[ As on time as ever, Zelkova is sitting on one of the benches in the park, waiting for Dehya. There's a small, fluffy puppy sitting in his lap that he idly pets as he looks around at the scenery.
When Dehya warps into the area, however, he immediately looks towards her and waves. ]
I checked this place out before I sent out the keywords.
[ He kicks his feet slightly, though not enough to disturb the dog on his lap. ]
I guess some of the dogs remember me. [ With a glance towards Dehya, he looks back at the rest of the park, his gaze settling somewhere on the trees. ] Do you like this game?
Wow... that's a loaded question. [Dehya rubs the back of her neck before sitting down on the bench with Zelkova. Straight to it, huh?] I guess you could say I want to enjoy the game. I was really excited getting picked for the beta. But there's been a lot of... strange stuff.
[She shrugs.] Stuff that makes it feel a lot like it's just a game anymore.
[ He nods in agreement. There sure are a lot of strange, unexplainable things. Things that Zelkova should realistically know, but... ]
Like that dungeon you and Fandaniel were part of, right? I'm glad I got there in time, although I don't know what would've happened if I didn't intervene anyway.
[ Maybe they would still be fighting that boss, even now. ]
I'd hope we'd just win the fight or fail and get kicked back to the root town. But... [Well, that's the thing isn't it? They can't trust the game to continue to be just a game.
Her expression twists as she debates in her head what, exactly, she wants to start with. There are so many questions.] Hey, uh, Zelkova... you're some kind of AI, right? You were made for the game?
Right. [It's still kind of surreal, seeing an AI be so apparently human. But, well, weird things are happening. The world is a weird place.] Then what is this all like for you? We have real lives we go to, but you're always seeing these bugs and glitches affecting your home. Are you in any danger?
Mmm... yeah, it is. But people I care about haven't given up on the game, so I can't either. [Her smile is crooked.] Someone has to watch over them and keep them out of trouble, right?
[It wouldn't be right to her, to ignore everyone else being in danger. Even if... they're walking in the fire themselves.]
[Ah... Dehya looks at it with new awe. What a powerful, precious thing.
... But because it is, she's reminded of the wriggling sensation that still lingers inside her. She looks a little sheepish at Zelkova.] I... there's something you should know before you give this to me. Ever since that dungeon, every time I log in it feels like there's something else inside me. Nothing's happened and it hasn't changed, but...
[ It's hard to tell exactly what Zelkova thinks about it, not with the impassive look on his face as he regards her. He's thinking, going over the possibilities in his mind. ]
[ As promised, Zelkova sends Dehya a message with his exact location, hidden in a back alley with a single shielded monster lured into the alleyway. He wastes no time, speaking up the moment he sees her: ]
Hold out your hand and will the power of the core to be used on that monster. It'll begin the Data Drain.
[ If she does as instructed, a bracelet will form around her wrist, green and blue and pink tendrils of data coiling out of the bracelet and latching right onto the monster. ]
[Dehya is prompt, broadsword over her shoulder as she slips into the alley. Zelkova has one cornered and it's straight to business.]
Got it. [She holds out her free hand, slightly unsure of how she wills it before deciding to just chant in her head that she wants the core to affect the monster. Shortly after the recognizable bracelet forms, and the tendrils latch on.] Got it!
[ Data starts to pull into her bracelet from the monster as static flashes around the area.
Before long, the bracelet has gathered enough data that the shields snap in half, leaving the monster open to being defeated like normal. Zelkova will let Dehya take care of the monster on her own, since she'll have to do the whole process herself anyway. ]
Good work! [ He grins, but his tone is more serious. ] Now, make sure you don't use this too much. It'll have consequences.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ΘBright Fluffy Expedition
When Dehya warps into the area, however, he immediately looks towards her and waves. ]
Have you been here before, Dehya?
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[A park full of dogs! What a great spot to relax where you can safely pet every dog.] What about you? Seems like you're already making friends.
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[ He kicks his feet slightly, though not enough to disturb the dog on his lap. ]
I guess some of the dogs remember me. [ With a glance towards Dehya, he looks back at the rest of the park, his gaze settling somewhere on the trees. ] Do you like this game?
