>>3382653
For the time being though, it's only a little after midday. Plenty of time to do as you like, though you've been increasingly limited in what you're allowed to. Ever since the truth of your identity was discovered, people are still trying to come to terms with it and make some sense. The first boy in... nobody knows how long?

Well right away obviously, you weren't allowed to leave the skyscraper anymore, no crossing the gap to other standing structures. Too dangerous! Or so you've been told. At least you have the chance with your friends your age though to sneak off and try to explore the lower floors of this building instead? Ah, no, eventually you were caught or ratted out so now you're not allowed to do that anymore. You're still able to do as you wish around the inhabited floors but you're forced to sleep in your own room now after people kept bothering you and invading your privacy while you slept.

You're not a literal prisoner, but it's starting more and more to feel that way. Then again, you did spend your entire life before now living in a shelter of just a few rooms so it's not like you're unused to such containment. It doesn't even bother you that much, as it stands, it's just a little upsetting to not be able to spend time with your new friends when they want to go out.

>What do you do?

>>3382689
Wander about and find some elders, ask them why the world's all broken.

>>3382689
>>What do you do?
We obviously must pester an elder, ask all sorts of questions.
Just like >>3382697

>>3382689
>>3382697

Why ask people who are clearly holding us back! No history; practicality!

Look for places to hide stuff inside your own room. Maybe the bed frame is made out of metal and the tubes can hold stuff inside or you can think of a secret compartment inside a drawer, if there is such

>>3382697
>>3382708
I like both

>>3382689
Find Olivia and Jess and trll them that we are frustrated we can't go out with them, maybe they can play a game with us or show us something interesting to pass the time

>>3382689
When you say "last man", do you mean last male or last human?

>>3382738
Seems like last male though I'm curious to confirm as well.

>>3382738
>>3382753
There's plenty of people around, plenty of humans. They're all girls and women though, you're something called a "man" which is strange to you because mother always raised you as a girl and until very recently you had always assumed you were so. That's all she ever told you and all you ever knew at least.

>>3382708
>>3382711
>>3382715
>>3382702
>>3382697
If you are to be confined to such limited living spaces, why not annoy your captors? Well, not intentionally annoy but you're just a kid so being yourself to them may well prove annoying. If nothing else, Daisy, your dog will annoy them as she barks at most people.

First though before you seek out any elders or your friends, you consider places to hide things in your own room. You're still getting used to living in it, as you were only given it a few days prior so having some further privacy to yourself is a comforting thought.

For the hiding effort, make a roll of a d100!

Oh, and for some added benefit, here is a pastebin with some relevant information including a link to the first thread. Though, you shouldn't need to read it in order to understand what's going on in the quest;

https://pastebin.com/5V4GdagC

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>3382808

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>3382808

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>3382808

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>3382808

>>3382840
We hide the stuff so well even we can't find it.

>>3382816
thanks, I'm reading through the first thread to get a better feel for the world

>>3382848
Well, we are good at hiding stuff heh

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>>3382845
>>3382840
>>3382839
>>3382817
>92

As it so turns out, after spending a good while searching through your room, you notice Daisy keeps scratching at the floor after having crawled under the bed.

"What is, Daisy?"

You can't move the bed yourself but can easily crawl under there after her and with the light from your phone you can search for what she seems so interested in. It seems like nothing at first, like when mother said dogs see ghosts so will stare or bark at nothing sometimes. But her constant scratching does seem to disturb the old carpeted floor of this room, and upon further investigation you can actually pull up the corner with some ease and find beneath it some sort of hatch within the flooring.

"Oh, good Daisy!"

Of course she'd be interested in it because there's some old biscuits hidden away in a little metal box. Therein though you can also find what looks like a crawl space beneath the wall? You're not sure where it leads, so for now content yourself to just looking through some other belongings stashed there by who knows from before you. Mostly just some personal belongings, pictures, some clean clothes, some medical supplies, and a couple books? A journal it seems, this one was written in by someone rather than having everything printed on it first.

An interesting find for sure, thanks entirely to Daisy's nose. But nice to know you can still do some exploring even when you're confined!

Well now, in any case you feel content to have found this in your room so want to find something to do in the rest of the building. You had considered pestering some elders, or seeking out friends your age?

>Had you a preference or just whichever you can find first?

>>3382913
Whichever comes first, if we find some friends lets drag 'em along to the elders. We want stories dammit.

>>3382913

Let's see who we find first, if we find Jess we can explore it later, but we are not telling anyone else or else they will rat on us

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>3382913
1 friends
2 elders

>>3382913
Whoever we find first

>>3382913
Friends your age! Or some... Onee-san too

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>>3382936
>>3382934
>>3382932
>>3382963
>>3382970
You're young, your aims don't have to be so definite. Whoever you find first, is enough to distract you!

"Hiya Alexa! Can touch Daisy?"

"Um... no."

After leaving your room and wandering around the halls for a bit on these upper floors, you encounter Maria trying to figure out how to unlock a door. Apparently some of the little girls locked themselves inside and are scared and crying to get out. She would have gone for help but it's the personal room of one of the adults who might get angry about it, but with your presence that's something. Of course first thing Maria wants is to pet Daisy but the dog bristles and growls at her so you advise against it.

Together with Maria though you try and get the door working together and eventually figure out that it can't be unlocked at all from this side without a key or the right code, so doing your best together, you can manage to talk to the girls inside down to some amount of calmness. At least enough to try and undo the mess they got themselves into, and finally with a mechanical sound the door is able to be opened as three younger girls come out crying and hugging you and Maria as their savoirs, hoping they aren't in trouble.

"What is? We am room sneak, Aliyah no lock room?"

Attracted by the commotion, Jess makes herself known appropriately enough. Just her, but at least another girl around your age along with Maria. The latter of which wants to get the little girls back with the others, but after that would be happy to spend time with you. Or just you and Jess if Maria is too much a square, as some of the older girls consider her to be.

>What do you do?

>>3383001
Grab Jess and run off to our new crawlspace discovery, make her rpomise not to tell anyone
Time tp explore

>>3383001
Take Jess with us and ask her whats new, after being stuck in the shelter for so long we wish to see what else is out there, even if this situation is more familiar

Finally caught up, I'll hazard a guess and say that Mother is actually our father, and the Green Queen that was referred to is the Statue of Liberty. Maybe the clouds are some sort of mutagen that caused the creation of the monsters below? Also, the pastebin says Mother's hair is brown, but the previous thread says it was red.
>>3383001
>>3383011
supporting

>>3383058
I was thinking the green queen is a mother earth kind of entity, but the statue of liberty being its avatar or something is a nice image.

and yeah, the clouds seems to cause mutations

>>3383001
>Watdo?

>Sneak into the room the little girls were in, of course!
Key needed? Password input? I am interested

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>>3383072

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>>3383058
Thanks for that catch, I was making the pastebin as going through the thread so some character details were likely to get mixed up. If I ever miss little details like that feel free to point them out.

>>3383011
>>3383034
>>3383058
>>3383072
Well with the little girls free Maria can take care of the rest, as unexpectedly you wave goodbye and yank Jess by the hand to follow after you, Daisy close on your heels as well. You considered going into Aliyah's room now that it's open, and you could now, but if they were afraid of getting in trouble you have some worry too. Maybe later?

"No pull so! Can go."

"Shh, shh! Can be quiet of secret?"

Although you and Jess have become close friends since your time coming to live here, she still doesn't like being yanked around. Her complaints are cut short though by her own curiosity, as her eyes go wide and a smile give her answer. Looking around for safety, you close the door to your room (something she and the other girls are jealous of for not having their own) before you motion for her to follow you crawling under the bed, this time with your flashlight in hand rather than just your phone.

"Oooh... what is? You make?"

"Daisy find..." you answer, shoulder to shoulder with Jess as the two of you look down into the crawlspace and she reaches to try and look through the bag, "...some secret place no else."

"Come let look!"

"Oh, um..."

You'd just wanted to show her what you found, but right away she wants to go exploring which makes you nervous. Who knows what could be down there? But she's already crawling down into the space and tugs at your hand with an excited grin, which you can't help but share and want to follow after. After helping her down and then her helping you to follow, you push the old bag aside and then crawl after her through the space beneath the floor as the two of you go. It doesn't take long as you navigate past old supports and metalwork, frames and pipes that you start to recognize this place as similar to the inter-ceiling space in the office building from before. You quickly end up bumping into Jess's backside when she stops short though, and together you find a similar hatch in the roof of the space here, struggling to both push it up but failing.

"Maybe is... some room? Not all wall strong inside one and other, some cut big room in half or some."

Jess seems to think that it may just be another bedroom and that a wall was put up between yours and this other to make two rooms out of a larger one. It sounds strange to you as why anyone would do that, but she says it's been encountered in the building before. As for the hatch, probably a bed or something on top of it (or the carpet above it), is the best she can assume.

An interesting find but rather small and a bit of a letdown. Along the way back there is one more hatch downwards Jess notices, but whether you go after it is your choice, she wants to get back to your room to look through the bag.

>What do you do?

>>3383107
>Downwards!

>>3383107
>>What do you do?
ONWARDS INTO THE UNKNOWN
But we need a weapon

>>3383126
Don't worry we have our Hyperweapon

>>3383107
Go down

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>>3383146
>>3383131
>>3383126
>>3383119
You're not sure what to expect, but when else are you going to come down here? So grabbing hold of Jess's leg, you get her attention and move for the other hatch. Of course she'd rather the bag, but won't just leave you so together you crawl over to the remaining hatch in this small space and look it over.

"Is stuck? Can no nothing... push up?"

"No, is old. Us both."

The thing seems closed fast but Jess is confident it's just the age of the place, so together at the same count you push down with all your weight. There is a jostling, the sound of cracking, and before you have the sense to realize this isn't a good sign the hatch breaks open and the two of you tumble down.

"Owww owie!"

"Eurgh... ok is?"

With not but the flashlight which one of you is sitting on, it's difficult to see in the small dark space and with all the dust. A good bit of pain too as the both of you are tangled up together in a heap, though eventually the soreness subsides and you and struggle to free yourselves of one another. There's still very little room to move but Jess is able to pull out the flashlight so you can see.

"All ee-lec-trics?"

That would explain part of the painful fall, it seems you landed atop one of the familiar piles of e-scrap that Jess's people collect. She's able to find a door though and push it open a little, where she gasps and pulls you close to try and show you through the crack.

"See bed? Some is room..."

Whispering, she points out what is clearly someone's bedroom and so this must be their closet. Thankfully the room is empty at the moment and dark, but by the look of things you ripped a hole through the closet ceiling with the hatch. What must have been painted or wallpapered or even physically covered up, together you busted through and now are jammed in the closet together spying into... someone's bedroom. Rightfully worried now, you'd very much like to leave but Jess points out the obvious.

"Can see big hole now! How hide?"

Even if you did just escape the way you came, whenever the person next looks in their closet they'll see a big gaping break in the ceiling and then there goes your secret little crawl space. Jess is similarly at a loss as she tries to think of something, but she doesn't think you can just leave it and merely hope it's ignored.

