Mari

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All players receive 200 Col and 2 SP

It wasn't fine. Mari didn't like leaving things like that, how she had been the reason that the entire mood had dropped. All because of one stupid off-handed comment. She should have kept her mouth shut, known better - but in typical Mari fashion she never really knew the right thing to say. "Is it though..." Mari wandered aloud as she stepped to the side to allow Corvo to pass. She wouldn't press him further on the topic though. Mari knew if the positions were reversed she'd hate someone trying to butt in like that. Instead of focusing on that she shifted the topic.

"In an Inn....Damn - I miss actual beds." Mari admitted. But, hey, she rarely had the luxury of sleeping. Let alone napping. "Maybe..." Mari said quietly as she turned to follow Corvo for a few steps - "But hey, for what its  worth Corvo - it was good seeing you again. I'd rather not be a stranger," And Mari meant that, genuinely and truly meant that. It was nice...being able to converse with someone like that. Even if some of the topic matters were....ahem things that Mari wasn't all too comfortable nor familiar with. 

She hesitated- Mari had already messed up once, who was to say that she'd do it again? Then again - what did it matter - Corvo was already pissed with her, so what would the difference be? Hatred, maybe. Whatever. 

Mari wanted one person where she didn't have to second guess every little action, no walking on eggshells, no diffusing ticking bombs. 

So, before he could completely walk away, Mari - in perhaps what was the most awkward side hug ever, reached out to the man, her hand snaking around his waist as she squeezed him, her head pausing to rest on his shoulder. "Thanks." And with that single word she let go.

Maybe they would see each other again. Maybe things would be different. Better.

Who knew.

"jeez...." Mari nudged his knee with her foot. "I never took you for such a bottom. Look at those reactions." She joked with another nudge to his knee. Mari almost tripped over when he leaned in close. Bright red colours flushed her face.

"I uh..buh- Idontknowif- you can- can you? In here!?"

And there it was.

Crap.

Mari thought they could share a laugh at the expense of someone they both knew. But everything kind of...

"Heh." Mari pressed a hand to her temple. Flaccid was right. In a weird way. "Right. No. Yeh. Fuck. You're right." Mari shook her head. "I'm sorry I just thought hey, let's poke some fun at this guy we both know. But I -" Mari shook her head. Damn. She knew it was a touchy subject yet she did it anyway. 

"Shit. Sorry Corvo. I know it's worth crap all but- anything I can do to make up for that?"

'you..." Mari shook her head. This crazy ass man drained her. "I was worried about you for a moment there, yanno." Mari offered, genuine concern in her tone. She was pretty sure you couldn't die from choking. But nothing was set in stone here.

"But YOU-" her concern was followed by a sharp jab in his side. "You're just a crass lil' bastard. Eh?" She gave him another for good measure, offering Corvo a wry grin. "I should slap you too.  But you just admitted you'd enjoy it." Mari turned on her heel, and started walking backwards so she could keep an eye on him. "I'd have to charge you then!"

"But, that's kinda what I like about you too. I'm sick of walking on egg shells trying to placate everyone. You're like a breath of fresh air. Fresh...err.. nasty smokey air. And then there's your friend." Mari paused. The subject of alkor was touchy. "Someone should pull the stick out his booty too. " She finally offered with a small laugh.

This..

It was nice.

"W-whoa." Mari reached out to Corvo, her hand running up and down his back. "Of all the things to choke on I'd doubt you'd wanna go down on smoke." Mari chided. She personally wasn't a big fan of smokers - high rollers with fat thousand dollar cigars that seemed no different to a $10 one. Made little sense to Mari, but she knew how important these things were to people. Not smokes - but things that reminded them of home, of the world outside. Mari gave Corvo's shoulder a final squeeze before pulling away from him. 

"S-Sugar what?" Mari said exasperated. She coughed and shot Corvo a look. Always crass this one - Mari almost forgot just how crass he could be. "I...I have a name you know!" Mari sighed. "T-Then what does that make you?" She retorted. Mari could feel his eyes on her, silently awaiting some sort of snappy comeback. An answer. Crap. Mari couldn't think of one. "Bitter nips!" She said. "Cause you're -ugh...Maybe knife tits?" 

