So, for us- at least our Limited Life introjects- the Watchers and Listeners were kinda funky. Mainly bc they’re Technically the same species. Sorta.

The way it works is kinda like what I think is canon lore(?) but with a twist?

So, Watchers/Listeners are these god-like beings that observe the worlds/servers from an end-like dimension. It's weird to explain that space to a player, but it's almost like if you were in the end dimension, but instead of endstone being the ground, it’s only a flat plane of barrier blocks. So, no falling into the void, but it's kinda trippy to just be like. walking on air. (Also, barrier blocks feel like concrete to bare feet? Like, specifically, the coolness of concrete in the shade? Which makes it even more weird to feel something solid but look down to see nothing.) And you can just walk off into the void of space and encounter every single server that ever has and ever will exist. A lot of them aren't within sight of the others, so you Have to know your way around the area, or you Will get lost in the void.

I rambled a lot about the space the Watchers/Listeners typically live in.. I am a yapper. Deal with it.

But back to the Watchers and Listeners being the same species.

The best way that I can think of to explain it- and it's how I explained it to Scott one session while we were chilling on the coral isles- is that Watchers are like humans who only eat junk food. They’re addicted to negative emotions the way that people get addicted to sugar and shit. Listeners are more on the healthy side of eating. Sure, we’ll go for a bit of a rage devouring every now and again, but we also sustain off of the camaraderie, happiness, and even bits of romance that exist in the series.

Which, if you’re not thinking it yet, means that, yes, if a Listener leans more into negative emotions- the “junk food”- and starts getting addicted to those tastes, they can turn into a Watcher. And, of course, vice versa can happen. But as it is with any addiction, it's much harder for a Watcher to turn into a Listener than it is for a Listener to turn into a Watcher. There’s also a really kinda blurry line of just how addicted a Listener has to get before they turn into a Watcher, but I really don’t want to experiment with figuring out where that line sits.

Also, with the fact that I am a Listener and also a player in the games, there's also the ability for normal players to be turned into Watchers/Listeners. I know we had a term for them, and I’m usually really good at remembering things, but I cannot think of it for the life of me (Idk either -Scott). I just know that in order to escape EVO- which I also don’t remember much of (great memory, huh? -Scott)- I had to go through this ritual-like thing with the Listeners I was teaming with to get turned into a Listener. Our Grian also went through the same sorta deal, but with the Watchers. Which is why he gets so unhinged- he’s feeding off of the negative emotions of himself and others!

And, after the ending of Limited Life, we actually split a Watcher! Martyn(It/Xe), who is essentially me, but due to the ending of Limited Life and the feasting on the emotions of himself, Scott, and Impulse, he turned himself into a Watcher. (So, I guess that’s where the line lies, now that I think about it?)

Also, one more thing before I put down a wall to stop my yapping. Anger is a savory taste, like red meat or a burger. Sadness is overly sweet like candy. Surprise is a little spicy. Happiness is sweet, too, but it’s more natural, like fruit. I can’t think of any more emotions right now, and I’m almost at 1k words, so I’m going to cut myself off here-