Alrighty then! Usual routine GO!
Saturn56: He might. Or he might not. And he might. Or he might not.
SS7x3: Glad you liked it. For a game like this, it's important to have more human moments here and there. And no, no more scenes of Jacob's family for as long as I decide. As for the title thing... well, 'Hoping the Grass is Greener'? Leanbox is the Land of Green Pastures? They're going from plotless to hopefully less plotless? 'The grass is greener on the other side'? It was a double joke... Hello?
... Damn it, I reckon I lost a reader there.
Eisenfaust: As always, it will happen so calm yo self, I agree, it's up to them, I dunno, no I would not and I'll see what I can do. Thank you.
mastermind: Go onto deviantART and search for "Neptunia Jacob".
Usual routine step 2 GO!
Chapter 27: Call Me...
The party retreated back to the inn. For the rest of the night and the next day up to and including midday, IF stayed inside the inn so not much surveillance was necessary. In the afternoon, Jacob was reading more of GG while taking glances out of the corner of his eye at IF, who was preoccupied with her phone. The rest of the party had gone out to the arcade. Most likely, Nisa was beating Neptune badly at a fighting game again.
Neptune suddenly burst through the door. "Good news, everyone!" she announced with a bright smile that would never be on the face of someone that just suffered nine consecutive losses in an arcade fighting game.
"There's only two of us," Jacob responded.
"That's still everyone in this room so shut your face!" Neptune countered, still beaming. "Now, we just had a teensy-weensy talk with our generous hosts of this here inn and we learned that there are certain... favours we can call upon to make our experiences as pleasant as possible. I think that's what they said, anyway. I got distracted when they brought up jelly beans."
By this point, both Jacob and IF were looking at Neptune like she was holding a grenade in her hand; it looked safe enough but there was no telling whether or not it was going to blow up at any given moment. "Neptune, what did you do?" Jacob asked.
Neptune, with an innocent smile and a coy finger to her lips, looked around the room currently belonging to Gust, Compa, Jacob and IF. "I was just thinking to myself that, boy oh boy, this room was emptier than a house in a GameKid game. It could use with a sprucing up or two, you know what I'm saying?"
"What did you do?" Jacob asked again, placing down his book.
"Nep... Nep..." Compa's strained voice drifted into the room from the corridor, "we... could use... a hand..."
"Comin' right up!" Neptune replied before dashing back into the corridor. Moments later, she returned with Compa and Gust, carrying a stand made from light brown wood. It had a wide empty space in between two square doors and it looked strong enough to support a great deal of weight. With Compa and Neptune carrying either end and Gust supporting the middle, the stand was set down down next to the wall opposite the windows.
"Whew." Neptune wiped her forehead with her hoodie sleeve.
"Neptune, why do we now have a TV stand?" Jacob asked through gritted teeth, standing up.
"I-Is the motel aware of this? Are we even allowed?" IF asked.
"Yeah..." Gust panted, lying down on the carpet. "gave us A-OK... Lungs exploded..."
Compa was resting next to Gust, equally out of breath. "I... carry... bodies... not... wooden... stands..."
"S-Sister!" Nisa's distressed voice flew into the room. "I could use some assistance here!"
"I'm on my way!" Neptune once again ran out and returned. This time, she was helping Nisa carry a very large and bulky green TV. Carefully, the two of them brought it into the room and placed it on top of the stand.
As soon as her hands were free, Nisa immediately flopped onto the floor. "Justice power... failing... need rest..."
"What the almighty hell is this?!" Jacob shouted.
Neptune stretched her arms upwards. "This, Sparky, is our new TV complete with a new stand! No more will we need to go to the arcade to entertain ourselves. Now we can just stay home all day and watch TV!"
"B-But this isn't even our room!" Jacob cried. "We're just borrowing it! And what happens when you find there's nothing to watch on TV?"
"Then we play on Leanbox's console!" As she announced this, the goddess pulled out from her pocket dimension what Jacob recognised as an Xbox 360. "Free with two controllers and a copy of Hoop 3: TSDO!" Neptune pulled these items out as well, holding them and almost bursting with excitement.
"W-W-Wait!" IF called, shooting up from her bed and running up to Neptune. "H-How much did you spend on all of this? Do we even have a single credit left over?!"
"Sure we do!" Neptune casually answered with her arms on her hips. "It's fifty credits a night and we're definitely not staying here forever."
Jacob and IF looked at Neptune like she was speaking pig latin.
"Rented... front desk..." Gust breathed out.
