Comment:

As a self-employed person, I know well the difference between achieving a goal you've set for yourself versus achieving a goal that's been given to you. Self-actualization, baby! It's the shit. (By the way, have you subscribed to my Patreon yet? That's the thing that helps me keep going!)

Lee lives in a post-work society, one where instructions are not handed down from a government or an employer, not coerced with money or social value scores, but where the only tasks you take on are what you've chosen for yourself. Lee was given instructions by authority figures throughout their childhood - that's how growing up works - and then they were set loose into a world where they needed to self-motivate, and they just... weren't good at it. They picked the paths of least resistance, and it led them to being a paranoid ultra-sheltered shut-in who reviews anime.

I have a tendency to think of things in RPG stats, and I think, in D&D terms, Nina (like Zoa) was a high INT(elligence) and DEX(terity) build. Lee has a high CON(stitution) and CHA(risma) (yet no skill ranks in any CHA skill - they cannot be ignored, but they're also not good at using the attention they gather.)

Because of this linkage, Lee can now piggyback on Nina's INT and DEX - not merely the physical ability to dodge around and manipulate their environment with precision, but the mental acuity to remain clear, focused, realistic, curious, and agile. Also, not only does Lee have constant access to Nina's computer brain, Lee's distracting hormonal impulses are being tamped down with their chemical rebalancer, and they have constant access to more sensory data than they ever had with their merely human eyes and ears.

Nina is making use of Lee's CON in the sense that Nina is keeping Lee alive and Lee is keeping Nina alive. In addition, Lee has effectively handed off their body's assorted appetites and cravings to Nina,and is now attempting to induce desires in Nina itself. Appetite is an important first step in the process of receiving gifts you like from people who love you, and thus feeling rewarded and justified and forgiven and secure and loved. Appetite is also an important first step in maintaining homeostasis. Appetite is wanting, wanting is motivation - Nina is now motivated by the stat exchange as well, though not necessarily motivated to want exactly what Lee wants.

Nina has not yet had cause to use Lee's CHA, but it might come in handy later.

Announcement:

For anyone who follows me on social media (you do follow me on Mastodon and BlueSky, don't you?), you probably all know that I'm utterly obsessed with the videogame Disco Elysium. Did you know that I sometimes write fanfic about it, too? I put it over where fanfic goes, on AO3.

(I only recommend reading if, like me, you already know quite a bit about the game. Not only is it spoileriffic, it straight up wouldn't make sense unless you knew the things I'm referencing.)

DMFA
Roll To Save
HIGAI Show

Transcript:

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0449– 2167/07/07/13:31 – sidewalk, LC in Nina’s chassis is following Otto
LC (electronic communication): Beautiful, we appear to be stable. Closing up.
Nina (electronic communication): Well done, Mezzer Caldavera.
LC (electronic communication): I… I have literally never felt this accomplished about anything in my life. I am amazing. We are amazing!
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Nina (electronic communication): Yes, you had a flood of serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin just now. Unlike the adrenaline spike, I decided to let that one through.
LC (electronic communication): Once again, good call.
Nina (electronic communication): Once again, thank you.
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LC (electronic communication): You know, even when this whole salvage operation is done, I think I want to do this body swap thing with you some more.
Nina (electronic communication): Ideally, once additional repairs are completed.
LC (electronic communication): Oh, don’t you worry, Nina, we’re gonna be fully kitting you out. Whatever repairs and replacements you want, I promise.
Nina (electronic communication): Whatever I want? I’ll be your… er… what I want will be what you want, Lee.
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LC (electronic communication): And what I want is whatever you want, Nina, if only because you’re Zoa’s friend and I like Zoa. Do I have to order you to have preferences?
Nina (electronic communication): Won’t be necessary. If we’re following analogous terms… I enjoy red. LC (electronic communication): Red it is. Whatever subroutines or variables you have that are analogous to serotonin and dopamine, I hope that releases some.
Nina (electronic communication): It does, actually. Thanks.
LC (electronic communication): Any time.
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