❏ FLAT AS A MIRROR

[SHIVERS]

Your many eyes blink awake.







You are under some blankets, up against something warm.
The texture is nice.

You stretch a tendril out of the blanket, raising it up high to view your surroundings.



You are in a bedroom.
It's very dark, despite the clock by the bed showing 11:41 AM.
The curtains on the window are very thick, blocking out almost all light.
You like it that way.

It's quiet, too.
The walls are lined with more blankets, cheap rugs, and other various sound-blocking objects.
Posters are hung up along them, instead of being attached to the wall.

A rotating fan in the corner of the room adds low volume white noise. Consistent and calming.
It's been running all night and all morning, though.
The room is chilly, now.







You are still up against something warm.

A black-furred hare sleeps in the bed.
This creature's name is Violet.

You are attached to Violet's shadow.
You know that this is New, somehow, even if you can't remember how things used to be.

But, you feel comfortable where you are.
You do know that.









You are also: Bored.

Violet is still asleep.
You should find something to do.

In the room, you see a computer at a desk, a phone on the nightstand, a videogame console connected to the television in the corner,
and a handheld haphazardly dropped under the bed.
The television also has rabbit ears, so it may have access to local channels.
Lots of options, all electronics. Violet must like those, you think.

You could try to wake Violet up, instead.
It's almost noon, after all.

You just know you need something to entertain yourself, or you won't survive.



You think you had a name before, too,
but you'd like a new one.
You should find an identity, while you're entertaining yourself.










Something nags at you, though.

More than anything,
more than Anything at all,
you know that you need More.

It's a dim pang deep within you.
Ever-present, beyond a want.
You know you'll have to tend to it, when the time comes.

More of what, you aren't sure yet.





You'll figure it out.
Soon enough.

[Guest]

School some scrubs on the latest PvP shooter on PC.(With headphones in)

Also your name is now Bingles.

[MarxzVulpez]

check out the handheld for a bit, there should be a couple of cartridges nearby right? unless of course the one already in there is more your speed...
although we shouldn't go for too horribly long, like was mentioned it is almost noon and Violet and y'all probably have stuff to do today, maybe

as for a name, hmmm

you're attached to Violet's shadow, so maybe something to do with that? shading techniques in art come to mind, how about something like Crosshatch?

[knux400]

Given the nature of how the room is set up, it seems like Violet is very sensitive to noise. Since we seem to have just now spawned, I can't imagine there's a scenario where we don't freak Violet out when we wake them up, so we may as well kill two birds with one stone.

Go for the console, and make sure the TV is audible but not loud enough to startle.

As for a name... I want to say Noodles?

[Guest]

seconding crosshatch if i get out of allergy test purgatory ill suggest more later

[SHIVERS]

You think of names.

You split yourself into many branches, watching the tendrils of shadow wiggle about as you move them,
having some of your eyes watch each other; it's fun.

You're a shadow.



You think of art.

You think of shade.
Shading.



Crosshatch.

A little long for your liking.
One syllable will do.





Hatch.

It reminds you of a hatchet.
Swift and decisive.
Or an opening into somewhere dark and secret.

You like it.






Name done.
Your boredom calls you.

The various devices seem entertaining, but the handheld in particular almost seems familiar.

You retrieve it from the floor, finding five game cartridges there, as well.



You look them over.

'Solasphere: Comet of the Eclipse'
You know this one. Does Violet play it often?
It's something about space. A sidescroller. Dramatic, some horror in there. Interesting, but you know enough for now.
'Ultra Baseball: Triple Play!'
A baseball-themed RPG where the characters have psychic powers. Not your scene, not for now.
'Time-to-Turn 4'
A boring-looking puzzle game. No interest.

The other two you don't recognize at all.
'Driving With You 2: Synergy Series' and 'Port of Intrigue'.
Out of the two, Port of Intrigue sounds more intriguing.

Rather than popping it in, though, your excellent vision spots a similarly-shaped slot at the console on the TV.

You would rather Violet be awake, anyway.
It's getting late.

May as well.








You easily extend yourself across the room to the television.
You find a controller you like; a deep black that's somehow shiny and metallic.
The texture is enjoyable.

You pop in the cartridge and switch the console and TV on.
Immediately, you wince back from the bright light of the television.
You feel yourself slinking behind the chair instinctively, out of the brightest of the light.

