Q&A: September 2022

Hello, everyone! Still blasting through these September rewards at LIGHTNING speed, we're gonna make it to the other side just fine.

As always, thank you so much to all the patrons that took their time to ask  a question! Let's move on to some A's, shall we?

1. What would the main 12 think about Undertale if it existed on Repiton? And did Calder or Serpaz initiate the break up and will we learn more about their past relationship someday?

EDDIE: I think Undertale strikes me as the kind of game Ellsee in particular would enjoy a lot! And, well. Questions about the characters' past are always tricky because we weave such an intricate relationship web here at DCRC headquarters, we wouldn't want to end up spoiling something we might touch on in the future. I will say though, Serpaz and Calder's relationship was the Repiton equivalent of a childhood "fling" that neither of them think about much anymore at this point.

2. What would characters order on Starbucks? How did Turnin and Racren first start to date? Who confessed/asked out who?

EDDIE: Well, since the original question brought up Calder specifically, I'll say that I think he would probably think such a fast-coffee chain store is beneath his refined palette. Calder's the kind of dude to be as much of a snob as humanly possible about literally anything, so he's out there timing how long to leave his coffee brewing on his fancy french press to the second. He's probably taken courses on different types of roasts and that kinda shit, and WILL go off about it for hours if you give him the opportunity. Guy who believes things like frappuccinos are an affront to god and the lowest form of caffeine consumption.

And as for Turnin and Racren, well... refer to the question above! It's a secret, shhh.

3. How come Arcjec can remember how Taz treated him in "the incident"? Does Kidjec only block out certain memories?

AUSTIN: Kidjec blocks out memories, events and people that he believes "hinder" Arcjec in order to keep him down and compliant under the guise of care and protection. The incident with Taz is a memory that, while definitely a notable and traumatic moment that Arcjec would probably rather forget, is a way to have him remain in check. Kidjec uses it against him before [S] Engage to try to draw him away, but it doesn't work because Arcjec uses that fear and turns it into resolve. 

I don't think it's reasonable to say that Arcjec definitively "remembers" those events, though. In the 2021 AMA when Arcjec is looking through his old scrapbook, we see how they look at those memories and find that only certain parts of it are completely obscured. He may recall the event, but not the specifics of it. There's some anterograde nuance in how it works!

4. I'm a little curious about how Murrit met their lusus, and if that's spoilerous, if we'll ever get to see that! Also what would everyone's favorite sweet be, if they have them lol

AUSTIN: Murrit's lusus was made with the idea that it was a counter to the skulltitans, sort of like how Godzilla himself has all of these giant enemies that he goes against in every movie.

The Neomacrodon who bonded with them was the last of its kind, and it likely found Murrit while she was on probation after being expelled and searching for somewhere to live. It was a really old creature that resisted the mutations of the Black Depths for as long as possible, but still ended up succumbing to the chemicals rotting its brain.

Murrit ended up having to take care of it more than it took care of him, trying to feed it the fruits (like coconuts and shit) of the island, which it could not subsist off of long-term. By the time The Game started, it was pretty much on its deathbed anyway, and just so happened to pass on to the collective unconscious while Murrit was in the process of entering.

Pour a Dewgarita out for the least relevant lusus.

5. Does Taz enjoy working out/staying in shape at all? Or does it have too much associated outside “baggage” to really be anything she finds much pleasure in?

EDDIE: Honestly, Taz is a HUGE jock deep down. Fighting and martial arts in general are things that I think might have some understandably bad associations for her, but just exercising for the sake of it? Yeah, I'm pretty sure she's the kind of person to wake up at the crack of dawn to go for a jog or something. She has incredible awareness and control of her own body, and I think if she got to a place where she wasn't obligated to commit these gruesome acts on the regular, she would take a lot of pleasure in redirecting that skill into different kinds of physical activities. 

Maybe she could pick up a dance class at some point! I heard she's killer at the cha-cha slide.

6. If it's not a spoiler to ask, back when Occeus was Calder’s morail and Serpaz was his kismesis, did Serpaz and Occeus have any extensive contact? Is there any sort of friendship there or residue of one from after they both broke off from Calder?

AUSTIN: In Snowbound Blood Volume 5 it's basically confirmed that Occeus and Serpaz have never shared a chat one-on-one, at least not through text. But I feel like they would have the exact opposite dynamic to Occeus and Jentha. Whereas Occeus takes all of Jentha's defensive rudeness as being completely genuine advice and allegory, Serpaz would probably try to win Occeus over by making light of whatever nebulous corpse situation he's in and cracking jokes at his expense that he doesn't understand or appreciate. 

An unstoppable force of manic energy meeting an immovable guy who can't really meet that enthusiasm and also doesn't want to. She's too much for him.

7. Hiya! Silly little ask. But if all the characters were gamers, what would their top game be?

EDDIE: Excuse you, some of our characters ARE in fact gamers, thank you very much. Do Arcjec, Laivan, Murrit and Jentha mean nothing to you??? We would be remiss not to include one of the most oppressed classes of people in our story.

8. Are plants affected by water which has been contaminated by the Black Depths? If it's not a spoiler, are there narayan symbols that aren't among the 60 in the alphabet?

EDDIE: Of course they are! Why in the world would we miss the opportunity to have weirdo mutated alien plants??? Granted, we haven't had a lot of REASON to show that in any particular scene so far, but trust me, they are Out There.

AUSTIN: I don't think there's more universal scripture beyond the base alphabet, but not for the reason you think. I feel like those 60 are just a base to do more with, and that new pieces of the "language" are crafted through the combinations of those original symbols. Much like how writers use our alphabet to make words and spin yarns of prose, alchemists use their symbols to connect into one another and forge new "words" and ideas of their own. Only theirs do cool aspect stuff and mine get put behind a paywall.

Aaaand that's it for this round, folks. Hope you're all having a good Monday, and we'll see you again soon!

- Eddie and Austin