elevelvetor | [ ic inbox ]

Is it that obvious, Miss Velveteen, or have your deductive skills gotten better?

[More like her bluff skills.]

She's all I have, in terms of immediate family. I never knew my father. [But he wants to, just to see what he's like.] But I have an aunt and uncle here as well, so it's my hope that she'll give in and accept their hospitality once I'm out.

[..... Does that give away his home situation too much? No, it shouldn't, his mom's just gonna be lonely.]

[ It was mostly a stab in the dark to keep conversation moving, but eh. Deductive skills, definitely, yep. ]

I see. [ It's too bad she's not really the type to follow the time-old tradition of exchanging backstories with complete strangers. That's for movies, and it's incredibly unrealistic. ] I'm sure she'll be fine. She's an adult, after all. Presumably she's had to deal with things on her own before she had you.

... Yes, you're right. I shouldn't worry so much.

[... Anyway. He sure did drop that on her. He kind of wants to find a dumpster to throw himself into.]

[ ....... Um.

The... comfort words. She might not exchange stories but she feels like she needs to know the comfort... words...

No, she's just going to take a fruit indiscriminately from the bag (a lemon) and bite into its juicy dancing mass. ]

[ ................................. ]

[ oh.

oh, this was a mistake. ]

[ Death is not a hunter unbeknownst to its prey... ]

[ Elizabeth's delicately spitting that stuff out and tossing the mellowed lemon away, jesus christ. ]

... Never bite into a lemon, Akechi. [ She sort of regrets her entire life. ] It's not as pleasing as biting into, say, an apple.

[......... What is she

oh she's

oh

oh my god she just bit into a lemon what kind of monster--]

I... I would think not, Miss Velveteen, they're different on every level...

[.... Um. Comfort words? Are they needed here. Not emotional comfort words, but.]

Would you like to get something from Denny's to cleanse your palate?

[ Her... plan succeeded? Sort of? They are off the weird topic, they're onto something better? ]

While we're in the area... That would be nice.

[ She likes lemons, but. This is too much. 2 Much. ]

[They are off the weird topic, and they are onto something better.

... For a degree of better.

Um. Okay. He's going to take the lead then, time to follow the siren's call of Denny's.]

You didn't think to check what you were going to bite into?

Not really. I just thought regardless of what it was, it'd give you something new to make a face over.

[ ...anyway, ]

Allow me to pay for our expenditures, by the way. This will be my forward payment. You will get the rest when I'm home and have access to some change.

[ Like she was gonna get fruit from him for actual free, whaaaaat, she knows how this shady deal business works. ]

[Oh.

Well, his smile's coming easy now, even if it's being directed at his feet.]

Thank you. But you don't need to pay me, I'm glad enough to just have them out of my hair for the moment.

[Yes, that's totally what the "thank you" was for, definitely not for the consideration of his feelings.]

[ ... Elizabeth is terrible at forming genuine bonds with people offline but she is not an asshole, essentially, she will gently bully but she won't go overboard. ]

Allow me to anyway. I'm very in the know of how after-dark business dealings work, Akechi. [ ~shine~ wait if that was true, wouldn't she have forked over the money the same moment she got her fruit...??? Anyway. ] Are you truly a detective if you've never had to break up one of these and become aware of such shady movements? For shame.

I have, but I didn't think we were getting that deep into it... How exactly are you in the know of them yourself, Miss Velveteen?

[Do they need to have a Talk.]

[ Oh, that's easy. ]

There are similar trades online. The Black Market, one might say, trading paid time for rare in-game items, fashion apparel, or game currency. I've never participated before, though I have bought my friends subscriptions when they were down on their luck... which I don't believe counts.

[Oh, if that's all.]

No, that's fine... as far as I know. You had me worried there for a moment, Miss Velveteen.

[Whatever would he do if his new blue heart turned out to be a criminal???]

What sort of games do you play?

