Post by Annie Nelson on May 16, 2015 14:51:48 GMT -6
So you’ve somehow made it to the strange and delightfully smelly underworld- you brush off a speck of dirt and what appears to be a cigarette butt caked with old lipstick to look around the catacombs before you, the dank and damp den of iniquity- known as “ the ‘combs” by the ever-friendly locals, most of which have intimidating tattoos and rap-sheets the length of their arms. Maybe you fell down here, or tripped, or maybe you were chased down, or just felt like jumping in that suspicious hole in the earth for some reason- we don’t judge. But now you’re faced with a problem. A few problems, actually. A few big problems. As with any city, the combs as a unit is divided by social classes and beliefs- you would think it wouldn’t be an issue with a large collection of people most likely ostracized from regular society for the same things, but you’d be wrong, because people are petty. The first question you need to answer is whether or not you’d like to go back upstairs- that is, to the world you just left, of your own will or not. Do you favor the educated and clean upside, where you are safe and civilized, but otherwise frowned upon by society and confined to the rules, or does your heart lie with the low-down members of the party-every-day-club, where it’s very likely that you won’t walk away without a few scars? Better choose, and soon.
For the Upstairs loyalists-
Pros: Yay, soap! You love being able to shower regularly, the convenience of refrigeration, easily-available medicine and health-care, having a safe, warm bed, food that’s easy to find and even easier to prepare, TV, sunlight, being able to lock your doors at night- and you really love the fact that most of the criminals are behind bars, not walking around with a steady selection of knives. You love easy transportation, reliable power and water sources, and the guarantee of a simple life in which you can be loved and respected, not harassed and attacked by the constant aggression in the combs. You love the world above!
Cons: Aw, conformity! Your rebel heart can’t stand being caged- and that’s exactly what will happen if you return. You can’t do whatever you want anymore if you leave- and that means giving up your freedom so you can fit in with society (society doesn’t like drinking, sex, drugs, or any sort of misbehavior, remember?) and the nearest town is the little hamlet known as “SunnyVale”- a little town full of religious nutjobs who hate everything the combs stands for- so if they see or suspect you’ve been down there, they will do all in their power to erase your sin, which could mean an angry mob after you- and guess what, people in the ‘combs hate you for looking down on them, and they’re not held by any legal rule that says they can’t hurt you.
For the ‘Combs Groupies-
Pros: You really love drugs! And drinking! And nudity! And violence! You love to party and there’s no going back! You can swear, sleep around, dance on a table, buy a knife, get your ex-arm-candy’s name tattooed on your arm when you’re drunk some night, go nuts! And there’s other people just like you, so you finally belong, with no judgment from your peers anymore! Life is good!
Cons: Oh, well, you do have an absurdly high mortality rate, between the frequent stabbings/bar-fights/spars and the very real consequences of excessive drinking/sexual activity/drug use. You get sick, that’s gonna be a given, and medicine isn’t that easy to get- and if you think that a licensed and decent doctor is going to be around to help, you’re wrong. You’ll most likely be sewn up clumsily or left to die- and people still look downon you to some extent (remember those upstairs-lovers from earlier?) You won’t be able to get regular food or other items- the dealers here are more concerned with the luxurious items, which brings us to our next point: everyone is down here for a different reason, and because of this, they’ve separated themselves into different groups within the groups. Prostitutes stick up their noses at the alcohol-lovers, arsonists hate the murderers, etc., etc. This has led to actual gang-like violence; to combat this, you’ll most likely have to get a tattoo of what vice you indulge in so you can be avoided or avoid others- it’s become a social practice to visit the tattoo artist immediately after arriving to get yours and become an unwilling member of a tribe. Harmony is very, very unlikely and should be cherished when it is found.
Have fun.
-Love,
Marcus and Annie
For the Upstairs loyalists-
Pros: Yay, soap! You love being able to shower regularly, the convenience of refrigeration, easily-available medicine and health-care, having a safe, warm bed, food that’s easy to find and even easier to prepare, TV, sunlight, being able to lock your doors at night- and you really love the fact that most of the criminals are behind bars, not walking around with a steady selection of knives. You love easy transportation, reliable power and water sources, and the guarantee of a simple life in which you can be loved and respected, not harassed and attacked by the constant aggression in the combs. You love the world above!
Cons: Aw, conformity! Your rebel heart can’t stand being caged- and that’s exactly what will happen if you return. You can’t do whatever you want anymore if you leave- and that means giving up your freedom so you can fit in with society (society doesn’t like drinking, sex, drugs, or any sort of misbehavior, remember?) and the nearest town is the little hamlet known as “SunnyVale”- a little town full of religious nutjobs who hate everything the combs stands for- so if they see or suspect you’ve been down there, they will do all in their power to erase your sin, which could mean an angry mob after you- and guess what, people in the ‘combs hate you for looking down on them, and they’re not held by any legal rule that says they can’t hurt you.
For the ‘Combs Groupies-
Pros: You really love drugs! And drinking! And nudity! And violence! You love to party and there’s no going back! You can swear, sleep around, dance on a table, buy a knife, get your ex-arm-candy’s name tattooed on your arm when you’re drunk some night, go nuts! And there’s other people just like you, so you finally belong, with no judgment from your peers anymore! Life is good!
Cons: Oh, well, you do have an absurdly high mortality rate, between the frequent stabbings/bar-fights/spars and the very real consequences of excessive drinking/sexual activity/drug use. You get sick, that’s gonna be a given, and medicine isn’t that easy to get- and if you think that a licensed and decent doctor is going to be around to help, you’re wrong. You’ll most likely be sewn up clumsily or left to die- and people still look downon you to some extent (remember those upstairs-lovers from earlier?) You won’t be able to get regular food or other items- the dealers here are more concerned with the luxurious items, which brings us to our next point: everyone is down here for a different reason, and because of this, they’ve separated themselves into different groups within the groups. Prostitutes stick up their noses at the alcohol-lovers, arsonists hate the murderers, etc., etc. This has led to actual gang-like violence; to combat this, you’ll most likely have to get a tattoo of what vice you indulge in so you can be avoided or avoid others- it’s become a social practice to visit the tattoo artist immediately after arriving to get yours and become an unwilling member of a tribe. Harmony is very, very unlikely and should be cherished when it is found.
Have fun.
-Love,
Marcus and Annie
you're my favorite person in the world rn. I'm sorry I wasn't active, to all of you I am. I'm going to try my best to get on every day! Bear with me guys, summer is right around the corner and I'll be very very very active.