Private Lake Horatio A Tiger Doesn't Change Its Stripes

[Vina Skysong]

Vina frowned as Luna's reaction to her question was... odd, to say the least. Embarrassment was one thing, but this almost felt like the tigress was uncomfortable about something that had happened.

The vixen's ears twitched and her eyebrows went up as Luna explained what had happened. She hadn't missed the exact phrasing her friend had used, and it gave rise to further questions.

Why would she command you to do such a thing?

She leaned forward a bit, interested in hearing just what exactly had happened between Luna and that person. She didn't want to make her friend too uncomfortable, but she felt like it was important that she knew more about the context behind those words.

But that didn't mean she had to leave Luna hanging. Reaching out she rested her hand on Luna's shoulder, a gesture meant to comfort the tigress. Her tail also brushed against the female's leg, the silken-soft fur the highest quality brush dragging along skin and fabric.

@Luna Avalbane

 

[Luna Avalbane]

Oh boy was this something that was difficult to talk about and explain, even with Vina trying to offer as much of a comforting presence as she possibly could. It was hard to unlearn some things that she had learned, or rather, been taught, of the past few years. It was quite the problem, really. More so than even her flagging confident in years past had been. Though, perhaps she'd never actually gained any confidence of her own and had just borrowed the confidence of others?

I...well, she had a plan for me and my build, to suit her goals. She wanted me to be capable of generating a lot of energy and had figured some kind of stardust based magitech system would work. Also something about cultivating an inner galaxy?

Luna had never really understood it, but she also had never tried to ask questions to figure it out either, so it was possible that the fault rested just as much on herself for being a mindless follower than it rested on anybody else. She'd always had the ability to say no, she'd just never utilized it.

I quite like some of the changes. Martial Arts is a great fit for this stronger body and Magitech is REALLY interesting. And Aura feels really good to use, since I like protecting others. So it wasn't all bad. Still...

She couldn't help but feel very alone...

@Vina Skysong

 

[Vina Skysong]

It was clear that this was a difficult topic for Luna, but Vina didn't think it was a good idea to just ignore this. Someone had tried to make Luna develop herself according to that person's wishes rather than her own. Even if the vixen was optimistic and naive enough to assume that this person had done that with the best of intentions she couldn't help but be worried.

The explanation the tigress gave didn't make a lot of sense to Vina either. She'd never been that interested in sci-fi, and it sounded like this person had something like that in mind. She listened attentively, but with the way she was blinking and looking rather puzzled it was obvious that Vina understood as little of the idea as Luna herself did.

An inner galaxy? Like, inside your own body? (Her azure eyes went down to Luna's belly before moving up to her face.) She had some really big ideas, didn't she~?

Not that there was anything wrong with ambitious goals, even if in this case Vina wasn't entirely sure what the goal exactly had been or how it would be achieved. Well, no matter: from the way Luna talked about it that person wasn't really present at the moment, which had left the tigress trying to figure out her own thing. Vina smiled as Luna explained how she did like some of the masteries, but in the end she still missed having a companion.

Sounds like most of those masteries are working out for you even without that inner galaxy business~ (She moved a bit closer so she could subtly let her thigh brush against Luna's.) Maybe you could make some companions with magitech? From what I've heard you can do a lot with it, and I'm guessing those magia are a form of magitech as well.

It wouldn't exactly be the same as a tiger, but if Luna could make a companion magia that would already be an effective way of curbing her loneliness.

Of course I won't leave you alone either unless you want me to~

@Luna Avalbane

 

[Luna Avalbane]

Luna could only shrug. She also had no damn idea what the purpose behind some kind of inner galaxy was supposed to be. It was all a bit too nebulous for her, no pun intended. She'd never been the smartest of girls and she still wasn't exactly a master of making her own decisions or knowing what it was that she was doing most of the time.

That said, she DID like the stronger and more capable body that she had this time around, despite the cost it had come at. And Martial Arts played very nicely with having all of the Beastlord Blessings, though she didn't quite think it gave her much benefit beyond things that other players were able to mimic with other abilities or spells that they had come up with.

Some magitech companions would be nice, but well, Magitech doesn't seem to really allow for players to just make stuff like that by itself. I think I'd need something to alter how Magitech works a bit.