"Oh... s-so the inn rents out Leanbox's console to rooms?" IF asked, calm once more.
"Uh huh!" Neptune nodded. "Once we get this baby up and running, we'll have something else to occupy us other than books and the radio!"
IF's hand went up to her head as she sighed.
"I dunno... having to lug a TV stand and a TV up the stairs sounds like too much," said Jacob. "You'd think there'd be one of each in every room."
"You'd... think so... and you'd... be wrong..." Gust panted.
IF's phone emitted a jingle, causing the entire party to snap their heads towards her. The sudden attention didn't startle the brunette at all; she read the message with anticipation that she fought off from showing on her face before she pocketed her phone. "I've got something to take care of at the Basilicom."
"Hold on." Jacob reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper which he then handed to IF. "Make sure to buy those on the way back."
IF was momentarily speechless as if caught off guard. "Oh, o-okay. Well, see ya." The girl then pocketed the paper and walked out the door with a slightly faster gait than normal.
"Thank you, Jake..." said Compa, still exhausted.
"S'all right. I'm gonna go and keep an eye on her. See you all later."
"Bye, Sparky! We'll have this set up when you get back!" Neptune called as Jacob walked out the door.
Jacob stuck to IF's trail diligently. IF didn't pay more attention to her surroundings than usual and, if she was nervous, she hid it very well. She had no reason to suspect that Jacob was spying on her; to the knowledge of her party, she was simply going to the Basilicom for a nice and easy job. Who would think to follow her, and for what cause?
When the gondola came into view, Jacob immediately slipped into the bushes. He waited patiently as IF hopped in and the transport slowly took her up to the Basilicom's island. When he was sure that the gondola came to a stop, he counted to five and then flew up, making sure to stay low so that IF wouldn't see him if she happened to turn around. Upon reaching the island, he made his way through the forest and stopped when he saw the front doors. Fortunately, no one was around so he quickly flew up to the roof of the building. Jacob then walked across the roof until he came to a familiar glass dome. He lied down on the roof, minimizing the chances of anyone seeing him if they looked up, and waited with bated breath.
Finally, the door leading into the room opened.
Yvoire walked into the room with IF right behind him. "Lady Green Heart will be with you momentarily. Please act as would be appropriate around a CPU." The silhouette then left the room, leaving IF alone the room with the green statue surrounded by purple curtains.
"... You are the one the Archbishop wished me to see?"
IF quickly turned towards the tired voice and her breath caught in her throat. Standing in front of her was a woman with long wavy blonde hair and blue eyes that were not fully open. She wore a small white green-lined neckpiece which was connected by two straps of white linen to the parts of her strapless dress that covered her fantastically large bosom, larger than even Compa's by a fair amount. The torso of the ankle-length dress was emerald with gold lining and its skirt, with a waist-high slit showing off her left leg, was a white silk but it ended with an apricot satin. Two white gold-lined straps held in place on either hip a large pink satin ribbon that resembled a folded curtain. Around each of her biceps was a green band and she wore green and white gloves with large cuffs that looked like they were shielding her forearms.
"It's nice to meet you. I am the CPU Green Heart, the guardian of this pla..." Vert interrupted herself with a yawn.
With great restraint, Jacob didn't correct what she almost said and give himself away.
"Y-Yes, hello!" stammered IF, standing unusually straight while her face began to turn a shade of red. "My name's IF. It's an honour to meet you... you..." As IF looked at Vert, she loosened her posture and looked at her more analytically. "You look really... tired... Are you okay, Lady Green Heart?"
"I was up late. I don't think I got enough sleep..." One of Green Heart's hands went up to her forehead. "Ugh, I feel faint... Could I take your hand?"
IF wasn't thinking very clearly and her open hand extended towards the CPU almost on its own. The fatigued goddess took the hand and collapsed onto IF almost immediately after. If, luckily enough, was able to support the tall, busty CPU. "L-Lady Green Heart?! A-Are you okay? W-What c-can I d-do?"
"Do you have a speech impediment? Or are you that ner... nerv..." Vert yawned once again. "I can't go on... I need..."
"P-Please don't fall asleep!" In a panic, IF looked everywhere in the glass dome. "Is there a bed nearby? Or anything? I'll have to try the next room..."
"Most people I meet... speak like you at first... but... I don't like... bald people..." Vert droned. "Little boy... no, not there... Don't shake me... I'll scratch you up..."
Even with the weight of the sleeping CPU, IF helped her into the next room with laborious steps.
