HOME | DD

Description

Last Online: 16 Years Ago

"Whoa! Watch out for the tail attack!"
"Oh gosh!" click click...click
"DUDE IT ALMOST HIT YOU!"
"I got it! Run to the other side now!"
"Okay final phase of the fight, you're gonna want to..."
"I know! Its almost..."
Cheerfully victorious music blared to life, crackling from the dust-filled speaker slots at the bottom of the screen.
"Bro! We did it!"
"Heck yeah!! Okay, I really gotta get off now, my mom is gonna flip if I don't get my butt downstairs for supper."
"Haha mine too! Same time tomorrow?"
"Yeah man!"
bee-boop...
The log-off sound chimed, a optimistically cheerful tone. Scrambling, they tossed the controller onto their bed and rushed downstairs in bounding leaps, skipping stairs along the way.
thud-thud-thud "I'm coming mom!"
---
whirr...whirr...whirr...
The gentle sound of a cooling fan hummed within the game system, its internal memory clicking away, saving data from the fight.
---
The mother clucked to herself in the kitchen, "tsk-tsk, why do you spend so much time on that thing? Why don't you go out and make some real friends?"
"What? They are real friends mom! We hang out on there a lot, and we know each other! I know they have a sister, and a dog, and they even helped me with my homework yesterday!"
"Your...homework? Oh...Well then, I didn't know you two were getting on so well. Thats very nice of them."
"Yeah, they're really cool. We've been chatting on there for three years, I'm closer friends with them than anyone at school."
"Really? Where does this kid even live?"
"Oh...yeah, all the way overseas. We'll probably never get to meet each other, but that doesn't make our friendship any less real!" They gave a goofy grin and thumbs up.
"Can I head back upstairs now? I want to get a few more levels in before our event tomorrow!"
"Help me finish dishes first you goof!"
"Bahhhh fine..."
---
whirr...whirr...
Upstairs the game clicked and hummed happily. Lights flashing gently as they awaited their player's return.
---
"Aw, whats wrong sweetie? You haven't been acting the same all weekend."
"My buddy didn't log on for the thing we planned the other day, and I haven't been able to get ahold of them since..."
"Oh no, I'm sorry hon, they probably just got busy with something."
"They usually log in and let me know though...if they can't make it."
"Maybe their power went out or something. Don't worry about it too much. Come on and help me with supper then."
"Alright mom..."

---

Sunlight filtered through an opening in the curtains, leaving a sharp bright line across the bed. They sat there, staring drearily at the game system, controller in hand. The little buttons blinked cheerfully, unhindered by emotion or thought. The fans whirred and the message chimes from other users blipped back and forth eagerly, connections made and friendships forged.
But still...no word from their friend.
They sighed heavily, the game didn't feel the same without them. "Should I log in and level up anyway? Get really far ahead so I can help them out when they get back on?"
They turned the controller over in their hands, the smooth black paint was worn thin in some areas, the company name and serial numbers long-since worn away by loving use.
"Nah...whats the point. Its no fun without them..."
They tossed the controller onto their pillow and leaned against the wall. "This sucks... what happened to them?" They felt tears welling up in their eyes. "This is so stupid. At least just log in and let me know you're okay!!" They yelled at the ceiling. 'What if they got hit by a car or something...what if their console broke... maybe they're grounded...but its been three months..."
A tear streaked down their cheek, racing towards the bed. They clenched their fists, pressing them into their eyes, angrily wiping away the tears. "This ...is so...STUPID!"
---
thud
"Geez mom, what do you have in these?"
She leaned back, stretching her back. "Haha, just random crap!" She laughed, waving dust out of her face. "That one over there is Christmas decorations, and these ones over here are all the fine china that Aunt Lena left for us when she moved down South"
"All those?"
"Yeah! Who knows why she had so much...Or why she thought we could use them." She squinted her eyes, glaring at the boxes.
"What about those?"
"Oh, those are actually your old stuff. You left a TON of crap when you went to College remember? I had to use your room when Grandma came to stay, so i boxed it all up and set it up here."
"Oh wow really? I wonder if theres anything cool."
"Take a look and see, its all yours anyway. I'm going to head back downstairs and pack up the rest of this, can you come get the last boxes when you're ready?"
"Sure thing mom!"
They could hear her footsteps creaking carefully down the ladder to the attic, leaving them alone in the cramped dusty space. It was so quiet up here.
"Boxes from back then eh? That was so long ago... maybe theres some cool trading cards I could sell."
They slid the box towards them across the dusty floorboards and pulled the cardboard flaps open. A cloud of dust plumed upward into their face.
"OH geez of course." cough cough "Why did I open it like that?"

