Mari

Four days?

Mari froze. No…No it hadn’t, it’d been a day…right? Her gaze met Freyds - his hands gripping her arms tightly, almost so tight that they shook. Was he…scared? No…worried.

“Four…days…?” Mari asked quietly. Now that the man seemed to have more of her attention he let go. Mari slowly sat back down. Her brows furrowing. “How…” She rose a hand to her forehead. “It didn’t….feel like that…”

If it had been that long…no wonder Freyd was so panicked. Mari would have been the same if her friend just up and disappeared after a series of messages like that. “Freyd…I had no idea…” She said quietly.  “I….” she glanced around her store. Everything looked the same. As though no time had passed. Her usual attire still in a sack to the side. Blue eyes shifted down to her current attire. No wonder he had initially met her with hostility.

“I wanted to help with the Spectral Knights.” Mari began. Trying to piece together bits of information.  “No…wait…” What was she doing before that?

Beat.

“No…I…I came here looking for Beat.” Mari reached out to the sack, and pulled out her regular clothes -and with a flash of pixels she was wearing her usual orange garb.

“Instead of him…I found someone else - researching different antidotes - and I wanted to help so…” Mari groaned as she rubbed her temple. This floor was really messing with her.

4 days… that was her mental limit for this place. 

“I was given this pathogen - with a note asking to decode it - so I did - and - the plan was to figure out a way for it to affect monsters, but not people. That….Ahh…that really excited me! I love picking things apart like that - and…but…4 days???”

It was clear Mari was still struggling to put together a coherent series of events for Freyd. But she was trying. "Freyd If...I've been here for 4 days...I need to get away from this floor."

Mari locked the door behind her with a near silent click. It had been difficult to navigate the area- but for the most part it was uneventful. This town didn’t care if you had an orange, or green cursor - and her companion made good distractions, a hand on the shoulder here - a giggle there. It was…almost comical to see such a stoic and emotionless person play the part of a sweet woman.

The barkeep, a old miser of an NPC asked them what they wanted and Mari kept her back to the scene. She knew what the man was about to do. The barkeep being an NPC didn’t make the act any less…gruesome. Mari didn’t understand why he didn’t just knife the guy quietly and be done with it. A glance over her shoulder and Mari caught the end of his action - a bottle in the mans throat - quick - definitely not painless. But quick. Just how used to these sort of things was this guy?  It made Mari feel a little uneasy.

Still - it had only been NPCs and PKers that he had shown aggression to. Even herself, whilst he had shown mild annoyance, and aggression - he had changed his tune. 

A creak caused Mari’s attention to go skyward. The man pointed up - signalling for her to check on the source of the noise. Mari sighed as she followed suit. Pausing - to grab a set of keys that hung on the now deceased bartenders belt. WIth any luck, no one would have left their rooms yet.

Then, up the stairs she went. When Mari was met with an empty hallway she exhaled. Relieved. Mari wasn’t sure what the man would do if they were caught right now. With a small jingle of keys - Mari started to check each door, any that were unlocked. She’d lock from the outside. It was late, and she doubted anyone would venture out at this time of night, but it was best to be safe, than sorry.

Mari paused as she had locked the last door.

…

Just what would happen…if anyone had ventured out?

No…lets not thing about what ifs.

Mari quietly descended the stairs - and when she caught the line of sight of her companion, she pointed to the keys - then with thumb and forefinger, mimicked a lock. They were all locked away. Any attempt to disarm the locks - would take time. Time enough for the two to slink away undetected.

Mari placed two bars of what looked like melted brass into the box. Mari sighed, ignoring the little ping constantly going off. Theft was the least bad thing she had done lately. What did she care? Mari glanced out the window, pausing. Her beaked bill tilting to the side as she hyper focused on something small in the corner of the frame.

She watched the wasp struggling in the spiderweb for a moment. That’s when it hit her.

Something that would only affect monsters, not people. Pheromones were one thing; it was a stretch but it was one thing but there was something else. Something physical that wouldn’t affect people.

Mari set the box of stolen goods down on a nearby table, then hastily opened up one of the drawers. Good, she pulled out a pen and paper and started writing.  Horsehair worms. They can’t parasitize people - at least normally. Aincrad may change that if you ignore that then… wouldn’t that be a way to infect monsters? Literally reprogramming them on a chemical level to be lambs to the slaughter?

-Horsehair worm
-known to hijack hosts nervous system to alter behaviour - usually to water.
-is it possible to create other behavioural changes?
-Infection via swarming insects. Wasps, bees, hornets, etc .
-cause damage to limbic system? Non issue.

Shouldn't affect people

The last thing they needed was some kind of super parasite that would alter someone's mind without them realizing. But Mari was confident that wouldn’t be the case. Setting the pen down Mari rifled through the box, pulling out a pair of tweezers and a small vial. It was hard to distract her when she was focused like this. Mari reached out to the wasp; placed it carefully in the vial, and corked it up before carefully wrapping it up in some linen and placing that too in the box. Then, Mari grabbed her notes, folded them up, and placed them in the hands of the other man.

