Brax

     The desert was beautiful at night, with a million twinkling stars lighting up the sky like fireflies dancing on an inky black canvas.  Brax recognized several constellations as they appeared to shift through the sea of darkness above, moving like...well, movies...on the dark page of a sky book writing the chapters of peoples' lives here in Aincrad.  It was a glorious scene, meant only for those brave enough to take the chance of searching in the dead of night, where dangers lay hidden behind every turn and PKers hunt for their next fix much like Brax was hunting for monsters.  Unfortunately, the unparalleled glory was lost on a man who lacked the ability to fully appreciate it.

ID 48220

     He was slightly surprised: apparently nothing else hunted at night here in the sands other than the Desert Wolves, odd given that there were many other mobs that made the land their home.  Was it simply because the wolves were the most nocturnal of the inhabitants, or perhaps...the others did not hunt because they knew the wolves were out and about?  Whatever the reason, Brax did not truly care, for one mob was as good as another for slaying purposes.  The only difference was what he would gleam from their corpses, what materials he would be taking back to town, and the difficulty the particular mob possessed.  Wolves in any iteration, though, were nothing special to deal with, and the heavily armored man dealt with them swiftly as he unleashed his Explode Catapult into their meaty frames.  From the looks of it, the wolves had been eating well tonight.  But, not anymore.  Collecting his loot gains, Brax moved off in pursuit of more to hunt and a dungeon to find.

+4 materials

+1580 col

ID 48222

     Crossing into the heart of the city Brax saw that this area was kept up with better than the rest, as the buildings looked newer and the roads much cleaner.  He concluded that this must be where the Iron Guardian maintains itself and the others that survived, and that he would probably find much tougher Iron Knights in attendance given the conditions he was observing.  He was not surprised, then, when marching along those well kept streets was another group of Iron Knights polished and gleaming as they patrolled the area with their mechanical gaze.  They were a more stylized variant of the ones he had encountered before, with stronger looking armor and more dangerous looking swords.  However, much to Brax's delight if he could feel such things, the rust that had caused him trouble before was notoriously absent from the metal men.  He would not have to worry about any sort of surprises from these warriors of alloy and fire, only the sharp edges of their blades and the power of their arms.  Taking the lead, Brax charged the mob with his axe at the ready, Explode Catapult prepared for maximum destruction.  The Sword Art tore into the Knights before they could move or react, their well designed bodies torn asunder by the two strikes and shockwave that followed.  As he stood frozen from the after effects of his attack, Brax saw more loot drop from the metallic automatons, and once he recovered he collected his prizes, which included a rare set of Protection potions.

+4 materials

+4 Potions of Protection II (tier two) (+36 MIT for a thread)

+3160 col

     His searches turned up nothing useful, though, because the ruined robots seemed to have been scavenged for spare parts.  Bits and pieces were missing from every creature he looked at, from motors and gears to armor plating and weapons.  Brax considered the riddle and concluded that those metal beasts that remained operational...must have scavenged their kin to maintain themselves, cannibalizing the others in order to survive.  A terrible fact, but quite logical and sound a practice to the unfeeling man.  He continued to search to streets as he made his way deeper into the city looking for the Field Boss's location.

     But, one of the great advantages of a desert search was in the fact that the heat was greatly lessened.  At least in that regard, the Floor Five designers had kept true to the outside world and it's sciences.  In fact, the sands were rather cold, freezing almost in temperature, like he was on Floor Four instead in the snowy storms.  But the nights here were clear, with only the occasional dust devil or sandstorm to mar the ever expansive and sprawling landscape before his eyes.  Speaking of eyes, Brax's gaze fell upon a prime hunting target nearby: another pack of Desert Wolves.

