And so HasBio now had their first viable fluffy for testing, a light blue colt that had opened it’s eyes roughly one hundred and twenty hours after parthenogenesis. Observations during the first Emotional Bonding trials were positive, with the subject responding favorably not just to the first living being it saw, but rather treating anyone it met with positivity and affection. Development was slow going compared to the chirpie, but the trade off was an increased capacity for both supplanted knowledge via bio-programming as well as retention of instructions.
While very similar, there were many physical characteristics that differed between the chirpie and the fluffy foal.
PHYSIOLOGY:CHIRPIE
- 80-90 millimeters in length after Parthenogenesis.
- 100-120 grams in weight after Parthenogenesis.
- Exceptionally fragile and susceptible to extreme temperatures until eyes open.
- Fluff is short and always one uniform color without mane/tail.
- Eyes remain closed for 48 hours before opening.
- Can walk after eyes open and is fully mobile shortly after.
- Will only grow anywhere from 10%-20% after roughly 72 hours.
- Lifespan of roughly 8-12 months.
PHYSIOLOGY:FOAL
- 80-90 millimeters in length after Parthenogenesis.
- 100-120 grams in weight after Parthenogenesis.
- Exceptionally fragile and susceptible to extreme temperatures until eyes open.
- Fluff is longer and a secondary color will develop on the mane/tail.
- Eyes remain closed for roughly a week for mental development.
- Can only slightly crawl, not being able to walk for 7-10 days.
- Will have nearly doubled in size after eyes open.
- Lifespan of Gen-1 Fluffy: 2 years.
Note that the original Generation One fluffy had a viable lifespan of two years, only double that of the progenitor chirpie. At this point in development, HasBio scientists had refined the process of imprinting concepts and ideas within a biotoy’s brain pre-parthenogenesis, using a unique method that involved altering portions of the pre-frontal cortex that control instinct. The resulting alterations created a baseline for what would be known as core fluffy behavior. While the exact methods used to achieve this, as well as the criteria chosen, were lost in the explosion that claimed the lab, GenTek scientists have worked tirelessly to decipher the secrets that lie within the fluffy brain. Using what footage and notations could be salvaged from the HasBio lab, combined with our own experiments and thesis, we will attempt to hypothesize these core behaviors, and the reasoning behind them.
CORE FLUFFY BEHAVIOR:HAPPINESS
Most who have encountered one of HasBio’s biotoys would agree that they are notorious for their near constant cheerful demeanor. This was no accident, as evidenced in the early chirpie trials. A clear focus was put on a happy disposition being the biotoy’s default response when in the presence of the human it had imprinted apon. But with the limited scope of the chirpie’s mental conditioning to only trust said person, changes had to be made. With the new biotoy, this would be resolved by making them not only trust any human they may meet, but to love them, unconditionally.
The blue foal from before is far older now, having nearly tripled in size since he opened his eyes. No longer in a small habitat, a section of the lab has been barred off with a netted fence. The young colt is lapping up water, seemingly unaware that he is being filmed as he occasionally fidgets with his collar. His ears slightly twitch and he quickly glances upward, a smile growing on his face as he trots towards the netted fence.
“Hewwo mistuh! Am time fow pway wiff Gen’Wan 'gain?”
“Good morning Gen-One. Not just yet. I have some things to do first, okay?”
“…Otay…”
Clearly discouraged, the colt’s head shifts towards his padded floor before lying down. His ears now lowered, the foal tries to covertly watch the scientist offscreen as he walks out of the room, his eyes beginning to water as a door is heard shutting.
A clear positive response to seeing the scientist, a potential owner or guardian in the eyes of the biotoy due to it’s implanted notions. Note how dejected the scientist’s rejection makes the foal, with it’s reaction implying that this isn’t the first time the biotoy has been denied attention.
A few moments after the scientist has left, the lights abruptly dim until only faint details can be made out. Shrieking as he rises up to his nubs, Gen-One begins to call out as he runs about his enclosure in a blind panic.
