tricolor_mina

Violet frowned, looking closer at Freyd. it really was hard to tell what he was thinking at any given moment, and it was honestly making her worried to even try to continue this train of thought. The detached way he'd responded earlier was starting to feel more like a quiet plea for her to stop talking about it. God, this was part of what she hated when she'd been called in to do psych evaluations. There was nothing that she could say or do to make it feel like she wasn't trying to categorize someone into a box, and leave it there. Granted, that was why she was there most of the time... but here, she was just trying to understand how people were feeling and responding to the trauma and stress of this game. If Kayaba couldn't have the foresight to do so, then god damnit she was going to do her best to help as many people as she could reach.

but for now, she still had to understand what was going on around her.

"I can give you a list of symptoms to go through, and some basic medical questions..." she mused, a thoughtful look replacing the frown. "But I can't, and won't force you to look through something that I get the feeling you're only really doing to appease me. I'll only hand you those lists if you genuinely want to rule out the presence of a mental disorder. Considering what I used to do as a living..." violet polished off the last bit of her honey bun, watching as Akame started chewing on the more recent chest fragments freyd had conjured up.

"As for myself, though? Thats easy. I'd wager at minimum that I have C-PTSD, with something else lurking around the edges." she shrugged, before flopping over in the sand. "I can't look at myself in a mirror without feeling sick to my stomach, I keep feeling phantom pain from the side of my face that has all the scars. Can't sleep worth a damn, keep waking up screaming, and I think my ability to calmly deal with a confrontation has diminished significantly. It's all the little things that point to it, and its hard to miss once you piece them together, and you get a big ass sign saying 'Hey, this bitch has Trauma!', y'know?"

"Oh, and before I forget." she pointed a finger at Freyd, smiling sadly. "It's Violet. My name is Violet, you've more than earned the right to call me that. You, Rai, and all of the other people I care about have earned that."

-

Roll ID#: 216541, CD: 5 (Training Attempt Failed)

Violet hummed in agreement. "That's very fair, you would know yourself the best." she replied, "I'm just trying to run through some possible disorders that could be making you feel that way, but the more likely ones are super rare, even if you do show the proper markers for them. I'm not going to tell you that what you're feeling is wrong, since that's kind of rude... but I will, instead, kindly suggest that you seek out a few therapists once we actually make it out of this shitty game, ya dig?" she could think of two types of disorders that could cause it, one of which you were born with, the other being one that was caused by severe trauma.

Autism spectrum disorder came in a number of varieties, each ranging in their intensities. Despite the endless ways it could manifest, there were several trademark behaviors that seemed to be most common. Emotional detachment, Impulsive and hyperactive behavior, unusual dietary habits, stimming... the list could go on for hours. However, the biggest flags for it often occurred during childhood, manifesting in behavioral, social, and developmental delays. It wasn't something that anyone, let alone someone in a video game and without access to medical records, could diagnose without knowing someone's medical write-up.

Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder, however... that was something that she'd unfortunately gotten very familiar with, very fast. It was often spurred on by extreme stress, or rather severe trauma, with symptoms varying between patients. The biggest common denominator, however, was the feeling of being a 'spectator' in one's own body, or not feeling human. Her brother had described the symptoms as someone suffering from the sensation that they were constantly dreaming, or living in imagination. She'd seen a few people actively showing symptoms here, and Violet couldn't help but mentally curse out Kayaba for the way he'd designed the system.

for someone who was so obsessed with having people enjoy his shitty world, he sure didn't think about the poor people who were starting to break down.

Violet gently squeezed Freyd's shoulder, a faint smile on her face. "Chin up, buddy. Like I said earlier, don't force it." she chided, "Everyone heals at different paces, and reacts in different ways. But different is not bad, ok?" she dug her foot into the muddy sand, before nudging a crab out of what was left of one of the chests, and tapping it, sending the little guy into her inventory.

Post Action - Searching for mats... | Roll ID#: 215932, LD :18 (Success!) (Collection total: 4 Mats)

gib

Violet sighed, shaking her head at Freyd. Once again she was hitting a brick wall, and it was still just as frustrating as before. "Freyd, you're human." she said sharply, pointing her half eaten honey bun in his direction. "Stop trying to convince yourself otherwise. Emotions come differently to all of us, and so do attachments. Trauma, too. Everyone copes with it differently, not a single person is the same in that regard. You're just different, and that's not something you should be ashamed of. Besides, If we were all cookie-cutter critters, reacting the same way as everyone else... then we wouldn't be very interesting at all, now would we?"

Humans came in all different shapes, different sizes... different temperaments and different minds. Not a single person functioned the same way, and it only added to the appeal. Everyone was a unique book, just begging to be read and known. Some were worn and tattered, battered and beaten down by their pasts. Some were pristine and shiny, silky black leather that brimmed with hope and excitement. Some were patterned with flowers and colors, splashing life upon the pages for everyone to see.

Humans were a story that begged to be told, one that was always worth listening to. No matter how big, no matter how small. No matter how brief, no matter how long.

"I would appreciate the chest shards for Akame, though." she said dryly, nudging one of the pieces buried in the ground. Akame was still chewing on one, a tiny growl ripping from her throat. "She seems to be getting a taste for them~"

Violet was pretty sure that the boss was actively giving her a good ol staredown, a bead of sweat dripping down her cheek. Even though the raid formation was pretty tightly knit, and well rounded, she couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated. This was a bossfight after all, even a single misstep could lead to someone getting killed. Out of everyone, if she got hit, she'd be feeling it acutely until her armor kicked in with its special regeneration. Until then, she'd be hurting.

"Bite me you overgrown scaly cuck!" she snapped, before charging forward with a flash of blue and purple. If it was going to try and stare her and Kataoka down, then she was going to do her best to piss it off even more so it couldn't ignore her. "I'm right here, come get me!" lament bit into its virtual flesh, cleaving into it with only a token amount of resistance. With a flashy kick, she launched herself back towards the group, scowling.

"Freyd, Kat!" she called, turning to the players in question. "Switch with each other after you smack this bastard! The aggro scale is already fucked as it is, so one of us is getting hit anyways, and I'd rather it be me than a rookie!"

