Mari

(Filling in post, just wanted to gt this stuff in atm

Mari had arrived with her guild...her guild. Alongside people like Shield and Baldur - shouldn't she feel happy about this? To be surrounded by friends who had her back? to have guildmates like Crozeph follow behind...she should feel strong, but instead - Mari felt...empty. Lost, and as though she was a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit. Despite that though, Mari had her shoulders rolled back straight, her held held high. And a small smile on her features, giving a nod of acknowledgement to those who would look her way. Mari was quite good at this. Playing the part - outwardly seeming that everything was fine. Even if her eyes were tired, lined with dark rings - even if her hair felt limp and her cheeks didn't have the cheery pink hue. She could easily show everyone here that she was fine..

I can do this. For the sake of everyone else here.

Mari watched Baldur break off, approaching Crozeph and Yuki - and bringing them into a big, warm hug -  congratulating them. On what? Their relationship perhaps. Mari hadn't really heard from either of them since they had started dating, but hearing nothing meant it had been going well. Mari glanced to the side, tugging on her hair. It still hurt. She should never have admitted to him that she had feelings for him when at the time she didn't even know what they were herself. Mari drew in a deep breath and opened up her inventory. She should probably prepare for the battle. If she showed even an iota of what she was really feeling, she'd be told to suck it up. Not to drag people down. 

"Hey @ChaseR." Mari glanced up at his crystal then back to him. "It's good to see your crystal is back to green." He had offered her items but Mari clasped her hand over his and pushed it gently back toward him. "I appreciate the offer, but I don't need that. Jacobs Ladder has bought more than enough reserves for members in our guild and then some."  speaking of which....who was supposed to be handing out the crystals? Mari noticed @Baldur handing some out. Good. She glanced at her own inventory, a little more empty than she had liked - but... she had lost the drive to craft anything. Mari pursed her lips. Should she say something? No...that'd be a bother.

"Ah, see." Mari said to Chaser as Baldur handed him some crystals. "So again, thanks - but save it for yourself." It was nice of him to offer, and for Oscar to put down so much offerings, but Mari would feel guilty if she had taken any of it. So she mostly kept to her own buffs. Besides, the thing she needed most - energy - there wasn't exactly a buff for that

"Please, Ma?" Chaser said, shoving it right back into her hands. He looked up at her with that stubborn look he had - and Mari sighed, knowing she wouldn't win. "Okay. I'll take it." She reached out and placed a hand on his head, offering Chase a warm, tired smile. "But only because you were so insistent." 

. "It's a relief to see we'll be in the same team, @Macradon." Mari said as she gave him a small squeeze on his upper arm, acknowledging him.  "It'll be good to have a friendly face around during such a battle."

Throughout all her interactions, Mari was reserved, pleasant - and always did her best to smile. Keep up morale. Keep up the smiles. Don't falter. Don't fall.

 

Mari puts down:
A Feast of Steak and Onion Pie 
Evasion II | +2 EVA
-Mari
-
_
-      
 

----
Consumes
Titans Strength Potion  +3 DAMAGE 
A feast of Steak and Onion Pie: +2 EVA 
Super Sight Miso Ramen: +2 ACC 
Banner of Command Used on Mari +1 Damage
1xSuper Armor Miso Ramen: +45 MIT
Probiotics III           - 27 DoT Damage
 

UPDATED STATS
HP: 1910/1910 | EN:170/170  | DMG: 23 | ACC: 6 | EVA: 5 | MIT: 63 | FALLEN 1 | DoT: x|Bleed -24  | Status Effect: Pribiotics III -27 DoT | Flame Aura -15|  KEEN 1 | VAMPIRIC OFF +1 | BH:86  | LD+3 | Antidote 3/3 DoT Block

Battle Inventory

5 x T1 Mass Heal Crystals 30xTier to Party |4 x HP Recovery Crystal II (Heals Target 120HP) X4| Teleport Crystal
 

Statistics...huh.
           I don't care if I'm another Statistic.

Mari went back to twirling her chopsticks in the broth, watching the thin noodles circle around her chopsticks. She listened as Shield began to talk, Mari hadn't heard of the bridge - but she wasn't American. She knew about terminal velocity, and how hard still water was when hit - but that didn't come into play here. There'd be no gruesome splatter, hell, there wouldn't be any pain. She didn't interrupt him though. It was strange, and to others - it'd seem cold and uncaring to spout facts like this, but Mari knew where Shield was coming from. She knew he was trying, and that emotions weren't really his forte- from her conversations with Beat, and her previous ones with Shield. Mari got the impression he was a very pragmatic and no nonsense man. She couldn't help but faintly smile at his clunky way of trying to help her. It showed he really cared. This was probably very difficult territory for him to navigate.

"I get what you're saying."

Shield was trying to tell her that in that split second  before she bliped out of existence, she may regret her choice. But Mari didn't fell that regret in the void. She only felt the fear of someone else loosing their life, after knowing that Beat had jumped in after her - that was the same fear, and uncertainty that she had just placed on Shield. "I didn't mean for the discussion to turn this way."  I didn't want anyone to find out.  Mari said.  "I was just hoping to get a bit of the tension away with the whole situation between Baldur and myself but-" Mari set her chopsticks down.

