You decide to hang back and ask Clayton something before you talk with the Gods.

"Are you actually dating Hermes?" You ask, they laugh a little in response.

"Nah, not really. I'm more of a knowledge God type, I think if I'm dating any of them it's Athena." They finish their cookie. "Then I'll move on to the H's if it doesn't work. ~v~"

"Okay, just keep in mind that Hermes is fast as hell and I don't want you getting hurt." You warn, Clayton does a toothy smile and a thumbs up of approval.

"Okay, Eli. ~v~"

"I'm serious, I care about your feelings and I don't want them hurt." You do your best solemn expression.

"I will, Mom Friend." They pull out their phone and you hear the Angry Birds theme play. "I'll keep myself busy. ~v~"

"Alright, you monster." You go and decide that Hermes is the best to talk with first. "So, do you have any ships yet?"

"Ohmanitissooooooohhhaaaaarrrrddd!!! I'msolimitedbecauseIliterallyonlyknowfourotherpeople!!!" Hermes stops himself. "Sorry, I spoke way too quickly! So, I'm thinking Athelios. They're a lot alike and if they agree on something it's practically rock solid. Like bedrock."

"Yeah, it would be pretty stable. And sort of cute because of the height differences." You conclude Athelios would be kind of the only thing that's younger happen. Mainly because Eris isn't here.

"Yeah, but stable ships are soooo boring!! I wanna make it interesting, what about Clayton and Athena?" He asks, you only imagine the worst possibility. "Both have spirit and that fire!"

"It would be very destructive, especially if they put their mind to attack someone." You realize that Clayton is impulsive and could probably convince Athena to do some insane activity. You shudder that the thought.

"But that is what makes it so fun! Also a human and a God. WHAAAAAT????" Hermes laughs and you nervously back away.

"That actually would be terrifying and could very possibly kill us all." You say seriously. Hermes ponders on it for a moment.

"But it's cute." He concludes.

"Uh-huh." You back away, not wanting to ship Clayton with anyone yet. You decide that Athena is okay to chat with. "Hi Athena."

"Hello Eli. I'm surprised that nobody cut themselves on the disco ball on the floor." You look at the crater and ball of glass, and find yourself wondering that too. "I feel like it was supposed to reference something when it crashed."

"Hah. This isn't a video game filled with Easter Eggs." You wait a few seconds. "Do you think that we can reach Fortuna from here?"

"From Earth? Unlikely any time soon. It took months to make us with one person, and I'm sure you don't really know how to work mechanics. It would take years for you both two make a ship."

"We can always take one from NASA." You joke, slightly.

"No, you will both get arrested and the Gods and I will get confiscated." Athena explains. "And I don't think Fortuna even exists here."

"Sorry, I thought that it would be cool thinking of a way to Fortuna and getting some cool stuff." Athena looks at you weirdly.

"You only played the tutorial. Fortuna caused thousands of deaths and causes only tragedy and death for all involved whatsoever." She warns. "With a small crew like this, everyone would likely never make it. If we don't give up."

"Oh." You looks down and try to think of what to do. "Do you have any hobbies?"

"Well, I often fight, but I also tend to make treaties. But I don't really have anything to do." You think of an idea.

"Maybe you can start gaming, you seem like the kind of person to do that. And I don't mean click and point or free gaming apps. I mean Call of Duty or Left Four Dead."

"You mean those games with a lot of battle tactics and shooting?" She asks, you nod in reply. "Actually I'd prefer it if I'm actually there, fighting for my life. I don't like clicking buttons."

"Oh, okay I just thought that." You decide that Helios would be a good conversation so you slowly edge away from Athena. "Hey Helios, did you find the meaning of life yet?"

"No, but I've narrowed it down." He shows a list. "Something is still up there. Pulling strings."

"Oh. I guess that God does exist. How did you find that out?" You read the list. The video game and Webcomic theories are crossed out. But a large chunk of possible web-related things are still increases.

"Process of elimination." He simply replies. "I can definitely tell this isn't a video game, but I'm not going to ignore the fact that something isn't right."

"Helios, can't you just accept that you're in reality. You make your own meaning to life." You hope that it somehow works.