PH - Action: STB-B + Charge Vs Wushen

(2) Freyd |  HP: 1322/1334 | EN: 120/150 | DMG: 20 | MIT: 188 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5(6/AA) | BH: 73 | REC: 8 | THRN: 40 | PHASE | FLN: 8 | FRB: 40(-1) | ENV.O: 32 | V.O.: 146 | V.D.: 146 | HELL: 80 | STNG[x1] | LD: 8 | PRS: 3 | DOTE: 3/3
(0) Hirru | HP: 1104/1104 | EN: 94/104 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 182 | ACC: 2 | BH: 55 | REC: 8 | THRN: 76 | MENDING: 2 | HB: 44 | LD: 5 | DOTE: 3/3
(4) Katoka | HP: 720/720 | EN: 92/106  | DMG: 28 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 31 | REC: 8 | BLGT: 32 | P.V.O | STK: 40 | HELL: 80
(3) Morningstar | HP: 851/851 | EN: 77/106 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 142 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 6(7/AA) | BH: 18 | STK: 40 | FRB: 40(-1) | VO: 140 | HELL: 80 | LD: 6
(3) Elora | HP: 700/700 | EN: 80/104 | DMG: 26 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 35 | REC: 8 | FLN: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STK: 40 | LD: 3
(5) Tricolor_Mina | HP: 720/720 | EN: 50/106 (74+4=78-28) | DMG: 27 | MIT: 78 | ACC: 7 | BLGT: 32 | BRN: 56 | FRB: 40(-1) | V.D.: 72 | TXC.: 32

Violet smiled, pleased that Freyd was finally starting to understand her. "Not everyone enjoys it when someone just plays pretend, you know?" she said dryly, "Humans crave genuine connection, and its a little hard to connect when the other person refuses to fully engage. I like to try and put a lil' bit of effort forward, it does wonders for making people understand I'm not a robot, but an actual person." Even though she felt like a robot just going through the motions sometimes, she did at least try to keep it together enough that people could tell she half-ass cared about them. It was the least she could do when they tried to piece her back together.

Violet graciously accepted the honey bun, before pulling out a piece of Taiyaki, a wry grin on her face. "Snack time, then?" she drawled, biting into the honey bun with gusto. It tasted just as good as it looked, and she quickly finished the bun, a delighted look on her face. "Here, I brought a few of them this time. Try not to break it apart like ya did the first time we got a proper introduction, ne?"

Akame was nosing around in the sand, her eyes lighting on what was left of one of the many chests Freyd seemed to be fishing up. Violet watched her, a bemused look on her face. "At least she's starting to get the feel for what a chest is supposed to smell like. Progress, I guess?"

Post Action - Training attempt :D

Roll ID#: 215656, CD:10 (Attempt success~, 1/3 attempts succeeded)

"Maa... you're gonna ask me for advice, and then poke fun at me for giving you my honest opinion?" she snarked, leaning her head to the side. " Altruism doesn't mean shit if nobody else is willingly going to comply with it. Buuut, I guess I can tell you something else since you're so kindly asking me what advice I'm willing to give, I'll try with a third one - Don't be afraid to rely on people. That means don't push someone away when you're hurting, and ESPECIALLY don't do that to your loved ones. If you're hurting, tell them."

Violet was fairly certain that Elora would appreciate having Freyd rely on them with his emotional wellbeing, while he focused on protecting them physically.

"As far as that goes, that's about all I've really got for you. I don't really have a good grip on how you tick, so its really all I can give." she shrugged helplessly, stretching her arms. "The smiling part, you don't really HAVE to do, its just a reccomendation-"

Violet paused, looking over at Freyd, a flash of blue having caught her eye. He was back in his usual gear, a genuine smile on his face. "Huh, you're actually taking my advice." she looked bemused, a faint smile playing around her lips. "And Excuuuuse me for not thinking you're telling the truth. Both you AND Rai told me to be cautious, and think twice about what you two were doing."

Violet took a mental note of the name that had passed his lips. Elora, she'd have to remember that name. The anger was still bubbling in her heart, the frustration having gotten worse thanks to his laughter. Was she really just being stubborn for no reason..? Was that why she felt like she was dancing around in circles. Akame nuzzled her face into her cheek, a sigh escaping her throat. God, she probably sounded like a fool.

"Just... ugh. Give me a minute, I need to chew on that." She flopped backwards, landing flat on her back with a tired look of frustration plastered across her face. "One piece of advice I'll give you straight out though. Just... just be honest with the people you care about. People don't like it when you lie ad-infinitum, and not everyone's built able to accept those non-stop. Morg and I did that to each other, and it ripped us apart in the end. Don't do that to yourself, its not fun." she let out a groan, a hand going over her face again.

"now... the other piece of advice..? Would it kill you and Rai to give a genuine smile for once in your lives? Not all the time, but enough to let the people you care about know you actually enjoy their company." Violet sat up, miming a smile with her fingers, pushing up the corners of her mouth into a facsimile of a smile. "you'd be shocked at the difference it makes, you know? Try it, and see if it works for you. No lying to loved ones, and showing them that you care, got it?"

"As to what I want..? I just want to see you two taking care of yourselves, taking care of your loved ones. Think you can do that, Shadow man?"

Violet barked out a laugh when Freyd abruptly told her to stop dodging the question he'd tossed her, the sheer gall of the other man to ask that of her after all this time. "I could say the exact same to both of you, you know?!" she hissed, her eyes burning. "I'll keep dancing and weaving so long as you two decide you want to play those stupid games, and treating things like a puzzle when they're fucking simple. And don't you DARE pretend like you two haven't. I might not be able to keep up with you two on the field, but my mind is just as good as both of yours, and I keep it as sharp as the chef's knives Rosa keeps in her kitchen. And I'm sick of you two pretending like I don't."

