I spend the rest of the night keeping busy until Fara gets home. Don't give my negative thoughts a chance to intrude again. Over a dinner of veggie omelets, I excitedly tell her how I got a job and I'm starting on Monday.

“Oh my god, I'm so happy for you, Ray!” she cheers. “How are you feeling?”

“Good, I've been good. Trying not to let any bad thoughts get to me.”

“I'm glad to hear that.” Her face is practically glowing.

Dinner goes on with a much lighter mood all around. Allie and Simini look relieved too.

“So, I... kind of wanted to reward myself...” I start, nervous when Fara arcs a brow at me questioningly. She won't tell me that I'm stupid and I shouldn't be playing games, will she? I swallow. Keep breathing... “I, umm, wanted to play Planes of Oblivion again, so... uhh, yeah.” I don't know what else to say. My heart starts clenching, preparing for the coming ridicule.

“Sounds good.” She holds a soft smile on her face. I feel lightheaded. She didn't say anything bad or insult me. Of course she didn't. Fara never insults me. Why did I even think she would? What is wrong with me?

No, no bad thoughts now. Have to keep moving forward.

“C-cool.” Deep breaths.

Fara's eyes shift, she can tell I'm struggling, but she just holds that same reassuring smile. “I'll be playing over the weekend too. Let's meet up in game. I'll wait for you in the Lenarlil west plaza, alright?”

We get to play together?! I don't think I've ever felt so happy before! I must be glowing, the other girls are eyeing me strangely. I'm not being weird, am I? Is it bothering them? I should tone it down, shouldn't I? Being too happy can't be good, can it? What if I shouldn't be?

“So,” Fara's voice cuts through my rising panic. “I'm about this tall,” gesturing with her hand to show the approximate height. Maybe a bit shorter than average, but probably taller than her normal height; it's hard to tell with her sitting. “Black hair in braids, green... kind of like monk robes.”

“Ok,” I nod, “I'm a pink catgirl.”

There's a pause, just for a moment. Fara blinks once. Then, “Alright, I'll see you then.” It's Allie and Simini who look rapidly between us, like they're dying to hear more.

We finish up with dinner, and I do my absolute best to hold down my excitement so I don't bother the girls again, as we wash the dishes. Then we settle in for the night.

“Alright Ray, I'll see you in-game. My character name is Lara.”

“See you there. And I'm Mei.”

“Got it.”

We both lie down, sinking off to sleep while the game starts up. Everything fades gradually to black, and I'm met once more with the sweet relief of nonexistence.

Welcome to Planes of Oblivion

There's a short delay after the opening text, before my awareness settles into my body, and I'm lying down. My eyes flutter slowly open and I sit up, stretching my new body. I rub my arms and flap my ears. I'm Mei again. When I feel something, I bring a hand to my face. Am I... crying? A few sobs come out, before I rub my hands at my face and give my whole body a shake.

Now isn't the time for this! Even if they are tears of joy! I take a minute to calm down and wipe my eyes. God, I feel so much better...

“Come on, have to get up,” I mumble, wiping away the last of my tears. With a big breath, I'm stable and centered. Ready to go. When I look around at the wooden walls and the stiff mattress under me in the tiny shoebox room, I assume I'm at an inn. Is there where it logs you in?

I spot a key on the tiny bedside table, so I grab it and head downstairs. There's a bar here, and I put a hand to my stomach, but don't really feel hungry. How long can you go between meals here anyway? Does it count time you're offline? It must not, since I'd be starving by now, right?

The barkeep waves pleasantly, as does the bald man behind the front counter where it looks like they rent out the rooms. Boris, I think.

“Going out for the evening?” he asks as I approach.

“Yeah.” I slide him the key over the counter and chirp, “See ya.” He lifts an brow, but when I wave and smile, he returns it and sees me out. I walk into the pleasant, late afternoon breeze of the city. There are people moving all around, the pleasant buzz of the crowd in the air. I grin to myself, just... glad to be here. To exist.

“Now which way is the plaza...?” I look around as I wonder. It's a big city and I totally don't know where I'm going. Fara- err, Lara told me to meet her in the west plaza, but there are plazas everywhere, with winding streets stretching in every direction between them.

“Excuse me,” I call out to a man passing by in heavy armor, “which way is the west plaza?”

“West plaza? Over that way.” He points and sends me on my way.

“Thanks a lot,” I call back, bouncing toward my destination. As soon as I start walking through town, I find that I have a vague idea of the street layout, but I have to ask for directions a couple more times, finding out that the west plaza is a long way off.

I spend much of the walk staring at the other people milling all around. Some just look like peasants, so I'm thinking NPCs, and some others in green starter gear like mine, but those groups are the vast minority. Pretty much everyone else is amazing, with impressive fantasy clothing.

Like I noticed before, there are a lot of humans, but that just makes the other races stand out more. Like myself, apparently. Not to mention that besides me, most everyone else is limited to generally realistic hair colors. There are some pretty bright reds similar to Kelly's, and very yellow blonds, but nothing that out there. Even if I'm weirdly albino, how on earth did I get hair in bubblegum pink?