Then, her….companion? No. Partner? No. The enigmatic man dumped a crate on the floor - he passed it along to Mari who placed everything of value into it. Then - her eyes shifted to him as he tapped his mask.

What in the hell is he doing?

His eyes shone a bright yellow, as he pulled out a recording crystal? It looked to be a recording crystal.

Disguise.

It seemed to be something in line with the disguise skill. Mari made a mental note to grab that skill herself at some point.

"I think its getting a little late, Should we go?"

Mari nodded. It must be well into the late morning by now - which meant that their actions would begin to garner attention if they continued. “Yeh. Let’s go.” Mari said, a little distracted by how well the disguise worked.

“Alcohol next, right?”

"Yeh..." Mari returned his tired smile with one of her own. There had been so much left unsaid between the two since their reunion back at the onsen. Mari felt bad; but unlike what Raidou had said - she was not on vacation. She wasn't living it up. Sure - she didn't exactly hate herself anymore but prison was still prison. It wasn't nice. "My joints might hurt a bit after this - didn't exactly have a lot of movement where I was." Mari wound up one arm as she rubbed her shoulder. "Still - as you said - its better to just get back into the fray of things sometimes."

Hey eyes shifted to the others in the group. "I'm glad...that you weren't alone throughout it all."

Baldur gave her a wink as he touched the tip of the spear, then teasingly licked the tip of his finger - Mari stared at him - mouth agape, what the - what the hell did he think he was doing?? Mari shook her head. Just friends. They were, and would always be just friends. And friends teased each other.

Ill pointy end you in a minute....

Everyone here had their role; and Mari's? Well - hers was probably the easiest of all. She was simply trying to dust off any sort of fighting prowess she once had. It was odd - Mari used to be one of the strongest, if not the strongest in Aincrad for quite some time but now she felt like she was trailing behind. Yet...somehow...that didn't make her feel bad. If anything, it felt like a lot of that pressure was gone.

Mari pulled out her weapon - an orange polearm dripping with black miasma and lunged toward the spectral knight - ducking low she jammed the tip into the underside of the knights jaw. Mari gave it a good jerk for measure before pulling her weapon free.

"Yanno, if you're gonna start licking things, its gonna be real hard to concentrate."

id: 245542  bd: 4+7=11 -3=8  MOB 10

ST-I (12 EN) | A single-target sword art.   (23 X 12= 276) 276-80= 196 DAMAGE

2 Hate] Baldur | HP: 980/980 | EN: 120/132 | DMG: 26 | MIT:78 | ACC:8+1 | AA (Inc) | KEEN: 1 (Act) | F-SPIRIT | EVA:4 | BH:54 | REC: 8 | FLN: 8 | BLI: 32/-20 | BRN: 56 | FRZ: 64 | LD:5 | Rested (1/2)
Mari | HP: 940/940 | EN: 116/128 | DMG: 23 | MIT:4 | ACC:7 | AA | EVA:4 | BH:52 | BLI: 32/-20 | ENV-O: 32 | PARA-V | LD:1

Spectral Knight | HP: 3504/3700  | DMG: 300 | MIT:100 80 | ACC:5 | EVA:3 | FRB [40/2] | BLD [48/2] | BLGT [32/2] | BRN [56/2] | Shattered [1/3 stacks]

• Splinter | Whenever the Spectral Knight critically hits (BD 9-10), its attack instead only deals 50 mitigated damage and 60 unmitigated damage to the entire party as the weapon splinters into a sharpened spray. This attack applies all applicable DoT's to all targets when this occurs.
• Mist Body | Natural BD 9 attacks made against Spectral Knight will no longer automatically hit and will use accuracy & damage calculations as normal due to the Spectral Knight bending and twisting to allow dangerous attacks to pass harmlessly through. All enhancements that would activate on a natural BD 9 (bleed, holy, burn, freeze) will not trigger when this occurs.
• Attempted Rewrite | On a CD 10+, the Spectral Knight will find another NPC nearby and manufacture that NPC into a clone of itself with the same stat block including remaining hit points and any applied status effects.

Mari wasn’t sure if her words or actions were helping, Oscar seemed to be opening up a little more. And in her experience - that was always a good thing. It never did her well to bottle it all up, its one of the reasons she ended up being incarcerated. 

“You need help too.”

Did she though? Mari thought about the question, about the implication. The one thing that lingered during her time in prison…She was lonely. “Maybe.” Mari whispered. “But - what  I need help with, is something you can’t do.” And it was nothing against him as a person, it was just a fact. “Nothing a taken person can help with.” Mari clarified.
 

As his hand moved up, his fingers gently danced across her face - tucking hair behind her ear. Mari stilled- initially her eyes fluttered close and her head tilted, following the traces of warmth his fingers left, but his words snapped her back.

“It would be rather selfish of me not to give as good as I take.”

Mari blinked hearing those words, then - she couldn't help but snort and laugh at them. "I think...we both may have interpreted those words a little differently." She allowed herself to linger a moment longer before finally letting go of the man. "If I've learned anything from my time in prison, Oscar...its that we are allowed to be selfish. It's what keeps us sane in a world that constantly demands so very much of us."

Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire...except it wasn't fire - it was a cold - wet and dreary ass floor. The only reason Mari had willingly joined the fray so soon was the promise of clavicles. Okay, maybe two reasons, Clavicles and because she felt guilty for being locked away for so long. Even though she was in Jail.

Mari was following behind Baldur, Jomei -and someone she wasn't sure she recognized. Her new 2H spear leaning casually on her shoulder. She knew nothing of what was going on. 

"Remember?" Mari asked - then sighed. "I don't even know what's going on right now." She opened up her inventory. "I ain't got buffs - I got very little in terms of...anything really."

Still, Mari was willing to work together with these people - it'd be nice. It'd be really nice to be able to catch up with people, even in the throws of battle

Duping? Mari hoped she wasn't getting in over her head here. She took the buffs from Baldur. "Thanks, I'm gonna be rusty - hope ya understand!"

Mari | HP: 940/940 | EN: 128/128 | DMG: 23 | MIT:4 | ACC:7 | AA | EVA:4 | BH:52 | BLI: 32/-20 | ENV-O: 32 | PARA-V | LD:1

Mari followed him up the stairs, being sure to close the gate behind them. The place smelt welcoming, despite being an artisan there was a scent of baked goods in the air, of herbs and rosemary. Things meant to illicit feelings of comfort, and of home. Mari paused on the stairs to take in the scents. She had to admit...It was nice. Mari followed the man up the stairs - waiting as he knocked rhythmically on the door. The familiar sshiik of blade leaving its holster caused Mari to straighten- be more alert. Guards? 

A door opened to reveal a very homely looking woman in her 40's she wore a warm smile that beckoned the two of them in. Then, before the poor woman even got a sentence out - he slammed his blade up into her jugular. Mari flinched at the action. It was...a little brutal. The womans eyes bulged, then rolled into the back of her head. She gargled then fell dead. Mari felt nauseous watching the scene unfold. But the woman would respawn. Her head tilted staring at the body as Vitreous unceremoniously dragged her into the store. "Well, that's one way to shop..." Mari muttered. Again, Mari never really cared about NPCs- and he had made quick work of the woman. Still...it was so gruesome. Mari kicked her shoe into the store with a few half hearted kicks. 

With a 'thump' he dropped the npc on the ground and began pocketing wares. "Beginning to see why you have an orange marker." The comment wasn't judgemental, simply making an observation. Mari watched - seeing the types of things he would grab - then turned and started doing the same. She could have paid, Mari had plenty of col to spare - but their....partnership? Their whatever it was was already precarious. She didn't need to make things worse.  She grabbed a box and began to place various glass, bottles, needles, cases, pins, small metal bands - shafts, whatever she could fit in the box.

Her stomach churned.
her chest hurt.

A small sigh fell from Mari's lips. She hadn't realized she had been holding her breath - the mask had been returned to her and Mari somehow felt a little better. Mari thought about apologizing - but...he had stabbed her in the shoulder. A slightly numbing and tingling sensation that still ebbed. So - Mari simply held her tongue. When Mari made the remark on why he didn't use the toxin on her - he shrugged dismissively. In response, Mari pulled her hair back and clipped the mask back on. The less words said, the better. Mari kinda preferred it that way at times anyway. The inside of the mask smelt slightly of sulfur.

She thought he would either lead her onward, like their initial plan - or he would call it a day and leave her standing in the middle of the city. To her own devices. It was the former - they'd continue on. A beaked gaze would follow his pointed finger. A sign. Oh - an artisan store? Pipes? Pipes Mari's eyes widened. They were shopping to help her fashion some sort of devices similar to his.  Mari knew they were doing something akin to it - but wasn't sure on the specifics. 

Mari turned to enter the store but paused when she heard a sigh, followed by an impatient tap of a foot. Her beaked mask glanced over her damaged shoulder. Quirked in confusion as he puled out a silver case. Instead of asking questions Mari silently watched - he pulled out a needle - and with a hiss injected it into his neck. Why? Showing her it was safe. He handed a second to her.  Mari picked it up. Pausing to inspect the needle - the button seemed to release steam - which powered it into a more powerful release? Huh. A hand, still red and raw from exposure danced over the contraption curiously before she held it to her neck. 

hissss

shhht.

With a small hiss - the liquid was injected into the woman. She paused. It was a cooling sensation. Not unwelcome, not unpleasant. The area where the needle had been - was a little mofe cold, slightly uncomfortable. But it wasn't bad. She felt the soreness in her shoulder dissipate. She could have just used a healing crystal - or even leave it. Unless his knife had been tipped with something she had been unaware of.

Mari handed him back the syringe. 

"Thanks."
 

He leaned forward, encroaching on her space and Mari stood her ground. Staring defiantly into his eyes. She had never noticed it till now - but those eyes. Tiny clockwork eyes of golden swirled to meet her own cerulean. She'd have loved to have analyzed that more - if given the chance, did they react to his own eyes? To emotion? So many questions. Despite the curiosity bubbling Mari did say a word. 