The frustration in her voice was real, the pain almost palpable. As furious as she was, as much as she'd want to pummel Freyd into the floor, she knew his anger was valid. At Freyd's comment about Raidou actually caring hit her ears, she snapped. "Do I know he cares? yes. Can I get his sorry ass to show it for more than one second without sounding like a condescending prick?! HELL NO!" She picked up a rock, before hurling it across the lake with a yell of frustration. "He'd rather pretend like he's the all-knowing genius, the one that needs to shoulder the blame of each and every crime in this shitty world. It's idyllic nonsense, and both of you should know better. I'm sick of you two pretending like I'm asking for pity when I'm asking you to help put me back together. Throw me a bone, and start working with me so that we can work through it together!"

She was sick of the song and dance that they were constantly playing, her chasing them relentlessly, struggling to get them to let her help. And then Raidou and Freyd dancing away, ignoring their own problems to try and fix her instead. It was absolutely maddening to her, and she hated every second of it. "If you two keep trying to treat me like I'm the only one that needs saving, I'm going to go insane." she hissed, "You want me to give you a straight answer? Then quit patronizing me you jackass!"

Her eyes narrowed when she heard him say that they were the same, scoffing. "And that's exactly why we aren't getting anywhere. And we won't get anywhere if you keep playing the same game you've been playing with me for months now." She looked him dead in the eyes, a firm scowl plastered across her face. "Look. If you two want to play games, I'll play them right back. I'm all too happy to keep right along with you, playing pretend. BUT. You don't get to be angry if I won't reciprocate, just like I don't get to be if YOU don't. Comprende?"

"Because you're afraid of losing us too?  So far as I know, Itzal and Jon are still around.  Did you push them away for fear of losing them?" 

an innocent question, spoken out of genuine concern it seemed. "I wish that were it." she said flatly, looking over at Freyd with a scowl. "They both promised they'd stick around, they promised they'd stay with me. They lied to my face, and I haven't seen them since. I don't think I can find it in myself to forgive either of them for doing that to me." Itzal, she'd understood. He'd gone down a dark path after what went down with their old guild, their former home. Jonathan- No, Morgenstern. She'd expected him to at least try to stick around, he'd even gotten better for a short while.

empty promises for empty words, and she'd been left all alone in her cage all over again.

She could hear the barely restrained fury hissing behind his words, like a snake ready to strike her down in a matter of seconds. Freyd's brand of brutal honesty was something she could appreciate, and he was telling nothing but the complete truth. She was, in essence, a complete and utter Hypocrite. She quietly leaned back, her eyes drifting towards the sky. "It took both of you, what, three... four? months to realize that..?" she said quietly, draping one of her hands over her face. "God, how long has it been since someone even pointed that out to me... heh.. No wonder you can't even look at me right now, you're probably disappointed in me."

"Yeah, I'm a hypocrite. And you'd have every right to criticize me for it, and I'd understand it completely." a soft laugh echoed from her throat, tears welling in her eyes. "Haha... Its so pitiful. I'm so focused on other people that I'm ignoring myself completely..! Remind me, Freyd... why the hell do you even want to be around me? Why are you and Rai so focused on trying to help me, help my friends..? All of you owe me nothing, so I can't even fathom why."

"Why do either of you care about this stupid little hypocrite?"

"But something still seems to be missing from this discussion: who or what gives you reason to live?"

Violet let looked over at Freyd, a neutral look on her face. What was she living for... what was she living for. A few years ago, she'd probably just say that she was already gone. Dead and buried, just like Declan was, just like most of the friends she'd made here. She hadn't been living back then, and it had shown in her behavior. Constantly forcing a smile, faking a laugh or two... that bitter pain that clung like a vicious shroud that ate away at her insides, begging her to give up. Freyd had clammed up again, her words likely having struck a nerve on accident.

she did, however, owe him that answer. It was the least she could do in lieu of an apology for her words.

"I didn't have one, for a while." she said quietly, a thoughtful look on her face. "I was... pretty bad, before SAO that is. I'll spare you the details, but it wasn't very pretty, and I ended up in a psych ward for a good little while. A drugged up birdie living in a pristine white cage, unable to do anything but lurk with those nasty thoughts. All those painful memories." It wasn't a good time for her at all. She'd practically had a mental break, and had been forced to seek help. The ward's idea of 'help' had been just drugging her out of her mind, and leaving her to rot in a padded cell, and with no contact to anyone.

Aincrad had hardly been a change from that cell, and from holing herself up inside of her room. The only difference was that she could feel the sun on her skin, and the wind in her hair without all that guilt. without all that shame. All she'd done was trade that tiny cage for a larger one, one that had much more room, and several thousand people roaming it with her.

"I was so used to losing things, that I couldn't bear forming a full relationship with another person, friendship or otherwise." she looked down, "No strings attached, no hearts to break. I made the mistake of doing that with Itzal, and I made that mistake with Jon, and I'm paying for it in spades right now. You and Rai are making me start to wonder if I made a mistake opening up with you two as well." she shrugged a bit, curling in on herself again. There honestly wasn't any point in trying to hide that fact now.

"I decided a while back, though... that I couldn't live for myself any more. I realized that wouldn't work for me, not with how I feel these days..." she sighed, ruffling Akame's feathers, the tiny dragon chirping in delight. "I'll live for the happiness of other people, and protect it with every fibre of my body. Then, one day, sometime in the future... maybe they can repay that, and try to put me back together again, you know? But other than that, I really don't have all that much keeping me going. Maybe the threat Rosa used to throw around, about digging me up and killing me a second time if I gave up?"

Other than that, she really didn't know anymore.

"Thanks for the pick-me up!" she called out, her blade biting into Wushen's flesh once more. She hadn't even realized she was almost halfway through her energy reserves, the emulated straining of her body to keep up urging her to take it back a notch. Even a seconds worth of hesitation could be lethal, something that could get each and every one of them killed. As she pulled back this time, she could see the health bar of the giant dragon as it loomed above their group.

a wince crossed her face as she saw Freyd get buffeted by the massive dragon. Even though he was on tank duty, that still had to hurt. "Watch yourself, bud!" she called out, only to flinch as the dragon's eyes turned her way. She swallowed thickly, a chill running down her spine as she realized that somehow, already the aggro of the boss was actively starting to switch to the DPS players. 'Shit, that's new..!'

