#mron

Theoretically I’m going to eventually turn it into a webcomic or graphic novel, but it, uh. It probably needs a plot first! It has a main cast, and a LOT of worldbuilding, but no real coherent plot.

When I tag posts with “Mron” it’s as inspiration for the story, or because the post reminds me of the world/characters. Posts that end up in the tag are usually: 

androids and AI

weird fashion

gender politics and gnc people

aquatic and mermaid aesthetic

And all combined, that’s a pretty good picture of the setting. It’s an aquatic world, wherein humans evolved from (basically) mermaids, and built a society on top of the water. At the time the story takes place, that society is structured vertically in a massive city of skyscrapers. The setting has illegal magic, androids (called bioids in the story) who’ve accidentally been given souls, soul manipulation and transferal, mermaids in aquariums, and a deeply classist society that has 3 recognized genders. 

The 3 main characters are:

Kade: an ex idol, currently a freelance engineer and bioid mechanic; also the guy who accidentally gave bioids souls, and now can’t take it back OR convince anyone it’s even happened. Had a nervous breakdown and now he mostly stays in his apartment.

Jezz (J377): a bioid who appears to be on the run, and needs a place to lay low for reasons he is not willing to divulge (Kade lets him stay at his place, they might fall in love, so far 90% of the “plot” is just them talking)

Modeus: Kade’s younger sibling, an idol their parents had when they weren’t satisfied with how Kade turned out. Cracks under the pressure their parents put on them, and also ends up staying at Kade’s place.

After combing through my Mron docs, most of the scenes I have are very choppy and written as scripts for comics, rather than actual prose. I did like this little snippet, though:

Context: 

1) All buildings in the setting are structured vertically in segregated tiers called “blades”. The higher up you go, the wealthier the people who live and work there. A person needs to be authorized in order to pass from a lower blade to a higher blade, and one way of doing that is to purchase a day pass. You might do this to go to a job interview, or to visit a person or an attraction (a zoo, a concert, etc.), or to shop in a nicer shop than you have on your blade. 

2) This is part of the conversation when Kade and Jezz first meet. Kade went to a restaurant, and Jezz accidentally sat down at his table while trying to lay low. Kade, curious about why a bioid would possibly be acting this sus, encourages him to stay and make conversation. In this bit, Jezz has asked how Kade knows he’s hiding something, and Kade (rude self sabotaging idiot that he is) has bluntly dissected pretty much everything about Jezz’s appearance, ending with:

He doesn’t need to go on, but he’s never been one for half-assing blunt criticism. “Plus,” he says, gesturing at the bioid’s attire, “You’re on the wrong blade for those clothes. Only hipsters, day passes, and eccentric celebrities wear cheap, boring outfits up here.” 

He expects defensive annoyance or self conscious fidgeting, but Jezz simply observes him in return and takes a sip of water, ice clinking against the glass. Kade can see his lips tense ever so slightly in what might-- might-- be a barely suppressed grin.

“Which are you, then?”