Mac rozu Storytree 2017/12/11(Mon)12:31 No. 851009 ID: 085408
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I can hear the bustle of the Art Festival outside, with Sock’s violin providing the perfect background track. Usually that would be all you could hear, but the Queen decided to allow outsiders to attend this year and they are a lot louder than they should be during a recital. Doesn’t matter, I need to focus on the final prep for my play.

I’ve spent months preparing for this. I made the set by hand, painted ten backgrounds, engineered the pyrotechnics, and even composed the music myself, though some Hivemates recorded it. I’ve planned this performance down to the second. Every detail has been checked and double-checked and it is literally impossible for anything to go wrong. 

Once they see this the Hive will have no choice but to forgive me for what happened to Orgo’s flash mob, or that one time I was off-key in Jenes’ choir performance. Or… well, a lot of things will be forgiven, I’m sure.  Everything is going to be perfect and the Hive will love me, and the Queen finally be proud of me. Once they see this everything is going to change.

Mac 2017/12/11(Mon)12:32 No. 851010 ID: 085408
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>”Get out.”

By the way, at least for this Thread, Lagotrope is doing the art and I'm writing. So direct any accusations of it sucking to me.

>>851011
Welp, sorry hon, you're Rogue. Now that SUCKS, but it's gonna be okay, but first of all you need to go find a therapist. Alcohol will make all your problems MUCH WORSE, so DO NOT start drinking.

Wipe off makeup.

>>851014
No. First of all Mac needs to find someplace to live and get food. Emotional problems are a serious issue but a stable living situation is much more important.

Mac, what resources do you have? If you're low, you can go to a library and look up support for rogues, or go to a Roguetown if it's in walking distance. How much do you know about the city where you live?

In shock, huh?

Well, before you break down, you should find yourself someone who can help you. I'm sure there are services for people who find themselves in your position. Or, perhaps, do you have any friends who aren't neumono that you could crash with?

Got a map of the local area?

ouch.
I mean normally rouges GO rouge, I didn't think one could be kicked out of a hive or forced to be a rouge.

Curl up into a ball. Try not to cry your eyes out. Cry your eyes out.

>>851011
What the hell did you DO?

What happened? Got any non-hive friends you can talk to, and maybe even crash with while you sort your emotions out?

>>851016
This.

You set the stage on fire, didn't you? is that what happened?

Eitherway way uh. I hope you've got some non-neumono friends to crash with.

>>851009
>>851010
You failed so hard your surname fell off and your clothes spontaneously changed.

>>851011
Dazedly find somewhere quiet to sit shellshocked, you'll need a while to process this.

On a scale of 'The Room' to 'Kicked out of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna', how big of a disaster are we looking at here?

Well did they just hate the play that much?

Go drown your sorrows in booze. Cry a lot.

Then swear revenge and go prove you are the best and get a movie deal to show them what they are missing.

So who died?

Give yourself a moment while walking away from here tell us what happened.

Mac 2017/12/11(Mon)20:20 No. 851162 ID: 085408
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I don’t understand.
I am-
The Queen told me-
But…?

>You’re a Rogue.
>A place to stay in the city.
I don’t know anyone outside of th- my Hive. I never really interacted with the aliens and I barely even talked to other Hives in school. I can get around the city, but I don’t know anyone.

All I have on me is my art bag that’s probably just filled with spray paint and sketchbooks and shit. I have a Hive credit card if they haven’t turned it off and like, a little bit of cash? Probably not enough for a hotel.

>The Play
I… I don’t remember what happened. The play started, then the Queen… and then I was out here. Everything else is just… blank.

>You’re a Rogue.
That’s not possible. It can’t be. I mean, I’ve tried so hard, she can’t just throw me out! I can still fix myself, I’m sure of it!

Maybe this is a prank or something and Orgo managed to convince the Queen to participate? I could wait out here for a while. They’ll come out and we’ll laugh about it and I’ll punch him in the mouth and it’ll all be fine. Or I could go the library and make them come get me later to apologize for being jerks. Otherwise I can only go to… Roguetown.

Can we call you spot? Ima call you spot.

Okay. Even if it's a prank you have to play along for a while, right? Go to a library and find a halfway house or someplace else you can crash for a while.

In the meantime, if you want to fix things, try and think about what was wrong if it's not too draining.

>>851163
Now's probably not a good time to screw with Mac.

Also let's not push the rogue thing too far just yet, let her settle down a bit. Find someplace to hang, get a bit of privacy, review things and so on later.

Unwind for a while away from here while they do their prank, just take a walk for a while.

>>851162
>I…I don’t remember what happened. The play started, then the Queen…and then I was out here. Everything else is just…blank.
That's not normal! You blanked out on the entire play! How could that have happened?!

Telling you to get out does not equal throwing you out onto the street just yet.

But might want to go buy a week or two of supplies while your card still is working. Just in case.

You are a actor/playwright I am guessing? With your entertainment hive? Might need to consider taking your act on the road and going solo.

>>851162
Do you have someone's phone number? Call them and ask what you did because you don't remember what happened after the play started.

Should probably go check this isn’t one big misunderstanding. probably isn’t
After all, you wouldn’t want to go live in roguetown if you aren’t a rogue. probably are

Why don't you go for a walk, draw something, collect your thoughts a bit. You're going to be just fine. :)
Getting kicked out of one's hive is probably pretty stressful. Lets go easy on her for a bit yeah?

>Probably not enough for a hotel
A hotel isn't exactly cost effective if your hive is gonna keep this... prank... separation going for more than a few days.

>Or I could go the library
I mean, not the worst place for someone with no resources to go. Free access to information and the internet, a roof, and air conditioning and/or heating (what season is it?). Might be able to find resources to connect you to some kind of social services, such as they are.

>I have a Hive credit card if they haven’t turned it off
You might want to find an atm fast and try taking out some cash to last you. If it just happened they might not have shut you off. But I suspect a time jump and the trauma has pretty clearly made our narrator unreliable, so probably not.

(Although I've suspected more generous hives might leave rogues access to small amount of funds- something to help them land on their feet and not go right to starving homeless in the streets. A last mercy).

Uf, buddy, that's harsh. What does your empathy tells you, what can you feel with it?

Maybe, whatever happened, you just don't want to know and should try and move on. It must have been bad if you repressed it and got the boot.

>>851162
Oh shit, you blacked out? Okay, this is NOT GOOD. You need to see a Non-Neumono Doctor RIGHT NOW. Something might be wrong with your empathy! You might have some crazy virus or something that's affecting you!

Go to the library, chill out for a bit. It sounds like things have been stressful for a little while.

Go to the library. Do some research on charitable organizations that help new rogues get on their feet.

To play along with the prank.

>>851162
Call the Ultrahive they can fix this they can fix anything.

Mac 2017/12/12(Tue)13:08 No. 851288 ID: 085408
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I knock on the door, but the fact that I can’t feel anyone already told me no one’s nearby. No one comes when I ring the doorbell either, even though I know you can hear the damn ringing from just about everywhere inside.

I don’t need to see a doctor, I’m just… stressed right now. I’m sure if I give it some time everything will start to make sense again, and I’ll recall what happened. I call a few Hivemates I know would have been in the audience, but none answer.

I start towards the Library. I don’t want to be here right now, and I can calm down there. I stop at an ATM to get some cash just in case, but the daily withdrawal limit is only 3000 zeny, which I put in my bag. That should just cover a couple nights in a hotel, or maybe a week in a motel, but that’s if I don’t eat. Which is a dumb hypothetical because I’ll be back with the Hive soon, anyway. I’m positive. Totally.

But… just to entertain the thought for a moment, the only skills I do have that could earn money are mediocre art-based ones. I don’t have any canvases or enough supplies to make anything worth selling, assuming anyone would want to buy my shit. I wouldn’t. So, I basically have no real skills.

Mac 2017/12/12(Tue)13:09 No. 851289 ID: 085408
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Well, I’m here. Now what?

Well, you're not a rogue, but this is an interesting artistic opportunity to explore the rogue experience. I mean, you sound pretty sheltered, to be honest, so spending some time out here might give you some inspiration, and the knowledge you need to inject verisimilitude into your work. Maybe that's the sort of thing you were lacking before. Give your creations and performances some heart and rootedness, you know?

So, let's pretend you're a rogue for now, and go through the motions that a fresh rogue would have to. Then, when all this is over, maybe you can create something really compelling.

First thing, let's do some research on rogues. What sort of experience does a new one get, in this modern day and age? What resources are there to help such vulnerable people? Gotta go for authenticity, you know. Ask that librarian for some assistance.

>>851288
Nothing taller than a single story. You in a smaller town? Suburbia on the edges of a bigger city? There are different risks and advantages depending on what kind of environment you're in.

What season is it?

>>851289
Well the librarian isn't turning to glare at you the minute you walked in, so your empathy can't be that bad, despite the emotional wreck you currently are. That or she's really professional.

>So, I basically have no real skills
Art was what your hive does, and what you did, but it's not possible to that all the time. Did you help with any other jobs? The cooking, the cleaning, mending clothes, finding the best deals with vendors to buy supplies from, dealing with finances and bills and taxes, treating hivemates' medical problems, etc. There's a lot of chores ranging from the small to large that need doing to keep a hive going that might be a worthwhile skill.

