Coding Error [OFF x Reader]

2. Not A Dream

"I never had this trouble with luck tickets," he mumbles.

You tilted your head to the side. "Luck tickets...? oh right, the health items in the game," you remembered with a chuckle. "It's been a long time since I touched a rpg maker game."

Batter nods in agreement as he fondly reminisces. "I know," he said bluntly. "You tend to hoard items you don't use." Batter adds, looking back at the baseball bat he took from you.

"How do you..." you trailed off, lightly shaking your head to the side. He may not be THE Batter, but at least you take comfort in the fact he's YOUR Batter, the one from your playthrough last night. "Actually, now that I think about it. Why are you here?" the question finally dawned on you, it was just something you causally went through without actually questioning it.

The Batter didn't respond immediately, keeping his lips sealed as he internally struggles to make out the right words. "I... don't know," his tone is solemn. "All I remember is pulling down the switch and everything fading to black. But then, I woke up here." So much for getting answers right away. He sounds just as lost as you are. Once you cleaned up Batter's cut you handed him his baseball cap once more. Realizing how much you'll miss seeing him without it after all the games' low resolution obscured most of his face and hair. "And your first thought was to rummage through my closet?" you arch a brow.

"I was just trying to get the item chest." he reasoned, pointing to the interior of your closet.

"Item chest?" you repeated in confusion. "I don't have a chest in my closet..." you turned your head to look at your closet, only to see a bright purple chest stand out from between your shoe boxes and other junk.

Huh. That wasn't there before.

You scramble to your feet faster than your brain could process this new information. The Batter stays behind to watch you open the chest and dig inside for its contents before pulling back with a terrified scream, fearing for your safety, he quickly grabs the baseball bat as he rushes to your closet. The man calmed down when a black box appeared right above the chest, not as in a cardboard box but as in a digital 8-bit text box.

'Obtained Eye'

It was like trying to understand a math question within another math question. You turn towards the Batter for answers once more, but this time he knew what to respond. "It's an item. Try opening it up in your inventory," he suggests.

"And how am I supposed to do that!? I can't exactly use a keyboard," you stretch your arms to touch the air in front of you, proving your point. "How does it look like when you do it?"

"I would just pull out a black box from my pocket." Batter shrug nonchalantly, unable to understand your distress with games and reality.

"From your pocket huh?" you said to yourself. You dug your hand into your pajamas, cursing yourself when noticing your pajamas don't have pockets... and yet, by just doing the gesture itself summoned the black box in your hand as if you really just pulled it from your pocket. As reality bending as it is, it's pretty dope. You opened the box to see the disembodied eye you picked up earlier. Touching it as a way to interact with the item. The eye scanned the only other individual in the room, The Batter, there were a few flashes of light in the room before the same black text box appeared above Batter.

The Batter (x1)
A stoical man who likes dad jokes, potential interest, Add On meant to assist you.
HP: 110/CP: 30
No known weaknesses.

You gasp excitingly at the action, it was completely new to you but for the Batter, it was as common as to breathe air... or smoke. If you didn't think you were going crazy a while ago, now you feel like you've gone borderline schizophrenic, you take a moment to sit down and take it in slowly. "I don't even know anymore," you rub the side of your head. "Is this some Alice in Wonderland nonsense? Was I hit by a bus and reincarnated in a different world!? I can't understand what's happening Batter, I was already gripping with crippling emotions and now this."

The Batter was really feeling out of his field now, the man crouches next to you. "Remember when I was about to hit you with the bat? In that moment, I used my competence wide angle."

"What are you talking about?" you almost sob.

"I don't have all the answers you seek, but I do know what this reality depicts you as." The Batter performs the competence once more, but this time the text box was visible for you too.

(Y/N) The Player
Protagonist on a mission, easily stressed college student specializes in coding.
Hp: 150/ CP: ???
No known weaknesses.

You hug your knees to your chest with a groan. "Ah great, even the text box knows I stress out. Doesn't sound like protag material." the information did little to reassure you at first but then you read through it again. "Wait, it said you're supposed to assist me, but assist me to do what?" you wonder.

"To accomplish your mission, I assume." The Batter stood up in front of you once more, stretching his hand out to you.

"But I don't know what my mission is..." you slump slightly. You didn't even know what you were going to cook next week.

"Whatever it might be. If that's my purpose in this life, then so be it. I will company you and eliminate anyone who dares intrude your path." the Batter reaffirmed with a furious loyalty. You're still lost and confused but having the Batter by your side made things feel less intimating, you take his hand as he helps you stand to your feet, hearing a chirpy text box appear above him.

The Batter has joined your party.

EDITED: (21/04/22)