Introducing a new *read-only* community Discord server for #DeviusExMachina. If you want to be notified for AU updates as soon as they happen, get sneak peeks, participate in the occasional poll, or see cool fanart in a dev-picked spotlight, come right in.
discord.gg/9peYqSKg25
![[Devius Ex Machina] An uncolored comic. Dave is at the Fort Geraldson Food n' Stuff store with Tristan pushing the shopping cart. They're in the Chips and Cereal isle.
Dave grabs a box of cereal that says "MIKE'S PAWS CEREAL" with heart-shaped pawprints. He finds this funny.
A stranger bumps into him from behind and says "Hi".
Dave (startled, Arial): Can I help y- ...
Carl (waving, Rocks G): Hi. I'm Carl. I'm new in town and I'm trying to meet everyone.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mtryzprwtrvaithmkt3ryzkq/bafkreifynzrc2xhlhfj4ve4o2jdl3phkdwzrj3robka57chogsmtphwtzm)
![[Devius Ex Machina] A town map showing Rowells (population 51) in the top left corner and Fort Geraldson (pop. approximately 4,500) in the bottom right corner. Rowells is surrounded by dense woods and a lake, while Fort Geraldson is primarily in a less dense area. It is split in half by an interstate road, with the other side of the road just barely showing a few farms and windmills cropped off in the image. There is an elementary, middle, and high school in Fort Geraldson.
Dave (+Tristan), Marvin, and Maldo are marked as living in Rowells.
Spike, Hazman, Carl, and Juan are marked as living in Fort Geraldson.
Rowells and Fort Geraldson are a 30 minute drive away from each other on a treacherous winding dirt road that does not show up on the map very well.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mtryzprwtrvaithmkt3ryzkq/bafkreibg4qxekxxyellfhcz72yvj4q3xymfza6wp2wfd55pdtheaehnoci)
![[Devius Ex Machina] A comic page. Bambi looks outside the window blinds of Dave's house in confusion.
Bambi: What are you two doing
Tristan: We're having a stick-throwing competition!!! Join us!!!
Maldo: I'M CURRENTLY IN THE LEAD!
Bambi approaches their pile of sticks, looks down at it, picks one up (annotated with "+1 stick"), and dramatically prepares himself to throw it while Tristan and Maldo look on in wonder. He yeets it at an immense speed as it flies past the clouds in the distance.
Maldo: OH
Maldo: OH MY GOODNESS
Tristan (shaking Bambi by his "shoulders"): MR BAMBI THAT WAS SO COOL!!!!!](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mtryzprwtrvaithmkt3ryzkq/bafkreifooytyjkkqwo3mtdw5l5qbqq2v7hl7b24pnspofarajskipzwnwi)
![[Devius Ex Machina] Cover image for the website showing a painted portrait of Dave, the AU logo, and a faded screenshot of the website's story section in the background](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yazpspebc4s3lz7g4q4qbjbe/bafkreihrnbiks26jqyyjpnwyiclfq3zksqege2zirgxzi3mb6mrh2qh25a)
![[Devius Ex Machina] Dave drawn in the style of Volume 1 sprites](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yazpspebc4s3lz7g4q4qbjbe/bafkreihquybc3ahoi4oawzhcdimqzvzpi2u45jk7jljjvz46stp7677pwe)
![[Devius Ex Machina] Dave lying on the couch asleep with his hands folded across his chest. Chello is sitting curled up on top of his side asleep with him.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yazpspebc4s3lz7g4q4qbjbe/bafkreielu3ykpeozgigu5nipk5y6unfx3emmvhyf7bpitsxs3kmisjtecm)
!["I’m okay,” he whispered. “It was just a dream.”
“Mrrow.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Mrrow...mrrp...”
He smiled as he resumed scratching the top of her head. The weight of her little body on his chest as it rose and fell with his breathing was the only thing that could make him want to sleep on his back; otherwise, it felt unnatural. The fetal side position reigned king except when dethroned by the will to not disturb a loving pet made comfortable. Scaring them away? The highest form of treason...
Bambi is okay. That dream definitely did not actually happen. As juvenile as that fear felt, he knew it wasn’t irrational. He had to be cautious any time a dream had anything to do with [DATA_EXPUNGED]
, real or suspected - although the more he thought about it, the more embarrassed he felt that he took the P.R.A.E.M. drilling through the ground with any ounce of seriousness. If something like that had actually - let alone could actually - have happened, Bambi wouldn't be making food of all things. It's strange the things that seem so believable and logical in a dream immediately fall apart upon any waking inspection. Ah, well, good thing that stayed in his head - can’t be embarrassed by what you don’t tell people.
The stre55 slowly 6egan to 2uell. There’s nothing to worry about w1th the P.R.A.E.M.. Noth1ng is ever 9o1ng to happen, because he made sure to put it to rest. There’s no 2uesti0n h3 saved their fu7
ure.
Dave closed his eyes and listened to the menagerie of muffled sounds from the kitchen. Unfortunately he could never tell what Bambi was making, as he typically stayed up in his room out of an abundance of caution. Even convincing Bambi that he could cook here in the first place was an ordeal and a half, and his paranoia with food tampering on top of it had Dave keep his distance to inspire trust in his good will. It worked well enough for him to keep coming back, at least. It was a simple, yet comforting ambiance, knowing that someone else he knew was awake in the h…](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yazpspebc4s3lz7g4q4qbjbe/bafkreiad4qqfiisqycc27qrjt3xxt6b45cagylyqoesxpjfhfqc54cxy2a)