Brax 76/92 [4 DMG from Bleed, 0 turns left]

     Entering the dilapidated gate, Brax beheld the oxidized ruins of the inventor's pride and gem The Iron City.  The place was...definitely not a tourist destination, rusted structures and broken down robots as far as the eye could see.  Nothing populated the town save for busted metal creatures, and many if not all of those were inactive from disrepair.  Thinking that perhaps he could find some useful materials from a thorough search of the place thanks to all the metal lying around, Brax reaching into his inventory and took one last consumable, one of his chocolate bars, to aid in his treasure hunting.

Consumed Chocolate Bar (+2 LD for a thread)

     His trek continued, a nighttime search for a dungeon of sufficient strength to test his skills.  As he had not been to but one, and knowing that the style of said excursions were randomized, Brax did not entirely know what he was looking for.  An out-of-place rock, a set of rocky ruins, or a hole in the ground were all possible hiding places that could give rise to a secret entrance.  While he searched, though, he could probably focus on some hunting and gathering in order to while away the time.  Though what he could find in the nighttime desert, might not be quite as bountiful as what was available during the day.

     One more consumable would be needed, as Brax wiped down his weapon following the unexpected combat: a Potion of Protection.  If he was to hunt down a decent dungeon, the boss who inhabited it would be of greater strength than any he had faced before.  The only thing that might protect him, funnily enough, would be a protection potion.  Before exited the impromptu battleground Brax obtained one more consumable and downed it's contents, the feeling of his skin hardening from the Potion of Protection racing in his veins and quietly tapering off into the night air.

Consumed one Potion of Protection I (tier one) (+9 MIT for a thread)

Brax 80/92 [4 DMG from Bleed, 1 turn left]

     Brax stood from the engagement and did an assessment of himself to see what the rust had done to him.  Checking his status window, he saw that the Knights had possessed two unique abilities that he had failed to notice, or perhaps chosen to ignore.  The rust that they were coated in, that he had thought were from disuse, were actually designed as forms of damage dealing and protection by causing thorns damage to aggressors and bleed damage should the Knights land a good hit.  As he discovered this fact, Brax felt his life slightly drain away from the applied bleed condition.  But, since it was so weak, the stoic ignored the effect and continued on.

ID 48219

     His consumption of consumables had blinded the stoic to the lingering threats in the area, for as Brax was busy preparing himself for an eventual dungeon run he was accosted by another wolf pack that was also on the prowl.  The mangy mob took him by surprise just as he was finishing his last potion, tackling him to the ground and ripping red pixels from his body.  Thankfully, the Veteran's Breastplate kept the damage to a minimum, but the shock of the attack was frustrating to Brax as he rolled to get away.  Coming to his feet several feet away, he grabbed the Veteran's Axe from where it lay on the ground and prepared another Explode Catapult to rock the desert sands with, charging both the move and himself into the raging pack.  Two wide sweeps and a hammering shockwave later, the mob was dispersed into their constituent pixels and vanished into the night sky to join the stars above.

+4 materials

ID 48221

     The guards were just as the Broker had mentioned, Iron Knights gleaming in the red rays of the sun overhead.  Their armor was rusted but sharp, ill-maintained but still good enough to hold them together.  In their grips they held battered swords and dented shields, weapons that looked more like they would bash foes due to dullness rather than cut them down.  The Knights clanked and shuddered as they stood watch over the decaying location, turning empty gazes to the oncoming intruder and shambling forth to protect their charge.  Feeling the effects of the consumables swirling within him, Brax dealt with the metal men with swift and practiced ease.  Running forward and ignoring the blows they rained upon his heavily armored frame, he unleashed his Explode Catapult upon them, his axe tearing through their armor as if it were paper.  As he did, he felt two sharp shocks to his system as the rust from the swords and their bodies affected him in some way, but already in the throes of his Sword Art Brax chose to ignore the sensation for the time being.  Dropping the hammer down, the final shockwave of his attack vibrated the Knights to pieces, the ensuing rumble shaking the city as well with it's power.

