unrooms

[unrooms]

My very first fan art. I am so touched. Even if it was from a family member haha Genuinely though it makes me very happy and it's such a cool thing :)

this is my first major cross stitch project! it's fanart I made for @unrooms created by my talented sibling @dreaming-at-noon which all of you should go read NOW!

I started working on it about halfway through the unrooms project and finished it about a week ago. I didn't get around to hemming it until today which is why I'm uploading it now :/

[unrooms]

More specific questions than Moya's comment:

What was your inspiration for this story?

Tell us more about the walls, the ceiling, and everything within them.

Wellll... What was my inspiration? That's kinda hard to pin down. For one thing, though, the interactive webcomics Blood is Mine and My Delirium Alcazar are big favorites of mine and definitely influenced me a fair amount! I recommend both of them- BiM is finished and MDA is unfortunately on hiatus but you should still get invested in it lol

I really started this- not on a whim, but with very little prep time. As you know, it was meant to (well, and did) span exactly one month, and I decided I was going to do it, I believe, two days before the month started? So I didn't have a very detailed idea of what the story was going to be or anything going in. A lot of it I improvised on the fly. I think most of the puzzles I invented while writing the update for the hour they were first observed lol. Not sure exactly where I was going with this but whatever

As for the walls, the floors, the ceilings, and everything within them, I think I've been fascinated for a long time by the idea of like... well it's hard to sum up? (btw dorfird, I know you know this about me, but I'm answering for everyone)

I guess there's just something about like... a space that is a puzzle, like an escape room maybe, and there's dire consequences if you can't figure it out? I don't know, it's hard to put into words, and that's maybe only one genre of this idea I've got in my head. But I think of things like Danganronpa, Portal, the Hunger Games even. So one of the things I knew from the start was that I was gonna explore that whole concept. The thing I like about the walls, the floors, the ceilings, and everything within them is that it is not only a building but an entity itself, and it has control over its whole structure... I could have played around more with it changing, like a shifting maze, but I guess I didn't really think of that.

A thing which I didn't ever state explicitly is that the walls, the floors, the ceilings, and everything within them has a kind of connection to Tyler's universe. It's seen glimpses of that universe, and modelled itself around what it saw. Thus why it has architecture that's recognizable, and how the flesh can speak english and the walls etc can write it.

I don't think the walls, the floors, the ceilings, and everything within them is really malicious, rather it just doesn't really have a sense of empathy. It's a person because it has the element of flesh in it, but it's more stone than flesh and it understands stone more than it does flesh. However, I did have it in mind that an alternate solution to the story could be to convince it to let you go.

There's more I could say, but I already wrote a lot and I'm kind of sick and tired today, so I'll leave it at that for this post. (that doesn't mean I won't say anything else today, necessarily, just not right now)

I hope you find this interesting and not too rambly lol :)

[unrooms]

It's done! I've had a really good time and I feel like I've improved a lot, honestly, and you've all been a wonderful audience :)

Since the beginning, I've been withholding a lot of information to try to make it as much of an experience of experimentation and discovery as possible, if that makes sense. But I've been bursting at the seams to infodump about all the behind-the-scenes stuff I've been thinking about, so, now it's over, feel free to ask about anything you've been wondering about! I won't start answering stuff until tomorrow, though, I need to go to sleep lol.

In other news, if I ever do a sequel or another project like this, I'll definitely share the news here for those who are still following. No promises on that, though, and if I do do something like that it'll probably be a while.

So yeah! Once again, thanks all for being such a great audience. I literally couldn't have done it without you and it's been great <3

[unrooms]

To your disappointment, you don't get a message right away.

Ah, well. I know you guys have had trouble sending messages before. I wonder why that is? Eh, anyway.

"It's 11," you tell the flesh while setting one last alarm. "So... like I said, there's a few things I want to do before I leave, but is there anything you want to do? Or, my uh, brain helpers suggested you might want some kind of memento. I haven't got much on me, but I could give you a little something."

"Hm... I hadn't thought about that. ...I think I just want to spend the time with you. Playing more of that game would also be enjoyable. As for a memento, that sounds nice."