Or something to combine it with, like Beast Arts. She really did want her old Beast Taming back. Between Natiri and being able to befriend local animals, she'd never actually felt all that lonely back in the day.

And Vina was being nice about it, but there was no way she could be around the vixen all the time.

But anyway, we're not here to talk about me, are we? This is a trip for you, to see this tree place and stuff, right?

@Vina Skysong

 

[Vina Skysong]

Hmmm...

Vina was being more thoughtful than usual, frowning as she stared off into the distance and the gears in her head turned. From how Luna talked about it she didn't dislike her new masteries exactly, but if they couldn't think of a way to ensure that the tigress always had companions...

A magitech companion would be kind of like having your own AI, right? Maybe you could make one in the image of a tiger? (She shook her head.) Sorry, I don't know much about magitech.

It wasn't like she was technologically illiterate: she was a VTuber on Earth after all, she needed to know how electronics and computers worked. But that didn't mean she was a whizzkid either, or that those skills translated to being an instant expert when it came to magitech.

I came here for Oflainn, yes, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy reuniting with you Luna~ Besides, it'll still be some minutes before we reach the other side, so we've got time to talk~

Her thoughtful expression was replaced by her usual bright smile, leaning against the railing of the boat as the placid waters around them were only disturbed by the vehicle's paddles. If they gazed down they'd be able to see their own reflection looking back at them.

I'm curious to the customs of the people that live in the tree~ But I'm also going to go sightseeing and enjoy myself, so I hope you'll accompany me~

Tilting her head a little she looked straight at Luna while her smile turned into something of a mischievous smirk as her eyes sparkled

And if you don't mind me saying so, you've become even more beautiful than before~

@Luna Avalbane

 

[Luna Avalbane]

It probably wouldn't be too hard to create some kind of magitech animal or companion, though at least I'd probably still need something like Beast Arts in order to make it a good analogue to an actual tiger.

Though it was a decent substitute all the same, she figured. If it was a little too painful now to try and bond with new beasts when she still desperately missed her old companion, then replacing them with things that were different, but still familiar in good ways would probably be a decenty step to try to heal.

Though Vina still seemed intent on making the conversation topic at least somewhat revolve around Luna, which was a little uncomfortable. Even nowadays, she preferred not to be the center of discussion, despite not being the shy little wallflower that she had been back before the servers had been shut down and she'd been shunted out into the real world.

Being braver than she was did not quite equate to actually being brave.

She did blush when Vina referred to her as having become even more beautiful, shaking her head.

I forgot how forward you could be. Though I don't think I'll be quite as fun to tease anymore, given that I've grown up a bit...

@Vina Skysong

 

[Vina Skysong]

Vina hummed briefly as she considered Luna's input, the melody without any real thought behind it even as it made a small breeze flow through her hair.

I guess you do, but maybe I could use my Beast Arts to help? It's not like you need the mastery to know a thing or two about animals, after all, so if I help make it look and act more like an animal maybe that'll already do the job~

Masteries could be a bit strange at times. It wasn't like you couldn't swing a sword without Slash Weapons, but somehow if you didn't have Slash Weapons you just couldn't swing that sword as well as someone who did. It gave rise to the idea that masteries supported your actions in a manner similar to Auto Assist, if more subtle and indirect. However, Vina figured that this was just her ignorance about how the system worked causing her to draw the wrong conclusions, so she didn't worry too much about it. Instead she just smiled.

We'll figure it out as we go along~

It wasn't like she was in a hurry to figure it out either: more time to spend with a friend wasn't something she would say no to.

As Luna commented on her forward nature Vina laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with mischievous delight which only became stronger once the tigress claimed that she wasn't as easily teased as she used to be.

That you've grown up just makes me want to tease you more Luna~ It's not like I only tease people to fluster them, after all~

Her expression was as friendly as always, but her gaze now had a smouldering hint to it as her smile was a bit more... playful than before, almost a smirk.

Now that you've grown a little, perhaps you wouldn't mind playing a little with me as well~?

@Luna Avalbane

 

[Luna Avalbane]

Vina did raise a good point, but well, Luna couldn't help but really want to have access to Beast Arts again. Because if she did, then maybe, just maybe, it would be possible to undo what had been done to her and get Natiri back somehow. Or even just get her old body back. She liked this form, sure, but she missed feeling human, for lack of a better term. Heck, maybe she'd even have the ability to pick something else or something?

