Without having to confirm it he knew his party was fanned out behind him, waiting for him. Runner knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the ladies were likely to draw more attention if they weren’t doing so already.
It went without saying that game designers tended to steer towards the visually pleasing with this kind of stuff but through sheer luck, or perhaps bad luck, his little group for the most part exceeded the average. They definitely weren’t at the front of the bell-curve thankfully, that’d be unbearable.
This caliber of attention though could create some ugly situations. Most especially since the PVP restriction only really protected him, not his followers. If a player got it into their head to kill an NPC all they had to do was get them alone and finish the deed. Their distinction as a NPC wouldn’t turn the players name orange. There’d be no consequences to those actions.
Runner would need to amend a few of his plans to put their safety to the forefront. Placing Hannah, Katarina, and Thana together in one group was his best bet. Taking Nadine with himself to complete the transactions would limit exposure all the way around.
Whipping his head up he turned and addressed the small company. “Kitten, Lady Death, Hanners, please secure us room and board. Please track and record whatever you spend to acquire those and I’ll reimburse you. Don’t fuss over the price, just find somewhere for us and settle in. Nobody split up, don’t go down alleys, no mysteries to solve, stay out of other peoples business. If one of you needs something, go together, all of you. If it comes down to you or coin, give up the coin and get out of there. Coin is replaceable, you’re not. Nadine, you’re with me while we make our rounds. Questions?” Runner queried them. “No? Good, meet back here by noon. Use the ‘Time’ command in your head to see the current time.”
Runner waved Nadine over as the others began discussing how to go about getting lodgings. Taking a few steps to the side he came clean about his problem to Nadine.
“I’m afraid I must confess I have no knowledge of this place. You’ll need to lead us to the best place to sell the loot. Oh, I had everyone transfer the loot to me before we set out on the road so we can start whenever you’re ready.”
“How could you n-n-not com-m-m-me through here? Everyone has to com-m-me through here. It’d take days to go aroun-n-n-nd. And what do you m-m-mean you had them transfer it to you? You couldn’t-t carry all that,” Nadine asked suspiciously.
“I enchanted all of my equipment with strength.”
“That doesn-n-n-nt make sense…fine, for n-n-now. An-n-nd never bein-ng here?”
Runner looked around to check who might be listening before answering.
“Long story honestly. Short answer is, I’m not from this world. I appeared far southwest of here. Where I met Hanners actually. Honestly, I don’t even remember the name of the village I came to first. Can we go now?”
Runner started walking instead of waiting for a reply, not really caring in which direction it was. His emotions were still running hot and he was uncomfortably tired. Standing around and explaining to someone that their world was fake didn’t appeal to him right now.
Nadine caught up to him easily and then turned left at an intersection, redirecting their path. Runner made no comment but fell in behind her. Lost in his thoughts he was trying to figure out what made him so angry at Private Bell. Lurking under the surface of his psyche was a tension, one that so far had been on a hair trigger. He could only guess it was something that happened close to him. Proximity aside it also apparently centered on men showing undue interest in women.
It stands to reason that it’s a loved one, sexually or romantically charged, and involving me? That leaves sexual assault, cheating, or sexual abuse. Ugh. None of those are exactly pleasant things to consider. I can’t even remember family yet. Can’t even remember if I’m married, seeing someone, or a bachelor. Why couldn’t I get some useful memories. I’ve got memories of boot camp, traveling, school, training, but nothing even remotely concerning a personal life. Am I a hermit? Who am I?
Nadine had stopped in front of a building and Runner had to catch himself from running her over. Surveying the area around them he set a hand on Nadine’s shoulder and guided her to one side into the entrance of an alley. Leaning in close to her ear he spoke quietly.
“For this to work correctly I need to invite you into my party. It’ll seem odd but just follow my instructions. It’ll take but a minute.”
Nadine gestured angrily for him to hurry up her head inclined in agreement.