"It looks like that last wave of attacks did something to make it reveal its health!" she bellowed, backing off from the dragon with a wary look on her face. "But it's messing with Freyd's Aggro capability somehow! Everyone, watch yourselves!"

Post Action: AoE-I Vs Wushen!

Roll ID#: 215347, BD: 3 (3+7=10, HIT!), CD: 11 (ST-B Unlocked) | 15*27= 405 DMG to Wushen! 11+2(Target)+2(Combat Shift)= -15 EN to Mina! Mina recovers 4 EN

(3) Freyd |  HP: 1322/1334 | EN: 141/150 | DMG: 20 | MIT: 188 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5(6/AA) | BH: 73 | REC: 8 | THRN: 40 | PHASE | FLN: 8 | FRB: 40(-1) | ENV.O: 32 | V.O.: 146 | V.D.: 146 | HELL: 80 | STNG[x1] | LD: 8 | PRS: 3 | DOTE: 3/3
(0) Hirru | HP: 1104/1104 | EN: 94/104 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 182 | ACC: 2 | BH: 55 | REC: 8 | THRN: 76 | MENDING: 2 | HB: 44 | LD: 5 | DOTE: 3/3
(3) Katoka | HP: 720/720 | EN: 92/106 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 31 | REC: 8 | BLGT: 32 | P.V.O | STK: 40 | HELL: 80
(2) Morningstar | HP: 851/851 | EN: 86/106 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 142 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 6(7/AA) | BH: 18 | STK: 40 | FRB: 40(-1) | VO: 140 | HELL: 80 | LD: 6
(2) Elora | HP: 700/700 | EN: 96/104 | DMG: 26 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 35 | REC: 8 | FLN: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STK: 40 | LD: 3
(4) Tricolor_Mina | HP: 720/720 | EN: 66/106 (-15) | DMG: 27 | MIT: 78 | ACC: 7 | BLGT: 32 | BRN: 56 | FRB: 40(-1) | V.D.: 72 | TXC.: 32

"You want us to live, but that means taking the risks that go with it.  Whether we die by the hands of some raid boss or the nerve gear losing power while we sleep, there are no certainties.  We'll all end up going at some point." Violet wilted into herself even further, letting out a weak laugh. Her fear was not of them dying, it was of them dying young. it was a fear that her parents had instilled in her for a long time. Even Akane had gotten in on it, chiding her constantly for her pitiful death wish.

"Live your life, Violet. Don't waste it grieving, and fearing what comes next." Her brother's words echoed in her head, some of the last that he'd ever be able to speak in the real world. Even now, they rang true. She couldn't afford to grieve just yet, she had to hold her head up high, and stand firm. She felt Freyd drape something over her, his hand rubbing against her back in comfort. He was probably out of his depth right now, trying to comfort someone who was drowning in guilt. "Live. Live a long, fulfilling life, kid... All of us will wait for you. We'll welcome you home with open arms, ready for when you've finally come back to us."

her eyes drifted down to fragment, and for just a moment, a brief second of her time... she could see Declan winking at her, his soft amber eyes twinkling before the reflection returned back to her own, her tear-stained reds solemnly glancing back up at her. The pain, no matter how much it hurt, was absolutely necessary. It was what drove her to keep living, and damnit all she wasn't going to go away like that.

"I'll greet death like an old friend when he does come knocking, but I won't die without a fight first." her hands gripped the blade she was holding like a vice, the metal slowly starting to creak. "They're gonna have to take me kicking and screaming, just like they're gonna have to with you and Raidou. I asked you both to help me become strong so that I can never, ever lose someone so easily again." There was a faint crunching sound, the metal starting to break apart in her hands, her eyes drifting up to Freyd with a fiery determination.

And the sword clasped within her hands shattered, leaving behind nothing but a bright blue gemstone.

"We have every reason to live, to keep living... so I'm holding your ass to that." she said sharply, her voice still watery. "You and Raidou better not fucking die on me, or so help me god I'll dig you both up out of the <<Cardinal>> system and I'll kill you both a second time, you hear me?! If you two can't find it in you to live for yourselves, then live for those people who GIVE you those reasons to live, even when it feels like you can't!"

"You hear me, you stupid man? Live for the one that made that rose come into bloom!"

Violet listened as freyd spoke of his experiences, his pain, his desperate fight against countless fragments from a long forgotten past. Her hand ghosted over her menu, scanning for something, just one item in particular that she'd had for so long that she'd actually begun to forget. A few moments later, a battered, worn rapier tumbled out of the air, landing in her outstretched hands. The blade, despite being chipped, was still sharp, and detailed intricately. It was nothing like Lament, the sooty black blade at her side... but it was the very first one that she had ever truly wielded.

Soul Fragment, the only memory that she had of the very first person that she'd befriended in this world.

"You fought them, the things you loved..." she murmured, stroking the blade in her hands. "I watched everything vanish, everything I would have fought tooth and nail to protect. Desperately clawing and clinging, and yet one by one they all disappeared right in front of me. Evac, Rin, Itzal, Kasier, Beatbox... all of those lights blinking out as I watched without being able to do a single thing to try and protect them." Akame had approached from the water, the normally hyperactive familiar curling up in Violet's lap, her little head glancing up at the blade clasped in her master's hands.

"Everyone has something that they don't want to share, something that they're oh so desperate to hide... their heart, hidden behind the painful persona that once puts on, a brave face to try and face the world." Violet curled in on herself, her heart aching desperately as a wave of bitter grief wracked her entire being. "For you, you throw up a wall of ice, pretend that you lack your heart so that nobody can hurt it anymore... for me, though..? I laugh, and I joke around constantly, tossing out banter to try and hide how bruised and battered my poor heart is. To hide the fact that I just want to curl into a ball, and bawl my eyes out til' my body gives in to exhaustion."

Her fingers gripped the blade tightly, her voice breaking slightly as she looked up at Freyd with empty, watery eyes. That joyful mask, the gentle front that Violet always put up had crumbled away in an instant. "Hestia, Kirbs, Hikoru, the Arbiters, my brother... Even Jon... I just don't wanna watch you and Rai disappear too..!" she whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks. "I don't want to lose any of you!"

