Walking Disasters and Me-Uncomfortable Ideas – Ch 5

Walking Disasters and Me-Uncomfortable Ideas – Ch 5

Ios' peppy voice was back in its full luster as she responded to my resolve, 'We can absolutely finish out the status page, the only things that I think will give you a bit of a headache are Charm and Allure going by your reaction to Otherworldly Beauty. But! After everything you've already had to go through since you woke up so far, it should be a cake walk for you cutie~!
Afterwards, I want to go over more in depth on how to help Sandra's recovery. The sooner we can get her at least talking to you in your mind, the sooner Ilya can chime in indirectly by speaking to Sandra, and then having Sandra telepathically speak to you. Once you both are stronger, Ilya and I should be able to converse to each other on our own, but I don't want to put more strain on your sister's recovery.'
I feel rather touched at the care Ios is constantly showing me, and I can feel my eyes sting a little bit at her own resolve to help Sandra and me. I stand back up and rub one hand across my stomach where I can feel Sandra resting, a soft smile with barely formed tears gracing my face.
"Sounds like a plan then. We also need to go over what we're going to do about getting out of ground zero. I'm guessing the Qi Concealment is only masking or blocking the energies around this place from being noticed, but anyone with a pair of eyes is going to see a blasted-out forest." I reply after giving Sandra one final gentle pat. Oh right! I almost forgot to mention something, "Also also, we should probably go over what Luck impacts too. I kind of figured out the other stats just due to being familiar with games like you had said, but Luck can vary widely between genres."
'Good point! We did kind of skip over the ability stuff huh? Well, I knew you were a smart cookie and could figure out most of them on your own, sans Wisdom anyway teehee~! Let's go over the active and passive skills first and then I'll explain how Luck will impact stuff for you going forward. I think it will be easier to understand once you have a good grasp of all your basic skills and what not.' She replies with her usual mix of sweet, touching care and casual bratty troll behavior.
Honestly, she is growing on me quicker than most people do. Wait, is she people? She's like Cthulhu-esq right? Hmm... food for thought. I feel like it would be rude to come out point blank and ask her what she looks like for now. Maybe when we get somewhere safer to just relax and not be on so much of a timer.
[Inspect lvl 2]: Allows the user to inspect titles, skills, creatures, humanoids, and the material of objects both natural and created. Can not ascertain purpose behind created objects or structures. The higher the level of the skill, the more information will be provided. Can be leveled up either by usage or with Skill Points.
[Hidden Quest Complete!
Who Inspects the Inspector?
Use the Inspect skill on itself. Gain 5 Wisdom and Intelligence for your cunning use of skills!]
"Well, that's nifty!" I say after reading the Inspected description of Inspect and the sudden quest complete notice. Free points are always a plus! This opens the door to trying so much random shit just to see if it will pop out a point or two though... Ugh it's too soon for a grinding arc; I just got here! I run my hands through my hair as the double edge sword this knowledge has given me starts to sink in. And wasn't that a Watchmen reference? Talk about niche, I pray to whatever deities are out here that no naked blue men with unlimited power are out and about in this universe.
The wording of the skill itself does raise a question to my mind, "So, I would use Inspect to look at some fancy looking tree or rock as well as another human? What does it bring up if I look at creatures or humanoids?"
Ios responds with a chipper tone, 'Right again sweetie~! It's mostly for getting an understanding of your environment as well as noticing the power level of things around you. When you use it on sentient or sapient things, you'll see an abbreviated version of that creature's status sheet. The higher level they are away from you, or if they have some kind of concealment skill or item of their own, the less information can be gained from using Inspect. Naturally, the lower your Inspect skill's level the less information you'll be getting regardless but honestly honey, just start inspecting like... everything we come across and it will be max level before you know it~! It leveled up on its own since you've been using it so much looking at your titles and shit anyway! Congrats on completing another quest too cutie! You're a natural at this~'
I blush slightly before clipping out a quick, "Thanks Ios." I suppose that makes sense, and her suggestion is pretty solid too. Maybe I can try and power level Inspect on our journey to safety, wherever that ends up being. I nod once before I let Ios know to keep going.
[Appraise lvl 1]: Allows the user to identify the quality, function, and creator of any crafted items. The lower the skill the less information will be provided. Can be leveled up either by usage or with Skill Points.
Short, sweet, and to the point. So when I do finally make it to civilization, I can take a trip to the market district or whatever and try to gain some levels in Appraise there. Sounds like it will be pretty handy in not getting screwed over when trying to buy stuff too, which puts my mind at ease since this is a whole new world... Damn it, now I have that song stuck in my head! Even a universe away, that damn mouse has his hooks in me!!