On the roof, Jacob's hands were in his hair and he was resisting every urge to shout at IF. After taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down, he flew over to the room where IF had taken the CPU. He floated down the wall, praying that IF and Vert didn't go anywhere unexpected where he couldn't follow them. Fortunately, when he was at a slightly open window, he heard a door open and lied down beneath the window, straining to hear what was going on inside.
As IF carried the goddess to her room and laid her down on her bed, she noted that it was extravagant yet strange at the same time. The green gold-lined rug, the teal curtains for the arch windows and the green bed sheet contrasted nicely with the beige walls and brown wooden barrel roof. In addition, against one of the walls was a detailed and finely crafted white TV stand with a TV on top of it. The TV was small and had a thin green screen but it had a beautifully nuanced gold stand and frame. However, underneath the TV stand was a small pink console like an old Lastation model with a pink controller plugged into it via a very old-fashioned cord. To add on to the oddness, on top of Vert's white wardrobe, bookshelf, dresser, glass door cabinet, doorless cabinet, rectangular table and shelf mounted on the wall as well as in the doorless cabinet were rows of figurines of males you'd expect to find in anime. In addition, the walls were decorated with nicely framed pictures of anime males drawn in a rather erotic manner.
After five minutes, the CPU was sitting up again on the edge of her bed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep while a guest was present."
"I-I don't mind," IF assured, still flustered. "Being a CPU and protecting your landmass and your Basilicom must be very taxing on you."
Vert let out a small sigh. "Us CPUs are born with our abilities. Even in our sleep, our presence alone protects our planet."
"P-Planet, my Lady?"
Vert's eyes suddenly widened. "Oh my, I'm terribly sorry. I, of course, meant to say our presence alone protects our landmass. I'm afraid I'm not fully awake yet."
Jacob pumped his fist.
"You seem incredibly tense. Please, sit down next to me." Vert shuffled over to made some room on the edge of the bed for IF.
IF quickly gulped. "O-Oh no, I couldn't! I-I'm perfectly fine s-standing up, my Lady!"
A small smile made its way to the CPU's face. "Now, now. There's no reason to be so anxious. Please, sit down and rest."
Breathing heavily, the Moderatist slowly and deliberately sat down next to the goddess on the bed. "I-It's incredibly soft..."
Vert didn't seem to be focusing on IF at the moment. "I couldn't leave. I was the only one, glowing a bright red. I needed to help the beginners..."
Listening to the CPU's musing, IF's eyes were nearly sparkling. "Leave? Glow? The life of a goddess must be more complicated than I'll ever be able to comprehend..."
"Hm? Oh, I'm talking about an MMO that I've been really into these days. It was hard to get a hold of but I managed to import a copy of it from Planeptune. You've been in Planeptune, right? Have you ever seen it?"
IF blinked. She did not expect such a mundane response. "Y-Yes, I have... There are plenty of game shops there. You really like games, my Lady?"
Vert smiled. "There's no need to be so formal. Indeed, I enjoy the Three Sacred Treasures Gamindustri has to offer me. Video games, manga and anime... who could ask for more? I think it also gives me more believers. Unfortunately, when everyone else is incapable of fighting on your level in a fighting game, it gets kind of boring. Are you good at fighting games?"
If, by some chance, IF's blush wasn't actually noticeable before, it most certainly was now. "A-Are you asking me to play a game with you? A C-CPU? B-But I'm j-just a citizen!"
"Oh, nonsense. In a video game, everyone is equal." Without waiting for another refusal, Vert stood up from the bed and walked over to the cabinet with the glass doors and opened it. She took out a game case and took it back to IF. "Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of multiplayer games. This one's only single player but would you like to give it a go? It's very well loved and I can teach you how to play."
IF, still blushing, nodded. "S-Sure... I guess..."
During the next ten minutes, Jacob listened to IF play Vert's game. He stayed still underneath the open glass, letting the sounds of surprised yelps from IF, giggles from Vert and screaming, groaning, snarling, revving, slashing, bludgeoning and grievous bodily harm from the TV wash over him. "If this goes on any longer, I may just decompose..." he whispered.
"L... Lady Green Heart?" IF spoke up. "D-Do you... have... any other games? I d-don't think this... zombie mall-survival blood fest is... th-the kind of thing for me..."
Vert picked up the case and frowned when she looked over the front cover. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Is an M-rated game too intense for you?"
"Not really..." IF murmured. "I just... prefer something less mindless, my lady."
"I told you before, you do not need to be so formal," said Vert with another smile. "Please, be natural. Treat me as if you would treat a friend."