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[She shrugs.] Stuff that makes it feel a lot like it's just a game anymore.
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Like that dungeon you and Fandaniel were part of, right? I'm glad I got there in time, although I don't know what would've happened if I didn't intervene anyway.
[ Maybe they would still be fighting that boss, even now. ]
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Her expression twists as she debates in her head what, exactly, she wants to start with. There are so many questions.] Hey, uh, Zelkova... you're some kind of AI, right? You were made for the game?
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I am from Fragment. This world is my home.
[ So, yes. ]
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[ He is level 100 after all, and he has that strange bracelet to boot. ]
Say, what keeps you logging in? This is still dangerous for you, isn't it?
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[It wouldn't be right to her, to ignore everyone else being in danger. Even if... they're walking in the fire themselves.]
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[ He smiles a little bit at the thought. ]
Say, Dehya, would you be open to helping me?
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But Dehya gives him a more confident smile.] If there's anything I can do, yeah. You saved me, helping you too is the least I can do.
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Zelkova returns her smile with a wider one of his own. ]
Of course. I can't let one of the players get really hurt, not when I'm aware of it.
[ After all, he isn't aware of everything that goes on, so he does what he can when he does know.
Zelkova holds out his hand, and a small prism appears over it. ]
I'd like you to hold onto this for me.
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[ Similar to what she saw in the dungeon, perhaps. ]
I might ask you to use it one day, if I think that you might need to.
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... But because it is, she's reminded of the wriggling sensation that still lingers inside her. She looks a little sheepish at Zelkova.] I... there's something you should know before you give this to me. Ever since that dungeon, every time I log in it feels like there's something else inside me. Nothing's happened and it hasn't changed, but...
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[ It's hard to tell exactly what Zelkova thinks about it, not with the impassive look on his face as he regards her. He's thinking, going over the possibilities in his mind. ]
You need to take this item.
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[With that, she slots it in her inventory.] I'll keep it safe, okay? I know you're strong, but keep the rest of yourself safe too.
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[ As she takes the prism, a message flashes up on her screen: Key Item Obtained: Strange Core E. Then, the core is absorbed into her avatar.
Oh, and that strange wiggling feeling? It's gone. ]
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She offers him a smile.] I will too.
[It's settled, then. She reaches out to ruffle the furry head of the dog.]
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[ But he won't force her to learn now, not unless she wants to. ]
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[She stands up and stretches, offering a wave before she turns to go.
Unfortunately, "later" proceeds to get delayed by everything following the 'conference'. She'll remember eventually.
Eventually.]
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But for now, he waves her off. ]
See you around. Be careful!
Mac Anu
Hold out your hand and will the power of the core to be used on that monster. It'll begin the Data Drain.
[ If she does as instructed, a bracelet will form around her wrist, green and blue and pink tendrils of data coiling out of the bracelet and latching right onto the monster. ]
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Got it. [She holds out her free hand, slightly unsure of how she wills it before deciding to just chant in her head that she wants the core to affect the monster. Shortly after the recognizable bracelet forms, and the tendrils latch on.] Got it!
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Before long, the bracelet has gathered enough data that the shields snap in half, leaving the monster open to being defeated like normal. Zelkova will let Dehya take care of the monster on her own, since she'll have to do the whole process herself anyway. ]
Good work! [ He grins, but his tone is more serious. ] Now, make sure you don't use this too much. It'll have consequences.
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Once it's dead, she turns to look at Zelkova.] Uh? But it's the only way to deal with the shields, right?
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[ With each shield she takes out, the higher that risk gets. ]
But you're not the only person who can do this either. You have me, for one.
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[There's gotta be a place they can herd people for protection.]
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[ But whether or not they'll stay that way? Zelkova can't say for sure. ]
Are you part of a guild? If not, you can join mine.
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[ He smiles, giving her a quick nod. ]
I'm not always there, but it doesn't take me long to get there if you send me an email.
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[ And he'll wave her off if she has no further questions. ]