ESTRANGEMENT: LEVEL OBSERVED WITHIN THE BACKROOMS, HENCEFORTH REFERENCED TO AS LEVEL 99 N. THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER ALONG WITH JJ HAVE BEEN OBSERVED WITHIN THIS LEVEL FOLLOWING SUDDEN LOCATIONAL EXCHANGE DUE TO RASH ACTIONS PERFORMED BY JJ IN PREVIOUS LEVEL.
NOTABLY, THIS LEVEL IS UNIQUE AMONG STANDARD BACKROOMS LEVELS, IN THAT THERE IS UNCERTAINTY AS WHETHER IT EVEN QUALIFIES. HOWEVER, PRECEDING TESTIMONIES FROM THOSE WHO HAVE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE PERIOD OF TIME IN THE BACKROOMS WILL INEVITABLY REACH THIS LEVEL. AS OF CURRENT DOCUMENTATION, NO WANDERERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REMAIN IN THIS LEVEL INDEFINITELY.
REPORTS ON LEVEL STRUCTURE VARY GREATLY BETWEEN WANDERERS, THOUGH ITS APPEARANCE IS ONE THE PRESENT WANDERER IS DEEPLY FAMILIAR WITH. A SOLE ENTITY IS ALSO PRESENT, AND SIMILAR TO THE LEVEL ITSELF, THIS ENTITY TAKES ON THE NEAR-EXACT APPEARANCE AND PERSONALITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL SIGNIFICANT TO THE PRESENT WANDERER BEFORE NO-CLIPPING INTO THE BACKROOMS. ENTITY IS GENERALLY FRIENDLY TOWARDS THE PRESENT WANDERER AND WILL INITIATE CONVERSATION.
FOR THIS DOCUMENTATION, THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO UTILIZE JJ'S CURRENT EXPERIENCE AS A CASE STUDY FOR GENERAL EVENTS THAT OCCUR WITHIN THIS LEVEL. LEVEL ENTITY IS OBSERVED TO TAKE ON THE APPEARANCE OF AN INDIVIDUAL KNOWN AS AUNTIE, WHO JJ HAS REFERENCED NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGHOUT ITS TRAVEL WITH THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER.
AUNTIE APPEARS TO BE COMMUNICATE PRIMARILY IN CANTONESE AND MANDARIN CHINESE, OF WHICH THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS UNABLE TO TRANSLATE, RELYING INSTEAD ON THEIR VOICE TONES AND FACIAL AND BODY LANGUAGE IN DECIPHERING THEIR INTENT, ALONG WITH JJ QUICKLY TRANSLATING FOR IT. HOWEVER: DESPITE COMMUNICATING IN THE SAME LANGUAGE, THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS ABLE TO MOSTLY UNDERSTAND JJ'S SPEECH. NO CONFIDENT CONCLUSIONS CAN BE MADE AS TO WHY THIS IS POSSIBLE, THOUGH IT IS ASSUMED IT IS CONNECTED TO THE DIRECT TRANSMISSION EVENT DURING FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH JJ.
WHEN CONTACT IS INITIATED BETWEEN ENTITY AND WANDERER- IN THIS CASE, AUNTIE AND JJ- A CONVERSATION IS OBSERVED TO COMMENCE. THIS CONVERSATION, THOUGH VARYING BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL INSTANCES, HAS A NOTABLE STRUCTURING THROUGHOUT, CORRELATING WITH THE LEVEL'S SKY.
GREETING: IN WHICH THE ENTITY APPROACHES THE WANDERER. IN THIS CASE, AUNTIE APPEARS TO BE IN EXTREME SHOCK REGARDING THE PRESENT JJ. JUDGING BY THEIR TONE, THEY SEEM TO BE IN DISBELIEF AS TO WHETHER JJ IS THE ONE AUNTIE HAD KNOWN, QUESTIONING THEM THOROUGHLY.
ah- it's me, auntie. jingjing's really here.
FOLLOWING THIS IDENTITY VERIFICATION, AUNTIE IS OBSERVED TO BE ELATED, GRASPING AT JJ WITH THEIR WEATHERED HANDS. THEY BEGIN TO DRAG JJ OVER TO THE STAIRWELL, THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER FOLLOWING ALONG.
not going to how apartment? well- it's probably dirty, so whatever.
