Book Three Chapter Eighty Three: Tradition in Gaming

Book Three Chapter Eighty Three: Tradition in Gaming

Qube wasnt yet ready to completely let go of the whole murdered for tradition thing. Even though she knew full well that the Devs hadnt viewed her and the villagers as real people, that theyd viewed them as a simulation, like the echoes of a spell, that didnt even begin to touch the pain losing them had caused her.

In a way, she was glad that the Chosen One hadnt been stupid enough to try and explain that the Devs hadnt seen her village as real. If hed tried to shield the Devs from criticism just by pointing out that theyd been promised the beings theyd created werent sentient, she would have been tempted to well, she didnt know what she would have been tempted to do. But it wouldnt have been pretty, if hed attempted to invalidate her pain with a handwave.

Fortunately, he was smart enough, and compassionate enough, to know that reiterating her lack of personhood in the eyes of the beings that made her would only have served to hurt.

It didnt matter that the Devs hadnt thought of the people they killed as real.

What mattered was that they were.

What mattered was that they had shaped this world to please their own narrative, and this world now had to live with the consequences. If theyd done it knowing they were real people, they would have been irredeemable monsters. As it was, they were just people she was very displeased with.

How many other things have they done to people, just because its tradition? she asked, the amount of venom in her voice surprising even her.

They might not have meant it, but the impact was still painful. And she wanted to know exactly what parts of them were organic, and what parts were a narrative that all Devs seemed to know.

Uh, the Hero darted a glance at Sexy Screamy Spider Briar.

Qube gasped. They turned her into a giant spider just for tradition?! she asked.

No! the Chosen One exclaimed. No, thats definitely not the traditional part. More the whole sexy elf thing. Its traditional for female elf companions to be super sexy.

But Im a female half-elf companion, Qube pointed out. And Im nowhere near as sensual as Sexy Screamy Spider Briar.

What were the familiar threads from the Devs realm, and what were their limits?

Ah! While I knew you were naturally alluring, I had no idea it was ordained by the Devs themselves, Sencha Bard interrupted, a small smile playing on his lips as he put a hand over his heart.

The Bard attempting to seduce everyone is also a clich, the Chosen One pointed out.

Sencha Bard stopped smiling.

Well, while I cant pretend to be thrilled at the discovery that my sensual nature is clich, we already knew that my attraction to you was heavily influenced by the Devs, Sexy Screamy Spider Briar said in a low thrum. The childrens faces stitched onto her distorted slightly as she shrugged. It just gives me another reason to fight against my compulsions, and seek out my own path.

I can only assume that the reason you first suspected my mixed loyalties was because of a similar tradition, Definitely Bad Guy said, taking out his habitual book and flipping through it. Given you immediately named me as a non-Good person.

The Chosen One looked at Definitely Bad Guy. The Mage continued idly flipping through his book. The deep v-cut robes brushed against the twisted blue and red tattoos that travelled up his chest, before flaring around his originally blood-red eyes.

My dude, we found you in a tower full of creatures you were experimenting on, he said bluntly. No duh you were bad.

That was for my research, Definitely Bad Guy muttered. There is nothing inherently Evil in studying.

One dude had no skin, the Hero said. And he was still alive.

That was a life preservation spell! the Mage rebutted. Which is very important for healing!

Look, all Im saying is, tower full of sentient test subjects, owners a baddie, the Chosen One said.

What about a box full of sentient test subjects? Sencha Bard asked meaningfully.

There was a pause, as everyone except Qube turned and looked at the Bard, then back at the Chosen One.

Verdicts still out on that one, the Hero admitted.

Does that mean the reason Squiggles is so adorable is because she was destined to be our team mascot? Sexy Screamy Spider Briar asked, picking up the sharktopus and giving her a squeeze. Like Qube, the Hunter had easily accepted that her personality had been predetermined by the Devs.