>Well, I’m here. Now what?
Maybe find a relaxing corner and try to calm down for a few minutes.

Then maybe try finding a computer where you aren't bothering anyone. Look up social services and shelters. Or search the internet for "what do I do if I'm a rogue". Or if that's too hard "what do I do if my hive kicked me out." Start with any hits from official government sources, or aid organizations you recognize.

Go to a computer, see if anybody recorded your missing time at the Art Festival and posted it online; make sure the speakers are muted first just in case.

>>851308
that's a good idea

Find someplace to relax for a while, then search for nearby halfway houses and other such things for investigation. Even if you're not a rogue this is a chance to broaden your horizons and get new material. Also, it's worth looking for some equivalent of Khan Academy or anyone taking apprenticeships to learn some other life skill if you'd like.

>>851308
We probably don't want to bring that trauma back up for a while. Judging from Mac's mental state we won't get much use from it, atm she'd probably repress it again like how the play got repressed the first time through.

Find a quiet, isolated corner or reading room before you finally realize that you've actually gone rogue and that your hive has actually thrown you out and you start having a panic attack. Panic attacks can only be worse when you've got loads of people observing you have one.

>>851301
>Computer search
It'll probably be easier if she searches for "how can I tell if I'm a rouge?" and then compare the results with what's happened to her to see if any of the symptoms match up with what she's feeling.

>>851299

I like this idea. Work on making something that will show the world what becoming a Rouge might be like.

And saying you have no real skills when you spent months preparing your own play does not sound right.

Sure its all simple stuff but when you add it all together its a decent job as a stage manager for a production company.

Let me ask again. Do you feel something different with your empathy, or the empathy of others?

You mentioned other incidences that you needed to get forgiveness from your tribe for. Did you black out during any of those?

>>851289
Ask the receptionist to make a call for you. Give her the phone number of someone who was in the audience, ask her to find out for you what you did. She should at least be able to get some words out before they hang up.

Maybe you have stage fright. Do you only black out at times when you are on a stage or present before a large audience?

>>851301
These actions are good.

>>851289
Priority one: see if you can find out WHY you are in this situation.
First find out what exactly happened at that play or whatever it became. If it was an error in a portrayal, or some accident that somehow snowballed into disaster, you could at least know. However, that doesn't explain your memory loss, so...
Look up stuff about sudden amnesia with reference to the possibility of becoming a rogue. It might have been some kind of empathetic safeguard to lower the stress of the situation, whatever it may be.

Mac 2017/12/13(Wed)17:39 No. 851603 ID: 085408
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The librarian feels kind of standoffish, so I don’t want to bother her right now, and the other patrons are basically just ignoring me empathetically. I’m happy to return the favor. I think the walk calmed me down a bit. I’m just going to sit down and do some research. Something normal.

I get to the computer desk but stop for a moment before I login. I rest my head on the desk, close my eyes, breathe, and don’t think. I am not an idiot. I can recognize that I may be acting a bit…abnormal. I just need to get through the next minute. Once I do that I can get through the next hour, and then the rest of the day. One thing at a time.

Now that I’m a bit more centered I’ll just run through some dumb thoughts at random that don’t mean anything and then do something useful.

>Empathy.
My empathy... probably isn't pleasant right now, but I'm just a bit shocked. I'm sure I'm coming off as perfectly fine, if a tiny bit distressed. And everyone else feels like normal neumono. They are a bit, uh, shallow? But that's just because I'm distracted right now.

>Skills.
Why would anyone hire someone to do chores and menial tasks? You would just ask a Hivemate and get it done for free. And as my many, many mentors have all finally had to admit, I’m basically just mediocre at everything I try. Who would hire an okay artist or musician when you could go to a Hive that specializes in those things?

>Find out what happened in the play.
Ugh, just thinking about doing this makes me feel anxious. I really don’t want to. I’m probably just trying not to think about some embarrassing mistake I made because I insisted I do it all by myself, like dumbass. I always do this, I start spinning one plate and think ‘one more will be easy’ and before I know it I’m spinning ten and they all crash to the ground.

Either way I’m… not completely sure how much time has passed since the play, but the Hive tapes our own performances and it’ll end up for sale on our website eventually. No reason to go looking for it now. It’s done and that’s it.

>Where you live.
I We live in Queenwood, the Tree's capital. It’s where the few businesses we own like the theatre and publishing house is located. We're on the outskirts. At least, it used to be the outskirts. Development in the city been rapid recently and the Queen talks about how she’s afraid we’ll get swallowed up in the urban sprawl and be pressured to move. It’s not too bad right now but even this library is only a few years old. We hold our big Art Festival in the early Spring usually.

Anyway, that’s enough daydreaming. If I’m going to kill time I should still do something productive.

Mac 2017/12/13(Wed)17:40 No. 851604 ID: 085408
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I know about a lot about pre-contact Rogues already, but contemporary Rogues are something I’ve never really thought about. You avoid them and you both go on with your lives. So just for a… thought exercise I’m going to do some research about them. Maybe this could… provide inspiration? Or something?

So, here’s an FAQ about Rogues on a government website. Part of a natural cycle for a Hive, they increase once you join a Ultrahive, but there are plenty of ways to legally keep them… away from the Hive. Uh, here’s another site. Rogues, despite their small numbers are responsible for most of the crime in cities? That can’t be true. Another site. Rogues commit suicide at the highest rate of any known demographic on Astreneus V…

Maybe a different search term. Like ‘housing for Rogues’. Oh, there’s lots of tenet buildings and public housing for them. In bad neighborhoods. Where the murder rate is abnormally high.

‘Jobs for Rogues’? Call centers, Miners, Factory Workers…

‘Life as a Rogue’? Lifelong depression. Substance Abuse. Emotional Volatility. Having dozens of kids to try and start your own Hive…

I think I am going to be sick.

>”Miss, I’ve received some complaints from customers about your empathy. I'm sorry about whatever issues you are having, but I’ll have to ask you to either leave on your own or enter one of our jammer reading rooms.”

She doesn't feel very sorry. The other neumono have also gone from ignoring me to, well, the empathy equivalent of shooting daggers at someone with a look.

>>851604
"Do the jammer reading rooms have computers I can use?"

If the answer is no, then it's probably for the best that you leave before someone throws you out.

>>851604
Does the jammer reading room come with a computer? I need to do research and can't do it elsewhere.

>>851604
Ask for permission to use a computer in the Jammer Room.

Ask if the jammer room has a computer. Also, consider going offworld if things for rogues are so shitty here.

Ask if the reading room has a computer, yeah. If not... well, there are probably good ol' dead tree books. I'm sure there'll be some work by some alien writers about rogues.

Or hey, maybe you can find a place doing charity work? I mean, you don't need keen skills to cook in a soup kitchen or to scrub floors in a shelter or so on, and while there's a reason a lot of people aren't keen on those jobs there is something to be proud of, there. And given this apparent hard life, you'll probably meet other rogues you can ask about what the rogue life is like. Yeah, you should look up the list of charities that work in this city. Or other humanitarian... er, you know what I mean... organizations.

By the way, jobs for rogues... was volunteer test subject on that list? There must be academics doing research on rogues if they're such a big problem.

Well, i don't know about you, but she is a horrible librarian. I should know, i studying to obe one, and THAT IS NOT how you treat a client.
Now, to the important, tell her to show you the jammer room, and keep investigating.
And what do you mean about WE?
Can you hear us?

>Why would anyone hire someone to do chores and menial tasks? You would just ask a Hivemate and get it done for free.
Not everyone has hivemantes. Aliens don't, rogues don't, not every company is staffed completely by a hive, and even hives can't be bothered to do all their own work if they can afford to have someone else do it. (Especially if they have better things for hivemates to be doing).

Unskilled labor is a thing, believe it or not. Who do you think works in retail? Or in fast food?

>outskirts
Not bad. We have options.

>So, here’s an FAQ about Rogues on a government website. Part of a natural cycle for a Hive, they increase once you join a Ultrahive, but there are plenty of ways to legally keep them… away from the Hive.
The government line is catering to hive concerns, not rogue welfare, not really surprising.

>Like ‘housing for Rogues’. Oh, there’s lots of tenet buildings and public housing for them. In bad neighborhoods. Where the murder rate is abnormally high.
Also not really surprising.

I don't think you want to go right to roguetown. You're a mess, frankly, and someone with no skills and no backup and in a bad headspace walking into a slum full of desperate people carrying all she owns in cash is gonna get taken advantage of.

Try searching for "social services". Or rogue charities. You don't want a long term place to live, not yet. You want to go somewhere for help. Someone to talk to.

My thought is whatever programs or services exist for rogues, they're probably underutilized. People in denial, of victims of abuse, have pretty bad track records for seeking out help in a timely manner. Most rogues probably drift until they find themselves in crisis- no food, no money, it got cold and dark and they have nowhere to stay, they're being confronted, etc, then start making bad decisions. Best possible outcome for Mac here is if we can find someone who can help and steer her there before she reaches that point.

>I’ll have to ask you to either leave on your own or enter one of our jammer reading rooms
I'm... sorry. I'm just having a really bad day.

Alright look, I know looking into what happened will be embarrassing, but it's the fastest way to figure out if you're blowing this way out of proportion based on very incomplete evidence.

