[GAME] The House

[skinstealer]

+AMAZING EVENT
+POSITIVE EVENT
+DISASTROUS EVENT
+ITEM DISCOVERY (x2, clothing)
+MEMORY RECOVERY (George)
+NEW LOCATION (Don't Be A Jerk!)
+NEW TCP (x2)

Day 36

George's Journal

...where do I even begin...

I don't know if we can continue to stay in the arcade. It's been somewhat of a home for our little party, but...we found some things that make me worried.

I was starting to venture around the arcade outskirts, still debating whether I should go after Simon...these trips have been fairly simple for the past few days, mainly just getting a feel for how far this territory- a sort of biome, perhaps?- goes. As it turns out, it's fairly sprawling, and some sections do have more ghost activity...

...especially the one I found today.

It was a spot that had flickering lights, some of the machines busted up and nonfunctional. Some still stayed on, but with distorted imagery on their screens...it put me and my snails on edge more than I could express, and I heard a horrible scream!

Despite every snail in my body telling me to run away, I pressed onward, toward the scream. Sure enough, it was a party of TCPs- three of them, with one...being mangled by some kind of digital beast, still connected to a toppled machine. A similar looking cat, the source of the screaming, was being held back by a larger one, telling zem that they have to run, they have to get out of there...ze didn't want to leave, screaming and crying for their friend.

I took out my gun and shot at the thing, telling the two of them to get back. They did listen at that, ducking for cover as I unloaded my gun into its head. After the whole chamber was gone, it dissipated- leaving a mauled body, still moving. The one screaming earlier- a brown TCP with a bell for a head- rushed in, and stayed by the other's side...only for their hushed conversation to end when he burst into scraps, leaving zem to cry and cry... I wasn't sure whether to approach or not, but I said that we should probably go before another showed up, and that I could lead them to safety.  The larger cat, a pink, frilly one who I later learned was a storage type, said that her name was Fleur, and that her friend was Tinsel- and that they were both grateful for the help, even if Tinsel wasn't able to express it then. I introduced myself in turn, and after letting Tinsel hurriedly gather the scraps of zer dead comrade- in zer hands, weirdly enough- we made our way back to the camp.

Everyone seemed extremely startled that I lead fluid-splattered people back to our base of operations, but more out of concern than anything. Their clothes were completely wrecked, so myself and Bunny found them some shirts from the back rooms for them to wear after Mist and Shrump got them washed off in the grotto. Mist said that she'd look for some laundry machines, but that there should be enough soap in the bathroom to hand wash if needed. For now, the two of them are settling in, and Tinsel managed to explain what their situation is.

The two of them had been traveling for as long as we have- and maintaining journals, of course. Tinsel had started out with three other members of zer typing- they were part lion pride, and worked as a team. A family, ze said. Ze got incredibly emotional as ze spoke more in-depth about the others...two of them had gone missing early on, and zer closest comrade had been the one killed by the ghost.

Maybe Simon was right. We need to go somewhere else...

...but for now, we have to focus on building supplies before venturing out. The arcade prize booth is the safest area, away from the machines, so we've been setting up shop in there for everyone to sleep in.

I will say, though...there were some positives to these strangers arriving. They bring good company and conversation, even if Tinsel seems a bit...edgy? Well-meaning though, for sure....I think they'll be good members of our party.

The biggest revelation upon their arrival though, is that Fleur is part gift shop type- and has offered her services to us in exchange for food! We have plenty of candy to share, and she's delighted to have it. I was eager to step inside, only for her to ascend and warn me- her other half is a flounce typing, and prone to making the experience within...unpleasant. I assured her that I could handle it, and went inside "Don't Be A Jerk!"

Imagine my surprise when I looked around...and saw tons of meat, jerkies, the works. There was every kind of protein imaginable, all in novelty packaging- and lots of hokey gifts to match. The cashier was also part flounce type, and spoke to me plainly- he said that he was a different person than Fleur, and wasn't here to deal with nonsense. I asked him what kind of nonsense that would be, and-

Then it hit.

I was struck with the urge while walking around to exaggerate my movements and speech, and even the slightest irritation started getting under my skin. The lights were too harsh, the meat smell was overpowering- and yet I managed to grab a giant haul of meat products, as well as a little...steak...plush for Shrump. It brought back memories, remembering all of the days I had to go out in the hot, Hoopla sun to get groceries for my household- I didn't even know I had one of those!

Fleur had assured me that the sack of candies I brought in would be enough, and Liz- the cashier- rang me up with a tired, aggravated expression.

He told me to have a nice day, and I hurried out.

With this, we can exchange lesser food type products for stronger healing! Mist and Shrump have also volunteered chunks of their own bodies if necessary....this will be a huge asset in our ventures!

If only we did not have to do them...
 

Two new TCPs have been discovered in the house.


[image description: a ref for Tinsel, a lion pride/sleigh bell hybrid TCP. ze have a cream bell head with long, rabbit-like lop ears, a lion nose, sleepy eyes making up the holes in the bell, and a red curly ribbon coming from zer head. ze has a short and stocky brown body, and have a red ribbon on zer chest as well. zer bell head has orange accents, and ze have white shreds circling zer hands. zer tail is long and tipped with a ribbon and a bell.]

Tinsel is a lion pride/sleigh bell hybrid, with a shred-merged condition and an ear anomaly. Ze uses ze/zem pronouns.


[image description: a ref for Fleur, a flounce/gift shop hybrid TCP. she has a pink building body covered in layered pink and white scalloped awnings, and a black ribbon bow on top. her eyes are cheery and askew, on the topmost awning. her arms are long and tipped in meaty claw hands, and her black legs are unevenly shaped and sized. her torso has a door and window on the bottom, half covered by awnings.]

Fleur is a flounce/gift shop hybrid with a meaty modifier. She uses she/her pronouns, and contains a cashier/flounce hybrid named Liz. He uses he/him pronouns.