Western Brisshal Undead Upgrades

[Lucia Mierz]

Lucia maintained a kind smile, even as the woman seemed to underestimate the game's AI. Glancing towards Morgana, Lucia couldn't help explaining. "They count. Some are every bit as intelligent and clever as you and I. We know our own origins, coming from reality, putting on a visor to come here, to us they can be lines of code, but what does that change? They have dreams and ambitions, hopes and despairs, love and hate just like we do. Code guides blood through their veins just like fluid dynamics pushes it through our own, their world revolves around energy just like our own does." She would speak as if it weren't reasonable to refer to the locals of the game as simple minded creatures. While players like Lucia and Caelia were well aware of their nature, it didn't change that they weren't different once you were among them.

Though her comment about not being the best at the game made Lucia chuckle, she would hardly consider herself the best either. Unlike others she was content to hide in her home away from those dangerous restrictive events where her power and abilities were limited. What right did she really have to judge? "The most important thing is knowledge when encountering something new, in this case the only way to learn about it is through immersion and exposure so I don't think you necessarily did anything wrong. As for the risks and dangers though... Try to allow yourself one death, if you take two... this game will bleed into your reality. If you take three... well, we already discussed the consequences. If you have a lovely life in reality, I would recommend only risking one death." She offered advice with a kind smile, but didn't elaborate on the other option. Much like Lucia herself, if someone had a horrible life in reality it might not be so bad to just live in this one.

@Caelia Etterni

 

[Caelia Etterni]

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Right, of course. I didn't mean to imply they weren't, I just... It's weird to think about, I guess is all.

Caelia defended herself halfheartedly, not putting a lot of effort behind it as Lucia corrected her stance on the Landers. The other woman had a point. The Landers were smart and capable, it was just hard for her to imagine them as being more than just code. Did Landers fall in love? Did they get married and have children? Or was it all just a program running in the game, destinies locked in place from the day they spawned in?

She wondered if Landers had aged in the four years the game had been down... A player stuck in the game would know best, probably.

It...bleeds into reality? (confused pause, head tilting) What do you mean by that? I haven't died yet, I certainly don't plan to anytime soon, but that's... It's just a game.(another pause) I mean... A game you can supposedly get stuck in forever, I guess, so...

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Lucia wore a bitter expression as she recalled her own struggles with that 'bleeding' glancing up towards the sky as she considered how best it might be explained. "After the first death, you start to see things, dark shadow-y figures talking to you. Though you can't hear what they say, you can see them. Spontaneously, without warning, in your dreams they'll come for you at times when you're not even aware you're asleep. After the second, you start to feel things. Your afflictions travel with you to reality, poisoning your thoughts and manipulating your actions." Lucia explained however harrowing it might be. For Lucia it was her afflictions of greed and faith, to this day she still couldn't set foot into a church or temple in reality without the impulse to deface it in the name of some video game deity.

"This is why I say, if you like the real world, keep one as your limit. While the figures might be frightening, they won't harm you. Having your actions manipulated and your thoughts infected however, you should be able to understand how this might make your life problematic in reality." Lucia explained. If one had a DA that demanded they attack on site, imagine the catastrophe that might occur in a world where there are police and laws to prevent such actions.

@Caelia Etterni

 

[Caelia Etterni]

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Caelia considered Lucia's words. IF you like the real world, she said. A part of her wondered if she liked it enough to avoid these death afflictions... A part of her considered what it would be like to be trapped in here, too. She felt better in this world, more...important. She felt like she could be something here, whereas out there she just felt like another blip in the grand scheme of things. She was confident here. She wasn't out there.

I'll...keep that in mind. Thank you for telling me.

Her words are quiet, somewhat subdued. She looks away from Lucia, sighing a bit. It did get harder and harder to log off sometimes. Even with her sleep problems in the game, she still sometimes preferred it to reality.

What sort of game was this?

I've probably taken up enough of your time. I should be going, I need to find a place to stay before it gets too late, haha. Would you, um, be okay if I added you to my contacts? Just in case I ever need to send you a message or anything. It was really nice chatting with you!

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Lucia nodded along, no matter Caelia's choice, Lucia would respect it. There were many in Lucia's circle who made their choices as well, and while she was still on the fence herself, she wanted people to be very aware of the risks and the struggles. "It's fine, a large part of my time is spent doing these types of projects anyway, I've plenty of time." She offered. Though when the woman asked for her contacts, Lucia's smile softened and she nodded, gesturing to bring up her UI before offering a simple friend invite.

Though when she talked about needing to message her, Lucia wasn't quite sure she was so important a person, but she wouldn't dissuade her if she wanted to lean on her knowledge from time to time. "Feel free to contact me whenever. I don't really do anything else." Lucia offered, knowing she spent unreal amounts of time in the game doing everything from sleeping to reading. Though she had to leave to eat and do minor things at the cafe, there were her real world responsibilities she loathed, but a bulk of her life no doubt was spent in TS.

"Stay safe on the way back." She tried to offer to the girl, if she was going to head back to town, the woods were a beginner area but they were still a danger for new players wandering alone. She tried to offer the girl directions if she needed them before making sure she at least made it out of the camp alright.

@Caelia Etterni

 

[Caelia Etterni]

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Caelia opened her UI to accept the friend request from Lucia, smiling up at the other woman once it was done. She'd had some interesting things to say, and now the Faerin had more to think about in regards to the game than she did before. Maybe she'd been looking at it all wrong... She'd have to think on it some more.

I appreciate meeting you, Lucia! I'll stay to the main roads on the way back, thank you for the directions.

She waved as she headed off, skirting the edge of the camp to avoid the drones that were still working before heading off on her own.