I sat back in my seat and watched the roaring fire in the middle of the table. Examining the slow roast of my pork, hoping I wasn't gonna burn it.
"When you said barbeque, this isn't exactly what I had in mind," I said and started to poke at my meat.
"Have you never been to a Korean barbecue before?" Penelope asked, and immediately stuffed her face with shrimp. "Mmmm."
"Nope, I've kind of just acquired finances, so places like these are a whole new experience for me." I replied.
I plucked my pork off and set it on the bowl of rice. Then I grabbed a few of the folded eggs and put them in a bowl.
"Did your family go here often?" I asked.
She shook her head and swallowed.
"Nope, it was one of the first places I went to when I would sneak out."
I blinked a few times.
"Why did you sneak out?"
"Well, my parents were always busy with business trips. Plus they didn't like me eating anything that could make me fat, I had to always be perfect for the Balls and such. Plus! I'm technically allowed to cook here!" She giggled and started to eat some of her side salad.
Business trips and Balls? She must've been rich.
"Were you not allowed to cook back home?" I asked and put a steak on the fire.
"Nope, they were scared I'd burn myself, or mess everything up.." She mumbled and set her bowl down.
"I take it they don't know what you're out here doing?"
She shook her head.
"As soon as my gifts came in, I built myself a suit and left." Her chipper tone faded as she spoke.
Her smile faltered and she moved to cook more meat.
"Did you have any friends back home? People who'd miss you?"
She shook her head again.
"I never really had friends. The maids homeschooled me, and the other kids at the ball used to make fun of me for being a geek. So I was on my own a lot."
I flipped my steak over and nodded. It makes sense now why she'd be so quick to join Jormungand.
"Well, I'm glad I can be your friend. You've already shown me to a pretty awesome place."
That put a small smile on her face.
"I'm sorry for...what I did with Jormungand.." She mumbled and started toying with her meat.
"Hey, you're working to atone for that. There's no reason to apologize again. Just keep doing what you're doing."
She smiled and nodded.
"So, tell me about your abilities, what is it you can do exactly?" I asked and flipped my steak over.
She looked back into my eyes, and I could see her body relax a little bit more.
"As you know, I'm a technomancer. I can communicate with technology."
"So what does that mean exactly?"
"Well, think of me as a computer virus."
"You're gonna have to dumb that down for me, I'm tech illiterate."
"Well, A computer virus is a type of computer program that replicates itself by modifying other computer programs and inserting its own code. So once I put in my code, it usually grants me mental access to it."
"I still don't follow..."
She grumbled and sat back.
"Think of it as a regular virus for people. The only difference is, I'm the sick that's infecting them."
I guess that made more sense...
"So.. are you infectious?" I asked and moved my steak to my bowl of rice.
"Technically yes, it depends on my replication process. Technically speaking people can still put up defenses against me like any other virus, or attack me with a counter Virus. But since I make my own code, and I can literally travel to cyberspace, it's impossible to beat me."
"So, I thought cars worked differently, right? How were you controlling them?" I asked and started to eat.
"Ah, I'm glad you asked! See some cars can get infected by me because they have a computer mainframe. Every self-driving car is mine for the taking. Then my blade praegressus can connect to any electronic item. If it's run by electricity my blade can connect to it and give me access. I made a receiver wristwatch for it, which can let me control them like toy cars, or let an A. I program I created takes them over."
I nodded.
"I think I get it now, so you're completely useless when you're out of your environment."
She coughed a couple of times and leaned forward on the table.
"Well, you didn't have to say it like that!" She whined and angrily ate her salad.
"Look, you're practically unstoppable when you're in your environment. But when I lured you away I was able to stop you easily. Not to mention you can't beat Leo because he took you to a place where nothing works. Plus you have zero form with a sword."
"Hey, I said I got it alright!"
I chuckled.
"I'm sorry if that came off mean, I'm just evaluating your weakness. Something that's imperative to know. Unlike the rest of us, you have the best way to stay unstoppable during this game."
She squinted her eyes.
"You're not just saying that because I look like I'm gonna cry right?"
I shook my head.
"Not at all, honestly I was just where you were a week or two ago. I sucked at swordsmanship, I didn't know how my powers fully worked, and I didn't know how to apply any of it."
"Really? You? No way."
"Yes way, I just started so I'm definitely not perfect. But I've grown a lot. My fight with Weislung showed me what form is supposed to look like. While my fights with Jack taught me how to mesh my abilities together, and how to push all of them to their limits."
"I don't know...I don't think I can learn swordplay. I'll probably just mess it up..."
"What!? No way, your form today with Leo wasn't bad. Especially with no prior training, it was impressive. I don't think in two weeks you'll be great, but if we train for a while. I bet you'll even beat me."
I gave her a smile and her eyes were wide.
"Do..do you really mean that?"
I nodded.
"Absolutely, you've got talent, Penelope."
Her cheeks turned red and she immediately looked away from me.
"Did you...have any other ideas?" She mumbled.
"Yeah actually." I smiled and took my phone out. "Can you make stuff like this?" I asked.
"Umm yeah, why?"
I smiled excitedly.
"So, I specialize in summoning weapons." I moved my hand into the sleeve of my hoodie and summoned a small throwing knife, I pulled it out and showed her. Then I put it back in my sleeve and dispelled it. "I think we should prioritize tech you can create and use in battle or surveillance. You lose when you're taken to an environment you can't hack. Which means in order to compensate, you'll need to bring tech with you that can assist."
"Well, I do have my surveillance drones."
"Yes, but what do those drones assist with combat-wise?"
"My field of vision?" She suggested.
"And?"
She got quiet and slumped back into her seat.
"Nothing else..." She mumbled.
"In this game, we're sometimes forced to face challenges. You won't always be able to play the observer, and your tech suit is helpful. But if you fought someone like Elo or Rushon, you'd lose immediately. You need more versatility, get creative. Maybe add a type of flashlight on your suit to blind your opponent! Maybe spikes that can shoot off like a porcupine! Ooh! Rushon had tear gas with him, maybe you can have a compartment to emit that off your suit."
"Aren't you supposed to be the nice one?" She chuckled.
Which made me laugh a bit.
"Hey, cut me some slack, I'm definitely not as brutal as Leo. Maybe you can ask him for some advice."
Her cheeks turned red and she started to poke her fingers together.
"D-do you really think he wouldn't mind?" She mumbled.
I rolled my eyes.
"If it's for the sake of violence, probably not. Just...try to not over do it? He's not much of a people person."
She nodded.
"Does...does he have a girlfriend?" She asked.
"Not that I'm aware of."
"Oh, really? Do you think he'd like a girl with lavender hair?"
I honestly figured he was asexual or something...
"Ummm, you never know? I just think he's probably too focused on the mission right now is all. Maybe wait till the Mors game is over to flirt?"
She jumped in her seat and started to spaz about.
"What! Who said anything about marrying Leo!? I'm just curious if the guys dating ya know!? for a friend!"
"Okay one, you brought up marrying him, just now. And two, didn't you just say you didn't have any friends?"
I smiled and I watched her practically turn into a tomato, and shoved food into her mouth. Which got me to start laughing.
It's crazy, just a little while ago she was trying to hit me with a car. Now we're having dinner and talking about her boy crush. If I hadn't listened to Leo, we wouldn't be here like this.
He's really grown up, hasn't he?