"Prove it."

Her head tilted as he wrote a single name on a piece of paper and handed a vial with it attached to to her. Prove it? "Hmm..." Mari took the vial and rolled it to and fro in her hands. What was to stop her from using it on him? Not that she would No... Mari only hurt those that deserved it. That was what she was doing for herself. 

Mari wanted to prove to this person that she was worth it.  But Hinata Rei? who was that? Why would he care what happened to her?

"I'd have expected you'd have used it on me." Mari mused quietly as she held the vial up to the sky - eyeing the liquid inside.

There was something about her demeanor. When Mari was focused - she was very focused. Poised. She held herself differently then when she had her guard down. It had a confidence, a purpose. It was the kind of dangerous caution that gave weight to the stories of her being one of the most dangerous Pkers.

Mari wouldn't give him his answer straight away - if this Hinata person deserved it - then so be it, but Mari wasn't going to just follow someone blindly. Mari pocketed the vial - then shifted her eyes back to him.

Mari felt a sense of loss as the mask was ripped out of her hands. "H-Hey!" Then he pushed her down into the ground with a knee into her chest - and a dagger through her shoulder - effectively pinning her to the ground. "You FUCK!" Mari hissed. "I was worried about YOU! I was keeping YOU safe!" Mari winced as she ripped the dagger out of her shoulder and threw it to the ground.

weakness?

weakness!?

She was MARI. One of the strongest in all of Aincrad - and he called her weak. Mari stared at him with frustration. "Done?" No...that wasn't fair...it wasn't fair... people were always throwing her away when they were done with her.

Everyone...everyone did.

Mari opened up her inventory and pulled out a smaller vial - with a small amount of the orange liquid in it. Mari wanted to keep it, to study it. But she was just so...so... ANGRY.... Mari threw the vial toward him, - it uselessly smashed against the back of his outfit, fizzling.

"I refuse to be called weak."

Mari followed, not relenting. This wasn't fair. There was no way....

"Is it weakness to be cautious of others? " She asked.  "Im done with living for anyone but myself." Mari shook her head and shifted to stand in front of him. 

Mari felt a strong arm clamp around her and pull her in close - she could feel various vials poke at her through the contact. This embrace wasn't warm like Oscars - it didn't bring a sense of peace. It felt like one almost out of necessity. The woman was very still, and very quiet as the man tightened his grip on her - rough voice calling out their destination. Warping was always a dizzying experience - and Mari had forgotten what it was like, as she was usually one to just walk everywhere. Her eyes shut tight and she allowed the brief sense of vertigo to pass.

The small woman was coughing, even as they exited the plume of smoke. She felt a strong hand pull against her mask - up and away from him. So Mari stepped back. She had no intention, nor desire to encroach on his personal space. She brushed herself down with the palms of her hands then frowned - turning them over to inspect them - they were looking a little raw red. Mari made a mental note to not touch her face until she had washed her hands.

Mari had never been to Ladonia before. She hadn't realized it wasn't exactly a safe zone. She tilted her head to the side - waiting for the smoke to clear. Then when it lingered she chose to step away from it - the two figures dressed all in black - a blot against shifting hues of death and decay. Not that Mari would ever fully make that connection.

Now they were a safe distance away from the teleport pad Mari grabbed the beak of her mask, pulling it up so she could give the man a quizzical look. "What's -" She paused. Her voice still hurt. Mari swallowed and continued through the pain. "What's here?" She finally asked. Mari never quite knew what to expect from him.  Was he going to take her to a workshop given their previous 'conversation' It seemed unlikely that it'd be his personal one. Last time he took her there - she had been unconscious for it.

Oh.

"4 Days." Mari stated - since he had not read her dossier she'd have to spell it out for him. "Do better." She chastised. "People were worried and..." Mari sighed, pulling the mask completely off her head for the moment. She clutched it in her hand. "I got into a fight with a friend - he didn't like that I seemed to be experimenting with things." Freyd was adamant that Mari had to look after herself, and Mari knew that it came from a place of worry, still...she didn't like the fact that they had clashed over something that genuinely interested her. 

The man seemed to understand her panic, he didn't judge her poor attempt at a sample. At least, Mari didn't think he did. It was really quite hard to tell. She never had any sort of facial expression to go off - and his movements, even his pantomimes, were always so concise. As Mari fiddled with the contraption on his arm she couldn't help but feel a little envious. imagine having something like that of her own? Being an alchemist in and of itself had been useful - but Mari had grown bored with it, and never really did much with it beyond crafting things for frontliners. But this man had in no words - shown her an entire new world she could potentially play with. He simply told her 'okay' then stroked his beak as though in thought. Mari couldn't help but laugh at the gesture - the man had worn the mask so much so, that it was akin to stroking a beard - or scratching a cheek. The attire was an extension of himself. 

