"Yeah, I'm in no hurry to experience death," he laughed nervously, and if death was as serious of a predicament in this world as the other man mentioned, his anxiety would only compound from this point forward. Erick made a note to double down on the research he considered doing earlier when they spoke about the illegal nature of the game, and the VRSA's crusade to have it scrubbed entirely from the internet. The more he learned, and the more he ultimately knew about this world, the better. "Still, it's not about doing crazy things- being a hero, I mean. Or about throwing your life away for a cause. It's about helping people and doing... the right thing, as cliché as that sounds."
While he had no interest in parlor tricks or grand displays of valor, doing right by others and making sure their lives were safe was high on his list of priorities. The wilderness broke as they found a proper road from the tangle of dirt and rocks that led bore them hence. Instead of no one and nothing but flora for as far as he could see, the first signs of intelligent life had rapidly come out of the woodwork. They were talking and commuting to their jobs, gossiping, doing all of the things normal people did in the real world.
Except here, it almost felt simpler. Their livelihood never took them far from home, and their families were closely knit. He could see that in how the children played so close to their parents. No one watched them while their guardians left for work. No one got overly defensive when they scraped their elbows or stubbed their toes. He watched children at play for the first time in a world where they were actually allowed to be themselves, and his jaw dropped.
A child held his reddened arm up for his mother to see, and rather than comforting him with reassuring words and rushing to see a doctor, she merely leaned in and gave it a kiss. The pain did not lessen in any way that Erick could see, but the child took comfort in the simplicity of the action. People in this world did not fear pain or death the way that those on the outside had learned to.
And perhaps, there was wisdom in that.
Erick glanced over toward Ash as he suggested that they part ways from that point, and he smiled with a nod. "Yeah, no, I think you've got a lot on your plate as it is, I'm grateful you took the time to get me this far," he gave a quick salute, one of the emotes programmed into the game's design to show respect. Hand over heart, closed.
At the Beastman's offer to become friends, Erick was quick to open his menu and send a request. "Yeah, I'd be real grateful. One day I'll actually have to repay the favor, too, and this'll make that much easier. Thanks again, Ash."
@Ash Vargold
While he had no interest in parlor tricks or grand displays of valor, doing right by others and making sure their lives were safe was high on his list of priorities. The wilderness broke as they found a proper road from the tangle of dirt and rocks that led bore them hence. Instead of no one and nothing but flora for as far as he could see, the first signs of intelligent life had rapidly come out of the woodwork. They were talking and commuting to their jobs, gossiping, doing all of the things normal people did in the real world.
Except here, it almost felt simpler. Their livelihood never took them far from home, and their families were closely knit. He could see that in how the children played so close to their parents. No one watched them while their guardians left for work. No one got overly defensive when they scraped their elbows or stubbed their toes. He watched children at play for the first time in a world where they were actually allowed to be themselves, and his jaw dropped.
A child held his reddened arm up for his mother to see, and rather than comforting him with reassuring words and rushing to see a doctor, she merely leaned in and gave it a kiss. The pain did not lessen in any way that Erick could see, but the child took comfort in the simplicity of the action. People in this world did not fear pain or death the way that those on the outside had learned to.
And perhaps, there was wisdom in that.
Erick glanced over toward Ash as he suggested that they part ways from that point, and he smiled with a nod. "Yeah, no, I think you've got a lot on your plate as it is, I'm grateful you took the time to get me this far," he gave a quick salute, one of the emotes programmed into the game's design to show respect. Hand over heart, closed.
At the Beastman's offer to become friends, Erick was quick to open his menu and send a request. "Yeah, I'd be real grateful. One day I'll actually have to repay the favor, too, and this'll make that much easier. Thanks again, Ash."
@Ash Vargold
