secondnature | IC CONTACT ( meadowlark )

[ look, he's not the one who skipped the tutorial just because he knew it and Jughead figured he played enough videogames to get it for himself. so now Keith gets to be smacked with a plane in VR world. ]

Right, I'll keep that in mind while I'm trying to map the space-invaders pattern.

[ because this isn't a top-scrolling arcade shooter, whoops.

INTO THE PIT HE GOES. ]

A ... what pattern? There isn't a pattern. [As far as Keith could tell. The good news about futuristic video games is that they're meant to be more randomized, so it would take more than one go to figure out what's going on.

The bad news is ... this exact moment here.

They're definitely gonna crash again.]

Haven't you played Space Invaders?

[ Keith is so serious about this, it's kind of fun to watch him to find ways to correct the sarcasm.

Jughead dumps himself back in the pit again and grins widely like he's behind the wheel of a car—it's the first fun that he's had in a while. the inter-dimensional trauma still wafts over him, but he welcomes the break.

they're off and back in the heat of being shot at by rival AI-constructed planes. ]

No ... I've fought actual invaders. In space. Because that's where I've fought before. [Keith is so serious that some of the humor is lost on him. If Lance were here, he'd understand exactly what Jughead was talking about. The two of them could laugh at Keith and how awkward he is (though Jug would presumably be nicer) about it.

As it is, Keith is mindful to not let Jughead crash into him. He's aware, paying attention to the buzzing and ticking sounds emitted by the game. He hadn't expected Jughead to be a problem, and yet. Well, he's not an enemy, but he's ... a liability. Which is mean. In a video game.

But Keith is having a good time, too. Even if he's super serious fighter pilot starship guy.]

[ it's very mean in a video game, Keith, wow. who takes video games seriously? this isn't Smash. there's some smug satisfaction in the way that Keith doesn't get it, and he heads out again with a little bit more finesse this time. ]

Hey, whenever I play these things I always skip the tutorial. [ who doesn't skip the tutorial? at least he's shooting straight, now. ] I think I'm doing pretty good.

[ RIGHT. ]

[Keith never played FPSes online because he'd be that guy raging and blaming all of his teammates before he got his redemption arc and proved he grew up. It's probably a good thing.]

So ... you don't care that I skipped it? [It's said as if he was expecting the opposite.]

As long as you don't care that I suck until I get the hang of it.

[ because Keith seemed to care a little bit more about that. ]

I don't care. [It's just that Keith is exceptionally good, and that's not Jughead's fault.] Let's keep going. I'll see if I can pass on some tips.

IC CONTACT ( meadowlark )

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