31 Plays in 31 Days 2025, #5 - “Curious”
Aug. 5th, 2025 09:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
breakinglight11This is another scene from Lacuna, an idea for a horror story about a video game, directly following yesterday’s scene #4 - “New Game”.
As I mentioned, I have not planned out this piece with the kind of structuring process I usually make use of. I am considering just writing it in sequence, with whatever comes to mind, even if I don’t really know where I’m heading. So I guess that makes this scene two, with no idea how many scenes in total. I can always edit it later, if I find there’s something worth it in the drafting.
As a side note, I am inordinately pleased with the online handles of “Chemical Gothic” and “PascalesBust.” I feel like both of them tell you a lot about who the characters are.
Day #5 - “Curious”
From Lacuna
By Phoebe Roberts
CHEMICAL GOTHIC, Joan Kirby, a gamer
PASCALESBUST, Michael Lister, a gamer and her friend
On the Internet, the present day
~~~
(CHEM is working, Discord on in the background. She gets a ping from PASCALE. She takes the call.)
CHEM: Howdy, stranger.
PASCALE: So, how was it? Revolutionary? Change the artform as we know it?
CHEM: Sorry?
PASCALE: Twist’s new thing, you know what I mean.
CHEM: Oh, Lacuna.
PASCALE: Yeah, that. Everyone’s talking about it.
CHEM: Yeah, it’s been tough to avoid spoilers. I’ve basically had to stay off Reddit and Tiktok.
PASCALE: You haven’t finished it yet?
CHEM: I haven’t even started it yet.
PASCALE: Jesus, I thought you couldn’t wait.
CHEM: Well, stuff came up. Sunday we went out for Wes’s birthday, then I was drowning in midterm grading. Kinda forgot about it.
PASCALE: Damn it.
CHEM: I thought you weren’t interested.
PASCALE: I’m not, really. It’s just... people are talking about it constantly, and... none of it makes sense.
CHEM: In what way?
PASCALE: The gameplay... it sounds so weird. How it changes every day, but always stays the same? Like, some puzzle nobody’s solved yet—
CHEM: Wait, wait, no— don't spoil me.
PASCALE: (Sigh) Sorry, I don’t know how else to explain it. I just want to know what they’re talking about.
CHEM: I’m surprised you’re this interested in it.
PASCALE: It’s just weird, is all. With everyone going on and on about it.
CHEM: Well... what if I played it on the stream one night? You can get a look for yourself.
PASCALE: I never got the point of watching somebody else play a game.
CHEM: Hey, it’s fun for a lot of people. Like... a lowkey social thing. Folks love to tell me how I keep them company while they knit.
PASCALE: (Snort laughs)
CHEM: You don’t have to stay all night. Just long enough to see what’s what. I already bought the game, so it’s not like you’re putting money in Twist’s pocket.
PASCALE: I don’t know...
CHEM: Aw, what’s the harm? You’re the one who was curious.
PASCALE: Well... guess I can get some knitting done.
As I mentioned, I have not planned out this piece with the kind of structuring process I usually make use of. I am considering just writing it in sequence, with whatever comes to mind, even if I don’t really know where I’m heading. So I guess that makes this scene two, with no idea how many scenes in total. I can always edit it later, if I find there’s something worth it in the drafting.
As a side note, I am inordinately pleased with the online handles of “Chemical Gothic” and “PascalesBust.” I feel like both of them tell you a lot about who the characters are.
Day #5 - “Curious”
From Lacuna
By Phoebe Roberts
CHEMICAL GOTHIC, Joan Kirby, a gamer
PASCALESBUST, Michael Lister, a gamer and her friend
On the Internet, the present day
~~~
(CHEM is working, Discord on in the background. She gets a ping from PASCALE. She takes the call.)
CHEM: Howdy, stranger.
PASCALE: So, how was it? Revolutionary? Change the artform as we know it?
CHEM: Sorry?
PASCALE: Twist’s new thing, you know what I mean.
CHEM: Oh, Lacuna.
PASCALE: Yeah, that. Everyone’s talking about it.
CHEM: Yeah, it’s been tough to avoid spoilers. I’ve basically had to stay off Reddit and Tiktok.
PASCALE: You haven’t finished it yet?
CHEM: I haven’t even started it yet.
PASCALE: Jesus, I thought you couldn’t wait.
CHEM: Well, stuff came up. Sunday we went out for Wes’s birthday, then I was drowning in midterm grading. Kinda forgot about it.
PASCALE: Damn it.
CHEM: I thought you weren’t interested.
PASCALE: I’m not, really. It’s just... people are talking about it constantly, and... none of it makes sense.
CHEM: In what way?
PASCALE: The gameplay... it sounds so weird. How it changes every day, but always stays the same? Like, some puzzle nobody’s solved yet—
CHEM: Wait, wait, no— don't spoil me.
PASCALE: (Sigh) Sorry, I don’t know how else to explain it. I just want to know what they’re talking about.
CHEM: I’m surprised you’re this interested in it.
PASCALE: It’s just weird, is all. With everyone going on and on about it.
CHEM: Well... what if I played it on the stream one night? You can get a look for yourself.
PASCALE: I never got the point of watching somebody else play a game.
CHEM: Hey, it’s fun for a lot of people. Like... a lowkey social thing. Folks love to tell me how I keep them company while they knit.
PASCALE: (Snort laughs)
CHEM: You don’t have to stay all night. Just long enough to see what’s what. I already bought the game, so it’s not like you’re putting money in Twist’s pocket.
PASCALE: I don’t know...
CHEM: Aw, what’s the harm? You’re the one who was curious.
PASCALE: Well... guess I can get some knitting done.
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