the word of the day is "paranoia"

[huaaaaagh]

Who: Kirito / OTA
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Hiding out in engineering on the Paisley, if you so desire
When: Now!


[So, this is something he's been wondering - and eventually, seriously considering - for the last couple of months, mostly when they landed on Arslae and he realized how ill-equipped he is to deal with conflict. For most people, it would simply be a matter of avoiding fights. But for him... well. It's kind of all he's ever been good for.

Getting told that, hey, one of your crewmates is a murderer is more or less the last straw to break through his indecisive camel back.]

I have a question, mostly for whoever's gotten personal those personal augment upgrades you can buy, or at least thought about it. I'd really like to know- what's it like? Which did you choose? Why would you choose to get one- or why not? I mean, the people offering them up aren't exactly trustworthy, but they all sound pretty useful, too.

Basically, I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons. I'd appreciate the help.

Comments

[ Video— From the Medbay of Paisley, if Kirito is paying attention to the background ]

[axeboyfriend]

Personal augments?

[ He's still trying to figure out things, and this part had escaped him. ]

[ Video— he'll probably notice at some point lmao ]

[huaaaaagh]

You know how everyone has their job augment? At the end of each month, everyone can contribute funds towards buying upgrades. Most people put it towards improving the ships, but apparently you can request certain abilities or powers through the same process.

[ Video ]

[axeboyfriend]

[ He freezes in place for a moment at that. When he moves again, he's frowning. ]

Powers, huh?

[ His tone is more uncertain than disapproving. ]

[ Video ]

[huaaaaagh]

Well, most of it is just stat boosts, to be honest. But there's some limited elemental magic, I think.

[He's not too interested in that.]

[ Video ]

[axeboyfriend]

[ This time, Shinjiro does grimace. ]

Stat boosts sound more reliable, anyway.

[ Which is probably why his Persona never had elemental magic. ]

[ video ]

[touchofrogue]

Reckon I wasn't too keen on invitin' Atroma into my head...

[Feeling kind of cautious about this whole thing, person who helped her out once in a tight spot.]

[ video ]

[huaaaaagh]

They're already in our heads, though, like it or not. Potentially getting an edge over whatever they throw at us is tempting.

[ video ]

[touchofrogue]

Didn't ask them in.

[A small but important point.]

Found the ship modifications more important, anyway.

[ video ]

[huaaaaagh]

Our ship's mostly modified, already. Anyway, self-preservation is kind of important to me.

[ video ]

[touchofrogue]

[Okay, that was something different.]

Ya got a reason ta think you're in danger?

action

[stefanged]

[Stefan sure sees that post, and instead of replying in person, he's popped into the engine room with a plate of freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies.]

I heard you were thinking about an augment upgrade.

action

[huaaaaagh]

[It's probably telling that Kirito jumps at the voice, his hand half-reaching for his belt before he recognizes Stefan and relaxes. God, he really, really needs to ease up a bit. Have a weak smile as he tries to save face.]

Ah... where did you get that idea...?

action

[stefanged]

[Stefan raises his eyebrows, but doesn't draw attention to what had just happened as he holds out the plate of cookies.]

Nowhere special. Messenger foxes, network broadcasts, that kind of thing.

action

[huaaaaagh]

Sounds like a security breach to me.

[Kirito reaches up and snags a cookie from the plate, his expression grateful, and takes a bite. If there's one thing that'll perk him up on a bad day, it's sweets.]

action

[stefanged]

I might've gotten more tech-savvy recently. Or James might've taught me some emoji. Hard to tell.

[Says the guy who texts like he's sending formal, professional e-mails. He'll help himself to a cookie too.]

So, let's say you did get an upgrade. What kind would it be?

Video

[save_the_souls]

I got the metal upgrade around the time I first got here so I could find loose change.

[...What? It's useful.]

Video

[huaaaaagh]

[That is a kind of spectacular reason to get an upgrade, to be honest.]

Has it been, uh, any good?

Video

[save_the_souls]

[He reaches over to something off screen and brings over a big jar of change which he shakes once to make the coin sound]

Yeah! It's worked great!

Video

[huaaaaagh]

[Whoa.]

That's some piggy bank. How long did that take?

Video

[save_the_souls]

About six months or so?

AUDIO

[sandhate]

Depends on your reason for getting one, doesn't it.

What's your reason?

AUDIO

[huaaaaagh]

Pretty simple, to be honest. I just want to get stronger.

AUDIO

[sandhate]

[ A beat ]

And the reason you want to get stronger...?

AUDIO

[huaaaaagh]

To protect myself, and others if necessary.

[He doesn't really trust himself to protect other people, truth be told, but he'd rather have the power to at least try.]

AUDIO

[sandhate]

Are you expecting a bunch of rancors to attack us or something?