:: U-uum…H-hello Little book. M-my name is Nello. Um. Sorry to bother you, b-but Big Sis Dropped you when she had to go back to the city to buy some food. U-um. D-don’t worry. I-I’ll be taking care of you until she comes back. D-don’t worry, I-I promise not to look at you, I-I mean not in a bad way like men to weoman, bu-but I promise not to look at your secrets…Um…….Does…Does Big Sis ever mention about me? ::
----------------------------------------
“Um..Hello…Um…Do you have a name, little girl?”
[QAZRFV__NOTGBIKM]
“…Um…I don’t know what you just said. Eeer…I don’t speak anything but Russian…Wait, if Big Sis doesn’t know Russian…H-how are we able to talk to gether for so long?”
[YHNRFV__PLMY__NHQT__???]
Nello was a T-34 Soviet tank.
For those of you who know that, please treat yourself to Korean Barbecue with extra Kim Chi. Tell the manager of the local store that a Canadian Bunny Girl has introduce you to that place. If they ask any further questions, just smile and nod and order lots of food. Thank you.
For those of you who are meeting Nello for the first time, don’t worry, he won’t bite. He can shoot a 76.5 mm high impact armor piercing round, but he’s quiet gentle. Honest.
See, he’s waving his 3 meter tank barrel around as if mimicking a plane made by a human hand.
“Sometimes I see planes like the MiG-3 go, fwooooosh, up into the air, and then ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga at the German Messerschmitt fighters or Stuka Bombers. Planes like them are really cool when they fight in the air. I’m a tank, so I can only fight in tight cities and most of the buildings are destroyed, so I have no cover. It's very hard to fight back without having something to hide behind.”
[...ITGB__DONTRFV__CAREUJMIKN]
Nello could be found sitting in front of a small pond. It was covered with a flock of Maple Mallards that were swimming about on the surface, taking a dip every now and then to wash their feathers and wings. On the occasion, two males would be biting at each other’s neck until one submitted. The female they were fighting for would always walk away from the mortal combat with a shake of her duck bill and a scornfaul quack. It was quiet a lovely sight to see.
Sitting next to him, was not the Half-Elf big sister that he loved and protected. No, she seriously was in town looking for food and filling up her inventory for a future quest she was about to take for her Guild.
But the Tank wasn’t alone.
There was this small girl no taller than Pastrache’s knee… or… exactly the same height as Nello's track ‘legs’. She was pale, not in a good way but not in an unhealthy way. To summarize, she looked like a spectre produced by a scientific hologram, the radio-blue all over with a transparent yet solid-like body.
Long hair she kept free to wash down her small back and tiny shoulders, she could be seen sittng on top of Nello’s armored tracks with her feet dangling and swinging. She preferred to be barefeet, because her holographic Dorothy Ann shoes were always tight and could be found sitting on the grass (also a holographic image).
…Dorothy Ann… you know…Heel Click Heel click….Ahem. There's no place like home, there’s no place like home... Okay, which of you readers are from Kansas, United States. Anyone!?
“Um…Do you have a name, o-or do you like being called Dear Diary?”
[YHNTGB__NOEDCWSX__NEEDQAZYHNIJB]
“Oh. I see. So, you really have no say in the matter. You just go with it. I get it now.”
[WSXRGN__DUMBTGBRF__???]
“…Ah, I get it. So Big Sis likes to call you that because it’s easier to remember. It makes sense.”
[……………………………………….]
“Hmm-hmm. Yes, indeed. Big Sis is a smart girl and she will do anything to make sure you grow into a nice person.”
[………………………LIARYHNTGB___!!!.]
<< ??? used HOLOGRAM PUNCH on Nello. It was super effective!>> << Nello was dealt -100 Bludgeoning Damage and -9000 Emotional Damage. >> << Nello's Health Points are: 425/525. Please heal. >>
“BUGYAFFFG!?”
The Hologram Girl sitting on Nello’s tracks swung her tiny fist. It was the size, shape, and mass of an apple. Yet, the moment it struck the armored tureet head, the voice of a young boy yelped in pain. Even the 3 meter nose was waving up and down. If there was a white cloth tied to the end, his message was clear.
