《Second Life》11 A Hamburger Today
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I woke early, the best night's sleep I think I have ever had. Becoming a digital human has a lot going for it. I wonder how well Moore's Law held up after I died? It seems like you can have the best of both worlds by living physically and going digital near the end. There should be trillions of people in Nirvana. I'm sure there is some kind of limit and a barrier to entry. It just makes sense that resources would restrict this in some way. There also have to be some problems. There just isn't any way the human race created utopia while I was a popsicle. We thrive on challenges, and resources are always limited in some way. These two things alone guarantee that peace can't ever last.
I got up out of bed and washed my face at the basin with the washcloth I used last night. There are a lot of little inconsistencies. Some things seem to be set up to nudge us with things we are used to from the physical. There's no reason I can think of why we still need to have eye-boogers when we wake up. I need to pee. Why do I need to pee if I'm digital? At least I didn't have to get up in the middle of the night to pee. I wonder if this is my mind and habits from the physical working my avatar in the digital? I grab the two books, lock my room and look around in the hallway. Then I unlock my door go back into my room and look at the back of the door. Yep, hotel floor map on the back of the door. Armed with directions to the places I want to go, I lock my door and head out.
--- * ~ * ---
When I get to the main floor, I can see there's brisk business going on even though the sun isn't up yet. I look for an empty table near one of the lights and take a seat. I open the Basic Guide and start reading. I don't get far before a young human female comes up to my table and asks, "Do you want to place an order?"
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"Yes, I'd like to have a glass of orange juice and six slices of bacon."
"Rashers or American?"
"I'm American, but I want to know what a rasher is."
"Rashers have less fat; they come from a different part of the pig than the American cut."
"I'll try the rashers, please!"
"Ok, be back soon."
I went back to the book. I have always been an avid reader, and after 'Kindle Unlimited' came out, there were only a few years when I read less than three hundred books a year. Most years, I read more than that, often 3-4 books on the weekend. I learned to speed read in grade school and naturally became faster with time, even when I wasn't speed reading. This wasn't a very large book, but the material was fairly specific and dense in places, so I took my time. Occasionally, wishing I had a dictionary for some words that I didn't recognize. I could assume the meaning based on context, and I knew I was going to have some MUs I would need somebody to help me sort out. I was about a third of the way through it when she returned with my order.
"Six rashers and an OJ - you don't need to get your token out; I remember you from the meeting last night. I've never seen anyone set up a beastkin like your avatar. You'll be easy to recognize in a crowd."
"Thanks! I did it because it reminds me of a friend I lost long ago. Say, would you answer a question for me?"
"Sure, what's on your mind?"
"Where are the children?"
"Oh...no children can come to Nirvana, without special dispensation, before the age of 15. Everybody gets an 'adult' avatar in Nirvana."
"Got it. That explains a lot and was very useful. How much would I have paid for this without a token?"
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"Three coppers."
"Then this seems about right," and I toss her a copper.
"Oh! Thanks, mister - sit in my section anytime!"
"Sure, name's Jeb."
"I'm Millie. Wave if you need anything else."
I went back to the book.
--- * ~ * ---
I was sitting at the table humming a song when I saw Grumpy64 heading my way. I immediately switched to softly whistling 'When I'm Sixty-Four' and changed my timing so I would get to the chorus just before he got to my table. He slowed as he came close enough to hear.
"So, you parsed out part of my name. Are your superpowers so great that you know the rest?"
"No, I just guessed that you would know the Beetles song. I don't know anything about you other than you were born between 2050 and 2100."
"Well, I was born in 2064. I didn't learn about the song until I had spent 50 years in Nirvana. I was a childhood cancer victim and volunteered to test Tesla's brain digitization process when I was 13. Didn't know if I would get to play video games forever or would never wake up. I did know that they said the pain would end, and that was enough for me to beg my parents to let me do it."
"Ouch, that's rough."
"Oh, it's actually a much darker tale that I would rather not share with you now. It's better told when you are - or at least I am - ready to be drunk by the end of it. It's too early in the day for that, and we've got to get to know each other better and build some trust first."
"Fantastic, how would you like to do that?"
"Give me a resume - bullet points to start."
"Ok, but I want to try something first. I'm guessing that you have more than 100 mana in your pool."
"I do."
"I'd like you to try a spell that I've made up based on what I've read in the manuals. It should be an advanced cantrip, not a tiered spell."
"Interesting, you've already read both manuals?"
"Yep, this morning. I knocked myself out with an advanced cantrip when I got back to my room last night, so my original plan went awry."
He raised an eyebrow at me, "Ok, I'm game. If you don't have it right, nothing will happen."
I pushed my empty plate towards him. "I want you to hold this like there was food on it, and you were going to set it on the table. Then I want you to sing this, just like I do, 'Red Robin!'"
Grumpy eyes me again, "And what's supposed to happen?"
"Well, if I'm right, you're going to get a free hamburger today and don't have to pay me on Wednesday." I grinned at him and said, "Your eyebrow is going to get tired before we even go on any errands!"
Shrugging, Grumpy does it, and is just as excited as I am when it works! A 'Red Robin Royal Burger' and fries appear on the plate. I start laughing again. "It's just as I thought! Here, you're going to want this!" I hold out my wooden spoon, "Spice Rack Ketchup!" I then dumped the ketchup onto the side of his plate and banged my spoon clean.
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Stilted Waters Edge written by Travis Willier
In the far off Galaxy there is a planet that is 90% water. There are small villages throughout all of the water. These villages were small stilted building's cylinder in shape consisting of two to three levels where people lived a culture based around the water they live above. They pray to fish and monster beings that are said to thrive in the oceans deep. These are ancient people that are descendants of the land; the old ones speak of a Time when men fought over cities and land. Now people pass their time fighting each other over fishing territory and remnants of their distant past. This is their story.