Mari paused to step over a particularly large fallen trunk. Damn humid forest. She readjusted herself - feeling sweaty - if it weren't for the current company, she'd have high tailed it out of there to the nearest staircase down.

"Mmm Maybe we should agree to disagree - cause damn. Some people need to be slapped. It's like a child screaming that they're king of the mountain. Then again... I suppose a lotta people here are just kids."

"H-Hey!" Mari forced her eyes shut as she was sprayed with hot liquid, her hands lifting up to uselessly defend her against the offending droplets. "D-Don't be mad at me!" She stammered. "HIM!" Mari quickly grabbed the offered napkin and wiped her face. Mari sighed into the warm cloth. Almost afraid to move it away from her face. Mari sat there, her face shoved into the napkin for a solid minute before she finally pulled it down and away. Why did she do it indeed...she couldn't tell him it was because she just...didn't really care about herself could she? That she wanted to experiment on herself, with herself, and wasn't that kind of ironic? For that was one of the very reasons she had been hated in the first place.

Mari...hadn't expected Shield to react that way. " I mean..." She sounded sheepish. The comment was meant to be light-hearted - a way to move the conversation away from the issue of her and Baldur. "I don't know...ever since I found the floor and scouted it I-" 

It sounded stupid now that she thought about it, but it was the truth. "I felt drawn to it. Sitting by it kinda...felt like it drained me and sometimes I needed that. Finally - I decided I dunno, fuck it.  At best - maybe I activate some sort of secret quest or dungeon, at worst - I see my daughter again."

Mari rubbed the back of her neck, pausing to down the glass of sake - relishing the familiar burn that lined her throat and the warmth that followed. Right...now came the harder part. How do you explain to someone that their husband literally threw themselves into a hole after you, wrapped you up in their arms and made sure you were safe? Maybe not all that at once.  "Beat being there was - coincidence. Turns out he goes there to think too. Never in my life would I expect him to jump in after me. But- we're both safe.  Really."

"Hahahaha..." Mari audibly laughed at the thought as she pocketed the <<Hoya of Minos>> 

"Pfft." She slapped her cheeks. "Like I'd ever fall for someone that weeabo." Heck, even saying it out aloud made her inwardly cringe. 

"welp." There was no use in her dwelling on sad things. Because Mari knew that she had no time to be sad. Not when she wanted to help everyone here escape. Not when she had a mission. Not when she wanted to fight her way to the frontlines. "And not when I have some rosey haired girl to bring me some decent food." Mari said as she patted her stomach.

Right.

RIGHT!

Things weren't that bad, she had people in this world she could rely on. People like Macradon. And hey, as long as she still had friends like that - who she could quest with, and grow stronger with then someday, somewhere, somehow - everything would work out.

And Mari would perhaps be able to get some rest, from the things that went bump in the night.

-End



Thread Rewards

Mari + Raina Receive 200 Col + 2 SP

That's why her marriage ended in divorce. It's why so many people got sick. It was probably why this game turned out the way it did. Who knew what kind of secret government agency was paying to have Kayaba experiment on so many malleable minds.  Without money, you'd at best lead a respectable life, but that was it.

Mari had none of that.

So - why the hell, how the hell was she even still hooked up to the machine? After a year, or two - wouldn't doctors and nurses and medical staff just pull the plug? Maybe Mari was secretly hoping they'd all do just that. Pull the plug on her. Because then she could just BOOP

or fizzle, or phase out - or however it works when the nerve gear fries their brains. Mari sighed.

"So you see, Gordon, or Gaius or whoever - whatever your name was...." Mari said. As she was talking to the pendant. "I'd never really be able to give this to anyone. Anyone." She lifted her eyes to the horizon. 

It's not like she'd ever fall for some shunsengumi clad samurai or anything, after all.

Nah.

She had way more control than that.

 

"To...give to someone as a gift." Mari repeated.

