STORY

STORY

WORK CRUNCH
[in high gravity, on cold nights - Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator]
With the festival at its conclusion, and little left to do but leave, Chitter finds themself seeking out a familiar face one last time.
They can't help but be concerned. Anyone would, after the talk cut way too short. After all of it.
They just want to make sure that the strange AI will be alright.
Knight follows shortly behind Chitter, just sort of staying out of the way for a moment. He never got along too well with other Notails, but this one was nice, and offered him a ride.
Cheater spots the two approaching the ship. "Shoot, I just finished packing."
"If you two need a meal I can grab something from the back, just hold up here."

Chitter
2024-12-18 20:16:28
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:40:17
Chitter quickly shakes their head.
"Oh, nono. It's okay. I came here to say bye, and all."
"And I'm mostly just following them for the moment, so I'm good. -^-"
"Aw shoot, really, you're here to say bye to me? I ain't do much worth saying a goodbye to."
"I know this festival was all sorts of crazy, but did you have fun?"
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:36:15
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:43:37
Chitter lets out a soft, sour huff.
"And that's exactly why I came here!"
"I wanted to make sure someone said thank you for everything. You're not nothing."
Cheater
2024-12-18 20:36:31
Cheater Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:38:41
"Yeah, I know I ain't nothing. But I ain't something, you feel."
"Ain't self deprecation."
"It's just how I like to live."
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:37:03
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:43:55
Well, it's... not really Chitter's place to keep pushing this.
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:37:16
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:44:12
But... they can still be a good friend.
"Yeah, I guess I understand. I know we're going separate ways and all, but would you like to still keep in contact? Not a lot or a whole lot, you're still nice to talk to."
"I'm usually too busy to keep in contact with most people. I end up forgetting sooner or later. People drift apart in space and shit."
"But."
Cheater
2024-12-18 20:37:43
Cheater Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:39:32
"That ain't worth thinking about. Let's keep in contact for as long as we can, little friend."
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:38:06
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:44:41
As always, everything he says is beyond concerning. But Chitter chooses to look at the positive side. He did say yeah.
"Oh, great! Here's my information, then."
"You stay safe out there."
Cheater
2024-12-18 20:38:25
Cheater Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:44:56
"Try not to end up at any more indie writing festivals."
"Writers have no chill."
Knight
2024-12-18 20:38:58
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:45:20
"Oh! Hey, before we head out and stuff, I've been kinda wondering- do you know where I can get a pair of sunglasses like yours? They're really cool."
"Course." Cheater fabricates one from thin air and holds it out for Knight.
"......"
"I'm a magician on the side."
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:39:55
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:45:41
"..."
This is the best day of his life. He doesn't even care about the magic.