How much room for empathetic interpretation could be in the queens' order to 'get out?' maybe she was just being curt and cross because of things that aren't you...?

Been a rough past while, does the jammer room have a computer I can still use?

Mac 2017/12/14(Thu)20:18 No. 851873 ID: 085408
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“Sorry, I’ve had a rough day. Do the jammer rooms have computers?”

>”Yes. I’ll get you a key and you can stay there for as long as you need.”

Usually I hate being in a jammer, but to be honest getting rid of the background noise of everyone else is a relief right now.

>Look up info on play and think about the Queen telling you to get ou-
No.

>Going off-world.
How would I get off-world? I can't afford a ticket, and even if I could then I’d be stuck somewhere in space completely broke. I’m barely competent on Astreneus V, I have no clue how to survive in space or on another world.

>Unskilled Labor
Generally, the Hive who owns the franchise or store just use teens or misbehaving kids. I certainly spent enough afternoons cleaning the theatre.

>Charities and Social Services.
Most popular charities are focused on newer or smaller Hives to the Tree who haven’t been able to get a good foothold into society yet, or Tribal grants to uplift neumono in more remote areas. A lot of them seem to be Hive run, but a few do seem to be looking for fill-in workers for menial jobs. Rogue specific charities seem to be government or alien run for the most part. They have a few numbers to call for fresh Rogues to call or to donate to the cause.

This line of research just ends up with me looking up more information on Rogues. I can’t seem to stop myself. It’s just pages and pages of how terrible we are. The drain we put on society, how miserable their lives are. It’s like quicksand.

Who's that bitch at the door?

>>851873
Uhhh who is that

Someone looks to be pressing up against the glass. Might want to see what they want.

Well if rogues are looked so down on maybe you should tell there story. You were a Storyteller after all. Is that what you still want to do? Or do you want something else?

As for you thinking you are a unskilled nobody. Well if you are in fact unskilled go learn a trade. Something that will put food on the table and you enjoy doing.

Become a novelist. Nobody cares about your empathy when they're reading your book.

Terrible 'we' are?

Alright, making lemonade from lemons; is there any tourism or traveling you'd like to do? Think of it like an unplanned vacation until your situation elucidates.

>>851873
That's because those pieces were written by hives raging at their rogues. Look up information on "Non-Associated" Neumono, like those in Jammer Cities.

>Rogue specific charities seem to be government or alien run for the most part. They have a few numbers to call for fresh Rogues to call or to donate to the cause.
Good. Save those numbers, write them down (see those art supplies are good for something) and check which ones are close to your location. Even if you're not a rogue, you're alone at the moment, and those people might be able to help.

>This line of research just ends up with me looking up more information on Rogues. I can’t seem to stop myself. It’s just pages and pages of how terrible we are. The drain we put on society, how miserable their lives are. It’s like quicksand.
Stop that. This is the internet. You don't know how reputable any of that is, and most neumono probably don't know much more about rogues than you did. So it's almost all probably spin and bias unless you find a reputable source.

>Who's that bitch at the door?
Be glad this room came with a key and a lock because there's some overly chipper weirdo at the door.

Don't open the door. Talk through it, or hold up a written message (art supplies, woo).

"Can I help you?"

>>851873
Maybe just pick up and call a rogue hotline already. Talk to someone instead of just letting these dumb articles get to you. And look up cases of mistaken rogues, where instead the hive was just really pissed at them, or they all had an off day and disliked the one hivemate who didn't. Basically, what if a whole hive went rogue and you didn't?

turn around in your seat and just fucking stare at that obnoxious asshole until she goes away.

>>851873
.....hey, Mac, do you suddenly feel like you're being watched by someone that has a crazy big smile on their face?

Know any aliens? Aliens don't care if you're a rogue or not! go talk to some aliens!. Also there is someone at the door. Who knows what they want.

>>851884
Art supply communication!

Start a journal.

>>851873
you know what, that's a little depressing to look at, spin that chair away from the screen so you're not tempted to click more links and read more stuff.

Let me guess, that's a rogue that's originally from your hive.
Try research if its possible for hives to force a member to go rogue cause don't hives usually fight to stop rogues from happening?

Wow, i didn't knew hive neumonos could be so classists. Then again, some clans chase down and execute rogues, so i gess you have it easy.
You keep saying "we". Are you talking about "us", or the rogue in general?

Flip your chair in a cool fashion to your right.

>>851873

Become the activist you always envisioned yourself to be. Start demonstrations and protests demanding for the better treatment of rogues, because obviously the reason it's all bad is because everyone's treating them like shit! Less than shit -- like, ... like rogues!

Okay that came out wrong. But let's call that number and see if we can't get information, a place to stay, and maybe begin to plant the seeds of rebellion.

Then your hive will totally definitely absolutely have to take you back, because you'll be too damn awesome not to keep.

Hey, a lot of that is likely biased or untrue. You should check to see if one of those charities is based nearby, they might be able to help you, and given your use of "we" I take it you're starting to think this isn't a prank anymore?

Also, there's someone at the door, they anyone you know?

>>852012
Well, I guess you can let her in then. If nothing else that rack is a nice view. It's important to make friends, Mac. Especially attractive ones.

I have a feeling she noticed your empathy earlier. Miiiight be sticking out more than expected.

I guess it can't hurt to let her give her spiel.

Well this is fortunate, let her in. I guess the librarian or someone else phoned them after noticing how down your empathy was and/or what you were researching.

That also explains why seemed happy at you researching social services / charities.

Let her in I suppose.

Let her in, ask her how she knew you were here- not to be standoffish but you have to admit her arrival is a bit convenient. Was your empathy that obvious? ...Did somebody send for you?

>>852024
Mac's empathy literally got a roomful of mental daggers glared at her, so probably.

>>852012
She's making the same wink + thumbs-up face as her ID, that's adorable!
Okay, see what she wants.

>someone actually called social services
This is going way better than I expected honestly.

Let her in!

>someone actually cared enough to call social services
Break down crying in response to this basic act of human neumono decency that you never expected to see again. You didn't think anyone cares! Your hive doesn't care! You're terrible!

Bring her in, then. Try to be nice! The reason rogues are so problematic is because they tend to be sad and/or angry, not necessarily because of being rogues in and of itself. I know it's hard, but try to be as positive as you can be!

By the way, how about a job in art/craft supplies? You may not be much of an artist yourself, but given the effort you put into your play, you do seem to have a strong grip on your tools. I'd bet you know all about different types of pens, pencils, paints, papers, canvas, carpentry, sculpture materials, instruments and so on, right?

Let her in.

>>852012
She's from Social Services. I guess that means that she can help you with whatever's going on with you and your hive.

Forgive my ignorance, what is 'ORS'?

You know.. Given that rogue's tend not to be liked and abused.. Is there a chance this one could be someone who might just be wanting to kidnap a rogue under false pretenses?

>>852012
OH THANK GOD, GET HER IN HERE YOU NEED A HUG.

>>852077
"Organization for Rogue Services", maybe?

>luvi
Oh god
>thumbs up + ;)
ooooooooooooh god
>ORS
orz

Open door, hold arms out and do your best not to cry from the joy of someone apparently caring enough to get you help.

>>852082
Or someone might try to recruit you for a cult. As long as you're reasonably certain that ID didn't come from a cereal box you should be fine.

>>852086
Initiate hug and cry protocols

>>852163

Yeah, I guess it might be easier to let her in, shut the door, and just break down into a blubbering mass of sniffles and a totally convoluted and unintelligible backstory on how we got into this mess in the first place while simultaneously begging for help and/or to be let back into the hive because you'll do better you promise.

>>852170
>>852163

Let's try make a slightly better first impression than that. It's probably on the reports of this person that other people will be deciding how much assistance it's wise to invest in Mac. Social services have to perform a sort of triage when their resources are slim (and rogue services are probably pretty stretch), and a rogue who looks tough enough to become a contributing member of society will get more help than one who looks like they're just a sad sack. Mac's already worried about her employable skills so she needs to try compensate with personality as much as she's able.

Also we're still in a library.

>>852173
>Also we're still in a library.
That's true.

Just because we're in an empathy proof room, that doesn't mean that it's also soundproof!

>>852182

I refer you to

>>852011
>>852012

where evidently we had to write down what we wanted to ask.

>>852184
That doesn't prove anything about the room being soundproof. That's just us not wanting to open the door to talk to her.

Have a good chat with them! Relieve some stress.

Thumbs up, let her in.

1/2 Mac 2017/12/16(Sat)21:37 No. 852303 ID: bfb318
File 151348903867.png - (134.79KB , 800x800 , 13.png )

I let Luvi inside the room and she bounces in the room before I shut the door behind her. These rooms aren't soundproof as far as I know, but they do muffle noises, so we have some measure of privacy.

>"Hello! My names Luvi and I am your case worker. You're Mac, right?"

She sounds as happy and hyper as she looks.

"Y-yes."

I'm choking up for some reason and my face feels wet. I barely restrain the urge to hug her, as I doubt some strange neumono clamping onto her would be appreciated.