"But I promise you Shield. I won't let any of that get in the way anymore. The guild, the players - they all come first. And I just....want to thank you, I know this isn't easy for you to talk about - and I uhm..hadn't exactly planned on letting anyone know, or talking about it tonight." Mari offered Shield a brave smile.  "And who knows, things may change between now and floor 100. In the meantime..." She looked over at his empty bowl.

"LEt's...talk about something else, or uh wrap this up so you can get going."

@Shield

Somehow, in the turbulent whirlwinds around them, Mari had managed to not only placate and calm Chaser - (well, his anger at least) but also Freyd.  Maybe in that aspect, Freyd was right, she did have a way with people - although that way was slowly stripping more and more of herself away. But Mari found herself no longer caring about that. The others were...okay. For now at least.  Freyd pointed out the gashes on her chest, and how her HP had been depleted by a third - stating that they were some sort of badge - saying she cared - and in part, Mari did, she just wanted what was best for everyone else. To not have anyone else endure what she had, what she felt.

"I think you've said enough, Freyd. It'd be in everyone's best interests if you stepped away." Mari said evenly. She knew he meant well - but even the most well meaning words would sour over those who were emotionally vulnerable, and right now that was Chaser. "I appreciate the offer, but I'll be fine on my own."  It wasn't like she'd be walking back anytime soon. She had broken her oath, one of her very moral codes that day. For Chaser. To ensure he was safe. To ensure he hadn't done anything stupid, and he almost had.

Chaser had taken the defensive. Stating  that he'd 'protect' her. Mari bit her tongue. She didn't need it, if anything, Chaser's actions were a hindrance. The way he helplessly would latch onto her, ignore her own wishes for distance - crying and sobbing, and throwing all his weighted sorrows onto her shoulders. But if she said anything...it'd make her a bad person. Chaser didn't need someone to chastise him for that, didn't need someone to tell him to back off. He needed someone who would shoulder it all, and who would listen. And Mari would willingly be that person for him.

"Chase..." Mari placed a hand on the mid of his back, and gave it a gentle and soothing rub. Like a mother consoling her child. "I appreciate the defense, and I know Freyd no doubt did say things that would be antagonistic." Mari doubted Freyd would see it the same way. "But this anger..." She paused as she touched his shaking fist with her free hand. It worried her, how quick Chaser was to anger, was there something else underlining beneath that mop of azure hair? Or was it simply teenage hormones? Cracks were forming, and they needed to be stopped.  "It won't help anyone, and it'll only hurt you further. Here..." She gestured toward the tall spiral in the distance - the staircase. "I'll take you to my home, the long way. Your orange crystal will disappear in a few days. I have a hot drink and a warm bed you can use."

Mari paused, she knew Chaser probably didn't want to hear anything to do with guilds, but the more she could offer him - the better. "And if his guild may cause issue for you, you'd always have a home in mine."

@ChaseR @Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

Mari took a deep breath as she entered Shields workshop; she wasn't used to traipsing around safe-zones. The angry gash across her torso and third of her health missing was evidence enough. Mari exhaled again, relieved - knowing she was safe as long as she remained in his shop. Sure, in the past - Mari would have vehemently denied travelling through safe zones. For fear of upsetting others, players and NPCs alike - but after being forced to do so, to slap a certain  blue haired boy upside the head - she found herself no longer caring. Was she growing bitter? Or just too damn tired.

"Hey Shield." Mari said wearily as she placed a plethora of items on his counter.

"I'd want you to try and work on getting me two fallen slots and an absolute accuracy slot." She paused, pushing orange hair out of her tired eyes. "I really don't know what the fourth slot would have. I'm not too worried about it. I also have a number of re roll tickets from the Easter event. And Asguards finery. Ah.. and a few of those witches potions too."  She leaned on it and gave him a lop-sided grin. "I even got a crafters respite I can offer ya, since we're friends."

Was she talking too much? Probably. "Let's start with the basic identification for now. Although I'm not holding my breath." Mari ran a hand through her hair. "Then, if we need - I can pass over the rest of the items.

Mari hands over

1x Demonic unidentified weapon ID: 174083
*Banker and Shield have been paid*


*If required Mari additionally will offer*
+ 1CD Witches Potion gained here
3 x Bunny Reroll stamps gained here
1 x Asguards Finery gained here

"I knew people Married for lots of reasons." Mari commented as her eyes glanced over his stats and shared inventory with Shield. Made sense really, she could easily imagine Shield forcing Beat to marry him for the bonuses. Mari straightened and offered Beat a small, weak smile as she nudged him with her elbow. "I'm not gonna rile you for bein' married to Shield. I just know your type now - rugged and with a beard." Mari tugged on an imaginary beard on her chin, pretending to stroke it. "The quicker you admit your type the easier time ya'll have."

She shouldn't be the one giving such advice - Mari was terrible with relationships.She was thankful for the distraction as Beat opened the door to his home. It...seemed nice, at least from the entrance - Mari always forgot how big places could be here. "It's like a more fancier version of my lil' nook."  Mari ran a hand along one of the walls. It reminded her of Japan. "You live there right?" She paused, realizing that he probably didn't know what she was asking. "Japan I mean. I was there - Living just outside of Osaka. Though I'd get moved a lot for my job." Why was she telling him this? He probably didn't care. Mari coughed and pulled her hand away to cross over her chest. Instead, covering up thoughts of her life with a joke. "I bet your room in the real world is far less clean than this."

