#stephsprite

This past month has been kind of the worst.

You’ve spent most it wandering around in the dark, looking for a mirror that’s somehow different from the hundreds of others you’ve encountered. Every single one looks exactly the same, though. You’re pretty sure you’ve walked halfway across the planet, and you’re no closer than when you started. You don’t even know if you’ve made any progress.

The consorts of the planet have tried to help, but they don’t know what you’re looking for any more than you do. Occasionally one of the panthers will plod over and direct you to a particular mirror. You’ll pull out the Chromatic Cleaver and call forth a ray of light onto the reflective surface, but nothing happens. You don’t even know if something is supposed to happen.

JAMES: Hey Steph, try this one.

That’s the other problem.

You haven’t had real time to yourself all month. Sometimes you have to wrap yourself in the Vanishing Veil just to go hide somewhere for a few minutes. It’s never long enough, though.

After spending three weeks with James, you’ve come to a conclusion.

He is really, really irritating.

For the first week, it was kind of nice to have somebody to discuss manga and anime with. As great as Steve is, he isn’t as devoted to Japanese culture as you are. You were able to have serious debates about the works of Satoshi Kon, even if he is totally wrong about when the group died in Happy Family Planning. Sure, he tended to ramble, and his taste is kind of one-dimensional, but it was actual conversation about things you like.

And the fight happened.

You’re still not sure exactly what occurred, but Steve and James ended up blocking each other on BadgerBud. James spent the next few days in a rage. He kept muttering expletives under his breath, and he punched a few of the mirrors (thankfully, only ones you’d already checked). You’re kind of scared of him now. He hadn’t ever showed any sign of explosive anger before.

And you’re pretty sure he’s got a weird crush on you. When you suggested after the fight that he spend some time on his own world to get his thoughts together, he insisted that hanging out with you was just what he needed. Then he wouldn’t leave your side for hours. Being around him is utterly exhausting.

And there’s the terrible jokes. They’re not even jokes, just stupid things he says. He thinks they’re funny or clever or something. You had hoped that if you stopped acknowledging them at all, he’d stop making them. Now he thinks he has to be even “funnier” to get your attention.

JAMES: Steph, where are you?

Now you’re hiding, hoping that maybe he’ll give up and go away.

He never does.

STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Steph! ♥ STEPHANIE: Shh! STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Why? ♥ STEPHANIE: I’m trying to hide from James. STEPHSPRITE: ♥ But he’s our friend! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ And he’s Steve’s best friend! ♥ STEPHANIE: I don’t care! He’s annoying, and I want to be left alone. STEPHANIE: So shut up and go away! STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Steph, that isn’t very nice! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ We should try to be nice to Steve’s friend so he’ll see how good we are! ♥ STEPHANIE: I don’t care! STEPHANIE: I’m tired of putting on that act, and I’m tired of dealing with him, and I’m tired of searching for this stupid mirror. STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Then don’t! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Use your brush and get through the Gate! ♥ STEPHANIE: And I’m tired of listening to you, too. STEPHSPRITE: ♥ But Steph! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ I’m trying to help! ♥ STEPHANIE: Well stop! STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Steph… ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ If you go through the Gate, you’ll go to the Land of Tides and Trials. ♥ STEPHANIE: I don’t care. STEPHSPRITE: ♥ But then you can see Steve and be happy again! ♥ STEPHANIE: I don’t need Steve to be happy!

Your sprite looks like she’s been slapped.

STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Wh… ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ …What? ♥ STEPHANIE: I’m perfectly capable of being happy on my own! STEPHANIE: I’m not some mopey bimbo who needs Steve to be complete. STEPHANIE: I’m not you. STEPHANIE: I hated you. Because you were happy, and I wasn't, and every time I looked at you it reminded me that I should be happy. STEPHANIE: But that's not right. STEPHANIE: I pity you. Because your happiness relies completely on Steve, and I don't need him. STEPHSPRITE: ♥ …You don’t like Steve anymore? ♥ STEPHANIE: Of course I do. STEPHANIE: I never stopped. STEPHANIE: But it doesn’t define me. STEPHANIE: Not anymore.

You stand up.

-- siliconSwashbucker [SS] began badgering intenseImpressionist [II] –

SS: Steph? SS: Are you okay? SS: You’ve been away for a while. I’m kind of worried. SS: Please answer.

--

You perk up. The pile of panthers you’re lying in gives a few dozy murmurs. They found you huddled against one of the many mirrors around your house and dropped into your lap, looking for attention. You’ve been scratching the ears of one for quite some time now.