“HEWP!!! *chirp…*chirp…GIN’WAN NU WIKE DAWKIES!!! *chirp…*chirp…DAWKIES SCAWY!!! DAWKIES SCAWY!!! *chirp…*chirp…”
And now the experiment truly begins, with the negative stimuli being the removal of most of the lab’s ambient light. Nyctophobic in nature, even as early as The Chirpie Trials, HasBio’s creations were engineered with a severe aversion to the dark, with even low light settings being able to trigger panic within the biotoys. While notations on this decision don’t exist, it was likely done to discourage fluffies from leaving their designated saferoom, with a simple nightlight both keeping them appeased and also making the surrounding dark seem unappealing and dangerous by comparison. This in turn has made the creatures exceptionally inactive at night, with an internal clock that has the biotoy tiring near dusk and awakening near dawn, even lacking external stimuli. We also see what is often referred to as reversion, a mental breaking point for a fluffy that causes it to make the famed peeps and chirps that newborn foals use to communicate discomfort, fear, pain, or hunger to their guardian. While it takes a great deal of physical or mental trauma to cause reversion in older fluffies, it is rather common for foals to occasionally peep or chirp when in duress.
Still ambling about his enclosure, screeching in terror about the lack of light, Gen-One calls out between to the scientists between screams. After a few minutes of hysterical running, the foal trips over the edge of his litterbox, tumbling within with a series of pained, confused peeps. Hyperventilating as he tries in vain to glance around through the shadows, Gen-One slowly lowers his body to the waste filled gravel, covering his eyes with his hooves.
“*chirp…*chirp…Babbeh scawed…*chirp…*chirp…Nee’ huggies…Nee’ wuv…*chirp…*chirp…”
Being a biotoy designed to act as a child’s creature comfort, the foal is quickly winded due to it’s delicate constitution. Too exhausted to continue running, he instead falls back on another well known fluffy behavior. If faced with a frightening or otherwise overwhelmingly unpleasant situation that the biotoy is unable to manage itself, fluffies will fall on their bio-programmed instincts and attempt to either flee or hide. This was most likely intentional, with the scientists at HasBio wanting the fragile biotoys to avoid anything that could break them, physically or psychologically. Unfortunately, due to a fluffy’s delicate psyche combined with their penchant for emotional extremes, this led to many an owner losing their fluffy due to a misunderstanding. Anything from overhearing a particularly vocal argument, to well meaning but overly rough children could trigger the flight or hide response, and with a fluffy’s reasoning skills being far more developed than most owners were prepared for, many would find a way to foolishly escape their homes. This was the root cause of the rapid increase of the feral population not long after fluffies became available for purchase. Combining the biotoy’s ability to consume nearly any organic refuse for sustenance combined with the Generation One’s rapid gestation, it wasn’t long before the sight of small herds of fluffies nesting within alleyways and near garbage bins was commonplace.
If unable to flee from the problem, then a fluffy will attempt to hide from it instead, seeking out any area it could reasonably fit under or behind to obscure itself from view. As we see with the foal however, stress combined with an inability to locate a proper hiding place causes the strange behavior of hiding behind his own hooves with while closing his eyes. This same behavior has been observed in countless fluffies, with the cause either being a lower than average IQ in the biotoy or an emotional trigger due to extreme duress. More common in younger foals, the belief is that by closing their eyes and obscuring the source of their distress from their sight, it likewise cannot see them, a childish notion that is on point with the biotoy’s child-like mentality. Frightened due to the lack of their much needed illumination, the foal within the experiment now hides as best as it is able, obviously in a heightened state of panic.
Most important of all, in the context of this experiment and in the analyzation of fluffy behaviors in general, are the words the foal chooses when it was overtaxed. It calls out for affection, both in a physical sense as well as a need for external comfort and validation. To a fluffy, the desire for companionship and intimacy, be it human or fellow biotoy, is far beyond our own, with even their own terminology describing it not as a want but a need.
Still cowering in the litter, trembling as his hooves covered his face, Gen-One has reverted to the point of being unable to speak, now only peeping and chirping. A few minutes pass before the door can be heard opening offscreen and the lights return to normal, the foal seemingly too upset to even notice. A scientists walks into frame and leans down to the enclosure’s netted fencing.
“What happened Gen-One? Are you alright?”
While the scientist’s tone is obviously staged, even bordering on sarcastic, the colt responds immediately, unaware of the man’s indifference. Opening his eyes and rising up, Gen-One begins to sob as he waddles towards the scientist, still upset but perking up with each step he takes.