Peering into the box, they were transported back in time. Nostalgia flooded over them as they rummaged through their childhood trinkets. Collecting cards, funny plastic tokens, and a ton of game cartridge's and discs. As they reached the bottom of the box they felt something large and smooth. Clearing away the smaller trinkets, they revealed a gaming system.
"Oh whoa! I forgot I had one of these!"
Lifting it carefully, a tangle of colored wires trailed behind. "Wow its actually in really good condition still. This might be worth some money! Lets see if it...still works?"
Shifting awkwardly in the cramped space, they pulled the tangle along towards the ladder.
Clamoring down, they deposited it on the livingroom coffee table.
"Oh, whats that?"
"Its an old gaming system I had apparently, I'd forgotten all about it!"
"Oh wow! Yeah I remember when you played that, you'd spend hours on it every day after school. I'm surprised you ever stopped."
They plugged it in, sorting the wires to the wall and TV, unwinding the old worn controller carefully. Pressing the start button, they held their breath, would it work?
With a strained groan, the fans came to life, revving uncomfortably against disuse and age. It sputtered roughly, the lights flickering on weakly. The television screen flickered, then static. A red light blinked on, pulsing slowly on the front of the box.
"Aw man...thats a bummer, I was hoping it would still work. Maybe If I clean out the cartridge port it would...."
They pulled the game from the port, and everything kind of...froze.
They suddenly felt another emotion wash over them, it was similar to nostalgia...but without the warm ruddy feeling of happy times. It was heavier, and suddenly they felt a pit form in their stomach. Their mom looked over their shoulder curiously. "What is...whats wrong sweetie?"
"Its...uh..." They shrugged and put on a smile. "Oh its nothing, I just forgot that I played this game. It really does feel like forever ago."
"Oh, haha, yes. I'll go finish packing that box okay? Don't leave that dust all over the table please."
"Sure thing mom,"
Sadly, they grasped the game cartridge in both hands, rubbing the faded character sticker with their thumb. It felt so small in their hands now, how had they grown up this much... How had they forgotten ... about this game... but more importantly...
They felt the sting of tears creeping into their eyes. How stupid, why should they cry over this? It was years ago! Decades even!
But the weight of the feelings they'd just unburied didn't lie, and they couldn't ignore it now that they'd remembered.
"What the heck...where did they even go??"

Remembering back to their last battle together was like yesterday now, it all came flooding back. Their funny jokes, the way their voice sounded over those crappy speakers. How excited they'd been to get to the next level together. What the heck... How had they never even reached out again...never.
Wonder and irritation whirled around in their head. Had they really disappeared completely? They'd considered them...yes, their actual best friend, for years. That was crazy... and after all this time, how had they forgotten them completely like that? A strange mix of grief and shame swept through. How strange... were they still...alive? They wondered. Somewhere...in another country... Did they remember ...me? Probably not... probably forgot all about me, just like I forgot them...
Life is weird...it keeps going, leaving that which is broken or unused behind...lost forever in the sands...or dust of time. They grinned, thinking how their friend would have laughed at that joke. Dust of time... ha.
They wiped the dust from the top of the console, the light still blinking, waiting for a command that would never come.

The light flashing seemed to almost taunt them. Incessantly flicking on and off again.
"Bah, whatever. Thats ancient history." They had new friends now, from college, and work, and the bowling team. None of this dumb stuff from when they were a kid mattered right now. Its all okay, right?
They shoved the emotion down, and began wrapping up the cords again.
"All done?"
"Yeah, its broken, I don't feel like messing with it right now though, I'm just going to put it back in the attic for now."
"Okay, no problem, just don't leave it up there forever!"
"Haha, okay mom. Here let me take that box too."
"Okay, last one! I appreciate you coming over to help me with this, its getting harder and harder for me to get up there. Stupid old age..."
"You're not old mom."
"Oh easy for YOU to say. Get those up there and latch it up for me again and I'll make some coffee before you leave."
"Sounds good mom."

Their footsteps felt heavy as they climbed the ladder. Carefully they stacked the boxes along the wall, and placed the game back in its box. They pocketed a few old trinkets and a cool pocket knife before folding the box's lid back shut.

