Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)
Special Chapter: Character Q&A – 4th Edition (Part 2)

Drusk

Librarian

Beholders & Archetypes

“With all the work that you do for your respective Ateliers and the Nexus, can you even afford the time for breaks? And if you can, what do you do?”

Galia: “There will always be time for a brew of coffee. Otherwise… there is little spare time. Your idea of a break is different from a Beholder who wholly devotes their body, mind and soul to their tethered philosophy. Judgement has no breaks. Justice must never trail behind judgement.”

Marionette: “I’ve been counting the length of ‘E’ since I was elevated to the status of a Beholder. I have never stopped counting.”

Knalzark: “Mediation and self-reflection in my Dojos.”

Umbra: “There are no breaks to life outside of death.”

Beholder E.: “I haven’t had a wink of sleep since I lost my body during the Liquidation Wars in the Frozen Springs. My break is peace. But lately, there has been little time for a break. Our war machines are stirring from their slumber.”

Satania: “Wine. Lots of wine. I have all day to enjoy my luxuries.”

Jury: “I do get breaks from time to time. It’s just been really busy. Any time I’m on the Floor of Amalgamation is considered a break. I’m not consumed by my Gift. I have my freedoms~”

Carpalis: “Hehe… I… don’t believe I am worthy for a break. My limbs seem to like breaking.”

Abyssal Mother: “[REDACTED].”

Descartes 3: “Whenever I lose the Reality Principle is when I disassociate. That can be considered as taking a break.”

Magus: “My friend, every day is a break when you take it one step at a time! I just observe and inspire!”

Star Child: Draws a picture of the Sleepy Frost

Director: “I believe my break shall be coming soon. There is an unintentional play in progress.”

Anna: “I… don’t take breaks. Mostly because my work fulfills me.”

Frost: “Depends on what’s happening. We’re due to clash with Scarlet Logic from how things are developing in Emvita. It might be a while till I’ll get another break.”

Galia

“Seeing how much the Archivist likes to drink teak, have you ever tried to convince her to drink coffee?”

Galia: “No. Had she been anything other than an Archetype, then I’d have her strapped to a chair.”

Cer & Snap

“With Cer’s recent speed boost, is it safe to say that a new rivalry between you has ‘sparked’?”

Cer: “Snap? The eight-legged slowpoke? Get real. I can’t consider it a rival when my top speed is double theirs.”

Snap: “Bzzt! Brrr! Bzzzzzt! (I’m happy that Cer’s faster than me~! Good for her! I wish her nothing but the best!)”

Cer: “Huh? Is this big bug asking for a fight? Heh. Alright. You can pretend to believe that you’re faster than me. Not my problem.”

Snap: “Bzzzzt!? (Huh!? I was congratulating you :C).”

Cer: “Big words for a weakling–”

Frost: “You bullying Snap?”

Cer: “Hey, I’m not the one who started shit!”

Snap: “Bzzzt! (It’s ok Frost >_<).”

Frost: “… Scrub bath. Let’s go. I’ve been carving genesis stones into bristles for this moment.”

Cer: “Huh!? Wait, lemme go! Put me down! I’m not small anymore…! Or, huh. Nevermind… This is kinda nice.”

Anna

“Considering that you’ve been around the longest out of all the Archetypes, do you remember anything about the very first Beholder? And if you do, what kind of individual were they?”

Anna: “I do! I don’t remember their name, but I remember this person very well! She was a lady from the far south in the Eleph Region, long before the wars. She had kind eyes, but I don’t remember if she was human or not. Her gift was a box containing multiple Gifts From the Stars. It didn’t do anything on its own, but, she was never supposed to open it. The Box of Eternal Strife was her Gift. It let her safely store and contain other Gifts. I don’t know what compelled her, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what kicked off the Eternal War in the south.

Also! I remember the second person! Alcmene! She was given a Gift that let her gestate a child despite being infertile. Her son went on to become a powerful Color by the name of the Agonized Tourmaline. They say her son is still trying to atone for murdering his family by completing his ‘Twelve Labors’ during the Dark Ages. I don’t think he’s alive anymore though.”

Celeste

Authors

Anyone

“What is the answer to life, the universe, and anything?”

Marionette: “The mechanisms of life hinges on the stage play of determinism. Every conceivable previous interaction will, inevitably, influence a future action. Who are we to judge the design behind the scenes, when servitude is fulfilling enough?”

Galia: “In my early life, I used to believe in things till I began studying light-waves. Then, I returned to believing in those same powerful beings when I arrived in Elysia. The answer lies in self-gratification. Mine happens to be upholding justice.”