"I'd love to live in a world where it's like that, but it's not working. We're not in that world." You laugh nervously and decide to change to subject.

"Do you have any hobbies?" You blurt out. "I'm an artist and gamer. But not really a writer."

"Understandable, I think I can help you with that."  He replies. He crosses off more notes. "I think I might find out within a month!"

"Wow, uh. Good for you?" You play with your thumbs, unsure of what to do next. "I guess."

Being with the Gods just felt awkward. Athena was intimidating, Helios was too busy with the meaning of life, and Hermes just spoke about ships. Clayton was the only one you found approachable. They didn't judge, supported almost anything, and almost never ran out of things to talk about. Currently though, Clayton was busy with Athena.

Dear Neo.

You decide to just chat with your friends.

Eli »·w·« Axolotl:
Is Jovial Maniacs here?

Skateen like Selene:
Nope. Busy trying to kill the Neo.

BitABird:
I told them to load a save file and to not roomtrap the Neo.

Jovial Maniacs:
I DID IT

Jovial Maniacs:
I KILLED THE DAMN THING

Jovial Maniacs:
I KILLED THE DAMN NEO

Queenos like Eos:
mY CHILD HOW---

A Wild Fya!:
HOLYOKE

[INTERNAL SCREECHING TO HEAVEN]:
I LET OUT MY INTERNAL SCREECHING

Skateen like Selene:
Oh crap.

BitABird:
I HAVE TO FIND OUT HOW

[MISSING]:
HOKU MOKU TELL US YOUR SECRETS

Eli »·w·« Axolotl:
Well. Okay. What timing.

Jovial Maniacs:
MY ENTIRE CREW IS DEAD BUT I DID IT

Skateen like Selene:
YOU HAD THANATOS V1 WITH A FULL CREW

[MISSING]:
TELL US HOW-

Eli »·w·« Axolotl:
Didn't you steal eight Thanatos ships?

In all honesty, Jovial Maniacs terrified you because of their sheer determination. SHEER. DETERMINATION.

Jovial Maniacs:
Have everyone on the crew Tegyps or Angels. Make sure they all have the [Blaze of Glory] trait. Learn how to play eighty controllers at once.

Queenos like Eos:
Ffs.

BitABird:
DUDE.

[INTERNAL SCREECHING TO HEAVEN]:
You created all of them? You have more ambition than I have for to live.

A Wild Fya:
Can I borrow your fury.

Skateen like Selene:
Are you mentally okay?

Jovial Maniacs:
NO.

MY COEUS PAL IS STILL DEAD.

[MISSING]:
At least you avenged him.

Eli »·w·« Axolotl:
Do you need a hug?

Jovial Maniacs:

Yes.

[INTERNAL SCREECHING TO HEAVEN]:
COME OVER HERE

Queenos like Eos:
I'm hugging my phone for you.

BitABird:
FEEEL AFFECTION

Apolo v540:
Holy carp what happened when I was offline?

OVO LOOK @ MOI RUN!!!:
SPAM. SO MUCH SPAM.

Eli »·w·« Axolotl:
You don't wanna know.

Skateen like Selene:
We are all giving an internet hug to Jovial Maniacs.

Amiable Fanatics:
I was lurking so I read everything, so feel my internet hug.

You smile and hug your phone a little. Everyone in this fandom was so friendly and accepting. You wished more people were like that in real life. Everyone in the Fortuna fanbase is so kind, caring, and maternal that you felt like it was actual people. You have no idea what created this, but you love it.

You are snapped out of your mind when you hear a loud crack and someone through a megaphone shout.

"GET OUT OF THE HOUSE WITH YOUR HANDS UP. I REPEAT; GET OUT OF THE HOUSE WITH YOUR HANDS UP."

You hope it's some joke. Something Clayton and the others planned while you were on your phone. Something to cause you to panic a little and to laugh about. A prank. A harmless joke. Something funny.

But as you look up you lock eyes with Clayton. His soft blue irises are just a line as his pupils dilated to the extreme and he says something that takes a moment to make out.

"They're after me again. They want to drag me back there."