Well, if I get Beast Arts back myself, then I just might be able to get Natiri back, or at least to unfuse her with myself and let her pass on, if she's already...you know...

And it hurt to think about that, but with the nature of this glitch, it wasn't as if she knew what was happening. What if the game still registered the entity of 'Natiri' but she was unable to eat, drink, sleep or even breathe?

Though, Vina apparently saw the fact that she'd grown up as something that made her more desirable, rather than less so. Luna blushed, glancing away from Vina and shaking her head.

I um, I don't, y'know, know if that would be very appropriate. You uh, you wouldn't really be interested in THAT with me, though...

@Vina Skysong

 

[Vina Skysong]

The idea of using Beast Arts to undo Luna's fusion with Natiri wasn't one that Vina had thought about yet. The idea was certainly interesting, and would probably be the best option if it was possible, but the druidess wasn't sure if it was.

Undoing the fusion... it's worth trying, but it might require more than learning Beast Arts.

Seeing how the possibility of Natiri having passed away already was making Luna's mood worsen Vina pushed herself up and hugged her friend, patting her on the back.

I believe that as long as you're alive Natiri is as well, so when we figure out how to split the two of you she'll be just like before~ That said, are you willing to wait a little longer? I think I have an idea for how to help out~

While the circumstances that caused the fusion were rather unique Vina didn't think this was the first time that two people (or two creatures) had become one. Which meant that there might also be information on how to undo the process.

The vixen broke off the hug when Luna rejected her proposal, not wanting to make her friend uncomfortable. That said, she noticed how Luna wasn't exactly saying she didn't want to...

Appropriate depends on who you ask, but why wouldn't I be interested in having some intimate fun with a good friend Luna~?

@Luna Avalbane

 

[Luna Avalbane]

Ah, that was right, wasn't it? The new Beast Arts didn't include her old ability to fuse with her beast companions. Hell, that hadn't even been a function of the original beast taming, now that she really stopped to think about it. It had been something she'd received after she had maxed out her abilities in Beast Taming and had pushed it to the limits of what it could do. It was the kind of thing that the game seemed to lack now, as she understood it. There wasn't really much somebody could do to surpass limits once they'd actually hit them.

I really wish I could be as optimistic as you are about...well, that sort of thing. It's just such a strange case that I have no clue how it will be in the end.

Luna sighed, even as Vina hugged her in an attempt to offer her company and comfort, though well, when the conversation topic turned away from her issue and towards Vina's little proposition, Luna blushed and looked down at the floor.

I...I guess it's just because I can't really see that kind of thing as being something people do and remain as just 'friends', you know?

@Vina Skysong

 

[Vina Skysong]

While Luna's words made it clear that she was having a hard time imagining that everything would work out in the end, she wasn't rejecting Vina's words either. The vixen considered that good enough, giving her friend an affectionate and reassuring smile.

I'll just have to be optimistic enough for the both of us~ There's no point in worrying about it until we've tried, is there? In this world a lot of things are possible, and even if some things have changed in the last four/five years we still have a lot of options~

Separating two beings who had been fused together wasn't going to be an easy task, but the songstress was confident it was possible. She just had to help Luna find it.

The next topic was a lot more fun, Vina's smile widening into a mischievous smirk, her ears perking up and her tail swishing from side to side behind her.

Why not? Friends love each other, don't they~? Why wouldn't two people who love each other also have some fun together~? (Her voice descended into somewhere between speech and whisper, her eyes twinkling.) I think people worry too much about fun. Just go with what feels good and don't let what other people think get in the way of what you want~

As the two of them spoke the ferry had made quite some progress, its silent form of propulsion hiding its speed. The large tree which had been distant before was now already a lot closer, its thick and sturdy branches now individually visible amidst all the green of leafs. If one looked even closer they'd even be able to see the small buildings which dotted the tree's surface, buildings that looked like they'd partially been grown out of the tree itself and then completed through more traditional construction methods, and large bridges that connected the various buildings.

From this distance this was all still small enough that only someone with Hyper Sense could have hoped to identify actual people, but as the ferry smoothly moved across the water like a skater their destination would increasingly loom before them, the tree's immense size only dwarfed by the Hylands further to the west and the Tangleweaves yet further north.

@Luna Avalbane