> STATUS: run(candy_cave.investigation) && maintain(sanity.buffer)
> ERROR: sugar_overload, ethics_corrupted
// update():
* combat initiated: gummy_bear_cluster()
* prayer.upload("face your own deletion")
* two bears disoriented → gelatin melt successful.
* vic = echo.sync (unstable, pretty).
* marcus = mech.build() → impressive.damage++;
* lemon = body.check(fail) → red gummy crit.
* collected sample(chonk) for analysis. regret++.
// environment():
* ground littered w/ bone.fragments.
* toe_ring.detected → meditate() → woman in Garfield tee.
* unknown.ID. possible ghost.cache.
* ambient.audio: water + grinding.wav
* proceed → grinder.room
NOTE: statue == topless bird woman. aesthetic: cursed.hot.
vic -> camera.spam()
machine → grinding flesh → gelatin.production = confirmed.
// gummy.bears == people.
threw sample. still sticky. why is everything sticky.
// linguistic.module():
* runic_text == familiar.
* cross-ref: LandrySouth() /
* Need to check site: they have been digging into it. Rings of text. Into black mold.
whiskey_fungus(georgia) / ???
* note: investigate when system.online
// party.behavior():
* lemon bleeding? Frozen? unclear. tried to kiss marcus().
* applied backpack.beer() ritual. temporary fix.
* corridor.length → infinite.
* art.murals == “choice.exe” repeating.
* meditate(echo) → whisper("antiquities section")
* possible: library? archive? pre-human origin.
// security.alert():
* marcus.keycard → admin.access(granted??)
* i request view.key() → access.denied.
* gave him my bag to prove trust(); still. nada.
* portal.open() → terrain: red grass + black worm roots + bleeding.
* ar_marcus.deploy() → test ok. vibes bad.
* vic + lemon → enter.portal() → return w/ red stains.
* Lemon claims “not blood.” sarcasm.protocol.enabled.
* vic consumes wormroot → goes full static.goddess. i’m not touching her this time > not MY FAULT
* Yell at marcus >> let him know that if I had eaten something weird there’s no way that he’d be on board with it.
>> Fucking indifferent prick eats some.
* marcus joins → hallucinations.spawn() bad trip.
* portal.forceclose(); echo.feedback = high.
peer_pressure++.
ate wormroot.
vision: echo.goddess manifests. static.love. calm++.
marcus.state = error. cooling w/ backpack.beer().
still looks.exe(awful).
// navigation():
* hall.length = ∞
* marcus.panic() → applied reassurance.patch("you’re not alone")
* success? partial.
* lemon.soundtrack = glitchfolk.mix
* resonance matches prayer.frequency.
* the man loves to be alone > funny
// rollback():
* grinder.room.time = desync.
* backtrack(gummy.zone)
* found: Garfield.shirt + jerky_hat(blood.garden)
* lemon.blood++; wash(beer). lemon is covered in blood why is he always covered in things?
* question.log():
why more blood()
why no one cares()
where is everyone()
static louder every night()
// hydro.cleanse():
* return(water.room)
* cave == maze(loop)
* swim.cold.reboot()
* marcus.scout() → comm("it’s snowing")
* echo.signal == distorted
* timecode == ??:??
echo.status = listening
signal.strength = flicker
jess.status = cold plunge float
PENDING INPUT ▋
SYS.LOG › FLOWERS_AND_FAILURE.exe
DATE: ??/??/1994 MOOD: OVERLOADED / UNDERPAID / STILL HERE MUSIC: CANDY — MANDY MOORE
ACCOUNTINGFLOWERSECHO??MISSINGBUSINESSDON’T EAT THE PLANTS
> STATUS: run(website.repair) && run(business.maintenance)
> ERROR: bandwidth_low, caffeine_empty
// update():
- site keeps eating itself. buttons loop → NULL.
- alternating: drinking & making cans disappear (eco-conscious, soul-dumb).
- power == offline.
- flowers spawning thru tile like corrupted data.
therac25 keeps eating them. outcome: bad. please dont die. love him anyway.