♪ ♫ ♪ ♫

No post action . . .

"You remind me of the therapist I had to see when I was a kid, but with better cleavage.  I like the drink and company better too." Violet had to choke back a laugh at that comment, the pain fading a bit as she elbowed Freyd again, shaking her head. "I'm glad you feel that way, you gremlin." she snarked, a grin on her face. "But can ya quit staring at my booba? I know its on display and all, but I'm gonna have to start charging you for it if this continues."

Violet leaned forward, mushing Freyd's face with her hands, a frown on her face. "Freyd, you are every bit as alive as I am." she said firmly, "Live. Live and be happy, and eat lots of good food, and maybe sing some shitty Karaoke while you're at it. Life doesn't need to be perfect, because humans, as a rule of thumb, are naturally imperfect." she moved her hand, her fingers tracing over the virtual representation of her scars, the jagged, discolored flesh standing out starkly against her pale skin.

"We all have countless, painful scars... some of them are physical, like my own... and some of them are mental, much like your own as well as Raidou's.." she trailed off for a moment, looking over at Akame, who seemed to be nosing around in the water, the only evidence that the little dragon was there were her tail-plumes sticking out of the watery surface. "But at our core, the essence of what makes us human... its the capacity for empathy, our mostly-caring nature. That wish to nurture, to love..."

Violet's eyes alit on the rose, and she felt something warm in her heart as Freyd mentioned that he'd found someone that loved him, and that he loved them back. She was about to comment on it, to congratulate him for doing so...

but then he had to ruin it and call himself a Sociopath.

Violet let out a huff, before gently smacking him over the head with her bottle. "Dumbass, you aren't a sociopath." she grumbled, her eye twitching. "You're missing pretty much all of the major markers for it. Limited empathy and some sort of mild anti-social disorder are more along the lines of what I'd say you have. Sociopaths feel no empathy, no true emotions except for very, very strong ones, and even then they're as fleeting as they appear."

She pointed at the rose brooch, her gaze softening. "The biggest thing about people who suffer from that disorder, is that they find themselves incapable of forming a bond out of love." it went without saying that the little brooch was the very antithesis of what Freyd often referred to himself as. "Treasure the person who encouraged you to have that made. Treasure them and never let them go, because that will be a constant reminder that you are not the heartless bastard you keep trying to paint yourself as."

"You're just as able to feel pain as the rest of us."

"Aww, you're such a tease!" Violet snarked, dodging Azriel's frantic swings, the massive demon still aggroed in on the pinkette. "And don't sweat it, I'm still alive and kicking despite that jackass's best attempts~" Kataoka and Morningstar had both charged in, swiping at it to try and clean out the last little bit of health it had. The bar dropped into the Yellow, and then the red... their teamwork was becoming immaculate.

Azriel was still swinging though, and was currently trying to crush Star under its claws, the poor guy having drawn the giant demon's attention for just long enough that it was trying to kill him for just a moment.

Violet wasn't going to even bother trying to hit the boss monster, her eyes honing in on the steadily draining health bar hovering just underneath its cursor. she raised an eyebrow at Kat, silently questioning the nickname. "Pink...? Seriously?" she said, shaking her head. "C'mon, I know you've got a better nickname for me than that, dude. If you can't come up with something, just call me Mina. literally everyone and their mother calls me that."

Azriel has been slain by DoTs. . .

Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 32 | P. 53 | HP: 900/900 | EN: 100/102 | ACC: 4 | DMG: 9 | MIT: 179 | F.AURA [32 MIT; 16 DMG] B.Healing [+49] | STEALTH: -5 |  FRSTBT: 40 [2 TRN; -1 ACC] | THORNS: 72 DMG | PARA: 8+ | HM: +8 B.DMG | -2
Morningstar | HP: 851/851 | EN: 50/106 | DMG: 28 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 1 | MIT: 82 | LD: 6 | AA: 1 | VO: 139 | STK: 40/24 | BH: 18 | Stealth Rating: -5
Katoka | HP: 720/720 | EN: 74/106 (+4) (-12) | DMG: 23 | MIT: 78 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 5 | BH: 31 | AA | BLGT: 32 | P.V.O | REC: 8 | STK: 40
Tricolor_Mina | HP: 551/822 | EN: 46/106 (+4) | DMG: 24 | MIT: 78 | ACC: 8 | BLGT: 32 | BRN: 56 | FRSTB: 40 | V.D.: 82 |

[0|2|3|3] Azriel, Fiend of Tanos | HP: 0/2000 | DMG: 360 | MIT: 160 120 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3| [BLGT: 32/1] [BRN/1] [FRSTB: 40/1]| [STK: 40/1]

Looting roll:

"Guess I just never thought of doing that before.  I... it's not the sort of thing that would normally be on my radar, you know?" Violet felt a bitter ache in her chest at his words, one that she knew the feeling of all too well. She hated, absolutely loathed what this game was doing to most of its residents, the people unwillingly trapped in this world of death and pixels. It drove so many mad, and made them bay for the blood of the others dwelling within.

and not a damn one of them seemed to even contemplate the idea that they were in a world that was just as real as their own. That darkness, that bitter bloodshed... it wasn't healthy. Outside of Aincrad, anyone who became obsessively violent or acted like a ruthless killer would be either arrested or sent to psychiatric care. The rare few who actively treated this as another life that they got to live, that enjoyed all of the little things... she oh so desperately wished for more people to act like that.

She winced at the screeching from the recording crystal, and toasted Freyd as he silently thanked her. She savored the flavor of the Ramune, her heart aching for home. She quietly looked over at him, dressed up in his vacation gear, and sighed. Those two boneheads... they never took breaks unless someone made them, all too content to let themselves suffer in silence with their plots.

"Freyd... you can't keep burying yourself in all that darkness." she chided, elbowing her friend gently in the ribs. "I know you, and I know Raidou too... you both probably had to be forced to sit down and actually rest. Like it or not, we're Living in this world." Her eyes drifted to the fishing rod, and to the clear blue water that sprawled out ahead of them for several miles. Even though this world was a virtual facsimile of the real thing, it still looked the part.

