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saviior_exe

hey only im allowed to test

saviior_exe

Netto groaned as he forced himself to get up for a brief moment. There was way too much trash around the couch to justify someone coming over right now, and he could envision Rockman's snipping at him...

He scooped up at least three juice boxes, and two takeout containers, and another container from dinner half finished. He ambled towards the kitchen and dropped them off, catching a glint of himself in the reflection of his fridge. Ugh, he still looked like a mess, but he supposed Meiru saw all of his beating. Hopefully that didn't hurt his impressions too deeply.

[MSG: ] any time

He plopped back down on the couch, grumbling about his sore sides.

[MSG: ] I've got plentyy of folks looking out for me. Don't worry about that

saviior_exe

Rockman flinched a little from Cometman's laugh. His arms fell to his sides, and he took a half-step backward. Just surprise at such a response, nothing more.

And then his brow furrowed, tilting his head at Cometman's sudden ask. He seemed to relax, too— his shoulders fell, and his stature seemed to loosen. Rockman was a very normal Navi, so he could easily answer whatever questions he had. ("One of the good Dr. Hikaris" was a strange thing to hear...)

"You seem normal to me," Rockman murmured, watching him touch the wrapper. "Looks like a compatibility layer? You're from a different...internet, I guess. You'd have to be."

Rockman had no reason to think Cometman was strange in some unique way, aside from the whole world-altering and time-altering properties. "I mean– hm."

...It was strange as hell that Cometman found it weird. That he had the sense to believe there was a wrongness in him, and that wrongness meant something. A program was a program and all it knew was itself, what use did it have for knowing of abnormality?

"I mean– doesn't that make sense to you? You're from a different place. Right? I guess— I'm surprised you actually...find it weird."

saviior_exe

Rockman had the sense that Cometman was also like him, in that a cheerful operator went a long way into modeling normalcy. The cheesy grin looked a lot like that girl's (Ellen, he thought, who's name had escaped him entirely in the void of Serpentine).

"Glad you're...alive," Rockman said, then grimaced- what a stupid thing to say. Cometman may have had his own stumble, but Rockman was basically tripping and falling on his face. He folded his arms, almost visibly walling himself off. There was no reaching for this well of friendship to save Netto; there was nothing and static and ~~unity.~~ He had nothing in common with this guy.

(...Was he a navi? He was on the internet like a navi. But Cometman was asking about navis, and what they were, and Rockman was a navi and nothing else.)

"What- what did you want to talk to me about? Besides- the Colosseum. Something about navis?" His shoulders drew up, tense. For all his cool-headedness in text, his emotions were almost too plain for a navi.

saviior_exe

Netto had to think for a really long time about the messages volleyed back to him. He stared up at the ceiling, trying to mull over the missing pieces he didn't have. Something aside from the whole mess with Alpha was bothering Meiru? Why? What could it even be???

Was it really just that- he got the short straw? No, that was pessimistic. Much more suited to his navi. He'd made some fuck ups, and didn't get along with everyone, but that was just how things went. Try as he might, he couldn't be close to everyone. Even if that stung.

But then Roll offered to connect him to Meiru, and that sounded...well, nice. At least he could shoot his shot, make it known he wasn't actually crazy, and if they weren't friends, then that was that.

[MSG: ] If she wants to, lol. its not really me who has stuff to talk about - i mean, not anymore lol
[MSG: ] no pressure, but im still a sack on my couch. shes gonna have to come here for an in person convo
[MSG: ] which is a good idea because im a bad texter

Why did he dump all that stuff to Roll? What a strange thing to do. Getting physically thrown around like a ragdoll was doing a number on his sanity. Oh well.

saviior_exe

"Waiting long enough is right," she hums, "it's always been a waiting game."

You know she knows too much; somehow she is linked to the life tree of this world and it breathes and hums your gospel. She is disciple and prophet and messiah all in one; an agent, they'd started to call them. You know she is dangerous and even more-so now that she's produced something she certainly shouldn't have. But you don't really care. Because you are waiting.

She places your chips just so and the ball and wheel spin. They spin, and spin, and spin, the colors distracting and enticing. You both watch for a while. Then she watches you.

"Waiting for something you never even had," she says, as if finishing an unspoken sentence. "I'm not even sure why you crave this stuff." She raises the shot glass and swirls the liquid in it- you are certain of its contents now more than ever, as the faint purple-black glints in the light. It's the only thing that rips your attention away from the wheel.

"Not like it's yours. It was your little lover boy's. You didn't even get a taste."

saviior_exe

testing again to see if it picks up replies

saviior_exe

i looove testing

EDIT: still love it

EDIT: love it less

EDIT: death

saviior_exe

"Just us, darling." Her voice isn't very loud, and it shouldn't be heard over the sound of the casino, but it's all you can focus on. "Not many get the privilege of playing at my table."

She has a light lisp; her fangs affect her voice, and they glint in the light as her tongue flickers out to wet her lips. Serpentine idly plays with the roulette ball in her hand, rolling it over her fingers, humming softly. "Do you want a refreshment? You can relax, Enzan."

She says your name with a sort of purr, which seems uncharacteristic for her snake-like features. She doesn't hiss, but she does allure, and she looks at you like you are the whole universe. Like you have hung the stars and moon for her. Like she would do anything for you.

Her hand clicks; beside her a useless servant arrives- navi or human, it doesn't really matter- with a plate in their hand. When lowered, it reveals a small shot glass full of...something. But you know what it is, don't you? Like your focus bled into Serpentine, it now bleeds into her glass, as she takes it up in her hand- she doesn't even need it, what a waste.

"None for you?" She asks- she knows, of course. She knows what she's doing to you. You get the sense she likes it, and demands more of your pride to be played as bet on the table; lacking that, maybe it's your dignity she wants.

saviior_exe

Netto blew out an unexpected held breath. He would have to forward the apology, once Rockman was - well. Whenever he would be done hanging out with Blues. And Roll was right on the nose- which mirrored their own, honestly. Meiru and Roll had always been so damn smart, and Netto was too dense to realize that until long after they lived far away.

[MSG ] I think you're probably right
[MSG ] I mean, like. Not to defend myself too much here
[MSG ] But everyone met me under a really bad circumstance, lol

Netto ran a hand through his hair, trying to figure out his next words. What was too much? She was a navi, and she wasn't necessarily a friend. But that also meant he had very little to lose by saying "too much".

[MSG ] You can only be so well adjusted under stress when your brother and your friends get chewed up and spit out, you know?
[MSG ] And all of that happening when I got on leave for the first time in years. Basically I mean, like, you're right, I think. I'd like to think you're right.

He shuffled, sighed, wishing this conversation was not happening over a text message. He was a bad texter- Laika and Enzan had a lighthearted hatred of their groupchat, because Netto constantly left cryptic messages in it. He just wasn't very good at texting!

[MSG ] And I think the other-mes think I'm like- perfect.
[MSG ] I'm what they should have turned into. A good son, a good friend, a good soldier.

Yeah, maybe this was too much. But now he was going and he really suddenly couldn't stop, just like when he was talking to that Rockman.

[MSG ] But like- there's a lot they don't even know. They just assumed that from duress and the way I look. I get it, I don't begrudge them, but- it's not my fault? I guess? It's not my fault all of that awfulness from my world spilled out into everyone else. It's not my fault anyone got infected with my awfulness or whatever.

There was a longer pause between messages. Netto had gotten up, despite his body's protest, to lean against the windows overlooking the view he'd been so obsessed with when he got the place. Felt like he barely looked out of them anymore. Then, in rapid fire:

[MSG ] And like, your poor operator had to see me going fucking crazy.
[MSG ] Pardon the language.
[MSG ] I just think it's apt.
[MSG ] Like I said. I didn't mean for all that to - infect everyone else. It's not my fault. But I guess- I guess, with all the people in that chat and all, we've all seen all this shit. I must look like an enemy anyway. And I don't do myself any favors, with my stupid little outbursts.

Netto tapped his foot, and ran a hand through his hair again.

[MSG ] It's hard to reach out when you're already on the back-foot. So, I guess- um. I appreciate you reaching out ahead of me.

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