Oikawa

Again, they clashed. Fang and blade. Unable to break through this loop of events, Oikawa distanced himself. This was very uncharacteristic of the brunette.

"I seem to be losing my touch."

The wolf barked and snarled. It's tail on full alert as it prowled back and forth, angling for its next attack. Oikawa didn't feel threatened by the creature in the slightest. Though his inability to hit the damned thing head on was cause for worry. Suddenly it clicked. He realized he was no longer wearing the Gate of Babylon. The small trinket serving as a catalyst to his ability to be on target without expending his skills like Concentration. Shaking his head, he turned back to the wolf. A smirk revealing itself as he rocketed forward.

"I need to be a little more reckless and aggressive. With my aim off, my attacks should be in quantity not quality. Now stop moving so I can pierce you."

Loot:

Reeling in his own line, Oikawa dissolved the rod back to his inventory and counted up his eggs. A sigh escaped him as he re-counted them a few times just to make sure. "Yep as it stands I am in fact three eggs short. How did I manage that?"

As Baldur and Calrex studied their own piles, Oikawa looked to Shield. "Well it seems not only did you best me and everyone else at collecting for this event, you managed to do so by a wide margin to say the least," he explained with a small laugh. Scratching the back of his neck and swallowing the small amount of pride he had on the matter, Oikawa gestured towards Calrex.

"So that deal you offered Calrex, is that on the table? I'm short about three eggs for the items I'd like to get. If possible, I'd gladly trade you a commission from my shop in exchange?" Oikawa amber gaze averted locking eyes with Shield. He didn't want the situation to be any weirder than what it already was for either of them. But given their talks of becoming guildmates and by extension friends, he hoped his request wasn't to forthcoming.

Checking to make sure everything else was squared away, Oikawa was prepared to head home once everyone else had departed. 

"I'm guessing she's going to be a while."

Pushing up from the ground. Oikawa knew just where he could find what he needed. The West Fields were home to special monsters. Ones that scaled to the highest player in the vicinity. Though he had little need for the materials of this tier, the Col alone would suffice.

Grass softly crunched beneath his feet. Beady red eyes pierced him from a distance. The snarling fangs of a Dire wolf snapped at his direction clearly targeting Oikawa. Happy to oblige, the brunette summoned his spear. Aiming it at the wolf, he dashed forward. The edge of his spear clashing with slobbering maw of the wolf. Rebounding, Oikawa spun his spear before planting it in the dirt. He then interlocked his fingers and stretched his arms forward. Not long after a few squats followed. Rotating his arms a few times forward, then back, he clutched his weapon and prepared to strike again.

"Now I'm warmed up."

Loot:

Stats:

"How do I end up owing favors to so many people?"

The brunette rustled his own hair. Running his fingers through them as he awaited the woman that had messaged him the day prior. She had mentioned undertaking some rather simple quests but if he knew anything about beginner quests, he knew they were in fact simple. However, they were also very tedious meaning he might be waiting a while before he may even see her. Perching himself beneath the shade of one of Aincrad's finest floor one tower of leaves, he rested in his mind and closed his eyes.

"Remember why you are doing this. You have an image to change. She could also prove to be a powerful ally if she's trained up properly. Perhaps this could be mutually beneficial to them both if he played his cards right." Expelling a sigh, he let his eyes wander the fields. Perhaps he could start gathering some materials in advance, or maybe seek out some monsters’ worthy of looting since he needed to refill his pockets anyway.

Skill(s) Being Dropped: Fishing
Mod(s) Being Dropped: None
SP Refunded: 10
Cost: 10,000 Col (Sent)

10/50 SP Refunded in April.

Locating the kettle, Oikawa's expression softened as Mari reassured him he did have friends. He should have articulated his thoughts a little more though. He had friends, but the family aspect of that friendship is more so what he was compensating for. This estate was way to large for a person. Not by themselves at least. It was supposed to represent a guild hall in functionality, and a home in feeling. A place where all his friends could be or stay if they needed or wanted to. A haven of sorts. But now the hollow mansion served little more than a Col sink and a place to craft his now mostly useless wares.