CURRENT SITUATION: IN WHICH ANSWERS TO WHAT HAD OCCURRED FOLLOWING THE PRESENT WANDERER'S DISAPPEARANCE ARE MADE. THIS TOPIC SUGGESTS THAT SEVERAL YEARS HAD PASSED SINCE THEN, WITH THE WANDERER BEING TREATED BY THOSE ON THE BRIGHT STAGE AS IF THEY NEVER EXISTED. SKY DURING THIS TOPIC HAS THE SUN READY TO RISE. IN THIS CASE, AUNTIE IS OBSERVED TO ADMIT THOSE LIVING IN THE SAME APARTMENT BUILDING AS THEM AND JJ HAVE LONG FORGOTTEN THE LATTER, AND THEIR APARTMENT IS CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY SOMEONE NEW. DURING THIS TIME, JJ, AUNTIE, AND THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER ARE LOCATED ON THE SIXTH FLOOR.
oh. that- that makes sense. it- has it really been that long, since i've been here?
BACKGROUND: IN WHICH DISCUSSIONS OF THE PROCESS LEADING TO THE CURRENT SITUATION ARE MADE. FREQUENTLY INCLUDES SUBJECTIVE IMPRESSIONS OF THE ENTITY'S NEW ENVIRONMENT AND RELATIONSHIPS. FOR THE MOST PART, THE ENTITY OFTEN ADMITS TO FEELING A SENSE OF UNEASE WITHOUT THE PRESENT WANDERER, BUT VERY RARELY THEY CAN SAY THE WANDERER HAS BECOME SOMEONE IN THE PAST FOR THEM.
NOTABLY, IN THIS CASE, AUNTIE IS NOT OBSERVED TO STATE SUBJECTIVE IMPRESSIONS. THE REASON FOR THIS IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN. THEY APPEAR TO INFORM JJ THAT A BRIEF INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN DONE ONCE IT HAD BEEN CLEAR THEY WENT MISSING, THOUGH NOTHING APPEARED TO HAVE TURNED UP.
no surprise there, lah.
LEVEL: IN WHICH THE ENTITY WILL INQUIRE ON THE PRESENT WANDERER'S TIME IN THE BACKROOMS. THIS INQUIRY IS MADE BY AUNTIE, WHO APPEARS CURIOUS OF JJ'S CURRENT BACKROOMS EXPERIENCE.
oh, where do i start? i first woke up in this weird ocean. and then-
JJ IS OBSERVED TO ACCEPT THIS INQUIRY, LAUNCHING INTO A DETAILED STORY OF THEIR CURRENT BACKROOMS EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING THEIR FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THR PRESENT ROTWATCHER AND PARTNERING UP WITH IT DURING THEIR SECOND. CERTAIN DETAILS WERE NOTABLY OBSCURED BY JJ FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, THOUGH THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO NOT INTERRUPT FOR CORRECTIONS. DURING THIS STORY, AUNTIE IS OBSERVED TO REACT PROPERLY TO EACH BEAT, THOUGH THEY APPEAR TO DISPLAY TO SURPRISED EXPRESSIONS DESPITE APPARENTLY POSSESSING LITTLE IN TERMS OF BACKROOMS KNOWLEDGE. DURING THIS, TWO FLOORS HAD BEEN TRAVELLED, BRINGING JJ, AUNTIE, AND THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER TO THE NINTH FLOOR. SUN IN THE SKY IS OBSERVED TO BEGIN LOWERING.
FUTURE: IN WHICH VARIOUS POTENTIAL FUTURES ARE BROUGHT UP BY THE ENTITY. IN THIS CASE, AUNTIE IS OBSERVED TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITIES OF JJ LIVING IN THEIR SHARED APARTMENT, OBTAINING A WELL-PAYING JOB AS A COOK, AND FULLY OVERCOMING THEIR PREVIOUS ADDICTION. BY THE END, HOWEVER, AUNTIE APPEARS TO DISMISS THESE THEORIES AS IMPOSSIBLE. SUN IN THE SKY IS OBSERVED TO BE SETTING IN FULL.
...
you're right about the apartment and job thing, i guess.
but, auntie- i did overcome those drugs. haven't smoked them since-
since coming here.
AUNTIE DOES NOT RESPOND TO THIS, INSTEAD CONTINUING TO THE NEXT STAIRWELL WITH JJ.
PROMISE: FINAL CONVERSATION STAGE, IN WHICH A PROMISE IS MADE REGARDING A REUNION. AT THIS MOMENT, A BRIGHT-CYCLE'S END IS FULLY OBSERVED, AND THE PRESENT WANDERER WILL THEN IMMEDIATELY FALL INTO LEVEL 0 N.
