping off into the workshop.
"Okay, see you in the lounge then!"
The Professor makes his way back through the corridors, hurrying back to the lounge, his steps getting faster. There is nothing dangerous in here...well...not in the places Squig can reach but if she got lost then finding her may become a problem and he sincerely doubts that Squig is equipped for an expedition into this void. She has to be alright, he cannot lose someone else to his irresponsibility.
He arrives back at the lounge. No one. No one at any of the doors leading outwards, no one at the sofas...
Then he spots Squig. Slumped over, shaking. "Hey, are you alright? I am so sorry, I didn't pay attention, do you need something? Water, food, anything?"
Squig flinches at the voice, but still barely looks up from her hand.
"No. I... I don't need anything... Just... More rest, I think. And my meds once I'm out of... Whatever this place is you installed in here. I'm sorry, I just..."
Unconsciously, her hand had already reached her head again. A motion so familiar, now made painful merely by the association of that movement and -
She inhales sharply before grabbing her hand and lowering it again. She spits out her words as if it would cure her of the phantom scratch marks.
"Do you have my bag yet? I, uh, don't wanna rush a gift, but...?"
(But what? But stop? But please uninstall this from my home? But please either take my trailer as your own or leave me be, the reality is fading fast, today already hasn't been good for my brain, this is making it SO MUCH WORSE AND - )
BONK.
Squig hits her head with her fist.
(Ah. Same instrument, different sound. I gotta start to use my fist for grounding more than my nails...)
Squig coughs. Quietly and quickly, she her voice returns and she reiterates her request.
"Can I have my backpack please?"
"Transdimensional sickness, of course...I got so overexcited to show you this that I forgot the proper procedures for interdimensional travel...And then I didn't pay attention that you would not get lost..."
"I'm afraid I was a terrible host. I am so sorry...tell you what. Pepper is fetching the backpack right now, what do you think of laying down and resting for a bit, we will bring it in the kitchen, hm?"
He stretches out his arm and offers Squig his hand.
The disheveled woman takes another deep breath in, then out, before reaching for his hand with a shaky one of her own. Her heartbeat still pounds through her chest, something the Professor could feel in her wrist, but she lets the hand offered to her help pull her up.
"Thank you."
Once Squig gets to her feet she adjusts her nearly fallen off glasses with an exhale.
"I... I think..." (I think I would never want to go elsewhere in your VR chamber. This alone was more than enough.) "I think I would like to go to the kitchen."
The last sentence is spit out in a single breath. Unable to bare the weight of existing in the presence of the atrium any longer, Squig let go of the Professor then walked into the kitchen. Away from the room that was neither circular nor square. Away from the so-called 'VR chamber' Squig claimed it was. Away from the place she knew for a fact must have a bed inside of, one large enough for the father and child... One she didn't feel or see in the room.
(It's... Maybe it's a futon. Or.. Some kind of sleeping bag. Yeah... Yeah that makes sense... That makes sense, that makes sense, that makes sense....... It has to be that. There's no other options...)
The Professor watches as Squig leaves the room. He closes the door after he made sure that Squig arrived safely in her trailer.
(I messed up. I messed up. I need to be better, I should be better, I HAVE TO be better.)
He leaves the entrance area and makes his way over to the lounge where he sits down. A gesture quite unusual for the Professor, who usually never stops talking or moving.
He starts muttering to himself.
Gentle footsteps sounded across the hall as Peppermint walked back inside, the backpack being held by their left hand.
Their footsteps came to a halt as they saw their dad sitting down.
That's weird.
(Is dad feeling okay?)
They tilted their head, akin to how a cat does, and blinked. Then, they wrapped their small arms around him, hugging as tightly as they could.
"Dad...Okay?"
The Professor stops his muttering.
"Ah, hello Pepper, I....did not notice you coming in...have you been here long? I'm alright, I'm alright it's just....I think I hurt Squig."
"I know that people can have bad reactions when they enter a new subspace, especially when they have never done that before and I didn't do any of the necessary precautions...I did not prepare her properly, I did not warn her, I did not consider what could wrong....I got too carried away by the thought of showing her what I built, I wanted to give her her present, to get some worries out of her mind and instead I did the opposite...."
"I didn't even manage to pay attention to whether or not she was still following us, if you had not pointed that out I do not know when or if I would have noticed - luckily she did not get lost but instead smartly went back to the entrance....There is no danger here in any of the freely accessible rooms, we both know that but if you get lost in here it is nigh impossible to be found....Ah, but I am sorry, I did not want to...
Anyway, thank you for bringing the backpack here, you did good. "
The Professor hugs Pepper back.
Peppermint closed their eyes, shaking their head to deny what their father had declared.
"..But you didn't know. Not your fault. She's the one who stopped."
They pulled back, getting a worried pout on their lips.
"Don't be mad at yourself..!"
"She is the one who stopped, yes but...I still should have paid better attention - if I bring someone into a place that may be dangerous for them, I have a duty of care, don't you think?"
"Look at it this way - the same way I promised to keep you safe, and already failed at that, I must try to keep those around me safe."
"But you're right. Being mad at myself does not help anyone....I'll just have to be better now, hm?"
The Professor pats Peppers head.
"Thank you..."
Peppermint kept looking at his face, then smiled. They tugged at his sleeve to pull him up from the chair.
