#workingbugs

… Yes… Yes… Soon we shan’t worry about filth in its workings. It is practically complete.

It’s a regal piece of junk to be sure, with what we had to use for it. But everything necessary to the function is here. The ease of operation and loading/unloading could need work though…

We have just put it together, young Igor. We will figure solutions in time as we test and use it. All it needs now before we can begin the true fruit of our labor is some dusting.

High time to get started then, huh? How long have we been working on this big secret project of yours? I ain’t ever kept track, Arliss.

Ever since that foul roach-beast struck the Ventricas. In the days since, there has been an invasion from the lobsters of the west, and the traitor silkborne came out of death and slaughtered our coworkers. With the Architect now beginning an inspection of the works…

You have no idea how glad I am we can begin, are you? So much death down here, and to what end? Damnation? What we have here is bigger than either of us, Igor. It will undo what our mortal limits and luck set for us.

Our faith goes to this great machine of ours, of which only we can operate… No one will know of what greatness we try.

Patience, young Igor… Our time is nigh.

also who is marvin (i might be behind on underworks lore)

Igor is, though Igor himself is my only proper friend now.

Never so much, so condensed in a single space… It’s so much… It’s painted red and black in there.

I swear I recognize some of the dead or dying. Pat, Micheal… fucking Harvey?! I think there’s still some poor sods in there fighting… They’re screaming and shouting, at some white thing dashing back and forth in there.

Each of the bodies I looked at seemed to have died differently. Fosha had a perfect hole in her face, Pat was covered in cuts… I couldn’t even tell what happened to the poor chaps reduced to bloody, crushed chitin. What ungodly beast is in there?!

… I don’t call myself spiritual but I had a motherffFUCKING HUNCH… some bullshit was gonna go down one of these days… Is this it? My ultimate test of judgement?

… Sod it, Jack. I’ve beaten bigger things before with this ol’ twistpin… my boys need help! What am I doing cowering back here?!

Citadel be with me… This’ll be my absolution.

…

To Any and All Underworkers,

I have reworked the Underworks, getting rid of unnecessary equipment and rooms, improving the safety of remaining equipment, and installing new exits and lounges. I encourage you to read the manual and the map, and to do as the manual says. If you have any complaints or suggestions, there are pens and paper in both lounges where you can write your criticisms and deposit them in a box. Alternatively, both lounges have devices you can record your criticisms on. I will attempt to address any criticism when I am able.

Sincerely, the Twelfth of the Architects of the Citadel.

@twelfth-architect-official

(If you are confused, read the fic at the bottom of my masterlist of fics in my Pinned Post. It's titled, "Underworks, Reworked.")

…?!? Wh- Oh, I knew the Architects were up to some renovation baloney but… They’re done?? Already?? I…

…

Oh god, mr. Arliss isn’t gonna be happy when he hears about this. Where is that dufflebag anyway? I haven’t seen him in days… Nor have I checked on the machine, oh silk be with me…

(…)

WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!

Permanent benches, 8 hours a cycle of rest? Is management trying to make us go soft!? What miteshit! If I wanted to sleep undisturbed, I’d just pass out where I stood! Ughh…! If I catch that Igor fool taking it up on this overhaul nonsense, I’m doing that bloody science school project alone.

… Where did my energy for working on that thing go anyway? And with the renovation, did…

…

Wouldn’t you like to know, mr. man?

How do you feel about them?

Disgraceful. They have no will of their own, no sense or mind. For what they do, it may not be needed, but it is still life unfulfilled.

Mine was a load of bullshit really. Everything gave me an issue at least once and yet I somehow made it… It wasn’t to the golden halls for my perseverance though, I got brought down here instead. Nothing else to do now but see where it goes.