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Showing posts with label Strata 8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Strata 8. Show all posts

Aug 18, 2024

Strata 8, Book of Immersion V1, Shabra, (Laws of Attraction)



Shabra (Laws of Attraction)


Sexual attraction for humans is dictated by a reflex to engage in intimacy with others. This phenomenon can be influenced by physical cues alone, the way a human looks, moves, speaks and so on.

Romantic attraction may be described as deeper and yet may still be instantaneous, spurred on by feelings of wanting a relationship with another.

These two desires may appear together in a deep power of attraction.

The psychology of attraction is most peculiar to humans. It is not possible to create this phenomenon in machines whose methods of attraction use logical conditions to draw entities towards them. Predefined targets for machine attention avoid accidents, although machines are notorious for repeatedly targeting their attention on non compliant humans.

Likewise, human attraction is usually nonreciprocal. A machine programmed to give a human all it needs will often reap better results. But when dealing with human desires, neither machine nor human can ever guarantee positive results.


Jerome breaks an awkward silence, 'No *ishy, brother,' He stamped on another Scritter. 'Damn those nasty little *mudafinks!'

Renyke exits the concrete compound with Flex running anxiously behind.

The *robodog had waited patiently at the entrance and began wagging its tail and leaping around.


Renyke spots some graffiti with the Redact logo near an underpass. Maybeline crawled out of his coat and nudged his cheek for food.

'You sure you did the right thing brother?' asked Flex, who was now feeling agitated. His naive friend was likely to lead him into trouble. Perhaps it was time to take charge of the matter.

'Wheels is speed, wheels is protection my friend. We gonna stand out like *fucksyfools on the streets. People gonna target us! Words spread fast.' Flex explained still half running to keep pace.

'I can manage quite well,' said Renyke, 'You don't need to .......' Renyke trails off, distracted by a woman on the car roof.

She glanced over at Renyke.

'Oh well let's just go and ask her for her car then' said Flex.

'Are you mocking me?'

Renyke was genuinely unsure. He had always grappled with humour. Incongruous remarks always had to be analysed closely. A false analysis could be incompatible with overall provision of human satisfaction, which was paramount to his function in the world.

Mabel had used the word *nuke about some of her friends.

'I believe the woman to be nuke, explained Renyke, continuing with some confidence.
She exhibits a powerful energy, enough to engage a compelling force as I look on.

'Hahahahahaha.....' laughed Flex, that will make things worse, trust me, I have knowledge.

Tut, follow me,' sighed Flex reluctantly leading the way.

The woman was sitting on the roof of the car smoking a pipe and making smoke rings.

Renyke felt a momentary surge of something unknown deep inside him. Was it fear he wondered, Trepidation?
Things were not computing.

He checked the POS for his health levels.


...Normal activity presenting. 99.9% battery remaining. Nothing unusual to report.

But Renyke felt a strange fluttering feeling in his belly.

The woman sitting on the car whistled. 'Hey!'

'Like the coat! Cool *toggies. You wanna *swapsie-trade?'

The woman jumped off the car and lifted her fist for an air bump followed by an elbow bump, then a salute. Renyke tried to keep up but was cumbersome. He had seen these manoeuvres in old films on the *tellywebs but he had never actually performed them.

*'Wappens?' asked the woman in a strong accent.' Renyke guessed what she meant and said,

'I need transport, not far, just to Redact, do know that place?'

The woman laughed.....'Man like you, looks way too soft for the *guanty-travel.'

Renyke checks the POS.

'gaunty-travel'......colloquial, Zoners' slang roughly translates as a very dangerous journey

'But I can take to the second-zone, five miles nearer, then you gotta make your own ways,' she continues.

'What you go by?' she asks.

Renyke looks confused.......

'I'm Shabra. Lady of the Shadows, where I go no light follows, ya hear me soldier? I travel at night where there are no lights.'

'I'm Renyke,' he said, trying to decipher the poetry.

You wanna swapsie-trade the coat, or you got me somtin sweeta? I take nibs, bits.......1000 G-bits and you got me hired. But I like that coat too.'

'It's a good deal man, said Flex, 'good deal, five miles is five miles. We come too, me n the dog! I got no ties to this street.'

Flex looks at Shabra who sighs, 'Yeah yeah, whoever, no pipin' in my *vicular though.'

Renyke knows that Flex could be useful, and the robodog too. It was obedient and would do as it was told.



to be continued

@2023 Sarnia de la Mare


Links to episodes of Immersion written and illustrated by Sarnia de la Maré FRSA, published by Tale Teller Club


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Jul 26, 2024

Strata 9, Book of Immersion V1, Loins and Lust, (Limerence)

lovers embrace art painting iServalan art


Limerence is a uniquely human phenomenon that new lovers, potential lovers, and sometimes even strangers, may experience. Limerence is a state of mind (not solely romantic) that typically includes persistent, sometimes depressing thoughts, and a deep yearning for the object of one's affection. It can be easily confused with love. Often human beings can find themselves addicted to these obsessive feelings and can easily be overwhelmed by adoration for another human being. Limerence cannot be turned on and off like a machine. It can come from nowhere and disappear without logic. The experience of this sensory state is proven to be inspiring, connective, unifying, disruptive, and even excruciating, yet it continues to mark the human trajectory of existence through time and place.

'Good *dundeal Mr. Renyke Man.' said Flex excitedly.'

'We leave at dark, mind,' said Shabra. 'Take some time for food and rest. You might need your strength. I will get food.' Renyke watched her take weapons from the vehicle, knives and a small crossbow.

The group is in an enclosure flanked by half-deconstructed concrete walls. There are large metal containers lying around with shrubbery and foliage trying to make a stand against the manmade environment. Tumbleweed played in the soft wind searching for a home.

Maybeline scurried around searching for food and sniffing the air. She could smell something sinister, the scent of danger, as Renyke studied her movements.

Flex kicked some redundant ashes by an upturned metal water tank. 'I can make us a fire,'  he said, taking a pocket full of old rusty lighters and tinder from one of his huge pockets. His brightly coloured patchwork overcoat seemed to store an abundance of useful things. There were small pieces of mechanical paraphernalia, vintage innards from antique items, little motors, motherboards and old PC parts. There were secret pockets and compartments for weapons and a waterproof lining held everything together.

‘Do you take this stuff everywhere you go?’ asked Renyke.

‘Yes sir-ee, some days man’dun gotta make *swapsie-trade. .

And other days, well, there are enemies and they kill for the fun of it. Everything has a use in the Zones brother. You learn that quick here. 

Maybeline found a water flow from a pipe tucked in the grass and took a long drink.

Renyke began to pace, ’Shabra is taking her time,’ he said, standing near the opening of the enclosure.

‘She’ll come, she is huntin’ tis all my friend. You got attached already?’

Renyke stared at Flex and mumbled, ‘We need that ride.'

Then he checked the POS whose signal was intermittent.

'.......What are the signs of being attracted to somebody?'

The POS took a moment to compile a response……..

……Do you mean human responses?

'……yes, yes, of course ‘humans’, Renyke replied.'

The POS continued

…..nervousness around the subject of the attraction,

…..extended thoughts about the subject,

…..obsessive thoughts beyond normal curiosity about the subject,

…..insomnia due to obsessive considerations of the subject,

…..anxiety over possible outcomes of imaginary scenarios involving the subject,

…..a desire to touch the intimate parts of the subject,

…..dreams about the subject,

…..fantasy building scenarios between the human and the subject,

…..being overly concerned about….

‘Enough,’ said Renyke, irritated with the voice in his head.

Finally Shabra returned.

She carried two dead rabbits in her belt and washed a wide glinting blade under the water that flowed from the broken pipe.

‘This water’s good. Your rat is a good scout for provisions. We can fill up the tanks and flask before we go.’

The new acquaintances are relaxed and considering preparation for the short but dangerous car journey to the Edge.

Shabra checked the vehicle mechanics, the doors and metal buttresses worked in perfect synch and there were six exhausts. She filled the water kegs and put them in the boot.

‘Where is the vehicle from?’ Asked Renyke.

‘I built it,' answered Shabra, 'from scratch. 'Well, I had several wrecks and put my beaut together.

Me n her, we like lovers. She drives me crazy with her vibes.’

Shabra looked at Renyke parting her lips into a wry smile. They were oily from the fat of the meal.

She winked through long dark lashes.

Renyke felt a thump in his heart, a deep penetrating surge of something enthralling.

Suddenly there is a distant high-pitched sound, like a siren or swarm. It seems to be getting louder when Flex and Shabra grab Renyke, throwing him into the vehicle.

Seconds later they were surrounded by a marauding mass of screaming children. Some were made of broken body parts with human faces, others were small walking babies with burnt skin. Some had extra limbs and even two heads. They were crying and screeching, banging toy drums and chanting verses. 

One of them seemed to be the leader and he leapt onto Shabra's bonnet. The noise was deafening.


....to be continued


2023 Sarnia de la Mare / Tale Teller Club


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