"Alright, let's see... I've got this sharpie- it's for writing and drawing, you saw me using it earlier when I was working on the stone key. It'll eventually run out of ink and stop working, but you could use it in the meantime. And I have this hairtie. You do have hair- do you want me to show you how it works?"

"Oh... do I have to choose one?"

"Oh, nah, I'll give you both if you want them. Neither are really rare or valuable back home. ...I'd give you something better but I don't have anything..."

"That's alright. I appreciate them anyway. And yes, please show me how the hairtie works."

You do, and then the flesh tries it. It gets a little tangled at first, but seems to get the hang of it on the second try.

"There you go! That looks good on you, I think." You smile at it.

"Thank you." It smiles back.

Then chat's message comes through. Unsurprisingly based on previous experience, the words aren't really clear, definitely not enough to actually write it down. But you do get a little bit of the gist. They've wanted to help keep you safe, they care about you. Something like that, at least.

Aw, thanks chat. Haha, 'chat' definitely feels a little silly now. But anyway- I don't think I got most of the message, but it feels nice, at least, so thanks.

The next idea from chat is to try turning all the keys in their respective keyholes in case something happens, but you feel kind of skeptical, and, more importantly, you don't want to let any of the keys out of your sight. Just in case. So you decide against it. Then they suggest asking the flesh about coming with you. You... kind of don't want it to. Not because you don't wish you could see it again, but, well, you'd be really worried about it on earth. ...You guess you might as well ask about it, though.

"So, flesh- are you definitely planning to stay here? I mean, I think that's probably the best choice for you. I'll miss you, but..."

"Ah... yes, I'm going to stay. I'll certainly be sad to part ways with you, but as I said before, I don't think the gate is supposed to work for more than one person, and I don't want to risk your ability to get home. And besides that... I know so little about this world. I want to explore it and learn more."

"That sounds nice, honestly. I wish you the best here."

You smile at each other again.

"What are you planning to do before you leave?"

"Oh, well... I want to take some things with me, if I can. ...Maybe I can't, but I'm gonna try at least. And I want to take a bunch of pictures with my phone. ...Do you know what pictures are..?"

"I don't."

"Well, it's like... my phone can capture exactly how things look right now so I can see later."

"Oh... I've never heard of something like that. Can you show me?"

"Yeah, here..."

You show it the photos you've taken here, and some from back home.

"That's very impressive. I can understand why you would want such a record."

"Yeah... -Alright, well, there's only so much time, so I'm gonna start working on it."

"Alright."

The flesh follows you as you check in every room, taking pictures. In the plant room, you manage to explain to the flesh how to take a video and get it to record you messing with the clock. You also take a couple fruits, harvest the seeds from one and take the other one whole. It's a bit unwieldy but you tuck it under your arm. In the stone room, you put one of the discarded bits of marble in your pocket.

"I don't know if I'll even actually show anyone all this? I guess I just want the option to."

"Why wouldn't you?"

"I mean, based on what we know about reality, generally, back home, this whole experience seems pretty crazy. I don't know if anyone would believe me. ...So if I do try and convince someone, all this evidence might be helpful. Also I really want to find out if these seeds will grow back home, cause I don't think there's any plant like this there."

"I suppose that all makes sense. ...Although, why would someone not believe you even with this evidence? It seems very strong."

"Oh, well, people have figured out some pretty impressive ways to fake stuff. It can be really convincing. ...I guess that at least if I show people this they're more likely to think I'm playing an elaborate prank and less likely to think I'm insane, so that's probably good."

The flesh also agrees to let you take pictures and video of it, even showing off its shape-changing ability. It's very cool, if also very body-horror.

Finally feeling that you've gathered as much as you can- at least without annoying the walls, the floors, the ceilings, and everything within them- you settle back in the pool room with the flesh. You let it play around with your phone (supervised; you don't need it seeing some of the stuff on there). You just enjoy its company. You do really wish you could see it again after this. But unless there are some serious breakthroughs in interdimensional travel in your lifetime, you guess this'll be all you get. That's probably best for it. But you're still sad.

Your alarm goes off for 11:55. You take your phone back from the flesh.

"Hm... flesh, do you know where exactly the gate is? Uh, is this the gate?" You gesture at the pool the two of you are leaning up against while sitting on the floor.