Frost: “I guess it’s a spur of the moment thing. Like, every person has their own answer. Mine is just wanting to stabilize Elysia. The end goal for me, and my answer, is to live a peaceful life. After that… well, it’s ok to not think about it. We’re all just as lost.”

Umbra: “Entropy. It is futile to stop it. Nor is it futile for a world to reject the call of the Stars. I am looking forward to hearing from those from other worlds calling Elysia a paradise in comparison once Stars begin falling. If you were to ask a Star, it would be to create a world in their own image.”

Nav: “To eat or be eaten. Life is to consume and repopulate.”

Drusk

Librarian

Beholders

“Do you ever have a moment where you just stop and think: ‘Hm, if this had never happened, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.’?”

Galia: “The star that guided me until I was able to find my own feet. That Star, to this day, still eludes me. I would have been lost without it.”

Knalzark: “The deal between Caldera Industries and Justica Arms. We would have been met with mutual annihilation had we not agreed to the terms. Galia, the Colorless Incandescent – the strongest Color beyond the strength of the maniac Agonized Tourmaline and the Blue Dahlia at the time – had to be conceptually erased for my Atelier to cease its rapid expansion. In hindsight, Caldera Industries was no different from the Silicon Rot infection.”

Marionette: “Had mother never been impregnated by the Anids then I would not have been born.”

Satania: “I faintly remember the siege we tried to pull on that facility in the Old World. As lesser Angels of the Arbiter, we had the might to confront her buuuuuut, we fell, and now we lead other sinners in this hell. Not a bad deal when you have unlimited wine.”

Beholder E.: “The defense of Atlas. During 0 PA when I used to rule the lands as an Emperor. Had I not offered my hand, then, I never would have found the answer to immortality. It lies in the inherent value of the letter ‘E’. 2.718281…”

Descartes 3: “… Nilhim’s sabotage never would have allowed us to pursue the secrets of cognition when we only knew of the world within the Subderma Layer.”

Jury: “My meeting with Frost. If I never called out to warn her, she never would have found me. Looking back… the stars must have aligned. Who enters a scary forest to help a child anyway? I still can’t believe it.”

Umbra: “If I had never set my sights on a Star… I would have still been the little Umbra who enjoyed bathing in the light. Who would come visit her parents’ graves. How pitiful. Bodies decay. It would have been more efficient to cremate them. Or do what fellow Demons do in Zelmori. It is my adoptive tribe’s tradition to sprinkle the ashes of our fallen kindred into our meals to honor their deaths. It was a shame that captive humans did not share the same sentiment. I remember a human youngling who wept themselves to death when we sprinkled their brother’s ashes into their soup. They were quite delicious~”

Carpalis: “… Hehe… Had I not chosen to row away from home… as a girl far away from home… then I never would have met the people who are closest to me now. Hehe… Grandis… The Girl Far Away From Home…”

“Ah, old friend. No, Madam Elysia. I do not need a hand yet.”

“I’ve yet to retrieve it from Phalange.”

“The Girl Far Away From Home already has a home…”

“No. It’s not infested with pests. I… Am content.”

“… But… I only yearn for this agony to one day end.”

“Hehe… When did my deck of cards become so small?”

Cer, Ber & Res

“Just how many types of Demi-Humans are there?”

Cer: “Too many to list.”

Ber: “One for each animal. A lot.”

Res: “Animals, monsters, creatures… Anything, really. As long as they’re compatible with humans.”

ExE Boss

Librarian

Frost & Red

“Do you look forward to meeting each other?”

Frost: “Red as in the Vengeful Red Hooded Assassin? I hope so! We think she’s another Aspect of Amalgamation. I wanna catch them all!”

Red: “Who the hell is this dumb Frost people keep talking about!? Let me at them! bet they’re dumb, ugly, have a stupid face, and don’t even know how to shoot a gun! Unlike me! And I got a pet giant insect thing, and a white-haired beauty on my side! What does she even have!?”

TheStora999

Beholder

Cast

“Would you play Umamusume? If yes, who is your favorite character?”

*Everyone glances at each other. No one seems to know what it is. But one pair of eyes lights up.*

Jury: “Er… The horse… girl?”

Res: “They’re all horse girls.”

Jury: “The tall one.”

Res: “lots of tall ones.”

Jury: “The one that tries really hard!”

Res: “They all do!”

Jury: “Ok, then the one that looks like Frost.”

Res: “… I think there’s one. But there’s a personality mismatch.”

Cer: “Why do you know this?”

Res: “What, I can’t do research before answering a question? Are you dumb?”

BobTheBuilderOfUniverses

Librarian

Cast

“What gacha game would you play?”