"Helpful for sure! I think we'll have to wait until we are around people to start using that one though." I say to Ios while humming the tune with a look of regret.
'True~. When we get you some stuff from the Shop you can try and use it. I'm looking at the back end of some of the data about the skill and there's no condition saying it can't be used for stuff you buy from there. Not sure how much information or experience you'll get from it but never hurts to try! Ilya said we need to game the system after all!' She says back, making a fantastically good point too!
"Sweet! Remind me to do that when we start our little shopping spree, I'm curious how that will turn out too! Alright, let's take a look at this apparently morally problematic skill then."
[Charm lvl 10 (MAX)]: When using this skill, the user targets a single creature or humanoid for the effect. The user will know instantly if the target fails or succeeds to be Charmed. If the target has a lower overall power level than the user, the skill is more likely to succeed. If the target has lower Charisma than the user, the skill is more likely to succeed.
If failed, the target is unaware of the attempt unless it has skills, objects, or treasures that notify it. Targets who failed to be Charmed have immunity to the skill for 24 hours.
If successful, the target will become more pliant to the user's suggestions, provided the target can understand speech, and be less likely to take hostile actions against the user. Additionally, if the target is a romantic or sexual prospect for the user at the time of using the skill, the target becomes Aroused in addition to the previous effects taking place (Only viable for Beast Human / Human / Humanoid creatures). Can be leveled up with usage, Skill Points, or by raising Charisma to an absurd degree.
Hidden Conditions Met!
By having a Charisma stat of 25 or more, Charm has automatically been added to your active skill list.
By having a Charisma stat of 100 or more, Charm has been raised to MAX level. If your Charisma goes lower than 100, Charm will start to decrease in level proportionally unless it gains levels through usage, or by having Skill Points assigned to it.
At this point, it's hard to be shocked. My default skills are painting me out to be some kind of predator!
"Ios, seriously why is this happening?! I wasn't even that good looking back on Earth! I was like, a solid 7/10 or maybe an 8 if I
really
put in the effort to look sexy! Why am I being deviant coded right now!" I finish yelling with a pouting expression, my arms crossed across my ample chest in indignation.
'Honestly Amelia, I really don't know. My only guess is that something must have happened in the short window between you dying in the crash, sorry again love mwah~, and your body being generated here. You should be an almost carbon copy of your Earth body physically, however even I was shocked at your appearance after you got done materializing in the protective dome I summoned to save you from the Heavens. But the only thing that happened in that time was when Sandra tried to... Hmm.' Ios cuts herself off mid-sentence, and alarm bells start going off inside my head. Ios has
never
missed an opportunity to be chatty, so whatever made her stop in her tracks must be something truly prophetic.
'Aims, you and Sandra weren't like,
together
back on Earth right?'
"What?!? No!!" I fiercely deny with a scarlet blush going all the way up to my ears and down my neck. Curse this new sexy fair skin! People are going to read my dumb ass like a book! At least Ios doesn't have eyes, I'm pretty sure she's just monitoring my muscles and hormone levels to make her assumptions about how I look and am feeling. Wait... Thats arguably worse, no! Before she can respond I continue,
"No, we weren't Ios, I promise. Yeah, we were closer than any siblings I knew growing up, but I think that was more because I was so high maintenance. Especially after puberty, when I started getting more and more aggressive anxiety attacks. Sandra would always be the one person that could talk me down from the worst ones, and she was always the person I admired the most even as an adult. I'll admit, when I was really low or right after she'd calm me down from the worst of the worst panic attacks I would feel... Something. At the time, it felt more like, I don't know, devotion and awe." I tell her about the episode I had after I moved into the apartment, where Sandra was bathed in the morning rays of light while holding me to her.
'Amelia, I'm not judging you or her but that is pretty extreme for a sibling relationship by Earth's standards. I'm not saying it isn't impossible that you two were just
that
connected to each other and were still only platonic, but the fact that you have the Intertwined Soul title
with her
is already giving me enough doubt about it. Maybe, there was more going on emotionally than what you noticed at the time. Earth's social conventions really frown on that kind of relationship, so I'm not surprised. I'm just saying that it's possible that you felt more for Sandra than you let yourself allow, and if my theory is right, Sandra
definitely
felt more than a sibling relationship for you. Whether she realized it or not either.'