Someone she cared about? Someone who cared about her? That was a laughable notion. Mari didn't have anyone like that. She didn't have family nor friends waiting for her on the outside. Not that she was a loner, just that - she had always held people at arms length. She didn't make an impact on anyone, nor a lasting impression. She had done that on purpose. Ever since the divorce and the betrayal and the heartbreak Mari didn't want to go through that all again. So, she on purposefully held people at arms length.

It was easier that way. But, it also meant that there really wasn't anyone there. No one to visit her in the hospital bed, no one to be waiting for her with baited breath to see if she would ever wake from this living hell. No one to pay the bills, so realistically. It was only a matter of time, right? What was more important? A single life? Or money?

Mari knew the answer.

It was money.


It always was.

If she didn't then....

Well...

Mari stopped walking. Her footsteps no longer moving as they came to a complete stop. Stopping in the green lush grass that tickled her ankles. Well.... Mari reached into her inventory with a flourish of her hand, she quickly navigated the windows and menus till she pulled out the trinket she had gotten earlier that day. The ordeal left a sour taste in her mouth. Literally. "ugh." What was his name again? Gauis? Gavin? Gordy?

Dumb ass.

Right. Dumb ass seemed suitable. 

Finally. Mari found it and pulled the trinket out of her inventory. It sat in her hand. In the palm of her hand, sparkling. Pristine. A thin silver chain that looped between her splayed fingers - and on that thin and shimmering chain sat a small crystal. It was a red crystal, and that red crystal was shaped like a red teardrop. A simple pendant. 

The conversation with Raina  had been....interesting to say the least. Mari wasn't sure how she felt about it. But Mari could take solace  in the fact that she had tried to cheer up Raina. Hell, she even gave the strange, buxom, pink haired woman a...what do they call it? A dowry? Whatever. Mari shrugged her shoulders. It didn't really matter. It seemed like the type of encounter that wouldn't happen again, and if it did then - well...

Mari turned back to glance over her shoulder at the direction where Raina had been. Mari...had hoped that at least Raina had some good memories of her. Maybe, just maybe - Mari could slowly change the opinion of others. Through sheer determination to right the many wrongs. Those steps were small. Minute, minuscule in comparison to everything that she had done in the past. 

"One small step at a time..." Mari said to herself. She had to keep saying that, had to keep taking those steps forward - because if she didn't....

Because if you don't, they'll slip through your fingers
   And you'll probably find out that those sweet nothings were nothing more than sweet lies
           placating cruelties uttered only to manipulate you
                          to use you, and shatter you.


Mari didn't say what she thought, instead...she turned her sapphire, azure, blue eyes toward Raina and her lips - well- they quirked up into what was a half smile then into a full smile. No. Mari wouldn't do that to such a bright and exuberant (also perhaps a little naive) young girl, who was so full of hopes and dreams and light. Mari would be so cruel to take that away. "Welp. See ya." And with that small wave, that simple gesture...Mari bid Raina farewell. She took one step, then another, and finally...a third away from  that young buxomed pink haired girl before turning on her heel.

"That...certainly was an interesting interaction." Mari said to herself. It hadn't been bad though. Right?

Right?


 

(since this thread hasn't had any replies for months I will continue to finish it as a solo)

"Well..." Mari shoved her hands in her pockets. "I uh...this has been nice, but I should probably get going."

Mari swore she saw Raina's smile fade - and Mari quickly bought her hands up and shook them in defence. "Its just - I got somewhere to go, I'm normally only this far down to meet up with people I've contracted to bring me food and stuff, yanno..." Mari pointed up at her cursor. "Being a PKer and all." It wasn't entirely untrue - Mari was on her way down to meet up with Ceres. Although it was more for an exchange in information rather than food. "So really, I just don't wanna keep people waiting." Mari gave Raina a small wave goodbye. "I wish you all the luck with your marriage." Her voice lowered, a small whisper filled with a turmolt of emotion. "Really...I do..." Her gaze shifted to the horizon.

"Because..." There was a pause. "Things like that..." Another pause. "They're to be cherished. For as long as you can hold onto them."
 

