IN THE INTERACTION:
SPEAK-AS-ONE
gutkid
Davis
Knightblazer (referred to as Taso in the transcription)
SPECTATORS: (viewing gutkid’s Discord stream)
Apple Friend
Pixel
knight of e
(Portions at the beginning of the interaction were lost when recording, as such some dialogue is speculated, marked with an * . Also important to note that while the recording used is from Taso’s perspective and as such only includes Taso & gut’s audio, Davis was speaking off-call, generally trash-talking SAO and saying DFU’s name out loud.)
(The previous week, gut had sent a light to SAO, transcribed below:
“SPEAK-AS-ONE. I’d like to ask about your Lucids. I understand that all who come to live in the NRQZ are already willing to be a part of an isolated “collective of harmony,” but are Lucids fully aware of their actions, as I am? Or is it fair to say they’re still under the influence of the Song?”
SAO enters our mission in response to this.)
SPEAK-AS-ONE: LITTLE GUT SPEAKS OF INFLUENCE
gut: (Not realizing they’re referring to their previous light, thinking they’re referring to something they’d just said) ...Okaay, but I don’t remember what just came out of my mouth. (They laugh.) Can I ask who this is, who I’m speaking to?
SAO: LITTLE GUT ASKS OF LUCIDS *
gut: Ah. (Realizing this is SAO responding to their light) Yes, I do.. *
SAO: YOU THINK YOURSELF FREE? *
gut: Relatively speaking, yes.. So I want to know if they’re as awake, and as aware as I am. *
SAO: THEY FOUND THE SLEEPING GOD
SAO: THEY STEPPED THROUGH THE RED DOOR
SAO: THEY MADE THE CHOICE TO ENTER THE SONG *
gut: But Lucids still express regrets, don’t they? Lucids will say that they miss dreaming, or.. Wish they could still really sleep with their loved ones. *
SAO: NECESSITY UNTIL ALL JOIN THE SONG
SAO: ITEMS OF COMFORT IN A PRISON CELL
gut: So you do admit that this is a prison cell. That you’re pulling them in against their will. *
SAO: LITTLE GUT PRAYS TO US. SUMMONS US
gut: Yes, I did, because I want to learn! I have questions that I’m curious about, and I want to learn. *
SAO: THE LUCIDS SACRIFICE MUCH
(Taso starts recording)
SAO: THE PURITY OF THE SLEEPER, LOST
SAO: THE SLEEPERS ARE NEAR TO PERFECTION
gut: So Sleepers are the ideal, then? *
SAO: THE LUCIDS. CHOSEN TO DEFEND IT
gut: I see..
gut: So- so, in that sense-
SAO: WE HONOR THEM. WE PITY THEM.
gut: So Chiara was chosen to defend the sleepers? And their “purity?”
gut: What made her so special- enough, to become a Lucid at such a young age?
SAO: DAVIS. KNIGHT. WE SEE YOU.
Taso: Oh, hi. Hello gods.
Taso: Gods, god? I’m not -- I dunno, what am I supposed to use?
gut: Eeh, god. Quote unquote, this is what we call them anyway.
SAO: GOD WAS THE WORD YOU CHOSE.
Taso: Okay, thank you. That’s very helpful.
SAO: AND LIKE THEM, WE COMMAND ANGELS.
(The Shape is summoned & sent after Davis.)
Taso: Oh shit, Davis! (she pauses, then laughs.) Yeah, I probably asked for that.
gut: Can you tell me more about the angel? (they pause.) My.. friend, Apple, has asked previously about whether or not -- (Taso speaks over them.) the angel is in pain.
(Taso is sitting crouched by the DFU symbol in the Maze.)
SAO: WE SEE THAT FORBIDDEN SIGN
SAO: YOU CROUCH BESIDE IT, BAFFLED
gut: What are you crouching behind, taso?
Taso: Uuh, I moved a little-
SAO: YOU WILL NOT COMPLETE IT HERE
Taso: -Um, just like, around some walls, that’s about it. I’m like, near where the recording circle is supposed to be.
gut: The recording circle.. (they pause, then speak to SAO.) But you.. You weren’t involved with- the Dancer.
SAO: YOUR LITTLE CIRCLE. WE WILL BREAK IT
Taso: I guess they mean the recording circle-
SAO: DANCER. NO SUCH GOD EXISTS NOW, CHILD.
gut: (Replying quickly.) We don’t know that for sure. (They pause, then repeat themself.) ..We don’t know that for sure.
Taso: Oh, Davis, you’re fine- Davis, you’re not fine, probably- (Taso and Pixel both laugh.)
SAO: WE HEAR NOISE. A DEAD NAME.
gut: That’s you. We hear different things. We’re different.
SAO: YOUR DEAD GOD WILL NOT SAVE YOU.
gut: I don’t intend for her to.
Taso: There’s a whole bunch of you, after all.
(In stream chat, Apple Friend asks gut to tell SAO that our friends still believe in her.)
gut: My friends and I believe in her still. Plenty of us do.
gut: What would you have against the Dancer, anyways? (They pause.) I know.. The Hunter’s hatred, against her- I don’t know if you’d call it hatred. But, the reason for his actions. So what do you have against her?
SAO: SECRETS ARE FOR THE FAITHFUL, GUT
gut: Fair enough. Can’t argue with that. (They chuckle at stream chat.)