--

II: Im here SS: Good. Everything okay? II: I guess SS: Do you want to talk about it? II: not really SS: Can I help? II: I dunno II: let me get up

--

You disentangle yourself from the cat pile, drawing a few grumpy complaints. The panther you were scratching gets up to follow you.

--

II: okay II: what do I have to do SS: You sure you’re okay? II: Ill live SS: Okay. If you want to be alone, I’ll understand. II: no II: we have to play this game right II: lets get started

--

You slip off the Vanishing Veil and brandish your Chromatic Cleaver. Red seems like a good color.

--

SS: I guess we should start by seeing if we can get you more grist. II: okay SS: Have you run into any imps? II: a couple II: Ill see if I can find more

--

Sure enough, you spot a few misshapen monstrosities in the shadows. Drawing up your courage, you charge.

Your hand moves into position, and you make swift, bold strokes. Two small notches, then two long that intersect.

火

Hi –  fire.

A brilliant red spark consumes the imp, and it burns down to a pile of grist.

You turn to the next. Down, an angle to the left, two strokes to the right.

水

Mizu, for water.

A spray of scalding steam blasts the imp in the face. Its face turns a painful red, and it flips the fuck out.

You think for a moment, then switch your brush to blue and try the same strokes again. This time, a powerful jet of water slams the imp into a mirror, where it pops.

--

SS: Steph… SS: That is the COOLEST THING EVER! SS: I thought my staff was good, but that’s probably the best weapon anyone could create! II: you really think so SS: Totally! SS: I’d bet that’s only limited by your imagination and your knowledge of kanji, and nobody’s better at either of those than you. II: thanks

--

You can’t help but smile. You’re starting to feel better already.

--

SS: We should get you a lot more grist. SS: Then we can upgrade your Alchemiter. SS: In fact, I bet you’d be better at deciding how to use our grist than Greg ever would. II: okay II: I need to find more imps I guess SS: Hang on. James is bugging me about something.

--

You start fiddling with your brush, trying different combinations. Yellow and 光線 (ray) gives you a blinding beam of light. 空気 (air) and black produces a cloud of inky darkness.

--

SS: Okay, this is cool. II: what is it SS: There’s a CD that’s part of the Registry with a weird program on it. SS: I’m going to deploy it.

--

The cursor pops into view and leaves a disk in front of you. Perplexed, you turn the Illustrator’s Interface over in your hands. There isn’t exactly a CD slot on your pen. You click the nub at the end, and a laser shoots out. With a shrug, you run it over the back of the disk.

--

II: whats slopbox SS: Apparently it stores our stuff. I moved all the grist I won there, along with some of my dumber alchemy attempts. SS: You should be able to take it out and use it.

--

Sure enough, you move a bunch of grist into your own cache.

--

II: what now SS: Well, if I understand things right, we have to start building. You see the gate over your head? II: yeah SS: We have to build our way up to them in order to progress on our personal quests. II: my what SS: Oh, your sprite hasn’t told you? SS: You’ll have to ask her about it. II: I guess SS: Mine is to find this big treasure. I’m guessing the gate will lead me to a ship or a map or something. II: I guess I have to find out mine SS: Okay. I’ll get to work building up your house.

-- siliconSwashbuckler [SS] ceased badgering intenseImpressionist [II] --

Your mood sours as your hideous sprite floats over. She was smart enough to stay away while you were moping, but you’ve got to deal with her now.

STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Hee! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Did you hear what he said! ♥ STEPHANIE: Shh! Keep it down! He’ll hear! STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Hee! Okay! ♥ STEPHANIE: So do you know what this personal quest thing is? STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Of course! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ We’re going to brighten this place up! ♥ STEPHANIE: …What? STEPHSPRITE: ♥ All of these mirrors are connected! Like you and me! And Steve! ♥ STEPHANIE: No. We’re not. STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Hee! If you say so! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ There’s a special mirror somewhere! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ If we shine a light on it, it’ll bounce all over the world! ♥ STEPHANIE: Where is it? STEPHSPRITE: ♥ I don’t know! ♥ STEPHSPRITE: ♥ But if you and Steve work together, I know you can do it! ♥

You shoo the sprite away. Glancing up, you can see that Steve has already extended your house up several stories. Your grist cache is starting to hurt, though, and you don’t want to keep taking some from him. He needs to see that you can take care of yourself.

Whipping out the Cleaver again, you charge at a group of Imps mesmerized by your rapidly growing house. Time to try something.

Purple.

愛

Ai – love.

The nearest imp turns to you, starstruck.

NO.

FUCK NO.

HELL. FUCKING. NO.

You sit at your desk, head in your hands.