The man, who Mari still had no name for straightened - and checked his watch. With one short motion he beckoned her to follow, and follow Mari did - She wasn't sure why she so easily followed a man she knew nothing about - the allure of the unknown? The curiosity of his devices? The concern she had for her friends? It was difficult to pinpoint one exact answer. All Mari knew was she was doing this for herself, and herself only. Freyd had already shown great concern for this path. Mari had to try and assure him there wasn't anything wrong. That she was okay. Just...had a tendency to get a little tunnel vision. 

As the man paused, he pulled out delicate glass balls, handing one to Mari. Was this...she tilted a beaked head to the side as she held the ball up for closer inspection. That same yellow gas that had decimated the town guards earlier. The one that made her lungs burn. Made her skin burn. Oh

"M-Mustard Gas...?" She asked, her voice croaked and scratchy. Was that what it was? Mari felt a chill hit her spine when she said those words. As though spoken aloud had given the concoction extra power. There was hesitation there as she held the ball. It was one thing to do this to NPcs...but people? 

People would get hurt by this. Hell - Even Mari had been - her throat hurt, and her skin still prickled.  Even as he pointed the hesitation within Mari was evident. Her gaze shifted from the ball to the street below then back to the ball. They were empty...so it would be safe right? Her companion seemed like the calm and calculating type. He wouldn't involve other players in something like this - not when it'd so easily come back to him.

So Mari decided to put her faith in him. She threw the ball down onto the street - and it smashed open. PLumes of yellowed smoke hissed as they began to billow outward - and that's when Mari started to make her way to the teleportation pad.

Oscar admitted he was suffering, and pulled away from her. Mari immediately missed that warmth Her arms prickled with the cool air. "can you though?" Mari asked him. "Can you take it?" Mari leaned forward placing one hand between his legs, and the other reaching out to grab his laced hands, giving them a comforting squeeze. It was clear he needed something, someone to listen to him. Mari wasn't exactly good with that sort of thing. Most of the time, she barely held herself together.

As Oscar started talking Mari had to shift - she moved away from him and allowed the man to talk. Mari remained close, rubbing his back gently with one hand. It was...a sad story, one she could relate to - similar things had happened to her. She had lost people close to her - purely because people were after her. Hell, that was one of the reasons why she ended up in jail. As Oscars voice began to crack Mari took a deep breath, and chose to do something.

Mari stood, and shifted behind him, then - in what could have been the most awkward hug ever - she pressed herself against his back, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Giving him a tight squeeze. "The mistake isn't talking to you." She said soothingly. Mari felt anger in that moment, so much so that she accidentally began to squeeze him tighter - her fingers digging into him. Especially when his kid was mentioned. Such a thing was a sore spot for the woman. "The mistake is those terrible people who did that. Not you. Never with you making a connection."

"Oscar..." Mari said slowly.

"Some people are beyond redemption. But...don't let yourself get lost in destroying those that deserve it." Another pause. "Let me help you, at the very least. Don't walk that path alone."
 

Oscar said that life was filled with shitty hands, and Mari had to agree - she could sit there and doom and cry about everything she had been dealt with. There had been a time when she blamed everyone else, then a time she blamed herself. She wasn't going to do any of that anymore. Mari shook her head and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She hadn't known the man too well, but Cordelia had always spoken very highly of him. So did Macradon.

Well, it’s pretty fucking obvious, Mari. I don’t think I’ve seen someone beat themselves up quite so hard over being orange as you.

Mari flinched when she felt him wrap an arm around her - half expecting him to push her over - or for there to be a blade in her back. When she got nothing but warmth in return Mari relaxed, exhaling as she leaned against his shoulder.  Oscar was so warm. "I'm.... not crying I just had a moment." Mari muttered. "We all have those moments sometimes." It was then that Oscar paused, and leaned in real close - almost too close. She could feel his hair tickle her cheeks, and his breath on her face. Mari placed a palm against his chest - holding it there lest he get any closer. "O-Oscar.."

He made it a little hard to think. Why was he suddenly this close? Wasn't he engaged to her friend? Or at the very least dating? She had to deflect this situation. 

"What about you?" Mari tried searching his lidded amber eyes, she threw his own words right back in his face. "You're suffering. It's pretty fucking obvious, Oscar."

OKay…
He was okay. Good.

After the first wave of guards had been felled the doctor came up to her, quickly wrapping her trembling form in more, thick material - and it wasn’t till he had that Mari realized her skin felt like it was stinging. She gave her head a small nod of acknowledgement, and thanks.

The man beckoned her to follow and Mari obliged. She did not want to stay here. They may just be NPCs - but the longer they stayed, the more likely it was a player would fall into the frey and that’s the last thing Mari wanted. She was silent as he lead her through various different sections of the city, she inched closer - a small hand reaching out to clasp one of his sleeves. The machinations…the trick walls…the hidden pathways…Mari never knew things like this existed. It seemed to be based on time - if his close eye on the pocket watch was anything to go by. 

He lead her into a cul de sac and it seemed…safe enough. Abandoned almost. Mari slowly let him go.