Mari raised her eyebrows at Ariels enigmatic words. Right. Wouldn't it be easier just to be straight? Still - Mari was in no place to question Ariel nor her motives. After some time with Shield Mari realized that Ariel wasn't the 'pure heroic type' Mari once thought her to be. So the whole 'we have our own crosses to bear' thing made sense. As to what it alleviated to though, Mari had no clue. Nor was she going to ask. That business was between Ariel and Shield after all. "So - did you ever get given some crazy ass title?" Mari inquired.

Luckily the conversation shifted as Ariel pulled out her weapon. Saying they were close. "Good." Mari said, a little relieved that whatever may come would distract the two of them. "I'm not entirely sure on the full details of this quest- so you're in the lead for this one." Mari said as she let her own weapon materialize. A Tall mahogany spear with a tip that resembled a hypodermic needle- a gift from Shield. 

@Ariel - The Crowned Lion

Mari was about ready to wave her hand in front of his face - his blue eyes seemed to stare off into the distance, Mari gave Corvo a worried look, a part of her wanted to ask him if he were okay, another, too terrified to ask and make that connection, that same mistake that she had made too many times before.

"Damn. Wish I had that kinda resolve." Mari said with a sigh. "I did, for a while - but it kinda made me the most wanted around these parts for a while..." It was hard to forget, having the top guild wanting her dead. Threatening to end her life if she so much as set foot on the very front-lines that fought to get out of here. Mari rolled her eyes, mumbling irritated words beneath her breath. "Like some assholes ego is more important than gettin' everyone else otta here..." Mari shook her head. It was stupid. Utterly stupid.

The plume of black smoke startled Mari - had he lit up something without her looking? Probably. But - was there a reason? It's not like it'd affect anything in here. The system made sure of that. Mari turned her head back to him. "Yeh...That's how they're supposed to be." Mari repeated - the seething skeptism barely hidden. "But-" Mari didn't finish her sentence. She figured he didn't need the negativity. Why tell him that people didn't do that? He seemed like he got that already. Instead, she gave him a wry grin.

"But-" She changed her tone, teasingly so. "Is that some well intentioned advice I hear?"

@Corvo

Mari tried to give Chaser a reassuring smile, although the look that pulled her lips into a grin probably seemed more strained than comforting. "Ya shouldn't worry about it." Mari offered. "I'm used to it - and-" Her shoulders rose and fell in a shrug before Mari crossed her arms under her chest. She wasn't sure if she should continue, and yet- she had already started, hadn't she? It'd be unfair to leave the kid on unspoken words like that. "And..." She paused, her eyes drifting to the ground. "If I'm being honest - it makes me feel...useful." Mari needed that. To feel useful, hell- to feel anything beyond an apathetic dullness. 

 "... Orange? Can I call you that?"

Mari blinked. He wanted to call her...what? "I uh...Y-Yeh." The innocent question took her aback. She wasn't used to people wanting to give her nicknames. Hell, Mari barely realized that she had called him blueberry till he reminded her. 

"Call me whatever." Mari said again as she gestured for him to follow her further into the cavern.
@ChaseR

Total Skins: 4

Mari shrugged at Corvo's crass and cavalier response in regards to Alkor. She wished she could feel the same flippant way. Gods knew she needed that hard kick up the rear sometimes. Her lips quirked into a half smile at the simplicity of it. Perhaps that's why Mari found it easy to talk to Corvo. It was simple. No eggshells to walk over, no wondering if she was saying the right thing or not. No unspoken words to fester. 

With Corvo. You got what you got.

"Let's pray you never get too lonely then." Mari shot back as she nudged his arm with her elbow. "Lest I be in your nightmares."  His flirt went over her head. It was probably for the best. Who knows how Mari would have reacted with such a brazen statement. It made his next one all the more puzzling to the woman.

"Too bad I don't have anything extra special to remember-"

Mari caught up to him with a few quickened steps then slowed to match his pace. "Why not make something to remember then?" Her offer felt simple, earnest - if only she knew. If only.

Mari shrugged when Corvo asked what was on her mind. "Honestly? Everything, yet nothing. Gods..." She ran a hand through her hair with a sigh. "That's a crappy answer - I mean - I guess it feels weird to be out walkin' around again and not all cooped up. I'm just tryin' to get my bearings again. It feels like the world just zoomed right past me when I was all holed up and now I gotta make up for lost time, so Im trying to reach out to people who I give a damn about.."