“I-I surrender! I surrender! E-even if there’s no more land behind the Volga, I surrender! D-don’t hurt me!”
[……HMPHUJMTGB]
“Y-yes. I-I admit. I don’t understand what you’re saying. I-it sounds like a broken radio m-making a lot of beeping and blurbing noises!”
The Hologram Girl strikes again.
<< Nello received -100 Blugdeoning Damage. Health Points are now 325 / 525. Please dodge. >>
“GUNYAAHGG! I-I MEAN A BEAUTIFUL RADIO! A BEAUTIFUL RADIO!”
Appeased with those false words, the Hologram Girl who looked like a 10 year old child folded her arms in victory and nodded with pride.
…Wow.
[YHNUJM__MEQAZPLM__WINNEREDCWSX__!!!]
“Still. No matter what you say, I-I only hear GI-GI-GU-GU-GA-GA or… something a radio says when it’s looking for a frequency.”
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qb3-RqVzVI)
Another strike inbound.
<< Nello received -100 Blugdeoning Damage. Health Points are now 225 / 525 >> << WARNING Health is down to 40%. Dodge already Nimrod >> << Please seek Physiotherapy counselling for your poor Reflex Stats >>
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“PLEASE DON’T HIT ME! PLEASE DON'T HIT ME! I-IT’S THE TRUTH!”
Nello’s nose flopped down into the ground. Due to it’s length, it ended up splashing into the pond. It scared the cr*p out of the hundreds of Maple Mallard ducks washing their bodies and fighting over women. Literally.
So children, always test the water before you jump inside it. This narrator doesn’t care if you have to send samples to a Animal Health Laboratory in Prince Edward Island - wait for the results to come back as negative (no bacteria, parasites, or fresh water sea lice), before you cannon ball into a shady looking lake.
Think of your future children.
[….....FUKRFVIKMTGB__!!!]
The Hologram Girl sighed. Whatever she said or was trying to say ended up being garbled up. It was like the sound robots in early 1960s movies would try to make with the weird diodes beeping or electric BIRI BIRI…long story.
As if realizing this herself, the Hologram Girl’s shoulder dropped and her hair fell in a big curtain over her face. With how badly her body trembled, it looked like she was going to cry.
“WAI!T D-DON’T CRY! PLEASE DON’T! I-IF BIG SIS COMES BACK AND SEES YOU LIKE TH-THIS, N-NOT ONLY WILL SHE THINKS I’M BULLYING YOU! S-SHE’LL THINK I WAS READING HER SECRET DIARY ON PURPOSE! GAAAH! SHE’LL BREAK MY NOSE FOR SUUUUURE!”
……….She sneezed.
<< ??? unintentionally used CASUAL SNEEZE. Dealt Nello -99,999 Emotional Damage >> << Nello's Health Point is now 200 / 535. Calm down boy >>
“PLEASE DON’T SCARE ME LIKE THAAAAAAAAAT!”
[UJMTGBQAZ__*sniff*]
To summarize, the Hologram Girl happened to be Pastrache’s diary (LE GASP!). Whenever she was on standby or idle, she would hide inside a generator in the shape of a leather book. This was mostly a disguise to prevent robbers from taking something as valuable as herself.
Then, whenever Pastrache believes she was alone she would pull it out and it would automatically project the aritifical intelligence that slept in the leather bound transceiver.
Every night, or every early morning, she would wake up the Hologram Girl who was only half-a-head taller than the Half-Elf's hips. Even when the artificial intelligence was busy rubbing her eyes at dawn or yawning profusely at dusk, she would always listen and record whatever Pastrache said. Unfortunately, it was her job.
So… essentially, a live recording automaton or some sort. Meaning anyone could approach her and ask her to replay all of its catalogged entries from day one to present. Of course, this could be avoided with a simple password security……….but Pastrache was…well, Pastrache.
