voice.

[talim]

[ so... guess who spent some of his credits on a smartphone?

guess who discovered certain apps?

guess who hasn't left his apartment all day? ]

Has anyone else been playing Hate Die? I seem to be kind of stuck on Pacifist War on expert mode. It's the rush toward the end that always gets me.

So... any advice?

[ there's a pause. ]

Oh, sorry, just one other thing. Creature Crossing: Compartment Complex... Apparently the app is still pretty new, but I can't decide how I feel about it. I mean, the animals demand constant favors, need you to build certain sets of furniture just to come visit your complex, and then it all goes to waste afterward? Talk about being used and abused.

Comments

[drizzle]

[.......huh? What? What was this message even? Nike will be left beyond speechless. Because, seriously, what????]

O-Okay....

[Um, how to go about this in the most delicate way?]

I didn't understand a thing you just said. What are you talking about? Do you need help with an alien bossing you around or...?

[talim]

[ jude rubs his temples, feeling just a little bit sheepish. ]

No, that's not it. They're just games. Apps on a smartphone.

[drizzle]

Games?

[It'll take some time before Nike adds anymore. Most likely asking someone about smartphones and apps in the area.]

Oh, you're talking about those weird machine...things? The ones used to communicate with other people? I didn't know you can play games on those things too. Is it fun?

[talim]

Yeah, those. Don't worry — I didn't know what a smartphone was up until a while ago, either.

It can get frustrating, but if it wasn't fun, I wouldn't be playing at all. The challenge is what makes it so addicting, after all.

[drizzle]

Really? Are they easy to use then?

Games wouldn't be fun if it was always too easy. Not sure I'd be too keen on playing games with the word death on them. It sounds too violent for my tastes.

[talim]

They are! I could even teach you, if you'd like. Fortunately, I'm familiar with them from back home.

And I see your point, but it's a rhythm game, and the music is pretty catchy. So if you just ignore that part...

[drizzle]

I'd appreciate it if you could. I swear these new inventions are so weird and confusing. I don't think I'll ever get used to a machine controlling the temperature and stuff.

Huh? It's a rhythm game? Seriously?

[omg what is going on in the future. is death now good???]

[talim]

Trust me, I know exactly how you feel. Where I grew up, machines were practically nonexistent. Everything was powered by nature and spirits. Once I ended up traveling to another world, I experienced a huge culture shock.

And yes. Seriously.

[drizzle]

Oh, you're from a world filled with nature and spirits too? What's the name of your world? The place you grew up in? Is it a big country? Is your world purely of nature and spirits? What kind of spirits are they? Can you hear their voices? What do they sound and feel like? Are they friendly?

[Etc, etc, and etc. Sorry, Jude, you unlocked her interests in a very enthusiastic way!]

[talim]

[ goodness. jude's eyes are wide on the other end of the connection, but he proceeds to do his best to answer her eager questions one by one. ]

The name of my world is Rieze Maxia. It's split into two countries; Rashugal, and Auj Oule. As far as the way the world operates, it is completely founded on nature and spirits — technology is rare. There have been instances of hearing their voices, but... I think that's something unique to me. Most people are barely even aware of their presence. They're just there. It's as natural as breathing. They don't sound and feel like anything.

But if you do meet a spirit... yes, they're friendly. Keep in mind that meeting a spirit isn't a normal occurrence. I just got... caught up in something I probably shouldn't have.

But enough about me. What about your world?

[drizzle]

Why is the ability to hear voices and interact with spirits only restricted to you? Are you special? What did you do to gain this ability?

[To her, the way he worded it was strange. Could it be possible he was forced into something unlike being born with it? Actually, she'd even accept him in having to learn to develop his senses.

Once he turns the question on her, she'll respond without a second thought.]

My world is known as Earth to those living outside of my country. She does go by a different name which won't get translated even if I told you. I was born in the country known as the Rain Principality. My family and I live in an island, disconnected from the rest of world until recently. We have the ability to hear and sense the voices and feelings of our planet and everything connected to it. It's an ability everyone in the original family was born with. Spirits of nature and those who have died are normal for us to interact with. At the very least, I can easily notice them back in my country. I can't do that in the place I was sent to before having been brought here.