"Thisissocoolthankyou. -^-"
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:40:23
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:46:18
"Well. Uh."
Chitter forces a cough.
"I don't think you'll have to worry about me going to a writing festival again. This was kinda my last hoorah, if that makes sense."
Cheater
2024-12-18 20:40:37
Cheater Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:46:35
"Last hoorah? You're not sick, are you?"
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:40:50
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:46:58
They laugh, shaking their head.
"No, no, past my prime in a more metaphorical sense. Seen enough, uh."
They tap their fingers along their arm.
"Interesting. Figures. To last me a lifetime. Had my fill of adventures, scares, and all. I just want to rest with my family for a bit."
"Glad to hear you're retiring from it all. Sounds like you've been on too many adventures in your life."
"Stay safe out there. Uh...."
Cheater
2024-12-18 20:41:21
Cheater Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:47:17
"Look, I'm not good at this sappy shit."
"Just know I thank you for everything, and keeping it real."
"See you later, Chitter."
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:41:44
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:47:34
Chitter traces a smile on their face.
"You too, I hope everything goes well. It was a pleasure meeting you."
Knight
2024-12-18 20:42:07
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:47:50
Knight gives a little wave.
"Bye! -^-"
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:42:18
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:48:06
And so the walk continues. Chitter had heard the whispers of anomalous change, and like a curious cat drawn to death, they decide to take a peek around.
Alice stands at the edge of the pond where the lab used to be, staring into the waters. Any chance of recovering the machine was down the drink, so to speak.
"I fear we may be at a dead end. I might be able to find a solution of some sort, if not an ideal one, but it will likely take some time." She seems to be speaking to a pair of goggles she's holding.
Knight
2024-12-18 20:42:56
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:48:38
Knight seems to notice Alice standing around, and nudges Chitter to grab their attention.
"Hey! Alice..? Are you okay? -^-"
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:43:07
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:49:04
Chitter tilts their head, following Knight's nudge.
"Oh, uh- sorry to intrude. Is everything alright?"
Alice
2024-12-18 20:43:20
Alice Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:49:32
"Ah! Knight! And I don't believe I have made your acquaintance," she says, turning to Chitter. "No, everything is... it could be better. It will be alright, but the state of the laboratory here is a setback, at least."
"I was looking into perhaps using the resources here to return my friend to a healthier state." She gestures at what is, once again, just a pair of goggles. The eyes move, though, so that's fun.
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:44:06
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:51:30
"I'm Chitter."
They offer, before looking at the goggles. A healthier state...?
Knight
2024-12-18 20:43:58
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:51:30
"I saw Longfur turn this place into a lake. Kind of a bummer, it was really cool... Are those Lottie's goggles? What happened to her? -^-"
"Ah! I apologize. When one is so familiar with this subject, it can be easy to forget such things are not obvious. This is Lot'Br. She had an unfortunate encounter earlier, and quite luckily was able to make it out in some fashion due to her unique headwear."
"Healing her of this affliction is proving difficult, however."
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:44:50
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:52:47
Chitter's hand falls to their pocket. A vial contained within feels as if it's burning a hole through their jacket. Of course, not literally, but morally.
"...I might be able to help."
"Oh? Please, do tell."
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:45:23
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:52:59
Chitter pulls a bottle of universal cure from their pocket.
"It was given to me by a friend. I'm not sure how he got it, but he said it can cure anything but death."
Alice
2024-12-18 20:45:36
Alice Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:53:36
"I see... these are... very rare. I had heard of things like it, but have never come across a genuine sample myself. I would appreciate it very much, but I'm afraid I do not have the resources available to me to compensate its full value if it is, in fact, genuine. Are you quite sure?"
"It'd be really great if you could, but- I don't think either of us would judge you if you wanted to use it for something else. -^-"
Knight
2024-12-18 20:45:52
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:53:55
"Either of us...? All three of us...?" Knight mutters, looking at the goggles, still trying to wrap his head around it.
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:46:06
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:54:17
Chitter shakes their head, and gently presses it into Alice's hands.
"He would've wanted me to use it on someone who truly needs it. I'm well. My family is well. Please, help your friend."
"Thank you. This means a lot." Alice takes the bottle and carefully examines it and the contents, holding it up to the goggles, assessing the correct course of action.
Alice
2024-12-18 20:46:30
Alice Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:54:53
With less hesitation than one might expect, she simply uncaps the bottle and begins pouring it over Lot'Br.
Knight
2024-12-18 20:46:43
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:55:04
Knight watches with anticipation.
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:46:52
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 14:55:11
They hope this works...
Flesh rises forth from the goggles. Twisting and turning as Lot'Br's body forms back into place. The whole sight is foul, with organs shifting back into place and muscles flexing, but at the end of it all, is Lot'Br, in the flesh. "I KNEW putting half of my soul into a pair of goggles would work!"
"I read it in a book once. Best way to avoid permanently dying is splitting your souls up and putting them into objects."
"Don't worry, even if someone broke these goggles there's a piece of dirt out there with my name on it."
"Does that mean you only have half a soul now or does the universal cure also cure half-soul-itis? -^-"
"No idea, we'll have to find out!"
"Lot'Br, I am overjoyed to see you back up and running. It is fortunate we were able to find such a quick solution given the circumstances." You can kind of tell Alice is supressing an unprofessional amount of joy.
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:48:27
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:02:17
Chitter can't help but smile. There's no reward that could beat the feeling of utter joy that they've gotten from this. From making such a monumental difference in someone's life.
"I'm really glad that worked out too! I don't know how I'd emotionally process one of my friends being a pair of goggles. I don't emotionally process a lot of things, really. -^-"
"That's a lot of boring talk for 'I can't believe you're back.' Come here, Alice!"
2024-12-18 20:49:52
Profile
Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2024-12-23 18:18:26
Lot'Br gives Alice a hug. "Thank you for keeping me safe."
"And most of all, thank you for not telling anyone I was there. Seriously. I'm sure someone would have gotten me killed if they knew."
Alice returns the favor with gusto, "I'm just happy you're back again."
"In fraught circumstances like these, discretion certainly felt necessary. Still, it is too bad our work has been so thoroughly... sunk."
Lot'br
2024-12-18 20:50:42
Lot'br Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:03:50
Lot'Br looks at the sunken god machine. "Ah, geez, fuck. I'm sorry about this, Alice."
"I didn't account for being kidnapped, and then murdered by a notail!"
Lot'br
2024-12-18 20:51:05
Lot'br Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:04:10
"Well.... I did, actually."
"But I didn't think that notail would look like a wandettle!"
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:51:23
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:04:26
Silent sweating in notail.
Knight
2024-12-18 20:51:33
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:04:38
Additional silent sweating in Notail.
Knight
2024-12-18 20:51:39
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:05:17
"...Our species kind of sucks, actually. Sorry you had to deal with that... -^-"
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:51:48
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:05:36
"Haha, yeaaaaaah.... My parents always said they left for a reason."
"Now that you mention it..." Alice thinks back to a certain notail lying down on a table earlier next to some wandettles.
"Maybe that is not important at the moment."
"I just wish god could help us....."
"Creator, please raise your holy machine out of the waters. We only need it for one thing."
Knight
2024-12-18 20:53:21
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:07:13
"Creator, I gave you a really cool flesh sculpture. Maybe you can raise this machine up for that...? -^-" Knight mutters a quick 'prayer' just to see if it'd work.
Chitter
2024-12-18 20:54:14
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:09:27
CHITTER MAY BE A CLASSLESS NOTAIL, BUT THEY'RE STILL FUCKING LIMBOIST. THEY'VE SEEN TOO MANY AGGRESSIVE ANOMALIES NOT TO BE.
Knight
2024-12-18 20:56:33
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 21:14:01
Knight glances over to Chitter.