SIGNIFICANT DEVIATION AT THIS STAGE IS OBSERVED BY THE CURRENT ROTWATCHER. THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION IS WHAT INSTEAD OCCURRED FOR THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER AND JJ'S EXPERIENCE WITHIN THIS LEVEL.
AUNTIE IS OBSERVED TO LEAD JJ AND THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER TO THE ROOF OF THE APARTMENT BUILDING. BRIGHT-CYCLE IS OBSERVED TO BE NEAR ITS END CURRENTLY. AUNTIE IS OBSERVED TO MOVE TOWARDS THE ROOF EDGE, AT FIRST REMAINING SILENT.
...? auntie?
AUNTIE SPEAKS. CONTENTS OF THEIR SPEECH APPEARS TO DISTRESS JJ, AS THEY RESPOND FRANTICALLY, UNABLE TO PROPERLY TRANSLATE FOR THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER.
wh- what do you mean, this isn't true?
AUNTIE RESPONDS.
'you know the truth'?! n- no i don't, auntie. y-you're speaking nonsense, aren't you?
AUNTIE THEN ARTICULATES A SINGLE SHORT SENTENCE. THIS BRINGS FORTH THE STRONGEST REACTION MADE BY JJ AS OBSERVED BY THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER.
!!!
n-no. no, you can't be. you're right here, aren't you?
you didn't d-
AUNTIE APPEARS UNAFFECTED BY THE DISTRESS JJ IS CURRENTLY EXPRESSING. THEY ARE OBSERVED TO SPEAK FURTHER, TONE INDICATIVE OF ACCUSATIONS BEING BROUGHT FORTH.
wh- it can't be my fault!
i didn't go behind your back! and even if i did, what- what was i supposed to do?
without that cat, you had nothing for me. nothing to help with my aches, my pains. what was i supposed to do, waste away?
b-besides, you were already aware of it, weren't you? that i-i was hiding pale blues in the bathroom this whole time? why you said i'd need it later, when we 'got back'.
and- and you know what? i really fucking did. because you let that scrawny one take my cat away from me.
haha... so, is that it? you never cared, did you?
JJ IS OBSERVED TO GROW INCREASINGLY AGITATED WITH EACH UTTERANCE. THEY ARE OBSERVED TO APPROACH AUNTIE WITH A GAIT INDICATIVE OF THREATENING INTENT. THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO ATTEMPT INTERVENTION TO ENSURE JJ'S MENTAL WELLBEING. HOWEVER, THEY APPEAR TO REJECT THE ROTWATCHER'S ASSISTANCE.
stay out of this, rotwatcher. this has nothing to do-
AUNTIE IS THEN OBSERVED TO SPEAK OVER JJ'S EXCLAMATION. THOUGH THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND, IT IS ABLE TO TELL THAT ITS NOMENCLATURE IS SPOKEN BY AUNTIE.
n-no. i mean, i was planning on telling it, once it trusts me-
CONTINUED DIALOGUE FROM AUNTIE IS OBSERVED, POINTED IN ITS TONE.
i was!
MORE SPOKEN WORDS FROM AUNTIE. THESE WORDS APPEAR MORE RESIGNED.
...shut up. shut up, shut up, shut up,
god, just- go away!!!
JJ IS THEN OBSERVED TO SHOVE AUNTIE FORCEFULLY, SCREAMING AS THEY DO SO. DUE TO BEING CLOSE TO THE ROOF EDGE, THIS RESULTS IN AUNTIE LOSING THEIR BALANCE AND FALLING OFF. FURTHERMORE, AS JJ CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD INSTINCTIVELY DURING THE SHOVING, THEY ARE OBSERVED TO JOIN AUNTIE IN FALLING OFF THE BUILDING. THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER BARELY AVOIDS BEING SEPARATED FROM JJ THROUGH LATCHING ONTO THE LATTER.
AS THE FALL BRINGS THEM CLOSER TO THE GROUND, AUNTIE IS OBSERVED TO FOCUS ON THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER. THEY APPEAR TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO IT, EVEN VOCALIZING THEIR NOMENCLATURE, THOUGH THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS STILL UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CONTENTS OF THEIR SPEECH. THOUGH THEY ARE PRESENT, JJ IS UNABLE TO PROPERLY TRANSLATE IN THEIR CURRENT PANIC.
