AOI CATCHALL

[holeful]

(Insert a joke about putting things in holes)

Comments

[holeful]

Aah. It does seem abnormal for you to know that you're a character.

[And gently, as he strokes a hand idly down her side, tracing the gentle slope of her hips;]
We all came from different places, here. Isn't it possible you've somehow been summoned into the real world. I feel like I would know if I was a character.

[gamerbrain]

[ you know, this is the first time someone broke it down for her like that. that maybe the reason her game didn't patch for the new content is that she was removed from her game.

she still has some hesitations about that, though. ]

But Aoi is just data. Pixels and text. Aoi can't exist outside of a game.

[holeful]

Maybe, but I don't know if the virtual world and the real world are as disparate as they seem. Where I'm from, there's a machine that runs a computer program that's generated from people's minds. And it's possible for other people to then enter it.

[gamerbrain]

You travel into each others subconscious?

[holeful]

Hahaha. Not exactly.

[Splaying his hand out against her stomach. She really is so small and strange, and yet the softness and warmth and proximity still makes him feel more human, even if she's not.]

Ah, I really shouldn't say. But I doubt we're within the jurisdiction of the Japanese government, and my participation is coerced, anyway...

They have a device that registers an intent to kill. It uses this data to generate a program called an id well. It's not the person's mind, exactly, but it can fluctuate based on their thoughts and behaviors. By sending eligible parties into the id well, they're able to uncover the identity of the killer.

[gamerbrain]

[ a fictional human is... Well, she's human within the fiction. and as far as she's concerned, he's a part of that fiction, too.

probably...? ]

Aoi doesn't quite get it... But Aoi has never been in that genre of story. It just means you're detective types, right?

[holeful]

That's right. When I go into an id well I become the Brilliant Detective Anaido.
[Anyway.]

But Anaido doesn't have a hole in his head. Since I still have my hole here, I feel like it must be the real world.

[gamerbrain]

But that logic is no different from Aoi not being able to exist outside of visual novels. If Aoi is here, it must be a visual novel.

[holeful]

[Hm. That is a fair point. He thinks it over for a long moment. Say he really is a character too. What would that mean?]

But couldn't it be a different genre of visual novel besides an eroge? Since you and I are both here.
[Please think of things beyond having sex. He is definitely not an eroge character.]

[gamerbrain]

Aoi has never been in any other kind of visual novel.

[holeful]

I think genre swapping is a hot trend now, though. Crossovers, too. Don't you think the cast we have would be usual for a game like yours?

[For starters, who's the protagonist.]

[gamerbrain]

[ a crossover event with another game...? well, that kind of makes sense. ]

... The cast is really big compared to Aoi's usual stories...

[holeful]

Are you worried about being able to fit in?

[He's pretty sure this is a lot of characters for any visual novel.]

[gamerbrain]

Aoi is always going to be strange.

[ she doesn't mind that part. but she pauses for a moment. ]

... And if there isn't room for Aoi, Aoi will just fade out of the story. That's what happens to background characters, once they aren't relevant anymore.

[holeful]

[He hesitates for a long moment, before reaching out to take her hand, pausing, giving her a chance to pull away, before threading his fingers with hers. He's seen people do this sort of thing in movies.]

Maybe it doesn't mean much, since I'm strange too. But if I can help it, I won't let you fade, Aoi.

[gamerbrain]

Characters have to be at least a little bit strange to be interesting.

[ ... no comment on that second part, though. hm. okay. ]

[holeful]

Haha, I suppose that's true. No one would watch a show or play a game where all the characters were completely average people with no problems.

[Even if the characters are average, they will have something strange to deal with.]

Thank you, by the way.

[gamerbrain]

Boop boop?

[ thank you for... what... ]

[holeful]

Ah, for not telling me it was wrong of me to put a hole in my head. Even if you don't understand, you accepted it.

[He supposes he could thank her for the sex as well but something about that feels a bit weird for several reasons.]

[gamerbrain]

Self expression is important.

[ o...kay... ]

[holeful]

[WELL he didn't exactly do it for that reason but that's fine he supposes.]

Is that why you're so upfront with people?
[About being a video game character and sex.]

[gamerbrain]

[ huh. ]

Never thought about it.

But it's sad when people are too scared to ask for what they want.

[holeful]

[Ah....]

So if someone were to want something from you, you'd prefer they ask you directly?

[gamerbrain]

Yep! Aoi would rather know what people want than have to guess.

[holeful]

Then, could I kiss you?

[Partly just because it feels like the thing to do, but also....]