STEPHSPRITE: ♥ C’mon! We’re here! We’ve got to get to work so we can get through the gates and see Steve again!♥

It keeps giving you that wide, mocking smile. Every so often, it sighs happily.

You could have chosen any other drawing. You could have had Greg’s arrogance, or James’ idiocy.

But you had to get greedy, and now you’re stuck with that reminder of what you could be.

According to Steve, you can prototype a sprite twice. Maybe you’ll stick it with something else, something that can’t talk.

No.

You need to be reminded of what happens when you fly too close to the sun.

A noise outside the room stirs you from your sad stupor.

The two GLASS IMPS that stand menacingly in the hall peer through glasses identical to your own. They crackle the knuckles on all four of their arms.

You remember that you’ve got a new Strife Specibus to try, but you can’t muster the energy.

They barrel towards you.

WHAP!

She... just kicked them so hard they exploded.

With that smile on her face, she gathers up all the fallen grist.

STEPHSPRITE: ♥ Here, Stephanie! Now that we’ve got build grist, we can start making things to impress Steve! ♥

You trudge over to the Punch Designix. Steve and Greg have already done the work of understanding how to use it. Greg demanded that you give him a list of your possessions, but you don’t feel up to the task.

Well, your doppelganger seemed to think that you could make something worth Steve’s attention. You might as well give it a shot.

For a moment, you consider opening your sketchbook for source material. Then you look over your shoulder.

No, it’s done enough damage already.

Shoujo Magazine && Pencil Box = HOW TO DRAW MANGA

...You’re off to a great start. Ten grist thrown away on an amateur instructional manual. Only an artistic idiot could make use of something this terrible.

Sculpting Knife || Palette && Paintbrush = CHROMATIC CLEAVER

This might actually be worth something. It’s a brush with a sharp tip and a colored dial on the side. By scrolling the wheel, you can change the hue of the tip. You give it a few test swings, and it leaves an arc of the appropriate color in the air. In the LAND OF MURK AND MIRRORS, any color stands out dramatically.

At least you won’t be completely useless. You apply it to your Brushkind Strife Specibus.

Palette && Sweatshirt = TECHNICOLOR TOPCOAT

You’re decked to the nines in rainbows now. In another circumstance, you’d probably enjoy how vibrant you look. Right now, though, it just highlights how empty you feel.

Eraser && Sweatshirt = VANISHING VEIL

This coat makes you invisible. It’s apropos, since you’d like nothing more than to disappear right now.

None of this is going to show Steve that you’re anything other than worthless. You’ve started collecting the backlog of a series about pirates in the hope that you could share it with him. It’ll do for a start.

Pirate Manga && Technicolor Topcoat = RAIDING RAINBOW

Now the suit sports a skull motif, and you have a holster for your brush and palette. It’s a little jarring; you probably won’t wear it often. You switch back to the Vanishing Veil.

Pen && Inkwell || Pirate Manga = CALLIGRAPHER'S CUTLASS

This is... weird. It’s a fancy pen, but when you hold it right it turns into a jet-black sword. It’s probably the best you’re going to get.

You have just enough grist to try something else.

Computer && Pencil Box = ILLUSTRATOR’S INTERFACE

The tiny stylus projects your screen from the head. You can tap on the hologram for interaction, even writing out your BadgerBud messages like a troglodyte. It’s certainly more portable than your usual computing options.

-- intenseImpressionist [II] began badgering siliconSwashbuckler [SS] --

II: steve? SS: One sec. SS: Ha! This staff is the greatest thing mankind has ever produced. SS: Oh hey! You started alchemizing things. SS: I like that coat. It really suits you. SS: Did you make any weapons?

--

You pull out the Chromatic Cleaver. On a whim, you keep flipping through the wheel as you wave it around. In moments, your room is awash in color.

--

SS: Woah! That’s awesome! SS: It makes your gloomy world a lot more bright. SS: I wonder if we can get you off it. I bet you’d like my world a lot better. SS: Ugh, hang on. I have to translate my stupid sprite’s advice. You’re lucky you got a good sprite. SS: Okay, if I understand him correctly, there are these gates on each of our worlds. Once we build our way up to them, we can start visiting each other’s worlds. II: okay SS: I guess that’ll be our first goal. I don’t know if it’ll be easier for me to get you or vice versa, but we’ll figure it out. II: okay SS: I’ve got to go see about getting Tiffany in. If we lost her, I don’t think I could live with myself. SS: I’ll keep an eye on you, okay? Stay safe!

-- siliconSwashbuckler [SS] is now busy --

You wrap the Vanishing Veil around yourself.