"A... A f-f-friend...?" IF turned away so that the CPU would not see her red face. "I... I really can't...! That'd be inappropriate of me..."
"I assure you, it's perfectly fine. How about I do it? Would it help you relax if I were to call you... hm... how about Iffy?"
IF froze. "If... Iffy...?" she repeated with a breaking voice. Her vision began to blur and she could hear her own heartbeat. Her face paled and her irises shrunk. "Oh... Oh, I don't... think..."
Vert leaned back in mild surprise as IF fell over with an audible thud.
"Are you kidding me?!" Jacob hissed.
"Huh?"
Jacob quickly covered his mouth with both hands.
Vert continued looking out the window for a few more seconds before shrugging. "I mustn't be fully awake, yet." She turned her attention back to IF. "Goodness, you really do need to calm down..." The goddess picked up the brunette with ease and carried her to the bed. After tucking her in, she sat at the end, waiting patiently for her to awake.
Five minutes later, IF sat up with a groan and rubbed her eyes. "Where... am I...?"
Vert giggled. "Hello, Iffy. Did you have a nice rest?"
No sooner than hearing Vert's greeting did IF scream and shuffle back with astounding volume and speed. "L-L-L-L-L-Lady Green Heart? What am I doing h-here?"
"Calm down." The blonde goddess leaned forward and placed a hand on the brunette's shoulder, which did nothing to ease said brunette. "Don't you remember? you fainted almost immediately after I called you Iffy."
IF still breathed in an out so quickly and loudly that she felt like she'd need an asthma puffer if she continued.
This earned a pout from the goddess. "My word, you really are nervous. Am I really not desirable to be around?"
"No!" screamed IF so loudly that Vert retracted her hand and recoiled. "I-I mean, I'm sorry, it's just... just..." IF took a deep breath. "... I'm only a civilian."
"Are you still concerned about that? Iffy, you're not a subject here. You're a guest. It's not often I have those, you know."
IF turned her blushing face towards the nearest window.
"Hm..." Vert clasped her hands together. "Let's talk a bit. You go around fighting monsters, right?"
Several moments passed before IF nodded slowly.
A satisfied grin appeared on Vert's face. "In that case, I may have something for you." IF watched, confused as the CPU slid stepped up from the bed only to crouch down. She flipped the blanket up so that she could get underneath it and then grunted in exertion. "I know it's under here somewhere..." she groaned. "This really isn't my sort of daily exer- aha! Here it is!"
By the time Vert had stood up again, IF's blush had disappeared. Vert held in her hands a small box made from a dark wood. It had white markings painted on it and the front of it had a white-painted symbol that looked sort of like an A with the legs curving so that they pointed to opposite sides. Vert put her finger to her lips and mouthed 'shh' with a wink, making IF squirm slightly. With great delicacy, the CPU opened the box and brought it down so that IF may look at the contents.
"... Vambraces, my lady?" IF asked.
"Iffy, please just call me Vert. Just once?"
IF sighed. "Okay... I'll try..." The brunette took a deep breath. "What are they, V... Vert?"
Vert beamed. "I knew you could do it, Iffy! Was that so hard?"
She didn't look Vert in the eye but IF cracked an awkward smile regardless.
The goddess handed the box over to IF. "Go on, try them on."
"M-Me?" IF stammered, pointing at herself.
"Well, is there anyone else here?"
"These grass stains are going to look awful..." Jacob murmured as he scratched his back.
"W-Well, okay..." After a bit of fiddling around, one of the vambraces was secured on IF's left forearm. While the leather rested gently on her skin, the outside of the vambrace was covered in a strong frame of steel. Underneath the vambrace was a thin, rectangular piece of metal with a small wheel embedded at the bottom of its length.
"Go on, try it out," Vert urged.
"Is this one of those things that you need to think to work before it'll actually work?" IF inquired.
"You need to flex a certain muscle to press the button inside the vambrace to trigger it. Basically, yes. Also, make sure to keep your arm straight."
"Why?" IF asked while focusing on flexing the muscles in her forearm this way and that.
Shk!
"Whoa!" A thin blade shot out from the top of the metal shaft and extended beyond the Moderatist's middle finger.
"Do you like it?" Vert asked, grinning like a toddler. "We call it the hidden blade. With our prized medieval aesthetic, we've been forced to be a bit more creative with our weaponry to compete with the other landmasses."
After successfully retracting the blade again, IF's breathing gradually returned to its natural state. "W-What kind of weapon is that?"