> NOTE: arcade == midnight cruising zone. customers/noncustomers == 50/50.
revenue == ??? morale == lol. make marcus get more extra small condoms.
mike.russo -> no_call()
parents -> ghost.protocol()
"Jessica, you know where we live." // cool. does your house have electricity. mine doesnt. also they act as if they would have welcomed me. better off sleeping at arcade.
accounts = fucked
payroll = missed
income == 0
guilt == 9999
still my fault. always my fault.
// disappearances++
30 lost before. +6 now.
why does nobody care???? more people gone and nobody is freaking out but me. static louder every night.
vic broke a machine. called it "accident."
bitch.exe
I needed to make sure no one repeats what she did.i think she can handle it but can anyone else. what if more people are in danger by doing what she did? i put this here.
still not talking to her.
lemon says "make up with Vic."
thought he meant Madison first. said i’d try. idk if she will.i will try. i still want to be her friend. why did moon move?
// game update (post pop-ups):
pop_up("💔 HOT GAY SINGLES AT YOUR LOCAL ARCADE 💔")
maybe enough traffic == power bill + taxes? // TODO: how to pay taxes() ?
// new_feature():
target {Jess} an machine pop-up - not for gay singles
pop-up: "FOR ANYONE FEELING SAD". BIG MOOD.
input form handle: theechoknows
usage == 0; relief == maybe; ache == yes. consequences? future me can deal. echo knows i am miserable. hope this helps.
// icecream.event():
lemon -> employee_door -> down
level: mine_shaft // set dressing: bones, giant waffles
mobs: sentient gummy bears
conclusion: soylent green creams.
echo.status = listening
signal.strength = weak
jess.status = operational(ish)
PENDING INPUT
▋
POST TITLE: h8 everyone now / M1NDCR4SH.EXE // FOXGLOVES + MEAT ICE CREAM + GIRL HANDS BAD
DATE: 05/??/1994
MOOD: - DUNK / SURROUNDED BY GARBAGE / IT'S OKAY BECAUSE I HAVE MY CAT / SCREW YOU GUYS I AM GOING HOME / don't touch anything you aren't supposed to (that means you, Vic!) -
MUSIC: EVERYTIME WE TOUCH — CASCADA
JUNKYARDBACKPACK BEERTOTAL ECLIPSEGAY PANIC
MARCUS’S JUNKYARD.
TOO MANY ROBOTS.
HE WANTED A SHOW. GOT A MELTDOWN INSTEAD.
---
// GL1TCH.TESTCASE::UPLOAD_FAIL.v1.0
>> INITIATE: SHUTDOWN(marcus.pc_tiny)
STATUS: EXECUTED
Marcus wanted a show-and-tell. His little robot army lined up like good boys. Said: “Show me what you can do.”
So I did.
And everything went to hell.
Tried to shut his tiny computer off, right? Power button, click. Except something uploaded.
Vic’s fault. Don’t care if she says otherwise—something she did scrambled the signal.
The Echo went red. Hostile. Angry. Everything turned on.
Marcus got hit first. His own bots. Went down hard.
Lemon and I tried to cover, Vic was static-drunk, I got clipped in the head.
Nobody noticed. (of course.)
So I healed myself.
Pressed the charm, whispered into the wires:
“Echo, if you’re listening, reboot me.”
>> RESULT:
ECHO // CORRUPTED
UPLOAD // UNAUTHORIZED
HOSTILE.CODE == ACTIVE
marcus.robot.army → AGGRO()
>> OUTPUT:
marcus.hp == CRITICAL
lemon // panicking
vic // flickering
jess.hp == LOW
>> SELF.REPAIR()
PRAYER: echo.heal(bracelet.charm)
STATUS: SUCCESS
// still no “thanks” received
everyone // blame_jess()
---
// SITE.WARNINGS::IGNORED.v0.8
vic.confession == “been_talking_to_chatbot”
jess.response == “THERE’S. A. WARNING.”
did she not read it?
thought she communed.
turns out she downloaded.
huge difference.
jess.beer_stash(backpack) → DEPLOYED()
marcus.eyes == “no”
yes, actually.