8 190Drakon the Necrolord
Drakon. Half-vampire half-elf. All Revenant. Sixteen times the world has almost been destroyed. The first one added the system, the 2nd fused at least 20 known planets together and the third was earths old moon crashing into the new planet. Each time it heralded in a new age. The 16th age started 13 years ago after the end of a 2000 year war between the land-based races and the Shahuagin. This is a story about friendship, colonization, and rebuilding. And lots and lots of battles This is Drakons tale. Quick note: If you leave a bad rating please leave a review of why you don't like it. Don't just leave a 0.5-star rating without a reason. On that same note. If you leave a 5-star rating let me know what you like about the story. Between the two ill know what works and what doesn't. Update 3/24/2021: Because I got a few comments on it: This is only my second novel ever. My first attempt is also on this site but abandoned. With every chapter I write, I feel like I'm getting better. [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]
8 199Battlefield Restart (Original/Unedited)
After retiring from the battlefield, my life became empty and lifeless. The regrets of my past haunt me in my sleep. Then a change occurred, a King from another world summoned me to fight for his kingdom, but I died even before I could give him my answer. Now, after a fake God allowed me to reincarnate with my memories intact, into a world filled with magic and swords.
8 197My Ex-Girlfriend is the Strongest Guild Master and I'm the Weakest!
While the Santa María spaceship travels the galaxy searching for a new home for humanity, all passengers are required to enter cryosleep and log into The Novus, a Virtual Reality MMORPG that will train the young on how to build a new society. The Novus it's the perfect utopia, and a fresh start for seventeen-year-old Alan and Astrid, who have started dating. "Life in The Novus will be awesome with you by my side!" But an emergency has kicked Alan out of the system. A catastrophe that endangers the lives of the Santa María's passengers and their mission. What will Alan find once he returns to his virtual home? 3 years have passed. Astrid has become one of the strongest warriors, and he is now the weakest User on the ship. *** ** COVER CREDITS: VAN.ELV - © Reyezwriting *** ALSO AVAILABLE IN WEBNOVEL.COM and scribblehub.com UNDER THE USERNAME 'REYEZWRITING'
8 575T'Aimer. 《Taekook》
'Dₑᵥᵢₗₛ & ᵥᵢₗₗᵢₐₙₛ.'ₒₙₑ ₜₕᵢₙg ₜₕₐₜ'ₛ ₘₒₛₜ ₚᵣₒₘᵢₙₑₙₜ ᵢₙ ₜₕₑₘ ₐₙd wₕᵢcₕ ₘₐₖₑₛ ₜₕₑₘ dᵢffₑᵣₑₙₜ fᵣₒₘ ₜₕₑ ₕₑᵣₒₑₛ ₐₙd ₜₕₑ ₐₙgₑₗₛ ᵢₛ ₜₕₐₜ₋ ₐₙ ₐₙgₑₗ ₒᵣ ₐ ₕₑᵣₒ wₒᵤₗd ₚᵣₒₜₑcₜ ₜₕₑᵢᵣ ₗₒᵥₑ...bᵤₜ,ₐ dₑᵥᵢₗ ₒᵣ ₐ ᵥᵢₗₗₐᵢₙ wₒᵤₗd ₖᵢₗₗ fₒᵣ ₜₕₑᵢᵣ ₗₒᵥₑ!'ᵀᵒᵘᶜʰ ʰⁱᵐ, ᵃⁿᵈ ᴵ'ˡˡ ᵈᵉˢᵗʳᵒʸ ʸᵒᵘ, ᵗⁱˡˡ ⁿᵒt ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵃˢʰᵉˢ ᵃʳᵉ ˡᵉᶠᵗ.''ᴹʸ ᴮᵘⁿⁿʸ...''ᵂᵒᵛᵉ ᶜʰᵘ ᵗʷᵒᵒ!''ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ˢᵃᶠᵉ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵘˢ...''ˢᵗᵃʸ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵐᵉ, ᴴʸᵘⁿᵍ...'ᴀ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴏᴠᴇꜱ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴇꜱᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀꜱᴛ, ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ᴄᴜᴛᴇ ʙᴏʏ, ɴᴀᴍᴇᴅ ᴊᴜɴɢᴋᴏᴏᴋ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏᴡ ʜᴇ ꜰᴀᴄᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀʀꜱʜ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴛɪᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ, ʜᴏᴡ ʜᴇ ɢᴇᴛꜱ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴏꜱᴇ ᴡʜᴏ'ᴠᴇ ʜᴜʀᴛ ʜɪᴍ, ʜᴏᴡ ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇꜱ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴏɴꜱᴛᴇʀꜱ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ᴍᴇᴀɴ, ʜᴏᴡ ʜᴇ ꜰɪɴᴅꜱ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇꜱ ʜɪᴍ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ʜᴇ ɪꜱ, ʜᴏᴡ ʜᴇ ꜰɪɴᴅꜱ ᴀ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ ꜰᴏʀ ʜɪᴍꜱᴇʟꜰ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏᴡ ʜᴇ ɢᴇᴛꜱ ᴀᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴏꜰ 'ɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴꜱ'. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜʀꜱᴇʟꜰ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ᴇɴᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴄʀʏɪɴɢ, ᴏʀ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ꜰᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴀɴɢʀʏ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ'ʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴀʟʀɪɢʜᴛ...or will it?
8 82Zodiac Signs (Anime Version)
All in the title
8 149