Frost: “Limbus Company since it’s less about gambling and more story focused. I don’t have time to play games though. I have a real life gacha anyway, and it’s my mission to find all of the alternative-costume Me’s.”

Jury: “Whichever one has a character that looks like Frost.”

Ignis: “Gambling is bad. You need rehabilitation.”

Cer: “All of them. You think one of the Three Heads of Secruy can’t just whale? Hello? We got infinite cash.”

Ber: “Cer’s right~”

Res: “Does Frost look like a cash machine?”

Nav: “She’s a coin machine. Get it right.”

Mini Boss Tank

Cult of Eh

Main Cast

“What would you think if you were in a gacha game.”

Jury: “As main casts, that just means we can’t die. Can’t die equals no worries. No worries equals fun times.”

Frost: “Assuming we’re the main characters. I’d kind of like to see what alternative looks I have. What would this game even be about anyway?”

Ignis: “Nuh uh. I’ll find a way out. I promise you. No gambling.”

Cer: “C’mon Ignis. Isn’t surgery the same concept as gambling? Some die, some make it.”

Ignis: “Absolutely not. Dumb wolf.”

Cer freezes and drops to her knees.

Ber: “… you really pissed her off with that one. It’s ok Ignis~ I’m here!”

Res: “As Ignis gets smarter, she’s going to have less tolerance to stupidy – wait, are you crying!?”

Cer: “Sniffle No, I was just thinking about how as a character, I won’t be able to enjoy having you guys as my mindless slaves to grind all day with auto-win.”

Ignis: “… crocodile tears. Mn. Dead to me.”

Dawncat

Star

Cast

“What is your favorite animal, and what animal would you like to have as a pet?”

Frost: “A cat, honestly. I like cats.”

Jury: “A cat too! But a wolf would be nice.”

Ignis: “Cat. Like me.”

Nav: “An unwashed and unprocessed silicon chip (pet rock).”

Cer: “Wolf.”

Ber: “Birdy!”

Res: “A rainbow Lorikeet.”

Snap: “Brrrr! (Doggy!).”

Acedia: “Loyal animals. Humans count too, no? Are they not animals in the technical sense? Or, do humans consider themselves above humans? If so, then why do humans call each other animals? I don’t understand.”

Anna: “A nightingale.”

TheStora999

Beholder

Cast

“Would you play a cooperative game together?”

Frost: “With Cer on the team? That depends on what Cer she wants to be on that day.”

Cer: “C’mon. I won’t blow up your house. Promise.”

Jury: “Of course~ It’d be like having a date, but in game!”

Res: “I’d rather make the game than play it.”

Ber: “But they could mean board games!”

Nav: Suspiciously stands in the corner of the room “They don’t know I’m good at games.”

Uss Frost

Librarian

Frost

“When doing a Q and A, where are you? Are you plucked out of the world and thrown into a white room with a paper with question, or do you simply answer them in your head? Also what is your opinion on answering questions from strangers? Do you find it weird?”

Frost: “We have a section of the Nexus set up for it beyond a Threshold. It’s like a workshop, except you can only access it through a door that randomly appears in the world. Our memories of the Q&A sessions get scrubbed once they’re over, but they come back when we’re here. It’s a spacious white room with a single standing mic in the middle. Everything recorded and written down. Don’t think I’m alone though! Anna’s sitting in the corner documenting everything, so what happens here will become archived for someone, if it’s even possible to read somewhere… Hopefully?

Also, I don’t find it weird. I like talking~ By the way, I’m pretty sure this space connects to other worlds too. Might be why we’re able to talk to Librarians, Exalted, Moons, Stars and even Beholders that I’ve yet to see in the Nexus. Unless, the memory wipe is the reason why I don’t recognize them at all? It’s weird.”

Frost

“Also, what do you think about the socioeconomic situation in the Nex Megalopolis? Should we raise more taxes? And finally, what do you think about Don Magical girl? Are you pulling?”

Frost: “Socio- Don? Huh? First of all, there’s never been any tax as far as I’m aware of. At least not from the Nexus itself. Each area has its own way of dealing with it, mostly by the Ateliers and their Branches, like the Guilds. As for magical girl Don… Hmm… From Limbus Company, right? Maybe. I like Don. She can manipulate blood too. Also, why is the first thing I’m noticing is that she has different shoes on?”

BobTheBuilderOfUniverses

Librarian

Jury & Frost

“If you could get pregnant doing [REDACTGED], who would carry the baby?”

Frost: “We went through this already. It’s me. I’m gonna carry it for sure.”

Jury: “What makes you say that? Oh. Ooooh. Mhm~ Frost is right~ But I can bear one too!”