Her retort fell flat and her smile faded when he mentioned the hole again. "Beat..." Why was he being so flippant about his own life? It bothered her. Mari didn't care if she died, but hearing someone say that their death would be good? "No." She said quietly. "It's not good." She hugged herself tighter. "I'd miss you for one. And you -" She paused. Who was she of all people telling him he shouldn't throw his life away?

Mari glanced up at the vaulted ceiling, eyes following a particular beam of wood. She didn't feel quite right here... it felt oddly  warm and comforting. She shook her head and gave his shoulder a squeeze before stepping away. "I'm sorry Beat...I think it'd be best if I left. I do hope to see you again soon." She chanced him a soft smile before turning and leaving.

Thread Rewards

Mari's Total Loot
20,000 Col from boss drops + 400 Page col =20,400 Total Col
30 T3 Materials: 
Toffee Armor: Tier x  3 Perfect Heavy Armor - Bloodclot, Thorns, Thorns
The Big Peep - Demonic Consumable: Overhealth, Overhealth, Overhealth, Overhealth
LD1-6:  Bass Cannon - Unidentified Demonic Weapon
2 SP + 3 SP + 5 SP = Boss SP
3 Page SP + 1 Bonus SP 
-----
14 Total SP




Macradons Total Loot
20,400 Col
30 x T3 Materials
14 Total SP
151137 Toffee Armor: Tier 3 Perfect Heavy Armor - Bloodclot, Thorns, Thorns
171210 The Biggest Peep: Tier 3 Perfect Trinket - Holy Blessing, Recovery, Recovery
174084 Dope Shades - Unidentified Demonic Trinket

Calrex Total Loot
20,400 Col
30 x T3 Materials
14 Total SP
1x Frosted Necklace: Tier x Perfect Trinket - Life Mending, Recovery, Recovery
1x The Big Peep - Demonic Consumable: Overhealth, Overhealth, Overhealth, Overhealth
1x The Ultimate Chocolate Egg:
    1x Bass Cannon - Unidentified Demonic Weapon
    1x Dope Shades - Unidentified Demonic Trinket
    1x Sick Jacket - Unidentified Demonic Shield/Armor

Mari nodded. "Mmm, Mmm.....normally I'd never be caught dead here - but I've been making my way back down from some of the higher floors. I plan to-" She paused. She had planned to rest, but doubted that was going to happen. "I had planned to return home for a day or two before the inevitable trek back up to one of the higher floors." Mari pushed her hair out of her face and sighed. "Honestly... A part of me wishes that we'd retain all those muscles here, back out there." She added with a wry smile on her face. Mari thought it funny, because she never expected to return to that world. 

"I hope you've been well."

"I suppose I have."

It felt weird to outright lie. Mari couldn't recall the last time she had done that to anyone, let alone someone she once considered her best friend. Mari told herself it was fine, because a lie and a mask was easier, and it was fine - because in terms of lying he had far more marks against his name than she did.

Life started talking, when he said he wanted to be upfront Mari was wary, first - expecting him to say he didn't want her around anymore, and that it'd be better off if they acted as strangers from here on out - so when he had said that he wanted to hang out with her? That shocked Mari. "Y-you...uh...huh?" Mari couldn't hide the surprise in her tone. "If you want to...I suppose I have some time right now." She wiped her brow. "Although, after today...I do have to ask that I don't want to do anything on this floor again.  what did you have in mind?  There was a quest near here...mmm...bloodstained......something,....right? Did you need help with that?"


@Life @Alkor

"I didn't exactly say I wasn't good, I just said that...yanno, its human to want to help others. Hell, even you're doing that Freyd." It wasn't meant as an insult. But it probably came off that way, I just wanted to make a point that he kept calling himself inhuman - but constantly did so many human things.  I didn't voice it, but I felt like I wasn't sure I'd be able to pull through to the end if I kept going like I was - I knew that at some point, and soon, I'd break. I could already feel it. Like a sickening sense of intuition.  

"-  That's not something just anyone can do.""

"Exactly why I have to do it." I said with an exhale. I didn't want to, but if not I, who else was there? 

It seemed our talk was over, Freyd stood with a groan - bending his back and cracking it in several places - and in a flash his armour was on once more. He probably felt very naked without it. I glanced down at my own clothing, it wasn't exactly armour - but then again, Light Armour had the advantage of that, a thin leather harness gifted to me by Macradon - that was it. No pauldrons, leg guards or even gauntlets covered me. I preferred it that way. It felt more human to forgo the whole fantasy style aesthetic. 

"Alright." I said to his plan as I too stood, and dusted myself off. I was too tired to argue - not that I would. He knew this quest better than I. "I'd...best start the trek around to the north gate then." It wouldn't be too long, it wasn't on the opposite side of the city at least. I gave him a small wave as I turned to walk away from him, we had our plan - there was no use in delaying it any longer.

Head out into the light together -  What a cheesy thing to say, even more so as parting words. But, who am I to judge them? It was probably his awkward way of trying to make me feel better. Or some sort of symbolic shit - about how we'd each pull our way out of whatever pushed us down. I had my doubts about myself, him, maybe - if he could show the sides like he had now more often. 