>"Great! I've been looking for you for hours! Your Hive called, which is so amazing, because most Hives never even tell us they have a Rogue. We probably miss hundreds of newbies like that! Then they wander around the city and get into trouble or the police get involved or they try to jump from a bridge or, well, a lot of things can happen to a Rogue. But not you, because your Hive loves you, you lucky devil! But you had already left when I got to the theatre, so I had to go all over town asking after you! The librarian called us though and said she had spotted, get it, 'spotted', a mopey mouse in the library so I rushed over quick as I could. Aaaaanyway, my boss said that I'm legally obligated to read the following orientation, which I doubt is actually legally necessary, but if I don't and he hears about it he'll yell at me again, so I'll just get it out the way really quick."

2/2 Mac 2017/12/16(Sat)21:38 No. 852304 ID: bfb318
File 151348909085.png - (123.51KB , 800x800 , 14.png )

She pulls out a crumpled piece of paper and reads through it in a clipped practiced tone.

>"Hello sir slash madam. We recognize that in this trying time you may want to be alone, but it is necessary to inform and acclimate you to your new situation. As a Rogue you are still a citizen of the Ultrahive and still beholden to its laws. Criminal acts such as attacking your case worker, committing suicide in a way that inconveniences the public and surviving, and behaving in an aggressive manner towards your former Hive will all be persecuted to the fullest extent of the law. For Rogues we have provided temporary dorms you may use for no more than fourteen days before vacating permanently. These days do not need to be used consecutively. Other rules regarding the Dorms will be explained onsite. We recommend searching for a job online or at one of the many temp agencies located throughout Queenwood. We at the Office of Rogue Services are available between ten to four Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to help with any inquiries you may have about your new place in our society. "

>"Then I'm supposed to give you 50 zeny for the bus ticket to the Rogue Dorms but they haven't given us the money for that in a while and I don't have any more cash on me so I just offer people a ride on my moped. Most neumono don't like touching me though, so I don't get a lot of takers."

I notice the phone she has attached to her hip is buzzing.

>>852303
>your Hive loves you
Ask her who said that, who contacted her. Someone in your hive might still answer their phone if you call them. On the other hand maybe they won't want to be seen picking up their phone.

Speaking of which yes you will accept that offer for a moped ride, but she should answer her phone first.

So... my hive knew I was a rogue before I knew... heck I still don't think I'm a rogue.

Are you sure they didn't just try to disown me because I'm so bad at everything? What if I'm a new or very rare type of rogue that isn't really a rogue, because I don't feel like a rogue, I feel like a fuckup?

Like seriously, I thought it was empathy disconnect that made one a rogue, just not being really bad at what a hive does compared to the rest of the hive. Like, I thought I would... feel that big disconnect boom? I was just told to get out. I don't hate them at all! I just want to go back home and do... anything for them. They still feel like home to me, for some reason!

I mean, you said my hive loves me, so... again are we even SURE I'm a rogue and not just a hive orphan? If my hive loves me, how can I be a rogue? Could this be a mistake? Can I take a test? Can I go back to my hive and plead for them to take me back? Could I just CHOOSE to not be a rogue? What if my queen just hates me so much for being such a shitty artist she declared me rogue, or is that impossible?

>your hive called
>hours
So the unreliable narrator time loss wasn't as bad as I feared.

>because your Hive loves you, you lucky devil
But then why did they make me leaaaaaaaaaave! *tears*

>But you had already left when I got to the theatre
Great so you could have just sat there and waited. Look what being productive got you.

>We recognize that in this trying time you may want to be alone
I don't want to be alone.

>committing suicide in a way that inconveniences the public and surviving
What passive aggressive asshole got the subtext "kill yourself in a way that doesn't make a mess and don't fuck it up" written into the mandatory speech given to mentally unstable people.

>Most neumono don't like touching me though, so I don't get a lot of takers.
It doesn't sound like she's adverse to hugs. Sounds like the opposite, actually.

>I notice the phone she has attached to her hip is buzzing.
Do... you need to answer that?

>what do / say
Um. Is there anything you do besides reading the speech and dropping me off at the dorms? Because I'm not sure I want to be there yet. I mean a place to sleep is nice but I'm not sure that's what I need yet.

Ask about the touching thing first.

And then ask her advice. Find out what she thinks you should be doing.

>>852304
just give in and hug and cry and try to feel better by sharing your FEELINGS.

So this isn't some monumental misunderstanding on my part? Who notified you, exactly? And, what's my best case scenario going forward? I could use some optimism.

If she needs to take that, you'll be right here.

>>852304
Ask if hugging her counts as assault and point out her phone.

>>852304
Ask her if she's a rogue and if it's because of her total lack of empathy and tact. Lower case empathy, not- alien's have an awkward language, okay?

Well, for starters, thank her for being so considerate, even if it is just her job.
Secondly, what exactly is her work, and how can she help you/us (apparently).
Thirdly, her phone is ringing, so tell her that.
And finally, i tell her that you don't see any reason why anybody wouldn't like to touch her. At least is something about her empathy. That might be the problem, so just be prepeared for her empathy.

You know, a good indicator that your government is corrupt, held down by its own complexity, or just plain control-freak happy are any form of laws where suicide is a legal offense. If your decision whether or not to quit life is ignored by social workers but enforced through authority by a governmental entity, that's a form of thoughtcrime that should not be ignored as a threat.

Ask her to answer the phone while you take a few minutes to quietly whimper in the corner. Looks like she can take the empathy DoT, so ask her about the program and how much funding it lost this year.

>>852303
>Hive called and reported a rouge.
So I really am a rouge?! *sniff* Would hugging be considered assaulting you? Because I could really use a hug right about now! *insert gross sobbing noises here*

>>852304
>I just offer people a ride on my moped. Most neumono don't like touching me though, so I don't get a lot of takers.
Probably because she reminds the Rouges of the happiness that they used to have and how they'll never be able to feel that way again.

>I notice the phone she has attached to her hip is buzzing.
Tell her about her phone.

Er, do you do anything else?

>committing suicide in a way that inconveniences the public
All subway users thank you for not doing this.

Just hug her, you fool.

>>852304
Ask her to never read that sheet to anyone again, as it's soul-crushingly depressing. Point out that it's basically just the Ultra-Hive rubbing it in, regardless of the intent. Also, you have money for a bus ticket!

...Though you should ask who in your hive actually called, because... let's be honest, they were extremely resentful of you all the time, even when you were completely united with them. Maybe one of your hive friends also went rogue? Or spends all their time wearing a Jammer so they aren't infected with the hive's extreme hateboner?

Stare blankly at her and tell her that her phone is buzzing and she should answer it.

If she looks away from you, try not to freak out at ALL of the implications you just got bombshelled with.

>mopey mouse
haha really

>committing suicide in a way that inconveniences the public and surviving
No really now did this make it past legal.

>We at the Office of Rogue Services are available between ten to four Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
You know, those office hours actually aren't too bad for what I suspect is probably an underfunded and understaffed organization.

>Most neumono don't like touching me though
Why?

Well, anyway, it's nice that your hive or some part of it still cares enough about you to call ORS.

Uh, but yeah... does ORS have any resources to offer besides two weeks of temporary housing? That's... I mean, it's better than nothing...

Also, yeah, ask if she needs to check her phone.

>>852304

1. Sit down.

2. Try not to cry.

3. Cry. A lot.

Ask if you can have a copy of that orientation message so that if you do anything bad you can leave a note saying "your legal team's terrible message to rogues made me do this".

Now, no crying yet! It looks like you're a little better off than most rogues, though I'm sure it seems like so little you have to try take heart from anything you can. Take her offer of a moped ride to the dorms, then point out that her phone is buzzing, in case it's a call saying she needs to go elsewhere. You can insist on going with her.

Ask if there's food at the dorms. And if there's any form of unemployment benefit, like even just a daily ration.

>Your Hive called
Why would they do that? I mean, you were performing in your play, and the next thing you remember was your queen literally telling you to "Get out". It still feels like a big, unfunny prank. What decent hive would pull prank like this on one of their own?

>Speech
That is terrible, I can't think of a worse thing to say to a new rogue.

Point out that her phone is buzzing. While she answers it or whatever just try to take this all in. Do you need a hug? I think you need a hug.

>>852374

>Hive just called

... hang on, wait a second ...

Why would they call ORZ, err, ORS when they wouldn't even answer us trying to call and ring the doorbell and everything else? That just doesn't make sense.

What if we weren't actually a rogue all along we just pissed the matriarch off and now we've made ourselves go rogue from the mental shock of it all ...?

"Do you mind if I hug you?"

>>852304
We just want to know why we can't remember anything since the play.

... since when has surviving suicide been a crime? If it was an actively malicious act, like a suicide bombing or deliberate intent to cause harm to others, that would make sense. But surviving inconvenience? That's moronically stupid. What if they had changed their minds? Like if the poison doesn't kill them but people complain about the miserable empathy? Or they only shot themselves once and realized that it hurts more than anything and there's a noise complaint? That doesn't make any form of logical sense unless the message was "make sure you kill yourself."

Ask who contacted her, at least to know who cares. What exactly are these dorms, and why don't people want to touch her?

Man, they're going really far for a prank, commited.

1/3 Mac 2017/12/19(Tue)17:45 No. 852779 ID: 7a524b
File 151373433034.png - (96.55KB , 800x800 , 15.png )

The only people in the Hive who call me Mac are kids from my generation or younger, so one of them must have called...telling them I am a Rogue.