Frost eyes the tip of Jury’s tail and sighs

Frost: “… I’ll leave it to your imagination.”

Dragon God

Exalted

Frost

“What’s your question?”

Frost: “You again!? You know what, [REDACTED] this. How about I ask you bastards questions instead!? Starting with you non-Nexus Beholders!?”

Frost

The Head

“By the order of the Head, tell me – What are the Gifts you carry as Beholders from beyond the Nexus?”

TheStora999: “Nanites, which allow one to shape matter into something else. For example, the ability to change someone’s species, gender, hair, number of limbs, and some ability like breathing fire (or other elements), also pretty useful to make ‘normal’ prosthetics.”

Frost: “Sounds useful. Nanites, huh. Would make for a nice replacement for Marduk mimicry. Or perhaps you’re another potential traitor?”

Jury: “Nanites would be good until a Healer decides to [Cleanse] a person. Just like how a genderswap spell can be cancelled using Healing magic.”

Knalzark: “And they would be different from the scum of Infecta Rot? Amalgam. Give me the word, and I’ll take this Beholder’s head.”

Frost: “It’s fine. We’re locked in this room. Violence may be a condition to trap us here. Besides, nanites sounds cool to me.”

Cer: “Bullshit. You scrub bathed me.”

Ignis: “Nanites sound like magic without magic.”

Dilwan: “A thing that lets me slot magic books to load up different magic types, like a USB.”

Frost: “That… wait, that sounds useful for non-Blessed. Wouldn’t that be like carrying a set of preloaded Skills?”

Galia: “It would cut down the chant time and trivialize magic. I don’t support it. As with firearms, I will blanket ban this type of technology.”

Frost: “Gonna give me a reason? Or consult with me?”

Galia: “Would you I make it easier for people to kill each other?”

Frost: “We can regulate it. But we don’t know the drawbacks, or how much Nex it requires.”

Camille Vacio: “To make devices that can create a pocket dimension that is livable inside.”

Frost: “A [Dimensional Storage] but for people, huh.”

Umbra: “We are already capable of this. We only limit it to items to prevent curious wanderers from stranding themselves in edge dimensions. We have also deemed that smuggling should require effort.”

Res: “But they said livable. Like, a portable home kind of livable.”

Jury: “… I’m tempted to want a product. That way, I don’t have to rely on an Isolation Sphere when I want some loving.”

Frost: “… Enough.”

RegencyBobcat: “To create and/or turn into mist.”

Frost: “Like invisibility, huh? Or, I guess it’s a way to flee. But I think I’ve seen enough flicks to know how overpowered being a living mist can be. The question is, can [Cleanse] negate it?”

Cer: “Let’s try it out. Turn into mist for a second. Lemme see if you can dodge a Stage 3 Awakened Skill–!”

Jury: “Don’t be rude!”

Bobple: “The Bobple Tree. Creates apples that can do anything from healing, cursing, making people forget or remember, grant temporary or permanent strength, or turn the things that eat them into monsters. Can branch out to create smaller trees that create one type of apple.”

Frost: “… Why does this sound like a Corrupted? Your tech is even named after you. Is that really a tech? Nav. Anything?”

Nav: “It does seem to be a Gift From a Star. The potential seems quite high, given the apples are indistinguishable from regular apples outside of those with the Blessing of the Nexus.”

Jury: “Apples turn people into monsters… Just like the Advent of Judgement. Except it doesn’t Corrupt. Who knows! But, Frost, what say I take a bite?”

Frost: “… Jury, how about you don’t.”

The Test Subject: “A perfect repository for knowledge that can be shared.”

Anna: “One of my people~! Hello! Would you like some tea!”

Galia: “… Tsk.”

Frost: “Sounds like the Eternal Library, but probably… no, much easier to use. I can see it working well with CogitO’s tech.”

Descartes 3: “It would bolster a Collection if we could find them. But, the risk is also quite high. Contaminants from the Fractured Nilhim can render the information void, or create cognitohazards. There is a passage that has been known to summon the ire of a Corrupted from no matter where they are, so long as a person has glanced at that passage. It hunts its victims in order. Woe of the Fallen Star Classed, but we have not yet determined its true Threat Level.”

Frost: “Why am just hearing this now?”

Descartes 3: “Because it has been conceptually erased thanks to the Blue Dahlia’s efforts. Merely talking about it will make it difficult to conceptually erase again, should there ever be a recurrence.”

Windezz: “Efficient recycling/re-composition. I’ll take your leftovers, be it organic or otherwise, and break them down to the elemental components before rearranging them into the desired ‘products’.

