diff --git a/hitomi/config.py b/hitomi/config.py
index 0c41d16..739df04 100644
--- a/hitomi/config.py
+++ b/hitomi/config.py
@@ -43,3 +43,6 @@ logging.config.dictConfig({
         },
     }
 })
+
+# module specific configs
+MARKOV_CONTEXT = os.environ.get('HITOMI_MARKOV_CONTEXT', 'hitomi')
diff --git a/hitomi/markov.py b/hitomi/markov.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1867c57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hitomi/markov.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+"""Commands for populating and retrieving markov chains, for silly chatter."""
+import logging
+from urllib.parse import quote
+
+from hitomi import bot, config
+from hitomi.backends import dr_botzo, DrBotzoError
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+@bot.listen(name='on_message')
+async def on_message_learn(message):
+    """Learn lines, potentially also respond to them."""
+    logger.info("learning to %s: '%s'", config.MARKOV_CONTEXT, message.clean_content)
+    try:
+        response = dr_botzo.post('/markov/rpc/context/{context}/learn/'.format(context=quote(config.MARKOV_CONTEXT)),
+                                 json={'line': message.clean_content})
+        logger.debug("succeeded to learn '%s'", response.json()['line'])
+    except DrBotzoError as drex:
+        logger.exception("received an error from dr.botzo attempting to learn to %s: %s", config.MARKOV_CONTEXT, drex)
+
+
+@bot.listen(name='on_message')
+async def on_message_reply(message):
+    """Learn lines, potentially also respond to them."""
+    if bot.user in message.mentions:
+        logger.info("I was addressed, going to reply with chatter")
+        await message.channel.trigger_typing()
+        try:
+            response = dr_botzo.post('/markov/rpc/context/{context}/generate/'
+                                     ''.format(context=quote(config.MARKOV_CONTEXT)),
+                                     json={'topics': message.clean_content.split(' ')})
+            reply = response.json()['generated_line']
+            logger.info("replying to %s with '%s'", message.channel, reply)
+            await message.channel.send(reply)
+        except DrBotzoError as drex:
+            logger.exception("received an error from dr.botzo attempting to reply to %s: %s",
+                             message.clean_content, drex)