>What do you do?

>>3383206
What if we find a carpet and put up there covering the hole? Its dark ebough inside that peiple might not notice.

>>3383246
Spunds good, cover it up with a carpet, see if we can actually leave the room too and run off with Jess, our exploration concluded.
Ask her if she knows of any other place to explore

Damn, I wish we could cross the gap to get some nice food

>>3383246
It could work in a pinch, perhaps. If you want to rely on that and hope for the best, you can.

>>3383266
You mean leave by way of the normal door?

>>3383269
If we can go back up the crawlspace that would be better.
We still have that bag to check actually and maybe there are more stuff in the crawlspace

Is the hatch still operational? We could try to close it back and use the rug as cover too

>>3383269
Maybe we can find a board or a panel up there to help desguise it better.

Whatever we can find that would reasonably go in a roof that we can find or take from the crawlspace.

Mark it down to so we don't step on it next time we come here

>>3383290
>>3383278
Well you can just try and fix the hatch door back on, there's no trouble closing the hole, it's more the fact that whatever paint or wallpaper had been covering the hatch before has now been ripped open so even with the door closed one can still see it clearly if they look. Assuming they look of course.

In any case though if you like you can make a roll for the effort on how well you can make it look, and then get out of here. Otherwise you'll just leave it to fate and hope for the best. At least until you can find like a bucket of old paint to cover it or some white covering to stick over.

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>3383324

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>3383324

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>>3383366
>>3383381
>73

Together then you help each other to climb back up to the crawl space, and then close the hatch behind you. Jess thinks getting something like some white cloth and sticking it over would help, but she did at least have the good sense to pick up all the chipped and torn chunks of paint that had ripped free when you smashed open the hatch. It's by no means perfect, probably not even that great, but unless someone were to intentionally look up (and with the lights on most likely) they would probably not notice it.

You hope.

In any case you can crawl back again and emerge into your room once more, Daisy waiting anxiously at the opening beneath your bed.

"Was fun!"

Jess pulls you up out of the crawl space as the two of you crawl back out from under the bed, now with the old bag. You do notice your room's door is open so someone must have come in looking for you perhaps, but since there doesn't sound like any commotion going on you want to assume they merely didn't find you and left rather than having located where you'd snuck off to.

"Good clothes! You have all?"

Jess is more occupied with the clothes obviously, as the two of you sit on your bed together and go through the bag, while Daisy keeps trying to stand up on her hind legs in hopes of being picked up onto the bed. You try to organize things while she looks over the pictures and likes what she sees. Things look nice and happy and clean in them so could they be from before the big war? Whatever the case, in the end you empty the bag and look over the total contents; three clean sets of clothes, the personal belongings of the pictures and some shiny trinkets, a long-expired few sealed food packages, a little red medical bag with some few things still usable, an old camera, and three books. One about some sort of squiggly colored lines called a "subway" map, one about working with ropes, one about preparing food and water safely, and besides these three the journal. You can read through a little which surprises Jess, as you learn about the owner.

"Susan... Feinberg."

"Two people is?"

Must be the case, two different names together so it must be two different people, Susan and Feinberg. Maybe they shared the book? In any case it's an interesting find and Jess is quite intrigued for sure. You think you prefer the hidden crawl space though, if nothing else (and hoping it isn't discovered) even if you end up imprisoned here, you have a secret way out!

Either way, a fun little chance to explore with your friend even from within your own room of all places. And something to show for it no less.

>What do you do?

>>3383433
Read the last parts of the journal for out loud.

Then ask Jess if she has anything in mind to show or do.

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>>3383433
This will probably be my last post of the night then, we'll continue here tomorrow around a similar time.

Till then, thanks all for playing! And in the meantime if you have any questions or things that don't seem clear, feel free to ask and I'll answer if I can.

>>3383519
Ahaha qnd i just caught up. The world is cruel, haha. Welcome back, radio and thanks for running!

>>3383433

look the camera for any photos, is it a digital camera or something? can we plug it to charge it?

maybe there is a video or some photos on it, if nothing else Jess and Alexa can try taking some pictures of themselves

>>3383701
Support

Going to continue here in a bit now.

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>>3384355
>>3383701
>>3383458
The camera is interesting as Jess points out it could have more pictures inside it, it wouldn't be the first camera her tribe found. However its battery must have run out a long time ago and there doesn't seem to be any charger with it. It seems likely one could be found among all the available old electronics in this building, but it would take someone searching for it first. At least the camera itself is in good condition.

"...I am... going to try and... reach Jeff, he is... waiting on five-th. Maybe we can make it to the sub-way... tonight. I am... leaving this bag... hidden in case we need to come back. Mandy is... afraid we will not make it... before... another bomb. If we don't and this is my last... writing, I pray... everyone is... doing well. Amhit, Nat, Helen, Paul, Jah... mom and dad, everyone at home..."

"Them word that? Why even?"

The camera might be unusable for the moment, but the journal has your interest still as you go to the last parts of writing. Slowly and carefully you read what's there but it's not easy, both because your reading skill isn't as good as the writing skill but also because the writing has gotten worse and worse for the last parts and the pages more and more dirty. It reads like a goodbye before someone tried to reach Downtown, but then this was probably before the world was like it is now.

"Them scared, why is."

"Them gone, us now!"

Jess doesn't seem that perturbed by it all, as you understand, her tribe are scavengers so relying on the remains of the dead and things left behind is their way of life. Certainly explains a vague lack of personal ownership among her people. In any case though, she's happy with what was found though expects as if it's obviously to be shared between you, though you wouldn't mind that much. You're about the only person in this place with clean clothes in good condition, after all.

Either way Jess is thankful to you for sharing this secret with her and she gives you a hug to show, even offers her share of dinner tonight. Unfortunately while she has some things in mind she would like to do (and probably was going to before you brought her here), she's not sure you can too, whether you'd be allowed. Certainly it seems you're not permitted to go to the lower floors anymore, so it kind of limits what she wanted to do. Of course she's happy just to spend time with you so wouldn't mind changing her schedule to suit things you can do, around the communal areas of these upper floors. The usual pastimes for her people, as you're becoming familiar with.

>What do you do?

>>3384963
That subway book could serve as a good map of downtown.

Lets ask her for help to search a charger and give her one of the spare sets of clothes so she can change.

>>3384963
Change our clothes too, see if anything fits

>>3385022
Worth a try too

Ask her to tell us if there is any other passage like that up here, maybe we can sneak out.

>>3385095
>Ask her to tell us if there is any other passage like that up here, maybe we can sneak out.
this

>>3385095
>>3385022
+1

Maybe we can throw a tantrum with the elders and ask to go to the other building to give our friend a nice shower and some nice food since we are the only ones that can make the elevator and restaurant work.

>>3385022
>>3385095
>>3385131
>>3385109
For the charger searching, you can make a roll for the effort if you like, d100. Otherwise you can just make a request for it and you assume eventually one will be found.

As for the clothes, none of them fit either of you, clearly for adults as you change in and out of them. Jess doesn't mind though because they're clean and aren't tattered so any such thing is better than her own clothes. In any case you're comfortable enough with Jess where you can change around one another and even can talk with her as you try and learn about any other possible secret places in the building. After thinking about it for a bit, she does recall what you recognize as maintenance areas, a few around the upper floors here. But most of them, at least the ones that go anywhere interesting, are locked off by the adults for the specific reason of preventing the kids from getting lost or hurt. It's why she and the other older girls rely on going to the lower levels in order to be out of the watch of any adults so that they can go exploring on their own.

For what it's worth, she does know of some secret areas which are just rooms unto themselves, if you cared about such a thing like for privacy. The other girls, some of them treat them as secret stash places or sort of like club houses. Since these ways don't actually go anywhere the adults don't mind them if the kids clamor about and play in them, but unfortunately it's not what you were hoping for of having some secret escape from your room.

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>3385138
Rolling for search.

Let's find the Joan or another elder Maria or some other to pester to hear stories of the old world and to let us go to the other building to give Jess some nice food.

Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>3385167
Again, its worth a try to ask them to go there, maybe Joan can help us with that.
If Kim is around with our money we can even promise to bring back food for the others as an incentive.

>>3385138
Also quick heads up, I unexpectedly have to duck out for a little while but we'll resume right here when I return.

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>3385138

Ok back again, resuming shortly.

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>>3385197
>>3385180
>>3385167
>90

Just searching piles and containers of old electronics and scrap isn't forbidden to you, so you and Jess can take the camera and start looking around for both something that will fit it and one which still actually works. Apart from some comments about your clothes together you don't face any difficulties and after about an hour your search turns up.

"Here is!" Jess exclaims triumphantly after checking the cable fits the phone and causes it to light up for charging. Unfortunately since the entire building isn't powered you'll have to leave it to charge in one of the communal areas, but there are many such similar old electronics also in the same state so Jess assures you there's no worry about it being stolen. After that, well you don't want to prevent her from doing what she wants because of your own limited permissions, so you part ways for now with a happy hug.

---

"The world before? Why do you want to know about that?"

You had a reason to go to see the senior Joan anyway, as she keeps having to check on your leg, something that worries her greatly.

"You'm see? What like?"

"By the Green Queen no, I'm not that old! It was long before my time, before my mother's mother's time even, I think. I'm not sure anyone knows exactly when it was, sometime in the early half of the twenty-first century..." the question intrigues her, clearly something she's thought about before as much that she seems to get lost in thought for a bit, before she realizes who she's talking to again by your confused look, "What am I saying? It was a long time ago, many winters! The big war happened between countries... very big tribes, and that caused the world to be like... well, the way it is."

"And all'm mans dead?"

"That's right, it killed all the men too. As much as I understand it at least. I don't think it was the bombs... big uh... big..." she struggles to try and explain in a way you could understand, opening her fist suddenly as a gesture, "...like a big boom, a bright light? I don't know if that's the only reason why the men died though, otherwise you think everyone, even the animals would have all died? But here we are."

She finishes checking your leg from the injury where you fell on broken glass, and while it doesn't look bad to you and doesn't hurt, seems all better, it still seems to worry her which is a little cause of fear for you. Probably why she's insistent about you not leaving despite pestering her.

"I'm sorry Alexa but no, it's too dangerous! I know it's hard for you to understand but you're very important, not just to us but everyone, everything. Too important to put at risk by letting you leave the tower, when someone else can just do it. Besides, as I said your leg has taken a long time to heal and I don't know why... it's actually rather concerning. Until I know why, for that alone I can't agree to letting you out."

You can whine about it and pout, work up some tears and even get angry but Joan at least isn't so kind as to take your side on this, if only from her standpoint as a doctor worrying about your health and setting aside you being their only boy. Possibly the only boy. She tries to make you feel better, as caring as ever with a big hug and brushing your long hair out of your face as she tries to give you some kind words and offers to let you stay with her if you like.