"Oh, yes, it is. You didn't know..?"

"I wasn't sure. I mean, it's where I was when I got here, but I don't know how it works as a... transportation... device?"

"I confess I'm not certain either. I think it should become clear when it's ready to be used, though."

"Alright then..."

You stand up and stretch, the flesh following suit.

"...I guess we'll just see, probably in five minutes."

So you wait silently, watching the gate, for an awkward five minutes. Finally, though, the edge of the pool sort of... opens up in four spots, across from each door, forming keyholes.

"Ah... I bet I know how this works."

Sure enough, each key fits in the keyhole opposite its elemental door. You hesitate, anxious, as you reach the last keyhole.

"Hey, flesh... I guess this is the time to say goodbye. Um... I'm glad I met you. And thanks for being with me during all this. You made it feel less terrifying."

You too, chat. I'm not sure I woulda made it without you.

"Thank you. I'm glad I met you too. I hadn't thought about myself separately from the walls, the floors, the ceilings, and everything within them before, but I think it makes me happy to discover and explore on my own. You encouraged me to find that out. I'll miss you."

Damn, you're a little choked up.

"I'll miss you too." You let out a breath. "...I'd better do this before I miss my chance."

You fit the final key into its slot and turn it. For a moment nothing happens, and then...

"Woah."

It's like it's glowing with darkness. But you only let yourself be stunned for a moment before gathering everything up, giving the flesh one last smile, and cautiously stepping over the rim into the gate.

The feeling is indescribable. You're experiencing something but it's completely incomprehensible. Like your senses tried to open an image file as a text file or something. And it only lasts for a split second of utter confusion before

you're home.

---CONNECTION LOST---

[unrooms]

Message A:

"Our link with you was tied to here, but maybe we can figure out something about what this place is, why you're here, and what would have happened if you had failed before you have to go. If it's a decent sort of place, it would boot you out without whatever you would otherwise get for completing it. If it's darker, it could be worse. It doesn't feel dark, it just feels other. Maybe the flesh has some ideas, as it's the only thing that talks, besides the voice. It's likely that nothing from here will persist,

But maybe you can get a souvenir for a phone charm."

Message B:

“Good job! We’ll miss you if the story ends here, but we’re proud. - Tumblr Chat”

Message C:

"We were just your helpers. Our connection was set up as a form of entertainment we had the choice to join in on. We always wanted to keep you safe and get you home. I think a lot of us will miss you when the connection is severed. Take care ❤️"

Message D:

"From my viewpoint, following along with your time here has been entertainment, with puzzles I tried to help you solve. I always wanted you to complete the challenge and return to your home. That's why I thought calling us 'chat' like on Twitch was so appropriate, people who watch streamers want to be entertained but sometimes for the streamers it's more important. I wish you well in your life from now on. - Dorfird"

[unrooms]

Like in the past, this will be the main poll, and there'll be a side poll about messages. I'm posting this one before making that one, so it won't be out right away, but don't forget about it!

[unrooms]

Oof, I totally forgot about posting the poll again :P Sorry guys, I'll get on that

[unrooms]

I think our messages get through better if the choice to send them is top ranked in the poll. Specifically, I think we do the top ranked activity first, and Tyler noticed the messages were clearer if they came through early in the hour. Therefore, my suggestion:

Send through all the messages anybody suggests. Then, hang out until a portal shows up, and unlock it with the 4 keys. Bring the flesh if it wants to come.

I trust Tyler to use the keys, so I don't really think it needs to be a separate option on the poll.

My message:

From my viewpoint, following along with your time here has been entertainment, with puzzles I tried to help you solve. I always wanted you to complete the challenge and return to your home. That's why I thought calling us 'chat' like on Twitch was so appropriate, people who watch streamers want to be entertained but sometimes for the streamers it's more important. I wish you well in your life from now on. - Dorfird

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[unrooms]

I am guessing the flesh won't choose to come to earth with you (if it can), though it's worth checking first. But anyway, assuming it's not coming with, maybe Tyler should ask it what it would like to do or receive in the way of company/mementos before he leaves.

