#(mostly) everyone is here

They stepped away from the microphone when they finished their message. As soon as they did so: someone came running out of the shadows. There was no time to scan his appearance as he grabbed the intercom microphone. With panted breath, he spoke.

“Hi, Founder!” They shouted despite speaking into a microphone and their voice already echoing. They stepped back and decided to let the boy do his job. The spirit spoke for a little bit more before slamming his hands on the table. Grabbing the microphone and sitting on the table. “What did you do to Crikin? 8Ball really needs to know!” 

He put up a finger as he looked up at the glowing sign, the sign still pulsing with a red glow as he wrapped things up. “Also! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO WITH THE TECH CREW?? Please! I’ve been in the void since day one: I just want to see them again!” He quickly ended the recording and went to slam the red button but as soon as he clicked the button. The light went out and an error effect played throughout the void. 

He gritted his teeth and got off of the desk, placing the microphone back down with a fist as he looked at Interrobang. “What?” He spat. They put their hands up in surrender. The boy pulled up a sign with two red exclamation marks painted on it and put it in front of his face as he spoke. “Hmmm. I haven’t seen you around in the void before. What’s your name?” They were about to speak up before the spirit rudely interrupted them.

“Oh wait! Lemme guess!” He hummed as he started floating around them. Lifting arms and getting a good look at their face before noticing a small pin on their vest. “Ooh! I got one! Screaming Question?” 

What.

It sounded more like a title rather than a name. They blinked, taken aback by the sudden name suggestion. They shook their head slowly, trying to process the situation. "No, that's not... my name," they replied, their voice carrying a mix of confusion and amusement. "But you can call me… Interrobang?" 

The spirit's eyes widened in surprise, his floating form hovering closer. "Interrobang? That's... different." He mused, scratching his translucent chin. "Okay, Interrobang it is!" He declared with a grin, seemingly pleased with the new moniker. "So, what brings you to the void? Looking for answers, adventure, or just passing through?" 

Interrobang considered the question for a moment before responding, "A bit of everything, I suppose. I woke up here with no memory of how I got here or who I am. Now I'm just trying to figure it out." 

The spirit nodded sympathetically, a couple of small wisps that floated around him bobbing up and down. "Ah, the classic case of void amnesia," he remarked knowingly. "Well, you're not alone in that regard. Some folks around here trying to piece together their pasts." He floated back a bit, giving Interrobang some space. "If you ever need help navigating the void or just someone to chat with, I'm your guy. Name's Exclamation, by the way." 

Interrobang offered a grateful smile. "Nice to meet you, Exclamation. Thanks for the offer. I might take you up on that." 

As they exchanged pleasantries, the specter’s gaze fell upon the cassette player Interrobang held, and recognition sparked in his eyes. "Hey, that's mine!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with urgency as he reached out towards it.

Interrobang instinctively pulled the cassette player closer, a defensive stance creeping into their posture. "Yours?" they questioned, their tone wary. "How do you know it's yours?"

Exclamation’s features contorted into a mixture of frustration and desperation as he put down the sign. "I recognize it! It's got my sign-off on it!" he explained, his incorporeal form flickering with agitation. "I've been looking for it everywhere. It's important to me!"

Interrobang's grip tightened on the cassette player, a hint of skepticism coloring their expression. "I found it lying around here. There were no names on it," they countered, unwilling to relinquish the object without more convincing evidence.

Exclamation’s translucent form seemed to quiver with frustration. "Look, I know it's mine! I must have dropped it while going back!" he pleaded, desperation seeping into his voice. "Please, I need it back!!"

Tensions escalated as Interrobang hesitated, torn between empathy for Exclamation’s plight and their own need to hold onto the only tangible clue they had about this place. But before they could make a decision, Exclamation lunged forward, his ghostly form attempting to wrest the cassette player from Interrobang's grasp.

Reacting instinctively, Interrobang dodged Exclamation’s ethereal grasp, their movements swift and fluid. A brief scuffle ensued, with Exclamation’s incorporeal form phasing through Interrobang's attempts to block him.

Amid the chaos, a sudden realization struck Interrobang—they didn't need to fight over the cassette player. With a decisive motion, they tossed the device towards Exclamation, who caught it with a surprised expression. The headphones snapped out of its slot as the tape started playing again. Exclamation put a finger up as he immediately paid attention.

“Huh, that went faster than I thought it would. I'm sure I know exactly where that is. Thank you, Sincerely.”

Exclamation’s eyes widened as he looked up at Interrobang. And when that recording fizzled out: Voices in the void got louder, louder, and louder. People(?) immediately came forth from the shadows. 

A cat with a cane, a blank slate with an iron maiden shut around their head, a goat.. sheep thing? A floating eye robot, a marionette, a mask, a rat, a being of the stars, an egg who looks ready to kill, a glowing heart, a ticking fuse, someone that looked nearly human if it weren’t for its ears and tail, even someone who looked eerily similar to the kid who was getting a hug from before. 

They all seemed to look past Interrobang and they all looked at each other. A lovely anon narrowed their sets of eyes and crossed their arms. “Now, why would they do that?” 

The cat mumbled no under his breath like a mantra. The being of the stars cracks their knuckles as the Metalhead slung a backpack over their shoulders. Their glasses looked at Exclamation and tilted to the side: wanting to talk to him. 

Exclamation turned their tape back over to see a question mark and exclamation point burned into it. He glared at Interrobang as he rose to his feet and followed the Iron Maiden. The rest of the anons went to discuss amongst themselves. Leaving Interrobang by themselves.

“Well. That’s one way to make a splash into the void.” They mumbled to themselves as their tail (wait they had a tail now?) uncomfortably flicked against the ink dripping from their face.