Probably a lot more useful for the general population where Cleanse isn’t available at a mere thought, and constructions aren’t entirely magical. Imagine a mega city that can turn sewage into chunks of minerals and salts, as well as fats and gases or water. Or dismantle a broken house into elemental components, before forming them back into serviceable bricks and rebars and such. I suppose it can break an Infecta Rot entity down to lumps of metal and silicon. Or split a fleshy arm into a mix of graphite and diamond. Carbon can be pretty versatile after all.

Frost: Eyes dazzle “I need Atelier products that can replace the need for Healers, especially at such a large scale.”

Cer: “Wouldn’t you be putting the Healers out of a job?”

Res: “Reconstitution of waste. It doesn’t heal wounds. Are you even listening?”

Cer: “Not really. They lost me at ‘leftovers’. I don’t eat leftovers.”

Frost: “Anyway, I for one, know how much of a pain it is to manually have to [Cleanse] waste. Healers are limited by their bodies and mana, after all. Lemme take a bite– wait, where’d they go!?”

Celeste

Authors

Frost & Jury

“Headpat me please!”

Frost: “Of course~ C’mere!”

Jury: “Pat, pat, pat, pat. Aww~!”

Ignis

“Would you like mutual headpatting.”

Ignis: “Mn… but watch the ears. Pat. Pat. Pat.”

TheStora999

Beholder

Cast

“What would you do if you could do something else?”

Frost: “Live a normal, peaceful life. That’s really all I want.”

Jury: “Parenting~”

Cer: “… Travelling, maybe. Old me would’ve wanted to stay up here forever. But I’ve come to like the world down there, even if it’s infested with backwater rats.”

Ber: “A clothier. Absolutely a clothier!”

Res: “Painter, obviously.”

Ignis: “Nothing. I’m happy.”

Nav: Enters alone, once everyone else leaves

“[REDACTED].”

ExE Boss

Librarian

Red, Snow & Others

“Are you all looking forward to reaching the Floor of Amalgamation and living there?”

Red: “Another prison? You think I wanna be on the Floor of Amalga-something!?”

Snow: “But what if it’s a nice place. It’s in the Nexus… isn’t it?”

Three Paw: “Bwa?”

Rockie: “Brrrr…?”

Red: “… Living… I don’t know. I need to find the White Wolf… and kill that bastard before I can think about settling down! And you too Snow! You also have something you need to do!”

Snow: “… Rosenrot…”

BobTheBuilderOfUniverses

Librarian

Cast

“Are there fixers who stream their fights? Does streaming as a hobby exist? Or as a job?”

Cer: “The hell is streaming? As in, urin-”

Frost: “No, it doesn’t exist in Elysia. TVs aren’t a thing, let alone the internet. Fixers by the way are just Adventurers and mercinaries. I’m pretty sure Earth has underground fixers too. Rarely ever do they fix things. They just, you know, carry out some highly illegal activities for a payout.”

Galia: “Fixers worked for Mobs in my time. Do people now stream illegal activities on Earth? How troubling. I wouldn’t mind returning to Earth, if it meant I could… Hmm. Sips coffee Best I don’t say it out loud.”

Arbiter

“Are you a yandere for Frost?”

Arbiter: “… Ah, I believe the non-violence rule is a suggestion. Shall we test out that theory?”

Celeste

Authors

Anyone?

Bonks you and runs away giggling like mad

Cer: “Forgive me Frost, but someone needs to be put down.”

Res: “Was that the wind?”

Ber: “Yes? Hello? Did you need something? The bonks were ineffective”

Frost: Stops it “Oi, do you want to stay trapped in here forever? The Moons will hunt you down, even if it’s a playful bonk.”

Jury: Bonks back, but with her tail and knocks Celeste out “Ah! Sorry! I’m so sorry! That was an accident! Headpat, headpat, headpat, HEADPAAAAT!”

Frost

“If you could, would you become a cat? Like, a truly normal cat without any memory of any life before, or any connection to any life before?”

Frost: “No. Not at all. Despite everything, I don’t want to lose what I have now.”

Jury

“Does she… Looks around… Does she whimper?”

Jury: Speaks loud enough for Frost to hear in the waiting room “YES!”

BobTheBuilderOfUniverses

Librarian

Cast

“If you had a discord username, what would it be?”

In a CS lobby for some reason

Frost: “I’d use discord for game servers. Like to look for premades. As for my username, xXIFROSTIXx for sure. Looks cool. Imagine seeing that in a lobby? Phew. Shivers, am I right?”

CerTuZ: “The only shiver I’m getting is secondhand cringe.”

Beryl_The_Gem: “Frost… your username… please change it. The enemy team are gonna flame us hard, and we won’t be able to say anything back.”

