Second Quest: Voice

[lightnovelexperiences]

This is J-

This is Deedee. I wish things "returning to normal" meant I was home, but for the moment it means I'm still on Mundus. In the game? Either way.

I did manage to run into three of my teammates - as well as the streamer, Ace Striker - and explain what's going on. Dr. Durante, you may want to look up the usernames Alesha Herezhade, Ace Striker, and Hikaru Aoisora and see what you can do for them if you haven't gotten to them yet.

God, Ace was just doing this for a bit. Palling around in a cheesecake metal bustier to meme at fans and do the futbol - uh, the soccer minigame. This probably happened while she was on 'Castr.

We managed to rescue each other, fight off monsters, heal up, find a safe zone. Camping there tonight before we look for the main settlement on this island, and the 'defend the fort' questline.

...oh, yeah. And, uh, Durante, also look up one Peachi Effervescent. Alesha's worried about her.

Comments

[nijistaryume]

That sounds super inconvenient. I mean, like, all of it, but the skimpy armour. No wonder you guys are trying hard not to die.

[lightnovelexperiences]

It works better than you'd think - if you know how to wear it properly. But this means actually putting it on, and Alesha realized she was putting it on wrong. She needed to wear a padded jacket underneath it, and there's also some bits meant to protect her belly.

Ace was so pissed when she found out.

[nijistaryume]

That kinda sounds like some newspaper article I read once about how stuntwomen get beat up worse at work because a lot of the outfits they have to wear don't have room for the padding they should be wearing. Must be tough.

[lightnovelexperiences]

...she's a Berzerker. Part of her build is getting beat up so all her attacks get stronger, then healing up quick after.

It's horrible for her and I don't envy it, especially because doing that without getting killed is as hard as it sounds. And I do not want to test if resurrection's a walk in the park, here.

[nijistaryume]

That's messed up, not gonna lie. I would guess it probably wouldn't be, 'cause all your other stuff's messed up, like how you all got weaker. Especially with your theory about why it got that way.

[lightnovelexperiences]

When you can't feel the pain, it's a fun tactical risk and reward mechanic.

When you can...

[nijistaryume]

It fits with the theory of the gods around there trying to nerf people to keep the culprit away, the one you were talking about. Did you hear anything new about that?

[lightnovelexperiences]

We haven't run into anyone who can confirm or deny it yet. Been too busy not getting eaten by Dire Crabs.

And, uh, eating Dire Crabs.

[nijistaryume]

At least that sounds better than how you described your guys's health potions.

[lightnovelexperiences]

Oh we were very weirded out by eating our kills, but once we got over it, turns out it's just like the crab back home. Preserving all of it is a problem, but in the meantime it's just what our rations needed.

[nijistaryume]

I guess you wouldn't have cans like on Earth, huh... do you have jars? You can preserve crab meat in jars. Except I think they have to be alive until just before you can them just to make sure they don't go bad? Never tried it, though.

[lightnovelexperiences]

...We can jar things, actually, but don't have any big enough! I'll see if we can get canning jars for Sekh in town. Good call!

[nijistaryume]

Thanks! Ehehe. Not sure how big you need for a giant crab. I don't think we have them here in Sengeis, but maybe they exist someplace else. I haven't really been out much.

[have_hat_will_travel]

... So it hasn't returned to normal, but at least it's stable, huh?

That's an improvement, at least. If I can figure out a way to help you beyond speculation, I am willing to try. Though the details of how to make that happen are... A thing.

[lightnovelexperiences]

I'm listening.

What would you need?

[have_hat_will_travel]

From your end, basically a clear space I could see would be enough.

The real prerequisite is finding the spell, Plane Shift. Which... Well, there was someone on the network with enough power from a similar enough world to mine that she probably knew it. Teaching magic via the Internet is a bit awkward, but could work?

Learning it from local sources would be very difficult without a source who is okay with the premise of 'work with one Succubus who is trying to get the hell away from a lot of other ones'...

[lightnovelexperiences]

Hell, I can livecast to Badgernet for the clear space.

Have you considered there might be people who would do it just to spite your old boss?