That gets me to wondering about my character, which reminds me, I haven't set my Title yet. Which menu would that be... Buried under the character information section, I eventually manage to find it. “Alright, Titles... Hmm?”

Available Titles

Dissonant

Bug Spotter

Outsider

Plane Walker

There are titles missing, aren't there? I swear should I have 'Cursed One' at least, right? Because supposedly I have a curse. Was I misremembering when I made that recording? No way, I did it within seconds so I wouldn't forget... And what about the others? I take a moment, but it's been like a week; I can't remember them off the top of my head. But there were definitely more, which aren't listed either. A bunch of questions and no answers...

The other big thing: Dissonant is in bright, glowing gold. Is it related to an Affinity somehow...? I tap on it skeptically so it will come up with the info window.

Dissonant

That's it? Seriously? It's blank! When I go back and tap the next one, it gives a whole description!

Bug Spotter – Awarded for reporting a game bug.

Provides a tiny boost to all base stats, and creates a visual glow around character.

The difference between the two is just too stark. Why is it like that? Of course, there's no answer, so I grudgingly move on and check the others.

Outsider I remember once it comes up – given for traveling to another region, increases movement speed and stamina. Then it turns out Plane Walker comes from traveling to another world. The game takes place in Nirvalla, so I guess thanks to the support member, they counted my little stint out of bounds as actually traveling to Hexos, where the Oblivion are?

That's pretty cool. The Title even gives a boost to your Aura stat. I look over the info, humming to myself quietly as I go. But then my gaze inevitably turns back to the most suspicious of suspicious Titles. Bright and shiny with absolutely no information...

Well, I'm most of the way to the west plaza already, so I may as well. I'll switch it with Bug Spotter or Plane Walker for the stat buffs if it's nothing useful.

But... What if it has something to do with my supposed Curse? Maybe I should ignore it for now...? Just as I'm considering changing my mind, I spot someone in the plaza straight ahead. Even with her hair black and face looking nothing like it does in real life, I know that's Fara. Lara in this world.

I wave away my menu and pick up my pace. Of course she's already spotted me, I don't exactly blend into crowds. “Hi, Lara,” I call with an excited wave when I come in range.

“Wow, when you said pink catgirl, I don't know what I was expecting,” she laughs as she looks me up and down in open wonder. Just like she said, her hair is raven black, tied into two braids behind her. It's a little hard to tell under the baggy, vaguely monk-looking robes, but her figure is simultaneously more plump and curvy than in real life, giving her that balance between sexy and cute I couldn't hit myself.

Real life Fara is way more... solid and intimidating, I think. Even though she's always a big softy with me.

She also has a number of little multicolor lights floating around her. Red, green, blue, gray, purple... there are a variety of them. I've noticed other people with some, but she has a lot more than anyone else. I have a little gray one I've spotted around me from time to time, what are they for exactly...?

“Well, my goal was to make money by streaming or something, so I wanted to be as cute as I could. That kind of went out the window with- you know.” Not thinking about that now. “But she really came out great, don't you think? I do a little spin so she can see me from all sides and grin at her, tail swishing excitedly.

Then I stop, ears perking straight up. “Actually, I forgot to turn my stream on when I got here. Not that I really need to stream now, but I could still use the money if I become successful and there are some people who started watching that were pretty nice. Even if the room wound up crowded out by the Dana Corp staff...” I ramble as I think about it.

“Woah woah woah, slow down,” Lara waves her hands, blinking at me rapidly. “You're going a hundred miles an hour and I fell off three blocks back. You're a streamer? And what about Dana Corp?”

“Oh, ok, sorry, let me explain. But first I'll start my stream. If anyone's still around, they could probably use the explainer too.”

“Sure, sure,” she nods, while I swipe through a few menus to double check the settings and get the stream started back up.

As soon as the tiny camera light appears, I wave up at it. “Hi, I'm back. Sorry, I had some real life stuff so I wasn't around for a bit.” I pause, then blink. I started it seven seconds ago, literally no one is watching this.

Whatever.

With a short exchange, we start on our way from the plaza, angling toward one of the city gates. I swing the camera up and behind to look down on us as we go. “Alright, so some stuff happened when I started playing...”

“Geez, Mei,” Lara balks when I finish my tale. “You've been busy. So what did you do after getting to town?”

“Well, that part didn't go too smoothly. I don't have any gear, so I can't exactly fight. I started working in various shops to get enough for some starter gear.”

“What do you use?”

“Bow.”

“Let's see...” she hums quietly to herself and starts going through her menu. “I should have some of those... How about this?” With a tap, a bow materializes with a dark purple glow, directly in her hand.

The bow is small and doesn't really look like much, the kind of thing a trash mob might use. About the size of my torso, since I'm very small. It would be a toy for someone larger, but should work as a shortbow for me. In dark matte gray, it's ugly, but functional.

“Is it alright?” I ask, a little uncertain. She's always paying for stuff in the real world, I don't want Mei to be a leech too.

Of course Lara dismisses my concern. “I have literally no use for it. It's just vendor trash to me.” Oh, that's fine then. But I still don't want it for free.

