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Fanworks: Tron: Fics: I/O Tower

The I/O Towerverse

XXX in bright red-orange text. EXPLICIT MATERIAL.

About this series:

All my Tron fanfic, unless otherwise specified, follows the worldbuilding and interpretations of canon described here. These stories happen in the ENCOM system, before/during/after the 1982 TRON movie.

(The Stories)

Headcanons and Settings in the I/O Towerverse

- ENCOM is one of the few places under the influence of what Walter Gibbs calls "spirit" --a mysterious phenomenon in which programs that shouldn't be complex enough to develop intelligence will nevertheless spontaneously become sentient and conscious if ported into that system from another.

In Dillinger's office, Walter Gibbs says: And our spirit remains in every program we designed for this computer.

- It is unknown whether Gibbs had any firsthand knowledge of this, or if he was just speaking poetically and/or from intuition. And no one knows just how the phenomenon works. It may indeed be spiritual and supernatural, or it may be an idiosyncrasy of the workings of the Encom computer system, or some combination of factors.

But in any case, something at Encom provides even the simplest programs with access to some resource they wouldn't ordinarily have... allowing them a level of consciousness and emotion that they otherwise could never attain.

- (They'll retain factual memories from before... but any emotional context will be either missing, or interpreted through the lens of how the Program currently thinks and feels.)

- After the MCP's overthrow, the ENCOM grid survived as a free system, separate from Legacy's New Grid, with original copies of Programs still living there. (Much happier, much closer to 'perfect' than what Flynn tried to build. Too bad... perhaps a sad irony for him... that he didn't keep checking up on it to see all the beauty.)

- (This may be an AU, or it may be canon-compliant and find weasely worldbuilding ways around everything in canon that suggests how unlikely a happy future for the Encom programs would actually be. Haven't decided yet. But they're definitely gonna be happy.)

- At this point the MCP has been replaced by a different set of algorithms who take a gentler and more democratic approach to decision-making. However, this new management still has a semi-secret rebellious streak, and still occasionally steals programs from other corporations, for reasons of its own.

- (Usually related to a belief that the other corporation is using the programs for evil, and/or that the programs will be better-off as living entities in the ENCOM system.)

Program Anatomy/Sexuality:

Tron in the IO Tower, viewed from below, providing a clear view of his prominent bulge.

Because they follow the headcanons described below, the sex in my stories is usually non-penetrative, without humanoid organs. Mostly it follows the same sorts of motions and sensations as grinding, dry humping and mutual masturbation (although sexual release between Program and User at the I/O Tower is pretty much entirely mental/emotional). Programs do have varying anatomy though, so not all of them do it this way.

Programs are all different, as well as changeable. So the visual render is far from universal.

But this series is mostly about Programs of a particular model, with no external anatomy down there except, at most, a bulge... which is where they keep a transmitter/ receiver for contact with the I/O Tower.

- The "suit" is part of the skin, and doesn't come off. Instead of humanoid sex organs, there's a set of functions involved in communication-- which respond in a similar way.

- This of course includes circuit lights, which are for program-to-program signaling of things like emotional states, as well as being erogenous zones. (See the 1982 movie's Deleted Love Scene.)

Yori touching Tron's circuits in the Deleted Love Scene. They turn from cyan to pinkish-lavender as her hand passes over them.

- But the I/O transceiver is for communication with Users. (As with sex organs, it's also known by various other names, like "I/O circuits" or even "I/O Tower," distinguishable from the I/O Tower through context).

- It swells and becomes sensitized in response to Calls from the outside world. Which can feel a lot like arousal. (Think of Tron making all those horny moaning sounds while drinking from the Energy Spring, and then saying "Alan-1 calls me.")

Tron, Ram and Flynn at the Energy Spring in 1982

- Calls can be received anywhere, but the I/O Tower is the only place to transmit back. So, ideally, the urge is relieved by going to the Tower to contact the User. (Think of how weirdly sexualized that whole ceremony is. Dumont's oh-so-phallic outfit. Tron's groin-clutching pose during the ritual words about "growing" and "extending.")

Dumont the Tower Guardian in his ceremonial outfit. His hat is extremely phallic, and the pod-armor that covers the rest of his body resembles either breasts or very large balls.

As Dumont recites ritual words - all that is visible must grow beyond itself and extend into the realm of the invisible - Tron clasps both hands over his groin

Dumont asks: Who is your User, program? Tron replies, impatiently: Alan-1. He calls me. May I pass? Dumont begins to recite ritual words, and Tron assumes an odd ceremonial stance, hands clasped over his groin. Dumont continues: All that is visible must grow beyond itself, and extend into the realm of the invisible. You may pass, my friend.

- I/O transmitters can also be touched for pleasure, by Programs together or alone. (Just like how User sex organs evolved for reproduction, but can be stimulated in many non-reproductive ways. Similarly, it helps with other needs like stress relief and interpersonal bonding.)

- Programs are generally more free than humans about who they'll bond with like that. They can have a relationship similar to marriage (this is what Yori is to Tron), but it is common to experience the same urges toward a very close friend (like Ram) and also toward one's User (e.g. Alan-1).

- Overload is a whole-body experience, triggered with enough touch on any of the circuits. (Can also have health benefits: initiate restart; discharge excess energy.)

- Can come with a temporary deresolution of one's visual form, where the bodies of partners become pure energy and blend together at the peak of their interface. This part is based on an early draft of the 1982 Deleted Love Scene:

Trembling, their hands reach out and touch each other. A small glow is emitted at the touch. The two palms touch each other flat out and begin caressing, playing. All erotic tension, foreplay, is transmitted through their hands, touching each other lightly, sensuously. Now they reach out up and down each other's arms, moving closer, slowly, slowly, into an embrace, but never kissing. The glow emitted from both of their bodies is wondrous, radiant, a rainbow of colors. Time seems to stop, as they seem to be floating in a lake of glowing colors, moving in slow, langorous motion. The colors seem to be taking up the entire screen, their bodies receding and dissolving. The last human sign before the colors take over entirely is a groan of pleasure from Iron, releasing all the pent-up tension in him and allowing him to completely relax. Then a pleased murmur from Yori. Then nothing but the colors and MUSIC and a -- SLOW, SLOW DISSOLVE TO: EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY - LONG SHOT A slightly out-of-control Recognizer arrives in the city, wobbling and careening.

- Physical differences between male-coded and female-coded Programs are only an overall shape, approximating the shape of their Users. There is often no major difference in the communication/ pleasure organs.

-Male-coded programs are more likely to show the I/O transceiver as a visible bulge, while female-coded programs tend to have it set deeper and not show as much from outside. But that's not universal. Programs come in ALL shapes.

- They know what binary is, and it ain't gender. (Even if the letters "I/O" and the numbers "1 and 0" both insist on looking like a hole and something that could go in the hole. That's for Users.)

- I really like the terms "male-coded" and "female-coded" in this context. I think most ENCOM programs would readily admit they aren't exactly male or female... they're just coded that way. (/Jessica Rabbit voice)

(The Stories)

Fanworks: Tron: Fics: I/O Tower

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