[attr="class","spiral"] battle routine.

set.

execute.

fernando allows those thought to fill his mind while he wanders aimlessly throughout the area. video games had always been his fascination when he was a child but their grandeur stopped at being simulations of battles that could be tweaked and abused. this realistic experience that requires his effort and consciousness is something else. take away the turn based nature of his expertise and the ball game is dead even.

that's why he looks to investigate and learn as much as possible before setting forth. he understands the raw mechanics of the rules but beyond that, he's just as basic as anyone else. well, maybe not everyone. he comes across mai and stares at her simply sitting there. in any other game, he could've considered her AFK or a bot, but in a game tethered to your own consciousness?

"what'cha doing?" he answers with a laced drawl. there's a reason fernando didn't sign up with an obvious username. he wants to remain anonymous as much as possible, to cater a genuine, fresh experience. changing his accent isn't too hard and he does so with a charm that fits his avatar. after all, this is just another mask.

[attr="class","spiral"] "starting a fire?"

fernando stares at her absentmindedly, only now aware that he too has no idea how to start one. he can't recall going over it during the introduction but he's only explored a fraction of the tutorial. he does however recall that mages have access to fire moves.

"you prolly need a mage, i bet."

he nods in acknowledgement but doesn't bow in return. it feels out of place considering the setting.

"your friend wouldn't happen to be one, would they?"

he nods.

[attr="class","spiral"] it sounds like a waste of time but fernando doesn't voice his opinion aloud. there's value in attempt it if only because he has no idea how valid her idea is. "sure," he agrees, looking around for anything nearby that they can use for tinder.

"might wanna be careful about straying too far without your friend tho." fernando picks up a a thick branch and snaps it in two. "there's a part of the game where you can attack other players and everyone's bloodthirsty. my friend just killed a rogue not too long ago."

[attr="class","spiral"] fernando admits nothing. the secret about his guild with Lucas Lane cannot be announced to the world of blades & bulwark this early into the game's lifetime. the last thing he wants is for his character to be associated with some kind of geodude fetishist. that's the bad kind of infamy.

"yeah, they're a mess. i've been killed a dozen times so far." like his expertise in battling, fernando lies about his skill as well. he returns to her initial spot and deposits what he's gathered. "but this game is about playing with others so i'm sure we'll be safe together."

cadis' comment about another geodude disturbs him as much as lucas' appearance. out of all the DLC costumes, why a geodude?

then he remembers the arcanine and suddenly geodude becomes much more attractive.