When they finally stopped he held his hand out expectantly. Mari furrowed her brow, then realized he couldn't see her facial expression. So she shook her head. Mari opened  her mouth to speak but all she could manage was a series of coughs. So she pointed from him to the chapel. She had already deposited what he wanted. But - what she could still provide.

Mari opened up her inventory, and out dropped the orange vial - half full. And a secondary vial - a murky green. She extended her hand to him. Offering them both. One, the solution he had given her - two - a very messily put together enzyme utilizing the common protein of animal pheromone - not that he’d know without reading her file.

It  was two. Then three. Then five.

“Fucking seriously?” Mari muttered. The NPCs were ruthless. She had to pause and sidestep the swing of a guards sword.

Smash

Mari heard the crackle of glass - and the hiss of smoke. She didn’t stop to look behind her till she heard the cries. “Huh?” A wave of smoke billowed - and its noxious plume headed toward her. Mari took several steps back, shifting her gaze to the side - would it be possible to jump into one of the nearby houses?

She was already coughing - her chest heaving as her lungs burned. Her eyes burned. 

"Breathe."
 

Mari heard the command as she felt something slipped over her face - trembling hands reached out and felt the tough leather of gloves affix something to her face before shifting away. The woman took a moment to tighten it and breathed. Her rattled breath coming in short rasps even with the ventilator built into the mask.

What the…

It was Solnyshko? Why was he…helping her. Mari quickly opened her inventory - and swapped out her own clothes for the ones he had given her a few days prior. The long black pants, and shirt - lest the gas had any effect on her skin too. She had managed that just in time before being engulfed in it. 

“Solnyshko?”

Mari could hear screaming, gagging, gurgling - all belonging to the NPC guards - what was happening right now? Mari was focused on keeping her breathing steady. Keep her heart-rate steady.

They’re just npcs…
They’re just npcs…
They’re just npcs…

She kept telling herself that as she heard another scream.

He was helping her - he had gone into a full flurry attacking the guards. Mari could have gotten out on her own, probably - but he didn't know that and now he was also putting himself at risk. Mari shook her head, equipping her weapon. Just NPCS She never really cared about NPCs. They'd respawn.

So when one of the guards was about to strike the doctor from behind Mari swung her polearm into his side - sending him flying into a nearby building before he had the chance to hurt the doctor. Mari was shaking, her entire body visibly shaking. Her eyes wide. Her teeth and lips trembling. She was thankful the mask hid that. With a tilt of her beaked mask she glanced at him- as if to ask if he were okay.

One of them had to be

“I’m sorry to bother you. Do you know of a man that lives out this way? His name is Baldur.”

Mari had taken another long sip - then when the voice of another broke the silence she unceremoniously started to cough, and gag. So much so that her eyes watered, and whatever remnants of tea she had in her mouth had dribbled out the side of it. Mari held up one hand in a sign of pause to the woman. The other beat her chest two, three times.

“S-Sorry…” Mari breathed. “I-cough- hang on.” Another series of coughs before Mari finally drew breath.

Looking upon the one who had approached Mari had to take a moment. Her hair, a warm golden brown that took on a honeyed sheen in the sun was tied up in a neat ponytail. A fringe framed unsure features. A soft face. She was pretty. A pretty lady was talking to her. Mari cleared her throat.

“You’re looking for Baldur?” Mari had already placed her cup down amidst her coughing fit. “He-a fellow guild lea…” Mari paused. Was she even considered a guild leader anymore? Was she even considered part of Jacobs Ladder still? Her words paused, and her eyes shifted away. Mari shouldn’t make such assumptions right now. “I mean..yeah. I know him. He’s a dear friend. So…any friend of his - would be a friend of mine. If you’re willing.”

Mari pushed herself up to a standing position and brushed blades of grass from her attire. “Oh…no the second tea setting wasn’t for anyone…its just…these things normally come in a set for two.” Mari gave an awkward laugh as she tugged on her own fringe. “I guess they don’t factor in for people like me.”

Mari fell silent as the other woman continued to speak - explaining away things that really didn’t need to be said. A sign of nervousness? Mari couldn’t blame her, she was a stranger, and a PKer at that. Her words were spoken quickly, and quietly - and a part of the way she held herself made Mari want to swathe her up in a blanket and offer her a hot chocolate. Despite the fact that she was a whole head taller than Mari.

“I’m not sure if he’s busy or not, but I know he’s always welcoming and wanting to help people. If you’ve already discussed going - then I’m sure he’d be happy to take you whenever you were free. That’s…just the kind of person he is.”

“Ah, I am being rude. My name is Acanthus. I will not trouble you for long.”

Acanthus

One of the more unique names Mari had come across. Mari returned her introduction with one of her own. “Hey, Acanthus. Mari. I’m Mari.” She offered, reaching out a hand. 

“And really, you’re no bother. I’m kinda sick of being alone lately.”

It didn’t take Mari long to complete her task. Mostly - because her task was a near impossible one without the correct tools and equipment - so all she really could do was offer suggestions. Why did he even give her this? Why give her more work? Another test?