"I-I’m not a Rogue though. I don’t want to be a Rogue. I still love my Hive. I just messed up again and I’ll fix it somehow and it’ll be okay."

>"That’s not how it works sweetie, trust me."

"Maybe we’re just having an argument? The Queen will calm down and then she’ll call me back and we’ll apologize and make up! I don’t feel like a Rogue!"

>"That’s kind of the point. You feel like you while your Hive feels like your Hive. Those two feelings just stopped meshing together. So, you went Rogue."

"But the Queen told me to leave, I didn’t- I’d never-"

>"I don’t know your Queen, but if I had to guess she felt you had gone Rogue but didn’t want to leave so she, well, forced you out. It happens when Rogues are a little too far in denial, nothing to be ashamed of."

"Maybe I’m not a Rogue but something else? And they’ll want me back?"

>"I hate to be blunt, but that’s a hard no. This didn’t happen overnight, and whatever differences you and your Hive have right now are not the kind you can fix after going Rogue. Telling you otherwise would be irresponsible of me."

I can’t think about this. I don’t want to think about this. Another subject. But...

"Your phone is vibrating, and that speech is terrible, and I don’t know what to do and I’m all alone, and, and..."

2/3 Mac 2017/12/19(Tue)17:45 No. 852780 ID: 7a524b
File 151373435244.png - (114.12KB , 800x800 , 16.png )

"I’m a Rogue!"

I grab Luvi as tight as I can and start bawling while she hugs me just as hard.

3/3 Mac 2017/12/19(Tue)17:46 No. 852781 ID: 7a524b
File 151373436871.png - (113.75KB , 800x800 , 17.png )

That was a mistake.

Her empathy is just so...happy. Like, unnaturally happy. It’s the most positively oblivious, sickly sweet,and saccharine I have ever felt a neumono be and it’s jarring. And it’s all encompassing, it’s like the only emotion she’s feeling right now. Maybe the only emotion she ever feels. I feel miserable but she’s beaming this cheerfulness into me and its stronger than how terrible I feel and it’s fucking with my head!

That is probably why she has this job.

Ask if her whole hive is like this. Or if its just the rogue thing making her feel unnaturally happy.

Honestly is probably not the worst disability to have.

Even if she is a bit odd to touch enjoy her being nice to you.

I suppose that's how she can be so enthusiastic about her job. Well, if it's fucking with your head, your head is currently pretty fucked anyway, so it's a sideways move. Try to concentrate on the physical feeling and ignore the empathy.

>>852781
Damn, what happened to her? Needle trick?

>>852781
Hug harder its better then letting go.

>she’s beaming this cheerfulness into me and its stronger than how terrible I feel and it’s fucking with my head!
Who cares if she's fucking with your head? Your head must be terrible if it went rogue. What's wrong with you if happy feels bad? You're terrible.

It's gotta be you. They wouldn't give a crazy person a social service job right? So if there's something wrong here, it's you, not her.

Just hold onto her, and make the conscious decision to tough it out. You don't want to be alone, even if it hurts. You don't care if the hug has thorns.

Oh, so THAT is why people doesn't like to touch her. Well, is messing your head in a bad way or in a good way?
Shit, Rokoa's empathy was creepy enough, now we have to deal with this one too?

>Abnormally happy
Capitalize. You can abuse her and she won't care.

Let the happiness be contagious so you can function instead of breaking down in panic.

Then ask how the hell she can so happy what the hell happened to her.

>>852779
Ok... I'm a rogue, but why do I have to leave though?

I'm not in denial anymore... I just... if two hives can get along in an ultrahive, why can't they just consider me a neighbor hive? Is it actively harmful?

There's rogue support groups... right? I mean, this hug is awesome and I don't want to let go, but like the practicality of being a neumono not raised in a jammer city requires connection with many... so I guess I have to go to regular support group meetings now to even be a fascimle of normal? Or permanently live in a jammer city and get used to it?

Break contact. Forcing someone to BE happy is an awful thing to do, nevermind any of the OTHER whacky/scary possibilities about Luvi being a happiness singularity.

>>852781
Oh GOD. She has Empathy Control! Kick her in the fork and get away, she might be part Predator or something!

>>852781
Keep this hug going! You need it.

>>852814
>>852806
uwot

>>852815
Yeah, just try to relax a bit.

>>852814
That's not warranted even if she were part predator. Don't be racist speciest prejudiced!

>>852781
Ask: "Why does this make you so happy, does seeing me like this make you feel better about yourself or are you just unable to sympathise".
Because being happy like that in this situation seems a little odd/unsympathetic.

>>852781
She's not just a rogue.
She's an Ultra-Rogue.

>>852781

Let's ask her if she's always this happy or like, just really, really enthusiastic about her job.

>>852781
It's still a hug, who cares if it's jarring.

Look, that speech is terrible right? With those warnings against doing things you weren't thinking of? That just means that enough new rogues are in a bad enough spot mentally that the ORS has to do some legal ass covering. But, since those warnings didn't apply to you, it means you aren't as bad as those rogues.

This is the bad day to trump all other bad days, but you're stronger than you think. You didn't react by panicking or breaking down, you went to the library and researched ways to help yourself, you took a step in the right direction and you can do it again. Now just hug it all out, things may be rough and you'll have to take things day by day, but you can do this.

>>852781
Definitely weird, abort hug for now until not dealing with acceptance of life-changing situation.

>>852787
It hurts but it's necessary.
Don't let go.

Whether or not you let go is up to you. It might be better to fully process the sadness, or it might be better to have it softened by the presence of what's her bucket. Dunno, go with your gut.

>>852781
Try to let some of her happiness lift your mood. Embrace it!

>>852781
Take her as a wife.

>>853262
yes

It might be the last happiness you feel for a while, even if it's not yours. Try and appreciate it.

...Hold on to her until she moves to let you go, I’m not sure if this works the way I think it does but if her empathy is THAT strong, you might be able to ride that one-way ticket into a new hive, one you’ll fit into better than the one you just went Rouge from.

>>853320
It doesn't.

>>853320
Empathy doesn't work like that.

>>853333
Not with that attitude

Mac 2017/12/22(Fri)15:27 No. 853375 ID: 4421a6
File 151398527177.png - (128.84KB , 800x800 , 18.png )

I squeeze her tighter as I lose control of myself. I don’t have the presence of mind to think of anything but what I’m losing. Every bad feeling drags up a happy moment with my Hive, which makes the hole inside me widen. Whenever I think I might be able to stop crying another experience I’ll never be able to have with them comes to me and sends me right back into conniptions.

Sock and I hanging out on whatever roof we can reach.

Calling J’raine in the middle of the night and barely even talking while we both work, but knowing she’s still there.

Teaching the kids how to draw and paint on the walls of our home.

Listening to the Queen tell one of her ten good stories for the hundredth time.

Attending a Festival and seeing all the amazing things my family has created since the last one.

All gone.



I’m not sure how long we hug. Eventually, I manage to pull myself together a bit. Luvi has been silent the whole time, just enjoying the hug and being sympathetic. I think at least, telling what she’s feeling beyond the cloud of sickeningly happy thoughts is almost impossible.

“Can I really never see them again?”

>“It may not feel like it to you right now, but visiting your Hive now would hurt even more than this. A clean break is usually best for everyone involved.”

“D-Does everyone in your Hive feel like this?”

>”No, my Hive had a pretty different outlook than I do. I understand what you’re going through right now.”

“What am I going to do now? I don’t know how to live without them.”

>”You’ll figure it out. We all do, eventually.”

“How can you be so happy as a Rogue?”

>”I’ve been like this as long as I can remember. I’m pretty unique though, don’t use me as a benchmark for Rogues in general. You’ll cope in your own way.”

I feel… not better, but more put together than I was before. I can think clearer now, and I’m not sobbing uncontrollably anymore.

>”Sooooo, do you want a ride anywhere? It doesn’t have to be the Dorms if you don’t want to go there now. And I won’t be offended if you want to be alone right now.”

Ask if you can go on a date.

What are our options besides the dorms?

>>853377
Yeah, ask that. You're not sure just being warehoused is what you want to do right now.

She might be too busy to show you the dorms later, so you should do it now. Ask her questions about it, like if the dorm rooms are communal, if they're solo do they have jammers (a bunch of rogues all bouncing rogue feelings off each other sounds like a bad idea), and if they provide food.

>>853375

Maybe go together and get something to eat, talk a bit more, try and just ... get your head wrapped around it all? Ice cream or something like that. Maybe comfort-food instead (but nothing too hive-related).

Yeah, I'm gonna ship these two.
This is gonna be a shipping quest. Mac'n'Luvi is gonna be a thing.

Ask her if she minds sitting with you and giving you her advice before going anywere. She has been at this longer and must know the pitfalls you will need to watch out for.

How to find a place of your own. How to find a job. What to even do with yourself.

Get the basics of surviving as a rogue before you get slapped in the face with Rogue dorm life.

>>853375
Ask for a lift and then curl up into a ball. Also, consider finding a way to get enough cash to get off-world. Rogues might be happier in space, far, FAR away from the homeworld.

Maybe you can babysit for aliens who don't have empathy? They don't mind rogues, and you seem good with children.

