#GET TOXOPLASMOSIS'D IDIOT!!!!

[definitelynotshouting]

hunger au question - what are the listeners n how do they work? what are their main differences compared to the watchers n devs? give me ur brain meat funny man

- 🍑 (fat ass anon)

HELLO ANON THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN EXCUSE TO YELL ABOUT THIS BC IVE BEEN TRYING TO FORMAT MY THOUGHTS ON THEM FOR TWO DAYS NOW WITH LITTLE SUCCESS

So Listeners are, i've decided, kinda like fungi!!! More specifically, like endomycorrhizae-- they're symbiotic spore-like entities that attach to a Player host to strengthen their own brittle code; in return, the Player is given a boost to their reflexes and mental acuity, as well as a tenuous connection to the Greater Code. This level of symbiosis is, however, extremely invasive; a Player host's mind and body are permanently altered, and influenced directly by the Listener who has fused with them.

Most Players don't even realize they have Something Else co-piloting them once they've fused with a Listener-- this is because Listeners don't really... talk, or at least, not in a way thats immediately recognizable. Instead, they use electrical impulses, sent directly to the Player's brain and nerves, and the Player host interprets and extracts meaning from that. In addition, Listeners (like Watchers) are, as previously stated, in tune with the Greater Code of the universe, and can glean strings of passing information from it within a certain radius of themselves. For a Player, this is sort of like minding your own business and then getting information beamed into your head, which can be very disorienting unless you're a newly spawned Player whose ties to the Greater Code haven't faded yet.

Also, since Listeners don't really have a strong sense of individualism, they often "hook up" their electrical signals to each other if more than one of them are in the area, creating an effective "hivemind" that can work towards a shared goal. Because of this, Player hosts can recognize other Player hosts as Listeners immediately, and register them as friendly and trustworthy, regardless of past history or established social standing. "Hooked" Players will react in tandem to stimuli-- though their reactions may differ due to their own personalities-- and will also work towards the same goals, though they don't generally parse that they're being influenced when they do.

Thats about all i have written about Listeners in my shiny new Lore Doc wjdjejdndnd or at least that's it so far. They are fucked up little mushroom guys your honor!!!! i love them soso much<3 thank you for asking!!