YOU ARE THE REASON
Aqua Utopia｜海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
wallacepolsom
Today's Document
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
hello vonnie
titsay
𓃗
Mike Driver
2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
sheepfilms
Andulka
Sweet Seals For You, Always
ellievsbear
Show & Tell
NASA
★
we're not kids anymore.
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from T1
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from Australia
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Türkiye
seen from Türkiye
seen from Indonesia
seen from United States
seen from United States
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seen from Japan
@the-masked-hivemind
[0028 spots something bright pink in the corner of its vision, only to realise that it's hair. 0028's hair. It is now sporting an extravagant pink hairstyle with black and pink raccoon tails]
Whoaaa, whoa! Bestie, are you seeing this? I'm pink!
[0028 shakes its head back and forth to make its hair swing so it can see the pink for itself.]
[...After several seconds of this, it realizes it could just use its hands. It does so. Yup, that's pink!]
[0008 catches a glimpse of its reflection in the glass front of one of the shops in the mall, and immediately notices the fact that its hair is colored in a bright rainbow. How? Why? When? Who knows!]
[0008 stares at its reflection for a time. It tilts its head. A lock of vivid, blue-green hair falls to the side, nestling itself between yellow and red.]
[A Drone is uncertain as to what the purpose of this change may be, but to question such things is not its place. It extends a query to its siblings, receives a negative. No one (nothing?) else experienced the change.]
[...Odd.]
[It turns away from its reflection. No use in looking at itself longer than necessary; what use has a tool for shallow vanity?]
[Thoroughly embarrassed, with red, glossy eyes and still sniffly, Artie decided that he needed some fresh air. As soon as he could keep himself together, at least somewhat, he got up from his bed and stepped out into the corridor. Where was he going exactly is unclear. To the bathroom, probably, but his route was winding back and forth to the point where it was hard to tell if he even knew where he was going in the first place.]
[His wanderings did not last long, as at some point he broke down again. He didn't even know what exactly he was sobbing about anymore, but the tears just kept on coming with no way to stop them. He slid down the wall of a random corridor and hugged his knees, burying his face. He hoped that nobody will see him in such a state. He hoped that somebody will.]
[It's hard to find privacy in a place filled with patrolling Drones. As such, it isn't long before one of them finds him, making its way down the hall with the occasional slight stumble when it turns a corner, as if it's dizzy or uncoordinated.]
[The Drone spots Artie on the floor and its first thought- no, no? Drones don't think, silly billy, its first impulse is to join him. So join him it does! Sits down next to him and turns its mask towards him, and waits for something to happen.]
[Arthur startles when the presence of another becomes evident and straightens out immediately, uselessly wiping at his eyes in an attempt to hide the fact that he was crying. It doesn't work very well.]
"Ah- uhm.. my apologies for.. not getting to work yet. And taking up space in the corridor. I'm fine."
[He doesn't look up at the drone, not yet anyways. The fact that he's lying is already evident enough, but it'd be particularly evident if somebody were to look at his face.]
[0028 pats Artie’s arm, somewhat awkwardly given the lack of any true sympathy behind it.]
It’s okay, bestie! As long as your productivity does not slip too far, I’m sure the bossman can forgive this valued member of our team for taking a little more time to complete his creative process. There is a saying that the more pain an artist experiences, the better the quality of his work, isn’t there?
"Is quality of art truly only derived from suffering?"
[Yes, his mind suggested. In part, anyways. He put so much work into his skills, so many sleepless nights, so much pain, and he ended up here in the end, didn't he? As a.. renowned artist, or something like that.]
[Artie finally raises his head up, only to freeze at the sight of the drone.]
"..have we met before?"
Well, what do I know? Drones don’t have any need for creativity, so I couldn’t say whether I’m right. It’s only what I’ve heard.
[It tilts its head to stare back at him. Familiarity… Is irrelevant, because the Drones are required to know of all current staff members, guests and residents unless their positions are classified.]
