IC INBOX| SCHNEIDER

[unweathered]

@Doves

unweathered

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ABOUT ME

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[bloodandstars]

[ Here they were! Just two ladies with fake guns whose worlds probably haven't invented therapy yet. ]

So you have a crew, usually.

[ She's readjusting some things in her mind, but it's not exactly a surprise. ]

[unweathered]

[ Or if they have invented therapy, it's a very barbaric form that may or may not involve an icepick to the brain. So...

Yeah this is healthier]

Mmm. Something like that. I would call them 'family' but we aren't related. I look after them, they do what they're asked. Or what they're not asked.

[They're proactive like that]

[bloodandstars]

Plenty of family isn't related. There's an expression for that— ah, fuck.

[ Incoming zombie in her distraction. It's hard in a video game, where she only has the graphics and flat sounds, and not her own senses. She swings her fake gun to club it, but at least stops the reflex before she hits the screen. ]

...They sound loyal.

[unweathered]

Is there? It must be common enough.

[ She smiles when Maika reacts on instinct because that's exactly how she'd do it too in person]

...they are. Loyal to the end.

[bloodandstars]

[ She's struggling here! What is VR! But she doesn't want to be a liability. She'll break the stupid machine first. ]

That's the expression. "Trust only blood"... trust only the people who'd bleed for you.

[ "To the end" probably was literal for Schneider, wasn't it? She lets out a short, quiet sigh. ]

[unweathered]

Ah. I think a lot of people could understand that.

[At some point, even Schneider can't keep up with the swarm of incoming zombies, as per the game design and she begins to cuss under her breath. Stupid unbeatable game.]

[bloodandstars]

I thought you would, at least.

[ They're a lot alike, though she's not quite saying that. It's probably not a compliment, even coming from her.

But the tide of zombies seizes her more immediate attention. She hisses in irritation as more get through her shots, chewing through her HP in short order. ]

Fucking pieces of shit... [ Although she's listening attentively to Schneider's muttering. ] ...What was that one?

[unweathered]

Mm? Porca puttana...it is more like 'damn it' but if I want to be more literal...

[She sighs a little as a game over screen flashes amid zombie groans]

"Pig slut"? That is how we say it?

[bloodandstars]

[ Maika snorts a little at that, eyes crinkling in amusement. That takes the sting out of the rigged loss at least a little. ]

Porca puttana. That's evocative. I'm taking that.

[unweathered]

Oh, there are curses you need to add to your list?

[Putting away the gun. She's feeling a bit pouty about the rigged loss but at least they will hold the high score for quite some time]

[bloodandstars]

Always. And that'll give me one more tool to disappoint— someone back in my world.

[ The language might even be close enough to map. Even better. Maika stretches as she eyes the high score. ]

Is everything in this place this rigged?

[unweathered]

It's like a modern day casino, isn't it? Flashing lights and all.

[ Hmph. Time to find another game. She eyes Maika speculatively and points out a hammer machine]

Lets try that one.

[bloodandstars]

Sounds about right. I can't say I've been to many of those either... that was never my vice.

[ Maybe the only one she missed? But she's amenable to Schneider's suggestion and strolls over, picking up the hammer to swing it curiously. ]

Huh. So all we do is hit things?

[ FINALLY. ]

[unweathered]

Let me put a token in...but if you can make it hit the top, you get the grand prize.

[Obvious displays of strength are not her forte. She'll just let Maika handle this one]

[bloodandstars]

Now I'm wondering if they paid the goddess to turn us all human.

[ But you know what? Shows of strength should still be her forte. Once Schneider puts the coin in, Maika swings her arm one more time and brings the hammer down... with a 19 because I stupidly rolled for this but for once the dice and I agreed?? ]

[unweathered]

[Oh? Schneider lets out a low whistle]

Whatever they did, it doesn't seem to have taken away all your strength.

[What is their prize!!!]

[bloodandstars]

[ Sweet, sweet victory. Maika isn't above preening a bit. ]

Hah. A lot, but not all.

[ Take that, universe! The machine dutifully spits out a generous amount of tickets, which Maika is happy to seize. She holds them out to Schneider with a grin. ]

Alright. So where's their merchant that takes these?

[ It's the counter with bright flashing lights and an assortment of plushies and tacky prizes, probably. ]

[unweathered]

Oh, over there. But honestly, their wares are a little...hm. Cheap?

[But off they go with their tickets. Schneider clearly has a lot from all the games she's been destroying with her unerring aim]

[bloodandstars]

You're the one who knows casinos. Aren't they always a racket? Tricking you into spending more money than you can afford, trying to get something worthless?

[ Maika doesn't know what some of these things are, little plastic spirals and paper packets with flying devices printed on them. The stuffed animals at least explain themselves — some of them are actually kind of cute. She tilts her head at them as she studies them. ]

Did you ever have this kind of stuff, with so many sisters?

[unweathered]

Mm. My third eldest had some she made herself. [Schneider looks up at a particularly big plushie. Cute indeed] Our dolls were stuffed with straw and made with flour bags. Not as soft.

[bloodandstars]

[ Maika can't help the way her brain automatically tries to break that down and catalog — straw and flour bags, the kind of materials even an urchin might be able to get their hands on. Handmade — a child with at least enough free time to do that much, but maybe not much more, and the work could be fast if she was familiar enough with the manual labor. ]

Maybe not. But just as precious to a child, I'd bet.

[ Little treasures always were, especially if you didn't have much more.

Maika points at a cat plush and glances at Schneider. ]

That one looks like you.

[unweathered]

[Schneider looks at it. Looks back at Maika]

How so?

[miffed]

[bloodandstars]

Something about the eyes.

[ Look at them. Round and sparkling. ]

Small. Fluffy. The way cats always have at least eighteen knives on them, on top of whatever they're carrying.

[unweathered]

[...]

You sound like you favour cats.

[She looks at the ticket list and then hers. Aha. She promptly makes the exchange, and dumps the cat in Maika's arm]

[bloodandstars]

I've worked with some—

[ Wait, what? She's derailed from her observation, reflexively catching the plush in her arms. ]

...What's this for?