Hey, you there? This is Eric
Yeah. Sorry I just woke up
What's up?
Well, I remembered you gave me your number. I didn't want you to think I forgot about it. Sorry if I woke you up.
Don't worry about it, I'm happy to hear from you!
Cats sleep all day anyways; I can afford to be awake.
I guess that's good then? Um... My pet raven found something in the woods, it's like a purple rock. Do you want it for your collection?
=ටᆼට= Sure, I'll take it!!
You have a pet raven?
Great!
I mean, I'll give it to you next time we meet.
And well, Oz isn't really a pet. He's just sort of started hanging around
That's so cool! You guys must have a way with birds, huh?
I wanted to get a bird, but my parents think I'm just going to eat it :(
I guess we do, haha. And why would they think that?
Because we're cat people, and cats are apparently supposed to eat birds a lot. I don't even like chicken that much!
Can I see Oz someday? I promise I won't try to eat him
Cats do, but cat people don't. I think.
But yeah, I'll bring Oz along if I can. He gets a bit moody
Some of my little siblings still do. They grow out of it eventually but it sucks having to clean up after them
Soo, why are you up after midnight?
That sounds messy...
I couldn't sleep. I guess... I was still thinking about the VR thing
You too?
What about it?
Well...
I don't know, I think it's just some weird side-effect, you know?
I... don't know how to explain it
If you want to try, I'm patient
Is it bad? Like...bothering you bad, I mean.
The Orion people have psychologists if you need one
No, it's not really bothering me, it's just...
It's this weird kind of feeling... nothing bad.
Yeah, I get that.
I've heard about the lasting effects the VRs used to have, but the parasite infection is the last thing on my mind
I guess I'm just...thinking about what happened.
Yeah? Me too.
It was a lot more different than the last one I've been on.
A bit more... personal? I guess?
You think so? This was my first big-time VR
I think it was great for a first-timer; I really felt a lot.
More than any Oculus Rift game...
What was your last VR like?
It was fun. A lot of super heroes trying to solve a number of murders. Up until a harrowing part, but after that, I was just looking around the city.
The space colony thing was more interesting though.
I don't know what I'd be like as a superhero...
Probably a normal citizen pretending to be one by throwing cool rocks at people. Nova had it down.
Acheron, I mean. Solving mysteries was really fun.
And so was talking to you
Does that sound dumb?? I feel like that sounds dumb
No no! That didn't sound dumb at all.
I mean, I liked talking to you too
You know, Lee actually left a message for Nova in case he didn't make it.
Wait, really?? No one told me anything about a note!
What did it say?
He programmed his pod to change his bio to the message, in case he ended up dead, but since he lived I guess it didn't trigger. I forgot most of it, but it read like a sappy love letter. And there was something about wanting to kiss her.
Wait...Are you serious?
You're not trying to pull my leg, are you??
No, why would I do that? It's all true, I promise!
It does sound kind of silly, right?
No no, not at all! I think it sounds really sweet, actually
Nova would've liked that
She wanted to kiss Lee too, but the medical room was crowded when he came back
I kind of figured, looking back on it.
She was acting sappy too.
You think it'd be weird if they actually did that?
You know, that's a dumb question, ignore that
Oh noo I suddenly can't read your last message, what a shame!
Weird how? I think it would've been really nice.
Sappy, but nice
Yeah, but...
We'd feel that too
Right?
I think so...
But I wouldn't complain
Really? You wouldn't have?
No
Not at all
Would you have?
Well, I guess not, if you're fine with it? I just thought it would have been awkward when we were pulled out of VR. You know, if people knew.
We already got teased shamelessly, at least by Tomo. Besides, a lot of the adults didn't seem to care all that much
Maybe boys are just different that way
So, it really wouldn't have bothered you? At all?
I guess I'm just paranoid or something
I don't think you're paranoid, I think it's pretty reasonable to be worried about that sort of thing.
But I think I'd be focusing on the other person (you) more than what people would think if they knew
(Count how many times I can say think in one chat)
Is that weird? Worrying about you more, I mean
I... I don't know...
This whole thing is confusing for me.
I'm not sure about what I'm feeling...
Do you need some time?
I'm sure I'm not helping at all with all the things I say.
We can talk about it more if you want to, too. I don't want to confuse you even more, but I'm here to listen
Don't worry about it, I'll be fine. I think I just need to sleep it off or something. Maybe it'll make a bit more sense.
Oh, and btw, when are we going to meet?
I want to give you the stone before I lose it.
The stone I mean.