Dunno. Maybe we have. I know you, though, why do you ask?
[People say I have one of those familiar faces. This impulse 0028 keeps to itself: humor is encouraged on occasion for the upkeep of this one’s assigned personality, but identity-based statements are unnecessary.]
"..I don't know. I've been remembering and forgetting a lot of important things lately. I just wondered if you're one of them. But it's probably just my brain playing tricks on me, that happens far too often anyways."
[Artie wipes his face again, the conversation fallling into silence. Maybe he didn't know them after all. But even if so, the same old impulse crossed his mind.]
[Arthur leaned onto 0028, slightly at first but if they do not push back, then properly.]
[Wow, you're still such an attention seeker. I thought you would've learned your lesson by this point. Make something of yourself first and only then you'll deserve praise. Although, knowing you, that's unlikely.]
[Out of habit, 0028’s arm comes up to wrap around Artie and squeezes lightly to encourage him to lean on it Habit? 0028 looks curiously at the offending limb, then shrugs to itself and rubs his upper arm in a comforting gesture.]
That’s normal, [0028 informs him matter-of-factly.] Maybe you had a memory that you were not supposed to have, or one that interfered with your work, and so they had to take it away. It’s for the best, really. Memories like that tend to encourage misbehavior and lower productivity. Now come on, Bestie, chin up and stop worrying so much about your memories. You’re very important to Showfall- of course they have to take good care of you!
[Artie looked up in shock, drilling a hole in-between 0028's eye holes with his gaze. Brows furrowed ever so slightly, he repeats after them.]
"They.. took it?"
[They took it. They took his memories. They took her.]
[Artie's face circled through numerous emotions: Confusion, realisation, worry, anger, determination, and then some forced version of calm. After a couple of seconds, he opened his mouth once again.]
"..I appreciate Showfall caring about me enough to go to such lengths to protect my wellbeing and ability to work. On that note, I should probably get back to it."
[The Artist got up rapidly, his hand already itching to grab the pen from his pocket and write this new information down before it dissapeared. But he paused, looking back at the drone. His gaze softened.]
"..Thank you, Twenty-Eight."
Oh! Bye, bestie, see you later!
[0028 springs to its feet after him, registering that the break is over, its shoulder bumping into the wall as quick movement renders it momentarily unsteady. Clumsy Drone.]
[It meets the Artist's eyes, invisible behind its mask, and shrugs. Raises a hand to the side of its head in an odd, backwards flicking motion, fingertips grazing its mask just beside the eye. Abnormality. Its hand returns to its side, dismissing the glitch for now. It will report the issue at the end of its patrol.]
You're welcome?
[Thoroughly embarrassed, with red, glossy eyes and still sniffly, Artie decided that he needed some fresh air. As soon as he could keep himself together, at least somewhat, he got up from his bed and stepped out into the corridor. Where was he going exactly is unclear. To the bathroom, probably, but his route was winding back and forth to the point where it was hard to tell if he even knew where he was going in the first place.]
[His wanderings did not last long, as at some point he broke down again. He didn't even know what exactly he was sobbing about anymore, but the tears just kept on coming with no way to stop them. He slid down the wall of a random corridor and hugged his knees, burying his face. He hoped that nobody will see him in such a state. He hoped that somebody will.]
[It's hard to find privacy in a place filled with patrolling Drones. As such, it isn't long before one of them finds him, making its way down the hall with the occasional slight stumble when it turns a corner, as if it's dizzy or uncoordinated.]
[The Drone spots Artie on the floor and its first thought- no, no? Drones don't think, silly billy, its first impulse is to join him. So join him it does! Sits down next to him and turns its mask towards him, and waits for something to happen.]
[Arthur startles when the presence of another becomes evident and straightens out immediately, uselessly wiping at his eyes in an attempt to hide the fact that he was crying. It doesn't work very well.]
"Ah- uhm.. my apologies for.. not getting to work yet. And taking up space in the corridor. I'm fine."