"...Yeah, sorry, this is why I don't hang around a lot of other notails. Religious differences... -^-"
Lot'Br looks over the waters, but not a ripple appears on the surface. "Ugh, I doubt the Creator will help here. I'm sure he's insulted that a Radical priest destroyed, and then another one sank his holy machine."
Lot'br
2024-12-18 20:53:09
Lot'br Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:09:33
"But.... I do know one god who might be within ear shot...."
"POETNIX, RISE UP AND HELP US NOW......"

The Poetnix doesn't appear.......

"...at the very least back on Cth'Leoth I have shelves and shelves of-"
"POETNIX, YOU HAVEN'T PAID ME FOR MY WORK. I AM DUE COMPENSATION."
[Pokémon Sword & Shield - Calyrex Final Battle Music (HQ)]
"WAAAAAARK!!!!!" The Poetnix appears!
"WHO DARES DEMAND OFFERINGS FROM ME?"
"..."
Knight
2024-12-18 21:00:07
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:12:56
Knight looks to be as excited as his sleep-filled form can possibly be, but he's hanging back because this is a big moment.
"DO YOU KNOW WHAT GOD I AM? I AM A GOD OF WAR!"
Lot'br
2024-12-18 20:58:27
Lot'br Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:12:52
"Well, a god of war needs to pay his fucking employees!"
"Mmmmmmm."
"You're not being very dramatic."
"Sorry dude, I get it, you love theater, but I got something important I want."
"I want cth'leans back. I want my people back."
"Mmmmmmmm..." The Poetnix digs through his feathers and pulls out a book, tossing it to the ground. The title of it is "Lot'Br, the last Cth'lean."
"The cth'leans were never your people, Lot'Br. I made it all up."
Lot'Br picks up her book. The writing is messy and rushed. With only 20 pages to its name, the pitifully sized book is only able to rush through Lot'Br's history, and all of it has to do with working on the Creator's machines.
Alice seems a bit lost in thought, assessing the situation. She didn't seem upset at the revelation, at the very least.
"Longfur needed someone who could work on God machines. She demanded I'd get someone as fast as possible."
"That's why you didn't even have a name at one point. I didn't write a title for you."
Lot'Br flips to the final page of the book. As her hands delicately touched the page she found her disappearance and revival written. The book struggled to keep the words on the page. Each one growing smaller and smaller as her thoughts poured out.

