driftfleet | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Nightingale and you!
Broadcast: Video and audio
Action: Iskaulit!
When: Now.

[When the video feed starts, it displays a large room inside the Iskaulit, covered in snow and... dog toys. A lot of them, actually. And there's a single fox romping around in the snow, as well.]

Hi, everyone. It's Nightingale. This post was just to say that the fox park on the Iskaulit is now finished and open for anyone to come let their foxes out to play, since they probably need to, and this is obviously not a good planet to bring pets to. On a related note, if I find out anyone's bringing their foxes down to poison planet down there, I'm going to punch you as hard as I can.

[The video then cuts out, without ever actually showing Nightingale, but the audio keeps going.]

... And on an unrelated note. Can anyone tell me about weird physical transformations happening here? Do those happen often? Are those related to our augments? And how long do they last?

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Well, no, but... Just because others don't, doesn't mean I shouldn't?

Sorry, that's exactly what it means.

... I don't follow?

You're expecting something from yourself that nobody else does. Or, if they do, then they're a lousy friend.

It's not supposed to be about keeping score.

It's not about a score, it's just that I don't want to take advantage of my friends!

You can't take advantage of someone when they're genuinely offering to help.

Isn't constantly receiving and giving nothing in return practically the definition of taking advantage? That's taking advantage of your kindness.

Nope. It's not the same thing at all.

[This is actually kind of difficult, so he needs a moment to think about how to make this coherent. C'mere, fox, you are now lap-fox while he works through it. Petting is good for concentration, or something.]

Okay, so. Your world's got a leveling system, yeah? And you're pretty strong in your preferred class?

I don't know about pretty strong, but yes? I'm around level 27 as a mage. That's fairly average.

[at least the fox is happy.]

[Lower than he's used to, but then, everything about her world is, so he can work with that.]

Right. So say you're at a high level, and you know someone in your circle of friends just getting started- level 1, crappy equipment, not much EXP- well, back home it's a courtesy to help them out. Party with them, tank the dangerous monsters so they get better experience without taking much damage, pass on any spare equipment they can use that you don't need anymore. Sound familiar at all?

... That was Yura's job, actually...

You've never done that?

[CRAP, HIS EXAMPLE IS FALLING APART, ABORT ABORT]

... I did go with her once, but...

[her ears are turning slightly red. EVADE THE TOPIC, NIGHTINGALE.]

Do I seem like the type who would be good with kids?

Uh...

[Is it insulting to say "no"? He feels like it ought to be, but she said it first!

...You know what, though, it's a bad idea to get a girl angry when she has literal harpy claws. Evading that one.]

Is it only kids who'd be in that situation...?

I mean... Yeah? Most people do most of their adventuring in high school, and there's classes for leveling and dungeons. Some kids start early, and Yura's job is to escort them through low-level dungeons and keep them healed. It's basically like babysitting.

If I were to pick up a new class, I would have my party already.

[you

are making this difficult]

...Okay. Well. Use your imagination, I guess.

Partying to level somebody up, giving them old equipment- it'd be a big deal to that person, yeah? But for the one helping out, it's easy. The monsters are weak and the equipment is wasted in your inventory if you can't use it. The one being helped is really grateful. But what do you think their chances are of ever returning the favour?

Um... Not good?

[she sounds doubtful, but she's catching on to what Kirito wants to hear, at least.]

Right! Not good. Practically impossible, actually. Because by the time they've caught up, the one that helped is an even higher level. Better stats, better gear.

They helped someone, but that person can't help them the same way. Were they taken advantage of?

... No...?

[it's incredibly half-hearted.]

[Yeah, he can tell.]

...You're just saying that so I'll stop, aren't you.

[... shit, busted.]

Sorry.

[s i g h]

Nevermind, then. Just know that I don't feel that way.

[He does feel a little defeated, though. The girls would've been much better at this than he is.]

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