-⩤ Melocania ✧LOCUS✧ ⩥-

[SHIVERS]

▶ 377 Second Meditation
Disasterpeace

"Food? ...Hard to say."

I dont know how much I want to share yet
I dont know how vulnerable a robotic body can be
better not to let on that Im new to this one. just in case

"...I have some memory issues, so it can be hard to remember that sort of thing sometimes.
I think

Bananas. Fruit in general.
Spicy food, too.
...I remember a spicy fruit candy I really enjoy.
That might be all I'm remembering." "Meat."
The voice cuts in to speak once Midway finishes talking, leaving only a moment's pause.
"I remember the way it sizzles."



You reflexively clear your throat, tapping your neck.

didnt I say Not To Do That
I waited until you were done.
I'm simply commenting as well.
I said no more speaking For Me though
you Agreed to that, in case you forgot

this isnt your body
you dont get to do that
We're both stuck in here.
Surely you can let me get the occasional word in.

Just so I don't get bored.
not using My Body
ok?





Ffffffffiiiiine.

I concede.





You return your focus to the conversation,
only to realize the snake is looking upward at nothing, hand to his snout in thought.
"Spicy, meat, with fruit...
...think I can make that work..."
"Hm?"
"...Oh! Thinking out loud, forgive me."







You find yourself

feeling hungrier than than expected, at the mention of meat.
Nearly starting to drool.


You hurriedly wipe your muzzle.
"Interests.

...Games. Board games.
I keep getting a strange sense of ironic familiarity with all this.
...Hopefully that'll help some while I'm here."


Games...
We should play some, you know.

I'd be quite helpful.
shh.

I'm very good at some of them. Games of chance, in particular!
dont you have anything better to think about than trying to tempt me?
You won't let me talk to anyone,
so,
no.

youre a necklace.
Mhm.
One that can talk. I need something to stimulate me.


if you like games, then just make up one in your head.







if you have a head.



one that isnt mine
I dont know

and dont you have Anything else you like, anyway?

Music, song.
Running; very fast, and very far.
Fire and smoke and sand.
Metal,
all those... sensations.





I like conversation, too.


You don't know what to say to that,
and realize you've been staring into space the whole time. Again.












"...sorry, Eska.
Still... jumbled, from all this.
I think that's all I've got on my end."
"That's plenty, no need to worry."


Ask Eska what he likes.
It sounds like cooking is on the list-

particularly, given he can 'work with that.'

 . . . I was going to

dont rush me





this isnt much better than speaking For me, you know


The necklace stays silent, in return.

Waiting for you to ask.







"What about you?
Food, hobbies? Favorite color?"

The snake rests a claw on his chin.
"Hmm.
Food: With meat, I'm partial to poultry, but... I think I like 'simplistic' dishes more than anything.
Things that can be made without much fuss - if you prefer that on the day - but there's more than enough variety to make it as complex as you want.
Stews, eggs, noodles;
things like that.
So many different regions have recipes for them, so there are always new things to try with similar ingredients.

But really, it's fun to cook anything.
For actually eating dishes myself, though..."







Eska looks deep in thought.







"...Dumplings.


I like all kinds, but... fried sweet dumplings stand out the most.
If there were any in front of me right now, I would move Morbit itself to have them.

...I shouldn't tempt myself, actually.
I'm not hungry, but I'm having to stop myself from making them right now."
The serpent lets out a little sigh, tongue flicking.



"...Hobbies.
Cooking, which I'm sure is shocking." "I never would've guessed, no."
He chuckles.
"I used to play soccer, I suppose that counts.
I never care about watching it televised; it's always more fun to play a sport than to watch.

I used to play musical instruments, too. Trumpet, piano... theremin. They were fun to experiment with.
I used to do a lot of things...

...I suppose you could say this place counts as a hobby for me, even though I technically live here.
I did travel here purposefully; it fascinates me.
There's no other region like it."

He leans back into the couch, getting comfortable.



"Color--"
He holds up his arm to you, pointing at it.

There are spots where the aquamarine fades scale-by-scale into a saturated red-pink.
"This shade.
I've heard it called several things: raspberry, amaranth, crimson - I'm no expert on any of that,
but I love it.
...Most of my other scales remind me of seawater; an unpleasant association.
But this shade?
I like it. It's pretty, to me."
He glances over.
"...Would you call that vain?" "I wouldn't say so." He nods, considering your answer.







Eska stretches.
"How did I do?
Satisfied?"

He passed the test! Full marks.
It speaks in a playful tone, as if to Eska- not that he can hear it.
...At least it means our rations won't be boring.
A nice choice of colors, too.

You find yourself wincing,
still entirely unused to hearing the locket inside your head.

You catch a glint of concern from Eska, prompting you to rush your response.

"...Satisfied.
You passed. Full marks.
Uh..."   really should not be parroting the locket
I didnt know what else to say   "...What's your class?
Are you the red rogue?"

He smiles at you.
"Are you asking me that because I have red spots and like red?"


" . . . No."



He lets you sit with the anticipation.