This is the first time I think I've felt angry at Ios since we've started talking. Which, granted, has only been little more than half an hour. "You don't get to tell me how I feel or felt Ios. You've been so supportive and caring this whole time, why are you coming out of left field with this... attack right now?! If I said we didn't have that kind of relationship, then we didn't! Stop poking your nose in it. Please."
After a couple breaths, Ios responds calmly and with a caring tone, 'Alright Amelia. I am sorry if I pushed you too far, I was only trying to make sense of the situation and explain my reasoning. But I should have respected what you said and kept that last bit to myself. Forgive me?' Her voice finishes the question softly in my mind.
I think she actually is rather apologetic, which honestly is a good sign. I don't doubt that we will have disagreements in the future, and I know I will be a brat myself sometimes and lash out. But she has already helped me through some pretty rough spots since we've met, and if we can always come back to the middle like this, then maybe it won't be too bad to have her constantly in my head. Besides, now that I think about it more, my reaction was kind of extreme, wasn't it? Sure, she pushed me a bit, but it wasn't like she was calling me out or doing anything that would normally piss me off.
"It's fine Ios. Thank you for understanding and for apologizing. I'm sorry for lashing out too, it's just such a crazy idea that I think I may have gotten a tad bit defensive. I'll tell you what, let me think on it some more and we can talk about this again, when I am ready. Until then, please keep that kind of theorizing to yourself. I'm just... Not ready for something like that. I'm still trying to learn this damn status sheet. Speaking of which, let's move on to the next one."
'You got it honey! And I promise, I won't bring it up again unless you specifically and clearly ask me to.'
[Steady Breathing lvl 5]: You find your center and calm yourself. Using this skill while meditating gives a 10X multiplier to health and stamina recovery rates for as long as you keep it active, up to an hour. You can use the skill while moving or preforming actions for a decreased multiplier of 5X, and a usage time of 10 minutes. Regardless of how the skill is used, the cooldown until it can be used again is 15 minutes. Can be leveled up either by usage or with Skill Points.
Hold the phone, we have a winner! This is huge and is sooo lifting my spirits from that little hiccup with Ios! If I couple this with my Pro Athlete title, I can run forever! Take that Samantha, you may have been the MVP back on the team, but I'm the fantasy version of Usain Bolt! Hah! I guess between track and working on my breathing when Dad was teaching me how to shoot really paid off.
'I can tell you like it Aims! I know your recovery stats look a little meh right now, but once we start you cultivating, that skill will be
insane.
For every stage you push through on your path, which is what cultivators call it when they ascend to the next level so to speak, your health and stamina pools and their recovery rates go up by a decent percentage. You will also get a good chunk of Ability Points to use after you complete trials too, as well as some naturally gained ones if I'm looking at the data right.'
"Mommy definitely likey indeed!" I laugh as Ios finishes her clarification. "Alright then, onto the passives and then we talk about getting the fuck out of this forest!"
'Yes ma'am! Just a heads up, Allure is the other one that you may have a problem with. I'll keep my lips sealed unless you need me to explain anything, but it's about the same level of "what the fuck" as Charm was, just so you know.'
With that warning, the skill description appears before my eyes.
[Allure lvl 10 (MAX)]: You constantly emit an aura that is similar to the Charm skill's effects, without causing creatures / humanoids to fight it. In a 1000 ft radius, any intelligent creature or humanoid will be innately drawn to your radiant beauty. They will be less likely to take hostile action against you and be more susceptible to your suggestions, provided they understand speech.
If the creature / humanoid is a romantic or sexual target for you, they will also feel a minor status effect of Lust and Arousal. If you were to target a creature / humanoid in this aura with Charm, the odds of success drastically increase. This skill can be toggled on or off at your discretion.
Well at least Ios warned me. The synergy between Allure and Charm is pretty powerful objectively too. And I suppose there's nothing saying I have to
specifically
use it or Charm to try and coerce someone into having sex with me. Both skills could honestly be a good tool for diplomacy or getting out of tight situations, if I use them right. It also comes with an off switch, which is beyond helpful to my psyche right now!
"Thanks for the warning, I'm finding I get less and less affected by these revelations as we go forward. Thank God." I say with a dead pan expression.
'Hehe~ You are amazingly resilient Aims, even with that Resolve effect going on! Let's go to the next one!' Ios playfully teases into my mind.
[Firearm Mastery (MAX)]: Due to your past life's extensive use and knowledge of firearms, any ranged weapon will feel natural in your hands. You will still have to train and become proficient with things like bows, crossbows, or javelins, but the learning rate to master them will be increased by 150%. Additionally, any projectile you fire will have increased accuracy and velocity.
