>>657513
He would need to deal with withdrawal, yeah, but aren't there places he can go for that? We'd just be removing the mental compulsion.

>>657513
Hmm. Maybe it's, like - the tree needs supporting. Assuming the rope is drugs I'm not saying it's drugs...but it's drugs (or even if it's something else he's using to cope), maybe it's working for the purpose of supporting the tree (coping with something, maybe), but also keeping him bound.

Also, while the honey seems kinda drug-like, it may not actually bee. Zeke's mind-bugs are bees, which both make and require honey. The honey may very well be an inherently integral part of the functioning of his mind.

In any case, I'd like to add my weight to the party advocating that we collect enough information before tampering with someone's mind (though it could be argued that such an amount of information is unreachable).

So I guess...
EXAMINE ROPE
EXAMINE ZEKE
TALK TO ZEKE

>>657537
That is an interesting look at things. If we assume that the honey is an essential part of Zeke's mind, then maybe the tree is something essential too... like love/joy/happiness. The drugs might then be one of the things holding him together, even if it's in an superficial potentially self destructive way.

>>657518
...more or less. Getting involved in an increasingly larger love dodecahedron is something we should probably avoid, and the first step to doing that is avoiding love triangles no matter how harmless (or appealing) it might appear to be. It's part of what Doctor Cooper warned Nate concerning responsibility.

Toxoglossa 2015/07/22(Wed)17:15 No. 657578 ID: 557bac
File 143761052075.png - (181.65KB , 600x600 , 4-85.png )

Zeke lies with his back strapped to the stone. The rope snakes its way around his body, pinning his arms to his sides and coiling between his legs and there's even a loop that runs through his mouth. Suddenly his body shudders and his back arches violently. His limbs spasm wildly against their bonds and veins stand out in his neck as his jaw clamps down on the rope.

Toxoglossa 2015/07/22(Wed)17:15 No. 657579 ID: 557bac
File 143761053172.png - (167.83KB , 457x600 , 4-86.png )

A bee scurries up to Zeke's heaving body and gently takes his head between its pincers. It carefully lifts his head and dribbles a dollop of honey between his straining teeth. After a moment the episode subsides, leaving him coughing and groaning.

...was that a seizure? It looks like the tether is keeping him from hurting himself. Yeah we're not going to fuck with this situation. It could be very dangerous for him if he was not tended to by the bees.

Ask him if he can talk.

Ok I am guessing that he started self medicating because of depression or something and now his bees are doing there best to help him stay drugged up.

Every time his unconscious mind starts thinking about his problems it hurts him so the bees drug him because they think its the best way to stop the pain. Of course its only dealing with the symptoms and not the root of the issue.

I would very slowly try and climb up there and get his mouth loose. Worst case you might have to fight off his bees and kidnap him so you can get to the root of his issues.

Seizure or self medication... yeah. Hard to judge here.

As a voice of reason, though, I will say that whatever you do should not involve wrecking the place. That is what the enemy has been doing; we can be better than that.

With that said... we need more information and I don't think we'll get it from Zeke in his current condition. Nate mentioned talking to his wasps before... maybe you should talk to your beetle about what's going on?

Whoa, being bound up during body spasms is harmful. The involuntary movements pull the muscles harder than voluntary movements would against restraints, potentially dislocating, if not breaking the limbs.

Probably better to leave him somewhere with more space, like one of the honeycomb chambers they use for larva. Locate a series of empty, gooey, or webby combs and it should be safe to place him within an empty one there, as that's a Brood segment.

>>657630
Well, at the very least, he's been like that a while, so it's probably not doing significantly more damage. Still best not to mess with anything just yet. See if you can talk to Zeke, the bees, the beetle, or the wasps (if they're around). Might be hard to talk to Zeke with that cord in his mouth - see if he's conscious first.

>>652691
>>656750
>>657578
Are those... prayer flags hanging from the ropes?

The way Zeke's being bound to that stone reminds me of Shinto marking of a sacred space or object with rope. That the bees here have a defense like the Apis cerana japonica seems to correlate to this theory

Oh the term is Shimenawa for the ropes and Yorishiro for objects such as the tree and stone. Disturbing them without proper rites is thought to cause grave misfortune. I think we should tread very carefully here.

In any case, we need to understand the context of why Zeke's mentalscape takes this form. Ask Nate if he has any ideas during his interaction with Zeke.

(also anybody think having Dr. Cooper along these trips would actually help? Or at least this one specifically? )

>>657752
I think having an actual psychologist along on psychic mindscape adventures would probably help, yes.

It seems our ferret friend is the victim of an addictive mentality.

Toxoglossa 2015/07/24(Fri)19:51 No. 657895 ID: 557bac
File 143779269997.png - (114.04KB , 538x600 , 4-87.png )

Nate
>"What do we do? Is he okay?"

Diego
"I don't know, was that a seizure? I'm worried that taking him down will dislodge the tree: with no tree, there's no honey, and it looks like the honey stops the attacks. Does he have epilepsy or something?"

Nate shrugs.
>"If he does, he's never mentioned anything about it."

You hiss at Zeke in a stage whisper, and he stirs.
"Psst! Zeke! You okay?"

Zeke grumbles and raises his head vaguely in your direction. The bees thrum a warning at you with their wings but stay put. Your mouth twists up in a frustrated scowl.
"I think we'll just end up doing more harm than good if we yank him out of there. I think we should probably hold off until we get more info."

Nate sighs and nods.
>"So what now? Should we keep looking around in here? Or should we back out?"

Keep looking around a bit. You might find something that will give you a hint.

Consider do either one of you two play music or sing? Music might be a better way to communicate. That and you're surrounded by bees.