"F**k I'm tired..." I muttered.


@Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

"S'okay." Mari said quietly when Shield said he was bad at jokes. "I think I've got enough puns locked away in my brain to last anyone a lifetime, ahahah..." Her laugh fell flat, it felt forced and sounded...wrong.

Shield told Mari how he too felt overworked, it was during a time she was away from everyone, from the world - selfishly isolating herself from everyone in a feeble attempt to preserve her own life. Maybe things would have been different if she hadn't. Maybe she would have been the one who died at a boss fight and no Zelrius. Maybe the Azure Brigade would still be around and they'd be far higher in the floors. 

"I know I've....made friends. In part that's one of the few reasons I'm still around." Mari reached out and picked up her chopsticks, which had been resting against the rim of her bowl, still impaled upon a piece of meat. "A part of me doesn't feel right leaving them here - it's why I told myself I'd wait till the last floor before I did anything."  Mari fell quiet, choosing not to voice that it had been harder to abide  by that lately, that she still had no intention of leaving Aincrad. 

"My dying wouldn't avenge anyone - Yeh..." Mari tilted her head to the side, giving a small snort. "I know that, it's not for justice, or vengeance, it's not some sort of...retribution...it's just..." Mari closed her eyes. "A way to finally stop everything."
 

Mari guessed that Shield was probably growing tired of the conversation, he wasn't the most apt when it came to....emotionally charged talks in the first place. In a weird and unexpected way, Beat was the better of the two for that. Mari listened to his words. She knew that wasn't nothing...she knew she was doing a modicrum of good for others, but it was so draining and the pressure unrelenting. Mari had to force her eyes shut to stop any semblance of tears from trickling down her face. 

"Guess I won't be doing a great job of either then, huh?" Mari tried to joke as she finally placed the meat into her mouth. Chewing slowly Mari swallowed. She knew she'd have to keep fighting. She knew she wouldn't be able to have any relief till the 99th floor - All she had to do was wait till then.

"Can...you please not tell anyone else about this?" Mari chanced asking.  "I'd...rather not bother anyone."


@Shield

"G-g..." Mari held her nose, falling to her knees. Eyes watering. The stench....It was so bad.  She couldn't attack like this - she was literally paralyzed by the stench....even so...Sebastian didn't have a chance to attack either.

Mari knew what noise bunnies made;  but this one was next level - the squeal was ear piercing, if her hands weren't busy covering her nose - they'd be covering her ears. The squeal faded, and as it did so too did the sickly stench. "PHew...." Mari drew a breath when she thought it was safe. She smacked her lips and furrowed her eyebrows with a frown.

"I swear I can almost taste the funkiness of that egg...and honestly? I think I'd rather go back and eat the musty dry peep." Mari muttered as she approached the glittering pile of debris Sebastian left behind. "Oh, snap." She said as she pulled up the item. "I got a demonic weapon - unidentified. How about you both?"

Mari pocketed all her things and dusted her hands.

"Lets never do that again."

EGG EXPLODES!  250 DAMAGE!
-All Players Skip a turn-
Sebastian ID:174082  MOB: 1

 

rolling for loot: 174083   LD: 1
Rewards for Sebastian:
Rewards
5 SP
LD1-6:  Bass Cannon - Unidentified Demonic Weapon



@Macradon  @Calrex
H: 2] @Mari - 1160/1410  | EN: 116/138 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 43 | ACC: 6 | EVA: 3 | BH: 67 | BRN: 24 | BLD: 24 | FLAME AURA: 15  
[H: 8] Macradon - 1690/1940 | EN: 139/189 | DMG: 25 | MIT: 107 | 4 ACC | EVA: 2 | BHL: 97 | FTH: 36 (21) | FRZ: 6 | REC: 6 | HLY: 12 | PHS: 1 | VMP: 194 
[H: 5] Calrex 1555/1805 | EN: 24/176  EN | DMG: 16 | MIT: 116 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 2 | BHL: 88 | IMMO 30 | ACH: 0.5 

Drop the egg countdown 3/3 
Sebastian:  0/2000 HP | 350 DMG | 2 ACC | 2 EVA | 75 MIT   Burn -24 0/2 turns  Bleed -24  0/2 Turns  -48 Damage burn/Bleed
EGG:  500/500HP | 150 MIT
Ability: D-D-Drop the Egg - Every three turns, Sebastian drops a massive egg onto the battlefield (500 HP | 150 MIT). If not successfully destroyed, the entire party suffers 75/150/250 Unmitigatable damage and become struck by the funk, causing them to lose their next turn to Sebastian’s sick beats.

---
Mari's Total Loot
30 T3 Materials: 
20,000 Col from boss drops + 400 Page col =24,000 Total Col
Toffee Armor: Tier x  3 Perfect Heavy Armor - Bloodclot, Thorns, Thorns
The Big Peep - Demonic Consumable: Overhealth, Overhealth, Overhealth, Overhealth
LD1-6:  Bass Cannon - Unidentified Demonic Weapon
2 SP + 3 SP + 5 SP = Boss SP
3 Page SP + 1 Bonus SP 
-----
14 Total SP

The quest was over; Mari managed to put on a brave face, and tear of more little pieces of herself throughout the battle. Offering everyone smiles, headpats and cheers of support. The fights hadn't exactly been fierce, thanks to the coordination of Shield. Before her was a variety of options, powerful demonics - each with a promised Unique - then - there was another item.