Res_Official: “Yeah Frost. Change it. Please.”

JuryXFrost: “Why are they making fun of my name too?”

Nav_Igator_Aligator (Certified Headshot Machine): “Shut up and eco for a full fourth round buy. I cannot comprehend how we lost a 1v5 pistol… and did not even get a plant on the second on an empty bombsite. I told you morons not to force on second. Tch. Mute and report. And report Frost for an offensive username.”

xXIFROSTIXx: “Hey! You’re ruining my trust factor!”

SnapTap: “Bzzzt! (I was banned for my bhops!).”

Ignis_is_Here: “… Games where you kill people? Is that fun?”

TeaIsKing123: “Hey, um… they’re talking bad about Galia. Um. Wait, Galia!?”

Coffee4Life: *Cracks neck, and types: ‘Cool story, but 201.132.32.1, [REDACTED], [REDACTED] Avenue. Family of 6. 3 boys, 3 girls. Backdoor has no lock. Two-way ticket from [REDACTED] to [REDACTED]: $500.’ “They disconnected… How unfun. They couldn’t take a small joke.”

HealerDove03: A normal healer trying a shooter for the first time as an experiment “… No… I dun wanna shoot them. Can’t we negotiate with the other team? Do we always have to repeat this cycle of madness? Respawn, shoot, kill, die, revive… Oh Amalgam…”

Celeste

Authors

Triplets

Turns you into a cat Demi-Human like Ignis for 1 day “Compare how you usually are please OwO.”

Cer: “This dumbass tail isn’t fluffy enough. My harem haven’t fluffed my tail in hours. Tch.”

Ber: “A cat tail and ears are certainly different. But a wolf’s tail brings mystique and beauty to a grand ball-dress, don’t you think? A cat tail is too thin to evoke grandeur elegance.”

Res: “Inferior to being a wolf. Hands down.”

Ignis

Turns you into a wolf Demi-Human like the triplets for 1 day “Compare how you usually are please OwO.”

Ignis: Turns herself back, because she’s a symbiotic mimic “Nuh uh.”

BobTheBuilderOfUniverses

Librarian

Frost

“Have you fluffed Jury’s tail? What does it feel like?”

Frost: “Hard to explain it, but it’s softer than Snap’s fur which already felt like warm air. It hugs you, if that makes sense? Like the fur goes through the nooks of your fingers and wraps you, but it never gets stuck. Imagine dragging your hand along silk, except there’s no resistance at all? Her tail is one of a kind.”

Jury

“What does it feel like having your tail fluffed? Is there an erogenous zone there that Frost accidentally touched?”

Jury: “It feels like having someone brush your hair. The tip is quite sensitive though! Especially around the creases of the petals, and the fleshy part inside! It’s never accidental, because I’m always hoping she’ll be bold enough to take initiative. Hmhm~ But my Frost could never~”

Bobple

Beholder

Anyone

“Favorite object.”

Frost: “Clocks are cool.”

Jury: “The stick used to skewer meat.”

Cer: “Flowers.”

Ber: “Clothes.”

Res: “Paintings.”

Nav: “Cupcakes.”

Ignis: “Milk.”

Celeste

Authors

Frost

“How do you feel about all of us asking so many questions? Do you think you’re the most popular?”

Frost: “Am I? I can’t really read or hear the transcripts for these. If I am, then, that’s nice. It would make sense if I was the protagonist of some story, but that isn’t the case. Must be because I’m the Captured Star, huh? As for how I feel… I don’t mind it. Like I said before, I like to talk.”

ExE Boss

Librarian

Jury

“Have thou fluffed Frost’s tail(s)? What does it feel like?”

Jury: “It depends on what kind of tail Frost has. Swan? Fluffy! Wolf? Cuuuute~! Angler fish? I still love Frost, but I don’t like it when she’s slippery and hard to hold. Would be a 10/10 if she had the light-lure instead than a scaly tail.”

Frost

“What does having thy tail(s) fluffed feel like? Is there an erogenous zone there that Jury accidentally touched?”

Frost: “Not that I know of. The tails, if you look closely…” about to take her coat and undershirt off to show her tailbone, only for Jury to step in and censor it with her tail “It’s not actually connected to me. Imagine Joy’s detached arms. It just looks like it’s in place… And Jury, this is educational.”

Jury: “… But that’s too much, isn’t it?”

Frost: “… Do you remember when I wore nothing but superglued feathers?”

Jury: “But that was before I wanted you only for me~”

Frost: “Haaaaah. Thanks.”

BobTheBuilderOfUniverses

Librarian

Frost & Jury

“I didn’t know Frost had tails. I have questions. Does it have a mind of its own? Like it wags when you’re happy? Essentially like a dog’s tail? Do your tails cuddle when both of you cuddle each other?”