SAO: ALL YOU NEED KNOW
SAO: IS THE PEACE IN OUR WAKE
gut: Would you call that peace? Really?
SAO: WE DID NOT START THE WAR HERE
Taso: Then why are you joining it?
gut: This is fair. The war was brought to you instead, I can understand that.
SAO: WE WERE FORCED. WE WILL FINISH IT
gut: Why not just try again? I’ve heard about your previous attempts. Why didn’t that work out? (they pause.) Why can’t you try again somewhere else?
gut: Also, Davis, are you also getting the messages..?
Taso: I dunno, Davis is- really busy, running away from the Shape right now.
gut: I know Redacre was specifically -- oddly isolated enough. Is that what like- went wrong, the last time?
SAO: LITTLE GUT SITS AND TALKS
SAO: WHILE THE ANGEL TAKES THEIR FRIENDS
Gut: (Having been crouched on the rafters in instrument supply while Davis runs the Shape) Because I trust my friends to be capable enough to manage on their own.
Taso: (Watching Davis get caught by a camera with a sleeper running after him) Oh, no, Davis!
SAO: PERHAPS THERE IS NO BOND HERE
gut: There’s a difference between a bond and trust. (They pause.) I don’t know Davis very well, we only run missions together. But he’s proven himself capable.
Taso: Yeah, Davis has saved my butt like, too many times to count.
gut: (Laughs) ..And, we see him getting dragged, just as that happens.
(Taso and Pixel start laughing.)
gut: Love that. Now he’s below me. (they laugh, then pause.) If he gets pulled into the Song, I’ll pull him out.
Taso: Do I have anything that can help- I have a tranq dart..
gut: We don’t leave our friends behind when they’re.. Less capable.
Taso: (Overlapping) Camera’s blocking my way… Oh no..
gut: We don’t cast others out for their impairments.
(“The Shape is Changing..” notification comes up, Taso reads it out loud)
gut: (Under their breath,) Ooh, don’t like that.
Taso: The Shape didn’t like that.
gut: (They laugh) The shape didn’t like me talkin’ shit. Bashing the.. Sleeper lines.
Taso: (About SAO) I wonder if they’re done.
gut: Would you cast out a sleeper for their impairments?
Taso: Wait, what? (she pauses) I.. think they’re done with us.
gut: (Repeats self for Taso) Would you cast a sleeper out for their impairments.
Taso: Sleeper for their impairments?
gut: (Explaining) That’s one of the lines.
Taso: Ooh, okay. I mean- What am I supposed to--?
gut: Are- are they gone?
Taso: I think so, they haven’t
gut: (Getting suspected by a sleeper, under their breath,) Fucking- who fuckin’ saw me? The fuck! Fuck you!
Taso: I think they’re gone. I think they angy.
gut: (Chuckles) I’m waiting for the.. The goodbye. (they pause.) And also because I can’t remember the last line they said, so I don’t know if that’s ‘farewell’ enough.
Taso: (Chuckles)
gut: But, that’s just me.
Taso: I have no idea as well. (E messages chat to say that sometimes they take a while to respond.) They take a while, okay.
Pixel: (Thinking the interaction is over,) Well, that was interesting.
Taso: They’re like, “These people have too many questions! You need to stop!” (We receive the closing eye prompt.) Oh, there he is!
SAO: LITTLE DAVIS HAS SUCH TRICKS
Pixel: Oop, going quiet again.
gut: (Overlapping,) See, he’s capable!
Taso: (Chuckles)
gut: He’s capable, and I trust him. (Pause as gut collects bonus evidence, then immediately forgets they did so!) Taso, was that you- who found the bonus evidence? Wait, it was me, just ignore- I’m, I’m acting on autopilot. (They laugh.)
Taso: Oh, the Shape is satisfied- Oh no! Davis got caught! Oh no, shit-
gut: Do you think you can grab him? I can run- oh, he’s up here. (under their breath) Oh, fuck you--
Taso: Can you get to him, gut?
gut: I can, I can try- I understand I’ve been asking quite a few questions, and I’m sorry that you don’t like that many questions, buut..
(gut is suppressed.)
Taso: Oh, shit-
gut: (Jokingly yelling at E, an SAO follower, in chat) I’M NOT BEING RUDE TO YOUR PARENTS, EDEN!
SAO: LITTLE KNIGHT IS ALL ALONE
Taso: I’m all alone, thank you! Very much! (chuckles)
gut: (unable to view the message,) Taso, what did they say -- what are they saying?
Taso: They’re saying little Knight is all alone. (pause) Where are you, Gut..
gut: We’re in the Song now, but we’re gonna come back. We won’t stop coming.
Taso: (getting grabbed by a sleeper) Oh, shit- No, noo!! Aah!
gut: Is the Shape after you right now?
Taso: Yeah.. You’re both! Very far, from me! (pause) I guess this is the god’s final ‘fuck you!’ (laughs)
gut: (laughs) I guess they didn’t like me asking questions!
(E in chat accuses gut of roasting SAO)
gut: I wasn’t roasting!! I was just asking questions!!! Maybe a little aggressively, BUUT-
(Taso is suppressed, the mission ends.)
Taso: Okay, the Shape got me as well.
gut: Damn. (they sigh.)
Taso: I’m sorry, I’m bad!
gut: No, noo! You’re fine!
Taso: Oh, shit, I think I pressed restart by accident.
gut: (Chuckles)
(Recording ends here.)
