'Just when I thought I was getting a break, something decides to happen. What is it now?' I thought as the void let out three quick beeps. 'Now I know how Aubrey felt. The prick.' I spun in my seat as I had my ranting inner monologue. Mumsy headed back over looking about as happy as I was.
"It looks like your next victim, ah hum, I mean, avatar seems to be loaded." she said covering her mouth, and clearing her throat like she had something stuck in it.
"Hardy, Har, Har." I fake laughed. "You are so insensitive. Louhan just passed, show some respect." I said with much sorrow, but inwardly I thought, 'Damn, I really can't kill another one.'.
She flash bombed me again as she made her way back into the computer, then scoffed, "I am just trying to toughen you up a bit, you are too weak and sour. You are a system, and you have influence over the whole realm. Stop whining."
I know she makes a valid point, but I refuse to acknowledge anything coming out of that spiteful little mouth.
As she chastised me and I started to recover from a douse of black dots swimming in my freshly blinded eyes, the screen changed. She snapped her fingers bringing up a load screen of a cutting board with a knife chopping vegetables. A pile of colorful veggies was tossed in a salad bowl with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Mumsy, then, hit another magically appearing dinner bell and yell, "Order up!"
The headset lit up with vibrant colors and a hum of energy. I went to put it on and stopped myself to look at Mumsy. "Hey, Mumsy. Quick question?" I asked.
"Yes, what is it?" she replied in her virtual body on the screen.
"What's with the load screen thing? This is the void so is it really necessary?" I remarked, suspicion creeping up on me.
She immediately started fiddling with her apron and bandanna. "Well of course its needed." She scoffed as she looked everywhere but at me. "Aesthetics are very important you know."
"Aesthetics? Are you kidding me? We have been sitting here for like thirty minutes for you to make a salad?! You have been wasting my time, making me watch repetitive load screens for nothing? What is my avatar needs me in a hurry, and I am over here watching you make hamburger steak or something?" I snapped at her. "Nope, no more. From now on you are punished from using load screens as a way for you to cook!"
She huffed, and visibly pouted with her arms crossed over her chest. She seemed more annoyed then sorry.
'What the hell was Aubrey thinking giving me this person as an assistant. The pair of them are useless.'
**Flash to Aubrey being waited on at a cafe**
"Excuse me, kind person, is something the matter?" the waiter said in a squeaky tone, obviously flustered by Aubrey's good looks. It was clear something had annoyed the beautiful customer. Possibly a fly, because they moved their hand to their ear like they were swatting away something. They then picked up their cup and saucer to take a sip, but it was an opportunity to speak to such a glorious person.
Hearing the question, Aubrey looked up after sipping from the cup and wore a genuine smile that made the waiter's legs nearly fold from beneath them. "Oh, it's nothing to concern yourself with, just thinking of how glad I am to be on vacation."
**Back at the void**
I caught a bad shiver.
"What is going on with you?" Mumsy asked with what seemed like concern or more likely just trying to change the subject.
"I have this odd feeling that Aubrey just decided to extend his vacation." I moaned. Slouching, I went to put my headset on. "Here we go, I guess."
*Swoosh*
The first thing I noticed was the sound of waves crashing against some rocks. 'This is more open and refreshing than a dark dense forest.'
The scene before me was warm. I was laying in the sand looking up to a vast ocean. It was really beautiful and I had a good feeling about it. 'This for sure is going to be a better go around, I am starting out with a new skill so I can communicate. Yeah, this will be great!'
Just then the sand started to move at my left. There was a huge mound the size of a car rising up from under the sand. 'WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?' I managed to yell in my head this time to not scare my avatar.
"Uhhh, is it just me or does that look like a sea turtle?" Mumsy answered.
I looked really closely and, yeah, she was right. It is a sea turtle. 'Wait...Don't tell me...' Ignoring the sinking pit in my stomach, I looked up at the top, reluctantly, to see basic characteristics.
{No Name; Baby sea turtle}
"Fuck" < >
I changed my perspective and was looking at a freshly hatched baby turtle. It was sitting on the surface of the sand exhausted from the climb up. As I looked at it dumbfounded, trying to understand why I got a freaking turtle as my user, I saw a massive shadow swoop by like a huge plane just zoomed by overhead.
"Double fuck! SEAGULLS!! RUN!!"
'No, no, no, I can't go through this again, even if it is a turtle it's still my avatar. You can't die on me!' I inwardly screamed in my head panicked.
Skill activated: Claircognizance
{User feels impending doom.}
'No! Shit that's not what I was saying! Shit what do I do?!"
Skill activated: Claircognizance
{User feels hopelessness.}
*Face-palm smack*