When was the last time he had crafted?

The thought disappeared almost as fast as it had arrived. The brunette filled the kettle with warm water. Placing it on a plate of sorts before sitting it in the upper part of the furnace. While generally for aesthetic as they tea would be whatever he selected it to be, Oikawa asked Mari her preference.

"Anything in particular you want?" The question catching her mid-scratch as she nuzzled the cub. Nodding in agreement, Oikawa watched the embers dance.

King nuzzled deeper into the girls lap. His soft breathing nearly matching hers as she continued to run her fingers through his fur. For a familiar of the damage variety, he was very docile in most circumstances.

"If I'm being honest I never once thought of it that way. That one day I'd have to leave him behind. He's become family and losing him would leave an empty feeling no doubt." Rolling his head from side-to-side, Oikawa shifted his gaze to Mari. "What about you? You have a familiar as well don't you?"

@Mari

"Aye. She is rather hard on herself. Sometimes I have to remind her of the advice she gave me. With a little razzing, she usually comes around out of it. But nonetheless I leave the matter in your capable hands," he said to Shield whilst reeling in four more eggs. He was getting close to his goal now. No sooner than he had cast his line again, Calrex managed to dig up yet another chest. Oikawa chuckled as Shield quickly dismantled it and they split the earnings. Oikawa was in awe. At one point he was like Shield in the gathering sense. Before the most recent updates, he was rather skilled at finding chests, [Sub-Dungeons], and various other loot. He was also adept at tracking those who relied on stealth to much. Ironic how the tables have turned as far as that goes. Choosing to embrace the darkness himself.

Glancing up, he spotted the time on on his HUD. "You've gotta be kidding me. The deadline eggs definitely won't be spawning anymore that's for sure."

After hauling in another blank hook, Oikawa baited it once more and sighed. Tossing his line back out, Oikawa turned to face Calrex more directly."Well hopefully whatever you don't get, Shield and I can spot you. Though Imagine I'll be taking him up on the special dungeon map offer depending on what he's wants for it." Oikawa was pretty much on pace to finish his needs at this point. The dungeon map was more of a want than anything. "As for myself, I only need thirteen more eggs and I should have enough for the stamp, bunny favor, and re-roll tickets. At minimum that should let me increase my output using the trickster build and by output I definitely mean the amount of statuses imbued on the weapon itself." The thought of his now under-powered Demonics came to mind. "I'd like to have weapons that are actually tiered to my capabilities now. My old sword and shield set simply won't do anymore. That said, have you heard the rumor about the updates coming? Supposedly and info broker data-mined a patch notification that's supposedly happening after we clear this next floor."

"Right. Better to get it figured out now and articulated than to fumble the pitch and lose the opportunity altogether." While Shield undoubtedly was mulling over the best way to attack the situation, Oikawa once again assumed throne-like demeanor. Resting his cheek against a lightly balled fist towering from his knee. If his stare was any indication, he was completely unamused by the lack of eggs he had. The brunette had not nearly thought about how quickly this event would be coming to a close and now he, like many others, were scrambling to get some more eggs. Ironically, checking his line, he managed to secure about six more eggs and a few more materials as well. "With this, I only need thirteen or so more eggs."

"How's it looking for you Calrex?" He knew the blunette was far more behind in his goal than he himself was, but he hadn't been keeping track of his progress. "Hopefully you're a little bit closer than half way this time."

