Tristan Delaney

(Right back at'cha! XD)

Tristan had to stop himself from laughing, as he had the perfect song for this. He morphed his sphere back into a guitar, then started playing some notes. He not only played though, he also began singing in a beautiful voice. This was one of his favourite songs as well.

Tristan raised an eyebrow, then let his guitar return to its base form as the Sphere of Symphony, an item tied to a performer that cannot be given or taken or used by other players. He held the sphere in his hand. He was strangely reminded of the very girls he thought of before, asserting their authority. This girl looked to be about 18, so had probably not yet met the harsh reality of life like he had at now the age of 22.

"Would you prefer something more orchestral, such as a violin? Or a cello? I know how to play many instruments after all, its in my profession."

Tristan played his guitar in the bar, though to himself in a corner on a table rather than anywhere else, his feet on the table and relaxing on a chair, an empty one next to him. He didn't await for anyone, but just felt like not being in his studio for a while.

 

The guitar sang as his fingers danced across them, though Tristan at the moment was not singing. He simply looked over the view of the bar, since at this point he was practised enough that he didn't need to watch his fingers to play. The day outside was cold too, but inside it was rather warm and cozy.

He began thinking about school, where he remembered the stuck up girls in his class. They had a rather large superiority complex, attempting to show themselves as above everyone else. Yet in the few years after leaving secondary school, they had achieved little to nothing, while he now runs as deputy manager a videogame store. Well, that is hoping he wasn't fired in between being trapped in SAO and all.

Tristan released the thought and returned to simply playing.

Read the tutorial for just that in the tutorial section for the Loot system :)

Feeling in the mood to play more new instruments, Tristan walked into his shop. It had been rather quiet lately, but he didn't mind since it meant it gave him time to practice playing his instruments.

This time around he decided to go with piano. So he went to a piano in the studio and opened up the lid, setting up the piano and ensured it was in working condition.

"Well the strings are fine...yup I'll go with that then."

 

Tristan sat down and let his fingers rest on the keys. He decided to experiment with different notes to get a good feel of the pitch of each note, then played properly into the piano.

 

Rolled a 10 on the d12 (craft) dice. Monster Grenade +2 made. One Material consumed. 2/3 Crafts left 29th October.

Rolled a 4 on the d4 dice.

Rolled a 1 on the d6 dice.

Rolled a 1 on the d8 dice.

Rolled a 5 on the d10 (battle) dice.

Rolled a 3 on the d12 (craft) dice.

Rolled a 8 on the d20 (loot) dice.

The second wolf retaliated by charging at Tristan, swiping their paw. It just managed to catch their leg with a graze for 1 damage.

"'tis but a scratch."

Tristan did not allow for his concentration to break and retaliated by still attacking the first wolf, the sooner they were dead the better. Then he realised though he had an item that could benefit them both.

He threw a monster grenade which lasted two turns and emitted a sound of a violin. All the monsters were distracted by this.

ALL MONSTERS DISTRACTED FOR TWO TURNS

Rolled a 2 on the d4 dice.

Rolled a 4 on the d6 dice.

Rolled a 8 on the d8 dice.

Rolled a 10 on the d10 (battle) dice.

Rolled a 1 on the d12 (craft) dice.

Rolled a 10 on the d20 (loot) dice.

He sent the killing blow to the first wolf, a spear straight through their abdomen. The wolf slumped dead.

He continued though, taking the opportunity while it was there and attacked the second wolf.

Rolled a 1 on the d4 dice.

Rolled a 4 on the d6 dice.

Rolled a 8 on the d8 dice.

Rolled a 9 on the d10 (battle) dice.

Rolled a 2 on the d12 (craft) dice.

Rolled a 14 on the d20 (loot) dice.

He sent a straight stab a the wolf and sliced one leg, leaving them off balance. The wolf yelped in pain as they nearly went to half health. Tristan was happy he had a grenade on him and made a mental note to make more.

Lessa: 19/19

Tristan: 14/15

Wolf 1: DEAD

Wolf 2: 6/10

Alpha Wolf: 15/20

Lessa has two turns to attack without retaliation due to distraction.

Tristan laughed, going with her jest and not resisting being pushed down. It was rather amusing to watch and would make sense, attributed to their age.

"I will once you give me freedom for my limbs, since I can't play instruments with my toes. If you don't I may just have to hex you~"

Tristan sat up and brushed himself down a bit. He wondered what to play, then got out his guitar. His fingers began strumming and he sang.

Tristan chuckled, not sure if they had quite an ego, or simply naive. For the sake of the conversation, he equipped his Dragon spear and span it around, then stuck the base of the spear into the ground.

"The peforming gives me acrobatics, this is my weapon. I've learnt to fight with spears in real life, so this is what I use. Though I'm planning for Lessa to forge me a better weapon."

Tristan unequipped his spear.

"However you're not wholly wrong. I have these Monster Grenades with a recording inside, which will distract monsters. Really useful stuff, I tell you. If you ever want free hits, these will get you them."

 

Tristan waved that stuff aside though "that kind of thing is for the battlefield though. Right now, I'm not interested in fighting, been too much of it recently. Right now, I'd rather just be with someone." Tristan didn't notice the more suggestive meaning behind that, as per usual with that kind of thing.

Well Tristan is full on straight as his spear, so he neednt worry about being haunted.

Tristan smiled and took the hand. He gave it a firm but gentle grasp, then let go.

"Nothing much. Just staring out to the view, finding inspiration for songs to play."

The girl was considerably younger than him, but still had a reasonably mature outlook.

"What about you? How's life faring for you?"

Tristan yawned, looking out at the fields rolling across, the view of the mountains in the distance. The memory of <Breaking the Unbreakable> came to mind, when he scaled the highest mountain to destroy a rock.

Tristan stroked his reasonably shaven chin in aimless thought, his mature face gleaning against the sun and long flowing red hair billowing in the wind. You'd think it was player customised, were it not for the fact SAO used your real appearance.

Today he decided to meet the new girl who wanted to apply to the guild. Lessa would take her on a recruitment quest, but this was not that. This was simply a rendevous to socialise with them, something he has wanted to do for a while.

Tristan relaxed into the warm air surrounding him, sitting on the grass in a half-lotus position. He heard the footsteps crunching against the grass.

It looks like you got some competition Alyce ;)

Reeeeally can't wait for the album to release :3

With all these ships with him, you'd think Ryuu was some manwhore :P

Tristan chuckled. "At this rate you'll be calling me big boy."

• Rolled a 1 on the d4 dice.
• Rolled a 6 on the d6 dice.
• Rolled a 5 on the d8 dice.
• Rolled a 10 on the d10 (battle) dice.
• Rolled a 12 on the d12 (craft) dice.
• Rolled a 17 on the d20 (loot) dice.

He leapt into the air and span, sweeping the spear in a semi circle arch under him. It cut the upper part of their body, running down from neck to tail. The wolf winced and tried to bite back. The wolf missed though, seeing as Tristan being rather acrobatic in the air, which came from his Acrobatics skill and his Performer profession. While in the air, he smashed the spear down on the other wolf, landing straight on their head and cutting one side of their face.

Tristan would dance this dance and he was going to enjoy it. At least for the time being, while Lessa dealt with the Alpha wolf.

 

Lessa: 19/19
Tristan: 15/15

Wolf 1: 5/10
Wolf 2: 10/10
Alpha: 20/20 [immune to damage mitigation - deals 1 damage with each attack.] 

"He went to meet the famed Black Swordsman outside. I still think that guy does himself no favours by going solo, since not everyone is prejudiced for being a beater. I for one appreciate the information and help they bring us."

He smiled at Alyce, the bride to be. He still found it remarkable to find flourishing love in this world.

"Also, if you ever need someone to sing with or to play backing instrument, just give a shout. Maybe you even want to record something special for your hubby at my studio." Tristan gave a playful wink at the end of his sentence.

"It's not think, it's can. You can because you have people like us who are willing to give an arm an' a leg to support each other."

Tristan leaned against the door, then walked in. He wore smart-casual clothing, as was typical of him. He supposed it was something of habit when you came of older age.

"Besides, we're going to work with the Crimson Inquisition right? So we aren't going at it alone. Rather than sinking a ship before it has even left harbour, let it test the waters first." Tristan smiled, ridiculous as his analogy was.

Tristan wasn't about to disagree on her. "That's true. May as well take the opportunity then."

Tristan readied his spear again and began to approach the pack of wolves. This time though he was sticking close to Lessa, so that they could work together better, rather than relying on one or the other. After all, using Switch in SAO when partying was rather common.

 

"I'm sure we'll manage this just fine."