     Finally, under a cloud covered sky and as he exited the forest to behold the dull gleam of the boss's lair, Brax consumed one more object before engaging the guards that stood before him at the gate leading into the city.  He popped a Carrot Tab to increase his eyesight, so that his hands would be swift and sure in their attacks, for against metal monsters such as these Brax would need every help he could get to strengthen his chances to succeed.  That Banner would be his, no doubt about it.

Consumed Carrot Tab (+1 BD for a thread)

     Not only would a steady hand be needed, but also a strong arm as well, so Brax pulled another consumable out of his pack, this time his last Potion of Strength.  It was not a particularly good potion, barely first level, but it would have to do for he had nothing else.  A quick drink of it's contents and Brax again experienced the burning power that came from his found concoctions.  The blood-red liquid burned up and down his body, granting an increase in strength for a deadlier attack, one that made the stoic all the more imposing to his foes wherever and whoever they may be.

Consumed one Potion of Strength I (tier one) (+1 DMG for a thread)

     Second, as the feelings from the chocolate bar passed, Brax again reaching into his inventory and summoned up a Vitamin A Tab to better guide his hands in battle.  Popping the pill and washing it down with a swig of water, he felt his eyes glow once more with an orange hue that travelled down his arms and into his hands, lighting up his gaze and his muscles with refined power meant to steady his physical nerves and strike true.  Such skill would be necessary in order to make sure that the dungeon boss could fall quickly, before Brax ran out of energy and succumbed to death.

Consumed one Vitamin A Tab (+2 BD for a thread)

     Brax consumed the liquid as he walked, feeling the raging energy surge through his veins for a time, until all that was left was an added power to his hands and arms, the better to cut down the metallic foes he would face.  As he traipsed through a ruined forest of trees cut down to fuel the forges of the inventor's metal fortress, he took out another potion and drank it too, one of protection this time, and felt his skin and bones harden like the stoic expression he was forced to wear at all times.  It make him feel more invincible, though that was just a physiological response rather than a mental one.

Consumed Potion of Protection I (tier one) (+9 MIT for a thread)

     After the battle ended, Brax began to think on what he would need should the dungeon make itself known to his watchful gaze: first, he would require the use of his chocolate bar, the sweet treat that would give him a better capacity of loot searching.  Reaching into his inventory, the armored man drew forth one of his deserts and consumed it readily, the pleasing flavor washing over his tastebuds and finishing up with a slight glowing of the eyes, helping him define little inconsistencies in the surrounding sands, opportunities for treasurable gains.

Consumed one Chocolate Bar (+2 LD for a thread)

     After facing the first lines of defense for the city of iron, Brax knew that he would need more power than he currently had to bear.  Strength, protection, vision and skill beyond the capabilities he could achieve at the moment.  It would have been better if he had come at the quest later, perhaps after he had leveled up and trained himself more, but there was no turning back now: he would just have to believe his consumables would be enough to keep him alive.  As he thought this, Brax pulled several of his inventory items out to prepare with, the first being a Potion of Strength.

Consumed Potion of Strength I (tier one) (+1 DMG for a thread)

     "If that is required of me...then it will be done," said Brax to the job presented by Opal.  As he was travelling behind her, he did not see the wide grin and stifled laughter she was suppressing.  As well, it took him more than a few moments of contemplation before he realized...she had been joking.  He wasn't embarrassed, per say, by the fact that he had not caught the humor quickly, but he did recognize the awkwardness of the situation since he was...lacking in the emotional depth to laugh with sincerity.  Trying to engage with a proper response, he managed to raise his eyebrows, put on a robotic smile, and then open his mouth to say, "Right, you were joking.  Hah-Hah-Hah."  HIs chuckling was definitely stiff and mechanical in nature and louder than expected, almost as if he was...unaccustomed to the sensation, which in fact he was.  It also sounded almost rehearsed, as if it were a programed response, rather than a natural effect.  Snorts of affirmation, nods of acknowledgement, and other specifically designed body language signals were like second nature to Brax, but those were more extensions of his words rather than expressions of his heart.  Laughter, tears, smiles, emotions themselves were unfortunately beyond him, or rather beyond his ability to control and execute upon.  It was his burden, the result of his Alexithymia, and after his face had returned to it's more natural stoicism, he logically knew there would be questions asked and answers given.  No matter; Brax had nothing to hide, nor did his mental reasoning believe that any harm would come to him by sharing.  As the woman stopped shaking with barely contained glee, an odd sight that he had not expected from the normally hard nosed Commander, and they took in the sight of the broken statues and ruined pillars that defined the devastated temple they trekked through, Brax said what he could most assuredly predict was running through their heads now: "You are most likely wondering as to the nature of my reaction, why it sounded...relatively unnatural."