Mari drew in a breath and exhaled slowly. Why did it feel like she was the one doing all the damage? She shouldn't complain. This would get them a decent amount of Col and experience - and with the boss battle ever looming... Mari relaxed her shoulders and cracked her neck. "It's not too bad." She commented about how hard they hit. "If we were fighting in the middle of a volcano, maybe it'd be a different story but-" She paused and held out her hand, fingers licking the flames that burst forth from the Drakeling. 

"I kinda like the tickling warmth of the flames."

It wasn't like they could feel pain, just an uncomfortable sensation. Mari turned her attention to the remaining drakeling, even with her more powerful attack, it wouldn't instantly die.

What a bother.

Mari charged forward, and activated her <<Dimension Stampede>> skill, ripping through the Drakeling, leaving it with only a sliver of its health left.

Mari straightened herself, rubbing a shoulder. "Mmm. If I had known I'd be fighting so many of these, I'd have come with some damage crystals." Her eyes lifted to the ceiling. "When was the last time I made anything like that?" The question was rhetorical. Somewhere along the way...she had lost her passion for crafting things. Rather, she lost her will for a lot of things.

@ChaseR
 

[x15] Dimension Stampede (17 Energy) - An attack with four fast stabs, only to be concluded by a jumping slam from above. 
19 x 15=285-15=270
ID:169626  BD:7 + 4=11-1=HIT


[1,2] ChaseR: HP: 970/1070  | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 18 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 3 | MIT: 43 | BH: 32 | FRZ: 24 | BLD: 24 | V.(DEF): 53 | HBS: 16 | LD: 2
[0,0] Mari: HP: 1582/1610 | EN: 124/158 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 43 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 4  | BH: 72 | BRN: 24 | BLEED: 24 | FLAME AURA: 15 -17 EN

Drakeling 5: HP: 80/350 | DMG: 200 | MIT: 15 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 2 | [Stun CD; -/3] | Breath of Fire [1/4] - 270
Drakeling 6: HP: 0/350 (-201) | DMG: 200 | MIT: 15 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 2 | [Stun CD; -/3] | Breath of Fire [1/4]-393

*Each Drakeling will attack with an AoE dealing 100 unmitigatable damage. After a 4 turn cooldown, the Drakeling will use Breath of Fire again.

REWARDS
 

Discussions continued, about how best to handle the situation at hand - possible possession. Player roles and groups. Then, one by one - people thanked Baldur for hosting, and began to leave. There was still so much left unanswered though - just how many frontliners would make it to the boss battle itself? IF the meeting was any indication - their numbers would be between 10 and 20, but anything close to, or over 20 would be nothing more than hopeful dreaming.  Both Raidou and the Aincrad Trading Post guild had offered their support via healing items - enough so that every single frontliner would hold the maximum capacity of crystals.

But - that wasn't the only issue. Players would still need teleportation crystals, antidotes - and more. At this stage, all Mari could do was chew her inner cheek. Worried. Not for herself, for she was ready to face whatever may come, but for the others. The hopeful dreamers who had lovers, mothers, and lives waiting for them outside.

All one could do...was wait.


-MEETING ENDED-

It was kind of...sad really. To see such a mighty beast fall. A part of myself wanted to approach him, give him some choice words about how his ego was his own undoing. That by sapping the very energy from everything around him - he'd become the very thing he despised. But- I guess... those words would be wasted on such a creature wouldn't they? I sighed, and closed my eyes.

Pausing...to listen to the sounds of the battlefield around me, cries from fellow players - the grunt of steel against scale, the defeated snort of an enemy with far too much hubris. In a way, I got where Skalaugh came from - we - as players shouldn't be here. 

But -

My way was different to his. 

With a kick off mud, I darted toward the mighty beast; activating my Sword Art. I didn't want to be here. -Stab-  I'd be fine with dying. -Stab-  But the others? They deserved to get out -Stab- Each. And every one of them.