Limitations on this World will prohibit the creation of firearms, but if you wish to risk the Wrath of the Heavens to make one, and succeed, you will automatically master any firearm you come into contact with or create. Alternatively, if you migrate to a World without this restriction, the same knowledge effect will apply.
Another gift from Dad it seems! This could for sure come in handy, I don't know if I have the stomach to hack someone to bits, which is what I assume is happening on this world when they fight if they don't have guns. The thought of killing anyone still sends a shiver of terror down my spine, but at least with a bow or something I can be removed from the fighting to a degree, right?
With a sigh I state, "We need to talk about how this world operates more and more Ios... Let's finish up first though."
'I think its pretty awesome that you were such a bad ass with guns Aims~! Wait!! Is that how you got that nickname?!' Ios suddenly pipes up.
"Sure is!" I laugh back, "Dad taught me from a young age on how to use and care for guns, all while he supervised me of course. It came about because I was starting to have those panic attacks, and both my parents and Sandy were trying desperately to find any way to help me focus in, so to speak. Mom went with cooking, which did help some, but cooking when she was around became another source of anxiety after a certain point. She was
not
someone you wanted to fight for space with in the kitchen. Sandy of course did the most simply by being there for me and giving me comfort and security. Dad went with the more tactile approach, trying mechanic stuff or wood shop, which didn't stick, before we found that I was a natural at understanding the parts and functions of firearms.
Once he was confident that I knew my stuff, he showed me carefully and safely how to operate a small caliber rifle, and we would spend hours on the weekends shooting at increasingly distant paper targets. Once I turned 16, he got me involved in some small, local competitions where I would win, or at least come in 2nd, every time. When Dad signed me up for my first state level match, he paid $20 to the announcer to announce me as Amelia "Aims" Dufort to the whole gathering. I was mortified haha! But, I couldn't let him down after that, so I ended up taking the first-place spot from some cowboy looking guy who was also very talented." I feel a glow of pride telling Ios about my past, the memory of dad giving me a big, encompassing hug after I won that match and telling me "Good job, Aims" with a wink still brings me such joy and serenity.
'That's so wonderful Amelia! You had a sweet, loving family. I hope you can make or find another one just like it in this new world with Sandra, truly.' She replies with a loving tone.
"Thanks, Ios, I hope so too." I reply genuinely. For all this craziness, I want to give Sandra something close to what we had before too. She deserves to be in a loving, care filled environment for all that she's done for me... Shit... Maybe Ios has a point. Before I can dwell on that any longer, I tell Ios to go to the next skill.
[Advanced Learning lvl 5]: You were a high GPA earning machine! Due to your past life's studious nature, you will learn all subjects, skills, language, writing, and martial techniques at 150% the normal rate. Additionally, your memory is greatly improved. Can be leveled up either by usage or with Skill Points.
"Wow, with this, firearm mastery, and Alumni, if I fire a bow once I'll probably just straight up master it won't I?? Not to mention the stacked buffs with Alumni for basic stuff like language and writing so I can catch up to this world's culture! Nothing is worse than being in a foreign place and not knowing how to read a sign!" I shout excitedly into the air.
'Right! You are going to be beyond overpowered when we start going at it Amelia! This is going to be a fun ride~ hehe~! Alright, the next one is short and sweet too.' Ios says confidently.
[Cooking lvl 3]: You know how to fry an egg and bake a cake! Due to your past life's knowledge and skill with cooking, you know most implements and tools related to the craft and intrinsically know what is safe to eat and pair well with ingredients. Also, if you venture into Spiritual Cooking, the level of this skill will transition at half the rate to the new skill. For example, if you raise Cooking to lvl 10 MAX, then you gain Spiritual Cooking as a skill, it will start at lvl 5. Can be leveled up either by usage or with Skill Points.
Huh, I feel like this is pretty helpful but maybe I'm not aware of just how much yet. Still, knowing that I'm not going to give myself food poisoning is a huge relief. I'm sure I could buy food from the Store, and I will probably have to starting out here, but I don't want that to be a full-time thing. For all I know, I won't get those Store Points very often and will need to ration them.
"Alright... And the last one you fucking troll." The words rolling out of my mouth in a heavy sigh.
'Hehehe~!!'
[Budding Nudist]: You feel at home with little to no clothing on. Temperature effects will have a reduced effect on you, and your natural defenses will increase by 25% so long as the majority of your body is not covered by clothing.
I hate this place.

.
!
Uncomfortable Ideas – Ch 5