"It's a knife weapon we developed for rogue-type characters. It can also fire bullets, if that's your concern." Picking up the other vambrace, Vert pointed to the thin steel barrel that was attached to the side of the rectangle. "See?"
"... How would I fire that?"
"Pretty much the same but you have to move your thumb a bit to the left, or so it goes."
Keeping her left arm pointed away from her, IF slid the weapon off with the utmost caution. "No offence but I think it's a hazard just waiting to happen."
"Why do you say that? If you do not want to extend the blade, simply do not press the button."
"But how am I supposed to avoid doing that? What if I'm surprised and I press the button by accident? I could accidentally kill myself or someone else."
"Well... I admit that poses a problem..."
"And what if I'm on my phone or playing a game? That's one good piece of hardware skewered and, if it's against my ear, I might lose that as well."
Hearing the word 'game' on the topic of things getting accidentally destroyed, the briefest yet most powerful instance of sheer, undiluted terror flashed through Vert's eyes. "I-I hadn't thought of that..." Quickly and with order, Vert placed her hidden blade back inside the box and extended her arm out towards IF's. "You are absolutely right. These blades are riddled with grave errors. I will have them redesigned immediately."
IF looked down at Vert's hand that patiently waited for the other hidden blade in IF's grasp. Before she could suppress the urge, she sniggered.
"... What is so funny?" asked the CPU with uncertainty.
"I'm... I'm sorry..." said IF when she composed herself. "I've never actually been in a situation like this before..."
"Where people offer you free weapons?"
"Hell no." IF handed her the other vambrace. "My party and I get offered those all the time."
"Party?" Vert raised an eyebrow in intrigue as she returned the weapons to the box. "So you venture through the landmasses, conquering dungeons and monsters of all shapes and sizes?"
"You didn't know?"
"I assumed you acted alone. Oh, how I'm jealous. What's the rest of your party like?"
"Well, they're..."
"I'm Jacob." He extended a hand to her. "Pleasure to meet you."
She looked at it oddly before she looked at him oddly. "You know, you shouldn't be doing that to just any random person you meet; they could take advantage of you. I mean, being someone's blood brother doesn't mean-"
"It's a handshake," Compa and Jacob said simultaneously, the former cheery and the latter deadpan. "It's a form of greeting," Jacob finished alone.
"… Oh. Well," IF reached out to Jacob's hand and gave it a half-hearted shake, "It's nice to meet you, too."
IF paused.
Vert blinked. "Iffy?"
"Oh, sorry. My party is... well, a bit odd."
"Compa, why do you read GG? It's because you like it, right?"
"… yes?"
"So, video game life or no, you like reading GG."
Compa slowly nodded.
"And eating toast? School? Talking to your Grandpa? You enjoy all those things too, right?"
Compa nodded a bit less slowly.
Neptune smiled and took her hands off of Compa's shoulders and put them on her hips. "Then it doesn't matter if this is all a video game or not. You keep doing things that you enjoy. So what if it isn't real? It wouldn't make a difference if it was."
Compa contemplated all of this, nodding very slowly. "Thank you, Nep-Nep…" she responded as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "That makes me feel a bit better."
IF rubbed the back of her head. "But... they surprise me a lot."
"How?"
"They may be goofballs but there's a hell of a lot more to them than that."
Vert held her hands together. "How strong are they?"
"Very," IF answered with a slightly proud smile.
Vert smiled in amusement in return. "Would you say they're invincible?"
At once, Arfoire charged forward at Jacob. "Nnnnnnnnngh!" It was obvious that Jacob's attack was hurting her but she disregarded it anyway. Jacob attempted to deliver a quick jab to her face when she got close but Jacob had no skill in the area of hand-to-hand combat so his punch was easily dodged. Arfoire decided that an appropriate counterattack would be to pierce him in the stomach.
"ARGH!" The spearhead went in quite a bit, especially after Arfoire raised the spear so that Jacob was hoisted into the air. She then shook him off the spear, allowing him to fall to the hard ground. Blood was pouring out of the cross-shaped wound in his stomach.
"JAKE!" Compa rushed towards Jacob but was intercepted by Arfoire, who attempted to slash Compa vertically. However, Arfoire was intercepted by Purple Heart.
"Compa, get to Jacob and treat his wounds now!" Purple Heart batted Arfoire away. "Iffy and I will take care of Arfoire!"
"R-Right!" Compa ran to Jacob and knelt down beside him. "Jake, are you okay?" she asked as she rolled Jacob onto his back so that the blood would stop pouring out.