With a final powerful thrust that lodged my weapon deep into the haunch of his shoulder I exhaled a single, heartfelt word .

"Sorry."

I'd fight to get everyone else out of here.

Passive: +1 EN
Action: [x14] Imperial Southern Cross (16 Energy) - Six rapid stabs, followed by a powerful finishing thrust at the opponent.
22 x 14=308-125=183

SKALAUGH RECEIVES 183 DAMAGE

ID:169541  BD: 7 + 6= 13 -2 = HIT
[H: 3] Lessa HP: 1028/1210 | EN: 55/112 | 22 DMG | 5 ACC | 1 EVA | 171 MIT | 54 THN | 1 HM | 1 REC | 36 BH 
[H: 4] Haine HP:1128/1270  | EN: 30/124 | 22 DMG | 6 ACC | 3 EVA | 111 MIT | 36 BLD | Antioxidant 
[H: 17] Raidou HP:1625/1625 | EN: 97/144 | 18 DMG | 4 ACC | 6 EVA | 176 MIT | TAUNT | 80 BH | Antidote:3/3 | Antioxidant | PARRY
[H: 5] Freyd HP: 1205/1205 | EN: 58/104 | 25 DMG  | 6 ACC | 4 EVA | 79 MIT | KEEN | 6 HLY | 36 BLD | 24 BH 
[H: 3] Mari HP: 1570/1570  | EN: 64/154 | 22 DMG | 6 ACC | 5 EVA | 88 MIT | 24 BLD | 15 FLM-AURA | 72 BH  -16 EN
[H: 3] Oscar HP: 1370/1370 | EN: 83/134 | 23 DMG | 5 ACC | 5 EVA | 151 MIT | 12 FLN | 36 BRN | 69 BH | -3 EN Cost [Finesse] | -1 EN Cost [3/3]
[H: 3] Hidden HP: 1210/1210 | EN: 76/118 | 19 DMG | 6 ACC | 5 EVA | 124 MIT | 8 HLY | 121 VAMP-OFF | 60 BH 
[H: 5] Crozeph HP: 1165/1165 | EN: 42/100 | 18 (+3) DMG | 4 (2) ACC | 1 (+2)  EVA | 54 (+45)  MIT | FRZ | 2 REC | 1 LD 
[H: 2] Zajcica [REND 2/3] HP: 1455/1510 | EN: 116/130 | 6 DMG | 4 ACC | 279 MIT | 54 THN | 30 FLM-AURA | 21 FST-THN | Taunt | 36 BLD | 75 BH | 25% DoT Reduce | [PARRY 0/3] 
[H: 8] Macradon HP: 1805/1805 | EN: 151/189 | 22 DMG | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | 152 MIT | 2 REC | 36 FST-THN | FRZ | 90 BH | 180 VMP-OFF 
[H: 4] Kiluia HP: 930/1050 | EN: 28/102 | 25 DMG | 5 ACC | 4 EVA | 124 MIT | ABS-ACC | 36 BLD | 1 REC | KEEN 
[H: 2] Night HP: 1490/1490 | EN: 115/161 | 23 DMG | 6 ACC | 6 EVA | 124 MIT | 1 KEEN | 1 PRYLZ | ABS-ACC | 24 TOX-VEN | 4 LD | 4 SD | 7 SR | 74 BH | [15% Barrier]
[H: 3] Zandra HP: 1765/1805 | EN: 144/191 | 22 DMG | 5 ACC | 2 EVA | 197 MIT | 30 FLM-AURA | 90 BH |
[H: 2] [REND 3/3]
Morgenstern HP: 1063/1510  | EN: 97/142  | 22 DMG | 6 ACC | 1 EVA | 171 MIT | PAR-VNM | 25% DoT Reduce | FRPRF | PARA-IMN | BLDCLT | 76 BD

He didn't seem to want to answer - I couldn't blame him. I knew I wasn't the best person to get along with. Heh. I was doing it again, wasn't I? I just didn't know when to shut up. When to just stop. I sighed, turning my eyes to the dark world ahead of me. At least they'd remember him. I felt like no one would remember me, not really. Maybe I was being pessimistic, I mean... I knew people cared about me, to an extent - and I knew I was needed, but I couldn't seem to tell my brain or my emotions that. It felt draining, exhausting just to move like a basic ass human being. Lately, more and more - I began to wonder if there was something truly wrong with me. I shuffled back down to a seated position against the cold, hard floor. My back pressed hard up against the wall. I drew my knees in close to my chest and tightly wrapped my arms around them. "There is nothing for you to do now though, is there?" I asked quietly, my voice drained.I doubted I'd change his mind. He wouldn't change mine either.