<< SHARED LINK: Pastrache sneezed received -100 Emotional Damage. Please seek counselling. >>
“………………………………………”
[……………………………………….]
“……………………………………….”
[………………………………………..]
Psst. Psst. Dude, the character was a living recorder in the shape of a Holographic Girl. This isn't a date, so why is there this absurd dead air between the two!?
Talk!~ Talk!~ Talk!~ Talk!~ Talk!~
(#NotFightFightFightFightFight)
“………..Um...Do you like the name Dear Diary?”
[………NOYHBWSX.]
The Hologram Girl shook her head.
“…Do you want me to give you a… new name.”
Once more, the Hologram Girl shook her head.
[OLPRFVUJMEDC]]
“You…think it’s troublesome to remember names?”
A nod.
“…………Oh……..”
[……………………]
“………………………”
[……………………]
“……Um... How about Annie.”
<< Nello received -100 Blugdeoning Damage. Health Points are now 100 / 525 >> << WARNING Health is down to 10%. For the Love of Goddess, What is Wrong with you!? Duck!! >>
The Hologram Girl slammed a fist into the dead center of Nello’s anti-infantry machine gun. The time between launch and contact did not give the poor Tank enough time to even go 'Heh?'. Thwack! Right in the--
“GYAAAAAA AAAAAGGAGA AGAAAA! M-MY EYE! MYYY YYYYYY EEEEEEYYY YYYYYYY YYYYEE!”
The T-34 Soviet Tank reeled in ‘pain’, with its tracks ratling back and forth while his 3 meter nose was flipping up and in down, like a man in pain flailing his arms.
Despite the attack he experienced, something small and cold touched the top of his turret head.
[...POKQAZ___YHNUJM...]
“……..Heh? Wh-what?”
Nello would pause in his reeling as that same hand patted him on the top of his swivelling head. It was surprised to see it belonged to the Hologram Girl who had went straight for his eye with a left hook not too long ago (#NotEvenOneSecond).
It was hard to see her, because of his ‘puffy black eye’, but he thought he swore he saw her smiling. When his vision did clear, she had this expression like any other robot.
Poker Face.
[YHNWSX__STUPID]
“……You intentionally said that last part for me to understand.”
[…DELUSIONALYHN__WSX__UJMEDC]
“D-don’t look away from me when I saw through you! I-it’s mean! To hit my eye, and now calling me a dummy! I-I’ll…I’ll…..I’LL TELL ON BIG SIS!—GUBYAAAAAGGAAAAA! MY NOOOOOOOSE!”
This time, the Holographic Girl didn’t resort to violence. She didn’t use her fist, neither did she use a weapon.
She straight up massacred the poor T-34 Soviet Tank with a drop kick into his 3 meter long barrel. His head swung in a sharp 90 degree, gears cracking as it twisted. Followed by the voice of a boy who was clutching his broken nose.
<< You received -49 Bludgeoning Damage. Your Health Status is now: 51 / 525. >> << Your Condition is: Slowed, Blinded, Dazed, Confused, Disorientated. >> -----
<< __ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED!!__ >>
~ Are You Listening to Me!? You Dolt!? ~
You p*ssed off the Mystical Notification System for not heeding her advise. Don't talk to her again.
“A-am I bleeding? Oh no! B-Big Sis will get mad at me if she saw how weak I was! H-how can I protect her i-if I look like I was being bullied by a little girl.”
[………………….ANGERUJMTGB___TCH!!]
"OW! S-STOP IT! TH-THAT HURTS! GAAH! B-BIG SIS! BIG SIS! HELP ME! YOUR DIARY IS BULLYING MEEEEEE!"
Before Nello could recover to defend himself, the Hologram Girl stomped all over his body and grabbed the barrel of his anti-infantry machine gun in one hand. With her other hand clenched into a fist the size, mass, and shape of an apple.
[NOYHN__TELLINGWSX__GOTITRFVYHN__!?!?!?]
“Y-yeeees…I-I won’t tell on you to Big Sis….Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaah (TxT).”
And like any boy caught under the bare foot of a young girl on the playground, the T-34 Tank cried.