ARCADE SESSION: REBOOTED

[knux400]

My only issue with you going off on your own is that it'll still count as an adventure, and we won't be able to do much for Hank apart from talking to them. Just please stay safe, and be ready to come back as quick as you can if I need you to, okay?
Got it.
Here, take this and use it to call me if you need help.

>CREATE MOTHY-TALKIE

...Wait, I can already talk to you no matter where I am. How would this help?
...Uh...
I'll take it with me anyway. Thank you.
 

Echo boards the train, and it slowly moves northwards. It feels odd without Echo on your screen, but you've got another TCP to focus on right now. While you wait for Hank to come out of their room, you do some decorating.

>CREATE "FRANK GOLLUM" PIN

The pin pops into existence on the golem's chest. It doesn't seem to acknowledge it as it continues cleaning.
 

You also decide to check on the various pets while you're at it. Topaz is perched on the radio antenna, and seems content. Pumice is in his usual spot on the couch, and Opal is curled up in front of the door to Hank's room. Hank seems calmer now, looking around at the room and its furnishings.

[Lilium Mortem]

>create fully stocked kitchen/pantry

Meal time is important, and who knows, hank might like to cook.

when hank decides to come outside: >Talk Hank: Hey bud, how are you doing? Sorry for everything earlier. Echo's off on a mission right now, so if you need anything just let me know. P.S. I made a kitchen if you want to get a snack.

[King-Clod]

Not sure if we can create a kitchen if Echo is on an adventure.

Ditto for everything Dediles said to say, except change the PS message to "PS, they're someone that'd like to meet you outside your door, whenever you're ready."

I think interacting with Opal would be a good start to getting used to the base. (Also it'd be cute)

[knux400]

>CREATE KITCHEN
ERROR: CANNOT USE CREATE WHILE IN ADVENTURE MODE

Dang. You decide it's probably for the best anyways, since adding a new room for Hank to get used to might not be the best move.
 

For the first time since you started playing, you genuinely don't have anything to do. You told Hank that you would only start talking to him again when he's ready, and you intend to keep that promise. You lean back in your seat and stretch for a bit, then you wiggle your fingers, then you start idly tapping on the side of the cabinet, making a little song. You're interrupted by purple text on your screen.

Hi. ...Sorry about that.
It's fine! You about ready to come out now?
I think so. Thank you.
No problem! There's actually someone waiting for you, as a heads up.
Okay. I think I can handle talking to Echo aga-

Hank opens the door and is immediately greeted by an affectionate headbutt from Opal.

-Oh!
That's Opal. She's something called a Generic Animal Companion. She's nice!

Hank seems startled at first, but he slowly crouches down to meet Opal's gaze. He hesitantly places a hand on Opal's head and gently rubs it back and forth. Opal calms down considerably and gently leans on Hank's side. The two of them stay like that for a moment before Hank stands up again, slowly making his way through the upper part of the house. He passes through the lamp workshop, stopping to inspect the parts strewn on the table before stepping into the bedroom. Methodically and carefully, he inspects each item one by one, gently picking it up to look at it from all angles before slowly setting it down exactly where it was. Lacking the TEACH command, you have to answer all of his questions yourself- it takes quite a while to explain things like the wardrobe to him.
 

Eventually, Hank makes his way downstairs and repeats this process for the living room. It's kind of tiring watching him take everything in bit by bit, but eventually he finishes and steps outside.

Where did the lamps go?
Oh, those? I had the golem put them in a box for you.
...For me?
Yeah! I thought you might be getting overwhelmed by how many things there were, so I cleaned up a bit while you were in your room. Well, the golem did, anyway.

Hank glances to the golem, which is standing still near the last box.

And the... It looked similar to that golden thing, but it was silver instead. Is that cleaned up too?
Yep!
...Thank you. That helps a lot.

You're impressed by how well Hank remembers the layout of the garden- he was only there for a short time, and he spent most of that time sitting in a corner.