Really though it just seems like more bars around your prison, and it annoys you. Upsets you, and fairly so you think. You only recently left the confinement of a shelter you lived your whole life in, and now it seems like you're being put back in another.

>What do you do?

>>3385590
Ugh, let's find Kim if she is around, see what she is doing.

>>3385590
damn Joan

Find the other kids to play with, let's at least enjoy our time here until Jess comes back and can show us those secret places, maybe we can find something there

>>3385590
>>3385628
This.

When she is back we can check the camera

>>3385678
>>3385628
>>3385623
You can spend the rest of the afternoon then playing with the kids, the younger ones at least. As you know the older girls tend to play less in favor of growing responsibilities or hanging out together and like your friend Olivia for example, working on their own developing role in the community or their own schemes. For the time being though, as frustrated as you are you could do with some plain old fun as a distraction. Games played, listening to stories told, and perhaps best of all time spent among those who haven't started regarding you differently after the truth about you becoming known. The other kids at your age or younger may know you're a boy, but they don't know what that means so they don't care or judge.

There's the occasional adult in and out to check on the lot of you, but it's a great time spent till dinner when many among the community gather and you meet up with Jess again that she intends to make good on her word and share her portions with you. The meal itself intermittently interrupted by others coming back to the tower after a day spent out, but you notice Kim around eventually and while you could never bear her any ill-feelings, it was a little upsetting that she sided with the other adults in the importance of keeping you safe and secure in the tower. Upsetting but it makes sense you suppose; her finding you earned her a position among the group of leading adults who make decisions for the tribe, so it would have been hard for her in her new position to go against the majority decision.

Whatever the case for it though, you wouldn't mind seeking her out to spend the evening with but then again you could just go back to hanging with Jess as you had been before. See how the camera is perhaps, and who knows what else.

>What do you do?

>>3385716
grab the camera and check it's contents with Jess in one of the secret rooms she told us about

>>3385770
This

>>3385716
Ask Kim when we are going to make new boys so they let us out again, we want to visit other places

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>>3385785
>>3385780
>>3385770
In your frustration, you've half a mind to just go up and demand the obvious to Kim. If all the care and concern is over you being a boy, looking back now you'd probably not have revealed that truth, and you're starting to understand why mother had so many rules to keep that truth about you hidden. If they want to imprison you for being the only boy, why not make more then and remove the problem? Though, you don't know what any of that would actually entail, but it can't be worse than being kept prisoner now that you've had a taste of freedom.

You can recognize your frustration before you resort to anything drastic, so perhaps for the best not to go to Kim right now feeling as you are. But something to consider, to think about in order to form a proper opinion and response on the matter for next time, when you feel ready. For now, a slight preference, and a strong curiosity to go with Jess and check on the camera.

---

"Just only the city!"

After dinner you went with Jess then to get the camera together, and following her, at your request she takes you to one of the secret places. This one particular, an out of the way duct that leads to an old maintenance room, the proper door to which suffered an exterior collapse of the building so is otherwise inaccessible besides said duct. Two other girls, Anna and Mira consider this to be "their" room and would have rejected Jess on her own but they allow it when they notice you, curious like many of the girls. Just as you've experienced with most of the other curious people though, without getting down to the hard differences between you and them, the two girls end up being disappointed when just simply checking you out you don't seem at all different to them. If there's something special or different about being a man, it's lost on them.

"Mmm... look see, is different but."

"What is? Fore big war?"

"Big pretty!"

Anna and Mira would be fine to mind their own business but when you and Jess start looking over the pictures in a corner together, the curiosity draws the other two. Scooching over, it ends up with four heads together glued to the screen of the small camera as you go through the pictures of what can only be assumed to be the world before. Some of people looking happy, and clean and well-fed, healthy. Some of places that the others notice as the city, but much more visible without the clouds and much more lit up, not some crumbling ruins. The most recent ones are some cause for confusion though as the pictures start being more of the city in trouble and of groups of gathered and unhappy (by the looks) people in places outside. The last few pictures you can look at show some people bloody and hurt... or even dead, and it scares the lot of you to not want to look at any more. Just one lingering last picture of the city at what appears to be night, but far away it looks like a cloudy sun shining.

"No like that. Bad things."

"Them all hurt... kill other."

"Is big war maybe?"

Both scary at seeing such things, but it also feels wrong to look at them. Perhaps the owner was only taking the pictures to document bad things that happened, but it's not something any of you want to see, like that. Along with the journal you found, it sure paints a pretty grim picture, that you wouldn't mind getting your mind off of in the time remaining before you're supposed to go to bed.

Though, in here it's not like anyone can catch you going against the rules. Ironically despite being a smaller room than your own or even any of your shelter, just a maintenance closet if you knew any better, it still feels more free than either your room here or the shelter.

>What do you do?

>>3385940
ask the girl what they do in these secret rooms, maybe join them, especially if it happens to be against the rules, we are feeling rebellious.

>>3385952
This, conspire with Jess about how we would like to explore around too.

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>>3385952
>>3385967
Well in this particular case, Anna and Mira sort of inherited their goal from the two older girls who grew out of such childish things some winters ago, the goal being to signal people in other buildings above the clouds. As this side of the building collapsed, the actual door of this little room opens to the exposed building exterior, and they even show you (after fastening down anything loose) by opening the door as you can see it's a sheer drop out the side and down to the clouds below. They have an old, very bright construction lamp in this room and so sometimes on clear nights they open the door and try to shine out in patterns to see if anyone in the other visible skyscrapers tall enough respond back with similar light patterns.

At least that's their goal. Most of the time really they just treat this as their own little secret clubhouse between friends and hang out here talking and sharing things, which Jess affirms there are many other such places around the upper habitable floors that the tribe dwells in, that other girls similarly have to themselves. But Anna and Mira maintain that they once got a flashing response from as far away as the Empress's tower, so their efforts aren't completely pointless.

"Can to go explore out, like fore?"

"Is trouble, mhmm? Growups catch you, get mad... maybe not sneaky?"

All this talk of secret places just makes you yearn for a kind of place like that your own, or the chance to go find one. Unfortunately Jess reminds you, and it seems the girls have been told, that you're not allowed off the upper floors when all the exploring is to be done lower. As far as she knows, these little secret rooms and passages here and there are all based on the same floors, the one in your room is the only one she knows of which goes between two different floors. So the only way off these upper floors would be the stairwells but she's sure an adult would catch you, unless you made use of stealth. Clearly she doesn't want to get into trouble, but you're close friends enough that she at least considers the idea has some interest.

At least assuming if you wanted to actually go exploring new places. If it's just going about these hidden rooms on the same floors you're confined to, she doesn't expect it would be that difficult, whether the adults want you to or not.

>What do you do?

>>3385983
Let's explore these other secret rooms with her now at night, maybe we find some good things or interesting things to do.

>>3386006
The other ones up here you mean? Well you're not going to find anything other people haven't over generations of living here. But things to do, is certainly possible, especially if there's other troublemakers up and about.

>>3386011
>>3386006
Let's find the troublemakers!

>>3386011
Let's try to find them and things to do, maybe spy and ambush some other kids to train our stealth, we don't know very much what we can do for fun here and they didn't like mother's games

>>3386015
>>3386036
Alright that could work, make a roll to see who or what you find!

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>3386049

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>3386049

>>3386069
Welp, we are either a ninja or we just stumbled into two people doing some very troublemaking and fun thing I wonder what~

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>>3386069
>>3386055
>97

Thanking Anna and Mira for the space then, you return to the communal areas and spend the rest of the evening plainly enough with Jess, though sneakily together formed a plan to go off exploring together after bedtime. So when it's supposed to be and the other kids are being sent to bed, one of the adults comes and collects you to take you back to your room for the night up where more of them are to keep an eye on you if need be.

Not that they can watch you while asleep, busy, or simply elsewhere though, and no match for sneaky Jess! You made sure to walk and feed Daisy before leaving her alone in your room, so that when you hear the secret knock at your door, you and your friend can sneak off together.

---

"No kid. Tell Olivia fore, too little."

"Please please! We want fun too!"

You're surprised at your own sneakiness and together make a great pair with Jess as she knows her way around and you can keep lookout and listen for anyone. Unfortunately the stairwells are too difficult to be able to sneak up or down, but by carefully going through a few exposed rooms and a hallway on the collapsed side of the building, you're able to reach a corner of this floor that's more or less separate from the communal areas but still habitable. Seems like Jess really saved the best for you, as you go together through weathered and crumbling rooms exposed to the elements and outside, the stars visible as the faint lights of the occasional other buildings above the clouds.

You reach a bit of a dead end though when you follow the sounds of some music and laughter together, and find some sort of small party going on. It's the oldest girls, not kids anymore but not yet adults with proper roles in the tribe. Jess tries to get you in but gets shot down pretty soundly, though when the girl at the door notices you, she pauses for a moment.

"That'm the mans? Alessa?"

"Yes'm, Alexa."

"Heya, hold some."

She doesn't shut the door but leans back to call to unseen others and talks about you, which there's some audible interest, and finally you're let in. The place is quite messy and not only because it's as far removed from the rest of the living areas, you can only assume it's a regular hangout for the older girls. It looks kind of... fun though? They've got an old TV hooked up to play some old show, a pieced-together music player that they keep switching to check on a radio, a fair few colorful lights plugged in around the place, and plenty of comfy seats between the scattered bits and pieces of old world junk they must have liked or had some use for. Also a couple tables with some various games they're halfheartedly playing between conversations, like some handmade playing cards at one. Some of them are behaving funny, clumsy and drinking colored stuff you can see, and you get embarrassed to see two girls on a couch by a back window kissing and touching.

Not that you get much a chance to focus on anything, as you become the focus yourself of some girls sitting nearest to the door.

"Alexa! I sees you round fore!"

"So's a mans? Don't look not a girl, what is?"

Of course Jess is thrilled to be permitted into this place, but she's not the one they're interested in. In fact you're probably the only reason for being here, their curiosity. You don't want to ruin this for Jess, but needless to say you are very nervous, shy towards these older girls and themselves mostly strangers. You've seen them around the building and in passing, but much the same as you don't know all of the adults. Maybe trying to be brave could help, but how open or honest do you want to be here?

>What do you do?

>>3386131
Stay close to Jess, maybe grab her hand.

Try to be nonchalant about it and say
"My under parts are different, they say I can make new people but still don't know how"

See if we can grab some of the colored drinks for us and Jess.

>>3386131
They seem a bit mean. Explain the basics, but don't show anything. Stay close to jess and the exit

>>3386131
Those people kissing.....they seem to be having fun.


Focus, there was a question.

Tell her how we are different but that the elders don't seem to know what to do with it, maybe that will generate some sympathy since they are troublemakers too.

Try to get ourselves and Jess integrated in this so they don't kick us out or even let us come back another time.

Maybe play their game, are they betting something? I'm not sure we have much to bet, if offered drink but try to not drink too much.

So do we just give up on ever finding our mom? Because that seems to be what people are voting for. Just randomly playing with other kids and strangers.