"The Starlight Cafe should definitely have a rewards program as often as we frequent it," stated the brunette. Amused by the thought. "Though I'm sure my card would get revoked until this changes," he explained pointing to his cursor. "However, Shield is right. If this is not handled with care, Mari could potentially be dissuaded from joining our cause. So it needs to be handled with care." Much like his eggs, which at the moment were non-existent as he reeled in an empty hook. Placing more bait on the line, Oikawa carefully selected his spot. He seemed to have more success when fishing to his right, so he launched the hook in that direction. "I'm getting close to my needed amount despite these..um.. setbacks." Resting the rod in his hand, Oikawa waited for his line to tighten. "So have you thought of how to approach the question yet?" he asked Shield.

Thread Rewards

All Participants:

+2 SP

+80 Col

Oikawa: +2 T3 Materials

No sooner than she was spotted, Vale and Hikoru emerged from the shadows in unison. The pairing quite fitting if the brunette didn't know any better. Hikoru proceeded to boast about her capabilities and he had no doubt she could kill a few of them. That said, Oikawa wasn't one to wait around for death and wasn't intent on letting it happen to him anytime soon. Though Oikawa wasn't familiar with the woman, it seemed she was well acquainted with Hikoru and friendly enough with Jomei. "She can't be all that bad then," he mused. Stroking his chin, an idea came to mind.

Waiting for their inner conversation to subside, Oikawa gestured to the direction of Seijuro Manor. "Perhaps we should move this conversation to my home. My manor isn't to far from here and with so many familiar faces and stories and explanations to be had, we can at least be comfortable in my home." Whether they joined him or not was up to them, but if Hikoru wanted his answer, he'd have to come along.

The jesting could only be as fun for so long and it had seemed Shield had reached his bantering cap for the moment. Taking the rather minute victory with a grain of salt, Oikawa also went back to focusing on his fishing. The skill was pretty auto-pilot to say the least. Their odds of reeling in something or nothing was merely dictated by numbers. Granted some players could manipulate those numbers to a degree like Shield, but majorly it was randomized and took zero inherent skill or knowledge to use. He even began to wonder if these same numbers affect their catch rate seeing as how as long as they hooked one, it was seemingly an inevitable catch. The struggle of reeling the fish could all be simulated actions that had zero effect on the catch itself, but he wasn't one to spoil the fun by testing his theory out.

Collecting another clutch of eight, Oikawa turned to Shield as his thoughts spilled over out loud. "Honestly I wouldn't even pitch as a business. Its a dream that happens to do business. More importantly though, it's a mindset held by people that want to see success in leading us all out of here."

"Oh hohoho," Oikawa mocked with a chuckle. "That line would have had more merit if I didn't see you just catch air just now. Which makes you a scrub just like the rest of us," he teased. Looking back towards Calrex, Oikawa re-adjusted atop his rocky throne. "That'd be a real shame if we were still dealing with refresh rates but I guess that makes sense in a way." Looking down at the fishing rod he held, Oikawa gave the wooden pole a little wriggle. Much to his surprise, the line gave a tug back and rewarded him for his playfulness. Hauling in the eggs and materials, Oikawa gave Shield another jab of words. "Enjoy the flattery, because I just hauled in eight big ones." Adding them to his count, Oikawa tossed his line back out and awaited the next nibble of sorts. The day was coming to a close and he still had a twenty plus eggs to get.

"Touche," the brunette responded. "But noted. If I fail to be able to get the eggs I need, I'd be willing to part with a reward in exchange for completing my want list." Oikawa counted them again. He was approaching  the thirty or less mark. He just needed to acquire a few more. Shaking his his pole, he watched for any signs of ripples or life in the water. However the bites seemed to stop flowing for the moment. Though that may have been to Shield fishing up all the loot as Calrex seemed to turn up nothing as well.

"You mind saving some fishes, eggs, and materials for the rest of us Mr. Opportunist?" he question in jest. Shield seemed to be in a rhythm and Oikawa and Calrex were smack in the middle of a bad string catches. Baiting his hook again, seeing as how the fishes made off with it last time, he cautiously tossed the line and watched it sail out deep. "Hopefully I catch something worthwhile here soon. My fishing rash is starting to lose its itch."