As they climbed the ladder, they paused one last time, glancing across the floor at the dusty box. Glaring, they shook their head. "So dumb..." they thought, turning away and pulling the trap-door back in place behind them.

creak...creak...creak... thud... click-CLACK.

After they'd latched the ladder in place and walked away, the attic was quiet again. Sunlight filtered drearily through the dust-caked window in the far corner, illuminating the thick dust that drifted about in the air. Unsettled by the human's recent presence, it sought to find its bearings again, and worked lazily to once again, layer itself upon everything. Sparing not even the box in question, it piled... slowly...steadily... for years...and years...
and years...
Dust layered
Mice gnawed
Humidity rushed eagerly, in the summer, climbing against the dust, bringing it life.
Mold and mildew...amidst those weak and crumbling cardboard walls.

PROMPT # 1, 2
FOR ESK # 2076
Read entire Literature on toyhouse here : toyhou.se/~literature/115351.l…

Scoring;

For Literature (PROMPT2)
Base Score: 37 AP (Writing: 1878 words)
+50 AP (Origin Prompt)
+5 AP (Personal Work Bonus)
+16 AP (Storyteller Bonus: 8 AP * 2)
Total AP per submission: 108

Base Score: 18.5 GP (Writing: 1878 words)
+10 GP (Origin Prompt)
+12 GP (Storyteller Bonus: 6 GP * 2)
Total GP per submission: 40.5

For Art (PROMPT1)
Base Score: 10 AP (Shaded Illustration)
+5 AP (Full Body)
+10 AP (Simple/Vignette Background)
+50 AP (Origin Prompt)
+5 AP (Personal Work Bonus)
Total AP per submission: 80

Base Score: 4 GP (Shaded Illustration)
+2 GP (Full Body)
+4 GP (Simple/Vignette Background)
+10 GP (Origin Prompt)
Total GP per submission: 20

In This Art:
The creature(s) in this artwork are a nature spirit Closed Species called "Esk", owned by witherlings and are the focus of the ARPG "ThoseWhoWentMissing" .

My Art:
- Do not copy/trace/reproduce/repost my artwork.
- Character owners may upload to toyhouse/character sites with credit.
- Do not base characters off of me, my characters, or my art.
- Do not draw or write about characters in my art without asking.

Description

Last Online: 16 Years Ago

"Whoa! Watch out for the tail attack!"
"Oh gosh!" click click...click
"DUDE IT ALMOST HIT YOU!"
"I got it! Run to the other side now!"
"Okay final phase of the fight, you're gonna want to..."
"I know! Its almost..."
Cheerfully victorious music blared to life, crackling from the dust-filled speaker slots at the bottom of the screen.
"Bro! We did it!"
"Heck yeah!! Okay, I really gotta get off now, my mom is gonna flip if I don't get my butt downstairs for supper."
"Haha mine too! Same time tomorrow?"
"Yeah man!"
bee-boop...
The log-off sound chimed, a optimistically cheerful tone. Scrambling, they tossed the controller onto their bed and rushed downstairs in bounding leaps, skipping stairs along the way.
thud-thud-thud "I'm coming mom!"
---
whirr...whirr...whirr...
The gentle sound of a cooling fan hummed within the game system, its internal memory clicking away, saving data from the fight.
---
The mother clucked to herself in the kitchen, "tsk-tsk, why do you spend so much time on that thing? Why don't you go out and make some real friends?"
"What? They are real friends mom! We hang out on there a lot, and we know each other! I know they have a sister, and a dog, and they even helped me with my homework yesterday!"
"Your...homework? Oh...Well then, I didn't know you two were getting on so well. Thats very nice of them."
"Yeah, they're really cool. We've been chatting on there for three years, I'm closer friends with them than anyone at school."
"Really? Where does this kid even live?"
"Oh...yeah, all the way overseas. We'll probably never get to meet each other, but that doesn't make our friendship any less real!" They gave a goofy grin and thumbs up.
"Can I head back upstairs now? I want to get a few more levels in before our event tomorrow!"
"Help me finish dishes first you goof!"
"Bahhhh fine..."
---
whirr...whirr...
Upstairs the game clicked and hummed happily. Lights flashing gently as they awaited their player's return.
---
"Aw, whats wrong sweetie? You haven't been acting the same all weekend."
"My buddy didn't log on for the thing we planned the other day, and I haven't been able to get ahold of them since..."
"Oh no, I'm sorry hon, they probably just got busy with something."
"They usually log in and let me know though...if they can't make it."
"Maybe their power went out or something. Don't worry about it too much. Come on and help me with supper then."
"Alright mom..."