BEFORE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND CAN BE MADE, SUDDEN LOCATIONAL EXCHANGE OCCURS, BRINGING THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER AND JJ TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL. INITIAL SURVEILLANCE OF SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT INDICATES CURRENT LOCATION TO BEING LEVEL 0 N. SURPRISED EXCLAMATION CAN BE HEARD FOLLOWING INITIAL ENTRANCE INTO THIS LEVEL, THOUGH THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER REMAINS ENTIRELY FOCUSED ON JJ AT THIS TIME.
NO PHYSICAL INJURIES ARE OBSERVED ON JJ'S BODY. HOWEVER, JJ IS OBSERVED TO BE IN A STATE OF ANGUISH, THEIR BODY CRUMPLED ON THE CARPET IN A FETAL POSITION. DESPITE ITS LACK OF EXPERIENCE, THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO ATTEMPT CONSOLING JJ.
god... auntie- mistress... why-
ATTEMPTS AT CONSOLING DO NOT SHOW SIGNS OF SUCCEEDING, OR EVEN JJ ACKNOWLEDGING THEM. AS THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER ATTEMPTS TO CREATE A NEW METHOD OF BRINGING JJ'S MENTAL STATE TO STABILITY, A NEW VOICE IS OBSERVED TO SPEAK.
god... auntie- mistress... why-
ATTEMPTS AT CONSOLING DO NOT SHOW SIGNS OF SUCCEEDING, OR EVEN JJ ACKNOWLEDGING THEM. AS THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER ATTEMPTS TO CREATE A NEW METHOD OF BRINGING JJ'S MENTAL STATE TO STABILITY, A NEW VOICE IS OBSERVED TO SPEAK.
Yo, what the fuck? What's wrong with you?
THIS INQUIRY IS OBSERVED TO BRIEFLY SNAP JJ OUT OF THEIR UNSTABLE MENTAL STATE. BOTH THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER AND JJ FOCUS ON THIS NEW INDIVIDUAL, WHO IS STANDING OVER JJ AND STUDYING THEM WITH AN ANNOYED EXPRESSION.
UNUSUAL MARKINGS ALL OVER THEIR BODY, AMONG OTHER DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS, LEADS TO THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IDENTIFYING THIS INDIVIDUAL AS THE ARCHITECT.
oh- oh, it is! it's you, the- the architect?
? Who's calling me the Architect? Wait, what the hell is that thing on you?
THE ARCHITECT IS OBSERVED TO GESTURE TOWARDS THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER, INQUIRING OF IT. THIS IS DESPITE PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER AND THE ARCHITECT, IN WHICH THE LATTER IS ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE FORMER FOLLOWING INITIAL ENCOUNTER.
Fuck you talkin about? This is the first time we met.
what? no it's not. it told me you two met long before the balcony.
I'm telling you, dumbass, this is the first time I've ever seen this octopus thing. And what you talkin about with this balcony? Don't remember that shit either.
so you really don't remember me- us?
...No.
THE ARCHITECT IS OBSERVED TO LACK PROPER REFERENTIAL MEMORY REGARDING ENCOUNTERS WITH THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER AND JJ. THE REASON FOR THIS IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN.
For the last goddamn time, that's not my fuckin name!
okay... then, what is it?
Luther. It's Luther.
oh. well, i'm jingjing.
Huh. Why's that thing-
BEFORE THE ARCHITECT IS ABLE TO FINISH THEIR INQUIRY, THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO APPROACH THEM TO ATTEMPT DIRECT TRANSMISSION. THOUGH CONFUSED, THE ARCHITECT DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE AWAY FROM IT, ALLOWING CONTACT TO BE ESTABLISHED. THROUGH THIS, THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THEIR NEW SELF-ASSIGNED DESIGNATION AS L. THE OTHER DESIGNATION, THAT BEING THE ARCHITECT, HAS NOT BEEN FOUND BY THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER BY THE TIME DIRECT TRANSMISSION ENDS.
Woah. The hell was that? What did it do?
oh yeah, i remember when rotwatcher first did that with me. from that i can tell, i think what it can do if it's like that is something like telepathy.
What, like fuckin reading my mind? That's just spooky.
yeah, pretty much. though i wouldn't call it spooky.
Also: my name ain't L, either! It's Luther, for fuck's-
hey! i think it knows your actual name, or whatever. it's just- abbreviating it, like it did with mine.
Oh. So, you ain't also called JJ?
never been called that in my life. until now.
Hm.
...so, if you don't remember us-
Because we never fuckin met before.