He implored me to sleep. Offered me safety. But I wouldn't sleep. 

I was never safe.

I didn't even want to be here anymore.  Why am I here? What kept me here?

I pressed my chin into my legs and exhaled quietly.

@Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

His words sounded nothing short of insane. He wanted to free my ‘passions’ and yet at the same time wanted me to suppress them? It made no sense. “Freyd...this is probably rude but I think given the situation I’m entitled to be that. But - are you…” I paused, biting my tongue. As much of a dick to me that he was, was it fair to ask? I was always so cautious of these sort of things, so it felt...almost wrong of me to do so.

Then again, was any of the crap he pulled fair?

“I mean-” I rubbed the back of my neck. This still wasn’t easy. “You kinda - pick me as someone who…” How do I say this? It shouldn’t be an insult, it’s not an insult. That’s just narrow minded. So why was it so hard to ask?

“Are you autistic?”

He blinked.  “Probably.”  There was no wounded pride, just a factual response.  It seemed about as good a confirmation as anyone was likely to give.

I sighed. It explained a lot. Feeling inhuman compared to others because you couldn’t understand their emotional responses, expecting things to just ‘work’ and when they don’t being confused. “Mmm….” What was I meant to say to that?  “I think...that doesn’t really make you inhuman. I do think you gotta- maybe, not fuck with people like that, but it doesn’t make you inhuman.” As much as I felt like he was. It wasn’t fair to call him that.

“You do remember that I didn’t actually choose to do anything, right?  I considered it, then my guts literally ripped themselves out and ran with it.  Heck… I’ve been trying to stop it.”

I felt like he was changing his story again. Didn’t he admit to leading his gemini to me earlier? I gave him a questioning sideward glance. Didn’t he say that it had all gone according to his plan? Up until now, it sounded like he had well, planned everything - now it felt like he was backtracking to save face. I really didn’t know what to believe, and it left an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. “So, why the planning and scheming if it wasn’t you choosing to do anything?”

Freyd rubbed his temples, trying to figure out how to explain it, but ultimately just sighed and splayed his hands.  “Probably because I’m just going insane.  I can’t even tell anymore.”  He closed his eyes, as if trying to repackage his entire self back into a box the size of a thimble.  “You saw your Gemini.  You saw mine.  Did you honestly think it was any less messed up for me as it was for you?  That’s… not a defense, or an accusation.  I’m just trying to figure this all out too.”

I didn’t lead mine to him, I didn’t coax mine into ripping his out. The two couldn’t be any more different. Still. I  bit my tongue on the matter. There was little good it’d do to explain it to him.

I turned my head away, thinking of his previous words. - I’m already dead - that phrase left a worse feeling in my gut. Because that’s how I felt. And it was terrifyingly unnerving to hear someone else say that so matter-of-factly. He went on to say he’d never leave SAO - and I wanted to slap him across the face for it.

But -

I would be a hypocritical asshole then. “Everyone else out, huh?” I said quietly. I had always specifically used those words. Always just those words. Because I didn’t plan on leaving. A part of me was tempted to tell him I felt the same. But I didn’t trust him enough for that.

“You may change your mind as you move  forward in the game.” I offered instead. I didn’t try to convince him not to die, nor did I try to tell him his thoughts were wrong. Because I was in the same boat, and if someone had tried to tell me those things, I’d push them off said boat. Or jump off and drown myself, just to spite them.

“That’s not it.  You think I’m a monster in here?  Heh… There’s even less of me to try and salvage out there.  At least I’ve found something in here that might be worth trying to nurture.  Maybe in here I can do some good.  Out there?  That’s the real void.”