---

Sunlight filtered through an opening in the curtains, leaving a sharp bright line across the bed. They sat there, staring drearily at the game system, controller in hand. The little buttons blinked cheerfully, unhindered by emotion or thought. The fans whirred and the message chimes from other users blipped back and forth eagerly, connections made and friendships forged.
But still...no word from their friend.
They sighed heavily, the game didn't feel the same without them. "Should I log in and level up anyway? Get really far ahead so I can help them out when they get back on?"
They turned the controller over in their hands, the smooth black paint was worn thin in some areas, the company name and serial numbers long-since worn away by loving use.
"Nah...whats the point. Its no fun without them..."
They tossed the controller onto their pillow and leaned against the wall. "This sucks... what happened to them?" They felt tears welling up in their eyes. "This is so stupid. At least just log in and let me know you're okay!!" They yelled at the ceiling. 'What if they got hit by a car or something...what if their console broke... maybe they're grounded...but its been three months..."
A tear streaked down their cheek, racing towards the bed. They clenched their fists, pressing them into their eyes, angrily wiping away the tears. "This ...is so...STUPID!"
---
thud
"Geez mom, what do you have in these?"
She leaned back, stretching her back. "Haha, just random crap!" She laughed, waving dust out of her face. "That one over there is Christmas decorations, and these ones over here are all the fine china that Aunt Lena left for us when she moved down South"
"All those?"
"Yeah! Who knows why she had so much...Or why she thought we could use them." She squinted her eyes, glaring at the boxes.
"What about those?"
"Oh, those are actually your old stuff. You left a TON of crap when you went to College remember? I had to use your room when Grandma came to stay, so i boxed it all up and set it up here."
"Oh wow really? I wonder if theres anything cool."
"Take a look and see, its all yours anyway. I'm going to head back downstairs and pack up the rest of this, can you come get the last boxes when you're ready?"
"Sure thing mom!"
They could hear her footsteps creaking carefully down the ladder to the attic, leaving them alone in the cramped dusty space. It was so quiet up here.
"Boxes from back then eh? That was so long ago... maybe theres some cool trading cards I could sell."
They slid the box towards them across the dusty floorboards and pulled the cardboard flaps open. A cloud of dust plumed upward into their face.
"OH geez of course." cough cough "Why did I open it like that?"

Peering into the box, they were transported back in time. Nostalgia flooded over them as they rummaged through their childhood trinkets. Collecting cards, funny plastic tokens, and a ton of game cartridge's and discs. As they reached the bottom of the box they felt something large and smooth. Clearing away the smaller trinkets, they revealed a gaming system.
"Oh whoa! I forgot I had one of these!"
Lifting it carefully, a tangle of colored wires trailed behind. "Wow its actually in really good condition still. This might be worth some money! Lets see if it...still works?"
Shifting awkwardly in the cramped space, they pulled the tangle along towards the ladder.
Clamoring down, they deposited it on the livingroom coffee table.
"Oh, whats that?"
"Its an old gaming system I had apparently, I'd forgotten all about it!"
"Oh wow! Yeah I remember when you played that, you'd spend hours on it every day after school. I'm surprised you ever stopped."
They plugged it in, sorting the wires to the wall and TV, unwinding the old worn controller carefully. Pressing the start button, they held their breath, would it work?
With a strained groan, the fans came to life, revving uncomfortably against disuse and age. It sputtered roughly, the lights flickering on weakly. The television screen flickered, then static. A red light blinked on, pulsing slowly on the front of the box.
"Aw man...thats a bummer, I was hoping it would still work. Maybe If I clean out the cartridge port it would...."
They pulled the game from the port, and everything kind of...froze.
They suddenly felt another emotion wash over them, it was similar to nostalgia...but without the warm ruddy feeling of happy times. It was heavier, and suddenly they felt a pit form in their stomach. Their mom looked over their shoulder curiously. "What is...whats wrong sweetie?"
"Its...uh..." They shrugged and put on a smile. "Oh its nothing, I just forgot that I played this game. It really does feel like forever ago."
"Oh, haha, yes. I'll go finish packing that box okay? Don't leave that dust all over the table please."
"Sure thing mom,"
Sadly, they grasped the game cartridge in both hands, rubbing the faded character sticker with their thumb. It felt so small in their hands now, how had they grown up this much... How had they forgotten ... about this game... but more importantly...
They felt the sting of tears creeping into their eyes. How stupid, why should they cry over this? It was years ago! Decades even!
But the weight of the feelings they'd just unburied didn't lie, and they couldn't ignore it now that they'd remembered.
"What the heck...where did they even go??"