"I'd like to talk a bit more with you about the office of rogue services and check the internet for any other resources I have access to so I don't have to stay at rogue town, a place I barely know anything about by the way, any longer than I have t.

>>853375
a nice dinner.

>>853394
Fine, Mac/Luvi is a go!
Actually, i think spending time with her might be useful to. She is a Rouge, so she can teach us something, we learn from her, and we can get to know her better.

>>853375
Soul food is perfect for the occasion. Ask if she has the time to join you.

Ask more about the services they offer.

>>853375
I actually want to be surrounded by people... but without my hive I don't know how to do that.
The last thing I want to be is be alone.

You should go find some aliens! you can have contact with people without worrying about empathy!

If you think you can get used to Luvi get a ride with her, but if her empathy is too repellent then don't bother.

Ask if she has any suggestions? At the moment all I can think of is either more research (Internet or talking to Luvi) or taking care of basic needs (When was the last time you had anything to eat or drink?).

You've got some cash but that's going to run out eventually so you'll need to get a job or something like a apprenticeship. So ask if she has any advice about that? The ORS is bound to have contacts for that kinda stuff.

>>853376
Maybe, but not yet at least. Thinking of relationships right after going rogue (Esp after a realisation breakdown like that) is probably not a good idea. Talking to her to benefit from her experience with helping other rogues and actually being a rogue is a good idea though.

The dorms sound nice, but are there other options?

>>853703
These all sound like good points

Mac 2018/01/01(Mon)00:40 No. 855194 ID: 471326
File 151479600894.png - (106.97KB , 800x800 , 19.png )

>Ask Luvi on a date

…I may not be thinking as clearly as I’d like if these kinds of thoughts are running through my head.

I let go of her quickly, though she probably couldn’t tell exactly what I was thinking. A date is out of the question, for more reasons than I can name… but I am hungry. And she seems nice enough to take me to a restaurant or something.

I’ll probably ride with Luvi to try and save some money, even if her empathy is unpleasant, unless I can think of a reason not to.


Her phone, which was constantly buzzing this entire time, rings. She answers it immediately and lets the barrage of curses wash over her for a minute before talking into it.

>”Yes sir, I know sir. Yes sir. No sir. Yes sir.”

She hangs up and turns back to me.

>”Sooooo, I have to go pick up another Rogue and go back to my office. The ride is still on the table, but I have to leave as soon as I drop you off. Do you have an idea of where to go? The Dorm? Or maybe you have some friends you might want to spend the night with?”

“I don’t really have any friends like that. I’m kind of hungry I guess?”

>”Oh, I can drop you off at a restaurant, but if you don’t have any money I can introduce you to a friend a of mine! He loves helping new Rogues, and I’m sure he’d be willing to grab a bite with you.”

I can either go with her to meet her friend or have her drop me off at a restaurant or something. If I push it though, I have the feeling she’d cave and let me stick with her for a while longer on her job. That’d be clingy, though.

>>855194
Sure, get introduced. Ask what sort of guy this friend is.

Here's an important question. Do you happen to have a phone with you? if you do, that opens up a lot of possibilities, such as saving the various rogue service numbers you just viewed into it for later use.

>>855194
Go with the friend that loves helping new rouges! Anyone that can tolerate being near rouges seems like someone you should become friends with as soon as possible!

Ask if her friend is another neumono or an alien of some kind?

Say you'd be happy to meet her friend and ask her if she can pick you up on her way to the meeting with her boss after dealing with the other rogue, because possible job opportunity/ more info on this company.

>>855194
Geeze she's only been here a few minutes and they're already pulling her away? How she's supposed to do any case working if she's just acting as a taxi all day? (Like case workers are supposed to do stuff with people you thought)! Is this more bad luck for you or are new rogues really that frequent- oh no you don't want to know.

>if you don’t have any money I can introduce you to a friend a of mine!
Um. Is it okay if I only have a little money but I don't want to spend it because I have no idea when or where I'm going to get any more?

>what else
I'm... going to see you again, right? (You just had so many people you're never gonna see again and you're not sure you can take any more).

Also get her personal number so you can call her if you need help later.

>>855194

Let's ask Luvi if having another rogue would be beneficial to both ourself and this new person. Maybe as like, a rogue-icebreaker kind of thing. Might be easier to like, really just face this, you know?

If not, then let's meet up with her friend and get something to eat. Meet some people and try to stabilize our life.

I don't really think Mac is in any shape to help someone else be more accepting of their new rogue-ness.

>>855194
You're going to need more friends, girl. See this dude she knows.

Go see who this guy is. Seems like you've got nothing better to do, so why not! Maybe he's an alien!

"Is a drive through on the way to your friend okay? Just to have your company a little while longer."

Mac 2018/01/04(Thu)15:59 No. 856182 ID: 94373f
File 151511034014.png - (179.39KB , 800x800 , 20.png )

“Can you take me to meet your friend?”

>”Yup! You’ll love Kark, he’s one of the nicest people I know! He’s loves helping people out, it’s basically his day job.”

We leave the library and I notice the patrons mentally flinch once Luvi leaves the jammer. I’m not the only one who finds her strange. Her empathy is much less insistent when I’m not plastered on her but it still feels unnatural, like someone forcing themselves to be the happiest person in the room, but without any actual effort. We share numbers before we leave in case I need her later and she promises to answer ASAP if she’s needed. I believe her on that, at least.

Her bike is a bit old but looks sturdy enough to hold two normal sized neumono. She’s slapped a bunch of cutesy decals over, unsurprisingly.

>”Hold on tight, we’ll have to speed a tiny bit to get there in time for me to return to the office.”

Mac 2018/01/04(Thu)15:59 No. 856184 ID: 94373f
File 151511039617.png - (105.99KB , 800x800 , 21.png )

As she drives me into Roguetown she rambles about a lot of stuff. She loves to talk. She does eventually land on the topic of her being my caseworker though, and I glean through her optimistic spin on everything that the ORS itself is pretty much useless. She mentions a few spots that are looking for unskilled labor that she might be able to get me hired at later, and emergency services I can call, but the ORS’s usefulness seems to start and end at keeping the Dorms open. I also get an earful of how great Kark apparently is. She makes the guy sound like a saint.

>”The suns still out so he’s either home or on some street corner, so we’ll check his apartment first. He’s up all day but he works nights at some company. Honestly, I don’t know when that boy sleeps!”

“Can’t you just call him to find out where he is?”

>”I would but he never keeps his phone charged! He’s a bit forgetful sometimes. But don’t worry, he’s super reliable. He’s always talking about how Rogues can accomplish great things if we put our minds to it and he loves to meet new ones. He even watches out for me, which is ironic considering my job and all, but that’s the kind of guy he is. A bit of a fusspot, but his heart is in the right place.”

Mac 2018/01/04(Thu)16:06 No. 856188 ID: 94373f
File 151511079302.png - (149.01KB , 800x800 , 22.png )

I can feel neumono arguing as we pull up to an apartment building.

>“Kark! Where’s your rent?”

>“In your cunt you fucking hag!”

>he’s one of the nicest people I know!
>>“In your cunt you fucking hag!”
"Um. Did I just become the nicest person you know?"

Bit of a fusspot, huh?

>Is that a Toya-lady landlord?
Kark seems like a huge jerk, say hi to him, his terrible empathy will probably balance out Luvi so definitely the person to meet.

"Did you run out of imaginary friends, or is denial part of a complete breakfast for Rogue survival?"

That is of course the proper response when dealing with landladies requesting rent.

Well let Luvi introduce you to the new guy and his pet thing on his head.

I already love this fella. Just look at all that carisma.
How is his empathy?

Luvi probably likes literally everyone she meets, you'd have to to be 100% happy all the time.
Might as well meet the guy, maybe he's nice nicer than he seems.

>>856188
hug Toya

>>856188
"You sure about this?"

Maybe Kark just hates the toya neumono lady only, you might be fiiine.

"Luvi, most people's definition of "nice" includes "comforting"."

Start a rogue only mercenary company!
It's a great idea, you get money, you get to go off world at other peoples expense, there's a high chance of dying, you get to work out all your anger, you're not leaving anybody behind to worry about you, you get to form a special kind of bond with the other rogues, it's perfect!

>>856385
That'd be great, if Mac wasn't a cuddle-hiver.

>>856386
Rogue only traveling Theatre troupe.

>He’s a bit forgetful sometimes.
>“Kark! Where’s your rent?”

Mark might just having a bad day today. Maybe he'll be in a better mood once he sees some friendlier faces.

Mac 2018/01/07(Sun)14:38 No. 856844 ID: eef407
File 151536468299.png - (88.07KB , 800x800 , 23.png )

“He’s one of the nicest people you know?”

>“Yup, and I know a lot of people!”

Luvi pulls up to the curb and waves at the Landlady and Kark as we get off her bike. The Landlady has a Toya perched on her head giving little excitable barks, and feels irritated while she flips Kark off. She doesn’t hold a candle to how pissed off Kark is though. I’m amazed he isn’t throwing things at her.

>”Hi Ms. Queen! This is Mac, I wanted to introduce her to Kark. Can you let her into the building?

>“Luvi. A tenant would need to sign her in, you know the policy. And Kark won’t get that privilege back until he PAYS HIS GODDAMN RENT!”

>“I’ll put it in your shitting coffin, crone!”

