This Ascent to Divinity is Lewder than Expected (A Futa LitRPG)

2.08 LFG

"That's, uh," Zoey said. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Your class, you mean."

"Yeah. My class."

"Don't tell me you're uncomfortable with the idea of 'bonding' another girl." Seeing Rosalie, so typically stoic, air-quote and sneer the phrase was a bit funny. "You've fucked—how many girls in the past twenty four hours? Me, the slime creature, the attendant, and I saw you eying both Fe and Sabina. You aren't remotely subtle. I'm surprised Anja was safe. This is where you draw the line?"

"No," Zoey said, ignoring Rosalie's accusations, "I meant, are we even sure I can bond to more than one person? Or would it break yours?"

"Only one way to find out, isn't there?"

"I guess. I'm just—" she cut herself off.

"Say it."

"Never mind."

"Say it, Zoey."

Zoey waved her hand, starting to blush. "It's nothing."

Rosalie stopped walking and crossed her arms. "If we're going to be party-members, you will voice your opinion on team decisions."

"I was looking forward to it just being us, okay?" Zoey flushed. "I thought we were going to, you know. Have some time together. Just us. For a bit longer."

Whatever Rosalie had expected, it hadn't been that. She looked like a deer caught in headlights, which was a distinctly not-Rosalie reaction.

"Like I said, it was stupid."

"This—this isn't a vacation, Zoey."

"I know."

"A functional party fills every role. We'll get more done. And it'll diffuse your lack of experience."

"It makes sense. I know."

Rosalie opened her mouth a few times, as if to push the point, but Zoey had agreed with everything.

She huffed and turned back forward.

"We'll ... we'll have 'us' time between shards," Rosalie mumbled, almost quiet enough Zoey couldn't hear.

"What?"

Rosalie stalked forward. "We'll be looking for a guardian, striker, or another lancer. At this advancement, even a half-role support is enough—so you have that filled. I can fill either offense or defense, so I want a teammate specialized in one or the other. I'll lean heavier into whatever they don't."

"Is that the standard strategy?"

"There is no standard strategy. Team composition isn't a solved science. Opinions vary. I told you mine."

"Well, yours is the best out there, I'm assuming."

"Mmm," Rosalie said, not outright agreeing, but both of them knowing it was true. "Still. It might take some searching to find a good fit."

"Just one more? So three of us?"

"For now."

"How big do parties get?"

"Five is ideal."

"For all advancements? Now, or later on?"

"All advancements. But it's a question with a lot of variability. I'm already generalizing. I was doing fine solo. Some classes can. Some classes—boosters, the obvious one—can't. Five members provides a balance between sharing loot and tackling shards smaller parties can't."