"Hmm I wonder if we can make a proper [Sub-Dungeon] of the place now? It would be interesting to see how far we could delve into it." Oikawa's thoughts flashed back to a year or so before when they still frequented the beginner floors. the Iron Black Palace was their own personal training grounds of sorts though they never delved into the actual [Sub-Dungeon] of the location. The thought was amusing and he actually wondered if they could. His train of thought was broken however as Shield and Calrex continued to converse about the eggs. Oikawa forgot that the eggs weren't trade-locked and that the items you could buy weren't either. The only restriction was the amount a player could buy. A nifty loophole to say the least.

"Your ability to navigate the best deals and ways to profit here are as astounding as the claims against would have me believe," he mentioned to Shield. Glancing to his line, the little bobber dipped only momentarily, but it was enough to cause the brunette to quickly reel in the small catch holding both materials and eggs. Though the ratio wasn't in the direction he had wanted. 

"Aye it has been a very long time since our early days Cal. We've been on several interesting quests and adventures that it's hard to believe it’s only been a few years in this place. The Iron Black Palace comes to mind when thinking of our first couple of explorations haha." Reeling in his own haul of eight or so eggs, Oikawa tossed his line once more to try and secure another bountiful catch.

"Is everyone on track to get everything they were hoping to from the event?"

"It is as if he was reading my mind earlier... I'm on to you Shield," he thought. A grin showing in the process. "Unfortunately, I still have a little way to go. I'm on pace however to get the amount I need by the end of today if I manage to keep raking them in sets of eight." Drafting his inventory, Oikawa recounted his eggs. "Of the two-hundred and seventy-five I'm looking to obtain, I have two-hundred and forty right now." Surprised by his own count, he relented. "Welp, thirty-five more to go then."

The cavern was his home. At least as of late anyway. The calming feeling of letting everything else melt into the distance was becoming meditation and medication for the brunette. He had enjoyed his last week of sorts. The event had brought him closer to Mari. An unlikely ally that he found himself enjoying company with. The mutual respect that he held for Shield had now become a friendship and he had managed to rekindle the fire of Spectrum Coalition on a grander scale with Baldur and Calrex. As thing stood, the future looked good for once. So long as everything went according to plan. Pulling the rod from the waters, he managed to collect a rather large fish that was harboring a couple of ores but four eggs as well. "I have got to stop judging books by their cover," he mused out loud. Baiting the hook and returning the line to the lake, Oikawa glanced over as he heard footsteps approach. "Hmm...just when I thought I'd get some peace and quiet to myself, another challenger approaches."

"Oh Shield has plenty of experience opening those rickety wooden boxes," explained the brunette with teasing grin. Oikawa's own haul was less than impressive to say the least. This was even more evident as Baldur spoke up about his envision of the guild and recalling the times they had met one another. Oikawa could only chuckle at the memory of their little dungeon-esque raids of hunting the upper floors, though now those floors were about ten or more floors ago. Time had surely flown since they had been in Aincrad but the samurai wasn't without truth. Their bonds and friendship blossomed no matter how unlikely given they were all cut from a different fabric.

The thought passed. Shield had manged to check-out Calrex's chest with less than stellar results. An unusual sight to see for someone of Shield's expertise. Shifting his attention to his pole, Oikawa thought out loud. "It's rather ironic that the player that mentored us has now been surpassed by all of us in some way. Even if indirectly," he said with a chuckle. "How does it feel knowing the master has been surpassed by his pupils?"

Nodding in agreement Oikawa dislodged the duo of eggs from his hook and baited the line before tossing it back out. "I suppose we're all in agreement then. The four pillars will be myself, Shield, Baldur and Mari. Members including Calrex and Beat if Shield can coerce him. Thus leaving recruitment in a sense to us. Though not in the traditional sense given that membership isn't required to benefit from us a whole. We are here to help, guide, and transcend simply put."

