shit's fucked. I have a trumpet. this is a warning

- @thinking-machine

Gallium City, one of the handful of scattered cities located on the Grid we live on. It's not one of the bigger cities, more on the smaller side, but no matter the city, they all have one thing in common: they're all overrun by the cruel forces of the Occupation.

I've started a camp here to use as a base of operations, right on the outskirts - but sometimes it feels more like Outlands than outskirts.

It's just me alone up against the Occupation out here and- hey wait is that Tera? And he's got soup?

"Well, you decided to hide out a ten-micro walk away from the broadcast station, for one thing. I know a lot of people squatting out here." He cracked a smile. "Asked around to see if they'd seen you. Nobody knew who you were by name, so I had to resort to asking if they'd seen any cryptids with an A-line bob."

Ah, he did have a point, she hadn't gone far - and hadn't needed to. The perfect opportunity for a hideout was right here. Though, it seemed that she had drawn some attention from the neighbors, if they knew her by description alone.

His smile was infectious and a welcome sight, so she couldn't resist joining in.

"I'm glad they pointed you on the right track, it's good to see you." Despite her misgivings about being found, she really was glad to see a friendly face.

However, his question was a hard one, though it probably shouldn't have been. It was lonely out here, and boring, compared to the liveliness of the station. But, she had to do something and this was the something she had decided upon.

He looked Ark up and down. No clear answers in her circuits. And he couldn't see much in the room, either. No surprise there.

Wasn't like he'd get a straight answer out of her, in any case.

Tera's question became more direct and it would be harder to keep up the façade that everything was perfectly fine, but she was going to try her best to keep it standing.

Ark nodded, "Yeah, I haven't had energy problems and I've got a roof over my head, what more could I ask for?" That was the truth, but there was an unspoken yet to her energy needs, she was used to running on low power, so she hadn't had to scrounge so far, but eventually that'd become an issue she'd have to address nearly immediately.

His next question was almost more difficult to build with, and there was clearly something behind it - after all, he had been with the group that found it, if not the one who had discovered it himself. But, she rose to the challenge, metaphorical hammer in hand.

"Oh, uh, sure. This is the main area," Ark said as she gestured around to the cavernous room they stood in, her voice echoing slightly in the emptiness that surrounded them.

"A couple things were left here, no idea what they are or what they do, but over there," She pointed to a small pile off to their right, "Is a bit of equipment I stole off of the Occupation. I know they'll get more, but at least they won't use those particular ones to hurt people any more."

What more could she ask for. Yeah, that was about what he'd been expecting. Always acting like she didn't have needs, let alone things she wanted.

His next question got to the tricky heart of things, but she tried to give a casual shrug, "I've had better, but it's safe, and that's what's most important." That was as close to the edge of the truth she would get.

He took a breath and shrugged it off. There were other ways to make the point -- like the inflatable bed he pulled from the bag and tossed over to the side. The air pump started on contact, the mattress unfolding itself to reveal a fuzzy cat toy. Or the shell of one -- all of the stuffing having long since been dug out.

She was surprised by Tera's next move, with him summoning a bed out of seemingly nowhere. She had just taken a single blanket - one she fully intended to return sometime - and he must have figured that out. Which possibly saved her from having to show him the office she had turned into a bedroom. Minus the bed. But, she did have the blanket, and the jacket she had been given soon after she arrived at the station made a fairly cozy pillow. But nothing could save the floor from being cold and hard.

It didn't take long for the bed to start taking shape, revealing the remnants of a much beloved cat toy and plenty of cat hair scattered across the mattress.

Ark gasped sharply, nearly choking on air, as she saw the mangled mouse. Tera's comment drove it home, and she whispered almost too quietly to hear, "...I miss them, too."

She walked over to the edge of the ever-increasing bed and sunk to her knees, stretching out a trembling hand to pick up the gifted toy and then holding it close.

It was far, far too late to go back, she had made her bed - brought by Tera and decorated by the cats - and now it was hers to lie in. He had kindly brought the bed to her and it wouldn't be very nice to pack it up again. She was stuck and the only thing she could do was press forward. Alone. And catless.

Nope. Too sharp. Not helping. Try that again.

"You can always come back to visit, until you're ready to come home. Back. Whatever. I dunno how you think of it. You know what I mean."

Because maybe it wasn't home, if she'd just packed up and left without a word.

- @thinking-machine

Gallium City, one of the handful of scattered cities located on the Grid we live on. It's not one of the bigger cities, more on the smaller side, but no matter the city, they all have one thing in common: they're all overrun by the cruel forces of the Occupation.

I've started a camp here to use as a base of operations, right on the outskirts - but sometimes it feels more like Outlands than outskirts.

It's just me alone up against the Occupation out here and- hey wait is that Tera? And he's got soup?

"Well, you decided to hide out a ten-micro walk away from the broadcast station, for one thing. I know a lot of people squatting out here." He cracked a smile. "Asked around to see if they'd seen you. Nobody knew who you were by name, so I had to resort to asking if they'd seen any cryptids with an A-line bob."

Ah, he did have a point, she hadn't gone far - and hadn't needed to. The perfect opportunity for a hideout was right here. Though, it seemed that she had drawn some attention from the neighbors, if they knew her by description alone.

His smile was infectious and a welcome sight, so she couldn't resist joining in.

"I'm glad they pointed you on the right track, it's good to see you." Despite her misgivings about being found, she really was glad to see a friendly face.

However, his question was a hard one, though it probably shouldn't have been. It was lonely out here, and boring, compared to the liveliness of the station. But, she had to do something and this was the something she had decided upon.

