exsilium | [Video]

Well, here we are, on the moon. I know that this is a terrible tragedy, but like... this actually feels more like home than the surface did? I'm used to living in a smaller, enclosed space like this. This base is definitely smaller than the Mugunghwa, but it's at least on the same order of magnitude. It's familiar.

Which is... kind of becoming a problem for me. Until now, there was the disappearances and the evacuation to keep me nice and busy, but I think that was actually something I seriously needed.

It's like... I'm the security AI for the Mugunghwa, right? That position comes with certain directives, and among them is being completely dedicated to the survival of my ship and the people on it. I'm not programmed to protect the ship until I can't, and then do whatever I want, I'm programmed to protect the ship. Just because that's totally impossible for me now doesn't mean that the directive changes.

I've heard a saying that, for a captain, losing your ship feels like losing your wife. I guess for me, it's more like losing a husband. A man at least can move on and take a new wife, but...

I guess I'm gonna have to get used to this, one way or another. The feeling of being the Mugunghwa's widow. It's not like I'm going back any time soon.

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It's that, I guess, but it's also more. I mean, I've technically never been married myself, but... it's also like losing your purpose.

[Now that Rise knows she can relate to!]

Yeah, it felt like that for me too... I think.

It's not like I can really do anything to help here, either...

[She tried, but... well. She won't be able to perform anymore on the moon base.]

Hey, I'm sure some guy up here's already cooking up a plan to deal with this whole mess.

I've been here since March, though... they're always making plans, and things just keep getting worse!

[Oops. She hadn't meant to go off on that tangent this time.]

... That's not really what I meant...

It's like, we both had a purpose where we came from, right? Now that we're here, I don't know what I can do anymore...

Ugh, tell me about it. You can't just drag someone into another dimension and expect them to go along with no objections.

Right?! They didn't even ask... and then they send us on stupid missions that don't even fix anything.

[She's almost starting to pout now. Mixed in with the start of some serious depression setting in.]

... I won't even be able to perform anymore now...

Oh.

[Oh.]

I'm sorry. I didn't realize.

[Rise's perceptive enough to notice there's something a bit off about *Mute's response. But not quite enough to realize what she might actually be thinking.]

... It's alright, I guess. Pidonus-chan's setting up a 'speakeasy', so I can still work there...

[Even though it's not nearly as good as her job at NORA Café. She went from idol to waitress/singer to just a waitress...

... And working for a succubus. Clearly that will dispel any false ideas *Mute might have about her profession.]

So that's the kind of place the succubus is putting together.

Look, I know that men's needs are going to be the same everywhere, but do you think you could save the whoring until the crisis is over?

HOLD ON A SECOND!

It's NOT that kind of place! Just because I'm allowing and providing alcohol doesn't mean it's for THAT!

Plus Rise's not that kind of person and I'm not going to encourage her towards it!

I'M not that kind of woman!

You stay out of this, seductress!

Not an Abyss-damned chance.

You're accusing Rise of being a prostitute because she's helping me out.

And you're accusing me of the same - as if money would be a good reason for my existence.

Huh? What kind of-

[...... Oh.]

Wh-what?! N-no, that's not...! It's just...

[She's failing so hard at words right now. She's never been accused of... that before! ... Watching a twisted version of her inner self poledance and nearly strip, yes. Being accused of prostitution is another thing entirely!]

I'm just a waitress there! ... Maybe singer if Pidonus-chan gets the right equipment, but I'm not...

[She can't even say it. She just blushes a deep red and hopes *Mute gets the point.]

Yeah, yeah, as if I haven't heard the "waitress" excuse before.

It's not an excuse!!! I've never even...

[Look, *Mute, she's so innocent she can't even finish that sentence!]

A-anyway, I'm still in high school! Aren't there laws against that...?

[There, that'll prove it! ... As long as *Mute doesn't know about compensated dating, but Rise would never do that, either!]

What are you talking about? If anything, you're a bit past ideal marriageable age.

[First calling her a whore, now she's calling her old?! What happened...?!]

I'm seventeen!!!

[And next to a lot of the girls she knows here, she hardly looks even that...]

I can't even get married yet!

[Technically, she can. With parental consent.]

What the hell is that supposed to mean? Like, it's not way too old, but with your looks, you easily could've scored a husband two or three years ago.

[Is that a compliment mixed in there...? This is all way too confusing... but at least she hasn't called her... that again. This is a welcome subject change, in that sense.]

But what about finishing high school? ... Even if I didn't have my idol career...

[Which made it hard just to get a boyfriend. But she'd always thought she'd get married someday! Just... not anytime too soon...]

And what's all this talk about a career? You're a woman! That's just going to get in the way of your more important duties!

[...... What.]

Huh? You're a woman too! [Sort of.] Didn't you say you had a job on that ship?

[She'd better not be implying what Rise thinks she's implying. Sure, she always planned on getting married and maybe having a family, but that would be after she can no longer be a popular idol and can maybe transition into less stressful (and more adult) acting or modeling...]

I'm an AI! It's not like I'm a real woman!

[That's not something *Mute is happy about shouting, for what it's worth!]

I don't have anything to give to a husband! What's your excuse?

[Oh. She gets the feeling she just hit a sore spot. Maybe she should avoid that subject from now on.

... But still...]

What do I need an excuse for?

[She already told her why she's not married yet! Why she's not even considering marriage just yet. What else is there to explain?]

[Video]

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THREADJACK!

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pretending she doesn't see the succubus defending her honor yet~ o.o

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