A portal fantasy, stranding the protagonists in a VRMMORPG. They gradually grapple with the potential deaths of their physical bodies, while navigating their current existence in a video game. What does it mean to be alive, to be dead? And was their previous life one worth revisiting, or should they focus more on the here and now?
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“I can’t believe Vallens is missing out on this!” Eisbaer was worried about the rain at first, but the shield extended a good distance over the lake, stopping near the center. There was even a dock with several boats: a simple rowboat, a pair of paddle boats for lovers,
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“Fuck fuck fuck,” Vallens yelled at nothing in particular. Ve were drenched to the bone, and could barely see inches beyond ver own nose. “Motherfuck—” The cruel wind whipped pellets of water into ver open mouth, lacerating ver cheeks and tongue. Ve spat out blood, and spotted a few pixels
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Saffron awoke not to the sound of terrified cries or clashing blades, but to the pleasant crackling of a low fire. And then there was the smell! Baked fish and eggs on fragrant leaves. It hadn’t handpicked these for vem, but recognized the smell from its day among the
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Vallens had vemself quite the feast, taking several fastidious bites of a skewered fish, and washing it all down with ver crawfish stew. If not for the little critters, it would’ve been quite appetizing. Ve did prepare a more vegetarian friendly version for Eisbaer, including radishes, carrots, and a
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Logically speaking, Eisbaer knew they’d only been walking (both ways) for an hour at the most, but she was still relieved to be on the back of Vallens’ motorbike. Her poor paws were dead tired! I really need to work out more... Maybe it was all the downed trees
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Foraging for berries and inspecting that tree actually boosted Saffron’s botany level by one, planting it firmly on ten. Ten! Now it would receive extra items while scavenging and toiling in the field. Why hadn’t it tried this before, instead of scouting out toy stores and dodging slavers?
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“I can’t believe it even needs to be said, but please stop licking yourself.” Grunting, Saffron lowered its arm, the fur matted with its own saliva. If ve hadn’t said it, Eisbaer would’ve. “It’s just a flesh wound,” it started, but she wasn’t having it.
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“Are you sure about this?” Saffron asked, when it was just the two of them. Vallens moved fast, robe drifting on the wind. And Eisbaer was happy to see nothing but ver back; that skeletal makeup (or what she hoped was makeup) creeped her the heck out. And seeing ver
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No stranger to disappointment, Vallens always tried to keep ver expectations low. Ve didn’t anticipate Eisbaer actually following through; low levels, or what ve saw as the unambitious class, rarely did. Or worse; they expected the world to cater to their needs and desires, lacking the will to do
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Eisbaer was oddly missing for the next two days, a fact that brought Saffron much distress. According to her coordinates, she was still somewhere in the city, just not home. It considered reaching out, but didn’t want to disturb her if she was training. Like it should be… Since
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“It’s not that I’m withholding. I just think it’s too soon, don’t you?” Callie’s long tongue cleaned a streak of aioli sauce from her chin. “Mm, this some good motherfucking sauce. What’d you say this was again?” “Aioli. It’s like mayo, but better.
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While Eisbaer was out power leveling and making connections, Saffron was fighting for its life. The gym could only do so much, and abusing wooden dummies got old fast. After nearly losing a claw to a tough hunk of wood, Saffron called it quits and went in search of more…