Separately, a message from chat: We were just your helpers. Our connection was set up as a form of entertainment we had the choice to join in on. We always wanted to keep you safe and get you home. I think a lot of us will miss you when the connection is severed. Take care ❤️

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[unrooms]

before the hour is over, turn all the keys in their respective keyholes and see if anything happens if all the fake doors are 'unlocked' at the same time?

also we love you tyler 🩷

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[unrooms]

I want to tell Tyler good job. (“Good job! We’ll miss you if the story ends here, but we’re proud. - Tumblr Chat”)

Also, I want to see if we can bring the flesh with us.

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[unrooms]

Our link with you was tied to here, but maybe we can figure out something about what this place is, why you're here, and what would have happened if you had failed before you have to go. If it's a decent sort of place, it would boot you out without whatever you would otherwise get for completing it. If it's darker, it could be worse. It doesn't feel dark, it just feels other. Maybe the flesh has some ideas, as it's the only thing that talks, besides the voice. It's likely that nothing from here will persist, But maybe you can get a souvenir for a phone charm.

You didn't say explicitly, but unless you tell me otherwise I'm going to assume this is intended as a message for Tyler

[unrooms]

"10 o clock," you tell the flesh. "...I have an idea for the plant key."

"Oh, that's good," it says as you quickly re-set your alarm.

"Well, I dunno if it'll work or not, but yeah. I'm gonna try planting some of these seeds. Maybe they grow faster when they're younger, or something?"

You pull some seeds out of the core of one of the fruits. They're relatively large, and pale. They remind you of pumpkin seeds.

"I'm not sure. But I see no reason not to try."

"Yeah." As you head towards the plant room, you continue. "...It's not really my idea, actually; I wonder if you know anything about this: Since I got here in the first place, there's been... something... communicating with me mentally, and helping me solve these puzzles."

"Oh, yes, I knew about that from the walls, the floors, the ceilings, and everything within them. I don't know anything else about it, though, besides that it exists."

"That's a shame... I'm curious about them. Especially whether I'll still have them in my head when I go home. I wonder if the walls, the floors, the ceilings and everything within them knows more. But it probably wouldn't tell me, anyway." You sigh.

In the plant room, you forget about that for the time being. First, you adjust the clock so that the light is just hitting the keyhole. Then you crouch next to the false door and dig a hole with your hands; the soil is nice and soft. You bury your handful of seeds several inches deep and step back. You watch intently...

Is the dirt shifting a little?

-And then a green sprout breaks the surface. You're entranced, watching it grow much faster than any Earth plant grows (as far as you know, anyway). It unfurls and reaches up towards the light, developing to look like a young sapling. To your dismay, though, it slows and stops maybe two-thirds of the way to the keyhole.

"So close! Hm..."

Water didn't help before, but this sapling was growing toward the light which also didn't help before, and besides, the walls, the floors, the ceilings, and everything within them must have made this water available to you for a reason, right? So you take the water pitcher and try pouring some at the sapling's base. Soon, it starts to grow again. One branch grows directly into the keyhole, then forms a loop, and separates, leaving the key behind.

"Yes!" You pump your fist.

"Good job," says the flesh, sounding pleased.

You go to take the key, but before you remove it, you think to try turning it, just out of curiousity. It does turn, and clicks, but the door still doesn't open. So you go ahead and take the key.

"Interesting... I guess it just turns to let you know the key is... right?"

You try the flesh key too. It won't turn.

"I guess so. Well, anyway... I guess that just leaves the stone key, huh?" You smile at the flesh. "Hey, I think I'm gonna have all the keys a little early!"

"I'm glad." The flesh smiles at you.

"Me too." You let out a sigh of relief. Well, you don't technically have them all yet, so maybe you shouldn't tempt fate, but you're feeling pretty optimistic. Before you leave, you adjust the clock until it's back at noon. Maybe you don't need to, but you feel like leaving the plants with plenty of light.

In the pool room on your way back to the stone room, you remember to check the pool. Sure enough, it says something new again. As you start to read it-

"What does it say?" the flesh asks.

"Oh. You can't read? I guess that's not that surprising."