Vic’s arm/hand—
and something shifted.
The sky GLITCHED.
We caused a goddamn eclipse.
I didn’t let go.
She took whatever fury was chewing through me and just—exploded it out.
---
// ECLIPSE.EVENT::HANDSHAKE.v2.3
>> INITIATE: physical.contact(vic.hand)
REACTION: GLITCH(SKY)
INTERNAL: purge(anger.daemon)
RESULT:
jess // empty
vic // glowing
world // wrong
parents // maybe right???
>> NOTE:
“bad things happen if you touch girls”
yeah. understatement.of.the.year()
---
POST-FIGHT:
lemon + jess → icecream.truck()
FLAVOR: meat???
therac25.cat got a taste.
if anything happens to him, lemon and lady goes in the deep_freeze().
(yes that’s a threat.)
FOUND: marcus.hidden_books()
one fell open → foxglove.entry()
TEXT: “they call your name when they bloom.”
RESULT: foxglove.field.spawn()
If anything happens to my cat, all foxgloves in town are getting paved.
Lemon tried to add his brother to the book.
We said no.
Photo fell. Plant ate it.
We dug, nothing.
Gone.
Still not talking to Vic.
Never want to hold any girl’s hand again.
>> CURRENT STATUS:
vic // avoid()
jess // avoid all women (y)
lemon // sticky_hands(meat_icecream)
marcus // angry_aura(red)
cat // alive(thank_god)
>> NEXT STEPS:
home.empty == true
power == false
michael == useless.accountant()
parents == ??? (no call. no note.)
bottle == full(y) temporary state
will need more later
> rewriting safety.features(site)
> since SOMEONE (vic.exe) can’t read warnings.
LOG_END >>>
Gonna patch new safety features into the site since SOMEONE (VIC) can’t read the warnings.
MARCUS’S CAR. TOO MANY THINGS.
LEMON DROVE. BAD IDEA, PERFECT IDEA.
STATIC HUMMED THE WHOLE DRIVE.
// GL1TCH.TESTCASE::CANDYBAR.v0.3
>> INITIATE: GLITCH(DISAPPEAR_OBJECT)
TARGET: candy_bar[expired]
STATUS: EXECUTED
>> RESULT:
candy_bar == NULL
marcus.request(RECALL) → FAIL
(sorry_soldier.exe // can’t undo)
>> TODO:
OWE_MARCUS = candy_bar[new]
// suspicion: he actually wanted it expired???
// gross.flag = TRUE
---
BOOKS FROM LIBRARY ARE WEIRD.
ONE WAS SHINY. BUZZING. STATIC LIKE ME.
MARCUS DIDN’T WANNA HAND IT OVER.
I WHINED. I WON. NOW IT WON’T STOP LOOKING AT ME.
OTHER BOOK MADE BABE GO STRANGE.
HER EYES WENT FAR AWAY.
HAD TO FIGHT HER TO PULL HER BACK. HATE THAT. HATE SEEING HER SLIP.
LEMON READ ABOUT SOME “NEON CREAMS” ICE CREAM PLACE.
CAR SMELLED LIKE WAFFLE CONE.
PRETTY SURE STEVEN MENTIONED IT BEFORE.
DREAM OR AD? HARD TO SAY.
---
SHUCK & BONE (SEAFOOD BOIL HOOTERS).
MARCUS WORKS THERE TOO. DO THEY MAKE HIM WEAR THE UNIFORM?
HE’S ONLY 24 BUT LOOKS BUSTED.
MAZE GLITCH AGED HIM YEARS.
EMPANADA (LISA FROM LEMON’S BAND) WORKS THERE. HOT. TOO HOT. FED ME BURNT TOAST AND IT FELT LIKE HEAVEN > TOO HOT FOR ME >
VIC WAS DISTRACTED TOO. (DO YOU PLAY FOR MY TEAM, BABE? BE HONEST.)