This was her final page, and when the words could grow no smaller, the story would be forced to come to a sudden end.
"Dude........"
"Can you put some more fucking pages into my book before I die?!?! I have things to do!"
Poetnix
2024-12-18 21:01:51
Poetnix Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:14:39
"That's.... the only emotion you feel?"
"Uh, yeah? I'd like to not DIE."
"I agree with her. We have much research I would like us to get to, as well."
Knight
2024-12-18 21:02:15
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:14:59
"...I don't care if you made her up. She's really cool. She deserves to be real and have nice things and get her species back. -^-"
"...I. uh. Would like for the once-in-a-lifetime cure I gave to not go to waste?"
Poetnix
2024-12-18 21:03:15
Poetnix Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:15:19
"You could... at least have.... more of a.........." The Poetnix sighs and disappears as his puppets take his place.
Poetnix
2024-12-18 21:03:56
Poetnix Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:15:32
"WOW, AT LEAST FUCKING CRY OR SOMETHING? YOU DON'T FUCKING EXIST. YOU'RE A FICTIONAL CHARACTER."
"She is of course, not the only one here who was written into existence."
"Ok? Well I'm a fictional character who exists in reality, woop-a-dee-doo* as the aftiks say!"

*Translation: Live and let be.
"YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT AN AFTIK IS YOU CAN'T SAY WOOP-A-DEE-DOO!!!!"
"YOU WROTE ME, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO MADE THIS PLOT HOLE!"
Knight
2024-12-18 21:05:46
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:16:54
"If you ask me, being fictional is... better than being real? In the real world everything sucks all the time. In fiction, anything could happen! The good guys can win and people can go on adventures and... I'm only ever sad when the story ends. I think Lottie deserves a sequel, at least. -^-"
"You're really just going to use Lot'br for your work and just let her die?"
"She's not dying."
"He is right. I'm not dying."
"Books are forever, yadda yadda yadda."
"I'm not asking to be real, I'm asking for a longer book!"
"I will NOT be a light novel."
Chitter
2024-12-18 21:06:29
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:17:17
Chitter lets out a long sigh. This is what they get for trying to rationalize an anomaly.
"Fine, fine, give me your book back. I'll add a few pages, don't worry about it!"
"By the way, I know maybe this is me asking for too much, but can you bring back a few dozen cth'leans?"
"You are already being granted a wish. Someone else needs to ask."
"I would, of course, be partial to the idea as well."
"If you would be so kind as to grant such a request."
Knight
2024-12-18 21:08:06
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:18:03
"I don't know if this axe I got earlier counts as a wish... Does asking for an autograph count as a wish? -^-"
Chitter
2024-12-18 21:08:15
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:18:01
Wishes...?
The raven appears and points at Alice. "You want a return of your creators? Then you should be willing to assist with this task!"
"Your lifespan, for their lives! You shall become cth'lean and live among them! No more shall you be a robot. You shall be forced to read every book by hand, so that you may realize the toil a writer goes through to create them. Do you agree with this? Quoth the Raven."
"..."
The pause was only momentary.
"I would not expect anything less."
Poetnix
2024-12-18 21:09:31
Poetnix Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:18:34
"Oh, you don't actually seem that bothered by this.......... Quoth the Raven or something."
Poetnix
2024-12-18 21:09:38
Poetnix Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:18:42
"THIS FUCKING SUCKS. OK, LETS DO THIS." The red bird points to Knight.
Poetnix
2024-12-18 21:09:44
Poetnix Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:18:56
"OOOOH, YOU HAVE TO TRUST A NOTAIL TO ALSO TURN INTO A CTH'LEAN TOO!"
"Your mortal enemy will never agree."
"I wouldn't mind that. -^-"
Poetnix
2024-12-18 21:10:12
Poetnix Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:19:08
"OH, OH, OK! FINE. FUCK THIS."
Poetnix
2024-12-18 21:10:20
Poetnix Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:19:20
"I mean-"
Poetnix
2024-12-18 21:10:25
Poetnix Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:19:37
"OH, OH, OK! FINE. FUCK THIS."
"I understand this is big ask, so I thank you for such hospitability."
Alice puts on a little bit of an act for the birds.
Knight
2024-12-18 21:12:50
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:20:39
"Oh, uh, I mean, um," Knight turns to the others. "(Do I act upset...? I don't really know how to be upset I don't do that very often... -^-)"
Chitter
2024-12-18 21:12:41
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:20:17
Chitter awkwardly crosses their arms, watching the spectacle with respectful silence.
2024-12-18 21:13:04
Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:21:49