“I'll buy it from you then. How much?”

“Eh?” she blinks in surprise. “Like, umm...” She pauses to scratch one finger against her cheek. “About fifty gold?”

“Sure,” I respond immediately, going through my inventory to withdraw the money. I have a couple thousand in my inventory, so buying vendor trash is totally doable for me.

Once we swap items, Lara says, “Now, you're also going to need a quiver and arrows. I know a good weapon shop.” We swing off our original path, weaving through the other people all clustered together in the maze-like city streets, until we arrive at the shop.

Lara leads me inside, calling out, “Hey, Ryvas.”

“Hey there, Lara!” a man answers from behind the counter, drawing a few short looks from other customers before they return to their business. “What brings you here today? Break another sword?”

“No, no,” she laughs, but has a sullen expression in her gaze for a moment as she looks off to the side. “I need a basic, starter quiver and arrows.” She steps aside so he can see me, with a gesture like 'tada!' I get a better look at the man too. Bald head, even though he only looks to be in his thirties. He isn't that bulky, so I wonder if he's actually some sort of smith or not. Not that looks would matter in a game...

“Oh, I get it. Showing a newbie the ropes. Good on you.” With a point, he directs me over to one corner of the shop. “Starter stuff's right over there, miss.”

“Thanks.” I nod and head that way.

As I'm walking away, he goes on, speaking to Lara more quietly, but still loud enough I can hear him. “So, you picked up a streamer girl? How'd that happen?”

“She's Mei, my- sister.” Her pause is so slight I doubt anyone else would catch it. Oh god, she probably caught herself before calling me her brother on my stream. She's obviously already caught on that I don't want to blow it, I have to thank her for that later.

“For real? You never told me you had a sister. Such a cute one too,” he laughs raucously.

“Come on ya jerk.” I can hear her rolling her eyes. “That's just her character in here, it's not like it has to look like her. I bet you're way uglier in 'real life.'” She throws a strange amount of emphasis on that though, like she's being sarcastic.

“Oh, you wound me!” he cries, and I glance back to see him making an overly dramatic pose, one hand to his heart, the other up in the air. I can't help but giggle to myself at their antics. I had no idea she already had friends in game. I wonder who else she knows?

When I reach the corner of the store, a flashing notification catches my attention and I pull up my stream. “Geh...” I have some viewers again, but most of them are staff this time too. Looks like that flash was from [DC]Fraggar joining my channel. “Hi... you guys.” I narrow my eyes at the camera to let them know I'm on to them.

' Good to see you back, Mei.'

' Hope you've been doing better.'

“Not bad,” I try to shrug off the not-so-subtle concern. While shuffling the camera and chat window further off to the side, I look up and down the wall mounted displays, selecting the cheapest quiver I see. It's some shoddy looking leather thing, and I have serious concerns that if it was a real one, there'd be holes in the bottom for the arrows to fall out. Starter gear's gonna be starter gear, huh?

On a shelf nearby, I find the cheapest arrows. Or... arrow. There's only one. Well, the sign right next to it says it's a stack of two hundred, so I take it too and head back to the counter. Just the two items will make a dent in my savings, but being able to farm monsters should fix that soon enough. Lara and Ryvas are still bickering when I get back, about weapon prices or something.

“Here, thanks,” I place the arrow and quiver on the counter and watch the price come up as I open my inventory. Two hundred seventy gold. I pull out the necessary amount, which materializes already in its own little cloth sack, and hand it over.

“Good doing business with you,” he responds courteously, even offering a small bow while I'm storing the items.

“If only he was so nice all the time,” Lara takes a jab at him.

“Some times are just more pleasant than other times,” he bites right back. I want to ask how long these two have known each other, but... No, I have a better idea.

“Well I'm glad you had a good time,” I throw into their conversation, with a grin and a cute cat pose. “Wait, that sounded bad...” I mutter when I realize.

But that's besides the point. I can tell when it works, because there's a flash of light around me for a moment. Didn't notice that last time... A little golden light particle sparks into existence around each of them too. Ryvas snorts, and Lara's jaw hits the floor. He soon taps on the light the same way I remember Kelly doing, his snort turning into full-blown laughter. Are those glowing things buff indicators?

“She has a trigger for being cute!” he manages between laughs. Even the other patrons are fighting to contain themselves.

“Who are you and what have you done with my- sister?” Lara makes another micropause, still with wide, disbelieving eyes.

I shrug, trying not to react to her concern. “I'm Mei right now. I can be like this when I'm her.”

“That's...” Lara closes her eyes, takes a very deep breath, then addresses me again. “Alright, we can talk about this later. Preferably without the audience.” We both glance to the camera. Right...

“Yeah... good point.” I nod stiffly. Even though they aren't typing anything in chat, I'm already imagining the dozen or so watchers staring at me through my stream camera. With a flick of my tail, I swat it around behind me so they can't see my face.

“Let's just keep playing for now.” Lara waves, getting us on our way out of the shop. “See ya later, Ryvas!” she shouts back on our way out the door.