-then what is the first thing you remember? in the backrooms, i mean.
That what we're calling it?
it's what rotwatcher's calling it. and for the record, i don't think it really knows why it calls this place that, either.
...
Kinda just woke up here, to be honest. Not too long ago, if my sense of time's correct. Just been searching around, trying to figure out what's goin on.
Next thing I know, some weird Asian guy and some octopus on his shoulder falls from the ceiling next to me, even though there's no holes up there. Not only that, but the Asian guy's clearly goin through it, or something. Gotta say, it startled the shit outta me.
sorry.
What the fuck are you apologizing for? Shut up.
BASED ON THEIR TESTIMONY, L IS OBSERVED TO HAVE BEEN WANDERING THROUGHOUT LEVEL 0 N FOR A SHORT DURATION BEFORE THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER AND JJ'S ARRIVAL. THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO INQUIRE ON WHETHER L HAS SPOTTED ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT DURING THEIR WANDERINGS.
There's been some weird room structures, I guess. One had a room real high up- If I had to guess, this one room shares the same height as a house. Otherwise, though, I haven't found shit.
that sounds about right. according to rotwatcher, this level doesn't have much in terms of items. but apparently, we can go to a lot of levels through here.
What, so there's other places besides beige rooms? How do you get there?
well, you can just no-clip through this place to get to a random level, apparently.
Fuck's a no-clip?
o-oh, right, you wouldn't know.
All I know is it sounds stupid.
it kind of does, yeah.
L IS OBSERVED LACK PROPER KNOWLEDGE ON BACKROOMS MECHANISMS AND CHARACTERISTICS, INCLUDING ENTRYWAYS AND NO-CLIP METHODS. ABSENCE OF THIS KNOWLEDGE CAN LEAD TO IMPROPER SURVIVAL WITHIN THE BACKROOMS AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN THEIR DEMISE. THEREFORE, THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER SUGGESTS L TO ACCOMPANY IT AND JJ AS THEY TRAVEL THROUGH THE BACKROOMS.
oh! yeah, that's a good idea, actually. it'd be good for you- and us too, really- if you come along with us.
...
Hell you trying to say? That I can't survive on my own?
what? it didn't say that at all. neither of us did.
THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER AFFIRMS JJ'S STATEMENT. HOWEVER: LIKELIHOOD OF INDIVIDUAL SURVIVAL TENDS TO INCREASE WHEN IN PRESENCE OF OTHERS. IN ADDITION, NEGATIVE FEELINGS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING ALONE ARE NOT PRESENT IF IN COMPANY OF OTHERS.
Fuck off, I do well by myself. And besides, how do I know I can trust you both?
THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER LACKS COMPONENTS NEEDED FOR INFLICTING MAJOR INJURIES ON BRIGHT COUSINS. THEREFORE, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE ROTWATCHER WILL COMMIT ACTS MEANT TO HARM L IF THE LATTER CHOOSES TO PARTNER WITH IT.
y-yeah, and i won't do anything like that, either.
...
And what about the opposite? You trust that I won't kill you the moment you turn your back?
...yes?
L IS OBSERVED TO BE UNIMPRESSED WITH JJ'S HESITANT RESPONSE. THEY STARE DIRECTLY AT JJ, THEIR EXPRESSION SUGGESTING THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO INTIMIDATE JJ. FOR THEIR PART, JJ IS OBSERVED TO RETURN THE GAZE, ALBEIT UNWILLINGLY. AS THE STARING BETWEEN THE PROGRESSES, JJ BEGINS TO FIDGIT ANXIOUSLY.
FINALLY, L IS OBSERVED TO BREAK THE STARE. THEIR EXPRESSION IS LARGELY UNREADABLE.
Hmph. Fine, then. Count me in.
r-really? just like that?
What, you wanted me to decline, or some shit? That your game?
no! i'm just- really glad. honest.
Hm. So, what's next, then?
ah- good question. rotwatcher?
CURRENT PRIMARY GOAL IS TO LOCATE AN ENTRYWAY TO A NEW LEVEL THROUGH EXPLORATION.
we're not going to no-clip outta here?
AS IT IS UNKNOWN AS TO WHETHER A NO-CLIP WITH TWO OR MORE BEINGS IS POSSIBLE, IT IS NOT CURRENTLY RECOMMENDED BY THE ROTWATCHER TO ATTEMPT THIS UNLESS NECESSARY AT THIS TIME.
alright, then.
Whatever.