Frost: “Lemme answer. Yeah, it does. But it depends on the tail again. Also… are you from the past? I thought this was common knowledge?”

Jury: “Her tails aren’t very strong, so it’s more like smothering than cuddling.”

Frost: “No, it’s definitely cuddling.”

Jury: “Uhuh?”

Celeste

Authors

Frost

“Opinions about my biology? My body is human-looking. I have cat ears, three tails (dragon in the middle, fox on the left, cat on the right), and an anglerfish-like lure on top of my head.”

Frost: “Nothing wrong with it. I’ve seen a lot more complex Demi-Humans. The lure part is my favorite. I’m a sucker for lights on top of heads.”

Ignis & the Triplets

“How would you react if you became digitigrade? Do you think you’d prefer it over how you are at the moment? (I mean closer to an Anthro animal than a humanoid with animal traits).”

Cer: “Hell no. Don’t lump me in with the Beastkin.”

Ber: “Just so you’re aware, Demi-Humans and Beastkin do not get along. Ever, unless you find yourself in the Nex Megalopolis, Atlas or the Nexus.”

Res: “They’re on par with the savagery of the goblins, Colony Mycelli, and the magical races of Spiritas. The same with their extremely rapid reproduction cycle. I’d rather not think about being anything like one. We’re not animals. Remember that, even if you mean us being closer to ‘animals’, rather than them.”

ExE Boss

Librarian

Abyssal Mother, Artificers, Facility Awakened Cast, and ImpulseWorks Members

“Thoughts on Project Moon’s Lobotomy Corporation (and the rest of their works?)”

Abyssal Mother: “[REDACTED]. Sammy… The Angel of Lust, says not to answer.”

Enoch: “I’m curious as to where they’re sourcing their nuggets from. Do their weapons not degrade? Ahhh. I see. They also gain their Ego Gear from Abnormalities directly, rather than crafting them using materials harvested.”

Kissaria: “Just as brutal as ImpulseWorks. No one bats an eye. But I find it unrealistic how their clerks are just running away. Are they not trained? Or, is it by design that they are weak? The staff we used to sort documents are only admitted in the Administrative Layer, and in certain holdouts within the Site. They are rarely killed. We can replace manpower, but not the gift that is the mind.”

Ifrit: “… distortions born from people? I must ask, if we can adopt this method, and force Corruption upon subjects to replace the need to hunt Corrupted.”

Samyaza: “Oboros Infinitas already uses it. The Head will approve.”

Aisyle: “… Light… But the cocoon did not blossom into a butterfly. A withered husk was left.”

Papillia: “… I feel sorry for Angela and Tiphareth.”

Scregg5757

Cer

“Do you like eating bugs? If yes, what’s your favorite? If not, why?”

Cer: “Do I look like the type who eats insects? Maybe I did scavenge for some bugs and turned over a few stones back in my day, but now? Bugs are rancid. Don’t taste good, and they squirt everywhere. It’s a texture thing mostly. My tongue doesn’t like it.”

Boldcrash

Cer

“Did you crash into a dragon or other mythical creature while zooming over to the battle between the Moons? And if yes, what was left of it?”

Cer: “Let’s see. A dragon. Yes. There was one surprisingly flying above the Nex Megalopolis. Had to sit it down. Then there was this giant creature with a long neck and sharp teeth. Must’ve weighed a few tons and was about twenty meters tall. I’m not sure if anything of it was left. Heh. It should’ve not been so big if it didn’t want to get hit.”

Zee202

Jury

“What did you actually do to Frost in bed with your tail? Not asking for cultured reasons to be honest, I just felt that Frost wasn’t still too far gone at the point when she said she was shown wat you could do with your tail.”

Jury: “Sex. We’ve done it with toys before. The first time we did was a few days after the War in Grandis, so it’s not like the idea was new-new to her. Haven’t used it for anything other than suckling, honestly, or light teasing.”

Frost

“What did Jury do with you using her tail? Actually not asking for cultured reasons.”

Frost: “Last time, it was uh… well, let’s say eating my chest.”

Frost

“How do you feel about someday having straight hair instead of messy hair?”

Frost: “That day cannot come soon enough. You can’t style messy hair. I can take a million showers, and my hair would look like I came straight out of bed.”

Frost

“How far are the Moons likely to go now to either protect or avenge a Healer after they now got imprinted on them on the Floor of Amalgamation? Do Moons now think living with adorable Healers is a privilege, since as of this moment the only entity that could legally live with or around Healers are technically by your design? And finally, who do you think could answer this question better?”