“*huuu…huuu…huuu…Nices’ mistuh…*huuu…huuu…huuu…Bwite tings gu way’ gain’! *huuu…huuu…huuu…Weeb Gin’Wan in dah dawk…P’wease gib Gin’Wan huggies…”
As the colt recounts what happened, sniffling and wiping away tears with his hooves, the scientist feigns surprise, reaching his gloved hand past the fence at the foal’s request for a hug. Gently petting him, he then simply lets his hand lay against Gen-One for a few moments, the colt now cooing with little to no sign of ever being upset, smiling as he looks upward towards the scientist.
HasBio repeated this test a multitude of times with Gen-One, analyzing his serotonin levels each time with blood samples provided by his collar. Miniscule needles within would be remotely activated during the five points of the experiment to gather a baseline: before the scientist arrived, arrival of the scientist, rejection, isolation in low light conditions, and contact with the scientist, with each experiment showing the same conclusion.
HasBio Gen-One Testing Chart H-027
Serotonin levels documented throughout the trials with Gen-One show that despite how much the foal’s levels plummeted, human interaction and contact could cause them to not only rise, but to skyrocket. This in turn was the proof that HasBio’s attempts to ingrain a deep psychological need for human attention within the fluffy subconscious was an overwhelming success. Combined with their overwhelming need for love and validation, it all but guaranteed that the biotoys would not only respond favorably to would be owners, they would rely on them to meet a crucial psychological need. Indeed, this is the very reason that fluffies, even those that have strayed from their homes, are never found roaming far from inhabited areas, their subconscious telling them never to wander beyond mankind’s sight.
While not identical to it’s Generation One counterpart, the modern day fluffy is no different when it comes to it’s psychology. Despite it’s increased lifespan, it’s propensity towards being jolly by default is no different than the fluffies that were grown within a lab.
The footage plays, this time at a far different locale. Within what seems to be a padded white chamber is a light green stallion, giggling happily as a scientist who is mostly off screen gently pets his head.
“Fwuffy wuv pets! Tank yu nices’ wady! Fwuffy wuvs yu!”
The parameters of this test are quite similar to HasBio’s Happiness Experiments with Gen-One, albeit with a greater threshold for the negative reinforcement.
Time has clearly passed, with the stallion now hobbling about the padded room to his food dish, one of his back hooves now missing, the leftover stump looking raw and agitated. Leaning over to help himself to some kibble, the stallion winces as the fresh wound moves, before falling over with an abrupt yelp.
“*SCREEEEEEE!!! …Nu faiw…wai fwuffy wose weggie…am gud fwuffy…”
Unlike the HasBio experiment, this test started with a subject that was treated exceptionally well, given attention and affection in excess, even by a fluffy’s standards. After establishing it’s serotonin levels at their absolute peak, then the experiment began in earnest, with the scientists drugging the subject’s kibble and excising one of it’s limbs while under. Fluffies have a severe reaction to the loss of a limb, even more so than a human might. This is partially due to their penchant for emotional extremes, combined with the biotoy equating loss of limb with loss of movement, and loss of movement denying them the ability to play or hold one another, not to mention the loss of their only defensive measures should they be faced with a threat.
The footage skips ahead and the stallion is now in his bed, once again receiving a great deal of praise and attention from an offscreen scientist, with only her gloved hand in the shot. He coos with each stroke of her palm against his mane, his missing limb now all but forgotten.
“Tank yu su manies fow wuvs nices’ wady…Fwuffy wuvs nices’ wady…”
More time has passed and once again the stallion is alone in his saferoom, this time quietly sobbing as he lays near his food bowl. Both his back hooves are now missing, with the fluffy having to drag himself along the floor to move, the fluffy whimpering as he scoots along slowly towards his litterbox.
“*huuu…huuu…huuu…Fwuffy nu wike wawkies wike dis…Gibs huwties tu fwuffy…nee’ huggies…*huuu…huuu…huuu…”
For the purposes of this part of the test, it was imperative that the subject not think that the amputations were in any way it’s fault. It was told nothing, with the fluffy simply awakening to the missing limb and the scientists feigning ignorance as to why.
Now lying in his bed, the same scientist as before is petting the stallion, who nuzzles against her hand even as he whimpers and fights back tears.