Mari gently picked up up and twisted it in her hands. This...seemed like an obvious choice. The Asgards finery....it was similar - if not better than the stamp she had given Cordelia - Mari sighed. A part of her regretted giving the woman the rare item. She rarely saw Cordellia these days,  and Mari wondered if the woman was okay -but...Mari found herself just...unable to reach out. What would reaching out even accomplish?

"This, this will do." Mari said quietly as she pocketed the Asgards Finery - in exchange for the crystals she had received from the battle, and with a silent turn - Mari left.


Asgard’s Finery
Reroll a single enhancement on an existing item using only the Merchant’s Unique Enhancement Table OR Increase the Rarity of a single item once, up to Demonic, rolling the new slot at a merchant as normal.

"I didn't mean to make you mad, nor condescend you." Mari said quietly, brushing strands of hair away from her face as she listened to Freyd's explanation. It made sense, and Mari had seen no reason to doubt his words.  "I may have worded things wrong in the heat of...this moment..." she breathed as she gestured around the makeshift battlefield. She winced when he shot those words at her. It felt like he had driven a blade into her. They were spoken with an intent that Mari couldn't quite pick, but she could take a guess that it was to either spite her, or throw her own failings in her face.

It's a crisis of your own making: your own engineered oblivion, again."

"You know....He's right." Mari said as she turned to Chaser. "I don't think...I made it clear to you earlier that Freyd did apologize, I wasn't really in the best frame of mind - and I unwittingly omitted things." Mari tried to offer Chaser a half smile, but she barely had the strength to do that. "I think I did tell you that, yeh? I tend to lie by omission - without meaning to."  Although, Mari could only assume that Freyd disliked her now. She couldn't blame him. Hell, Mari hated herself. "I really wish you hadn't...fought him Chase - especially if it were on my behalf, a much lesser person would have killed you. It takes a great deal of patience to be berated like that and not retaliate."  Mari gestured to the angry red gashes that glowed over her torso. "Look. This is the reality of having an orange crystal. You shouldn't let yourself have one so easily. Be thankful it'll disappear in a few days."

You two need to get your shit together."

I'm trying...

And she had been...but each and every time she had some semblance of normalcy, things like this happened. She was trying....so hard - but everything kept crumbling around her - and she had kept giving so much of herself away. Maybe that's why Freyd was saying those words. This was inevitbly her fault. I really do just hurt anything close to me. She thought to herself. Hell, it had happened to Beat, Shield, and now...even Chasesr.

Her brow irked as he said Mari thought him a monster. "I never said you were." Mari said cooly, quietly. "Nor do I think you are."

I'm the monster.

@ChaseR @Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

Chaser was silent as he stared at her - it looked like he had so many things to say - but every time he tried - nothing but choked sobs came out. "You're being reckless, and childish." She scolded softly. "What were you trying to do?" He didn't answer her in words - instead he leaned forward, burrying his face into her as his arms wrapped tightly around her - Mari almost fell, and had to steady herself. 

Just shove what you feel down and help this kid. 

"And you-" Mari said toward Freyd. "Sittin' there observing as if outside the situation. C'mon. Seriously. No one's gonna ever understand you if that's the shit you do."  A little rich, coming from Mari of all people - but truth be told, she was a little sick of how Freyd always just phased himself out of these situations. 

She turned her eyes back to Chaser. He still held onto her tightly. "It's fine." She said, quietly, as if she were soothing a child who had just come out of time out. "But you can't have me comin' in like that all the time. I might not survive it." And it was true; she didn't have any stealth like abilities, she was particularly quick - which helped her escape the town guards- but if she hadn't been, she could easily have been hit another several times - and died. And whilst Mari didn't care if she did die; she didn't want that to be the way she went.

"Can one of - or both of you tell me how this all started?"

@ChaseR @Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

"You know...." Mari began quietly. It was rare that people noticed that behavior in her, even rarer that they acknowledged it. The only other person in the entirety of Aincrad who noticed that maybe, just maybe - there could be something underling beneath her thin veneer - something pained and troubled was Oikawa - and he had all but disappeared. She had paused in her words, absently pushing the piece of meat around in her bowl. It felt like, looked like what was raging inside her.

A messy incoherent storm. Thunderous voices in her head screaming at her that she didn't belong - she couldn't possibly. Her heart pained as though drowning in ice water - pouring from an unrelenting sky. Still. Mari stood. She stood as tall as she could, and would always tell everyone 'I'm Okay'  But in reality. She wasn't. Mari was far, far, far from okay.

"You don't need to take back those words. You're right." She had lost the tremble in her words, but that had been replaced with perhaps, something worse. The empty tone surged with every breath, a solemn acceptance of someone who knew they didn't want to be there anymore. And who knew that now, others knew too. Someone who was so tired. So very tired. Of giving so much of themselves out - that they almost had nothing left to give. 

"Too many people rely on me." Mari reiterated as she dropped her chopstick and watched it begin to sink beneath the uneaten broth. Her hands disappeared beneath the table and sat in her lap. "I...." Mari couldn't look at Shield, and she struggled to say the next words. "I've thought about it. Many times. How easy it would be - a silent fall, a rush of wind then..." She held up a hand and splayed it out in a mock explosion. "Poof - blinked out of existence."