"Urgh..." Jacob could barely respond. His eyes were half closed and his skin was looking pale.
"Don't worry; you'll be okay!" Compa took out some gauze and began wrapping it around Jacob's torso.
IF winced. "No... no one's invincible."
The smile disappeared from Vert's face. "Iffy, what's wrong?"
"You know..." he started, "... it didn't occur to me before then that I could actually... wind up in a hospital because of this. I mean, I did okay against the Sand Worm…"
"It's only going to get harder from here," stated IF. "You think you can take it?"
Jacob exhaled through his nose. "Back where I came from, we don't go on adventures or fight. We do have some dangerous animals but we have places where humans go and where animals go. They don't cross over much. Anyway, we get through life through money and jobs that don't involve violence. It's pretty good, especially as I'm not out of school yet and I can spend most of my time playing video games and eating and… playing Connect 4 with my dad and…"
The silence was broken by Compa. "You can say it. We won't blame you."
Jacob sighed. He looked out the window and then closed his eyes. "... I want to go home."
Compa gave him a hug. "I know."
Jacob returned the hug. "Thanks."
"Nothing, it's just..." The brunette sighed. "I hate being powerless. It feels like we're not strong enough. Hell, we're meant to be heroes yet we're the ones getting rescued...
"Sorry," Nisa apologised, not looking as haughty as before. "I went full-force on that one. She might wake up in a few weeks." She grinned and walked towards the monster. "I'll take care of this monster myself. Leave it to me!"
"Hey, hold on a sec," Jacob began.
Unfortunately, Nisa was one step ahead of him; with one powerful step, she propelled herself towards the monster like a torpedo. She span in the air so that her two feet were pointed at the monster. "HYAH!" When she made contact with the monster, she pushed with all her might. The monster was kicked a few meters away as she backflipped into the air and landed perfectly.
"... Although it is pretty cool when we recruit our saviours into the party."
"Oh, one of your party members is a hero?"
IF let out a small laugh. "Yeah. She's a bit of an oddball but she's strong and dependable."
Vert let out a small amused breath. "But, as you said, no one is invincible."
Without a word, Neptune stood up, much to the surprise and confusion of her comrades. Black Heart was also confused as Neptune walked to her with an unusually solemn expression on her face.
The most surprising thing to happen was Neptune wrapping her arms around Black Heart and bringing her in close for a hug.
"Hey, don't be so down in the dumps," Neptune said while resting her head on Black Heart's shoulder. "I'm still bouncing and breathing, alright?"
Slowly, Black Heart's arms wrapped around Neptune.
"... Uh, whatcha doin'?" Neptune asked, slightly confused.
"I'm... sorry..." Black Heart apologised in between her sobs. "I didn't mean to... I didn't want to, but..."
IF looked towards the floor. "... That's right. Even the strongest of us break sometimes."
Vert raised an eyebrow. "You must go through a lot."
"Sometimes," the Moderatist responded with a nod. "Mainly, it's monsters. Sometimes, it's disagreeable people."
Vert rolled her eyes. "I know how that feels."
"That's nice," Compa answered. "It doesn't help us but it is good to know that everything's peaceful. Well, if you don't know where to find the Key Fragment or a Guard Vermin, Histoire also apparently said that they were guarded by 'strong monsters'. Do you know where we could find any?"
Blanc's eye twitched. "Your quest is a load of bullcrap. Stop wasting my time."
"Hey, now." Jacob stepped forward, having had his button pressed. "This is really important stuff, you hear? If we're going to drive Momus out of Celestia, we ne-"
"Shut up, already!" Blanc's stoicism had been shattered. "As a goddess, I can crush Momus without dragging stupid outsiders into it! I've never heard of your stupid Key Fragment and, as far as I care, it doesn't exist! Cut this shit out and get the hell out of my Basilicom now!"
Blanc didn't look at the shell-shocked party as she stormed back behind her purple curtains.
"... Well," said IF. "Alright then. Let's go, everyone. It's clear that this goddess doesn't feel like talking to us."
IF sighed. "I bet you do."
A gradual silence filled the room. After she coughed lightly, Vert spoke up. "So do you have any other party members?"
"Oh, yeah. We also have an alchemist. She's..."
She pulled out another flask as well as two bottles of different fluids and another box of powder. After mixing them all together like she did with Compa's, the end result did not explode. "... There," she said, pleased with herself as she poured the contents of her glass container into a small cup.
"Is it ready yet?" Neptune asked once more.
"Yes," the alchemist answered before handing the cup to Compa. "Have patient drink all of it. Cure cold in no time."