He looked Ark up and down. No clear answers in her circuits. And he couldn't see much in the room, either. No surprise there.

Wasn't like he'd get a straight answer out of her, in any case.

Tera's question became more direct and it would be harder to keep up the façade that everything was perfectly fine, but she was going to try her best to keep it standing.

Ark nodded, "Yeah, I haven't had energy problems and I've got a roof over my head, what more could I ask for?" That was the truth, but there was an unspoken yet to her energy needs, she was used to running on low power, so she hadn't had to scrounge so far, but eventually that'd become an issue she'd have to address nearly immediately.

His next question was almost more difficult to build with, and there was clearly something behind it - after all, he had been with the group that found it, if not the one who had discovered it himself. But, she rose to the challenge, metaphorical hammer in hand.

"Oh, uh, sure. This is the main area," Ark said as she gestured around to the cavernous room they stood in, her voice echoing slightly in the emptiness that surrounded them.

"A couple things were left here, no idea what they are or what they do, but over there," She pointed to a small pile off to their right, "Is a bit of equipment I stole off of the Occupation. I know they'll get more, but at least they won't use those particular ones to hurt people any more."

What more could she ask for. Yeah, that was about what he'd been expecting. Always acting like she didn't have needs, let alone things she wanted.

His next question got to the tricky heart of things, but she tried to give a casual shrug, "I've had better, but it's safe, and that's what's most important." That was as close to the edge of the truth she would get.

He took a breath and shrugged it off. There were other ways to make the point -- like the inflatable bed he pulled from the bag and tossed over to the side. The air pump started on contact, the mattress unfolding itself to reveal a fuzzy cat toy. Or the shell of one -- all of the stuffing having long since been dug out.

- @thinking-machine

Gallium City, one of the handful of scattered cities located on the Grid we live on. It's not one of the bigger cities, more on the smaller side, but no matter the city, they all have one thing in common: they're all overrun by the cruel forces of the Occupation.

I've started a camp here to use as a base of operations, right on the outskirts - but sometimes it feels more like Outlands than outskirts.

It's just me alone up against the Occupation out here and- hey wait is that Tera? And he's got soup?

"Well, you decided to hide out a ten-micro walk away from the broadcast station, for one thing. I know a lot of people squatting out here." He cracked a smile. "Asked around to see if they'd seen you. Nobody knew who you were by name, so I had to resort to asking if they'd seen any cryptids with an A-line bob."

Ah, he did have a point, she hadn't gone far - and hadn't needed to. The perfect opportunity for a hideout was right here. Though, it seemed that she had drawn some attention from the neighbors, if they knew her by description alone.

His smile was infectious and a welcome sight, so she couldn't resist joining in.

"I'm glad they pointed you on the right track, it's good to see you." Despite her misgivings about being found, she really was glad to see a friendly face.

However, his question was a hard one, though it probably shouldn't have been. It was lonely out here, and boring, compared to the liveliness of the station. But, she had to do something and this was the something she had decided upon.

He looked Ark up and down. No clear answers in her circuits. And he couldn't see much in the room, either. No surprise there.

Wasn't like he'd get a straight answer out of her, in any case.

Tera's question became more direct and it would be harder to keep up the façade that everything was perfectly fine, but she was going to try her best to keep it standing.

Ark nodded, "Yeah, I haven't had energy problems and I've got a roof over my head, what more could I ask for?" That was the truth, but there was an unspoken yet to her energy needs, she was used to running on low power, so she hadn't had to scrounge so far, but eventually that'd become an issue she'd have to address nearly immediately.

His next question was almost more difficult to build with, and there was clearly something behind it - after all, he had been with the group that found it, if not the one who had discovered it himself. But, she rose to the challenge, metaphorical hammer in hand.

"Oh, uh, sure. This is the main area," Ark said as she gestured around to the cavernous room they stood in, her voice echoing slightly in the emptiness that surrounded them.

"A couple things were left here, no idea what they are or what they do, but over there," She pointed to a small pile off to their right, "Is a bit of equipment I stole off of the Occupation. I know they'll get more, but at least they won't use those particular ones to hurt people any more."

What more could she ask for. Yeah, that was about what he'd been expecting. Always acting like she didn't have needs, let alone things she wanted.

- @thinking-machine

Gallium City, one of the handful of scattered cities located on the Grid we live on. It's not one of the bigger cities, more on the smaller side, but no matter the city, they all have one thing in common: they're all overrun by the cruel forces of the Occupation.

I've started a camp here to use as a base of operations, right on the outskirts - but sometimes it feels more like Outlands than outskirts.

It's just me alone up against the Occupation out here and- hey wait is that Tera? And he's got soup?

"Well, you decided to hide out a ten-micro walk away from the broadcast station, for one thing. I know a lot of people squatting out here." He cracked a smile. "Asked around to see if they'd seen you. Nobody knew who you were by name, so I had to resort to asking if they'd seen any cryptids with an A-line bob."

Ah, he did have a point, she hadn't gone far - and hadn't needed to. The perfect opportunity for a hideout was right here. Though, it seemed that she had drawn some attention from the neighbors, if they knew her by description alone.

His smile was infectious and a welcome sight, so she couldn't resist joining in.

"I'm glad they pointed you on the right track, it's good to see you." Despite her misgivings about being found, she really was glad to see a friendly face.

However, his question was a hard one, though it probably shouldn't have been. It was lonely out here, and boring, compared to the liveliness of the station. But, she had to do something and this was the something she had decided upon.

He looked Ark up and down. No clear answers in her circuits. And he couldn't see much in the room, either. No surprise there.

Wasn't like he'd get a straight answer out of her, in any case.