*huuu…huuu…huuu…Tank yu nices’ wady…Fwuffy hab wowstest saddies dis bwite time…
Despite having lost a second limb, the comfort of the scientist is all that it takes to calm the subject. As discussed before, this is because that the fluffy is designed to crave affection, with a human’s affection being it’s highest priority. While they can be seen as almost child-like in their mannerisms, it is the fluffy’s extreme emotional nature and it’s inability to move past these ingrained needs that force them into this behavior loop. While a human is capable of a higher level of introspection, a fluffy was never designed for it, this being one of the primary reasons why many seemingly fall into extreme depression when forced into unpleasant situations that conflict with their pleasant demeanor. In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, we are shown that human’s require first what is essential for our survival before we move on to less physiological needs, with our emotional and mental needs being important, but not imperative when in comparison to base needs like food, water, and shelter.
GenTek Hierarchy of Needs Comparison Chart
What a fluffy’s psyche views as crucial is vastly different as we can see, with tests confirming that the biotoy will favor love and companionship over it’s own need for food. Indeed, the fluffy’s unique bio-programming created the unusual side effect of putting the need for love, companionship, and acceptance above all others, with even it’s need for safety falling far below it’s desire to be loved. And this can be seen as the test continues on to part two.
Time has once again passed, with the stallion in his bed as the scientist gives attention. Cooing as he nuzzles against her hand, the fluffy is clearly quite happy, his back stumps wiggling with joy as she begins to scratch his belly.
“*giggles Dat tikews nices’ wady!”
After a few moments, the scientist leans over and picks the stallion up, with the focus never showing her face as it moves to keep the fluffy on screen.
“Upsies, yay! Fwuffy wuv upsies su manies!”
“Are you happy fluffy?”
“Yus. Fwuffy am awways happies wiff nices’ wady!”
“And you would never want to lose me then?”
“Wah?! Nu! Fwuffy nu wan wose nices’ wady! Fwuffy wuvs nices’ wady!!!”
“Well I’m sorry fluffy…You see, in order for me to keep coming to see you I’ve been told that we have to take one of your legs…”
“Wose weggie?! FWUFFY NU WAN WOSE WEGGIE!!!”
No longer calm, the stallion flails in the scientist’s arms, voiding itself as it struggles to get away.
“It’s alright…it’s alright. No one is going to make you lose a leg if you don’t want to. But if you keep your leg, then I can’t see you ever again.”
The scientist’s voice is calm, neither screaming or reprimanding as the fluffy’s waste runs down her smock. Calming slightly, the stallion fell limp in her hands as he begins to cry.
“Buh…buh fwuffy onwy hab tu weggies…An’ am su hawd tu maek wawkies wiff jus’ tu weggies…”
“I understand…”
Putting the stallion down, the scientist goes to the door, with only a noticeable hesitation as she feigns turning the door’s handle. Seeing her about to leave, the fluffy begins to wiggle against the floor, his front hooves dragging him towards her as fast as the little creature can manage.
“NUUUUUUU!!! TAEK WEGGIE!!! TAEK WEGGIE, P’WEASE!!!”
As we can see, with very little effort on the scientist’s part, the subject is convinced that it’s own safety, indeed it’s very flesh, isn’t as valuable as the affection that it receives daily. Fluffies as a whole, are exceptionally social creatures and quickly become depressed when alone. Likely a quirk engineered by design, with the fragile biotoys being prone to accidental harm and even demise if left to their own devices, although with the fluffy being an unfinished product, the extreme level of despondency could perhaps be a bug or unfixed glitch as it were. With just the threat of isolation, the subject willingly chooses mutilation.
The stallion is now in a different bed, with a litterbox attached to the back and a food dish just within the fluffy’s reach. He is lying low against the bed, crying as he occasionally glances over to his fresh stump.
Not much times passes, with the fluffy still in his bed, the scientist sitting on the floor and petting him gently, her face still out of frame. While still shaken visibly, the stallion slowly calms at her touch and is soothed as she gently pats and pampers him. After roughly ten minutes of this the scientist stands up, lifting the stallion as she does.
“…Upsies…*huuu…huuu…huuu…Tank yu nices’ wady…”
“You are very welcome, fluffy. Are you happy to see me?”
“…Yus…Fwuffy awways happies tu see nices’ wady. *huuu…huuu…huuu…Fwuffy wuvs nices’ wady…”
“And I love you fluffy. But I have something I have to ask of you…”
The footage breaks and now the stallion is quivering in his bed, his last leg gone. The scientist is sitting next to him, petting and stroking his mane. While still trembling, the fluffy occasionally lets out a slight coo and feebly rubs against her palm.
“*huuu…huuu…huuu…F…fw…fwuffy wuvs yu…”
Sorry for the delay. Hope you all enjoy. 