"Oh, thank you so much." Compa took the medicine from Gust and was about to give it to Neptune but she noticed Gust's expectant outstretched hand. "Oh, what's... this? Do you want a hand shake?"
"For ingredients and labour," Gust replied simply.
"What? You charge?!"
Gust was completely indifferent to Compa's shock. "Oh yes. Valuable ingredients. But, just for you, don't worry about labour this time."
"... capable yet untrustworthy," IF commented.
Vert sighed and leaned back. "I see. The business-savvy rarely act out of altruism. It is an odd choice, though. Why would you need an alchemist? Questing involves little more than fighting monsters. What else do you do?"
"I have a favour to ask of you. That friend of yours, the purple excitable one... Neptune, was it?"
IF bristled. "... What about her?"
Yvoire took a breath. "I need you to kill her."
IF's eyes shot open.
"... I know that this is a lot for you to take in. Please forgive me for being so forthcoming with this information. Nevertheless, I would like you to think it over." From behind him, Yvoire pulled out a small glass vial sealed by a cork. The vial contained a viscous purple liquid, bubbling with toxicity. "When you have decided on the correct path, slip this into one of Neptune's meals. A single drop can take out a giant enemy crab so use it with discretion."
IF closed her eyes and her grip on the glass container tightened. Finally, she relaxed her grip and placed the vial in her jacket pocket.
IF bristled. "A... A lot..."
"Huh?"
IF closed her eyes. "More than you'll ever know..."
Another silence surrounded the two. IF continued looking at the floor, looking at her thoughts and her own mind.
Vert looked at IF's face. "... Iffy, what are you thinking about?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm okay... Just fine..." IF sighed and stood up from the bed. "Look, thanks for seeing me but I really gotta go. My party's waiting for me."
"I understand. Please take care."
IF rubbed the back of her head. "Say... can I borrow those hidden blades?"
"Are you certain? You're aware of the risk they pose."
"Yeah but I think I can handle it. I just need a bit of practice."
"Very well, then. Treat them well," the goddess said as she handed the closed box to IF.
"Thanks." IF walked to the door but stopped before she opened it. "Hey, uh, Vert?"
"Yes, Iffy?"
The brunette turned to look at the blonde with a weak smile. "My party's the best you'll ever meet." She then opened the door and walked out.
Vert sighed and fell on her bed. "It's great to hear she loves her party so."
"Then explain to me why—" Jacob immediately covered his mouth to stop himself from speaking at normal volume any further.
Vert turned to the window again but this time with narrowed eyes. "Okay, I am certain I heard something." She walked over to the window and opened it fully to look out and catch the eavesdropper. She looked to the left and the right and below but she didn't find anyone. The only evidence of someone's presence that she found were flattened grass below the window and a short track of frantic hand prints that mysteriously vanished three windows down where her room didn't extend to. The goddess' eyes narrowed further. "I'll have to have a word with Yvoire about the guard detail around here..."
From the roof, Jacob waited until he heard the shutting of the window before exhaling and collapsing. "I really have to learn to shut up..." he groaned.
The other four party members were having no anxieties. The TV and console were finally set up and Nisa and Compa were playing a two player fighting game while Neptune and Gust cheered for the nurse and the heroine respectively. The dogs were barking endlessly and none of the girls could tell which ones were cheering for who.
"C'mon Compa, you can totally squash that chump!" Neptune shouted.
"Dragon no match for human spirit! Crush it!" Gust commanded.
"How are you so good...?" Compa asked while short of breath and mashing the buttons on her controller.
"It is just like our alchemist said, Compa; brawn is no match for human spirit!" Nisa exclaimed.
Finally, the dying wail of a dragon filled the room. Compa slumped over in exhaustion and Neptune quickly rushed up to her to check her over like Compa had done to her many times before. At the same time, Nisa quickly stood up and punched into the air and Gust simply sat in her spot, looking content. Some of the dogs whimpered while others howled triumphantly.
"Okay Nep-Nep, it's your turn..." Compa panted.
"Alrighty then!" Neptune quickly picked up Compa's controller. "Prepare yourself sister, for this will be your final battle."
"We shall see, my dear sister. Now pick your character and fight me!" Nisa shouted.
Compa lied down on her bed. "I never knew video games could be so exhausting..."
One of the dogs tapped Compa's hand which was hanging over the bed. Smiling gently, the nurse picked it up and placed it on the bed.
"Obviously not true gamer," Gust quipped.