"Well, you did guess right.
Purely a coincidence, for the record. But I don't mind it!" He laughs.
"That's... good to know--"



The entrance flap rattles.
"Oh!" Eska stands up. "Let me get--"

It opens up on its own.






A behemoth-sized figure cranes their head and shoulders to step in through the flap.

Upright, they look to be nearing seven feet tall, possibly taller.
They're wearing a long, tattered coat with a hood, along with heavy boots and thick gloves.
The only part of them you can see is a small portion of their face; the rest obscured by a gaiter that looks to be part of the coat.

It's
very bright, almost neon green with a slight blue tint; somewhere between emerald and seafoam green.
Their head is also

polyvinyl?
You think. Or a similar texture.

a flexin?
They're far too tall for that,
at least from what you've seen of flexins.











Despite the hulking figure, Eska manages to hardly look surprised at all.

A claw is held out to shake, by the snake.
The stranger looks down at him.

"I assume you're our fourth? We were waiting up for you!
I'm Eska,
it's n--"
They walk past the snake, ignoring him after the first cursory glance.



Briefly, they look in your direction as they pass.
In the same instant you spot the shotgun hanging over their back.

You look away on instinct, not wanting to be caught staring.

They either don't notice or don't care,
moving beyond the both of you towards the tent's bedrooms.







Eska follows them over, his tongue flicking shorter and faster.
"Oh!
Eager to get some rest?
The back one on the right has the largest bed, so you might enjoy--"

They've already stepped into the bedroom and zipped up the flap behind them before Eska can finish.




The snake sports a neutral expression, stopped in his tracks.















"...Well.




 . . .




They must be tired.
I am, too."
You get up, following him over. "...Might be a good time to turn in, yes."
He turns to you, managing a little smile, even if he's clearly disappointed.

"We can always talk more tomorrow."
He nods, opening the flap to his bedroom.
"I'll be looking forward to it.
Sleep well."
"You too."

He leaves.























You're alone in the tent.





Alone.

Without anything pressing.
Without being rushed somewhere.
Without any horrible news being dropped on you.



For the first time,
in



you can't really remember.







You run your hands down your face,
your display eyes closing momentarily.








Bed.
I need to lie down







You haul yourself into your bedroom, zipping the flap shut behind you.
Once the electric lantern is off, it's pitch-black.

Just how you usually prefer it for sleep.
Something you also haven't had in a long time.






You collapse onto the bed, shoving off enough of your clothes to feel comfortable,
intending to pass out.

























It's too quiet, though.
The little room is more soundproof than you were expecting.

You have no white noise;
nothing nearby to help you sleep.

That,
and there is far, Far too much on your mind.
Half-formed worries flitting through your head,
along with the same feeling of hopelessness, pointlessness that you'd forgotten with everything going on,
with everything you'd been dragged through.









You roll onto your side on the bed, facing the tent wall.

Trying to find a way to will yourself to sleep.














Time passes.













You feel the weight of the locket on your chest


A slight warmth to the metal.






It's been quiet, for a while now.
It was

partway through your conversation with Eska, you think.










A hinge gently grinds, as the lid partially lowers.





 . . .






...are you still there?


The hinge grinds again.




...I am.


Something on your mind?
The voice is soft


A gentle rumble to it, now.

Embers of a dim fire.
When those tending to it have gone to rest.





...I






dont think

I can sleep





you were wanting to talk
do you still want that?


A pause.



I wouldn't be against it.

Another squeak as the hinge lifts.


Our new party members seem... interesting.


Eska is eager to please. Social.
Part of me wants to take a hint of caution at just how eager he is.



The other two...

I have to hope the revival isn't a liability. There's plenty of ways to die out here.
Hope there was a good reason.


The flexin

Well.
At first glance,
Eska is going to have his work cut out, getting through to them.
If theyre skilled with the shotgun, though, then I'll be glad to have them.


The voice is still soft.






As you listen


You begin to hear other noise, from it.





 

▶ Glowing Embers SFX

The crackling of ashes filling the empty space between words.


It's

soothing, somehow,

in the otherwise eerie quiet.


Any thoughts on your end?






You find yourself settling, just a little.





But your thoughts still feel scattered, and difficult.

I

dont know








Im only asking at all because there isnt anything else to do, for the record

You arent off the hook for locking onto me



You don't want to admit, to the locket or yourself,
that talking with it is better than being alone again.













The dim glow from your screen lights up a little portion of the tent wall.

...Im thinking
of what to ask
what to talk about





I just want to be able to sleep tonight




 . . .



The metal grows warmer.



You're free to ask me whatever you like.
About me, about the situation at hand...

As I said before

I enjoy conversing.
And a second opinion may help, from time to time.




...if you're asking for my assistance in falling asleep...

This isn't a roll

But I could offer it, should you wish.

The cover opens a little more, cautiously;
the amber, eye-like gem more visible now.









I should be clear

These are an exchange.


I offer my influence, and specify something in return.
Simply the rules of the game, much like Melocania.

Since this is the first time, I'll keep it simple:



Allow me to speak, on occasion.


Converse with the others.

...I could do this already, but we can consider this... codifying it.




Do you accept?


You feel as if

Something is watching you,
As it waits for your answer.