With the formality of handling that out of the way. They only truly  needed to get Mari on board. Which between himself and Shield would hopefully be easy enough. Wrestling with the line beneath the waters, Oikawa focused his attention back to his egg count. If he recalled correctly he still needed a few more before he could retrieve all the items he needed from the event. Though at the rate he was fishing he didn't have his hopes up.

"Surprisingly I think that's where I think Shield and I have an advantage. We've spent some time with her as of late and I know she's aware of my ideals and goals. With Shield leading us, I feel she'll be less apprehensive about joining us." Baldur pointed out the issues with Hestia. Though Oikawa never personally had issues with her, he had already made it clear his opinions on the matter involving her and along with Shield, he too felt that it would be hard to contain himself if she decided to act on her disdain of them.

Glancing back to the waters, Oikawa shrugged. "I'll reach out. But you should definitely follow-up as I'll keep it brief more or less." Ripping another set of eight eggs from cavern lake, he thought over what Baldur said about finding new people. "I'll do my best in regards to finding new players. My cursor makes it an uphill battle to say the least hehe." He thought it over some more. It would be rather difficult to recruit people on his own, but he would try nonetheless.

"Fair enough," responded the brunette as Shield mentioned how Beat wasn't quite ready for what they had in mind. That being said, Oikawa was fully aware of the challenges they would face by asking Mari to join. He wasn't sure what her reaction or stance on the matter would be, but she was their only hope as of right now. If they wanted the guild to function in official capacity that is.

"I'm no stranger to scrutiny, so if in the end we can make him feel different about Mari and I, that's a win. However small of a win that is." Even if he couldn't change everyone's opinion of him, Oikawa would do what he could to help mitigate the effect his crystal would have on players interested in the guild. "I also believe if people took the time to understand Mari now, most would realize that she was a product of a bad circumstance and she's been paying for it ever since."

Expelling a sigh, Oikawa fiddled with the rod as Calrex spoke; managing to round up another six eggs in the process. "Agreed," he chimed in. "Now the hard part. Asking her." While asking her wouldn't necessarily be the hard part, awaiting her answer would be. She was still coming to terms with herself. Sometimes she was that beacon of hope, the ideal look of someone wanting forgiveness and working hard for it. At other times, she was vulnerable. A target of her own demise and self-deprecation and Oikawa knew that feeling all to well. He wanted to help her as much as he needed to help himself and hopefully she could see this as an opportunity to further her goal. Clearing his throat, he offered to be the one to ask.

"I'll ask, if you or Bal are uncomfortable with the idea," he explained more so to Shield and Baldur.

Scratching at the tufts of brown hairs behind his head, Oikawa nodded to Shield's question. "Aye, that'd be the one." Shield's sentiments were similar to Oikawa's. He too wanted a better relationship with the ginger and agreed that her situation was unique in its own right. He also agreed that if they were wrong, she had done a painfully good job of hiding it thus far. Though Oikawa leaned away from that thought given their few heart to heart moments they had shared in the last few weeks. At the mention of Beat, Oikawa raised an eyebrow. He had heard the name but as far as he could recall they had very little interaction if nay at all. Though given his disdain for player's like Oikawa, it didn't seem like much of stretch to assume their paths hadn't crossed for a reason.

Not having much of an opinion on the player mentioned,  he had little to say on the matter. "If that is the case, I and by extension, Mari, are liabilities to the team dynamic if Beat is to be on board. I imagine it wouldn't be as simple as vouching for us as the cursor is permanent until we take Redemption. That being said, I'm not opposed to him. I'm just not sure how it would affect our dynamic."