I knew I couldn’t convince him otherwise. Because I felt very much the same. I turned away from him fully now as he mentioned the quest with the little girl in it. How he found a girl named Asmura, and how he felt protective of her. The way he had smiled when he mentioned her name. That alone showed something.

“You don’t think Asmura, and the rest of your guild would want to see you out there? You think they’d be the kind of people to just dust their hands of you when all is said and done?” It was a rhetorical question. I didn’t expect him to answer, I just wanted him to consider the words.

I shook my head when he asked me about Evelyn. I wasn’t really wanting to talk about that. Not now. Not with him.

I placed the flat of my palm on the wall that separated myself from the safe confines of the town. Being this close was dangerous, if a guard happened to walk by I’d be attacked. By now, it was well into the night.

“You tired?” I asked him.

I was always tired.

"When she's not here a-"

"Hi!' came a cheery voice from a pale girl with blonde hair and eyes with a blue that rivaled the sea. "What would you like to order?"

Mari turned to the girl, "Two bowls of Shoyu ramen, each with extra servings of Chasu." The girl gave a polite nod - and took their drink order - whilst Mari knew she couldn't get drunk in the game, she went ahead and ordered warm Sake anyway. Maybe the taste would give her a placebo affect.  "That, when Cordelia isn't here, they just assign some NPC to the place. She must be out with Oscar." Mari said, pausing to grab the sake and two cups from the NPC - who she never cared to get the name from.

"I definitely recharge it by being alone." Mari continued their earlier conversation as she poured Shield a generous cup of Sake, followed by her own. Mari gently set the bottle off to the side, so it wouldn't obstruct her view of him. "But-" She paused, eyes falling to her cup. I don't like being alone.   Rather than speak her thoughts out aloud, Mari cleared her throat. "B-But there are certain people that help recharge too." She traced the rim of her ceramic cup with an index finger idly. Mari told herself to say something, fill the silence with something, anything. She needed to change the topic.

....

Anytime now...

....Just say the first thing that comes to your head...

"So...did Beat tell you how he jumped into the void after me?"

@Shield

Mari followed suit, right behind Chaser - she activated her charge skill and did an amazing attack - look its 4:30 am - Mari's attack was stunning, powerful. And imposing, like a icestorm, it would chill one to the bone or something. Just imagine that happening. Also, one of the drakelings died, but the other lived.

"UGh...." Mari sighed as she pushed her fringe up and out of her face. Eyebrows furrowed in mild frustration as ice blue eyes fell to the remaining drakeling - it seemed to prance around. Mocking them. "It's a fairly spry one, ain't it?" She muttered, disdain clear on her seething tone.

She held up the thin, shimmery material that resembled the other drakelings skin. "Least I seem to be pretty lucky on these, no?" She asked with a tilt of her head. "How many does that put us at now five?


[x15] Dimension Stampede (17 Energy) - An attack with four fast stabs, only to be concluded by a jumping slam from above. 
Action: Charged Dimension Stampede  24x17=408-15=393
ID:169244 Bd: 8 HIT
Skinning Drakeling ID:169245  CD:9

[1,2] ChaseR: HP: 970/1070  | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 18 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 3 | MIT: 43 | BH: 32 | FRZ: 24 | BLD: 24 | V.(DEF): 53 | HBS: 16 | LD: 2
[0,0] Mari: HP: 1582/1610 | EN: 141/158 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 43 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 4  | BH: 72 | BRN: 24 | BLEED: 24 | FLAME AURA: 15 -17 EN

Drakeling 5: HP: 350/350 | DMG: 200 | MIT: 15 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 2 | [Stun CD; -/3] | Breath of Fire [1/4]
Drakeling 6: HP: 0/350 (-201) | DMG: 200 | MIT: 15 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 2 | [Stun CD; -/3] | Breath of Fire [1/4]-393

*Each Drakeling will attack with an AoE dealing 100 unmitigatable damage. After a 4 turn cooldown, the Drakeling will use Breath of Fire again.

Total Skins: 4

@ChaseR