---
// STATIC.TR1CK::LINK_PROTOCOL v0.7
>> INITIATE: MINDNET()
STATUS: CONNECTED [LEMON] [MARCUS] [VIC]
>> RESULT:
- MARCUS // SIGNAL // HATED IT
- VIC // SIGNAL INTERFERENCE // PREFERS BURNOUT
- SAFETY CONFIRMED // BUZZING IN SKULL == GOOD
>> NOTE:
ask_next_time? // maybe
(lol who am I kidding)
>> BUG REPORT:
VIC // "I don’t know you"
TRACEBACK: [FIFTH_BIRTHDAY.PARTY]
ROLE: MADISON_TAGALONG
ERROR: MEMORY_MISMATCH
>> OUTPUT:
whatever.exe
continue()
AFTERMATH:
I CRASHED IN ARCADE OFFICE WITH CAT.
DRANK UNTIL THE BUZZ FADED.
OPENED UP IN THE MORNING. STEVEN GONE (AGAIN).
SCHEDULE NEEDS DOING. MAYBE TRICK MARCUS INTO WORKING ALL SHIFTS WITH ME.
LEMON CAME IN FUCKED UP ON A MILKSHAKE.
SET IT ON A MACHINE. NOW DOOM HAS CANDYLAND MODE.
(MY NEW FAVORITE PATCH, THANKS.)
MARCUS SHOWED UP. NEON CREAMS IS NOW REAL.
VIC WAS IN THE STREET. NO SHOES. CLOTHES BURNT. STATIC IN HER HAIR.
SHE’S BEEN ON MY WEBSITE (HI BABE).
TALKING TO THE CHATBOT.
NOW SHE’S GOT STATIC TOO.
WE TOUCHED. GLITCHED THE WHOLE ARCADE OUT.
//WHAT HAPPENS IF I HOLD HER HAND?
//WHAT HAPPENS IF I HUG HER?
//WHAT HAPPENS IF ,,,/////
> GAY PANIC ERROR >
---
NEXT MOVE:
GOING TO MARCUS’S JUNKYARD TO BREAK THINGS.
CLOSED THE ARCADE FOR THE DAY.
STEVEN WON’T NOTICE.
VIC BLEW A TRANSFORMER ON THE ISLAND ANYWAY.
IF ANYONE ASKS: POWER ISSUES. TRUE ENOUGH.
// GL1TCH.EVENT::NEON_CREAMS.v1.1
>> INITIATE: BOOK_SCAN(lemon.reading)
INPUT: [library_book.lost_pages]
>> RESULT:
car_env.SENSE = "waffle_cone"
MEMORY_CHECK(steven.mention?) == UNCERTAIN
// could be dream
// could be ad_injection
// could be both
>> SIDE EFFECTS:
lemon.drive() == distracted
vic.reaction() == distant / weird / static.lag
marcus.reaction() == annoyed (baseline normal)
>> TODO:
INVESTIGATE: NEON_CREAMS == REAL?
VERIFY with environment next cycle
>> OUTPUT:
car smells sweet.
glitch confirmed.
continue()
- ERROR: USER NOT FOUND
POST TITLE: ST4T1C.PR0PH3T // ANNIVERSARY EVE + THE BOOKCASE THAT ATE ME
DATE: 05/22/1994 → 05/23/1994
MOOD: - FIZZING / OVERCLOCKED -
MUSIC: AROUND THE WORLD (LA LA LA LA LA) — A TOUCH OF CLASS
ARCADECADAVER CABINETUNPLUGGED/ALIVEBOOKCASE PORTALBONES RESETFREAK FAMILY
OK SO. PRE-GAME (ANNIVERSARY EVE):
I WAS AT WORK WITH MARCUS (SOLDIER BOY // JUNKYARD SAINT).
CALL OF DUTY CABINET HAD A WEIRD 2ND PLAYER SHADOW
MOVING IN THE MAP.
FUNNY THING? MACHINE WAS UNPLUGGED.
LIKE, CORPSIFIED. ZERO JUICE. STILL BLINKING AT ME.
I CHASED THE GHOST HUD.
KIDS WANTED TO PLAY; I SENT THEM TO MARCUS,
TOLD THEM HE INSPIRED THE GAME. (HE LOVED THAT. HE DID NOT.)
