chromatose-a-digital-requiem

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(quietly) hooray!

{{YOUR}} party continues silently, apart from {{YOUR}} quiet cheer. More and more alleys pass by until suddenly, {{YOU’VE}} come to a more sparsely populated area. That is- in terms of buildings. The space before {{YOU}} only reminds {{YOU}} of yet another thing from back at home- parking lots. Just without cars. Something tells {{YOU}} the zigzags and random lines are just for decoration. At the end of the lot is a large building, designed in a heavily artistic way. It looks like a big spiral that must go up for at least four stories, and its colors are nothing short of psychedelic. A glowing blue sign adorns the side right above the doors. The twisting windows {{YOU}} can see through tell {{YOU}} that this must be a clothing store, though the fashion {{YOU}} can make out isn’t anything like {{YOU’VE}} ever seen before.

EXA REY: We’re… actually here! Despite being cooped up for so long, I actually remembered that! Kind of impressed with myself, honestly… wow…

{{YOU}} look up at the sign, trying to make out what exactly it says. It…

…well, to put it bluntly, it’s not working out. {{YOU}} have zero clue as to what that could say. Who knows- maybe {{YOU’LL}} never-

EXA REY: So, here it is…! WAVELENGTH OUTFITTERS. Let’s just hope we don’t get caught once we’re in or anything.

…nevermind.

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i think uv is on to something stores tend to have plenty of space to hide

EXA REY: Well, that’s… I suppose that’s true…

Exa sighs, crossing her arms.

EXA REY: Alright. Let’s rest in a store or something. I think I remember one store we can go to… should be pretty damn close, actually.

U.V. LYTE: Theen Let’s Go!! !!! !

Exa suddenly changes its direction, Ulysses following diligently despite the fight that was just had. With that, {{YOU}} and {{YOUR}} party have begun to head to an actual destination.

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time flies when youre having

EXA REY: Having…. what, exactly…?

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let’s all take a nap

EXA REY: What? No- we can’t just lay down right here. What if someone finds us? We just have to keep moving.

U.V. LYTE: Wwait What If Wwe Go Tto A Saffe Place Annd Thhen Take A Nnap Likke A Sttore Or Soomething Likke Thaat

EXA REY: I… I suppose… If we get caught though…

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Is there a theater around here?

EXA REY: What do y- oh- uh. I guess? Never really went. Anyways, we don’t have the time to just go to one anyways. We’re trying to stay out of sight and I don’t have the hues for a ticket, let alone three.

U.V. LYTE: HHaha Umm… .. Hhow Loong Havve We Been Wallking For Annywayys I’mm Tiired….. ..

Now that Ulysses mentions it, {{YOU’RE}}… also pretty tired.

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but people take joy in WATCHING guests and splotches die?

EXA REY: NOBODY TAKES JOY IN WATCHING A FUCKING SPLOTCH DIE!!!! They only ever thought it was funny when it was GUESTS because WE DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT GUESTS BACK THEN. We just thought you guys were just- what, FUNNY THINGS? Whatever. We’re fucking passed that. So drop it.

U.V. LYTE: Itt Wass Funnny Thoough Annd I’m Teelling You I Never Killled Aany Splootches! !! !!

EXA REY: Oh, my Automaton- STOP FUCKING LYING TO ME. YOU HAVE AND IT WAS BRUTAL.

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what do people do for fun around here?

EXA REY: Well, uh… splotches go shopping a lot. Pretty popular. Lot of books to read, games to play, shows to watch, stuff like that. Some danger fans love going in the shadefields for whatever reason, which is almost always a death sentence, so.

U.V. LYTE: I Kkilled Guessts Ffor Fun Onn Chhromatosse! !!! ! Thhat Wass Funn

EXA REY: That’s just a you thing. Normal splotches normally don’t take joy in killing guests and splotches.

U.V. LYTE: I Ttold Yoou I Nevver Did Annythinng Liike Thaat >[(

EXA REY: Yeah, sure. Keep saying that. Like I’ll believe you. I didn’t have to be there to know it happened.