She turned her head away, "Heh. A part of me doesn't even care how it'd affect others...why cant I..." Her hand fell against the table and clenched into a fist. "Why can't I be selfish...just once? Just once, let Mari matter. And not the guild. Not the players. No-one else. Just...Mari..."  She sighed and wiped her eyes with her hand. "S-Sorry. This isn't....this isn't what I intended."

"You are someone who matters to me-" 

Mari drew in a breath. Her body turning rigid. Shield. Of all people. Mr. 'I don't Wanna deal with emotional shit' Mari forced her eyes shut. Afraid that if she left them open the burning in her eyes would turn to tears. "Y-You shouldn't say that though."  The tremble was back. "The world will keep spinning....players will keep on fighting..." She wrapped her arms around herself to stop the trembling. The Nausea - and the sinking feeling. "I'd be a ghost of a memory and it'd be b-better because all I do is hurt everything around me." She lowered her head, pressing it against the table. "I feel like I'm suffocating, and there's no one to pull me up."

She shook her head, apologizing again. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry Shield. I'm just...I'm tired... I keep giving so much of myself to everyone and I just..." She hiccuped. "I'll be f-fine in a minute...." A lie. "We can go back to joking around."

@Shield

Mari readied herself, thinking Sebastian would attack as it hopped closer, closer- then...

"W-Wha...?"  Sebastian started to Vibrate, then in what could only be explained as a strange B-grade horror - he laid an egg. a very large, very green egg. That egg had its own HP Bar, meaning, it could be attacked. But....should it be? Mari glanced over at Sebastian, he was still able to be targeted. Meaning....was the egg a trap?

"Screw that gross ass green egg." Mari cried out. "Let's just focus on Sebastian!"

Mari shifted around the large, funky smelling egg. Destroying it may be a bad idea anyway. She could smell the putrid odour emanating from within the shell. That was bad enough. "Eargh..." Yeh, there was no way Mari wanted to be anywhere near that when it cracked. It looked...explosively bad. So, Mari listened to her own advice and ignored it. She flipped her dagger around in a reverse-grip and ran toward Sebastian, her dagger lit up in a bright glow as she activated the <<Eternal Cyclone>> Sword Art. 

She managed to successfully deal more damage to the wandering rabbit. "Last haul folks!" 

@Macradon  @Calrex
Eternal Cyclone > Sebastian
ID:173233  BD:6+6=12-2=10 HIT
18x13=234-75=159
EN + 1

Sebastian D-D-DROPS THE EGG!

[H: 2] Mari - 1410/1410  | EN: 116/138 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 43 | ACC: 6 | EVA: 3 | BH: 67 | BRN: 24 | BLD: 24 | FLAME AURA: 15  
[H: 6] Macradon - 1940/1940 | EN: 148/189 | DMG: 25 | MIT: 107 | 4 ACC | EVA: 2 | BHL: 97 | FTH: 36 (21) | FRZ: 6 | REC: 6 | HLY: 12 | PHS: 1 | VMP: 194 
[H: 5] Calrex 1805/1805 | EN: 23/176  EN | DMG: 16 | MIT: 116 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 2 | BHL: 88 | IMMO 30 | ACH: 0.5 

Drop the egg countdown 3/3 
Sebastian:  253/2000 HP | 350 DMG | 2 ACC | 2 EVA | 75 MIT   Burn -24 1/2 turns  Bleed-24  1/2 Turns      -159 DAM + -50 Dam for Bleed/Burn
EGG:  500/500HP | 150 MIT
Ability: D-D-Drop the Egg - Every three turns, Sebastian drops a massive egg onto the battlefield (500 HP | 150 MIT). If not successfully destroyed, the entire party suffers 75/150/250 Unmitigatable damage and become struck by the funk, causing them to lose their next turn to Sebastian’s sick beats.

"Style points hmmm...." Mari tapped her lip. "I suppose so, several style points." Mari concluded with a nod of her head.  She watched as Titan's health ticked down, ever so slightly as the Sword Fish tried to rally against him, turning its pointed nose (apendage-thing?) toward him to try and strike him in the chest. But Titan pushed back - refusing to relent. Mari's eyes drifted to his feet, they were grounded steadily enough, but two too many steps forward would net him straight into the very lake they floated atop.

"Hey you di-"

SPLAASH

Mari was about to congratulate him; before Titan DOVE straight into the water. Mari leaned over the side of the boat - only to see a drenched blonde face bob up and out of the water, wearing a grin that stretched from ear to ear. He seemed proud of himself. "Mmmm....I'd have said a solid 8 - before you jumped in the water and soaked me." Mari said, gesturing toward her own wet, dripping form. "So just for that, I'd drop that to a five."

Despite her words, Mari didn't seem irritated or bothered.

@Titan

"To be fair, I didn’t expect to hook it this quick. ” 

Mari snorted as she readjusted her scarf.  "Normally I'd be complimenting you here- about your fishin' skills but I worry it'd make your head too big and it'd sink this boat." Mari tapped the side of the boat. "I'd hate to see you sink." She joked. Her smile faded and she turned serious. "For real though. I'd not wanna see that."