"These bodies, the food we eat, the people we meet, the soil beneath our feet, those mobs over there on the other shore... they're real." she set down her fishing rod, allowing it to rest on the loamy soil underneath her feet. "Yes, this is a world of death, grief, and fear... but we're very much alive here, And its not healthy to treat it as nothing but a war of attrition, a constant war for our freedom. At the same time, its also not healthy to treat it as though its just sugar and rainbows. It's about striking a balance between the two so that we don't lose our minds."

"For all the brains you and Raidou seem to have... you both seem to ignore your mental health so eagerly." Violet looked up at him, her eyes sad. "Don't make that mistake, you'll only end up hurting yourselves in the end... and your loved ones will have to pick up what pieces are left of you. you two are alive... but neither of you are Living." 

Violet shrugged, casting her line again. "I cook for the challenge, not because I do it for a living." she replied, "Cooking is like, one of the few things that you can constantly work on honing in this world, you know? There's always new methods to every sort of flavor, new methods that bring us closer to replicating the tastes of our homes, of our old lives." the line jerked, prompting her to reel her rod back, easily hooking another fish. this time it was a Rainbow Trout, the colorful scales shimmering in the afternoon light.

"I'm glad youre relaxing more often, though. I was starting to worry you only ever fought or gathered frantically." She remarked, shaking her head. "It's nice to know you dont always act so frosty. I just wish you or someone else could make @Raidou do that, yknow?"

"You were right on the money with me being an Alchemist, though. I plan on changing that soon, since there's a shortage of Performers from what I've been hearing." a wry grin crossed her face as she spoke, before she pulled out what looked like a glass bottle filled with a fizzy blue liquid. "I've gotten good at making drinks instead of just normal food, apparently alchemy lends itself well to that. I've been able to nail cream sodas and Ramune the easiest, though sadly there isn't an easy way to replicate the delicate flavors of certain drinks."

She pulled out a second one, before offering it to Freyd with a smile. "Here, give it a try~"

Violet perked up a bit when she heard Freyd's voice, the veteran player apparently already having been there for a few minutes. Goofy fishing gear and a bucket hat, he looked like a classic fisherman just vibing by the waterside. "I keep forgetting that this is something that you just kinda... do." she said dryly, walking over to her friend. "And there's nothing wrong with a lil' bit of cleavage, y'know? It's a valid distraction tactic. Besides, its a sunny day. I know we don't sweat in this world, but I'd be dying in all these layers if this wasn't Aincrad, ya dig?"

Akame was curled up on her shoulders, relaxing while Violet sat down near Freyd, casting her line into the clear blue water. Almost immediately, a fish seemed to bite onto the tackle, allowing her to rip the line from the water. On the other hand was a rather nice looking catfish. "Honestly, I'm glad that the system is good at rendering things up-close." she mused, tapping the fish to send it into her inventory. "It makes gathering things to cook or craft with so much better than it would be otherwise."

She glanced over at his rod, raising an eyebrow. "Speaking of, have you caught anything good yet? Today seems like its a good fishing day~"

Violet carefully double-checked her inventory, making sure that everything she was supposed to bring with her was in order. Since she was going to be training her familiar, she'd figured that the best way to make the most of the (more than likely several) failures that she was probably going to get. Thus, she'd ordered a wonderful, shiny fishing kit, and had picked out a popular fishing hole over on Floor 22 to get this done.

Akame, the exciteable little lady that she was, was chirping away, dancing around her shoulders as she peered at quite literally everything that she could see. Violet gently brushed her fingers over her friend's feathers, the tiny dragon headbutting her hand excitedly. It was almost as though her AI noticed that she was going to be giving it some extra love and attention today.

"Maa... someone's certainly excited, aren't they?" she chided, hefting the bag of tackle and bait over her shoulder. Something about carrying the items by hand instead of just allowing the system to shove everything into her inventory made it feel just a little bit more real. She could even feel the weight dragging the cloth against her arm, brushing against the virtual skin of her avatar. "Don't worry, we'll be there soon. And then, we can catch lots of yummy fish, and maybe have us a nice dinner after everything is over~"

The delighted Chirp from Akame was all she needed to hear to know that she had been right on the money coming here. Food was an excellent motivator after all.

"Alright! We can set up here, lil' lady~" Violet cheered, stretching her arms after she set down all of her gear. Her rapier, Lament, hung from her hip, her hand lazily brushing against its hilt as she sat down to relax for a moment. "It's definitely a good day for this, isn't it? Nice and sunny, not a raincloud in sight~ I wonder if I can share screenshots of catches once we finally get out of here, I'd love to be able to show my family..."

Violet set out to finish putting together her gear - and by putting it together, that just meant pressing a few buttons, and equipping some of the bait that she'd purchased to the rod itself, which took a matter of seconds. everything was almost painfully simple here, even the things that would normally take hours to do. Cooking took mere minutes, even for the most complex of dishes, and fishing was simply just a small wait timer before the Cardinal system spawned a fish for the players to catch, and allowed you to pull it from the water and into your inventory with a few quick motions.

in a way, it was almost painfully dull.

* Violet consumes a gelato (purchased from HERE) and offers one to Freyd (3 Left)

Tricolor_Mina | HP: 720/720 | EN: 106/106 | DMG: 21 | MIT: 78 | ACC: 5 | LD: 3 | BLGT: 32 | BRN: 56 | FRSTB: 40 | V.D.: 72

Quest. . .

Purchasing the following:

5x Field Rations (1000*5=5000 Col)
15x Silver Keys (1000*15=15000 Col)

Total: 20000 Col~

Mina Recovers 4 EN from passive Regen. . .

Violet let out a low growl, staring up at the dragon as it started bearing down on the other parties. Night and Nari were both swatted at by the dragon, its claws biting away a portion of their healthbars. Freyd had managed to dance out of the way of the boss, the slippery man not bothered in the least by the massive monster that was bearing down on all of them.