[ OH!?!? SHE GOT UPGRADED... WAS THIS A HEART EVENT IN DISGUISE???
> GORO LOOKS SAD, WHAT DO YOU DO?

> USE THE COMFORT WORDS
> FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO TALK ABOUT
>BITE INTO THE FIRST FRUIT YOU PULL FROM YOUR BAG ]

Online multiplayer mostly. My latest is Last Fantasy XIV—have you heard of it? It's rather wonderful, and you certainly don't need to play the other games in the franchise in order to enjoy it. Past that, I enjoy horror games and puzzle games. There's something incredibly thrilling about them both.

Oh, and Cryptid Crossing. That one's also fun—the latest is about being the mayor in a town of cryptids, such as the Loch Ness Monster and Mothman and the like. It's very relaxing as well! I've managed to collect most of the insects in my town—there are a few that are a little harder to catch, and fishing is near impossible without a good bout of luck in your day.

[ ...thanks you unlocked one of three things she'll never shut up about? ]

[ACTUALLY, YES, IT WAS. THAT WAS SOMEHOW THE BEST OPTION FOR FRIENDSHIP POINTS.]

I like Cryptid Crossing too, actually! It's very relaxing to play. And I've heard of Last Fantasy in general, but I was never sure if I could get into it... not just because of how many there were, but because the fans seem a little, ah, strict. I suppose.

[Elitists. Also: You have found something in common with Goro Akechi!]

I'm not sure I'd have the time for online games, especially once the school term starts up again, but perhaps I could join you for the summer? Just to try it out.

[ HEADS UP AKECHI YOU'RE A MESS. ]

Well, the summer's nearly halfway over, but I wouldn't mind spotting for you if you'd really like to try. They have a free trial for about a month regardless. [ An incredibly thoughtful look. ] I wonder if I should give up playing once school starts as well... I'll definitely have to limit my time clearing content, but most of my FC is in the same situation as well, if not older, so I'm certain they'd understand if we'd have to take a break from anything but casual play.

[ And then Retrospec's FC isn't really like, serious anyway, so whatever. ]

Regardless—you shouldn't pay those stringy people any mind. It doesn't matter when people get into it, whether it's the first game or the very last. What's important is that they do. Besides, outside of a shared world between most of the games—and not even in the sense that they're actually in the same one, rather, more like it's the same setting with generally similar characters that don't affect each other much at all, and then there was that one where the world was mere fairytale—there aren't many direct sequels or even a linear plot to follow.

[ ...Breathe, Elizabeth??? She's pulling out another fruit—putting it back, that is an orange, where's an apple... There. A scornful bite, though her expression hasn't changed much. ]

[YOU WERE THOUGHTFUL, EVEN IF IT WAS IN A VERY WEIRD WAY. THANK YOU?

AAAAND YOU JUST LOST YOUR FRIENDSHIP POINTS. Goro had been intently listening and then you did that, Elizabeth. He cannot hide his discomfort.]

I... Um. Right.

[... Anyway. Denny's hails them in the distance, siren's call for shitty cheap food and neverending refills from a tired waitress awaits.]

What is an "FC"? [Let's. Start there.]

[ it's just an apple this one didn't even wiggle that much you can pretend it's not even dancing. ]

"Free Company." It's their term for a player-run guild, as opposed to the larger guilds encompassing entire cities story-wise, the "Grand Companies."

[It has a face, Elizabeth.]

That's certainly something. Is the story good?

[ wait until she starts peeling them in front of you. ]

Absolutely! One of the best I've ever read, honestly. [ she loves it. ] Do you have time for a brief summary of it? Oh—well, it can wait until we're eating. Something such as this should not be discussed on an empty stomach!

[Please refrain.]

I don't mind the least bit, Miss Velveteen, a game's story is as important as its characters to me.

[Let's!!! Go to Denny's!!! Get us that pancake tower!!!]

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1/?

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k we're good, actually

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