The dossier had been wrapped in a manila folder; and contained the following information

Pathogen; Airbourne, contact, bloodborne?
Airbourne pathogens in this case-would be preferred for fastest release and spread.

A. Pheromones. The biology of humans has adapted well beyond base pheromones and whilst the use of them in humans is widely debated we can say for sure that its far more common in base lifeforms.

Isolate and find a common protein in these - and use it.
Application would be airborne - may also attract mobs, but they’d be dead long before making contact. 

—
Was unable to fully test - diluted and mixed with secretions from the glans of various mammals. Breakdown in biology occurred. 

B. Cognitive breakdown? [Untested]
-humans should be smart. Creating something that humans would avoid, but mobs do not have the cognitive dissonance to avoid could result in an easily spreadable contagion.
Concerns - people are fucking stupid.
-contact diseases for mobs less than ideal.

-I DONT HAVE THE TOOLS TO RECREATE THIS?? I dont have a fancy lab.

FUCK . YOU.
Ps: 4 DAYS??? DO BETTER. PEOPLE WERE LOOKING.
–

Now…Mari just had to make it through Taft to get there. She stood at the entrance to the town, night had fallen. Hesitation hit her, Mari had never willingly set foot in a settlement since she had her orange cursor. Sure..there were times where she had been dragged into one - but…was she really willing to throw away one of the things she had held fast to all these years? Mari closed her eyes.

It would only take a moment…just a short run in and out. 

Besides…Mari did want to live more for herself now… “The things I do…” She breathed.
Then, Mari ran. A bee-line straight to the drop location. She expected there to be shouting - she expected there to be panic. For something..someone to stop her. But nothing happened.

The streets were quiet; aside from a tavern she passed - which roared with noise and laughter from within. Mari slowed her speed at that, lingering just a moment longer outside the establishment. She missed it. She missed cities…and towns..she missed the hustle and bustle of people. Being in the position she was …it was lonely. With a shake of her head Mari continued - till she found what she was looking for. A small box just outside the Grand Cathedral. “There…” Mari said quietly.

She wasn’t sure if she’d see the man again; considering they had no real way of communicating with each other. But at least she had done what she could. With what little resources she had.

Turning to walk away, Mari paused at a loud, reverberating sound.

*Bing Bong, Bing Bong*

“Oh…” It was…nice. She turned to look back up at the large cathedral - towering over all the other buildings in the city. Even from here, even in the dark of night, Mari could tell it was an architectural wonder. The white limestone practically glowed against the midnight blue of the dark - and colours shifted from within, behind painted glass windows.

This…sucked. Mari wished she could stay here.

“Oi! You! Stop!”

And there it was. Mari sighed as she turned to see two NPC guards running up to her. Ironic…how they yelled at her to stop, when she wasn’t even moving.

Yeh, no. She wasn’t going to deal with that today.

Mari turned; and began to run - two were easy to flee from. But it’d only take a few moments before they all were chasing her - and they’d do so till she left the safe zone.

That doctor better appreciate that shit.


<<Assist System Engaged>>

“What?”

She was confused. Hadn’t it only been a day?

“Of course I’m alive I-” Her eyes widened, oh. She forgot to message him back. He must have come looking. “Oh…oh Freyd…I’m sorry I didn’t message you back yesterday!” She began, to explain. “I got so distracted.” She carefully pushed herself to her feet, albeit she was a little wobbly. It was clear he was still concerned for her. Mari offered him a sheepish grin. Reaching out to run a reassuring hand up and down his upper arm. “Really, I’m okay.” She paused. “I mean…This floor is messing with my head a little - but - it does that to everyone.”

What the hell happened here?

Mari blinked. Then her smile widened. “Ah! Come see!” She pulled him down with her, so they were both seated by the table that had been placed in the middle of her store. “Look! This was the centrifuge I was talking about.” She pulled the orange vial out of her inventory - and carefully strung it to one side of it. “See, look.” Mari began to wind the string around and around the bottom of her contraption. “I wasn’t able to make like anything using shafts or wheels but this makes do in a pinch when you pull this string it sets off the spinning. Kinda like a spin top.”  She would watch with Freyd, excitement in her eyes until the cycle slowed down. Mari carefully stopped it with her hand then gestured to the liquid - a thin membrane of clear liquid now sat ontop of the orange. “See? SEE!?”

Mari collected the vial and carefully peered into it. “I was using like that to try and get a closer look but it doesn’t work too well.” She was distracted, and had pointed loosely to the set of frames that were stacked on top of each other. 

“I’m trying to figure out a pathogen that would affect monsters. But not people…I’m sorry.. I really should have messaged you.”

Mari blinked. That voice. She recognized that voice. Mari went to address him but paused, distracted by a strange giggle- “w-What the?” Mari went to glance under the table but the sudden shift of blade closer to her heart made Mari still. Her eyes shifted back up to the man she thought was Freyd.

“- That should answer your question, Mari-I'm-Mari."