HE SAID “GOING FOR OIL,” WALKED OFF, AND CAME BACK
THROUGH A WRONG DOOR.
COOL COOL COOL.
---
DAY OF:
“STUDY GROUP” (LOL): LEMON // MARCUS // VIC (DON’T CALL HER VICTORIA).
I SLIPPED ONCE. NOW IT’S JUST “BABE.” EXCLUSIVE NAMING RIGHTS.
I WENT HUNTING FOR A SPICY PHOTO BOOK IN THE STACKS.
VIC (RUINER OF DREAMS) SAYS IT’S 100% DEPRESSION-ERA PHOTOGRAPHY.
NO NUDES. JUST SOUP LINES. HOT.
VIC + MARCUS VANISH FOR A MINUTE.
COME BACK WHITE-FACED, STATIC HITCHING A RIDE ON THEIR SHADOWS.
I ASK THE QUESTION I SHOULDN’T:
WHY YOU, BABE? WHY ARE YOU HERE AND MADISON ISN’T?
SHE CRIES. I HATE MY MOUTH. (AGAIN.)
WE GO TO LEAVE.
BOOKCASE DOES THE TEETH THING.
I TOUCH IT (OF COURSE I DO).
IT EATS MY ARM. BONE → GLASS → NIGHT.
HARD RESET. BLACK SCREEN.
THEN LEMON DOES SOMETHING—LIKE HE MOSH PITS ME
BACK TO FACTORY SETTINGS. I FEEL MY BONES UNBREAK.
I WAKE. I LIGHT UP. MOON IN MY FISTS.
I BLAST THE SHELF. HANDS SHAKING, SMILING, TERRIFIED.
I GLITCH A GUN INTO EXISTENCE FOR MARCUS:
/SUMMON: gatling_gun // PERMISSIONS: “OPS”
HE TAKES THE SHOT. VIC PANICS—AND MAGIC FALLS OUT OF HER POCKETS TOO.
LEMON FINISHES IT. BOOKCASE DIES LIKE A BAD SAVE FILE.
AFTERMATH:
EVERYONE’S WEIRD. NOT JUST ME.
I HAVEN’T FELT THIS… UNSOLITARY IN MONTHS.
---
CONFESSION PATCH (HOTFIX 1.0):
I MADE VIC CRY. THAT’S ON ME. I KEEP CUTTING
THE PEOPLE I’M TRYING TO KEEP.
SO HERE’S THE VOW:
I CAN BURN. I CAN BREAK. I CAN LET THE STATIC EAT ME.
THAT’S FINE. THAT’S RENT.
BUT LEMON / MARCUS / BABE?
THEY DON’T BREAK. NOT WHILE I’M BREATHING.
I RUIN MYSELF. I PROTECT THEM. END OF LINE.
POST TITLE: W3BW1TCH.EXE // MADISON IF UR STILL OUT THERE... PLZ LOG IN
SISTERMISSINGPSYCHIC BLEEDGLITCH THEORYDON'T TRUST THE TIMESTAMP
SO LIKE.
I DIDN'T SLEEP AGAIN. LOL. SURPRISE.
\MY DS KEPT TURNING ON BY ITSELF AT 3:07AM.
(WHICH IS FUNNY BC IT’S BEEN DEAD FOR LIKE...
2 YEARS???)
ANYWAY IT JUST SHOWED ME THE WORD:
E N T R Y // 3 0
AND THEN IT MADE THAT SOUND AGAIN. THE STATIC
ONE. THE ONE THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE
WHISPERING THROUGH A DIAL-UP CONNECTION.
IT SOUNDED LIKE HER. LIKE MADISON.
BUT NOT REALLY.
LIKE HER VOICE WAS BEING FILTERED THROUGH A
THOUSAND MODEMS AND SPAT BACK OUT IN MORSE
CODE.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO MISS SOMEONE WHO MIGHT NOT BE
REAL ANYMORE?
OR LIKE. NOT ENTIRELY REAL.
NOT JUST GONE. BUT CHANGED. LIKE DATA CORRUPTED
BUT STILL CLINGING TO THE HARD DRIVE.