[He doesn't look up at the drone, not yet anyways. The fact that he's lying is already evident enough, but it'd be particularly evident if somebody were to look at his face.]
[0028 pats Artie’s arm, somewhat awkwardly given the lack of any true sympathy behind it.]
It’s okay, bestie! As long as your productivity does not slip too far, I’m sure the bossman can forgive this valued member of our team for taking a little more time to complete his creative process. There is a saying that the more pain an artist experiences, the better the quality of his work, isn’t there?
"Is quality of art truly only derived from suffering?"
[Yes, his mind suggested. In part, anyways. He put so much work into his skills, so many sleepless nights, so much pain, and he ended up here in the end, didn't he? As a.. renowned artist, or something like that.]
[Artie finally raises his head up, only to freeze at the sight of the drone.]
"..have we met before?"
Well, what do I know? Drones don’t have any need for creativity, so I couldn’t say whether I’m right. It’s only what I’ve heard.
[It tilts its head to stare back at him. Familiarity… Is irrelevant, because the Drones are required to know of all current staff members, guests and residents unless their positions are classified.]
Dunno. Maybe we have. I know you, though, why do you ask?
[People say I have one of those familiar faces. This impulse 0028 keeps to itself: humor is encouraged on occasion for the upkeep of this one’s assigned personality, but identity-based statements are unnecessary.]
"..I don't know. I've been remembering and forgetting a lot of important things lately. I just wondered if you're one of them. But it's probably just my brain playing tricks on me, that happens far too often anyways."
[Artie wipes his face again, the conversation fallling into silence. Maybe he didn't know them after all. But even if so, the same old impulse crossed his mind.]
[Arthur leaned onto 0028, slightly at first but if they do not push back, then properly.]
[Wow, you're still such an attention seeker. I thought you would've learned your lesson by this point. Make something of yourself first and only then you'll deserve praise. Although, knowing you, that's unlikely.]
[Out of habit, 0028’s arm comes up to wrap around Artie and squeezes lightly to encourage him to lean on it Habit? 0028 looks curiously at the offending limb, then shrugs to itself and rubs his upper arm in a comforting gesture.]
That’s normal, [0028 informs him matter-of-factly.] Maybe you had a memory that you were not supposed to have, or one that interfered with your work, and so they had to take it away. It’s for the best, really. Memories like that tend to encourage misbehavior and lower productivity. Now come on, Bestie, chin up and stop worrying so much about your memories. You’re very important to Showfall- of course they have to take good care of you!
[Thoroughly embarrassed, with red, glossy eyes and still sniffly, Artie decided that he needed some fresh air. As soon as he could keep himself together, at least somewhat, he got up from his bed and stepped out into the corridor. Where was he going exactly is unclear. To the bathroom, probably, but his route was winding back and forth to the point where it was hard to tell if he even knew where he was going in the first place.]
[His wanderings did not last long, as at some point he broke down again. He didn't even know what exactly he was sobbing about anymore, but the tears just kept on coming with no way to stop them. He slid down the wall of a random corridor and hugged his knees, burying his face. He hoped that nobody will see him in such a state. He hoped that somebody will.]
[It's hard to find privacy in a place filled with patrolling Drones. As such, it isn't long before one of them finds him, making its way down the hall with the occasional slight stumble when it turns a corner, as if it's dizzy or uncoordinated.]
[The Drone spots Artie on the floor and its first thought- no, no? Drones don't think, silly billy, its first impulse is to join him. So join him it does! Sits down next to him and turns its mask towards him, and waits for something to happen.]
[Arthur startles when the presence of another becomes evident and straightens out immediately, uselessly wiping at his eyes in an attempt to hide the fact that he was crying. It doesn't work very well.]
"Ah- uhm.. my apologies for.. not getting to work yet. And taking up space in the corridor. I'm fine."
[He doesn't look up at the drone, not yet anyways. The fact that he's lying is already evident enough, but it'd be particularly evident if somebody were to look at his face.]