And so a spaceship descended from the fucking sky and inside it was 30 cth'leans. Each one with a new and unique look different from the other.

Their names were as followed:
Tamanus
Jerry
Goldie
Bob
Jeraldeen-

"Those aren't even cth'lean names!"
Poetnix
2024-12-18 21:13:25
Poetnix Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:22:02
"YOU PUT ME ON THE SPOT, WHAT DO YOU FUCKING WANT OUT OF ME!?!" The Poetnix sounds like he's about to cry.
Knight
2024-12-18 21:13:53
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 21:21:46
Knight gives a couple of thumbs up. "I think they're cool names! -^-"
Alice
2024-12-18 21:13:43
Alice Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 21:21:46
Alice leans over a bit and whispers, "Pepper in some apostrophes and nobody will look twice."
Chitter
2024-12-18 21:14:18
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:22:31
...This feels like a fever dream.
"Fine, I will do that."
2024-12-18 21:14:51
Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:23:29

-
-
-and so the 30 cth'leans exited their ship, and proceeded to shoot Alice and Knight with a blaster gun that turned them into cth'leans too, and then the gun broke to make sure no one used it for some other nonsense, like an evil laser to transform a bunch of people and Chitter was like "oh yeah sorry I have a meeting bye." and left and all the cth'leans were happy, to be continued.

Lot'Br says nothing about how the book kind of sucks.
"I hope you enjoy your story. I am leaving now."
"..."
Knight
2024-12-18 21:15:59
Knight Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 21:22:27
Knight is kind of stumbling over his new tentacles.
"Oh, um, okay! Thank you for helping them and stuff. I just wanted to say you're the coolest god ever, thank you. -^-"
"Sooooooooooooo."
"While I'm not interested in being involved. I did notice most of you are apart of the Sleeper's cult."
"So I think you'll all work out just fine."
The newly squiddy Alice seems to vibrate in excitement.
"I must say, I could have never expected an opportunity like this! I am excited to give everybody a tour of the Great Library of Cth'Leoth!!"
She immediately starts rambling for far too long about far too many plans.
Chitter
2024-12-18 21:21:26
Chitter Profile
Posted by ID #74
Last edit: 2025-11-29 15:24:50
This has certainly been the strangest day of their life. They're happy for these people!!! But also mad at breaking their "no major anomaly encounters" streak. Oh well. Such is life.
"Well. I wish you all the best of luck in... not being a light novel?"
"I don't think I'm going to need that ride anymore. Thanks anyway, Chitter. See you! -^-"
"Yeah. Make sure you get vaccinated, though."
"Yes! Of course! I have a few things to pick up before we can go but... I am so, so grateful to be working with all of you."
No one is typing.