Remembering back to their last battle together was like yesterday now, it all came flooding back. Their funny jokes, the way their voice sounded over those crappy speakers. How excited they'd been to get to the next level together. What the heck... How had they never even reached out again...never.
Wonder and irritation whirled around in their head. Had they really disappeared completely? They'd considered them...yes, their actual best friend, for years. That was crazy... and after all this time, how had they forgotten them completely like that? A strange mix of grief and shame swept through. How strange... were they still...alive? They wondered. Somewhere...in another country... Did they remember ...me? Probably not... probably forgot all about me, just like I forgot them...
Life is weird...it keeps going, leaving that which is broken or unused behind...lost forever in the sands...or dust of time. They grinned, thinking how their friend would have laughed at that joke. Dust of time... ha.
They wiped the dust from the top of the console, the light still blinking, waiting for a command that would never come.

The light flashing seemed to almost taunt them. Incessantly flicking on and off again.
"Bah, whatever. Thats ancient history." They had new friends now, from college, and work, and the bowling team. None of this dumb stuff from when they were a kid mattered right now. Its all okay, right?
They shoved the emotion down, and began wrapping up the cords again.
"All done?"
"Yeah, its broken, I don't feel like messing with it right now though, I'm just going to put it back in the attic for now."
"Okay, no problem, just don't leave it up there forever!"
"Haha, okay mom. Here let me take that box too."
"Okay, last one! I appreciate you coming over to help me with this, its getting harder and harder for me to get up there. Stupid old age..."
"You're not old mom."
"Oh easy for YOU to say. Get those up there and latch it up for me again and I'll make some coffee before you leave."
"Sounds good mom."

Their footsteps felt heavy as they climbed the ladder. Carefully they stacked the boxes along the wall, and placed the game back in its box. They pocketed a few old trinkets and a cool pocket knife before folding the box's lid back shut.

As they climbed the ladder, they paused one last time, glancing across the floor at the dusty box. Glaring, they shook their head. "So dumb..." they thought, turning away and pulling the trap-door back in place behind them.

creak...creak...creak... thud... click-CLACK.

After they'd latched the ladder in place and walked away, the attic was quiet again. Sunlight filtered drearily through the dust-caked window in the far corner, illuminating the thick dust that drifted about in the air. Unsettled by the human's recent presence, it sought to find its bearings again, and worked lazily to once again, layer itself upon everything. Sparing not even the box in question, it piled... slowly...steadily... for years...and years...
and years...
Dust layered
Mice gnawed
Humidity rushed eagerly, in the summer, climbing against the dust, bringing it life.
Mold and mildew...amidst those weak and crumbling cardboard walls.

PROMPT # 1, 2
FOR ESK # 2076
Read entire Literature on toyhouse here : toyhou.se/~literature/115351.l…

Scoring;

For Literature (PROMPT2)
Base Score: 37 AP (Writing: 1878 words)
+50 AP (Origin Prompt)
+5 AP (Personal Work Bonus)
+16 AP (Storyteller Bonus: 8 AP * 2)
Total AP per submission: 108

Base Score: 18.5 GP (Writing: 1878 words)
+10 GP (Origin Prompt)
+12 GP (Storyteller Bonus: 6 GP * 2)
Total GP per submission: 40.5

For Art (PROMPT1)
Base Score: 10 AP (Shaded Illustration)
+5 AP (Full Body)
+10 AP (Simple/Vignette Background)
+50 AP (Origin Prompt)
+5 AP (Personal Work Bonus)
Total AP per submission: 80

Base Score: 4 GP (Shaded Illustration)
+2 GP (Full Body)
+4 GP (Simple/Vignette Background)
+10 GP (Origin Prompt)
Total GP per submission: 20

In This Art:
The creature(s) in this artwork are a nature spirit Closed Species called "Esk", owned by witherlings and are the focus of the ARPG "ThoseWhoWentMissing" .

My Art:
- Do not copy/trace/reproduce/repost my artwork.
- Character owners may upload to toyhouse/character sites with credit.
- Do not base characters off of me, my characters, or my art.
- Do not draw or write about characters in my art without asking.