What am I even doing

[titaniumalloysmokestack]

Query. What is purpose of this place? Self not understand.

Voice projector is functioning properly. Voice test not necessary. Not understand why functioning voice box required to play game. Not understand why Self should play game here. Self should return home.

Must stay here? Pappy and Miss Iris not here. Pappy will worry. Rabbit and Three and Four not here. Self not want to be here alone.

Self will see others if wait? They be here soon? Self understand. Self will wait for others here.

...Query. What game does Mun play? Self know Hide and Seek.

Comments

[eyestothesky]

[Well... he's definitely not the youngest Spine around now.]

[titaniumalloysmokestack]

[Oh, is that you The Spine? Don't mind as your younger rendition kind of stares blankly at you. He's trying to figure out why you seem so familiar yet not familiar.]

Not a human. But not look like a robot. Self not understand.

[eyestothesky]

[He's... really not sure how to explain all this. So he just takes off that hat and wig, so it's... not quite so hard to parse what he is. Poor confused babby.]

I'm a robot, buckaroo. Just like to dress up.

[titaniumalloysmokestack]

[Without the hat and wig, it's clear to this The Spine that this other robot is, in fact, a robot. A very human-looking robot but a robot nonetheless. He nods slowly in understanding, metal joints creaking a bit.]

[He's still confused about one thing, though.] Not buckaroo. The Spine. [A point at himself.] Who is you?

[freakame]

FIRE BAAAAAAD! [Yes, he is stomping around like Frankenstein's monster.

Pause. Waitaminute.

Freak scratches his head.] That's what we're doing, right?

[titaniumalloysmokestack]

[Good robot lord what is this why is someone yelling what is even going on. Steam puffs out from his smokestacks on his back in surprise.]

...Self no understand. Do not register a fire in area.

[freakame]

Heeeeeeeey are you a robot?! [Freakazoid, robots are not for climb--

...Nevermind.

He raps on the top of The Spine's head and then shakes out his hand.] Are you gonna start singing about how you don't have a heart? Are you gonna go find one? [GASP.] CAN I BE YOUR DOROTHY?!

[titaniumalloysmokestack]

[Okay, that is a question he understands. A quick nod.]

Self is robot. Self is--!

[Whoops, no time for introductions when someone's suddenly climbing you. More steam is hissing from those smokestacks as he takes a step back in an attempt to brace himself for that sudden weight imbalance.]

[Why is this happening to him, who is this person, why is this a thing. Just why. He didn't sign up for this.]

Please do not hit Self.

Who is Dorothy?

[bluematters]

[Because reasons.]

Iris may not be here, but I am. [Now this was a familiar sight, strange as it may be compared to the other The Spines he's seen as of late.]

[titaniumalloysmokestack]

[The Spine visibly relaxes at the sight of his creator, small whisps of steam trailing from his smokestacks.]

Pappy here too. Is good.

[bluematters]

You're going to be in for a few surprises. Do you think you can handle those, The Spine?

[A small gesture for the 'bot to come closer.] Let me take a good look at you.

[titaniumalloysmokestack]

Think so. Yes.

[A small nod, before The Spine takes a couple clanking steps forward at Pappy's instruction. Still a little awkward in his movements.]

[hatchworthy]

Oh. no.

You are. adorable. [Teasing Big Spine a little? Maybe.]

[mybackstory]

[No.]

[hatchworthy]

[It is not his fault you were a cute baby.]

[mybackstory]

[Nope. Denying the fact he was cute or adorable as a 'baby.' They don't count as babies even.]

[titaniumalloysmokestack]

[Another weird robot. You're going to be getting a curious look too, Hatchy, though that moustache looks familiar.]

You robot. Looks like Four.

[hatchworthy]

Yes! But now I have feet. see? And shoes!

Does this mean that. I am your. big brother now? [Yes. Yes, it does. He just decided that. So he throws an arm around Little The Spine's shoulders, about as well as he can considering the height difference.] Come on! I will show you. everything.

[titaniumalloysmokestack]

[Yes, The Spine thought the mustache looked familiar! And the pipe in the side of his head, that was recognizable too.]

Looks different.

[He's got clothes now. And feet.]

[A look of confusion for a brief moment before he gets an arm thrown around him.] Where we go?

[lovesbobbydarin]

Hide and go seek!!


... waitasec, you look kinda different. Did you lose your hat?

[titaniumalloysmokestack]

Self not have hat.

[Woah there that cry of excitement catches him off guard. What is it with weird robots who look like his siblings appearing?]

Is you like Three?

[lovesbobbydarin]

Yeah you do! It's one of those slifty-fifties ones, with...

[Man, it's been a long time since anyone's called him that. The mention of his old name is enough to snap him back to reality!]

I'm Three! I just have a wig and my head's not shaped like a tube anymore. I'd show you, but the wig's kinda stuck to my head since I found out where the glue was hidden. You're from way back when, aren't you?

[brothertragedy]

... you wouldn't happen to know Miss Iris of the Dragon Village, would you?

Regardless, mundanes typically refer to the locales they send us to as "games." They do not refer to children's games, although yours might be different.

[titaniumalloysmokestack]

Dragon Village? Self not know that. Miss Iris from Walter Manor.

[Because he only knows about one Miss Iris and that's the one who helps Pappy back home. Did this person know her?]

Locales. [A puff of steam emits from the smokestacks from his back.] Query. There is more place like this?

[brothertragedy]

Didn't expect you to. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with your Miss Iris or her home...

[A machine is a machine, he supposes.] Input data: there are many other places, similar to here, that draw in denizens from different worlds. The difference is that while you may come and go and rarely meet the same person twice here, games are more structured, with longer lasting settings and a distinctly higher probability that you will meet the same people quite frequently.

It is often impossible or very rare to exit and re-enter those games; moreoften, only a permanent exit occurs.