Moving around behind her Runner grabbed her right hand in his own and positioned it accordingly. Once he’d activated the console command to invite Nadine he spoke again.
“Take a breath, close your eyes, and think in your head ‘Yes, join the party.’ Focus on it exclusively compared to everything else. Once you’re at that place, move your hand forward two inches. That’s it.”
Runner drew in a breath and waited, his fingers gripping her trembling hand. Nadine gave the impression of a strong woman with little social grace or experience. Personality wise she resembled Hannah with her distaste of society but didn’t have the underlying hostility towards everything. Her general unease of people was especially present in concern to her disfiguration. Holding her hand didn’t feel any different than holding any of the other party members, despite missing two of her fingers.
Thoughts interrupted by her hand going forward Runner caught the change on the party screen to the left of his HUD, her name suddenly appearing at the bottom. Closing the notification that Nadine had joined the party Runner patted her shoulder with a smile.
“There we are, welcome to the party Nadine. Now we can proceed in and we can get this over with.”
“Th-th-thank you. Let’s go get m-my m-m-money,” Nadine demanded. With a glint in her eye it was clear the merchant in her drove her forward. Nadine nearly dashed through the shop entrance and approached the counter.
“Even-n-n-ning good sir. I have wares to sell and you’ll be buying them. I expect you’ll find m-m-me reason-n-n-able.”
Runner caught the shopkeeper eying her ear, her throat, then finally her hand. Disgust showed plainly on the pudgy man as his eyes moved back to her face. Runner could almost feel the disdain the man had for her. Society would shun someone who stood out and being an outsider doubly so. With smoldering anger still hiding in his heart Runner could picture easily this response from everyone Nadine did business with. That they all dismissed her as an easy mark, a regrettable existence that had to be dealt with as quickly as possible.
Feeling annoyed Runner targeted the middle aged man and brought the flat of his hand down on the counter top with a sharp crack. Deliberately activating intimidate and persuade he tilted his head to the side growling at the man.
“Did you hear her? Were you listening? Or were you too busy being an asshole? Tell you what, when she gives you a price, you’re going to agree and thank her. When we’re done, you’re going to give her a bonus for being such a great person to deal with, one unlike you’ve ever met. Else I’m going to tear your tongue out and use it to paint you a fucking mural using your own blood and stomach bile as paint. Got it?”
You use Persuade on Shopkeep
Shopkeep is Persuaded
You use Intimidate on Shopkeep
Shopkeep is Intimidated
Moving his head up and down rapidly the man shrunk in on himself.
“Good, now bless this waste of genetic material with your presence Nadine. I’ll try to not redecorate his shelves in the meantime. I was thinking they’d all look great out on the street. Start a bonfire right there in the middle of the avenue, invite the kids, have a grand ol’ time while we contemplate if his skull would make a better as a toilet or a trash can.”
“That was certainly profitable. We’ve got more than enough money to equip ourselves better and move along the agenda. You’re all dressed in little better than rags. Can’t have that now, can we?” Runner asked Nadine.
“You di
dn-n-n-n’t have to th-threaten the man-n. I’m-m used to it,” Nadine grumbled.
“You shouldn’t be used to it. He shouldn’t have acted that way. More so than you realize. Next time he’ll think differently. Look, I’m making the world a better place. I’m a saint. Worship me for my benevolence and grace.”
Honestly he’d enjoyed terrorizing the man. Him being a valid target for his anger made it justified enough for him to truly get a kick out of it.
“Whatever that m-m-m-an said at the gate really worked you up. I on-n-nly caught part of it. What’d he say to you?”
The option of ignoring her and not responding tempted him. They were sitting on a bench near the fountain while waiting for the rest of the group. They still had an hour to go and it was clear she wasn’t going to let the subject drop. Nadine’s personality, even this early in their working relationship, plainly wouldn’t allow her to relent once she decided she was owed something. NPCs went about their business and here and there a PC navigated the streets. Runner didn’t recognize anyone and it seemed no one recognized him.