Mari was enjoying Titans company, in earnest - it was rare to find someone that didn't immediately rely on her for emotional support- he was...well not exactly a breath of fresh air, but different. It was nice. Mari felt like she could breath a little easier and let her guard down.

She gave him a wide grin as he tried to brush her and her offer for a reward off. "Look at you, flippin' around in the air." Mari said, amused. "So fancy."

"I think your definition and my definition of 'a while' are a taaad different." Mari chided as she gripped onto the boat to avoid herself spilling over the edge. 

The fish was large, but not exactly monstrous - nothing more than an oversized Swordfish. Mari snorted. Compared to everything she had been through this seemed almost comical, but...Titan was a little wet behind the ears - perhaps literally in this scenario, as well as figuratively. "Yanno..." Mari began as she swept bangs of golden copper behind her ear. "You're in the presence of your powerful guild leader here - make a good impression."  Mari gave Titan a grin as she wedged herself straight back down in the boat, shifting to make herself more comfortable. 

"I might just reward you with somethin' if you do well enough."  

She'd probably give him some Col and Materials, maybe some extra gear. That's probably what Titan was looking for anyway. And Mari would be more than willing to help with stuff like that.

@Titan

Mari grinned at Macradon as he told her he could taste victory. She snorted, then laughed. "Ya sure you aren't just tasting all those peeps ya shoved into your mouth earlier?" She asked. Still...Mari turned her eyes to the giant bunny. This felt much easier than their previous encounter. Maybe they were just that strong. Or maybe, they just all worked together exceptionally well as a team.

Teamwork...

It was nice. Wasn't it?

"No matter what, we keep attacking Sebastian!" Mari called out as she first attacked Sebastian with a twirling motion - attacking Sebastian - she then pulled back to fall in line with Macradon and Calrex. "We're so close. I reckon we totally got this." Sebastians health was well below half, heck - another few good whacks from all three of them and the giant bunny would be dead. Then, they could get out of this hellhole.

...Mari hoped Oikawa was okay.

Eternal Cyclone > Sebastian
18x13=234-75=159
EN + 1
BD:173203  BD: 8 - BURN + BLEED ACTIVATED
MOB:1 -MISS MACRADON

@Macradon  @Calrex
 

[H:0] @Mari - 1410/1410  | EN: 137/138 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 43 | ACC: 6 | EVA: 3 | BH: 67 | BRN: 24 | BLD: 24 | FLAME AURA: 15  
[H: 5] Macradon - 1940/1940 | EN: 149/189 | DMG: 25 | MIT: 107 | 4 ACC | EVA: 2 | BHL: 97 | FTH: 36 (21) | FRZ: 6 | REC: 6 | HLY: 12 | PHS: 1 | VMP: 194 
[H: 3] Calrex 1805/1805 | EN: 39/176  EN | DMG: 16 | MIT: 116 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 2 | BHL: 88 | IMMO 30 | ACH: 0.5 

Drop the egg countdown 1/3 
Sebastian:  627/2000 HP | 350 DMG | 2 ACC | 2 EVA | 75 MIT   Burn -24 2/2 turns  Bleed-24  2/2 Turns    -159 DAM
Ability: D-D-Drop the Egg - Every three turns, Sebastian drops a massive egg onto the battlefield (500 HP | 150 MIT). If not successfully destroyed, the entire party suffers 75/150/250 Unmitigatable damage and become struck by the funk, causing them to lose their next turn to Sebastian’s sick beats.

He was tall, and every time his masked face looked down at her, that even grin across his face - Mari felt like punching it. But that'd be wrong - and despite everything she thought she was better than that. "Wow." Mari seethed, "I didn't think you could really see all too well with that mask." She quipped.  "But at least you've seen that. Yes. You're no longer welcome." 

Mari walked toward the door and opened it. This whole ordeal was just a mess. She didn't think there were people still like him in this world. Most had either died out, or gone into hiding. "Honestly, if you had reigned in your sadism for a hot minute you'd be walking out of here with a sack of Col, and materials. Instead you're leaving with nothing more than a pair of stained pants and an injured ego."

She wasn't sure that Felis had heard her words or not, the door slammed in her face - reverberating off the walls. Mari sighed. 

"That poor kids gonna have a hard time gettin' to talk to anyone if he keeps up like that."

OH well.

It wasn't her problem.

Thread Complete

Each player recieves

2SP and 200 Col

"That's...goood." Mari said as she exhaled. "I've been worried." Mari chewed her lip, hesitant to continue to tell Shield what had happened. "For the longest time..." Mari rubbed her palm with her thumb. Looking down - she didn't want to see the angry judgement in his eyes. "Beat refused to let go of my hand - so...I thought something may have bothered him. But if it's nothing then I'll...yanno..." She shrugged with a forced laugh. "I'll pay it no mind." Mari drew in a long breath to try and calm the tremble in her voice. She reached up at brushed away the wet droplets at the corner of her eyes.

By now the food had arrived; Mari didn't really feel like eating, nor did she feel she deserved it but even so, she reached out and placed a hand on either side of the bowl. Leeching its warmth.

"Part of you didn't want to come back out of there alive..."

Mari visibly tensed, but she didn't say anything - even as he pressed further. His voice quiet. Don't talk to me with that tone, you of all people know I don't deserve it.