"Hey, what do you think Sparky and Iffy are up to?" Neptune asked the others as ArfArf walked to her side.
"Knowing my zealous student," Nisa began, "he is silently watching her every move, just waiting for her to slip up. When that time comes, when he seizes the opportunity, he will cry 'You shall not succeed in your infernal task, demon!' and proceed to beat her like an evil pair of eggs before dragging her back here."
Compa blinked twice. "That's... an interesting story but what does Jake being jealous have to do with it?"
"Zealous," Gust corrected.
"Oh."
"I'm starving," Neptune brought up. "They better bring some pudding back."
"Just be patient, Nep-Nep. We'll get some food soon."
IF stood in the main street of Leanbox. With no one around, she had plenty of space to look at the poison in the vial, watching the bubbles grow before popping without a sound. Her grip on the glass was weak yet all of her hand's fingers were wrapped around it.
"This... will kill Neptune..." IF whispered. "How, exactly? It's purple and bubbly... even she's not stupid enough to miss it."
After a moment, her arm fell limp to her side. IF tightened her hold on the vial to keep it from slipping. With the poison out of sight, she looked at the ground. "What am I doing?"
"Hello, IF."
IF span around so quickly she could've sworn that more speed would've drilled her into the setts below her feet. Jacob walked towards her with his hands in his hoodie pockets and his face seemingly neutral.
"Did you get the stuff?" he asked with a low voice.
"O-Oh, uh... no, sorry. I'm going to do that right now."
"I see." Jacob closed his eyes. A moment passed before he opened them again. "IF, are you going to kill Neptune?"
The glass vial nearly popped from IF's hand with how quickly her grip on it intensified. Her eyes shot open with equal speed, looking at Jacob with such horror and shock that he flinched slightly from the suddenness of it all. "H-How? H-How do you know?"
"I overheard you talking with Yvoire. I know what he asked you to do."
IF held the glass with both hands. She took another step back.
"I also followed you to the Basilicom to hear it straight from Vert's mouth. Unfortunately, she never told you herself that she wanted you to kill Neptune. Not that you ever asked."
IF hung her low and turned to the side so that Jacob couldn't see her eyes. She cradled the glass in her chest.
Jacob gulped quietly. "IF, you don't have to do this. I don't know why you want to kill Neptune but-"
"I don't..."
Jacob's eyes narrowed in confusion. "I beg your pardon?"
"I don't want to kill Neptune..."
"Then... why are you doing this?"
IF didn't answer.
"... Is being a Leanbox citizen really important to you?"
The Moderatist quickly snapped her head to glare at him with intense anger but it immediately softened into regret.
Jacob sighed. "IF, we don't need to do this. We can work this out without hurting Neptune." Gently and slowly, Jacob raised his arm towards IF, his palms facing upwards. "Can you give me the poison, please?"
Ever slowly, IF began to extend the vial to Jacob. Jacob reached out further, his hand spread open, to take the vial when their hands met.
Then, at the very last moment, IF snapped her hand back. "No."
Jacob blinked. "What do you mean no?"
"I... can't..." IF sniffed.
"IF, please listen to me. Neptune doesn't have to die."
The vial was one again resting next to IF in her hand. She didn't say a word.
Once more, Jacob reached out to IF. "You can't kill your friend. Please."
IF's hands tightened. "I'm sorry..." After that whisper, the vial disappeared into hammerspace.
Jacob's hands curled into fists at his side as he grimaced. "IF..."
The brunette turned away from Jacob and began walking down the street.
"... Please forgive me," she heard Jacob say from behind her.
She turned around to ask why he'd say such a thing but she was interrupted by the six foot male charging at her five foot body with his shoulder. She moved to the side but he managed to strike her shoulder, knocking her off-balance. Jacob grasped her right forearm and reach for her disc on her left. She twisted out of his grip and attempted to heel kick him in the side but he stepped to the side before delivering a front kick to her torso which she jumped back from.
Jacob flared his nostrils once and raised his fists. "I can't let you kill Neptune."
The brunette girl took two steps back. Even without her katara, she got into her usual fighting stance. She had no words, only her narrowed eyes.
And so the plot is progressing. Nice.
The whole thing about IF very nearly considering poisoning Neptune in the game was, in my opinion, a very big missed opportunity. Out of the main cast, IF had the greatest potential for character development and it went to waste. Why, exactly, would IF of all people very nearly consider poisoning Neptune rather than shoot down Yvoire on the spot? Very depressing, really.
I'm done with university for about four weeks so stay tuned for Chapter 28: Identity Fractured.