“He asked if he could borrow you girls. For the night that is. Or an hour? Whatever way you wish to phrase it. I’m not sure what Lady Death has told you, or what you’ve been able to deduce, but this. All of this,” Runner explained, gesturing to everything around them. “It’s all fake. This entire world is a story that is currently being told. That everyone and everything here isn’t actually here. You feel pain, joy, anger, loss, but it isn’t real. Here, let me ask you this. Think back to a time before you met me, now compare it to the moment we met. Do they feel different? Lady Death described it as a different ‘flavor’.”
Nadine had gone utterly still and silent. Gazing into nothing as she listened to him. He’d wager her mind raced with his words. That she was processing it as fast as possible. After a few seconds of introspection she focused on him again.
“Yes, there’s m-m-more to it than that b-b-b-but, yes. Th-there is a defin-n-nite difference before and after. You’re saying, you’re saying that I’m not m-me. I’m a character in-n a story?” Nadine whispered.
“Yes and no. How to explain. You’re real and you’re not. Time for a metaphor. Imagine a fishbowl that you cannot see in or out of. To the fish, that is the entirety of the world. Especially since they cannot see beyond the glass. Now imagine I walked up with a fish puppet on a stick. I put it in the fishbowl and pretend to be a fish. To you, I am a fish. To me, I am a man holding a fish puppet. I can pull the puppet out whenever I want and walk away. As the fish, you cannot.”
Eyes downcast to the ground in front of them Nadine’s face was a picture of concentration and thought. Blinking away unshed tears she rubbed at her eyes. Runner was only mildly surprised by this since he’d come to expect much more from the AI running the whole thing. Every day it seemed to grow, adapt, and change.
“S-s-sorry. It’s h-h-hard to t-take in. I s-suffer-r-red so m-much for the am-m-musement of oth-thers? M-my l-life is a j-joke?”
“No, no, Nadine, no,” Runner said sighing. He wrapped an arm around her and drew her head into his shoulder, holding her there. “You might be a fish but you’re still very real in your world. To be honest, I’m no longer a man holding a fish myself, but a fish puppet. I can’t leave here anymore than you can. Something went wrong, and all the puppets are now trapped here. No one did anything to you for their amusement. The AI created you as a unique NPC with your own traits, history, and beliefs based on it’s database of preset information.”
“I-i-is AI g-god?”
“I suppose, in a way that’s true, but not really. The AI didn’t create the puppets, the puppet’s created AI. Created the AI and then joined it. The man I was speaking with at the gate views NPCs, or fish in this metaphor, as things. Things to make his story more interesting or fun. I was upset because he wanted to use one of you as a sexual plaything. I can’t really explain why I got so mad other than it really did.”
Runner gently rubbed Nadine’s shoulder as he finished his explanation. What of my own views though? Are they just fish to me too? Are they real? Am I just giving her a false platitude to comfort her?
Runner patted her back awkwardly, unsure of himself now. He did what he could to assuage her as she continued to cry into his shoulder.
Am I fooling myself? I may not have the sum of my knowledge previous to this but I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t be handling my followers as I have been if this were reality. Have I been viewing them no differently than Ramsey? Am I truly any better?
“Nadine, you have a favorite color. You prefer certain foods. You can debate whether it’s lawful to steal from a thief or murder a murderer. I would classify all those things as having a mind of your own and the ability to dictate your future. To work towards your self interests and better yourself. The fishbowl has been revealed to you but that doesn’t make it any less real. For all I know, I myself am a man puppet in a manbowl using a fish puppet to play in a fishbowl. Come on, it’ll be alright.”
Waiting for her to wind down Runner could only wait as she cried. People would stop and stare occasionally but for the most part people kept to their own business. In this situation he was finally thankful to the selfishness of humanity as a whole.
After his own inner dialog Runner found himself wondering if he could keep treating his companions as he had been. Reviewing his actions he’d been quite forward with all of them. Much of what he did and said would have been considered extremely flirtatious and sexual harassment in a workplace.