And hey music has been reported to help ease some conditions.

>>657895
The bees don't want you interacting with Zeke in any way. Obey the warning. Just explore for now.

It's a metaphor, just like with your dreams. In your dreams, the heavy block represented memories, or past experiences that you couldn't let go of - by physically altering that dream, Nate helped you past that, somehow. This must be the same thing - The bindings could represent how Zeke's 'trapped' in a cycle of addiction, and the honey could represent the drugs themselves - but this is all just speculation on my part, of course.

The 'attacks' he's having probably is reminiscent of withdrawl, from a lack of the honey, as well.

sometimes people need drastic measures. internal intervention. he needs to learn he is in charge of the bees, not the other way around.

>>657900
>>657925
>>657926

Yet if he is under the grip of an addiction, perhaps it would be better to try and redirect his addiction?

Or wait... doesn't Zeke seem to be taking on the role of the queen bee in the hive? He's being taken care of and reliant entirely on his bee guardians.

>>657932
Well that's similar but it's not like he's breeding more bees.

...maybe we can find the queen? I expect it would be more talkative than all the drones we've met so far.

>>657933
Seconded. Finding the queen would be the smartest thing... just don't get too close.

Toxoglossa 2015/07/27(Mon)19:26 No. 658681 ID: 557bac
File 143805039957.png - (206.62KB , 600x494 , 4-88.png )

You decide to keep searching the hive, keeping your distance from the wary insects. You wander for what seems like hours through the maze of combs. You're unsure of what you are looking for but after a while you notice something unusual amid the waxy labyrinth. There's an open cell mostly filled with a thick white substance. A bee pushes past the pair of you and drools into the ooze.

Do your part for the hive! Spit into the mixture yourselves.

>>658686
Seconded, contribute.

Is it me, or are you becoming less bee-like?

Oh my god don't spit in it. That's royal jelly! All larvae are fed by it, but if it's not meant to be a queen they stop feeding the larvae after three days.

...I wonder what would happen if you ate some? Or if you fed some to Zeke? Trying to do the latter would likely aggro the bees. I guess Diego can experiment by eating a little.

>>658705
yeah, bee traits are wearing off. Could be interesting soon.

>>658706
If eating honey makes them into bees, will royal jelly make them into queens?

>>658726
Will it make them into drag queens?

>>658729
>>658726
So Zeke is the drone that's only tolerated until the beginning of winter?

Yeah, don't spit in it.
Mmmmaybe consider dipping a finger in for a small taste. Possibly a bad idea.
Other options: try to figure out where it comes from, and/or where it goes.

>>658768
This. Tracing it back to it's source would be the most sane option for figuring out what it really is. Certainly saner than trying to taste it. If it is Royal Jelly, feeding it to Zeke might be a solution to restoring order.

Oh, and yes. You do appear to be a lot less bee at the moment, Diego.

Looks like a Brood cell. Larva are placed in those for about three days to consume the royal jelly, which allows them to grow into a full fledged bee--Princess larva are kept in longer, as it takes more than three days to get the bee's ovaries working. ...Of course, this being a dream representation, I doubt it goes by the same rules, but it'd still be a good place to put Zeke if you did release him. Allow him to go from "Pacified into his role" to "Matured into his role." I'm sure that would help a lot more.

>>658873
This does sound logical.

Toxoglossa 2015/07/30(Thu)18:31 No. 659443 ID: 557bac
File 143830630305.png - (101.50KB , 600x470 , 4-89.png )

Diego
"Maybe we should put Zeke in this we can stop the seizures. I'm not sure what this goo will do to him, though. What do you think?"

>"Er, I don't want to worry you."
Nate says, looking pretty anxious himself.
>"But you're not a bee anymore..."

You realize that you're feeling much more lucid, and exposed. You also realize that a number of bees have taken note of your presence and don't look happy.

Sip some of the royal jelly. You know you want to.

>>659443
Got any honey left? Second dose would work.

>>659445
Agree, become the queens.

Guzzle down that white stuff.

Start a food fight!

If you have any honey left on your hands, snacking on some would be a good idea. Eating the royal jelly WOULD NOT be a good idea. I would suggest a cautious retreat over eating one of the most precious substances in the hive... particularly if we need it for Zeke.

Dear god, please, if you have more honey eat some.

Toxoglossa 2015/08/01(Sat)19:26 No. 659752 ID: 557bac
File 143848238644.png - (128.86KB , 600x491 , 4-90.png )

With the bees closing in, you grab a handful of royal jelly, close your eyes and cram it in your mouth. As you swallow, you feel it flowing through you and filling your body with bizarre tingles.

Nate looks frozen with shock.
>"Diego, are youuuuu allllriiighhht????"

Toxoglossa 2015/08/01(Sat)19:26 No. 659753 ID: 557bac
File 143848239355.png - (190.50KB , 374x600 , 4-91.png )

You feel as if the curtains have been pulled back from the world; laying bare the glittering celestial machinery underneath. You stare at Nate's moving mouth as he clearly is tries to communicate, but mere sound is lost in the strange sea of information you find yourself lost in.

As an engineer you think you can see the logic behind it all, but the language is ancient and indecipherable. The sky beyond is full of vast objects of immense importance, vital to the basic functions of the universe. Yet, each one is a fragile constellation of lights that could be scattered with a stray thought.

Toxoglossa 2015/08/01(Sat)19:26 No. 659754 ID: 557bac
File 143848240821.png - (110.48KB , 449x600 , 4-92.png )

And beyond that are things that are even stranger.

END OF CHAPTER 4

i wonder how much SAN loss Diego just took

>>659753
hey look, I think I see the blue prints for the anti star mover