[0028 pats Artie’s arm, somewhat awkwardly given the lack of any true sympathy behind it.]
It’s okay, bestie! As long as your productivity does not slip too far, I’m sure the bossman can forgive this valued member of our team for taking a little more time to complete his creative process. There is a saying that the more pain an artist experiences, the better the quality of his work, isn’t there?
"Is quality of art truly only derived from suffering?"
[Yes, his mind suggested. In part, anyways. He put so much work into his skills, so many sleepless nights, so much pain, and he ended up here in the end, didn't he? As a.. renowned artist, or something like that.]
[Artie finally raises his head up, only to freeze at the sight of the drone.]
"..have we met before?"
Well, what do I know? Drones don’t have any need for creativity, so I couldn’t say whether I’m right. It’s only what I’ve heard.
[It tilts its head to stare back at him. Familiarity… Is irrelevant, because the Drones are required to know of all current staff members, guests and residents unless their positions are classified.]
Dunno. Maybe we have. I know you, though, why do you ask?
[People say I have one of those familiar faces. This impulse 0028 keeps to itself: humor is encouraged on occasion for the upkeep of this one’s assigned personality, but identity-based statements are unnecessary.]
[Thoroughly embarrassed, with red, glossy eyes and still sniffly, Artie decided that he needed some fresh air. As soon as he could keep himself together, at least somewhat, he got up from his bed and stepped out into the corridor. Where was he going exactly is unclear. To the bathroom, probably, but his route was winding back and forth to the point where it was hard to tell if he even knew where he was going in the first place.]
[His wanderings did not last long, as at some point he broke down again. He didn't even know what exactly he was sobbing about anymore, but the tears just kept on coming with no way to stop them. He slid down the wall of a random corridor and hugged his knees, burying his face. He hoped that nobody will see him in such a state. He hoped that somebody will.]
[It's hard to find privacy in a place filled with patrolling Drones. As such, it isn't long before one of them finds him, making its way down the hall with the occasional slight stumble when it turns a corner, as if it's dizzy or uncoordinated.]
[The Drone spots Artie on the floor and its first thought- no, no? Drones don't think, silly billy, its first impulse is to join him. So join him it does! Sits down next to him and turns its mask towards him, and waits for something to happen.]
[Arthur startles when the presence of another becomes evident and straightens out immediately, uselessly wiping at his eyes in an attempt to hide the fact that he was crying. It doesn't work very well.]
"Ah- uhm.. my apologies for.. not getting to work yet. And taking up space in the corridor. I'm fine."
[He doesn't look up at the drone, not yet anyways. The fact that he's lying is already evident enough, but it'd be particularly evident if somebody were to look at his face.]
[0028 pats Artie’s arm, somewhat awkwardly given the lack of any true sympathy behind it.]
It’s okay, bestie! As long as your productivity does not slip too far, I’m sure the bossman can forgive this valued member of our team for taking a little more time to complete his creative process. There is a saying that the more pain an artist experiences, the better the quality of his work, isn’t there?
[Thoroughly embarrassed, with red, glossy eyes and still sniffly, Artie decided that he needed some fresh air. As soon as he could keep himself together, at least somewhat, he got up from his bed and stepped out into the corridor. Where was he going exactly is unclear. To the bathroom, probably, but his route was winding back and forth to the point where it was hard to tell if he even knew where he was going in the first place.]
[His wanderings did not last long, as at some point he broke down again. He didn't even know what exactly he was sobbing about anymore, but the tears just kept on coming with no way to stop them. He slid down the wall of a random corridor and hugged his knees, burying his face. He hoped that nobody will see him in such a state. He hoped that somebody will.]
[It's hard to find privacy in a place filled with patrolling Drones. As such, it isn't long before one of them finds him, making its way down the hall with the occasional slight stumble when it turns a corner, as if it's dizzy or uncoordinated.]
