WEEK 1 || ACT: MINGLE

[foundationmods]

Monday comes onto the snowy town, though it still looks as if it's 'night' as ever.

Then again, you are underground. That's just to be expected, considering no natural light can get down here in the first place. The Monsters around you are just as friendly as ever, and there's so much to explore.

But, there is also that ever-looming threat. Still, it doesn't seem like anyone here could do such a thing as summon something to eat this world....right?

Well. You still have time to figure it out.

...In fact, you'll have nothing but time.


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[ugly_split_ends]

...

[Not sure how to approach, so she'll just sorta stare for a while.]

[dereban]

[She'll notice the presence, although she seems a lot calmer than usual.]

. . . Did you want something?

[ugly_split_ends]

W-What, I'm not allowed to be near the r-river?

[...]

...Kinda.

[dereban]

... No.

I just thought it'd be strange if you were staring at me the whole time if you wanted to be near the river, is all.

[A beat, and then-] Well, what is it?

[ugly_split_ends]

...

[She'll get a little closer and sit down.]

... So...

If someone... y-you know... if someone came to you asking for advice... relationship advice...

Would you give it?

[dereban]

... I would, actually.

Although bear in mind my advice might be a little different from the advice that some others might get, so take it as you will.

[ugly_split_ends]

...I can't exactly be picky at the moment.

...

I... think I've committed adultery.

[dereban]

....What?

[ugly_split_ends]

T-This is a big deal, okay! I don't know what to do.

I'm... very dedicated to my Master, but... apparently...

[she trails off, mumbling incoherently.]

[dereban]

... Okay - backtrack a little bit.

Who, exactly, are we talking about here?

[Also she raises a brow at 'master' in a way that's basically telling of wow that sure is a kink all on its own.]

[ugly_split_ends]

Ah, right, I guess I better give you some background.

In my world I work for my beloved Master, Byakuya-sama. He's not here, but I know he'd approve of me helping out here. If I show I can do a good job, he'll let me join the Future Foundation as a full member.

[She starts to hold her chest, stare off into space, and drool.]

Yes... he's truly the ideal man. Handsome. Intelligent. Kind. A true nobleman in the modern age. Men like him only come around once in a generation... once in a century!

All I need to do is stop Genocider Shou from killing another human being ever again. Then we'll go on our first date together. We'll both reach for the same cucumber sandwich at the same time. Our hands will happen to meet. We'll share an intimate moment which will blossom into so much more...

[Deep breathing now as Fukawa heads off into her own little world.]

Y-Yes... I always loved you too, Byakuya-sama... Oh... but you're so bold... right here...? In the open air...?

[dereban]

[...]

"The ideal man", huh...

[She isn't sure on what to say here, if only because she's never met the man and she's sure that her perception might be skewed by bias.

But it sounds like they're not dating yet...

Which is why she tries to snap her fingers in front of Fukawa to catch her attention back.]

Okay, so - who's the other person? The one you're supposedly 'committing' adultery with?

[She has an idea, but she isn't going to assume.]

[ugly_split_ends]

Oh, God... yes. A thousand times, yes.

[She'll finally blink back her fantasies after the finger snaps.]

...Well, I mean... there's more than a few hot guys here... I feel like just looking at them and thinking they're hot... it feels like I'm being unfaithful in spirit.

B-But what really made me scared is apparently Genocider Shou said she wouldn't mind killing King Solomon... that's scary. I know she won't do it, but...

W-What should I do? I'm committing adultery, aren't I? W-Will Master forgive me? Should I do something to atone?

[dereban]

I mean, there's a lot of attractive guys here, it's true. Besides... I'm sure that Gilgamesh would probably murder anyone who tried to touch Solomon.

As for the whole 'adultery' bit - I guess it depends? On how your 'Byakuya-sama' would feel about it. Obviously, I'm personally not touching any of the people who are taken for various amounts of reasons, but if I somehow found someone else I liked here and they liked me back, I'd go for it.

But that's only because I've already talked to Atsushi about how our relationship works.

[ugly_split_ends]

Ngggggh.... I don't know. I know I wouldn't like whatever reaction he had.

[Likely "Good, go pursue them instead," but she'd never admit that.]

Wait, you mean you two share an "open" relationship?

[dereban]

Well, if that's the case, then... don't gun for anyone.

[She nods at the question.]

And basically, yeah. Although Atsushi would probably be too embarrassed to actually say that aloud. But that's what we decided, back at the Hotel, because we didn't want to complicate things.

[ugly_split_ends]

"Gun" as a metaphor?

[She lets out a surprised blink at that.]

...I couldn't handle it. I'd get jealous.

[dereban]

Yes. I don't mean an actual, literal gun. In fact, I hate guns.

[They're the worst.]

I mean - I guess that's fair? Everyone's different, anyway, and it's not as if everyone's down for that sort of thing.

[ugly_split_ends]

R-Right. I'm not good with them, myself.

[A deep breath.]

I mean, there's definitely a sort of wish fulfillment in imagining yourself as an innocent heroine being pursued by two rivals, only for them to compete for your affection until you finally say "I can't choose! I must have both of you!" but even then, that's pretty sad from the others point of view. Not to mention a cliched ending that probably isn't gonna make it past the censors.

[A twitch.]

And if it's just languidly settling into a polyamory, there's no emotional tension or urgency. It's just... a few people maturely deciding you all can handle having multiple lovers? I think your case might be the first I've heard of that actually happening. Or at least, has the potential for it happening.

[dereban]

Ha...

Yeah, If it were something as cliche as that then maybe it'd be a little pathetic of me. A stupid, silly fairy tale ending that would suit my ridiculous name.

[Which she'd absolutely hate, so that's a hard pass on her part.]

But nah, there wasn't any fighting over anyone or anything that you'd probably expect from some harem series. Sure, there were things that I guess had 'emotional tension' and 'urgency', but it wasn't the romance, that's for sure.

[ugly_split_ends]

...I'd think good on you for living the dream, in that case.

[Or be jealous.]

So it's a relationship without romance? ...Wait, is it entirely physical?

[dereban]

It's definitely not like that!

What I meant was - that - there is romance, but... the 'emotional tension' wasn't that we were fighting over romantic things, but rather completely unrelated things!! I'm not just gonna go for a person just for their body, otherwise I'd be dating more people by now!

[ugly_split_ends]

Hehehehe... you're pretty confident, aren't you? You do have a sort of "cute girl next-door" look, but could that translate into having so many boyfriends you could show them off like rings on each finger and satisfy every kink you have each night?

[dereban]

... I'm not that kind of girl.

And since when did I fulfill the 'cute girl next door' trope...? I'm supposed to be the 'mature model type'. Besides, I care more about personality. I'm picky.

'Sides, if I wanted a harem, I'd want both boyfriends and girlfriends.

[ugly_split_ends]

Yeah... but you just assumed you could do it. It's like saying the only thing keeping you from walking on the moon is that you haven't decided to become an astronaut yet.

[she tilts her head] ...Is that even a type? How old are you, again?

...Seriously?