for shoka

[dzelkva]

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ΩQuiet Winter’s Wanderlust

[dzelkva]

[ While he's waiting for Shoka to arrive, Zelkova starts to build a small snowman outside of the ski lodge itself. He's only got the base part of it finished by the time she warps in. ]

Long time no see.

[threatmewted]

[She gates in soon after, looking unimpressed.]

Hey.

So? What's all this about?

[dzelkva]

[ Wow, she should be super impressed with his snowman!! ]

What keeps you logging in, Shoka?

[ It's a cryptic question, but there's a reason behind it. She's been through a lot with this game, hasn't she? Logging out and never looking back would be ideal for her of all people. ]

[threatmewted]

...Um, what? Where'd that come from?

[She looks him up and down - like she can sus out an ulterior motive just by looking at him.]

[dzelkva]

[ What she'll find etched onto his face is genuine curiosity, and nothing more. Maybe it's because he's simply learning as the bits and pieces of code that many have come to think he is, or maybe it's out of some sort of concern.

Will she regret playing, eventually? ]

You've been through a lot here. You couldn't feel your body or log out, you felt cold after visiting an area... why do you keep logging in? Do you think it's worth those scary moments?

[threatmewted]

That's what you dragged me here for?

[She is just. So doubtful.]

What's it to ya?

[dzelkva]

Well... not exactly.

[ Sorry, he's going to be cryptic for a little longer. ]

But I wanted to hear your answer before I made a decision.

[threatmewted]

A decision? What kind of decision?

[Why are you ALL allergic to explaining shit!!!]

[dzelkva]

[ You know what?

He'll actually explain himself. ]

Asking for your help.

[ Well. Sort of. ]

[threatmewted]

[?!]

What the heck would you need my help for?

[dzelkva]

I can't prevent the more dangerous glitches alone. If things escalate more than they already have, I'll need others to help me.

[threatmewted]

And what exactly does helping you entail here?

[dzelkva]

Using this.

[ Zelkova holds out his hand and a strange prism appears in his hand. ]

You won't need to use it immediately, but there might come a time where you need to. I can't tell you when that might be or where, but you'll know. I'll tell you.

[ In a flash, the prism disappears again back into Zelkova's inventory. He knows she won't take the item, not immediately.

Besides, he has a question he wants to ask first before he offers it over. ]

Do you want to protect people, Shoka?

[threatmewted]

[Her eyes widen at the sudden appearance of... some kind of item, probably? Not that she can tell much about it before he puts it away, because in the end it's just a weird prism. Once he returns it to his inventory, her expression remains doubtful, even a little suspicious.

...Up until he surprises her all over again with that question.]

I-

[Maybe if she was her regular self, she would have answered differently. But because of the sickness going around, she can only give the truth:]

Of course I do!

[-And then look shocked at her own words.]

[dzelkva]

[ He grins, more than satisfied with her answer. ]

I was wondering if an answer like that was in there somewhere. That's why I asked why you still log in. I think most people wouldn't, not after that log out error you had.

[ Even Zelkova would support someone who decided to quit in that instance, so he figured there might be people still playing that she continued to log in for. Seems like he was right.

Bonds are the most important thing between all of them, after all. ]

But you persisted anyway, and you still do.

[threatmewted]

[Auuuuuuugh how could she let herself be Seen like this!!]

Yeah, well...

The whole reason I joined in the first place was so I could play with a friend. And... I mean... I don't want the other players getting hurt either. So.

[dzelkva]

So, that means you'll help, right?

[ That's what he's gleaning from this, from what he's Perceived. ]

I won't be able to tell you everything, because there's a lot I don't know myself. I'll answer whatever you ask me, though, but sometimes I just can't give a good answer.

[ Which means, unfortunately, his knowledge is unhelpful a lot of the time. ]

But... I have one condition. Don't tell anyone about this yet. I don't want anyone panicking because I'm asking for help.

[ And, well, surely she knows that they would by now. Just look at the forums. ]

[threatmewted]

Kinda late for that, isn't it?

[Just look at the forums, dude.]

...But fine. I'll help. And I won't tell.

Am I the only person you've asked all this?

[dzelkva]

[ He regards her for a long, long moment before smiling. ]

No. You aren't. I'll tell you who else is helping me soon.

[threatmewted]

Why, is it some kind of surprise?

[dzelkva]

Nope. Not unless there are people I've reached out to that you dislike!

[ The AI has jokes! ]

[threatmewted]

You never know.

...Actually, does Hien know?

[dzelkva]

I haven't told him anything.

[threatmewted]

...Huh. [Not that she disapproves because fuck that guy, but:] There a reason why you're keeping it from him?

[dzelkva]

No, not really. He's always been nice to me, but I've wondered if I should keep him from getting more involved than he already is.