>“And he’s probably not going to do that for another couple of days.”

>“Aw come on Ms. Queen. She just lost her Hive and I think hanging with Kark would help her out.”

“I’m not sure if hanging out with Kark would help me out.”

>“Hmm. Kark you want to meet this girlie!?”

>“Fuck no!”

>“Alright then, I’ll let you up if you want, girlie. Long as Luvi vouches and ya don’t steal nothin’. If ya do, I will find you.”

>“Yeah, she will find you Mac. And she’s a lot better than me at it!”

>>856844
Tell her you're not that kind of Ro-... person.

I think we can manage to behave ourselves good enough. Can't say the same thing about our new friend up there.

"What's your toya's name?"

>>856844
Can I touch your Toya?

>Ms. Queen
Wait she's a queen? And you're not freaking out being around her?

>don’t steal nothin’
I wouldn't do that!

>what do
What's Kark's empathy like? Is this really a person you want to spend time with?

...I mean I guess worse case if Luvi's wrong and he's a jerk you can hang out in the building before going somewhere else.

You have depressingly little faith.

And if I stole anything, wouldn't it be Kark's problem?

>>856844
Ms. Queen seems like a cool person. She hasn't thrown a rock at you or complained at you or anything!

Mac 2018/01/08(Mon)17:03 No. 857106 ID: 78a3e5
File 151545978438.png - (162.07KB , 800x800 , 24.png )

“I won’t take anything, I swear.”

>“Goddammit, don’t let her in! I’m busy today.”

>“You’re busy every day, buddy!”

The landlady heads to unlock the door while Kark curses at her for it. Luvi calling her Queen is weird, because she doesn’t feel like any Queen I’ve ever met. They all have this kind of… inherent charisma, I guess. It’s hard to describe, but Queens feel like Queens, no matter how big or small their Hive is. As far as I can tell the landlady just feels like a regular neumono.

“Luvi, why did you call her ‘Ms. Queen’?” I whisper.

>“It’s polite, silly. Also, she gets pretty miffed if you don’t call her Queen. So, don’t do that.”

Ugh, I can feel Kark focusing on us again. He feels not just like an angry asshole, but the angriest asshole. I can’t really imagine us getting along, but I don’t really have anywhere else to go.

>“Luvi! Why the fuck are you dumping this bitch on me!”

>”Mr. Greensea is pretty mad at me and another Rogue turned up on my docket so I have to deal with that, and I don’t have time to give her a good orientation. Just let her tag along and buy her some lunch, I’ll pick her up later! I’m sure you’ll teach her a lot.”

>“Fucking hell, you can’t just dump your problems on me because you hate making people mad! Tell Greensea to fuck off, he’s a coward.”

>”But he might suspend me then, and that’s bad for everyone. Come on, pleeeeeeease. It’ll only be a few hours and Mac’s really cool!” She punctuates this by wrapping an arm around me, making me cringe a bit.

>”She’s a fucking sadsack piece of shit, and I’m already up to my ears in those kinds of assholes! And don’t think I don’t think I don’t know about you going to that fucking Dowser again! How many fucking times do I have to tell you-”

Luvi’s weird empathy flickers for a second and she looks at her wrist before practically teleporting onto her bike.

>”Oh wow, look at the time, I should probably get going, bye Mac, bye Kark, I’m sure you’ll be best friends in no tiiiiiiime!”

She drags the last word out as she peels off on her bike, not even bothering to put on her helmet. Kark just glares at me until I follow the landlady inside.

Mac 2018/01/08(Mon)17:03 No. 857107 ID: 78a3e5
File 151545981942.png - (159.86KB , 800x800 , 25.png )

The landlady seems to have calmed down a bit and is feeding the Toya a treat as it yips.

“So, Ms. Queen, what’s your Toya’s name?”

>”Drop the Ms, girlie. His name’s Dreamer. Lil’ bastard spends 90% of his time snoozin’.”

“Can I pet him?”

>”Nah, cause then it’ll be an hour before he shuts up. New people touching him amps him up like nothin’ else. Kark’s apartment is 216. Think ya can find it or do I need to guide ya?”

I can probably find the room myself, but if she takes me I can ask questions about Kark or the building, which seems to be filled with Rogues.

So I have been a rogue all of 2 hours so could I ask you for advice?

Mostly on what I should do first?

All of your learning experiences seem to depress you, might as well just keep moving.

>>857107
Guide please.

Ask who Dowser is, and if there are any residents here you should avoid or be careful around.

Ask for advice with Kark, he looks like a nasty piece of work.

"What do most of your tenants here do, professionally?"

guide please. Ask Queen if Kark has any good side or if he's just a perpetually angry dude. Also what the deal with Luvi is.

>>857107
Ask for advice, seek a heavy lead pipe for protection.

>I’ll pick her up later!
Oh thank goodness she's coming back.

>>857107
If you don't mind, could you show me the way?

Is Kark always like that?

It's awful nice of you to let him stay if he's been late before and he talks to you like that.

"What he fuck is wrong with those two? Luvi feels natural and Kark fells like the angriest asshole ever, like wish you could blow up planets with your mind angry!"

Is this how being a rouge works? You're either sad or angry?

"A quick guide on the way is fine, thank you."

Ask her who the Dowser is then be on your way. You don't want to wear her patience thin.

>>857107

Could just ask a few questions before going on your own. I mean, she's right there. That way it looks like you're being responsible and learning what you're about to get into.

Mac 2018/01/09(Tue)19:44 No. 857482 ID: a43366
File 151555589415.png - (174.67KB , 800x800 , 26.png )

Despite how much of a jerk Kark felt like, he wasn’t anywhere near as unsettling as Luvi. Kark may have been mostly angry, but there were still layers of other emotions to go with that anger, and even if I don’t know him well enough to tell them apart I can tell they were there. Luvi isn’t like that at all. If a normal neumono’s empathy was a song, Luvi’s would just be one high-pitched note holding the same tone, forever.

“Would you mind showing me the way?”

She doesn’t bother answering and I have to kind of half jog to keep up with how fast she walks away.

“Queen, you’re a Rogue, right?

>“What tipped ya off? Me being in Roguetown, ownin’ a building full a Rogues, or my sunny disposition?”

“Um, well, I’m a new Rogue and was wondering if you had any advice or anything? I don’t know what I should do. Like, about anything.”

>“Stay busy. Simple as that.”

I don’t think I’m going to get anything more specific out of her without asking something more precise.

“What should I do first, then? Like, right now. I would take literally any advice.”

>“Get a job. It’ll be shit, but money is money.”

“What kind of jobs do your tenants do? Is that where I should start?”

>”They do a bunch of shit. Hell if I can remember it all. They pay their rent or they get kicked out. Long as they don’t cause problems in the building I don’t give a fuck.”

“Is there anyone who lives here I should avoid, then? I mean, Roguetown has a lot of drug dealers and stuff right?”

>”If ya needed to avoid ‘em, they wouldn’t live round here.”

“What about Kark, is he always that angry? He mentioned someone named Dowser to Luvi, do you know who that is?”

>”Scammers. Forget about ‘em. And that bastard’s bark is worse than his bite. He barks all the fuckin’ time, though.”

“Why do you let him talk to you like that?”

>“’Cause he’s the only tenant I got whose dumb enough to argue but smart enough to pay.”

I guess she senses or at least guesses what my next question is going to be because she stops me in the hallway and turns to face me.

>”Luvi is broke in her brain. It ain’t gonna get better so it’s best to just let her do as she wants. Doubt she could hurt a fly, anyway. Hope you’re all learned up girlie, cause we’re AT THE ASSHOLES DOOR!”

Mac 2018/01/09(Tue)19:45 No. 857483 ID: a43366
File 151555591644.png - (148.66KB , 1200x800 , 27.png )

I feel another neumono inside the room before Kark opens his door and scowls at us both.

>”If either of these bitches is here in a hour I’m putting ya damn head through the sidewalk.”

>”Go fuck Dreamer, you giant whore.”

They flip each other off and Queen leaves.

Introduce yourself and ask them who they are.

This is your life now. A broken happy girl, a queen that daesn't give a fuck, and a guy with a shity actitude. And that one over there.
You better start lerning somthing from them, take what you can and start all over again. One step at the time. The rest will adjust it self alone.

Nothing ever came easy, Mac. Take a breath, square your shoulders, head in there and get some answers.

>>857482
Well, Queen seemed nice. At least, she's willing to talk straight to you, and was fairly no-nonsense.


>>857483
Um, hi? I'm Mac. Sorry about getting dumped on you and all.

Mac, it's very important that you start acting like you aren't one good emotional shove from being a gibbering wreck. Put on your game face and act at least a bit tougher than molten playdough or kark and his... acquaintence here are gonna walk right over you.

"Okay, level with me kark. Just how screwed up is Luvi?"

Well, it's nice to get a bit of straight talk. From what it sounds like, this is a relatively nice place is roguetown, so it might be worth remembering this location if you need a place to live once you've found your feet.

Going off the name and the comment of them being a scam, I guess a Dowser might be a someone who tries to match rogues to hives on the off-chance they click? I guess Luvi uses one as a means to cope, a faint, maybe false, glimmer of hope.

As for Kark. Introduce yourself and apologise for being dumped on him. You didn't know that was something Luvi did.