“You’re r-right. I’m m-m-me. I m-make my choices and th-they are m-m-mine. I can on-nly be what I am. Dem-m-mand my due.”
Runner had to respect her strength of character. Not everyone would handle being told their life and the world they lived in was in truth a lie
“Gotta respect that attitude of yours Nadine. Want a beetle? They tend to cheer me up. They’re so weird to eat that they tend to Distract me. The taste really isn’t bad and after one they grow on you,” Runner offered lamely.
“O-okay. Why n-not?” Nadine muttered. Sitting up she scrubbed her hands across her face, wiping tears away before holding out her crippled hand.
Surprised at her sudden acceptance Runner pulled two beetles free from his inventory and handed them over to her. During the long journey here he’d managed to collect a veritable fortune in beetles. Nadine watched the clacking, twitching, insect, then shoved one into her mouth. Ranging from apprehensive to mild surprise she finished the morsel and then frowned at him.
“It really wasn-n-n’t that bad,” Nadine said. Putting the second one into her mouth.
“Nope. They’re pretty good after a while. I have no idea why. Kitten enjoys them too.”
“What do I enjoy now?” said the woman in question.
“Beetles my dear, want one?” Runner said disarmingly. She’d been rather quiet on her approach and he’d failed to notice her. Thana and Hannah flanked her on either side.
“Yes, yes I do.”
Katarina held out her hand expectantly to Runner who complied. Runner let his eyes find each of the trio and confirmed they appeared healthy and whole.
“I knew you’d be fucking early Runner. And Sure as shit here you are. See?” Hannah said exasperatedly, her head turning to Thana.
“I concede you were correct Hannah. Runner, we were able to acquire accommodations at a reputable inn. I’ve notated all that we spent and have receipts for each item. Unfortunately they only had one room and two beds available. Apparently there’s a large influx of people from the mainland. Supposedly there is the possibility of land being granted? I only overhead a bit of it,” Thana advised him. Katarina said nothing, still enjoying her beetle as she inspected the immediate area.
Holding out a piece of parchment to Runner Thana waited until he took it from her hand. Runner gave it a glance, found the sum at the bottom, and then dug out the amount listed. Placing the coins in Thana’s hand he crumpled the paper and executed the destroy item comman
d.
“You didn’t even read it Master Runner. I’m not sure if I should be complimented or insulted that I wasted my time,” Thana said archly, quirking a delicate eyebrow at him.
“Complimented, Lady. Please, lead on. I know it probably goes without saying but I’m exhausted. I’ll bunk between the beds, you four can figure out who sleeps where otherwise.”
Runner stood and brushed his hands over his backside as the group began moving off. Falling in behind them Runner let his mind revisit the conversation he’d just had with Nadine.
Sprawled out between the beds on the floor, in a strange nest of blankets and pillows, Runner was reading over the classes and attribute descriptions. Hannah had managed to convince Katarina, Thana, and Nadine into a game of cards. Nadine was winning so far with Hannah right behind her, Thana pulling up a third, and Katarina a distant fourth. Stakes were small, nothing more than two copper being the biggest bet, and many of the bets were personal favors instead of coinage. Katarina owed Thana a promised switch on night watch, Nadine had suckered Hannah into taking her next cooking duty. Thana owed everyone at the table lessons in etiquette and manners after a series of particularly bad hands. It must have been something she offered to cover a bet since it didn’t really match up with what any of the other girls would view as valuable. The likelihood of anyone claiming that prize didn’t seem high either.
When they had asked him if he’d like to play Runner had declined but thanked them. Asking them to please invite him again next time though as he was interested.
Right now though, there was leveling, inventory to sort, and plans to be made.
“I call. I say you have n-n-nothing Kat-t-t-arina,” Nadine challenged.
“Fold. Fuck both of you,” Hannah grumped.
Otherlife Dreams: The Selfless Hero Trilogy Page 13