You read it out loud for the flesh:

“THREE OUT OF FOUR KEYS NOW

AND I WON'T PRETEND YOU WON'T HAVE ANOTHER SOON

THOUGH I WAS UNSURE FOR SOME HOURS

IT SEEMS YOU FOUND THE SOLUTION TO THE PLANT KEY JUST IN TIME”

"Alright." Seems like the flesh doesn't have any more to say about it than you do, so you proceed to the stone room. You sigh as you lean over the table again and pick up the in-progress stone key.

As you work, the flesh asks more questions about your world, and you answer the best you can. It makes you appreciate just how complex the world is, though.

Maybe 20 minutes later, you think you've matched the reference key pretty well. It's kind of rough, but you figure you don't have to make it look perfect. When you test it on the false door, though, it won't quite go all the way in. After checking more closely and refining the shape of the end, you try again, and it works. A surge of satisfaction runs through you at the *click* of the lock.

You hold up the key in the air and cheer to the flesh, "It works! That's the last one!"

"Congratulations!"

You head back to the table- and then, as a last thought, you carve a 'T' into the handle of the key. You feel like putting your name on this achievement.

"I wonder what I should do now... I mean, there's still like, an hour plus left. -Well, I think I'll go check the pool again to see if the walls, the floors, the ceilings, and everything within them has something new to say."

The flesh comes with you. Unsurprisingly, the pool does indeed say something new. You read it for the flesh again.

“FINALLY, ALL KEYS GATHERED

READY TO OPEN THE GATE

STILL YOU MUST WAIT TIL THE GATE IS READY

BUT, IN THE MEANTIME, I MUST OFFER YOU MY CONGRATULATIONS.”

"That's surprisingly nice," you mutter dryly.

Oh, whatever. No point being salty now.

"Well... I guess I've just got an hour to burn. I do have a couple things I want to do, but I think I'll just take a break and relax for a little bit. Until the next hour. ...Hey, flesh, let me show you something."

You and the flesh sit down on the pool edge and you attempt to explain to it the basics of how a smartphone works, and teach it to play a mobile game. You find yourself laughing at how delighted it is by what to you is such a small pleasure.

Too soon, your alarm goes off. You let the flesh keep playing for a moment, but turn your attention away from watching it.

So, chat... like I said earlier, I have no idea if you'll stick with me after I get out of here. You'd probably know better than me. So, uh... I can talk to you later like this, but unless you know you're staying in my head- which tbh, I hope not; you're cool and all but I like my mental privacy- it seems like now's probably the time for goodbyes, just in case. And, hey, thanks for all the help. I'm not sure if I'd've figured out the plant key without you. So... yeah. Thank you. I appreciate you guys, whatever you are.

You tell the flesh you need your phone back, and watch the time tick down once more. For the last time, you guess. You'll be glad to be back on a plane of existence you understand, but the thought does make you a little sad.

...11:00 am.

What now?

--HOUR 10--

[unrooms]

Tbh, it was kinda hard to split the suggestions up into poll options because they mostly fit into one series of things to try? But I have done my best. By the way, this seems like a good time to make one of the rules of how the polls work explicit: each poll option is shorthand and contains all the related suggestions that have been made. I hope that makes things a little clearer

[unrooms]

Oh no, I completely forgot about posting the poll :P Sorry guys!

Getting the poll set up takes a little longer than you might expect but I will get it out asap :)

[unrooms]

perhaps we should try planting one of the seeds near the keyhole and pointing the light towards the keyhole. so the new plant grows that direction if the tree won't

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[unrooms]

Okay, here’s my proposal:

First: take a break from the stone key to stretch our hands/legs/ back and go to the plant room

In the plant room:

Check if having the light out of reach made anything change

If the plants crept toward the light in your absence:

Angle the light at the keyhole

Return to the stone key and finish while the plant grows

If nothing changed:

Plant the seeds by the keyhole

Place water by the keyhole

Spin the clock quickly to see if it speeds up time/growth

If that works, yay, key (by baiting/directing)

If that doesn’t work, stop spinning with it set to nighttime and go back to finish the key

Time hopefully permitting, go back to check the plant room after finishing

Either way, I THINK we should end the hour with the stone key and the necessary info to complete the plant key. I hope.

(Hopefully this is coherent. Let me know if not. I had a long day, haha.)

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