At freyd's comment about storming its "Castle", she let out a snort of laughter, shaking her head "Oh please, our princess is on a different floor my guy." she replied, "And we can't storm the castle til' we kill its keeper, no?"

Her blade started to hiss, smoke starting to billow from the handle. "This guy likes to fuck around with elements, right..?" she murmured, holding up her blade for a moment, prepping herself for another mad dash towards the boss. "Lets see how this guy reacts to being set on fire and getting freezer burnt!"

Violet's blade bit into Wushen's flesh, a burst of blue, red, green, and purple all splashing across its body. Her blade had gone from smoking, to being lit ablaze with blue and purple fire, the hilt still emitting black smoke. The toxic venom that she'd applied earlier was oozing from the blade, the edge of the blade dripping with a bright acid green color. She fell back to the rest of her party, swiping her hand across Lament to quell its flames, the blade abruptly returning to its sooty black color.

"Batter up, guys!"

(6) Freyd |  HP: 1334/1334 | EN: 141/150 (146+4-9) | DMG: 20 | MIT: 188 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5(6/AA) | BH: 73 | REC: 8 | THRN: 40 | PHASE | FLN: 8 | FRB: 40(-1) | ENV.O: 32 | V.O.: 146 | V.D.: 146 | HELL: 80 | STNG[x1] | LD: 8 | PRS: 3 | DOTE: 3/3
(0) Hirru | HP: 1104/1104 | EN: 99/104 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 182 | ACC: 2 | BH: 55 | REC: 8 | THRN: 76 | MENDING: 2 | HB: 44 | LD: 5 | DOTE: 3/3 | CLDWN:  HyActv (3/3)
(1) Katoka | HP: 720/720 | EN: 95/106 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 31 | REC: 8 | BLGT: 32 | P.V.O | STK: 40 | HELL: 80
(1) Morningstar | HP: 851/851 | EN: 94/106 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 142 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 6(7/AA) | BH: 18 | STK: 40 | FRB: 40(-1) | VO: 140 | HELL: 80 | LD: 6
(1) Elora | HP: 700/700 | EN: 97/104 | DMG: 26 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 35 | REC: 8 | FLN: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STK: 40 | LD: 3
(3) Tricolor_Mina | HP: 720/720 | EN: 69/106 (-18) | DMG: 27 | MIT: 78 | ACC: 7 | BLGT: 32 | BRN: 56 | FRB: 40(-1) | V.D.: 72 | TXC.: 72

Violet felt a twinge of bitter rage as she stared up at her health bar, the formerly yellow lines only just barely managing to dip into the green. One more good hit like what had hit her before would kill her good and quick. Her hands were practically burning as she hovered over her blade, red eyes narrowing in frustration. Nari's comment didn't help that anger. "It was a rhetorical question." she replied, her tone flat. "besides, I'm not the one asking for a spanking, now am I, miss tank? You people have some kinda sado-masochism thing going on, only way I can think that someone would enjoy tanking... well that, and a death wish."

Violet stood up straighter as the lines in her armor suddenly glowed with a deep red light, her health jumping up by a decent margin. Morningstar and Kataoka both slapped the Demon around, the other girl even managing to strike it with a critical, the boy striking the boss dumb and stupid with a stun. Lament was sparking, the hiss of pitch black smoke and deep purple fire starting to come to life across the blade. The deep red and chilly blue gems embedded along the hilt began to glow with a fierce sheen.

She stepped forward, her free hand sliding her mask back across her face as she glared up at the demon. Kat's words hadn't been lost on her, a ghost of a smile crossing her face at the barely disguised fury towards the boss monster. "Well spoken, kiddo." she snarked, holding up her blade as her eyes ghosted over the body of the boss, searching for any form of weakness that she could exploit.

A feral smile split across her face, her eyes practically glowing as she honed in on her target. "Payback time, bitch." Violet hefted herself into the Air with a leap, motes of blue, purple, and red flying around her as she landed a hefty blow against the giant demon, who let out a bellow of rage that was abruptly cut off courtesy of the massive casing of ice it was suddenly surrounded by. Kataoka's electrical attack mixed into it as well, making Violet almost feel pity for it. How horrible it must be to have that much pain flowing through every part of your body, coursing through your veins. On fire, yet frozen almost to the point of frostbite. Electrocuted, and being spit-roasted by hellfire... how painful, indeed.

Violet planted a kick to the Demon's face, using it to propel herself back to her team, her free hand brushing aside her mask so that she could give them a thumbs up and a snarky grin. "Don't worry, I'm A-OK! Save that worry for the Boss raid, okay? This guy's barely worth the chump change jingling in my pockets!" She turned back towards Azriel, the demon still twitching spazmodically underneath the ice. "Now lets finish this bastard off!!"

Post Action: AoE II Vs Azriel + Vampy Proc Check

Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 32 | P. 53 | HP: 900/900 | EN: 102/102 | ACC: 4 | DMG: 9 | MIT: 179 | F.AURA [32 MIT; 16 DMG] B.Healing [+49] | STEALTH: -5 |  FRSTBT: 40 [2 TRN; -1 ACC] | THORNS: 72 DMG | PARA: 8+ | HM: +8 B.DMG
Morningstar | HP: 851/851 | EN: 59/106 | DMG: 28 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 1 | MIT: 82 | LD: 6 | AA: 1 | VO: 139 | STK: 40/24 | BH: 18 | Stealth Rating: -5
Katoka | HP: 720/720 | EN: 82/106 (+12) (-20) | DMG: 23 | MIT: 78 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 5 | BH: 31 | AA | BLGT: 32 | P.V.O | REC: 8 | STK: 40
Tricolor_Mina | HP: 551/822 (+82)| EN: 42/106 (-18) | DMG: 24 | MIT: 78 | ACC: 8 | BLGT: 32 | BRN: 56 | FRSTB: 40 | V.D.: 82 | 

[0|1|2|3] Azriel, Fiend of Tanos | HP: 619/2000 (-478) | DMG: 360 | MIT: 160 140 (BLGT/1)| ACC: 3 | EVA: 3 | STUNNED | [BLGT: 32/1] [BRN/1] [FRSTB: 40/1]| [STK: 40/1]

*Small side note, Mina did a dumb and forgot to track her energy regen, so thats fun q.q

Violet patted Kataoka on the back, laughing. "Don't sweat it, ok? That enhancement's rare enough that people almost never see that proc!" she replied, before checking her health. it wasn't too terribly low, enough that she could still comfortably tank a hit or two from a less beefy monster. She barely registered the other girl's fearful comment about something else approaching them before she found herself being flung violently into one of the pillars, a choked gasp ripping from her throat as she slid to the ground.

