[voice]

[threesixty]

[It had been three long weeks since Vert first arrived in Luceti. There was the typical confusion, anger, helplessness, and so on that many new feathers with world-saving abilities have, but she's mostly gotten over that. Mostly.

Still, there was something about Luceti that really bothered her. Disturbed her, even. Something she tried very hard to ignore, but after a while, simply couldn't anymore.

So, in an effort to clear up this horrid image she had in her mind, Vert flipped open her journal and started a voice entry.]

Hello, everyone. I have a question for you all, if you'd be so kind as to answer.

[ ... ]

Do all of you know what a video game is? More specifically, an MMO? It's okay if you don't know what that is, though. The former, less specific question is much more important.

I hope to hear your responses soon!

[... Sure, she was ending it just like she'd end one of her blog posts, but whatever. The journal seemed to be the same thing, anyway!! But please, Luceti, clear up her doubts! You can't all be from such terrible worlds that you don't even have terrible shovel-ware Lowee games with tacked-on motion controls, right?!]

-------------------

Player Name: Kyio
Are you new?: Nope
Character Name: Vert
Character Fandom: ... Hyperdimension Neptunia Mk2

Comments

[vulcanblazer]

The ultimate in gloves, a fist-fighter's dream come true. Extremely powerful, among the rarest and hardest to get items in the universe, and comfortable on top of it!

[threesixty]

It's too bad it isn't a spear, but it certainly sounds like a useful item for monk or fist-fighter classes. [And he mentioned it was comfortable, so--] I take it you're a fist-fighter yourself?

[vulcanblazer]

What you'd be looking for in a spear is the Drill Emperor. Or a Holy Longinus if you're willing to get something a little easier to find. Are you like, a Valkyrie or fighter yourself?

Yup, it's the only way I fight. Best way to have a fair battle, and that's just my style!

[threesixty]

Hmm ... I suppose "Valkyrie" is the best way to put it. My spear techniques are more than enough to qualify me as one.

["Just my style"? She giggles quietly.]

It seems you even have a catch phrase. Is that part of your style as well?

[vulcanblazer]

Sounds impressive. You'll have to show me what you can do sometime!

[He smiles, and there's some pride showing through.]

Maybe a little bit.

[threesixty]

Hmhmhm, I wouldn't mind doing that. There's a simulation center of sorts here after all, isn't there? I'm sure I could someday give a decent demonstration there.

[Because really, if this guy's a fist-fighter, she certainly wouldn't want to spar with him using her spear. Not to mention, a goddess really shouldn't engage a civilian ... too unfair, in her mind.]

I don't think I've heard anyone be proud of having a catch phrase before. You'd probably get along well with one of my traveling companions, having that sort of attitude.

[vulcanblazer]

It'd be a good place to spar, too. If you're as good as you say, that ought to be a fun fight. I've fought against quite a number of spear users before, but it's a versatile weapon. You can see a lot of styles with it, so...

[He may be a fist-user, but he's definitely more than he appears.]

Oh really? What are they like?

[threesixty]

Have you? I see ... Maybe it would be safe to spar instead, but I'd need to see your level of skill beforehand. I wouldn't want there to be any accidents.

[But if he looks like he can keep up, then that would be perfect! ... Not that she'd spar too often, but hey!]

Let's see ... She's very dedicated to justice and being a heroine to all of Gameindustri. A bit overenthusiastic, and lacking heavily in some areas, but she's undeniably a talented fighter.

[vulcanblazer]

Justice and heroism huh? Sounds like she and I would get along. Hopefully I'll get to meet her one day.

[That's a weird name for a place, but he's not gonna say anything. He nods though.]

Fair enough, it's better to be safe. But I doubt there will be that much to worry about. If there's something in the Netherworld, I've probably fought it at some point! Or will eventually.

[threesixty]

The Netherworld? [Hmmmmm ...] I could've sworn I heard about something with that name in Lastation ... Maybe it's just a coincidence. It sounds like it'd be a common word amongst many worlds, after all.

[vulcanblazer]

Probably. Never heard of anyplace called Lastation, so it probably just is a coincidence.

You wouldn't believe how many people confuse the Netherworld for Hell at first.

[threesixty]

Hell? ... Well, it does have a rather dark sounding name. I can see where they might get that idea from.

[vulcanblazer]

Well, just because it has an ominous name and there are demons and monsters everywhere doesn't automatically make it Hell. Humans live on Netherworlds too sometimes.

[threesixty]

My, if that were the criteria for Hell, then I'm not sure what that would say for my own world. I suppose those who think that way about the Netherworld come from less monster-filled worlds?

[vulcanblazer]

Not necessarily. A lot of people come from worlds where monsters live, but they can't seem to grasp that a Netherworld isn't necessarily all that different, other than demons living there.

It can be way different, but not always. They get hung up on the labels a lot.

[threesixty]

I see. Then it's labels that are the problem.

[ ... ]

It's unfortunate, but there isn't very much that can be done about that. I'm sure you already know that by now, though.

[vulcanblazer]

Yup. I've gotten used to having to explain the whole thing, along with the "demons aren't necessarily evil" stuff, plus all the other crap I've learned over the years about the Netherworld.

But at least you didn't jump to those conclusions. I'm glad of that.

...By the way, I don't think I ever got your name. I'm Adell.

[threesixty]

[Demons aren't necessarily evil? ... Well, that's a new one. But for now, she'll just smile and stick to introductions and light, neutral questions. It seemed to be better than questioning the idea entirely, for the moment.]

I'm Vert. It's a pleasure to meet you, Adell. [A light pause, then--] So then, I suppose you've met and befriended demons over time?

[vulcanblazer]

Yup. Though I subscribed to the whole "all demons are evil" thing for awhile. A few of them showed me otherwise. There are some good ones out there, and a lot of them pretend to be evil because it's the cool thing to do.

...A lot of the ones in my universe are bad at the whole evil thing. Ding Dong Ditching is considered a heinous act in some circles.

[threesixty]

Ding Dong Ditching ...? You mean to say that some demons think ringing someone's doorbell at three in the morning and running away is an act of evil?

[Geez, Vert's usually still awake at that time. As most good gamers should be, of course!]

[vulcanblazer]

Yup. Along with not brushing your teeth, or greasing a flagpole, or flipping girls' skirts.

There are some genuinely bad apples, though. Those are the ones I usually end up beating down.

[threesixty]

[Wow that sounds like some of her citizens on a nice day. Buuuut badmouthing her people would be wrong of her, so she'll just keep a neutral smile plastered on.]

And what do these genuinely bad apples do?

[vulcanblazer]

...Put curses on entire worlds that turn all humans into demons while erasing their memories and blunting their consciences.

That's one example.

[threesixty]

... True devils, then.

[ ... ]

While my world has certainly had it's ... problems recently, I can safely say it hasn't been anything like that. [Sure, Arfoire wanted to destroy Gameindustri, but at least that was straightforward compared to this ...] I can't imagine what it must've been like to be in that situation.

[vulcanblazer]

I grew up watching its effects on everyone around me. The curse never affected me, though.

So I did the only thing I could do. Fight against it.