Yeah, no, the Chosen One said, looking at the Temple creature theyd rescued so long ago. That, I have no idea whats going on. The best bet we can come up with is she somehow merged with that otter thing from the Water Temple. Or took over part of his script, or something. Squiggles is one of the mysteries of this universe.

Squiggles, pleased with the attention, started writhing around in Sexy Screamy Spider Briars grip, some of her tentacles wrapping around the Hunter, with the others reaching for Qube and the Chosen One. Qube, never able to resist the cuteness of those flat, black eyes, allowed herself to get caught and violently yanked closer to her beloved pets gaping maw.

Squiggles, gentle, she said, the metal from the various crowns adorning Squiggless tentacles pressing sharply against her. We dont grab.

Squiggles drooled cheekily at her, before grabbing the Chosen Ones extended arm and yanking him into her rough embrace.

There was a small crunch sound as the Chosen Ones shoulder popped weirdly. The Hero made a small, strangled sound of pain, his arm going limp.

Heal please, he whimpered.

[Lesser Heal], Qube instantly cast. With a dull thud the Chosen Ones shoulder shifted back into place. She frowned at her pet. Young lady, stop ripping the Chosen Ones arms out of his sockets! Ive warned you before!

Lady Squiggles hurts only because she loves too fiercely, Sencha Bard said calmly, stepping into Squiggless hugging range before he could be pulled. It takes not an imposed tradition of appreciating the feminine to be enthralled by her passion.

I find this insistence that having an interest in research means one is tradition-bound for Evilness to be highly anti-intellectual, Definitely Bad Guy muttered to himself from outside the ring of Squiggles.

It seemed the Bard and the Mage hadnt taken the news that their core personality traits were clichs quite as well as the Healer and the Hunter.

But then, I suppose I must thank the Devs for giving me this affinity, Sencha Bard said thoughtfully from where he was being (somewhat gently) cuddled by two of Squiggless tentacles. While I cannot think well of them for forcing me down the path of a mediocre Rogue, by attuning me to the wonders of love, I have seen much beauty, and experienced both the highs and lows of great emotion.

Having reached this conclusion, Sencha Bard relaxed into Squiggless embrace.

I find the fact that the Devs are conducting an experiment but narratively condemn those within their experiment who also experiment to be hypocritical, Definitely Bad Guy wasnt nearly as forgiving as Sencha Bard. Standing just outside grabbing range of Squiggles, he brooded.

Qube had to admit, Definitely Bad Guy did brooding very well. She didnt know if that was because he was created to brood, or if it was something hed developed on his own, but it was very effective.

Squiggles narrowed her eyes at the Mage. Perhaps sensing her gaze, Definitely Bad Guy broke away from his brooding and looked at the team pet.

Slowly, Squiggles reached out a tentacle towards her former enemy. She reached the very limit of her range, almost but not quite able to brush against the Mages robes. She wriggled her tentacle back and forth, flicking at him.

What? Definitely Bad Guy asked her, slightly belligerent. What do you want?

She wriggled harder.

The entire party held their breath as, with a long suffering sigh, the Mage took one step closer to the mass of tentacled hugs.

Quick as lightning, Squiggles lashed out, her tentacle gripping the edge of the Mages robe and violently yanking him towards her. Before he could even start to cast anything, shed wrapped him in two tentacles, pinning him inside the group hug.

What release me! Definitely Bad Guy demanded, struggling.

Hush, the Chosen One, who was much happier now someone else was suffering the full brunt of Squiggless grip. Dont struggle. Thatll only make it worse. Just accept her love. Her painful, painful love.

Gentle, Qube absentmindedly reminded the sharktopus that was currently cuddling them all. This one of a kind, baffling even to the Devs, adorable pet had finally accepted them all. She felt her heart, which had suffered so much battering lately, swell with love at this perfect moment of companionship and company.

Family, Squiggles said in a small, childish voice.

Everyone froze.

[By the words][fiddling] [snacks] Squiggles can talk?