Your tendrils sneak around, lowering the brightness, and the volume while you're at it.
Better to not wake the animal Too abruptly.



With the room now more comfortable, you creep back into the dimmer light, and start playing.



































You're hooked.

A woman in a long coat and hat is solving a murder in a rainy seaside town.
The beginning minutes set up the plot in such dramatic and moody fashion, it caught you off guard.
You've hardly put any conclusions together, as you've spent the last... however long, exactly, exploring the town and taking in the atmosphere.

You'd like to see the ocean, you think.









You've lost track of time.











You feel movement from the creature.




You drop the controller, withdrawing yourself back over.





You rise up above the groggy animal

just in time

to meet Violet's gaze.



You watch Violet's eyes widen.







"...This is an interesting look."



"Thank you."

The hare reaches out and touches your shadow, squinting as it has trouble parsing the texture.

"What are you attached to now?"
"Your shadow, Violet."
"Hmm."

It tilts its head, looking you over.
You watch its ears bend from gravity as its head turns sideways.

You can't help but mimic the motion.
Something about this act is satisfying.

"Do you have a new name yet?"
"Hatch. As in Crosshatch."
"Interesting."

It sits up, though you don't move to compensate,
ending up with the two of you only inches apart.





Violet blinks at your many eyes.



It doesn't move away, despite the lack of distance.
Does it trust you? Is this trust?
Maybe it's a fool.
You aren't sure You would trust you.
You're latched onto it like a parasite. Maybe that's what you are.
And The Fool isn't even trying to remove you.
Maybe it's too afraid to try. Maybe it's given up trying.

Then again, you remember almost nothing about this arrangement.
It's familiar.
This has certainly happened before, from how it speaks.
It doesn't mind, then?
That's interesting.

You wish you could remember more.
But, you aren't concerned, either way.
You feel comfortable here.
You could ask if you want to know more.

But would it tell you the truth?







You think so.

You trust Violet. You aren't sure why.





It's still looking at you.
Its eyes are curious. Observant.
Analyzing. Processing. It reminds you of a construct.
You don't mind this.

"Do you remember me?"

"Some.
More as I go."
"Did you figure out pronouns?"
"No. Soon.
...Anytime."

It nods, as if this makes sense.



One of your eyes glances at the alarm clock.
"It's 1:11PM.
You slept late."
"I can do that. It's my weekend."
It reaches its arms up, stretching with a yawn.
"Lazy," you tease.
"Sleep is good for you. You slept for days.
I wasn't expecting to see you back so soon, if I'm honest."



"Did I?"

Violet nods.

You look away, thinking.




You


aren't sure if you remember why.












Oh well.

You aren't bothered.
You shrug it off.
Violet isn't concerned, so neither are you.





The animal leans back against the headboard, rubbing its eyes.

"Do you want to go out today?
I wasn't planning on it, but I know you don't like being cooped up.
Or... you didn't, before.

What would you like to do today?

Really... you're back today, and I have the day off, so,
you can take the lead."









You think on this.

You think on everything.



What do you remember?
Is there anything you want to ask?

And most importantly:
What to do today?

[ಠ_ಠ]

you could eat. or find out if you eat.

[Guest]

you remember your last experience with a game- or perhaps a movie. a book. entertainment. you remember what you gravitate towards

maybe ask violet the same, and see if the answers line up with what you remember. pin down gaps.

eating would also be the move if you Can

also this is hazard ill log in later

[knux400]

Hmmm. Going out doesn't seem like a great idea, given that we don't seem to like light too much. Maybe we could stay in for the day and go out later, when it's darker? We could finish that detective game.

As for questions... Are we some kind of recurring thing? Violet is acting like this has happened before, presumably a few times since it's so casual about everything.

[Guest]

I remember the smell of petrichor, warm laughs, and terrible violence.

Questions: I don't feel worried but it does seem inconvenient whatever has happened to me. What did happen? Why am I like this? What am I?

I really like this game and would like to stay in today. I'm not ready for the outside.

[MarxzVulpez]

agreeing about inquiring into food and also seeing if Violet will fill us in on what's up with why we feel like we do and why we don't remember stuff. Maybe fill us in on some stuff that's happened while we were gone?