ACE

[ballies]

(pirate noises)

Comments

[selfimmolation]

Huh?

[ letting himself be dragged by the wrist. his mouth is full of whatever he was snacking on ]

Where are we going?

[ which task..... what is happening to him ]

[ballies]

Shopping's one of our tasks, and I need to get some electronics. And more clothes.

[ yaaaaay. ]

[selfimmolation]

What electronics? [ a beat ] What am I helping with, here?

[ he's like wait i am bad at clothes AND at technology ]

[ballies]

Like the USB you traded Datz, but bigger. And it's on the tasks! Go shopping for clothing. We can get you some ridiculously bright shorts or something.

[ lean into that neon aesthetic. ]

[selfimmolation]

I've had neon shorts. [ he was ignoring the taskssss ] Can't we just shop for clothes for you and have it count?

[ballies]

Then we find the most wild looking ones we can and go from there.

[ stop ignoring the tasks she needs a shopping buddy. ]

... I mean we can, but then you're literally being dragged around the shops by me with no pay off.

[selfimmolation]

[ absolutely not don't do that to me ]

So long as I can get food while we shop, that's fine. [ he's truly that easy ]

[ballies]

[ ]

We can get food. C'mon, c'mon. The sooner we're done, the sooner I set you free.

[selfimmolation]

I'm going, I'm going. [ he already!!! was!!!! follows along ] Did you end up asking Datz for the whole... hacking the USB thing?

[ the words sound like he has no idea what they mean and listen. he still doesn't fully ]

[ballies]

[ that's fair, he's just a pirate cursed by the entire ocean. ]

I didn't yet, no. I will but... we have a whole store now. So that's half my issues solved.

[selfimmolation]

Issue?

[ :? ]

[ballies]

I wanted to find a storage device. I didn't know there were USBs in the Wonderball machines.

[selfimmolation]

Well, no one else has gotten one has far as I know. What do you need it for?

[ballies]

[ she's quiet for a moment. ]

...

Mostly for if something happens to me. I can't upload my memories directly, but I can do a video diary at least so I'll know what's happened. So I wouldn't lose anything when Ryuki gets back home.

[selfimmolation]

[ he doesn't know enough about technology to understand the significance of this ]

... How would you still be home if something happened to you here?

[ballies]

[ ... ]

The way I am back home would let me back up my memories. [ she looks at her hand a little thoughfully. ] Not here though. This is all human.

[selfimmolation]

... So ... you're not, usually?

[ :o ]

[ballies]

Not usually, no. Although this is how I tend to look, in my own way.

[selfimmolation]

Cool. [ there are so many non-humans he's truly like neat! ] So... you're linked to technology?

[ballies]

[ there really are so many non humans this game, what a place. ]

Yup. And Ryuki, through that technology. Although not here, so it’s even weirder. [ like she’s missing a limb, which is funny because she’s actually the limb. or the body part, at least. ]

This is one of those other work secrets I talked about, so… it’s probably better not to spread it around. [ … ] But! It also means I want to try and at least… save a record of what’s happening here. Just in case anything happens to me.

[selfimmolation]

With Ryuki too?

[ that's more interesting because he has no idea how that would even work, because Technology. Tama is the snail and-- ok I'm done

He laughs a little ]

Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. It's not like it's anyone else's business. [ ... ] You think it's likely someone would target you?

[ballies]

Mmhmm. We’re partners.

[ not the snail tech!!!! ]

Maybe? About as much as anyone else thinks they might be targeted. I just don’t want to leave Ryuki without any hope of getting me back if it does happen. If I don’t record what’s going on here, they’ll be a gap in my memories that will just haunt him.

[selfimmolation]

... It'll probably haunt him no matter what, but I guess it wouldn't be as bad if he could get you back.

[ so. sure. that works. ]

[ballies]

… It’ll haunt him worse if there’s no way to get me back. Trust me.

It’s the lesser of two evils.

[selfimmolation]

... I know. I just wish it wasn't something you had to do at all, I guess.