Baldur then chimed in. Making some valid points of his own, in regards to how adding Mari could affect their image adversely. But continued on to say that as long as we kept that in mind as well as the fact that Macradon could try to potentially recruit her, that she'd be an alright pick nonetheless. Oikawa nodded. Again he felt if nothing else, it would be a last resort if need be and Calrex didn't seem to mind either way. As it stood they still effectively had zero surefire candidates and one-and-a-half candidates as a maybe.

Collecting the clutch of eggs attached to the end of his line, Oikawa tried to think if there was anyone else worth mentioning that wasn't already swallowed up in another guild. Unfortunately without knowing the active player pool, his selection was rather empty. "So I'll ask again, do we have anyone else aside from Mari and Beat as candidates?"

"Jacob's Ladder" While a bit religious for him, in the context of the game and their goals, it made sense. The mission statement being something they could all relate to in one way or another and cemented the underlying fact that all anyone wanted was to get out of this place.

"I like it," he said softly. The others seemed to be in agreement with the name and that only led to two more quick points of business to handle before proceeding with the actual creation of the guild; the guild leader and their fourth member. And seeing as how Baldur didn't offer to lead, Oikawa was more than okay with Shield at the helm. Turning to Shield, he spoke. "While I wouldn't call myself a sheep per say, I'm not much of a leader either. So if Baldur is fine with it, I think you should be Guild Leader."

Tugging the line a little, Oikawa managed to reel in a clutch of eight eggs and a material. After tossing the hook back into the lapping waves, he touched on Calrex's question. "As for our fourth, you guys will probably know better than me but I have a last resort person we can ask if need be. Though she will more than likely be apprehensive to the idea." His thoughts wandered to Mari. She had already acquainted herself with most of the group. The extent of her interactions with Calrex being unknown to the brunette. But at the least given her own newfound resolve, she could be a potential candidate for them to pursue. That being said, saying it aloud would be weird enough.

"Never mind me. Did you guys have anyone in mind?"

Oikawa waved his hand in dismissal of her tease. "No need to apologize. The only thing I was compensating...was lack of friends." His eyes lowered. The estate would've been large enough for himself, Kotori, Teayre and Calrex should they so choose and still have guest rooms available for other friends. This was his home inside this hell they lived in and it sadly never became such aside from being his own. Shaking his thoughts, he turned back to Mari. "It wasn't meant to be lonely," he stated. The saddened undertone in his voice leaking out. "It was one that was suppose to house myself, Kotori, Teayre, and Calrex if they didn't want to own a home of their own."

The gate lining the house neared with each word they spoke. The barren cavern floor preceding the door was lined with stalagmites arranged in formation akin to rapiers on either side. As the approached the gate, he gently pushed them open. With a slight bow, he gestured to the front door and continued. "Welcome to Seijuro Manor." The greeting was silly to say the least but it needed to memorable for him as Mari would be the first person inside his home aside from himself and King. Holding out his hand, he offered to take her scarf before motioning to the staircase on the right side of the front door leading to the forge.

"To answer your question, it does get lonely. Without King, I'd surely have lost it by now. Though I guess it's arguable that I may already have." Walking up the cobblestone-lined wooden steps, Oikawa waited for Mari to catch up before opening the door. "Just a warning, its a little warm." Pushing through door, smell crackling log fire filled the air. Armors and weapons lined the room on both sides while a cushioned bench and matching chairs sat against the back of the room. Near the center and left side sat a furnace. The stone oven serving as both his forge and his fireplace. Embers danced in the mouth of it, illuminating the walls with their shadows as they stepped. Lighting a few lamps, Oikawa patted the bench for Mari to sit at. Glancing around, a puzzled look crossed his face as he was unable to locate his familiar King.

But as fate would have, the tiny cub stalked Mari from behind, before pouncing into her lap and curling up. Grey fur speckled with black dots was a rather normal combination for snow leopards but given he was the only the brunette had seen thus far, it felt unique to him. A small grin flashed as Oikawa went to find the tea kettle. "Well good news is, he likes you. The bad news is, I may have just lost my familiar."

@Mari