It was Freyd. Relief flooded her system. “Freyd…” She breathed, but…then why was he looking at her like that. Steeled eyes staring accusatorial down at her. “W-what did I…” There was a pang of pain in her chest. She thought they were friends so what was he…

He’s just over your bullshit
  You didn’t message him like you were supposed to

Did you really think he’d be your friend after everything?

Mari shook her head. No. NO. Those thoughts were all wrong. “I…had an overly sweet fruit cocktail.” She knew what Freyd wanted. “Then we had Whiskey. You thought it might have been scotch.”

Freyd was wanting to confirm it was her, right?

Right?

Mari reached out gently, the plat of her palm against the flat of his blade, carefully trying to push it away from her heart. “Please don’t.”

FLOOR 24

It was nice…having finally been able to talk to Baldur and Macradon again…even running into Freyd on the 29th floor - and realizing that you can get drunk. Very drunk in Aincrad. God…where was that ability years ago? Ever since Mari’s return - things had been going…smoothly. Almost too smoothly, Mari kept expecting something to go awry. Someone to decry her - attack her. Or for her to slip up into old habits and push everyone away. But thus far…nothing of the sort had happened. Mari felt calm. Albeit a little lonely..but calm - and satisfied with where she was currently. That kind of serenity...almost scared her. Was she allowed to feel this way? If you had asked the woman two years ago, Mari would have told you no, and done everything in her power to make herself miserable. But not anymore...that was changing.


Mari was now resting against a tree - about a 10 minute walk from Baldur’s estate. A part of her wanted to go and rest there, but she didn’t want to feel like she was intruding. Mari already knew Baldurs place was always open to her - but - there was just something else about sitting in the wild. It hit different. A different kind of peace and solace that a home just couldn't quite offer. And this floor - the air was always warm, and the scent of the ocean was ever present outside his abode. The wildlife, the chattering of birds - it was all so comforting to Mari. She wanted to be out and about, as much as she possibly could. For too long she was trapped in the smallest possible place.

So there she sat; a player killer of all things - looking like a tranquil painting. She wore a blue kimono adorned with bright orange koi fish, and her legs were curled up to the side. The woman didn't wear any armour - nor had any telltale weapons at the ready. To any onlooker she was simply enjoying the picturesque scene. Her fiery hair had been cleaned, brushed - and plaited over her shoulder. To her side sat a small tea set with two cups. Although she was only one person. It was ornate; with blue pictures depicting koi fish strewn across it. Clearly, she had a penchant for the creature.

“This is nice…” She breathed - leaning her head back against the tree trunk and closing her eyes. Allowing the wind to gently pick up tendrils of her hair. Mari bought the cup to her lips, blowing on it before taking a sip. Jasmine tea.

She never had anything like this in prison.

Moments like these.. She’d be fine if they lasted forever.

Mari groaned, her head hurt. Her joints hurt. Her arm especially hurt. Fucking doctor…where was she? It took a moment for her eyes to focus - wherever she was, it was much darker than the practically blinding room she had been in.  There was that familiar buzz hitting the back of her head.

Ah

She was on the 10th floor again. Why? A familiar scent hit her nose - the fresh smell of sulfur. It smelt like that very chemical that the doctor had doused her with. Why was it so strong now?  Did he douse her again so she’d be safe? Odd. Mari still couldn’t get a read on him. He had taken her - forced her to look at her own prejeduces. Then had her knocked out again so he could….safely return her to her store? It…didn’t make sense. All his quirks had the markings of a madman out for blood and chaos - and yet. His actions spoke so very differently. Someone alone. Someone obsessed with the sciences. Someone just trying to find their own way to survive.

Mari’s hand twitched and she felt it, a vial. Mari - barely aware of the chittering sound near her lifted her heavy arm to her face. An orange vial. A note… 

Quote

 

This is a precursor strain, we need to find a source and way to synthesize a T3SS that functions on game monsters but not people. Drop your findings at the drop box at the Grand Cathedral in Taft

 

~ Good Luck, Rebyonok

 

Oh…Oh…

“Oh!” 

Mari felt her heart skip a beat and she went to sit up- but her head spun and she almost fell straight back down. She placed the precious vial carefully away in her inventory so not to damage it.

He wants you to work with him
                Your gamble paid off, huh?

Think of what you could achieve.

“Dammit…” Mari muttered as she shook her head, the thoughts and voices of this floor were always so loud. Mari slowly pushed herself to her knees again and thats when she noticed it.

A figure stood forebodingly over her. Long, black katana in hand. Aimed directly at her. It seemed to quietly shift and follow her. Mari reached for her weapon but realized she didn’t have it…she was still wearing the treated black material the doctor had given her. The rest of her stuff? Where was it? Mari’s eyes shifted to a sack beside her. Ah. Crap.

The figure had yet to attack her. She could see a message notification blinking - but she dare not open it in front of this man. Instead - she sat there - unmoving - waiting to see what he would do.

Should she make a run for it? She was strong enough by now to be able to withstand most attacks - her eyes shifted to the exit then back to him. He …didn’t have a cursor? Her eyes furrowed in confusion. An event? A NPC? What was this?

“Who?” Mari asked. “Are you?” Her voice was heavy.