>>3386400
Hmm, we actually could try that, but I was under the impression she was really gone.

>>3386413
>>3386400
This could be actually a good argument to bring to the elders, if they want our cooperation we want our mom, maybe they can send someone to the Red Cross to look for her( not Kim tho, too dangerous)

>>3386400
agreed, tomorrow we can start taking steps to see if she is still around, maybe leave a message at our old shelter setting up a meeting point

>>3386282
>>3386312
+1

>>3386400
I sort of got the feeling that we were probing around with our sneaking, maybe to find something useful for an eventual escape or otherwise that would help us convince the elders to let us leave.

>>3386701
We were sneaking around into other peoples hiding/hangout spots and playing butt touch. Places the elders already know about but don’t care about because they don’t lead anywhere dangerous.

>>3386808
Well, to be honest we never went looking for her, we were looking for food and safety so we could wait for her.
But you still have a point, now that we have food and shelter we could try to take steps to let mother know where to find us when she comes back, or even get help to find her since there are many adults around and not just a lone kid like we used to be.

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>>3386282
>>3386298
>>3386312
>>3386488
These girls seem different from the ones your age, they're all their own friends and like their own things... and you're not sure how nice they are. At least adults usually tolerate your presence.

"Has'm other under parts... um, make extra lifes?"

"Ye, sticky milk. Can see?"

"A-ha, go on show!"

Some of the older girls gathered around have an interest in finding out exactly what's the deal with you, if only because it's something new and interesting to them. You get some nudges from them and a lot of suggestion, pressure from them to prove anything your'e saying. Already you were nervous just coming here but now it's quite stressful for you as uncomfortable as it is, and compared with the will to give what they want and possibly gain their approval. Fortunately Jess is there with you, as you clench her hand tightly out of worry, and she notices to stand in the way between you and them.

"Stop bother! You no care other body secrets!"

Unfortunately they don't take her that seriously and she gets some hostile remarks and pushed around for it, till a couple of the older girls call for a stop to it, maybe feeling bad for you. Escorted away from the girls being mean to you, a place is found near one of the games for you and Jess to sit beside and watch if you care to.

"No'm sad, them all want some new fun. Just is."

Thankfully these few older girls are nicer and while they aren't especially friendly, they at least are ok with you sitting by them and minding you. Even wanting to hear about your time before coming here since you're a newcomer, and showing you the game they're playing.

"Mm, want?"

"Na, too young."

"Just only a little, look'm."

You even get offered what's left of a drink to finish, after a short argument between two of the older girls about it. Jess takes gladly, herself ecstatic just to be here so more than happy to try and be cool (as far as she's concerned) and have a drink and fit in. You look it over though after she takes several swigs, and you're not so sure. It smells nice, but seeing how the others behave after drinking too much... maybe only a sip?

>What do you do?

>>3387275
No. That's a weird drink and I don't like weird things.

>>3387275
Drink it
Lets fit in

>>3387275
Let's drink it, maybe just to take the cup from Jess's hands, I'm worried she will have too much

>>3387304
This, share it with Jess. Drinking will at least signal to them that we're willing to fit in.

>>3387275
drink a little sip

>>3387309
sharing seems good

>>3387342
>>3387341
>>3387309
>>3387304
>>3387299
>>3387284
You have your reservations about it, but to try and fit in and for Jess's sake, you share in the drinking.

"Blaugh! Blegh!"

"No lose it!"

It tastes utterly foul, and one of the older girls gets angry at you for spitting it out, giving to a smack to the back of the head. Naturally you flinch and force it back in Jess's hands if she likes it, but everything about that was unpleasant and it colors the rest of the time spent here. You just sit quietly and avoid any interaction, merely taking further sips when Jess occasionally hands the drink back, some vain hope of making up for the scene you caused.

"Alexa? Ok?"

It doesn't help much anyway, as you try and just sit there without causing further trouble and continue to watch, but after awhile you start feeling sick. Your stomach in pain, difficulty breathing with a sticky burning sensation in your nose and throat, and an intense nausea. You do your best to not let it show since no one else seems bothered by the drinks, but as the sensations worsen eventually Jess begins to notice you practically doubled over and fighting for breath.

"Red face, upset? Sorry hit kid, just only have some little drinks... no can spill easy."

The older girl who smacked you also notices, your eyes watering and turning red, which she thinks you to be upset for her treatment of you. She apologizes, force of habit since the drinks must be hard to come by but she obviously doesn't realize the real problem... yet.

But you can't make a further scene, right? Jess only got her chance to be here because of you, you wouldn't want to ruin it for her by coming down ill.

>What do you do?

>>3387382
Stop drinking it, ask for water if they have.

try to sit down and call down, maybe a little further away if we end up being sick and vomiting so we don't do it in front of everyone.

damn, how can they drink it so easely but we don't? we are really different

>>3387382
>stomach in pain, difficulty breathing with a sticky burning sensation in your nose and throat, and an intense nausea
that is no bueno
>>3387393
support

Shit I don't know, ask to go to the bathroom so we can vomit this? We probably alredy done it when we ate something bad in the past

>>3387382
Let's excuse ourselves.

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>>3387393
>>3387418
>>3387434
>>3387439
Somehow or other everyone else can drink it just fine, apart from ending up all funny and clumsy acting, but for you it might be the worst you've ever felt. With some quick but worried thinking you decide not to cause a scene but still take some time aside.

"Can has water?"

"Hmm? No like? Other room."

Taking it as wanting something else to drink alongside it, you are able to get up and stumble through the place, some of the older girls taking you as being drunk when really you're feeling ill. But sure enough in another room is an old sink, you have to go through a bedroom where a couple girls are there snuggling and appreciating the view out the window, though once in the bathroom you have a chance to yourself. The sink sputters and eventually groans to put out some discolored water but it can't be worse than the colored drinks they're having. While you let it run you have a chance to look at yourself partly in a broken mirror by the dim light coming from the bedroom, and even then you get pretty scared by your worsening appearance and blurry vision. Gulping some of the water down is what really does it, as your stomach turns and you double over the sink to puke several times, glad the water somewhat works. A nasty mix of dinner mush colored blue.

"Hiya kid, you is ok?"

From the sound of things one of the older girls got up out of bed to check on you, herself in a state of undress but that's hardly on your mind right now as your gut strains and you try to maintain some clarity. Her hands on your shoulders as she sidles up to you is a help, and goes as far to rub your back and try to help you wash your mouth out more and clean your face.

"Look bad, some sick? Come sit?"

The chance to be off your feet is appreciated, even if you're not sure yet the puking spell is over. She leaves the sink to run and clean it out, as she leads you by the shoulder back to the bed, where the other girl notices you now.

"What is? That'm the mans?"

"Puke sick, lay down some."

How nice these older girls in general are is up for debate but they at least have sympathy as the one makes some room for you in the bed, and the other helps you lay down and takes her place beside to continue rubbing your back. The other strokes your hair and tries to ask if you ate anything bad? That's their assumption, not the drinks. You still feel awful though, but a lay down for awhile could help.

You suppose you could ask them yourself, try to talk about it, but after that puking spell you're feeling out of sorts to say the least. A rest would be nice but Jess is still in the other room with the other girls.

>What do you do?

>>3387511
Let them know that it might be a reaction to the drinks. Rest for a little, then try to make it back to Jess. It seems like the worst is past anyhow

>>3387511
well, the worse if past, stay a little while with them to make sure we are not puking anymore and then go back to Jess, don't drink when we are back there

>>3387552
>>3387533


Let's see if they know how to get better from this, don't be too long tho, if we feel better let's get back, maybe we are still a little wobbly

>>3387560
>>3387552
>>3387533
You can ask them for what they think and what would be best, however they can't imagine why it would be the drinks or if it was, how to cope with it since they're not aware of anyone ever really getting sick like that from just the drinks. Not that they think you're a liar or anything, it's just outside of their experience to the extent where you wonder if it really was the drinks yourself. As opposed to maybe just some first time nerves, or even something bad at dinner? Still, you don't want to try drinking again as you lay there gradually feeling a little better as the girls try their best to help.

---

You're awoken sometime later when one of them gets up to go to the bathroom, and you realized you must have dozed off. The remaining girl is asleep herself with her arms around you, but doesn't mind as you try to get up, just checking you're feeling better before you go.

"Eh-heeey Alessa! Lookaz!"

It must be some time later because you notice there's less of the older girls around or at least still up, but there's Jess just as clumsy and acting funny as the rest of them and sitting as an equal at the table playing cards. She's obviously had more to drink than they'd first allowed, but she's having fun playing with the makeshift cards and seems to have won some new shoes as well.

While there's less of the older girls around though, those that remain are rowdier and you get forcefully pulled onto one girl's lap to be told a story about her first outing from the building and how it went wrong (explaining her loss of some fingers), while another unsteadily wants to braid your hair for being longer than hers. Things were already uncomfortable enough being the center of attention but now acting in such an obtuse way.

Not that you want to ruin Jess's fun though but even setting aside your own displeasure of this, it must be pretty late. That is, assuming you'd planned on heading back still tonight. Not like you couldn't find a place to spend here...

>What do you do?

>>3387614
Humor them. It's not like the games gonna last forever. After they finish, try to get Jess to come back with us. It's getting late, and we need to get back to our room lest the grown ups find it empty.

>>3387614
Let's take Jess with us, explain that we should be heading back to our room we can play more there but we should not be out if the adults try and find us

>>3387614
Let's ask Jess to get back, we already stayed enough, if she doesn't want to go wait a little and tgen bring her with us.

>>3387627
tell her we felt sick a little that's why we disappeared for a while, maybe that can convince her to come if she doesn't want to come right away

>>3387631
Yeah, I think it's starting to get a little wild for our tastes.

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>>3387651
>>3387633
>>3387631
>>3387627
>>3387622
This is far beyond your comfort limit, so as much fun as Jess is having, you feel compelled to call it for the night. She might be upset but you did get her in here in the first place, after all. Fortunately, although she's reluctant at first and it takes her awhile to come around, when she knows that you're serious about leaving she eventually accepts for your sake. Of course the older girls try to convince you to stay and you feel the pressure of wanting to, wanting to be cool in their eyes, but it can't be better than getting caught outside your room.

So supporting Jess as she staggers along, the two of you bid goodnight to the older girls, and you thank them for the party and drinks before you take your leave.

"-muhrrr best, best friend! Alessa I love youuu sooo mush!"

Back through the collapsed side of the building, trying your best to sneak her to where the younger girls sleep, and then back to your own room. While you do get caught along the way with her for being too loud, you make an excuse about Jess being sick herself so the adult takes her off your hands and sends you to your own room without much trouble.

You still don't feel well after those nasty colored drinks, but at least you have your own room and your own privacy again. Daisy is glad to see you, anxious about being left alone but after a quick walk to an unoccupied room so she can do her business, you're ready to retire for the night. Much later than usual though, for sure...

---

"Muhhh... what is?"

Some time in the night, or early morning rather, you're awakened again by Daisy growling and starting to bark before you can grab her close to keep quiet. An adult having opened the door caught the dog's attention, but it isn't just to check if you're in bed, she actually enters the room and strains to see you by the light from the hall.

"This only you room, girl? In other mountain for food? Heya, come with."

"Huh? Um... ye, I is. Where for?"

She looks around the room but ends up focusing on you and nudges at your feet, urging you to get up with her.

"Can with, show good place. You want? Bring all you need."

If you can pack your belongings or at least the essentials, it seems she wants to take you exploring somewhere. Maybe one of the adults who heard you complaining about being confined? If she does want to sneak you someplace secret then it would make sense to do so at night, same as the idea you and Jess had. You certainly hadn't expected one of the adults to sympathize as much with you though.

>What do you do?

>>3387779
Give it a go, maybe she can show us some cool stuff, maybe even show us a secret way out in case we want to do more exploring.

>>3387779
Who is this? Do we know her?

I don't want to go with a stranger, if its Kim, Maria, Joan or even Kessa we might go but otherwise it's better not, we had enough adventure for one night.

>>3387811
It's not someone you know, maybe someone from one of the lower floors like Grace or Chaya. While there's not so many of their number in total, for the tribe, you still don't know everyone by name let alone well.

>>3387832
Make an excuse, we are felling sick, maybe she can show us after we wake up later?

>>3387779
I'm not feeling it, I'm a little nervous about this bight visit actually, ask her where specifically are we going? How does she want to sneak out.

I don't want to go.

>>3387867
>>3387855
>>3387802
You could go with her, getting to go out is what you've wanted. But sprung on you so suddenly like this, even half-awake thinking, you'd rather not.

"Mmm... no want. Feel uh... feel too sick."

"Aw no trouble, can carry you want?"

She seems pretty eager to sneak you out but at your continued refusal, she accepts your choice and pats your knee. If you prefer she'll try and come back the next night then, but it sounds like her way out is to escort you down the stairwell and then go to the lower floors. Of course you're already familiar with such a way down, you went there with Olivia and Jess many days ago, but the adults have forbidden you from that. Maybe this one is just willing to allow you past, perhaps with her supervision or something like that.

Otherwise then as you're not interested, she's going to let you back to sleep and take her leave. Though you are awake so can do as you please, but you'd probably prefer a full-night's rest.

>>3387896
Let's try to find her in the lower floors in the morning

>>3387896
Though you are awake so can do as you please, but you'd probably prefer a full-night's rest.
Sleep. We're still a growing boy, whatever that is.

>>3387896
Lets sleep, we have some questions to ask in the morning, for exemple, that one we wanted to ask Kim before

>>3387925
>>3387917
>>3387913
Sleepy time, and if you can't find her again later on, there's always the next night. At least some sleep then, though you're awoken eventually by the creeping burning of your throat and stomach, to the point when you wake up and it's agonizing. Maybe you puked up most of the colored drink but the effect it had on you for what time it was in your system, may still have aftereffects.

So after hurriedly walking Daisy around for the morning, you rush for the bathrooms to get some water from one of the sinks, and actually drink quite a bit before you start feeling a little better. Still too ill you think for breakfast though, even though you're hungry you may just puke it up again.

But, since you're not going to be eating, you can seek Kim out! So if you had some particulars you wanted to ask her, considering what you'd wanted to before, you can now. And if it's an effort to try and get something out of her, you can make a roll for the attempt.

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>3387949
Try to ask her why is taking so long to make new people, we want to go out with her again and leave a message to our mother for when she comes back

Post apocalyptic shota quest?

Im down

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>3387949
>>3387955

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>>3387956

Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>3387949

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>>3387960
I like you friend!

Here, have this image

You've earned it!

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>3387949
We want to go out with her, to let mother know we are here and maybe, the next girl that goes to the Red Cross to get a new life could see if they find mother, we even have someone willing to take us out

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>>3387973
No thank you.

>>3387957
>>3387964
>>3387955
>>3387982
>90

As you'd hoped, you can seek out Kim while most everyone is to the typical communal breakfast. She clearly hadn't expected you to come to her though in the upper level where she was, and actually appears avoidant of you until you persist. It seems she has a hard time facing you when she's just as much a part of your increasing imprisonment, same as any of the other adults despite that she found and brought you here to begin with. Eventually though after looking around, she takes you aside if only to quieten you down.

"Want go out, Kim! Stay here, no new lives. Why? If no, want go out."

"I... we no know, Joan say mans has sticky milk but no know. Maybe for older, you no has chest yet for milk. Why no can out, have older fore."

She has a clear difficulty answering your questions mainly because she doesn't understand it herself. She's not the doctor here so she can only go off what stories have told her and what she's heard Joan mention to the other adults. Whatever the whole reason is, you're probably only getting part of it from her because that's all she knows. The gist of it seems to be though, they know you can create more lives supposedly, but they don't seem to actually know how you would do that.

Which admittedly is fair, you don't know either. All you've heard talk of is sticky milk like what the Red Cross place seems to have, that makes more lives, but Kim and the others seem to be guessing that you're too young for it. Like you'd heard from the other girls your age, your body hasn't begun to change like other people yet where you grow taller and among other things your chest grows. At least that much, you already knew from mother who explained that's important for babies. If you haven't undergone that yet then you really must be too young for it, hence their technical imprisonment of you assumedly till then.

"Want go out, for mother to know. If'm she back, not know where I's go. If never find?!" you get teary-eyed at this part, and it's no act either, both upset and frustration but mostly fear of not seeing mother again, "And if other go Red Cross, want go, find mother. Kim no help, other say'm she help."

She hears your request and finds it hard to raise any objection to it, even though she is supposed to as expected of her by the other adults. Something about the last part you say though, her expression goes from one of sympathy, to concern.

"Who'm other, say help?"

"Um..."

Maybe you spoke to soon on that. You didn't get her name you realize, but if you told, what would happen? Maybe she'd be caught and refused to offer her help? If it's about your mother though, eventually Kim comes around and says she'll try to get you out. If only, so that you can leave some sign or message, back at your shelter if need be so that your mother will know where you are and could come find you again. If it is to happen though, she doesn't expect it will be today, another day or two at the very least for her to try and convince others and possibly get some effort to go about escorting you for this.

It's the least her tribe can do for you, if indeed they have belonging of you now and you could prove to be as much a savior as Joan thinks.

>What do you do?

>>3388044
Sneak to the lower floors and observe the people there, try to find the woman from before without being seen

>>3388066
Good enough, we can check on Grace out there too

> If able to go to the Resteraunt Building, ask the Elevator A.I. to take you to where you can buy Robots.

>>3388105
That's something to keep in mind if you can get over there.

>>3388074
>>3388066
Make a roll for the sneaking then! You're not allowed down there so it will be an effort to get past anyone noticing.

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>3388108

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>3388108
Sneeki breeki iv damke

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>>3388115
>>3388113
>58

Spurred on by your sneakiness last night, you attempt to navigate your way down through one of the stairwells in order to reach the lower levels, while most everyone is at breakfast. Unfortunately you end up getting caught, the stairwells are simply too trafficked to avoid being noticed, however whom you are caught by is one of the adults who dwells down on those lower floors so she doesn't really care that much about you coming down there. Just that you're lucky enough to have been caught by her and not someone who would care.

"Alexa? You is ok to be here?"

"Heya, Daisy is?"

A similar reaction when you go looking around these more spare lower floors (though still towards the top of the building, above the clouds) and end up finding most of the adults down here clustered around a barrel fire and open windows, having their own breakfast. The robot as well who lives here, though not eating obviously, but Grace wonders if you're allowed down here while Chaya greets you and is interested in knowing how your dog is doing as it's been awhile since she's minded Daisy.

No sign of that adult from last night down here though, but you had only assumed she was one of these lower floor dwellers, could just as easily have been someone from upstairs too. At least you're down here now though, with the freedom to move around the mostly uninhabited floors here if not leaving the skyscraper itself.

>What do you do?

>>3388148
Try to describe the womam to grace an chaya see if tgey know her, if they ask tell them she dropped something and we want to return ut.

> Ask the Robot for it's name and what things it can do.

>>3388148
Ask the robot where our mom is

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>>3388180
You can describe the woman from last night to Grace and Chaya, and the few other women gathered, but they don't know who she is for sure, apart from throwing out some names of other women in the tribe it could be by appearance details you give.

>>3388188
>>3388199
You've seen the robot before but never really interacted with it, though there's the chance to when the gathered women finish their own breakfast down here and proceed to set about their work or roles in the tribe.

"Heya robot! I's Alexa, you is?"

"Alexa, logged. My human given name is Hardbody, among your people."

Very clearly a machine being, although humanoid in form, of segmented parts. Unlike the robots you first encountered in the restaurant in the other building across the gap, this one seems to have something of a "mind" or personality. That is, it's not stuck performing some same task and nothing else, it acts as it seems to "want" to.

"What you can to?"

"I can try to do whatever you may need me to, as I have ever since your people reactivated me."

"Can to say mother where is?" you ask with a hopeful gasp, taking the robot at its word believing that it can do anything you want it to.

"I have never met your mother but if I find her I will let you know. If she has gone to the hospital then she is to be well taken care of."

Well that's a bit of a letdown but at least you know you can interact with the robot normally and possibly even rely on it? You wonder about asking it to go find your mother, if it didn't mean sending a robot away from the tribe who it belongs to. As it stands though, it doesn't seem any of the adults down here have any need of the robot for today so if you had any wishes to interact further with it you could. Otherwise, well you're down here so you don't have to worry so much about anyone watching over your shoulder or controlling where you go.

>What do you do?

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>>3388228
Also this will probably be my last post of the night then, we'll continue here tomorrow around a similar time.

Till then, thanks all for playing! And in the meantime if you have any questions or things that don't seem clear, feel free to ask and I'll answer if I can.

Thanks for running!

> Can you please Teach me more words? Teach me how fix robot like you?

>>3388228
Ask the robot to teach us how to be a badass robot. Teach us the ways of the cyborg

>>3388268
Also this sounds good. I get the general degradation of language, and possibly intelligence over time due to the lack of available males, instead of relying on the Red Cross possibly synthetic/artificial sperm. But it doesn’t explain how the doctor is fully literate and capable of speaking normally while everyone else is just a few steps up from grug speech.

>>3388231
Thanks for running

Learning more of the language sounds good to me too, we had quite some trouble reading the journal and it might help if we ever get out exploring. Would make me a tiny bit sad at the same time tough, as our degraded english is quite cute desu

>>3388228
The robot can probably get the good food for us! He can interface with the restaurant in our name and bring the food, let's ask Kim to transfer some of the money to it and send it to get the food

>>3388334
Why? We have enough to eat, why keep using money on food when there’s a possibility of using our money for a laser rifle? Or Gatling laser? Or even just more robots?

>>3388349
Because the food here is crap, hence the crap health of everyone, and we have a shitload of it, and mostly to see if it can interface with the building like we can and get things for us there, and we don'ylt know where to get those other things you mentioned, maybe we can ask if they know of another tribe that accepts weapons but up until now the only places that take money are the restaurant and the hospital

>>3388228
Bring the robot back to our room, look up Jass, maybe at her room, and tell her about last night's visit and about what we talked with Kim

>>3388334

I agree on buying some Robots asap.
It would be more protection and more independence. Plus fucking cool y'know?

That said..... Buying food every now and then is not a bad thing.... just don't get reliant on it.

I like the idea of turning that rooftop vegetation into a fruit orchard/Farm etc.... Get a Robot up there to look after it all.... kind of reminiscent of that Laputa Robot.....

>>3388268
the words could be fun, we would probably need a lot of time for it tho, maybe a time skip after we go on our expedition with Kim to tell mom where we are?

>>3388359
agree with testing to see if the robot can get us the good food
>>3388395
this too, Let's tell Jess about what happened at night and what we discussed with Kim, so someone else knows in case something happens

>>3388501
robbots would be could if we could get more, or even a drone like Kim's for scouting.

>>3388359
It’s not so much food as it is clean, reliable, running water that’s the problem for them. They can easily get adequate nutrition, and do so. Having regular access to potable drinking water is a different story. As is water for bathing, washing clothes, and detergent or soap to wash with. Just because their food is bland doesn’t mean it isn’t nutritious. All I mean is that it seems wasteful to spend so much on food, which these people will expect us to share, instead of on something that would have lasting benefit. Like clean water, more living space, or even just a laser rifle for ourselves. Nowhere in this thread or the previous thread did the QM mention their food being complete crap. It’s just not as good as the expensive, exclusive, restaurant that literally has death robots that kill people who can’t pay.

>>3388359
Plus you just seem to constantly vote for doing retarded shit like buying everyone food and playing fucking doctor with little girls exposing that we are the last known male around. Leading us into this stupid situation where we have no freedom to do anything or go anywhere period.

>>3388359
I mean literally every single vote you had was hey let’s go buy this girl food. That’s why this quest endlessly drags on where we can’t do shit because all we ever do is vote to go spend money on Michelin rated restaurant food for a bunch of grubby scavengers

>>3388359
I’m just a lurker but I gotta agree with >>3388693 you just constantly vote on time wastes that do nothing to progress the story or our character. I just read the thread and every single time there was a vote you voted to go buy food for thots for whatever reason. Nobody gives a shit about that stuff.

>>3388693
>>3388684
>>3388678
Ok dude, I get it, it seems you don't lime the way I was voting and to be honest I was not sure about what a 12 year old should be doing besides tryong to explore and play around.

How about this, let's discuss future plans while the quest doesn't run and we xan have some goals, goals should give us a general sense to what loom out for.

I guess our immediate concerns are getting word out to mother and maybe searching for her in the Red Cross, besides that what, a robot? Another gun to replace our pistol and maybe some learning while we are here? About how to fix robots and eletronics.
Tell me what are your goals.

>>3388840
Not being a useless nigger is enough for me. Doing something besides buying food from a robo restaurant, learning something useful. Can’t really explore since we’re basically locked up in this place now, which is a shame because exploration is probably the most interesting thing we could do. But not being a retarded nigger is enough for now.

>>3389173
you should really move your salt somewhere else. if you don't like the way someone is voting, then propose a different thing to do and let all the rest of the players decide.

Going to be resuming in a bit now.

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>>3388359
>>3388678
You can see for yourself, the food is very poor quality and only small amounts, which is why it's shared communally. In fact since you've been living here among them you've noticed you're starting to lose weight. That said, despite their poor diets and health, it's not like they're starving to death when you think they should be for as little they get to eat. You're always hungry now after leaving your shelter, while they seem just fine to get along as they are.

>>3388268
>>3388275
>>3388334
>>3388395
Your only prior experience with robots, are the creepy and dangerous ones in the other building working the restaurant. So to encounter one that's kind of like a person, is actually pretty exciting. The other people seem to treat Hardbody as just another person of the tribe but for you there's some getting used to required, for sure.

"You'm talk good words, can learn?"

"The rest of your people do not care about grammar. While I am not an educational model, I can assist with relevant resources."

You've never had much a problem with the way you or anyone else talks, but speaking with Joan and now the robot, they're so well spoken that you wonder if it wouldn't to learn a little better at least. Though of course you recognize it won't be easy and take time. For this purpose though and merely asking, the robot will follow you upstairs again though it's impossible to not get caught with it in tow, which you get yelled and and dragged back to your room and locked inside as a timeout punishment. At least you still have Daisy, and now a robot.

"How old are you?"

"No sure."

"But you are a child, and they gave you a room to yourself?"

"Oh um... impor-tant? Am mans."

Perceptive enough to notice things like that, the robot looks around your room and reaches some conclusions. Though it doesn't seem surprised or perturbed about your gender or anything, merely logs it. You wonder if it's ever met any other men before, but much more pressing is that other thing you wondered. At least for the time being while you're locked in here, before you seek out Jess to talk to about last night.

"How can to robot? Big good like Hardbody?"

"Being a robot is not a choice, I was made this way." you'd asked wide eyed and excited, though the robot rests a firm hand on your shoulder, "However if you believe in yourself, you can be anything you want. I believe in you, Alexa."

What a pick up that is after being scolded for sneaking around. You might have some time in here as punishment but it's not so bad with a robot to talk to, and of course in the process learn the language better.

>What do you do? Also feel free to make a roll for language-learning.

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>3389976
Learn to read as well

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>3389976
learn language and ask robot about what makes men special

>>3389992
Fuck yeah we’re no longer a complete grug. Now we are almost at human levels of literacy and speech.

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>3389976
Ask the robot how to make new people, maybe it knows.

Try to learn how it works too

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>3389976
Ask the robot what a man is. Everyone says that’s what we are and why we have our own room and different rules. But nobody says what makes a man different and why.

>>3390150
>inb4 "a miserable little pile of secrets"

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>>3390033
>>3389992
>>3389984
>>3390150
>82

"Grug grug, unga bunga?"

What a valuable education you are receiving!

"Yes, that is the stereotype of what ancient humans sounded like."

"Big weird!"

You have about an hour or two stuck in your room so a chance to get a decent impression of the robot is possible. Your main concern is your language skills and reading for which you have the few books from the secret stash under the bed. It's not as though you learn to speak properly in as short an interaction but it's a start, as you become aware of better word placement in sentences which is one major problem people seem to have these days. The problem is that Hardbody is something called a "police" robot so it wasn't created to teach children proper language skills, really you have to learn from it by talking to and listening to how it talks, and assuming that to be correct you would imitate it. It does have some given resources though, like something called a "dictionary" in its head or wherever it keeps its knowledge.

As helpful a language resource as that might be, you still end up getting kind of bored of all that after awhile so try to see what else you can learn.

"Why mans is special?"

"All people are special, men and women, and both are equal."

You're only a kid, talking to a robot from the old world after who knows how many years, but even still you can't help become frustrated. On certain topics the robot answers in roundabout ways that don't help and you can't understand why, like insisting that men and women are equal in the eyes of the law and that there's no practical difference between them, none are more special than the other. Not really what you were looking for when trying to understand why you're different and why that's so important. You do at least get a technically better answer when among other similar topics then, you go down a line of questioning as to how new people are made. With the medical knowledge the robot seems to possess, eventually the answers all seem to revolve around something called "intercourse" and different ways of saying that same thing, but all the words used and ways of explaining them are too complicated for you to understand. Both from a limited language basis and also for your age and lack of understanding. It's like if you asked Joan to explain it to you, still very clinical only the robot doesn't attempt to talk more simply so that you can understand. The general gist of all you can glean of the questions and answers, is that men and women have different bodies and they do something with them together which makes a new person. Though if you believe it, it has something to do with the specific body difference between the two, so it can't be with the chests like Kim and others believed since as you know men and women both grow chests as they grow up. What difference could it be then...

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For the remainder of the time, you're curious as to how the robot works, and on this it's somewhat more helpful. By going through a diagnostic process which appears a lot like a person checking themself for injuries, the robot demonstrates different parts of itself and at your questioning how those parts are connected and what they do. Again, there's a lot of what you don't understand, a lot of technical language but at least you can see it pointed out and explained. You understand that like people, robots have their own blood which is the same "eelec-trisity" which you already know about from the scavengers. It also has things that are similar to bones or skin that join its parts together, and all the parts joined and working together form the entire robot and allow it to function. No so radically different from a person, only in this case it seems parts can be touched (even inside), removed or changed for other things, without the robot dying as a person would. At least most of the time.

"Hmm... so'm wires veins is like?"

"-are like veins, is the proper way of saying it. Though I cannot speak to the validity of your comparison."

"Are like..."

In any case, eventually your punishment is considered sufficient it seems, as an adult shows up to unlock your door. However she lets you know that if you're caught again, they're going to have someone always around to watch you, after this. Really all you care about though now, is that you're free! You can go and find Jess as you wanted to, although you have enjoyed your time with Hardbody here. If you still had anything pressing you wanted to follow up with it, or if you'd rather just stay, you could.

>What do you do?

>>3390202
Ask the robot if he can teach us about being a police officer. If he gets on to the types of officer ask about SWAT and K9 officers. We can learn better words AND real life skills at the same time.

>>3390202
Let's fond Jess and talk about the night visit and our talk with Kim, so someone else knows about it.


It's got to be the underparts since its the only thing different, why nobody asked the robot?

>>3390258
Supporting

>>3390202
Ask him if he has weapons and if he can teach us how to use one later, don't show him our gun but ask if someone like us could have one, I don't want it confiscated, if he says it's ok we set up a training session later, if he says we can't have weapons drop the issue.

After it find Jess, describe the woman and ask for her help to find her.

>>3390289
+1

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>>3390258
>>3390261
>>3390266
>>3390289
>>3390305
Out of curiosity before you leave and probably let Hardbody on its way, you ask what a police is and get an explanation you can vaguely understand. Something to do with making sure people follow rules in the world before, and keeping people safe from others who don't follow the rules. Though unlike the restaurant robots for example, Hardbody seems aware that the world has changed and so the laws no longer apply, or at least it doesn't act to enforce the laws that used to be, just those set by the tribe. But by the sound of things the robot knows how to fight and use weapons, so naturally you ask if it could show you.

"No Alexa, you are too young. Not without permission from one of the leading adults."

Though it may annoy you, that actually seems like a fair rule for the robot to follow, and a pretty human one as well. Just as the adults wouldn't want you messing around with weapons, so too have the imparted as much to the robot it seems. Interestingly it has no problems with you (or anyone for that matter) owning weapons or supposedly even using them, it just personally refuses to train you in any use of them without an adult's say so. Seems the scavengers have such rules about children and weapons.

Well, all that means is you just need to get an adult to give permission! You thank the robot for its time, though it's not like you were keeping it from doing anything, as you leave with Daisy to go look for Jess.

---

"No sure who is. Claire so?"

You can't find Jess but you can find Olivia in her place, and try to talk to her about what happened last night. Again though based on your vague descriptions Olivia isn't aware of who it might have been off the top of her head. She is willing to help you look however, if you have an idea of where to start. Her first idea is to just go around asking the adults, but you're not sure if you want that knowledge out in the open. What if whoever it was, wants to help you in secret?

So you ponder the matter together while watching an oncoming storm front in the distance, adults rushing about every which way to prepare the building for when it arrives. As well, you also consider about bringing up the conversation with Kim along with some more of what you learned from Hardbody, but you're not exactly sure how to frame it. Plus you'd feel more comfortable talking about that with Jess, since she's more up to speed on your gender concerns.

>What do you do?

>>3390423
Look for the woman with Olivia but don't tell the adults, try to find Jess at the sleeping quarters or the infermary since that drink fucked us up too.

If we cross paths with Kim ask her to give us permition to learn how to use our weapon with hardbody, it already saved us against the raiders and it would help keep us safe.

>>3390500
>>3390500
This

If we see Kim, ask her where she got her drome and if we can get a robot or a drone like hers.

Did mother give us the basics on the laser pistol? Does it uses limited ammo or its one of those heat based weapons that you have unlimited shots but have to wait for it to cool down?

>>3390500
Yeah sure. Don’t really have much besides making sure we spend some time every day learning to read and speak from the robot, and possibly the doctor if she’s willing. If we can read, comprehend, and communicate better, we will learn other things better in the future. Plus knowing more words means we can ask robots more things, which in turn leads to more knowledge and skills.

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>>3390500
>>3390527
>>3390530
Together with Olivia then you can set about looking for the woman from last night, keeping to the areas you're allowed to go and searching all around. Most of the adults as you saw, are busy with preparations for the oncoming storm, but that makes it easier to notice most of them. Unfortunately no luck locating your mystery woman, though you do encounter Kim overseeing the various scavengers returning to the building before the weather changes.

"For sure how for killy's? Ok, I see Hardbody I say."

Well that was surprisingly easy, she doesn't seem to have any problem with you learning how to use some weapons better. Though it may have something to do with her currently being distracted. While you're there with her, watching other adults pull at the tether to the basket crossing the gap between buildings, you figure to also ask about her drone. As it turns out she merely found it while scavenging once, but they are able to sometimes cobble together spare and scrap parts to make their own devices. Or of course, with your bank account they could always trade for one or find a place to buy one.

After that, you still keep searching for the woman from last night but as a second though, since right now you're after Jess. Olivia asks some of the other girls, and eventually you get led the way to the collapsed side of the building again. The older girls are evacuating their corner ahead of the storm just in case, and Jess took that as a chance to hang out with them by helping carry stuff. A bit distressing to see that she appears more or less fine, just tired, but then all the older girls are similarly fine. Meanwhile you're still coping with bouts of nausea after drinking that stuff last night, and your throat and stomach still sting.

"Hiya Olivia, Alexa! Lookit them let be with!"

Of course she's ecstatic just to be able to associate with the older girls, as you and Olivia rush to help her from dropping a plastic box, but she's happy to see you too. Together you move alongside some of the older girls also carrying things through the crumbling exterior of the building past old furniture and rubble remains, but you could probably convince her to set aside helping for now if you needed her. Perhaps to continue the search, it's only just after midday so there's still plenty day left but eventually it'll be night, and you imagine to have another encounter with your mystery woman.

>What do you do?

>>3390568
Tell her about the woman and recruit her for the search, when we take a time out from it tell them about the new info we got from hardbody, the new leads about making new people and how breast are probably not it, but underparts since they are different.

I'm starting to think that woman is not from here since nobody knows her and we can't find her, did she sneak in?

>>3390568
Bring her with us. Ask what's the problem with the storm, did we get those at the shelter?

>>3390568
Maybe also besides just learning killys learn hand to hand combat. We are at the age where we should learn as much as possible.
>>3390591
Supporting. That woman has got to be an infiltrator from somewhere. We should also make a point of asking every day or every other day about progress on finding or communicating with mom. If necessary get an escort to go back to our shelter and leave a message.

>>3390636
Kim mentioned putting and effort to get us to the shelter after that 90, we should ask about it again to her after the storm or tomorrow after she had the time to make the necessary prep

>>3390591
+1

>>3390661
Ah ok forgot that. We have so many votes and shit but don’t actually seem to ever do a whole lot that I lost track. Didn’t realize it had been one day

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>>3390591
>>3390610
>>3390636
>>3390661
>>3390666
Storms aren't something you ever dealt with in your shelter as it was below ground. However Olivia and Jess assure you it's nothing much to worry about, it's just that sometimes if the storms are strong enough the wind can whip up the clouds to higher than they normally linger. The adults are taking precautions just in case but it's really not all that dangerous.

In any case you can spend the rest of the afternoon again, continuing to search for this woman but by then Olivia and Jess are doubtful that she exists and ask more than once if you weren't dreaming. Even you yourself, you feel certain she's real but wherever she is, you don't think you'll find her looking around the common areas. So you can take a break with your two friends as you grab something to eat together and then find a spot by one of the windows of the upper floors to sit and watch the ever-nearer storm front.

"Under parts? Just only toilet for."

"No sure other lifes from. Ask Joans? Them's help other lifes."

While appreciating the high up view above the clouds, you get to talking with them about what you're learning. Neither of them can seem to believe what you think though, why new people would have anything to do with under parts when they're just for going to the bathroom. Plus why the important stuff is called sticky milk if people have chests for milk. All rather suspect to them, but you know what the robot told you.

Failing the search then for the mystery woman, you consider how to spend the rest of the evening. The adults make it sound like the storm will be here by dinnertime, so that kind of ruined Jess's hopes of partying with the older girls again. Most of all your mind is on this coming night though, and expecting another visit. Anything till then, feels impatient in comparison.

>What do you do?

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>>3390745
Well you are effectively a prisoner here now! You yourself can attest how the days are wearing on you for only being allowed around the couple upper floors and always a close watch on you.

>>3390527
As for the laser pistol, mother showed you how to use it even though you've never fired it. It has a limited number of uses for it's battery, however that can be repowered with a special charger it comes with. So you don't have to worry about running out of shots as long as you've got access to power.

Though, mother herself used a normal gun, and what few others you've seen since emerging into the outside world have also been normal guns. Yours is the only type of energy weapon you've ever seen.

>>3390766
tell them to look around our room and they will see the woman tonigh, maybe invite them to sleep over, if Dayse would let them.

for the afternoon we can search for the people that fix and assemble elek-tronics to see if we can build or try to get a drone for ourselves

>>3390814
+1 for the invitation but let's talk with joan about our hardbody talk instead

>>3390839
+1

>>3390839
Man everybody is on the bandwagon to immediately start banging every chick on sight aren’t they? Even though we’re a prepubescent child of unknown age.

>>3390878
>>3390839
Seems the preference, but to what extent do you want to try and talk with her about it? Just what you learned, or actually trying to figure the whole picture.

>>3390895
The reasoning is trying to figure it out so they can make new mans and we can start going other places again.

>>3390888
not really banging for me, I just don't want to be alone when that woman comes back, I think she is up to no good

>>3390909
Once they find out how to make new people we will never be allowed to escape damn.

>>3390909
I understand the reasoning, I'm just seeing which is more a case considering Alexa has already displayed a tendency of suspicion and keeping things close to the chest. Rather a "Joan I figured it out!" or a "Can you explain to me without me letting on what I know, so I can figure it out on my own?"

Basically how trusting you are with this information.

>>3390923
Trust no one, particularly with things about being a man or reproduction. We can figure that shit out on our own later when we start getting awkward boners and shit. The first time we revealed we were different, we got put on house arrest.

>>3390923
Hmmm, since Joan had a massive shift in interaction with us when we were honest with her I think Alexa would be more careful. How about we fish for information disguised as curiosity snd try to confirm our suspicious about what Hardbody said?

>>3390937
We could play the long game. Learn as much as possible, become as literate as possible, and then we can ask hardbody again, or be directed by him to another robot or something.

>>3390923
>"Can you explain to me without me letting on what I know, so I can figure it out on my own?"

I don't really trust her as much as I trust the girls and Kim

>>3390951
I don’t trust any of them. Except the girls our age. Maybe Kim. Sometimes.

>>3390971
good, it always pays to have a paranoid anon

>>3390979
We should all be paranoid. We don’t even realize the danger we’re in being the last known male alive. Gotta be careful until we’re big enough to take care of ourselves and ensure our independence.

>>3390979
>>3390987
And once it becomes impossible to disguise our gender due to size/musculature/facial hair/big benis.

>>3390987
desu, I think Alexa feels quite safe here, since before he was in the land of loneliness, starvation and creepy monsters and now he doesn't have to worry with all that, so I'm on the trusting front to those that provided that.
that being said I think we should learn how to defend ourselves and other survival skills since everyone is telling Alexa how dangerous the world is to him and how other people might want to take him because he is valuable.

I don't think Alexa realizes how much of a big deal he is.

>>3390989
that will be funny, we will have to create some strategies later to hide it, the long hair clean shave and malnutrition play in our favor tho

>>3390997
Eh, as much as I complained about us wasting time and money on food, I DO think we should at least go to the restaurant building to get enough food for ourselves, and whoever comes with us I guess. Can’t have the last man alive be a little underfed Virgin manlet. Gotta become the 10/10 alpha chad even though we have no frame of reference. Plus going to the restaurant building will inevitably lead to exploration, and maybe even study of the plant growth on its roof.

>>3390997
>>3391022
And not saying I don’t wanna help the radio shack scavenger girls but I don’t think we should spend all of our money on restaurant food for the whole tribe. Just gotta get additional nutrition, learn, and recontact mom. Even though she’s clearly not the best teacher if we can’t even read at this point.

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Whew this took a long time to write, thanks for the patience!

>>3390839
>>3390814
Without being able to find your mystery woman, your suspicions of her grow, as you ask if your friends would spend the night with you. Olivia is convinced that this person doesn't exist, but in any case she had already promised Maria that she would help with the younger girls through the storm tonight. Jess meanwhile senses your mix of worry and anticipation tonight though, and she agrees to stay with you if the adults will let her, or won't notice.

Awhile longer then and rain starts to hit the windows and the skies darken with the setting sun. The communal dinner is a nice distraction for everyone to come together and enjoy themselves despite the wind and rain outside, and hearing the talk and news going around. The biggest focus being that with the coming of the storm, after it passes the clouds will be thinner for a day or so allowing for much greater travel and access through the city. This has a myriad of implications and almost every adult has plans or duties whenever this occurrence happens which you hear talk of now. It certainly sounds interesting, though after dinner you leave Daisy with Jess as you part ways with your friends; you want to follow up that information before turning in for the night.

"Hello Alexa! Joanie, can you watch her?"

"Sure'm thing mom."

In the healthcare room having made your way over there, Joan and her daughters are currently dealing with a busted nose after a fight broke out over something. It doesn't seem serious enough though, where one of her daughters can't handle it so she takes a seat aside with you at the far end of the room to talk in some relative privacy.

Primarily a chance to check your leg again, each day as she wishes, and still she's no less worried. But you can also try to learn more to fill in the jigsaw of your understanding, slowly being filled in.

"What do I know about the process?" she clearly wasn't expecting your question but she doesn't mind talking about it, you can sense even she wanted to as if hearing her thoughts aloud might help her thought process, "Well back when I was a member of the hospital, they would give injections... put inside you, the sticky milk. If it's done the right way then an extra life will grow inside you, and eventually... after some time when it's grown enough you'll have a baby. That's how I had Joana and Joanie, it's how you, me, how everyone is made."

Mother as well you imagine, and how she had you. Maybe why she went back to the Red Cross place? Really though the more you think about it the more it confuses you. How do the animals do it then, if their males aren't all dead? Surely Daisy's dog mother didn't go visit the Red Cross place to have her, or any other animal for that matter, like the birds.

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"In... injessons... they are like?" unclear of what she meant, you make a drinking gesture like you would with normal milk. While she isn't embarrassed to correct you, she hesitates over considering how to appropriate tell you considering your age. Perhaps thinking back when she probably gave this similar sort of talk or explanation to her own daughters, or anyone who asked where people come from.

"No... ah... people's under parts, women's. In the hospital they had an array... lots of equipment... big things to keep the sticky milk... ah... fresh? Good? And it was a lot of trouble and time to get an extra life with it. It's why they make people do so much for them, for it. For you however it should be much easier, and I believe you may already have it... make it? I'm just not sure how you... get it out, the books I have aren't clear on that." as she continues along this train of thought and this far, you can see where her understanding begins to fall apart and venture into speculation. She leans back in her chair with a long sigh and takes her glasses off, as if she still might stumble upon the truth by going over it all in her head, "Just think... if it really were easy for you, how many people could be helped... how many people could be made! None of the worries about mutations... ah, turning into... monsters, none of that either. It could be the chance the city needs..."

Once again you see that side of Joan which treats you as important, but for a different reason. Kim and the other scavenger adults have plans it seems, that you have much value which they could use like trading or interacting with other people, or even having people to rely on them. In the end, all for benefits and gain for the tribe, though you can't really find fault with as they've welcomed you in and taken care of you as one of them. Joan however, doesn't seem to want to make people have to pay or trade to share the value you have, if anything she wants you to be able to help everyone so that not everyone is forced to rely on the Red Cross which she seems to dislike.

At least though she confirmed some of your suspicions, if she's correct about the things she said. A different take on the situation with her doctor background, experience having come from the hospital and from her books, and perhaps most importantly that she has two extra lives herself in her daughters. Cleverly though you've been able to play dumb, really just acting as a listening shoulder for her to lean on and bounce ideas and theories off of that she couldn't have with anyone else, even if you don't understand anything she says. Unless you had anything further you wanted to speak with her about though, she's finishes checking on your leg just to make sure, still not happy with it but satisfied at her inspection for the time being.

>What do you do?

>>3391130
Go to bed and start a new day of stuff tomorrow. Do a bit of reading or language training with Hardbody before bed time, then hit the hay. Make sure doge is there too.

>>3391026
You can read, just at about a same level at what you speak.

>>3391140
Hardbody lives on the lower levels, so you won't be able to just go down and fetch him.

On that topic though, go ahead and make a roll, for Jess.

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>3391130
well, I think we got it where it comes from and where it should go, we just don't know how to get it out.

go walk Daisy and sleep with Jass in case the woman comes back again

Tomorrow with the clouds thinner we can convince Kim to take the opportunity to take us to the shelter

> Ask Hardbody to help us search for and identify Robot parts and compatible Electronics etc from the Scrap Piles.

> Ask Hardbody to help us build a Robot as both a Teaching exercise for us to learn more and as a boon to the Community by adding more Robo Companions and Friends!

> Ask Hardbody to be our Room-mate.... Spend more time together to learn and play.... Can he help us move or fight better without Weapons?

> Ask him to help us learn to use our Tablet better.... Ask if we can buy a Robot on the Tablet from here or if he will go with us to the Shops Mountain to buy Robots after the Storm.

Rolled 32 (1d100)

Rolling

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>3391130

Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>3391130

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>3391130

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>3391158
Wrong dice

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>>3391150
>>3391158

Jess injured?

We should ask Hardbody how much he knows about Medicine.... Can help with injuries n stuff?

>>3391171
why injured? we got a 64

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>>3391151
You can log these things for sure the next time you see the robot. The first one is actually a very clever idea I'd not considered so you can get a bonus to it, if you pursue it.

>>3391177
She'll be fine but she may not be able to spend the night.

In any case I think this will probably be my last post of the night then, we'll continue here tomorrow around a similar time. Leave it here with Joan before you leave to settle into bed for the night, and we'll see what happens.

Till then, thanks all for playing! And in the meantime if you have any questions or things that don't seem clear, feel free to ask and I'll answer if I can.

>>3391177
Quest is probably Bo3. Although I’m not sure we even voted for any action involving Jess besides her sleeping with us.

>>3391189
It was basically a roll to see if you/her could get away with her spending the night with you.

>>3391184
thaks for running, and I guess we need more rolls, where are the rest of the guys?

>>3391189
it has been one roll per player, and no we didn't vote to do anything, I just want her there in case that woman shows up

Yeah thanks for running!

> Go and sleep with Doggo!
Take Lazor Pew pew with us!

Rolled 81 (1d100)

Probably going to resume in about an hour, just a heads up.

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>>3392141
>>3391161
>>3391158
>>3391157
>>3391156
>>3391152
>81

You feel you learned enough from Joan for now, a good chance to handle two things at once while she checked on your leg. By the time you're out again though, to find Jess in order to walk Daisy before bed, the wind and rain are clear to see and hear heavy on the exterior windows of the skyscraper. You were looking forward to being able to spend the night with Jess however she gets caught on the way to your room and sent back, but not before she promises to try and sneak back again later.

And sure enough after having gone through the nightly routine before bed along with the younger girls, brushing your teeth and trying to wash and such, one of the adults checks that you're in your room before leaving it at that. Who knows how much longer later though, you're awoken by Daisy's growling, and surprised when Jess scooches under the covers and snuggles beside.

"Hiya Alexa, good sneaky huh?"

---

Again with the growling! Later still into the night you can only assume though, your door is opened as a familiar figure enters, and you struggle to grab ahold of Daisy so she doesn't start barking.

"Heya girl, want come now? Oh... issat friend?"

"Mhmm. Am with."

The woman approaches as easily as the night before with the same offer if you've reconsidered, though in the dim light she quickly notices Jess when close enough but she doesn't seem that bothered by her. Jess though, is sitting up wide awake now and you can guess at her current feelings when she desperately grips your hand, hard.

"W-Who... who is?"

>What do you do?

>>3393457
Who are you? Why do you want me come with you? Where do you plan to take me?

>>3393457
This is Jess, what's your name?

Why I couldn't find you during the day? Are you from outside?

Jess seems afraid, try to be in front of Jess, she obviously doesn't recognize the woman

>>3393457
Is our pistol far? Jess freaking out makes me nervous.

Who are you? Where you want to go?

>>3393457
jess doesn't recognize her. that's a big no to going with her. get prepared to defend ourselves. if she dodges around questions and tries to force us we should scream for adults

>>3393546
>>3393528
>>3393496
>>3393623
Given Jess's reaction, you find yourself wishing you'd kept your laser pistol under your pillow tonight. Though it's not far, just under the bed in your bag, it's farther than you'd like. Failing that, you make an effort to move before Jess if she's afraid, while struggling to maintain control of Daisy.

"Am Alexa, is Jess... you is?"

"Shreya." she also holds out a hand to you but you have no idea what that means.

"Where to go?"

"Good place, down mountain. Want is see? Come."

Somewhere lower within the skyscraper it sounds like, which you're not unfamiliar with since you went exploring with Olivia and Jess some of the lower floors before you were forbidden from going down there. Why at night though, and what about the storm going on?

"Why is want me?"

"Jess can to, you like. Big good, no here."

Well she makes it sound nice at least, and after getting over the initial shock of seeing a stranger here, Jess is a little less worried now. Probably in part because you know she's always curious so her interest is slowly overpowering her misgivings. Especially when there's an adult talking about breaking rules and going exploring to cool new places.

Not that she's eager to hop out of bed and follow, but she's not holding back cries for help, rather more interested to hear what else this stranger could offer. Of course, Daisy isn't at all happy and would bite her hand if she could. And you're naturally uncertain about all of this.

>What do you do?

>>3393637
How is she dressed? Does it remind us of those raider girls?

Ask what good is there, and ask what tribe she is

>>3393637
while i don't necessarily agree with us being holed up like we are, this sounds really dangerous.
Ask how it is safe to go during the storm

>>3393637
"I can't go with stranger, why don't we talk to Kim? She can help"

"You can bring big good here"

Keep in front of Jess and move to our bag, closer to our pistol

>>3393672
+1

>>3393655
She's dressed for like, if you had the knowledge of such a thing, utility work. So not like the raiders, doesn't seem like them in mannerisms either.

>>3393659
>>3393655
>>3393672
>>3393738
With Jess having eased up on the offer, you can't help feel a little interested yourself. After all, when else are you going to get a chance to leave when you want? Still, is it worth the possible risk?

"What good is? Can to here?"

"No can to, is good place down. More to move, free, no trouble clouds or. More people also."

So it's not some treasure or anything she's talking about, but a place, hence why she wants to take you rather than just showing you some thing. More people doesn't sound like a bad thing though.

"Is trouble storm?"

"No'm." she laughs at this and you think you can see a smile, "Am mountain climber, us all no trouble clouds... normal no trouble."

So she's not a raider then at least, and now Jess is very curious at the mention of mountain climber, something she must be familiar with and now is eager to find out what that means. Although she's been patient and answered your questions though, and doesn't do anything to stop you from climbing out of bed (after having handed Daisy to Jess) to get your bag and be ready to grab your pistol, you still don't trust her.

"No can to. Want talk Kim, to help."

"No can if is. If no, will trouble. No me, but will trouble."

At your want of seeking Kim on this matter, Shreya becomes more serious and speaks firmly in response. About not being able to offer her help if you do, and that you can expect trouble if you don't. Though she doesn't seem to mean you an ill will, more it sounds like a warning from her to let you know, if she has to leave. Given credence to your suspicions now then, at least somewhat.

>What do you do?

>>3393782
Let's see if I understand this correctly, she said that if we don't go there will be trouble for us? That's the suspicious she confirmed?

>>3393795
That is her claim yes, but it's a warning not a threat.

>>3393801
Question, so if we go can we come back?

>>3393801
Ask her to explain, what trouble is coming, what will happen

>>3393808
Actually, don't ask this, this is pretty obvioys and may just scare Jess.

Ask this>>3393812