It's like New York, where 'Fuck You' is a standard greeting!

Find out what Kark is up to and what he can do for you.

"I guess I should have been more skeptical when Luvi suggested visiting you. She said you "loved helping new rogues" and would be "willing to grab a bite" with me, and I'm guessing that's not accurate either. Sorry. She's hard to read. But here I am, so... hi? Uh. Anything I could help you out with? As an apology?"

It probably would be a good idea to start getting one someone's good side, or at least their not-awful side, and try to pick up some new friends. Acquaintances. Compatriots?

>>857483
Say hello. Your empathy already indicates that you think these two hate you and you don't wanna be here so don't worry about mentioning it!

Well... this seems nice enough. Be polite and patient and things will work out.

Introduce yourself proper.

Ask Kark to introduce his friend to you.

>>857483

Interior designer. That's our new job.

Because clearly rogues are DESPERATE for someone to help make their homes not look like a horrible slum.

Muster up courage and say hi.

>>858273
I was going to argue that surely it depends on whether she's any good at it, but then I noticed the room has solely a bare mattress on the floor.

>>858273
>>858689

I think it's a question of finances rather than desire or capability. Rogues seem to tend towards low-income jobs and, remember, neumono need several times the food that a human does.

Mac 2018/01/16(Tue)06:03 No. 858760 ID: 78a3e5
File 151611142680.png - (161.74KB , 1200x800 , 28.png )

Kark motions for me to come inside and as far as I can tell the only thing he owns is the mattress against the wall. The room is barren for the most part except for the three of us. The girl shoots me a dirty look but seems content to just glower in my general direction in a protective way that Kark is determined to ignore while he closes the door.

“So, are you renovating?”

>“Yes, I thought the room could use some more space to do fucking yoga. My apartment being empty is none of your damn business, alright?”

“Sorry, my bad. Um, Luvi said you ‘loved helping new rogues’ and, well, kind of gave me a different impression of you.”

>“No shit. The walking ball of sunshine didn’t give you a realistic expectation of the people who put up with her? That will be a theme with her, so take fucking notes.”

The girl is wondering who I am and that reminds me she may not have been listening to Luvi introduce me.

“Hi, I’m Mac rozu St-”

Mac 2018/01/16(Tue)06:04 No. 858761 ID: 78a3e5
File 151611146001.png - (107.41KB , 800x800 , 29.png )

Oh no. An emotional trip mine. Apparently, I have those now.

They’re both confrontational, like they’re daring me to start crying again, and they are probably going to get their wish. The weight of being all alone hits me again because I realize I don’t even have my name anymore. Who even am I as a person anymore? I…

There’s an acting trick my Hive does, and I use that to stop another breakdown. I stop thinking about it. The person who thinks about that is no longer me. I am the me in this room talking to these neumono who are jerks. That is the beginning and the end of me.

The girl raises an eyebrow, probably reacting to how I just forcibly stopped myself from collapsing into a useless pile of tears again. Staying focused like this helps us put off empathy that believes we’re the characters we’re portraying, but it’s also useful for shoving emotions into a box for later. It’s basically just tricking yourself to be focused on what you’re doing and ignoring everything else. It’s difficult to get the hang of initially, but once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to keep up.

“I’m… Mac.” Saying that made my soul die a little, but at least I’m not sniffling.

Mac 2018/01/16(Tue)06:05 No. 858762 ID: 78a3e5
File 151611150125.png - (136.76KB , 1000x800 , 30.png )

>”Least you ain’t a crier.” She says in a gruff voice.

>“Shut up. I already know your name, dipshit, and this bitch will inevitably call you something insulting, so good job almost punching yourself in the dick for no reason. She’s Marassa, a fucking psycho who is determined to ruin my life. If she tries to fight you punch her in the nose or something and she’ll stop. Or tear you apart. Either way one or two of my problems disappears. Now I’ll get you food and answer whatever dumb questions about rogue life you have itching to spew out of your gob, but I don’t have the patience for a fucking to sit on the fucking floor and have a hug triangle with people I can’t stand, so it’s going to be while we walk.”

He heads for the kitchen where some clothes are draped on the kitchen counter.

“Well, I appreciate you helping me out,” We both know that statements a lie, but we let it pass. “If you need help with anything I’ll do what I can.”

>”Good, because if I’m feeding you, you’re working. I got shit we have to move. Grab whatever you can carry in the closet while I get dressed.”

Yeah these guys are unhelpful jerks and living up to the stereotype of mean rogues. I don't think you're getting much out of them besides food and a place to stay (for now) grudgingly.

The love freak was better than them, although you can't trust her recommendations of people if she literally can't tell who's a jerk.

>I got shit we have to move. Grab whatever you can carry in the closet while I get dressed.
Might as well. Keeping busy and playing a role will help keep you sane in the short term.

"You got any suggestions for where to find work so I don't have to go homeless?"

Oh boy, we are in it for the ride. This is going to be harder than i thought. Ok, this is stil useful. You are lerning to endure, keep it up. They are jerks, but you can stil learn from them. Take anything you can, you can't be fussy about it.

>>858762

Kark is secretly a giant softy who had to put on a rough and caustic exterior to get by after becoming a rogue and facing the horrific resistance and pressure of those who once were his friends turning hostile against him.

It is now our duty to bring out that sad, scared little guy and get him to open up again.

(Also to redecorate his apartment.)

>>858762
>>858768
Judge people by their actions, not their words. I think >>858787 is going a bit far but it does seem reasonable that a lot of rogues put up fronts to get along.

Help him carry his stuff. Where to?

Remember, this is just a stepping stone to getting on steady ground. It's not like you haven't moved a bunch of stage equipment and props before.

>>858761
What a ridiculously cool trick. I wonder how far it can go.

>>858847
>>858761

OH FUCK.

What if we tricked ourselves into thinking we're a rogue?! By being so overly good at this trick that our empathy got stuck!?

... nah, that's too crazy.

Mac 2018/01/16(Tue)19:41 No. 858953 ID: a43366
File 151616051655.png - (159.79KB , 1000x800 , 31.png )

>What a ridiculously cool trick. I wonder how far it can go.
A lot farther than I can take it.

“So what kind of jobs do Rogues do to keep roofs over their head?”

>“Shitty ones almost exclusively. Marassa here works in a factory that is definitely going to drive her into a murder spree eventually, and I work 12 hours a day in a tiny ass cubicle barely able to keep from smashing my head into my fucking monitor. And we’re lucky because we get paid decently at least. If it’s just getting a job though, I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Unless you have a record longer than my arm, Luvi will find you something. She’s real fucking dogged once she gets her teeth into a rogue that doesn’t instantly try and get away from her.”

“What exactly is wrong with Luvi? Queen said she broken and I’ve never met a neumono like her before.”

>”Wow, you’re a nosy fuck too, huh. Well Luvi broadcasts it everywhere she goes so it’s not like it’s a secret. Her Hive fucked her up, even if she’d never admit it. I don’t know the details, but I’d say whatever they did to her retarded her emotionally, and then once she got too grating to be around they kicked her out. She gets fucking insufferable if you hang around her too long. And my apartments fucking fine, stop thinking about it!”

“Sorry. Where are we going?”

>“Not that far. I got some fuckers to yell at before I go to work, then you can help Marassa get this shit back here.”

There’s a small foldable table, a few boxes filled with pamphlets, a megaphone, and a soapbox in the closet along with some stuff he wants me to leave alone. I’ve moved stage stuff before, and most of it was way more unwieldy than this.

Wow, a genuine old-fashioned soap box? That's dedication. Well, you can put some of that stuff in the soap box to help carry it.

I still think art&craft supplies is the career path for you.

>>858953
Okay I guess it's time to shut up and do chores.

>>858953
If there's a chance to talk about stuff later, ask about places to stay, whether here or elsewhere.

Time to make yourself useful!

You can still ask questions to Kark by the way, sorry if that was unclear.

>>858953
Gee, we were just asking the obvious, not prying into the life Luvi. Is better to know something about someone instead of nothing, you have less chances to say something inappropriate. Guess is time to get some sweat.

I wonder why Kark has all of this promotional stuff. What if Kark is secretly a rogue rights activist?

>>858953
Flip the soap box over and use it to carry things. Be polite and do your best to not take their self-destructive raging too personally.

Looks like you're going to spread the good word. Ask if any of the skills you have could get you a related job.

>I’ve moved stage stuff before, and most of it was way more unwieldy than this.
There you go, see, your life experiences have prepared you for something.

Might want to check if the boxes filled with pamphlets are strong enough to hold them (people moving often sort stuff and end up with a whole box of books only crap books are really heavy box destroyed) before you start moving them. If you're going outside, make sure they're closed so they can't blow away.

>whatever they did to her retarded her emotionally
Broken heart at the thought she's always that happy as some kind of defense mechanism against some kind of horrific abuse.

>You can still ask questions
What's all this for? You promote something?

Urge to just up and fucking leave rising.

>>859264
>Broken heart at the thought she's always that happy as some kind of defense mechanism against some kind of horrific abuse.
I get the impression that it's not specifically a coping mechanism for abuse, but because she literally never developed beyond some infantile happiness sort of thing, emotionally speaking.

>>859296
The facade briefly broke though.