01

[notamelonfucker]

[Barry’s writing is small, blocky, and incredibly tidy.]

Hello.

[There is a pause as he realizes that this isn’t nearly enough. As he writes more, it is obvious that he is nervous by how slowly the words are formed.]My name is Barry

Comments

[spandexisyouth]

Hello, Barry! It is fine that you could not think of any other name. It is a hard choice. I am Gai.

Some people have televisions. I have one for action movies!

[notamelonfucker]

Yes, it was. The woman who greeted me was named Gum, so names don't seem to mean much here.

Oh. I didn't see any in the shop windows, and I thought that was strange. I didn't see any computers, either. It's a bit rural here.

[spandexisyouth]

The one I chose was Youth, but I have found out my real name.

I do not think you will find any in the shops. They, and a lot of things that are like that, are often found when the Wilderness changes.

[notamelonfucker]

How did you do that?

The Wilderness is that place that changes every month. So it changes into places like [another one of those pauses] shopping centres?

[interveningly]

This place is unfortunately somewhat lacking in technological advancements.

[notamelonfucker]

It's the first thing I noticed. Besides the Tree bit.

It's strange. This is all strange.

[interveningly]

Others would say 'you will get used to it' but that only results in a false sense of security.

The wilderness at the moment is quite technologically interesting - though in itself, strange.

[notamelonfucker]

I don't see how anyone could get used to something like this. [There is a wet smear here which Barry attempts to brush off, but he only succeeds in tearing the page. He stares at it in displeasure before continuing.] This cocoon liquid won't come off. It's a bit like creamed honey. In consistency.

What is it like?

[live_ringer]

Yeah, that whole 'like fiction' thing is a bit of a recurring theme. Best hold tight, because it gets weirder.

[notamelonfucker]

Weirder than waking up in a cocoon covered in thick liquid without memories and being sent to live and work in a tree for the rest of your life and relying on a dream for everything you want to know about yourself?

[live_ringer]

...Allright, maybe not weirder unless you count the new things happening on top of the fact the strange things about the place that don't change.

Kind of like a compound interest effect for oddness.

[notamelonfucker]

Oh. I got told about that as well, sort of. There's certainly a lot of strange graffiti on the walls.

[man_genius]

Somebody said tv?

SOMEBODY SAID TV!

OMG YOU'RE ONE OF US!!!

[notamelonfucker]

One of us... meaning someone who understands a bit about technology?

[man_genius]

Yes! You won't believe how many people here have no concept of electricity, let alone the glories of television, personal computers, cellphones and ipods.

BTW do you recognize the rest of that?

[notamelonfucker]

It's like a third world country. And yes, I recognize all of that. It seems normal. That would explain the fact that I saw a store selling non-ornamental swords.

[...okay, he's going to feel like a loser for saying this, but he'll say it anyway.] What exactly do people do in their spare time without all those... things?

[pompous_today]

It does seem like fiction, at first, but hopefully you will get used to it soon.

Welcome, Barry; my name is Simon.

[notamelonfucker]

Maybe.

Thank you, but... I can't quite read your name. It's a bit smudged.

[pompous_today]

Really...?

[Pen taps.]

You may call me Will, then, or Dr. Tam, if you cannot read my real name.

[notamelonfucker]

Why can't I read your real name? Is it not smudged on your end?