"Does that matter?" Mari asked matter-of-factly as she reached out for the wooden chopsticks. With a small snap Mari had broken them in half and dipped them into her broth. Mari swirled it around, watching the noodles slowly begin to follow the swirl. She felt like that, just going along with the current. Mindlessly, unable to really stop. "You don't need to worry." Mari said quietly, closing her eyes.

So many people relied on her, she carried them - all of them. Their problems and doubts, their worries - the trusted her with that weight - so she'd continue to carry it. She'd be selfish not to, to just disappear.

"As you say, my life isn't my own. I have my fellow guild members...my friends..." She stabbed her chopstick into a slice of Chasu. "I can't go anywhere, even if I wanted to - not till everyone else is safely out of here. I'm not going to be so reckless as to throw it away like that right now." And when that happened maybe she'd get her peace then. But no, not yet. No matter how tempting that was.

@Shield

1. Mari

2. Female

3. none -  Mari likes all but would probably mesh well/better with a male partner

4. 

(I need to figure out a way to have Mari do this IC - with permission I'm gonna say @Macradon signed her up because she's being a sad shit)

"Dayumm......" Mari breathed as she pushed her hair up and out of her face. "Did you just like...both take out HALF of its HP? Because...." Mari shook her head.  "Damn....." Mari pulled out her dagger, its blood-red blade glinting as she tilted it to and fro. "I best get goin' myself, else ya'll leave me in the dust."  Of course, Mari felt like she was already falling behind - the two were way, way ahead of her in terms of damage. Her smile faded and turned into a glare at her small weapon. "You're a butt." She muttered at her dagger before activating her charge - and darting toward the large bunny.

Unfortunately... a rock seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, and Mari tripped - landing hard on her face then skidding forward several feet. She groaned, her face in the ground. "MMrrrg....." 

That serves her right...Mari should have known better than to insult her weapon right before an attack..


@Macradon @Calrex
18+5=23 x 13
ID:172538  BD:1 MISS
Mob: Stunned
Charged Eternal Cyclone: - HAHAHA MISSSED

"No, I suppose you don't." Mari said in response to his cavalier answer to him not being a nice person. "You know most people like.,.." Mari gestured at him with her free hand. "Like you are a little more subtle about it. Being straight up rude - and well...childish - that aint' gonna get you anything but an early grave, kid." Why was she even bothering.

Hell, was she...giving him advice on how to behave? Stupid. Mari turned - catching his scowl. He barked at her, told her she was acting 'motherly'. Such a comment would normally have thrown her off, if it weren't for people like Aiko and Chaser. "Mmm... see that..." Mari said as she held his coffee cup out to him. "You're nothing more than a -" She paused as Felis on purposefully  'accidentally' whacked her leg.

So Mari, with her being very tired and having little tolerance for people like this, 'accidentally' tipped the coffee onto his lap. "Oh, clumsy me - guess that's what happens when I'm accidentally whacked with somethin' " She added with a shrug of her shoulders. 

"Now, you can be civil for a few minutes; or - " Mari pointed to the door. "You can leave." 

@Felis

"No Breaks." Mari said simply - taking charge. "We got enough gumption to take care of the last creature- and I doubt it'd be as much of a slog as that...gelatinous devil creature."  She flashed both Macradon and Calrex a smile.

"Cal..." She shifted her gaze to his energy level, then her own. "I know that leaves us in a liiitle bit of a dicey situation but..." Mari pummeled her fist into the flat of her palm. "I believe in us. I think we can do this. All I suggest is we wait for Macradon to go into stealth first."  She scratched the back of her head. "I think I'd have almost restored my energy by the time we get to it anyway.  Let's go."

Mari gestured for the two to follow. "C'mon then - lets get a move on."  
 
As they walked Mari could see it in the distance, a large bunny creature - "OF course..." She muttered. The last boss in the dungeon would be a large, fluffy Easter bunny. At least this one wasn't made out of some sort of edible food. As they neared the bunny, Mari's energy ticked back up - and she exhaled a sigh of relief.

@Calrex @Macradon

Passive: 2/2 OOC posts - energy regen

[H:] Mari - 1410/1410  | EN: 138/138 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 43 | ACC: 6 | EVA: 3 | BH: 67 | BRN: 24 | BLD: 24 | FLAME AURA: 15  
[H: ] Macradon - 1940/1940 | EN: 152/189 | DMG: 25 | MIT: 107 | 4 ACC | EVA: 2 | BHL: 97 | FTH: 36 (21) | FRZ: 6 | REC: 6 | HLY: 12 | PHS: 1 | VMP: 194 
[H:  ] Calrex 1805/1805 | EN: 70/176  EN | DMG: 16 | MIT: 116 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 2 | BHL: 88 | IMMO 30 | ACH: 0.5 


Sebastian:  2000/2000 HP | 350 DMG | 2 ACC | 2 EVA | 75 MIT 
Ability: D-D-Drop the Egg - Every three turns, Sebastian drops a massive egg onto the battlefield (500 HP | 150 MIT). If not successfully destroyed, the entire party suffers 75/150/250 Unmitigatable damage and become struck by the funk, causing them to lose their next turn to Sebastian’s sick beats.



full quest for my referene: