Mari

Stare too long at the void and the void stares back… Mari wasn’t sure where she was. She felt like she was floating in a thick sludge, almost like mud. But she was ice cold. She could feel a weight press heavily on her chest. Every time she breathed in it felt like fire and every time she exhaled it felt like ice. She couldn’t feel her fingers, but she knew they twitched. She couldn’t move her body. Where am I? Mari tried shifting her head, it was hard…but possible, nothing. She was surrounded by nothing but inky blackness. The last thing she could recall was a sharp pain as

She had been to the estate only twice before, and both times had been with Cordelia. It was late, and her foosteps echoed on the stone pathway that lead to the large home. If truth be told...Mari wanted to see the woman. It had been far too long since she had. And she missed the others company. Still, it was a gamble if her or Oscar would be here. What did the chisled man call the place again? Oscar Meyer Mansion? The woman snorted, amused. It was so very typically him. The Oscar of her memories, the one who would come crashing down from nowhere screaming about his wares and weiners. That se

The coughing subsided and allowed Mari a moment of reprieve. She had moments like this every so often in prison, but it had never been this bad. Mari tried to find rhyme or reason behind her fits - the now very clear attempts of whatever decrepit form of gemini lie within her to escape. But there was no logic behind it. They came during peace, during happy moments, they came when she was tired and stressed, when she was focused… as though there were no meticulous plan, and that it would just periodically knock on that proverbial door to burst free. It just so happens to be happening more

QUESTS Red= Incomplete Orange= WIP Green = Complete [F01] <<The First Few Lessons are Free>> (Beginner Quest) [F01] <<The Second Lesson, is Also Free>> (Beginner Quest) [F01] <<The Third Leson, is Just as Free>> (Beginner Quest) [F01] <<The Forth Lesson, Is Actually Free>> (Beginner Quest) [F01] <<Earning a Living>> [F01] <<Secret Medicine of the Forest>> [F01/11/21] <<Nature's Treasure>> [F01] <<Redemption>> [F01] <<The Emerald Hatchling-Dragon Hunter Anthology>

“-except knot tying. That's stuff's just impossible." Mari laughed softly at his remark as she picked up the metal case and put it to the side, she could explain that one later. Somehow, Freyd had always managed to do this, say something innocuous that made her feel better. “Don’t have daughters.” Mari said with a faint smile. “They’ll want all manner of braids. No amount of YouTube videos could ever prepare me for that.” It was bittersweet. Mari rarely got to mention her daughter, and it pained her to…but the memory was sweet. Trying to match a video at 6 am in the morning, only to fail

The man was clearly hesitant, Mari couldn’t blame him. She had accidentally encroached too far into his personal space. Too curious for her own good. What would Freyd call it? Heh Obsessive. “Mmm…..” A noise of thought. She had already apologized, and had calmed down enough from the previous encounter. The field was covered in debris. In smashed vegetables, and the two fiery Pkers were covered in dirt. She accepted the bottle, and took three long drawn out gulps from it. Hoping to get that pleasant buzz back. She paused when she felt his fingers brush against her skin- pulling a strand of

"Thank you..." Those quiet whispered words flooded Mari with relief. Things weren’t beyond repair. Things would be okay. This wasn’t the end of the world, this was just a little bump in the road. Maybe Mari could find a friend in Elora…that’d be nice. Mari needed more female friends. With the two now sitting at the table, both looking equally dejected, Mari couldn’t help but sigh. The words slipped from her mouth without her even realizing. “Gods…you two really love each other huh? Its so obvious…” She felt a little envious. It must be nice to have someone like tha

"Sometimes? This has been happening more often?" Mari nodded as she picked up the small sphere of wasps. Turning it to and fro in her hands. “Yeh..twice today, once yesterday on the first floor, and once after leaving your place that day I met Elora. I get these dizzy spells, like the world is spinning. Sometimes I can feel myself passing out, so I do my best to get to a semi safe location. She was being truthful with him. There was no reason to lie. Not to Freyd. "And what is that smell?!" “A repellant. It helps keep monsters at bay. Stinks to high hell though. Sorry about

She watched as yet again, a life was taken before her very eyes. A part of her…a very small part of her was glad it happened. The man was a prick. He clearly enojoyed doing what he was doing. He instigated and caused all this chaos and for what? For why? Mari never was one to judge someone for messing up or messing with NPCs. She couldn’t give a rats ass about them, but this clearly involved more than that. Other players? Targeting a food source? Mari shifted her gaze over the farmstead - with the main instigator now gone, the attacking farmers were few and far between, most gave chase to

Mari tried to protest as she felt herself being lifted up off the ground. She wanted to fight and squirm but her body wouldn’t allow it. It was cold. She was cold, and her limbs felt heavy as though they were carrying the weight of the world. “F-Freyd…” Mari managed, her voice a groaned whisper. “I’ll be okay in a minute.” She believed those words. The door to her home slammed open with a fierce kick. The place smelled musty, and dust motes floated in the air. It was clear she wasn’t here often. Or hadn’t been here for a long…long time. She was placed on the floor in front of her firepla

A small giggle bubbled forth from Mari’s lips as the salt and peppered man approached, skidding down next to her in the snow. The womans form was partially hidden, covered by the powered ice. “You can’t stop this.” The voice was cold, low and almost melodious. It would have almost been enchanting with the way it practically sang the words, if they weren’t laced with an underlining vitterol. More black bile bubbled up over Mari’s lips. The voices rose in Mari’s unconscious mind, drowning out the sound of Freyd’s frantic shouting. You’re free, you’re so free right now - you c

Mari almost went to rub Acanthus on the back, but as soon as she lifted her hand, she was reminded of moments before, the awkwardness the two had only just endured. Despite being a closed off person, Mari’s love language was touch, being in close proximity to the person. It showed how she cared. But not everyone was comfortable with that. Instead Mari just snorted softly into her empty cup. “Yeh.” She said, almost amused. “I suppose I can’t just drop a bomb like ‘aht without explainin’ a few things, eh?” Mari was about to explain things, but then the brunette laughed, her speech slur

Mari pursed her lips. "I can't hold judgement. Till I have all the information. Even so...this isn't my place." And it was true. She wouldn't condemn him for looking after his own men, and if one of his own men had caused this much chaos...there would have been an underlining reason why. She felt a little better now, knowing that she wasn't being lead into a trap. If the players were his men. Mari wouldn't interfere. It'd be like him interfering in her own business. She'd be right pissed off at it. Mari let him step forward - taking on the first wave of farmer NPCs, several old men, all

"Yeah." Mari said quietly. Tersely. Her guard up. She knew him, very well. It seemed Lancaster did too, at least to some extent. He reached out and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and Mari's taught muscles relaxed. He wasn't Oikawas enemy. Although Mari had an inclination that he misinterpreted their relationship, feeling a warm hand on her bare shoulder, rings hard against her flesh. "We weren't like that." Mari clarified. Oikawa did confess to her, but she hadn't reciprocated his feelings. He was a very close and dear friend. "He was - is - a good friend. I miss him." A pause. "If y

"Sour, and yet you took to no hesitation offering me honey? Color me a fool." S Mari snorted, somehow - she was really enjoying Lancasters company. Despite being a total stranger, he was easy on the eyes. He talked to her as an equal. He didn't try to judge her, nor her marker. Not that he could without being hypocritical. He didn't try to analyze her actions and she didn't feel like saying the wrong thing would have her stabbed or scolded. "Ahh...but..." She offered him a grin. "I could have poisoned it, and you took it, like a fool." She said it in a joking manner. Mari wasn't exactl

The man held her gaze, burning, intense. Curious. Mari wanted to look away but struggled to do so, as though he had captured her with merely a glance, and a flutter of lashes over angled eyes. He complimented her, and Mari was finally able to break the gaze. Her own shifting up to the sky. Normally...Mari would attempt to brush off compliments, ignore them, decry them. But somehow, she was tired of that. Oscar was making it a habit to make sure she didn't do that - in all manner of ways. Mari relaxed, letting one leg splay out toward him, the other curled up beneath her. Mari thrummed her fi

"-alla nostra" As the man placed the bottle back into the nest of grass Mari grabbed it. Alla Nostra Huh? An odd notion between two strangers, but none Mari would take nonetheless. She took another long drink from the bottle and let the liquid sit in her mouth, washing away the final pungent fruity nectar of the chartreuse. Mari swallowed, and it burned as it fell down her throat and settled in her stomach. Mari inhaled slowly and closed her eyes. Enjoying the moment. The sun was warm, the air smelt loamy, like fresh earth. Even if it was tinged with hints of sulfur and burnt charcoal

"Ugh, no offense Angioletto, but is syrup." Mari snorted, then laughed. "Yeh. No shit. Hang on." She opened up her menu - where was it...Ah... Mari had originally been saving it for when, if ever Oikawa had returned...but...she began to doubt that would ever happen. Now, Mari was just waiting to her about his name being on the monument of life. Whiskey. "The best way to describe this...ahhh...Sullivans Cove?" Mari inquired. It was a brand of Whiskey, back in the real world. Expensive. Very. Known for being incredibly smooth with hints of floral vanilla. Then ending with a hint of malt.

Don't mind sharing Amore? Little parched over here." Huh Mari straightened her back at the thick accent. Italian? Mari blinked. Crap…she knew some Italian - she knew a lot of phrases in a lot of languages. Linguistics…Language…Science…the violin… all things she loved. Instead of failing to introduce herself in Italian Mari pulled a second small bottle out of her casque, handing the man the entire bottle. “It’s frustratingly sweet.” Mari said. “I’d rather something like whiskey, but this was free.” Mari would never be one to knock a free gift. She hadn’t realized th

Floor 11… Taft The place Mari broke her creed. Her decision to never willingly step into a town with her orange cursor. Yet here she was again - on the outskirts. A half hour walk from the large, thriving city - and yet - not a soul was nearby. Rarely anyone walked this far out. Why would they when they could just fucking teleport? Mari didn’t really have that luxury, she only had the one crystal left and needed it for the upcoming boss fight. With her current status, there was no real way to just wander into a city and buy another. Friends would have spares, probably. Maybe.

Floor 10 Mari was kneeling over the bioluminescent lake on the 10th floor. Staring into its deathly still surface. It looked so inviting in a way - mystical almost. The shimmers reflecting on the surface reminded her of all manner of fairy tales one was told as a child. But, that was a lie. Most often - the pretty things in the world - were the most dangerous. This was no different. Mari would sit against the wall sometimes, and watch creatures wander in, never to return. She had a feeling she knew what was in it. At least in theory. The water was stagnant. There was no telling wha

This felt....different to the Raids she had been to in the past. Maybe it was because it was the first time she had stepped foot back onto the battlefield after so many years locked away. To some, this was essentially her debut back into society and the woman was still marked a Pker. There were many people she didn't recognize - a couple it would seem. Who were squeezing each other tightly. Giving each other comfort and whispering words of encouragement. To have someone like that...must be nice. The closet she had? Maybe Oscar...maybe, but that wasn't the same thing. At most

She flinched. Scared. Mari felt a pang of guilt. She didn’t mean to upset her. A pain bubbled up in the surface. Memories she had tried to forget, words hissed at her by former friends You’re tarnished. Debased. -Deserve to be alone. Fester. Die. Her hand shook slightly, and Mari had to curl her fingers into a ball, clutching at her tattered scarf with her hand. The other still held the cup, liquid sloshing inside. The pain, the panic lasted only a moment. A few seconds, then with a deep inhale. Exhale. It was gone. This wasn’t the same thing. T

Mari had almost made it to the door, but a cold grip wrapped around her bare ankle and it took the woman all her strength to not tumble back down to the floor. “We’re not doing this.” This? Mari turned to stare at him. A turbulent wave of emotions crossing her face. Confusion - why was he grabbing her foot? Couldn’t he see just how uncomfortable the woman he supposedly loved was? - Anger -Mari did not want to be mistaken for some bullshit other woman trope. The two needed to talk, and Mari was trying desperately to give them that time. Pain. Sure, it meant a hasty retr

Fervor touch, heated caresses- Mari couldn't remember the last time anyone had given her this kind of attention - and she greedily took it all. Every murmur, every sharp inhale - the dipping of fingers into flesh. The woman writhed beneath Oscar - and practically pulled him into her. Hungry, and greedy. There was little pause, and little time for breath as he pressed harder into her- his body enveloping her frame. her legs lifting to trap him. Her thoughts briefly tore into her past - was this a lie, did he mean any of it?? Would it be like last time where they'd share kisses and sweet wh