[1011686]

Talk to Hank about Echo. Tell him that we kinda confused and frustrated her before by not telling her what was going on or how this whole thing worked. We're pretty sure she isn't still annoyed at us, but stipl, we want to keep that in mind for the future. So is there anything else Hank wants to ask, about, well, anything?

[Dzib 9001]

Ask if hank has any idea why they were so overwhelmed before. (other then the obvious spontaneously coming into existence.) It was concerning as heck, and we wanna know why so we can avoid whatever set him in the future. Might as well get the heavy stuff out of the way...

[knux400]

Now that Hank is feeling a bit better, you decide to talk with him a bit.

Do you know why you were feeling so overwhelmed before? I'm just asking so we can try and avoid something like that happening again.
Oh, uh... It was really just the feeling of being... there, combined with having so much stuff to keep track of all at once.
Stuff to keep track of?
Yeah, you know how when you see something and you need to, like, remember what it is and where it was?
...No?
You don't do that?
Not really.
I thought everyone did that.
Just you, as far as I know.
But that doesn't make it a bad thing, or something to be ashamed of! It's just part of the way you are.
...Okay.
Would you mind telling me about it? Just so I can help if you're feeling bad again.

Hank pauses.

...It's hard to describe. I need to know where everything is and what it looks like, because if I don't know, then it's scary? It makes me feel safe, knowing exactly what's around me. In case it might come in handy later, I guess? But not just that. It's comforting, sort of. Like a... I'm really not explaining this very well, am I?
No, I think I get it. It's reassuring in a way, right?
...Yeah, kind of. I think.
So when you first spawned and you saw all the things around you, it was too much all at once?
Yeah. Part of that was just the shock of being... here, but it was also having to remember all those things.
Okay. Thank you for telling me.
...Yeah, no problem.

So one other thing: Echo got sort of frustrated earlier because I wasn't telling her what was going on or how things worked here. I really would like to avoid having that happen again, so if you have any questions about... anything, feel free to ask.
Oh. Okay, thank you. Can I ask one right now?
Sure!
Where are you? I've been looking, but you're not... anywhere. Echo was in a place when I talked to her, but you're not.
I'm sort of... outside, I guess? I can only see what's around you two, and I can only look at one of you at a time.
That... makes sense. I felt you leave for a bit, but then you came back.
Yeah, I had to talk to Echo for a bit.
Where is she, by the way?
She's out investigating something weird we saw earlier. This flying thing came by and left again, and we think it might be from one of the other players.
The huh?
Uh... Let me back up a few steps. Stop me if you get overwhelmed again, okay?
...Okay?

Welp, time to do this again. Hank seems a lot calmer than he was before, and you did promise you would answer his questions, but this is a lot all at once. How should you handle it?

[cosmo]

To put it very simply, there are more teams of TCPs (like you and Echo) and players (like me) working together out there! i can try to explain it more in depth if you’d prefer, but I don’t want to overwhelm you so just let me know what feels most comfortable for you

[Lilium Mortem]

(Don't know how much of this Trinket knows, so feel free to cut out parts that don't fit.)
You live in another world from me, created by the input of a 'player'. there are five of them in total, each with there own teams of TCPs. This is set up like a game, and the way to win is either by forming an alliance with all the players, or by removing all the TCPs of of every player not in an alliance with you. removing can mean killing, or convincing them to forsake their player. 

I want a peaceful wing, but we have to be careful, we don't know if any of the players are out for blood. That's why Echo is out scouting. that flying thing might be trouble.

[King-Clod]

Hmm. I'd be careful not to phrase it as a game.
Also, while I do want to mention that there will be other TCP teams with their own gods, who may or may not be friendly, I'd rather not bring up win conditions or killing just yet. Hank doesn't know of he can die yet, let alone be murdered, and I think these things would be better discussed with Echo around to reassure him.