Tristan chuckled, reciprocating the hand being patted on him by not flinching by any means. She really was too much to ask for, in a good way.

 

The view, with the sunlight mirroring from the moisture in the grass, truly was beautiful. Tristan was however more distracted looking at Lessa's face and hair with the scene in the background.

"Yeah, it is beautiful."

 

Snapping out of his trance, he took a deep breath and exhaled. "Well, I suppose we should forge that gear for me, or I'll be continually dragging behind you." Tristan chuckled saying it, but it was also the harsh truth. He would first need some defensive armour for damage mitigation, then a better dragon spear, probably with +3 damage.

Tristan took the material, but that was at the back of his mind right now. It just didn't seem relevant right now. Even if it was the purpose of their going out.

He in turn simply held to his spear, since they weren't exactly weapons you could sheath unless you unequip them.

"Yes well, I did combat reenactment in the real world, when not being a deputy manager for a store. So I learned how to use a spear. I suppose it is of some use in SAO."

 

Tristan smiled at Lessa in turn from hers, where they shared a moment of just looking at each others face. For what reason he didn't know, but it felt nice anyhow. When realising what he was doing, his cheeks reddened slightly.

"So ahhh, what are we doing now?"

Tristan wasted no time to finish off the wolf after Lessa had attacked them. He was rather confused at initially withdrawing, since he didn't remember telling her not to do anything. Regardless, he went for the kill.

Rolled a 4 on the d10 (battle) dice.

The spear pierced straight through the wolf like a shish kebab, from which the body then disintegrated into pixels.

Tristan rested his body on the spear, seeing the loot screen.

Rolled a 6 on the d20 (loot) dice.

Tristan gave a coarse laugh, as though fate was having a joke with him.

He turned to Lessa, his face more solemn. He gave a sigh of exasperation at himself.

"I apologise. I...didn't want to seem useless to you and well, wanted to do something, for you. I let my head get to me and...yeah. You're right, I should of listened to you. Well...I suppose getting no loot is my lesson to me for doing what I did."

He scratched the side of his face awkwardly, the smooth mature skin rubbing against his fingernail. He always made sure to be well-shaven, but his mature age showed still including his height.

Tristan had already arrived with multiple instruments in his inventory. For this though the piano would seem the most suitsble, so he placed it close to where he decided the piano's sound would ring out best.

He saw Kazuy, Arga and L, who he came up to and greeted. "Well I'm stoked for this wedding, I'm all ready to play."

Tristan chuckled at his added statement about tissues. He wasn't sure he would need them, seeing as he tended not to get overemotional. If he was, it was pretty serious.

"I don't think I'll need them, but I appreciate the advice. I think after the marriage though, you may need quite a number, and not for wiping tears..." He winked at Ryuu, suggesting a consummation occurred after the wedding.

"But yes, I'll happily come. As a performer, I can even play music at the wedding if you wish."

Tristan smiled at how he was the man, or kid rather, seeing how he looked compared to yours truly at 22, and nodded.

"And now she is fending for others. I suppose you could consider your teachings well carried on."

His hand withdrew as the guy did. He received his copy through his deputy manager role at Game in the UK, as most managers do at stores. After all, it was how publishers paid them to advertise.

 

Tristan chuckled at what was added about the guild. "Well seeing as I'm part of the same guild, I suppose I should dig out my blindfold when I get home. I wouldn't mind having her go at me with a whip if I were honest." He teased Lessa alongside Kiluia, getting ready to also catch a punch or kick from Lessa.

"Well, looks like this is it. A shop. It feels weird, owning one myself, seeing as back home I was deputy manager of one. Still stuck with selling media it seems though..."

Shop business was nothing new to him, being his real life job. This type of shop was new to him though, so in some ways a new experience. Plus in SAO you didn't have to worry about turnovers, profits, hour budgets and the like. Certainly made life easier for him when there was no tax to pay and whatnot.

 

The store had several instruments lying around, to which he could choose from. He took this opportunity to learn some new instruments, which seemed perfect so that he could do a variety when it came to playing.

 

Tristan picked up a violin and began playing, sliding the bow across the string. Using technique similar to a cello, he played at A minor.

 

Rolled a 9 on the d12 (craft) dice. Monster Grenade +2 made. One Material consumed. 2/3 Crafts left 27th October.

 

While not the best recording, nonetheless it was a rather decent performance and he wasn't about to start complaining about it.