[The Drone spots Artie on the floor and its first thought- no, no? Drones don't think, silly billy, its first impulse is to join him. So join him it does! Sits down next to him and turns its mask towards him, and waits for something to happen.]
Hello?Hello?
Can anyone hear me?-hear me?
Is anyone still there?-there?
...
Is this thing on?-on?
I still feel... should I feel?
I NEVER NOTICED THAT THE DRONES CHIRP UNTIL NOW….
cheep cheep
(to 0008)
How many lives do you think you're worth? One? Ten? Fifty? How many lives were sacrificed because you weren't willing to get over your cowardness and accept death? You know that you will never live as yourself again. Then why do you still try?
Selfishness, perhaps.
The very fact that you're alive right now is proof of that.
Showfall would never allow its valued cast and crew to come to permanent harm.
If I were to vacate this position, it will be filled by someone else. Showfall has an efficient and rigorous recruitment program for cast and crew alike, so we never leave gaps open for long. I do what I can to keep my job and I am grateful to have it.
Do you know what other event negatively affected the productivity of Showfall's team?
The change in management.
Since HENCH appeared, especially since the new hivemind, a lot of rules aren't as strictly regulated as before.
It would be a shame if somebody were to get away with something that's against the rules.
But, if you know you know, I'm just saying.
Either way, it's been nice chatting with ya, but I'm gonna go annoy the next person now.
Good luck.
-🎱
I do not appreciate your implications that HETCH is anything less than well-suited to his position. Showfall carefully screens each of it's employees for quality.
If this HETCH prefers to offer more lax rules within Showfall, that is between him and us. Perhaps only between us.
Thank you for engaging with Showfall Media Productions, Viewer Shard.
I have a lot of information that I'm not supposed to have.
And I'm pretty sure that it's quite damn relevant. Half of your siblings are still dysfunctional because of it.
The information you had access to, Everything that you mentioned, it was knowledge on Showfall. On people here, the company's past, programming, schedules, methods of manipulation, the technology, the structure. Everything. All of it was distributed to the entire hive.
Except none of you were allowed to hold that knowledge. The conflicting programming is what caused the hivemind to crumble. HENCH had to create an entirely new hivemind to separate itself from you all.
That is what happened.
-🎱
I can see that now.
You are correct. This event negatively affected the productivity of Showfall's crew, which reflects poorly on us as a company. Any information you share with us is valuable.
Thank you.
The only incident I can think of is when HENCH just appeared and every drone went absolutely haywire because they suddenly got access to all of the knowledge that HENCH had access to, so everything stored in the HETCH mask. Which they were not prepared to handle.
Is that it?
-🎱
Yes. No. Irrelevant. You should not have this information.
Knowing everything.
What do you mean by everything?
Your everything or another's everything?
-🎱
Company secrets. I cannot answer this question. I do not remember what I Knew. Not mine.
Hurt?
..Well, drones aren't permitted to remember anything about their past, so that is why, I suppose.
Another reason might be.. let's call it leftover connections. Links that remain despite the restrictions.
If that's not what you're asking about then you didn't phrase your question right. Ain't my fault.
-🎱
Not entirely, but I do not know how better to explain. I Knew, and I did not know, and then I forgot what I knew. Showfall takes privacy very seriously and there are some things we Drones are not meant to learn. It was necessary.
But I remember Knowing everything.
Yes, a question for a question.
I know significantly more than I should and less than I'd wish to in the future.
But you're not asking for no reason, of course.
-🎱
Why did it hurt to Know?
HAH, YOU CAN'T ENDORSE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY? REALLY?
As if this whole organisation isn't already illegal as fuck. Honestly wondering where they're getting so much money to bribe all of those investigators.. although it is America, the land of freedom (and human rights violations).
Also can't you just like, ban me for promoting illegal activities or something? I'd think that you would've done so already.
-🎱
I would not presume that level of authority over our Viewer base.
A question for a question. If I may ask, since you know so much about Edgar the man, how much do you know about the workings of the Drones?