[knux400]

Quick update: the computer with most of my arcade session assets on it is currently out of commission. I can't bring it to a repair place what with the quarantine going, so my only option is to remove the hard drive and attempt to get the files that way. I've ordered a thing that could help with that, but the soonest it's going to get here is the 9th, and there's no guarantee that'll work at all.

I'll keep you guys posted- in the meantime, now would be a good opportunity to figure out how you want to explain things to Hank.

[Dzib 9001]

I'd rather not bring up win conditions or killing just yet. Hank doesn't know of he can die yet, let alone be murdered, and I think these things would be better discussed with Echo around to reassure him.

Agreed. just keep it simple for now. 5 teams of 5, we can spawn tools, toy, rooms, and teach them stuff when all our TCP's are at our base.

[Guest]

I'd rather not bring up win conditions or killing just yet. Hank doesn't know of he can die yet, let alone be murdered, and I think these things would be better discussed with Echo around to reassure him.

Agreed. just keep it simple for now. 5 teams of 5, we can spawn tools, toy, rooms, and teach them stuff when all our TCP's are at our base.

seconding this

[knux400]

You take a deep breath. Not that you're actually going to be speaking out loud to Hank, but it helps.

To put it simply, there are more teams of players (like me) and TCPs (like you and Echo). There are 5 of these teams in total. Some of these teams might not want to be nice to us, but there's no way of knowing. That's why Echo is out investigating, the flying thing could mean trouble.
...Oh. Does everyone get two TCPs?
We get 5 TCPs total, but there's also a limit to how many TCPs can exist at once. Right now the limit is 6, but it'll go up at some point. The limit just keeps going up bit by bit until all 25 TCPs are created.
...Six? So where are the other four TCPs?
They're not on my team, so I don't really know. We met one of them earlier (his name was Clemont) but we haven't seen the other three at all yet.
Can the other... players... make things, too?
Yes, but only when all of their TCPs are at their base. I can't make anything right now because Echo is away, but if she were here, I could spawn tools, toys, rooms, you name it. I could also teach you new things, like speech.
Okay.
Did you have any other questions?
...Not right now, no.

As you're halfway through typing a reply, you're interrupted by an alert on your screen.
 

[Spriter]

Speaking of other players, huh??
Y

[King-Clod]

Hang tight Hank, one of the other Players I mentioned is calling.
Y

[cosmo]

Hang tight Hank, one of the other Players I mentioned is calling.
Y

dittoing this

[knux400]

...Hang on a sec, Hank. One of the other players I was talking about is calling me.
Oh. Okay?

You hit the Y key and are greeted with a smiling Karacel face. It doesn't seem to be moving, and it takes you a moment to realize it's probably another person using an arcade cabinet, and the picture you're seeing is the one they took at the start of the game.
 

"H-hello?"

He's actually speaking to you! It's been a while since you spoke. You clear your throat and respond.

"Yes?"
"Hi. Um... Can you help me?"
"What do you need help with?"
"Stitch- uh, my TCP is being attacked. There's a mean-looking TCP outside my base, and it's blowing holes in my wall."

His tone seems genuine, but you don't know where he is or how to get to him. And if a TCP capable of blowing holes in a wall is attacking, it seems like it would be dangerous for anyone you send to help. What should you do?

[1011686]

Ask him where on the map he is, we need to know that before we can even consider helping. It really isn't possible for us to send Hank, though Echo might be up for it if we decide that's a good idea. She'd be very fast at getting there.
Also tell him that he should still be able to create things, as long as his TCP is inside his base, so he could create some kind of guardian to help protect it and Stitch. He could also just create stronger walls, or a pit or moat surrounding his base, or a stereo that plays very annoying music loudly. He has lots of options if he can create things.
What's his name anyway, and why did he contact you instead of the other players?

[anima]

what's this fellow's name, and what else does he know about the "mean-looking" tcp? does he have any speculations as to their god?