Frost: “Moons would go to war again. To hell and back. I feel like if I didn’t have Healers on the Floor of Amalgamation, then the Moons wouldn’t have been rehabilitated this quickly, if at all. I owe a lot to my Healers. As do my Moons. With many becoming partners, you can imagine how they’d feel if another Moon lost a Healer, or if something happened to a Healer. Every Healer knows my Moons by name. I doubt I’d be able to convince them to stop without them Corrupting.

And yes, it’s certainly a privilege. No one else gets to live, bathe, eat and sleep with Healers besides the Moons. I think the Healers can answer this better than me, since I’m not always up there.”

Bruh718

Frost & Jury

“Which of Frost’s organs still work? I remember her intestines, and such were useless because she didn’t produce waste, but are all her other organs like this or just her digestive system because of the Maw of the Amalgam Ability?”

Frost: “Not all my organs are useless. But it’s easier to tell you what works verses what doesn’t. My brain, as long as it isn’t completely destroyed – I think – will still function as if it’s still whole. I’m only basing this on what happened to me during my encounter with the Heart of Ours. I still had blood pumping through me despite having no heart half the time.”

Jury: “Frost’s eyes too. They’re not needed to see because she has a thousand invisible eyes floating everywhere.”

Frost: “Not really. I need my eyes for some of my Abilities, like Foresight, Scrutiny, and to be able to view Light. I guess my sensory organs still work. Loud noises can deafen me momentarily, and I can’t taste without a tongue, or speak without… No actually…”

Jury: “Yeah, you can talk into people’s minds. Did you forget?”

Scregg5757

 Frost (or whoever is funniest)

“What do you think about scaphism (AKA, the boats). Also would you use this on the Red Herring if he came back?”

Frost: “It’s… probably, and honestly – truthfully speaking – one of the worst execution methods on Earth, but I can think of a few ways how it can be improved with magic… I never thought I’d be able to say that. Haaaah. Just the mention of the Bloody Herring makes my blood boil. I’d rather eat the Bloody Herring slowly, piece by piece, than to let vermin devour him alive.”

Ignis

“What is your least and most favorite organ (or organ systems I guess) to work with?”

Ignis: “Least is digestive. The intestines are gross. Mn. Favorite is hormonal. I like the hypothalamus. The body’s homeostatic regulator. It’s fun to play with. Every symbiote needs a regulative organ, or else cells denature. I can’t risk it when they’re working so closely with Healers. Mn.”

Why_0h_Why

Anyone

“Why do you use the term Qliphoth instead of say… dark? When you use Light instead of Sephiroth? Is it just a terminology thing?”

Michaela: “Light and Qliphoth are dualistic in nature. Sephiroth is the direct definition of the ‘Nodes’ of the Yetzirah, ergo, the Affinities. Or if you like, us– the Archetypes. Light and Sephiroth are not the same. Neither is Qliphoth darkness. Light merely moves from node to node – Sephiroth or Archetype – to the next as an emanation of Light. The Nexus takes after the Yetzirah, after all.”

Lailah: “Qliphoth is better understood perhaps as Negative Nex. But this is a gross simplification.”

Anyone

“What is Qliphoth empowerment of a Skill referred to as? Since P-Factor empowerment is Arbitration and Light empowerment is Absolution.”

Dark Memoria: “Annihilation, hence, why the Lance of Longinus is called the Spear of Annihilation.”

Anyone

“Is it possible to combine Absolution, Arbitration and Annihilation?”

Michaela: “Impossible. But, not always. Balancing all three (Light, Qliphoth and P-Factor/Reality) would make one capable of rewriting laws. Stars dominated using Arbitration. Corrupted currently do with a form of Qliphoth. And we are only beginning to use the Light. Perhaps, it may be possible, with the one we call the ‘Amalgam’.”

Anyone

“Ignoring its connection to the Captured Star or Frost, what does the term ‘Amalgam’ mean to you?”

Jury: “A monster if I had no context (sorry Frost).”

Cer: “A tome. Like some kind of cursed book.”

Ber: “Something that eats.”

Res: “A blend. That’s a term I’ve heard in the context of artistry.”

Ignis: “… monster?”

Galia: “As Res said, a blend. The term was popular during my time.”

Nav: “Namesakes are everything in this world. The Amalgam evokes the meaning of a collective. However, I would have imagined it to be the Crimson Hunger.”

TheStora999

Beholder

Cast

“Would you join the Cult of Eh?”

Everyone but Cer seems interested.

Spoiler

And with that, the Character Q&As are done! The word count altogether was a bit over 13.8k words!

Thank you everyone who participated, and thank you all so much for your continued support!

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