[have_hat_will_travel]

Problem's getting to them without being noticed by said old boss' forces, who would probably be smart enough to keep an eye around those people.

[Based on Pidonus' track record, that might not be the most reliable measure. MIGHT.]

[godslantern]

How's the different corporation treating you?

[Look, Neriel's going to stick to the parts of this she knows she can help with.]

[lightnovelexperiences]

Well.

It's treating me well.

Deedee was, uhh, was max Vigor, Max Spirit, high Agility. Basically an Olympic level athlete, a world-class staff and spear fighter. It's honestly really surprising how... comfortable I am as her.

[godslantern]

I'm glad for that, especially since it seems like you've encountered more physical activity than you're used to.

I wonder... [She visibly hesitates before continuing.] You don't have to answer this, as I realise it may be a very personal question and I don't understand how humans think about their bodies. But I do know some of the other angels complained about one corporation not suiting them as well as another, and there's more we can do to alter them.

Is it possible this corporation suits you better than the one you began with?

[lightnovelexperiences]

I -

I'll, I'll get back to you on that.

I have uh, a history of playing girl characters in games. They get better outfits, when uh, when not all of options are like Ace's titty armor. And got made fun of it.

But like. I'm also, uh. Very much my Dad's son. Or trying to be.

[godslantern]

You truly don't need to get back to me. It does sound like it's something you should think about, though.

Why would anyone mock you for playing the characters you want to play? [Out-groups were a mistake.

And, as much as she hates to admit it, Heaven's doing.]

What do you mean by trying to be your father's child?

[lightnovelexperiences]

...he was just a good counterexample to.

Hmn.

"The phrase 'toxic masculinity' implies the existence of a nontoxic, healthy masculinity." He had that.

And like... there were a lot of asshole boys I had to deal with, and I don't like sharing DNA with them, but he taught me to be like him instead.



"...one who aims with their eye has forgotten the face of their father; I shoot with my mind."

[godslantern]

...I think I'm beginning to see why Crowley finds the human concept of gender so frustrating. Conflating it with a largely-binary corporeal structure allows the usual problems with binary thinking to assert themselves. Before you know it, there's one prescribed way to be on either side of the line, and deviation from it is suspect.

I doubt the Archangels knew what they were doing when they invented out-groups.

[Neriel doesn't understand the last part - of Earth's Heavenly representatives, so to speak, she's not the one who dove headlong into books - so she doesn't comment on it.]

[lightnovelexperiences]

Gender's fake as hell but so's money, and people still need it to live.

...How long have you been here, Sekhmet?

Not long, just heard the tail end.

[godslantern]

Do you need a gender to live? I'm still not really used to people assuming I have one, but I suppose the humans at the music shop must have drawn their own conclusions by now. [It's an entirely serious question. On the other hand, at least she's encountered the concept of money?]

CW transphobia, dysphoria, suicide

[lightnovelexperiences]

...given the lengths to which people go to correct being mistaken for a wrong one, and how much more likely they are to kill themselves if they can't, I think so, yeah.

[godslantern]

The 'single-Effort configuration' problem. [And she's immediately wondering how much she could do to help people where she is. The Archangels would almost certainly consider that a frivolous use of miracles, but... well, they were wrong about plenty of other things.

And Neriel hasn't forgotten the bit about loving all of Her creations.]

I may not fully understand that aspect, but being told you have two choices and discovering you want to make a third one? That I understand entirely.

[turingcompletionist]

Got 'em. I mean, their bodies. They're in the DARPA hospital or headed there and Peachi's gonna be put next to her mom.

It says she started out in Caelbyrn, though, so she's gonna be at the Cave of Awakening, not the Shores with you. So, uh. You're probably gonna have to figure out how to arrange meeting up again. I'm not sure if Alesha's gonna be able to contact her by sendjewel yet now, though--Io isn't the only one responsible for the 'jewels, but they were the one that extended their relay range as far as it was. Still--you guys can probably send word there?

When you get to the fort, give my regards to Miles?

... also, you can call me 'Charley,' Deedee. I don't mind.