U.V. LYTE: >[(

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damn thats crazy . i mean neurodivergent

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power corrupts... alas.............. (IS that the case here you know it better than i would)

EXA REY: I’m… actually not entirely sure. It definitely became a lot more… fanatical? Nobody really knows what happened, though. It’s more or less like a switch was flipped, I guess.

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celebrities??

EXA REY: Is that another one of your weird little terms.

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jeez how bad must the competition have been that the one who kills anyone it dislikes got voted in

EXA REY: I mean- it used to be a pretty good leader…! Even the Axis before it was rooting for it, so I guess that counts for something.

EXA REY: Just- something must have happened along the way or something, though. She’s definitely not the same as she was when she was originally Axis.

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come to think of it learning about a dictator immediately after almost getting killed IS a pretty bad first impression overall good point. is there nice stuff

EXA REY: I mean- it’s not really a dictator or anything considering the fact that it got voted in but whatever. Yeah, there’s nice stuff. The market’s cool. Plenty of cool splotches to meet. Lot of stores. Famous splotches are pretty easy to meet. Yeah. There’s nice stuff.

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there Sure Is A Lot Of Death Around Here

EXA REY: Not usually the case, honestly. You just escaped a death trap so I can’t expect you to know any better, though.

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lab? a scientist, then?

EXA REY: Yeah- he’s like the… Head Scientist of the City or something…? I don’t know. Never bothered to memorize his title. He just does whatever Poly tells him to.

U.V. LYTE: Whhy Not Ddo What Hee Wannts And Havve Funn! !!! That’s What I Wouuld Doo…. ..

EXA REY: Because it’s Poly who’s telling him what to do. Would you really wanna make her mad?

U.V. LYTE: Whhy What Doess Shhe Do Tto Splotchess Whho Makke Her Madd

EXA REY: Death.

U.V. LYTE: Oh

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where are we......

EXA REY: Okay. We, right now? We’re in COLOR CITY. It’s big and expansive and whatnot- mainly built for Color Splotches like me and U.V. There’s another place, too, but that’s like… mainly for Shape Splotches. They look like us, just duller and more…. shape-y…? Something like that. Anyways. It’s called SHAPE TOWN. It’s smaller since I guess it gets less funding for improvements or something. I guess that’s just what happens when important splotches like the Axis. Oh- speaking of…

Exa points at something in the distance. Following their direction, {{YOU}} look, only to be met with the sight of a tall glowing spire in the distance, seemingly embedded within the very center of the city. It reminds {{YOU}} of skyscrapers from back home- just more fancy.

EXA REY: See that? That’s where you get to live if you’re lucky enough to be appointed as Axis. The CHROMATIC CAPITAL or something. You also get to live there if you work right under the Axis too- Colorguard, auditors, whatever’s important enough to land you a spot in the Capital. The current Axis’s sibling lives there with her. You’re probably never gonna get to meet him, though- he’s always holed up in his lab or something.

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lets follow exa i dont want to meet the colorguard

Ignoring the idea that the word “moon” is dumb, {{YOU}} nod and begin to follow behind. Exa leads {{YOU}} deeper and deeper in, the shadows enveloping {{YOUR}} party as {{YOU}} move. Before {{YOU}} know it, the group has traversed into another alley, hidden from the eyes of others.

U.V. LYTE: Sso Dearrest Exxa Whhere Are Wee Off To…!!!! !

EXA REY: Honestly…? Not… Not entirely sure- at least, not now. We’ll find a place to hide, though. I know we will.

U.V. LYTE: Okkay Welll Cann You Att Leasst Taalk To Uss Morre Thhis Is Allreaddy Gettting Booring

EXA REY: Good Automaton- Yeah, okay. Sure. I’ll talk about things. Do you want me to talk about the city or something? Is that it?

U.V. LYTE: Ohh Yess Pllease Thatt Woould Be Nice Pllease Taalk Aboout Thee Citty >[D I Wouuld Likke To Leaarn Moore

EXA REY: Okay, sure. Fine. What should I talk about.

What SHOULD Exa talk about on the topic of the city…?

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where im from we could only afford one moon

EXA REY: A moon? Is that what you think these are…? That’s a dumb name… Just follow me already, okay?

U.V. LYTE: Wwell I Thhink Itt’s A Nnice Nname…