So much for paying attention to the fight, she'd somehow completely missed the fact that the boss had decided to sneak up on them until it had thrown her like a ragdoll.

"... Ow..!" Violet groaned, unsteadily getting to her feet, glaring at the demon as she queued up a sword art. "... That friggin HURT YOU SON-OF-A-BITCH!!" She bit into the boss mob with her Rapier, swearing under her breath when she realized that it had done nearly no damage to it at all. She lept backwards, dragging Kat with her as she drew closer to the rest of the party, skidding to a stop next to Nari. "Okay what the hell, why does it want MY Ass?!"

Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 32 | P. 53 | HP: 900/900 | EN: 100/102 | ACC: 4 | DMG: 9 | MIT: 179 | F.AURA [32 MIT; 16 DMG] B.Healing [+49] | STEALTH: -5 |  FRSTBT: 40 [2 TRN; -1 ACC] | THORNS: 72 DMG | PARA: 8+ | HM: +8 B.DMG | -4 EN
Morningstar | HP: 851/851 | EN: 59/106 (+4) (-18) | DMG: 28 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 1 | MIT: 82 | LD: 6 | AA: 1 | VO: 139 | STK: 40/24 | BH: 18 | Stealth Rating: -5
Katoka | HP: 720/720 | EN: 90/106 (+12) (-12) | DMG: 23 | MIT: 78 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 5 | BH: 31 | AA | BLGT: 32 | P.V.O | REC: 8 | STK: 40
Tricolor_Mina | HP: 346/822 (-282) | EN: 56/106 | DMG: 24 | MIT: 78 | ACC: 8 | BLGT: 32 | BRN: 56 | FRSTB: 40 | V.D.: 82

Azriel, Fiend of Tanos | HP: 1800/2000 (-200) | DMG: 360 | MIT: 160 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3

• Critical (MD 9): Deals (Tier * 100) DMG to the target with the highest hate. Also deals (Tier * 60) DMG to every other player.
• Critical (MD 10): Deals (Tier * 110) DMG to the target with the highest hate. Also deals (Tier * 85) DMG to every other player.

Violet stared up at the massive dragon that was now bearing down on them, her eyes narrowing underneath her mask. It was finally time for the fight for their lives to begin. "Brace yourselves, everyone!" she shouted, unsheathing her weapon, and fully bearing into her crouch, queuing up her <<Charge>> Skill. "If any of us falter now, someone's gonna end up dead! Now let's show this scaly bastard what we're made of!"

she chuckled at Freyd's comment. "Does it ever, shadow man?" she mused, stepping out of her crouch to move forward at an even pace. "You just do your job, and piss it off so we don't take the heat. You've still got the funny lil Evasion build going, right? Put it to good use!" 

Violet could see both Kataoka and Elora falter for just a moment before they sprung into action, one of them deciding to use Freyd as a springboard for their attack. She waited for her friend to finish drawing the Aggro of the boss, trusting Freyd to keep <<Wushen>> off of them as best as he could. She sprung forward, Charge launching her forward at the boss. Her eyes narrowed immediately once she realized that it was making no attempts to dodge. 'The hell...? A boss with no Evasion?' she thought, skidding back towards her party as the others began to charge forward, 'That's very strange, better keep an eye on that.'

As she made her way back towards the group, she patted Elora and Kataoka on the back in reassurance. "You're both doing great, keep hitting it as best as you can." Violet affirmed, grinning at them. "Don't let the jitters get you now, we'll keep you kids alive. Freyd and Hirru are gonna do their damndest to make sure we don't die. We need to repay them by making sure that we kill this damn thing! The people who cannot fight are relying on us, we can't afford to let them down!!"

Post Action: [x15]AoE-I vs Wushen (11+2(Target)+2(Combat Shift)+8(Charge) = 23 EN)

Roll ID#: 215026 | BD: 3 (3+7-1(Charge Penalty)=9, HIT!) | 30(27+3(Charge))*15=450-75=375 DMG to Wushen!

Team [Freyd]
(5) Freyd |  HP: 1334/1334 | EN: 148/148 | DMG: 20 | MIT: 188 | EVA: 6 (+1) | ACC: 5(6/AA) | BH: 73 | REC: 8 | THRN: 40 | PHASE | FLN: 8 | FRB: 40(-1) | ENV.O: 32 | V.O.: 146 | V.D.: 146 | HELL: 80 | STNG[x1] | LD: 8 | PRS: 3 | DOTE: 3/3
(0) Hirru | HP: 1104/1104 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 182 | ACC: 2 | BH: 55 | REC: 8 | THRN: 76 | MENDING: 2 | HB: 44 | LD: 5 | DOTE: 3/3
(1) Katoka | HP: 720/720 | EN: 95/106 (-11) | DMG: 28 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 31 | REC: 8 | BLGT: 32 | P.V.O | STK: 40 | HELL: 80
(0) Morningstar | HP: 851/851 | EN: 106/106 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 142 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 6(7/AA) | BH: 18 | STK: 40 | FRB: 40(-1) | VO: 140 | HELL: 80 | LD: 6
(1) Elora | HP: 700/700 | EN: 89/104 (-11) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 35 | REC: 8 | FLN: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STK: 40 | LD: 3
(1) Tricolor_Mina | HP: 720/720 | EN: 83/106 (-23)| DMG: 27 | MIT: 78 | ACC: 7 | BLGT: 32 | BRN: 56 | FRB: 40(-1) | V.D.: 72 | TXC.: 72