The Arcades
10 members
A silly way to talk about a serious subject. If anything you read here resonates with you, please contact a mental health service provider.
Twilight
Hello! We're plural. This page is here to explain what that means.
No. terrible start.
"Why do I call myself the Arcades?"
Potts
Yeah, that intro is full of butts.
Sam
I'm guessing you can do better?
Potts
We could start with a story, maybe? Like that time Lucy got a tattoo and didn't run it by Addie first?
Addie
Not every day you wake up with a new tattoo and no memory of where it came from.
Twilight
Please, everyone, can I have some quiet?
Vib
Make dino nuggies! I want dino nuggies!
Twilight
Lucy, can you take the kiddo to the back? We'll do dino nuggies soon, Vib. I promise.
Lucy
Of course. Sorry about this. DID be like that.
Twilight
We have Dissociative Identity Disorder. Used to be called Multiple Personality Disorder. They changed it to be more about the symptoms than the flashy "we have alters" thing.
Lucy
He means we have multiple people in our head!
Twilight
...Yes, that.
Max
Did everyone like the css I put together for this? I used AI to do it.
Lilith
Yes, Max, we _know_ you did it with AI. How could you possibly let us forget?
Lucy
Remember, Lilith. Be kind.
Lilith
Okay. I'm sorry for snapping. It looks cool, Max.
Max
thanks
Twilight
Can we focus, please?
...OK. Let's try again.
We have DID. It's a dissociative disorder — sometimes I involuntarily disconnect from reality, and it manifests as voices in my head.
Max
Surprise, we are the alters you talk to every day! It's like Inside Out in here—
Addie
Max, Twi asked for time to focus.
Twilight
Not helping, Addie.
...
Right. If you imagine the world inside a neurotypical person's mind like a house, my brain is more like a neighborhood. Different versions of me - Alters - control the body during the day.
Potts
And we're super different!
...right sorry, just excited
Twilight
Potts.
Potts
Shutting up.
Twilight
Our brain is like a neighborhood where these alters coexist. They all have separate internal experiences, identities, preferences, fashion choices, genders — and even memories shift depending on which alter is "fronting," or controlling the body.
Because of that, we struggle to form a consistent identity or life story. Every morning we wake up, it feels like a sequel to "The Hangover" — no clue what day it is, what our schedule looks like, or what skills we'll forget how to use that day.
(there are studies that can map out which alter lives in which part of the brain, by the way — not making that up)
...OK, y'all can talk now.
Addie
Hello! Let me read up in the chat and jog my memory.
OK — dissociation, partitioned memory, separate identities. Got it.
Potts, wanna talk about the nice parts?
Potts
I can talk now?
Twilight
Please don't make me regret joining this art project.
Potts
Seriously, we should have a studio name. I propose "...It came from the Arcade!"
Anyone?
No?
...fine. Good things about being a system.
(That's what we call the collection of alters inside the brain.)
We can take a LOT of stress. If one of us gets stuck or frustrated, we switch in a fresh face who won't remember any of it.
Also — systems tend to have a million hobbies. Perk of having roommates in your brain.
Good days and bad days. But mostly good. Twi?
Twilight
This is a chat, not a game show.
Potts
Wet blanket over here.
We doing intros?
Twilight
I will smother you with that wet blanket.
Potts
😂
Twilight
Yes. Intros.
I'll start.
Hi, I'm Twilight. I'm the quiet one. I handle writing duties for the system — piano, electronic music, late nights alone. My perfect evening is a rainstorm at 1 AM, herbal tea, and a manuscript on screen.
Potts
I'm Potts! I cook for the system, I throw the parties, and I'm the only one in here who's actually funny.
Picture a late summer day on the lake — city noise fading out, gentle waves, that feeling that things are gonna be okay. That's me.
Addie
Addie here. Project management. I keep our professional life from catching fire. Fighting games, complex systems, the perfect project plan — give me a free morning and a full creative backlog and I'm happy.
Max
I'm Max. IT department. I build tools to help us navigate life as a disabled person. Inventing stuff, Factorio, new tech — I'm deep into AI dev work right now and—
...right, staying on topic.
Give me a problem and an IDE and I'm gone for hours.
Lucy
Hello! I'm Lucy. Chores and home improvement — I'm the one who actually keeps our life running. Long task lists, working out, early mornings. Tea in a clean house is my religion.
Tally
Tally here. I hold the spirituality for the system — helping us see the bright side. Piano, getting to know people, campfire conversations. That's my whole thing.
Vib
i'm vib i like computers and playing games thanks
Lilith
I'm Lilith. I handle anger for the system. I...
...do I really have to say 'love'? Ugh.
Fine. Rock vocals, getting things done, piano. A karaoke bar, a beer, my name on the list. That's it.
Shepard
I'm Shepard. I'm the one who keeps us honest about our relationship with alcohol. Bike rides, piano, cutting straight to the point. Sunday afternoon on two wheels — that's where I live.
That's it
That's us.
Twi?
Twilight
Thanks everyone.
So that's why we go by the Arcades. None of this is required reading — you're not gonna be quizzed on it.
Lucy
...But if you do want to get to know each of us better, that would be awesome!
Twilight
...Yeah, that.