ID 48178

     "Teleport, Armadillo!"  The pervading inferno of Floor Nine disappeared and was replaced by the less oppressive but more conniving dry heat of Floor Five as Brax appeared in it's main settlement of stone.  After having completed every quest available to him solo style, the Stalwart Stoic was just a stone's throw away from achieving the level necessary for his new equipment commissioned by Ishida and the Midnight Armory.  Today, in the sands of the desert, Brax would go dungeon diving if possible, his second after having explored one with the KoB, and achieve his next goal.  He had chosen to sleep during most of the day in Vulcan Village after the betrayal that followed his completion of <<The Iron Guardian>>, and the rest had done him good.  For now, rejuvenated and relaxed, Brax was ready to brave the nighttime sandy prowling that would, hopefully, lead to a decently difficult dungeon.  The cool breeze and dark, starry sky of night also kept the heat from reaching out for Brax's frame; instead, the black chill tried to worm into his heavy armor, but the metal rebuffed all advances and kept him warm, for the most part.  Sufficiently prepared, he drew forth his axe and after laying against his shoulder, travelled out into the sands.

     The shadowed desert was abnormally quiet as he prowled around, most of the creatures huddled up to try and stay warm in the freezing sands.  Once the sun dropped from overhead, the barren landscape plunged into a pervading cold that sapped warmth from wherever it could, from mobs to players.  Brax was no exception, but he felt none of it as his armor was sufficient to ward the sensations off.  Most of it, at least; after having spent so much time in the burning heat of Vulcan and it's surroundings, what cold he felt was a welcome change.  Other animals felt the need, like him, to wander the floor, possibly to generate enough body heat to stay alive.  Like the desert wolf pack the heavily armored man encountered quickly after setting off, with yellow eyes glowing in the night and steaming saliva burning up with inner rage dripping from sharpened fangs.  They made quick time despite their hefty weight to assault the man who would be foolish enough to hunt the desert in the dead of night, pursuing a lopping gait to slash at his armor, but training against the fiery mobs of Nine had toughened the stoic immensely and their slashs were like a gentle breeze on his skin; barely a tickle was felt as he let loose with his own attack, the Explode Catapult ripping through them with devastating power.

+4 materials

+1580 col

     "Hmmm....." Brax pondered the words Opal had spoken, about both the dungeon she had encountered and the monsters she had fought.  The last time he had been here, he had faced more subterranean foes, including trolls and golems that lived inside the mountains rather than on top of them.  The thought of snake women and mountain lions did hold some appeal, though, at least for some good training if not for the materials they may drop.  All through her diatribe Brax kept absorbing the information like a sponge, relegating it to a corner of his mind for future study when he returned on his own, once his own dungeon diving skills and level had improved.  He could not allow his own training to fall by the wayside, no matter how much it might slow down while he was alone.  However, at that time, his skills might prove...sufficient enough to bridge the gap he saw between who Opal believed him to be...and who he really was.

     Opal continued, sharing some of her experiences on the mountains of Floor Seven, and a journey with someone named Calrex chasing a story about spirits told to her by her...teacher? sensei? he was unsure of the word...and how they had formed a phantom of sorts, with quite a massive amount of protection.  It did sound...intriguing, the chance to fight something more...unique...but while Brax felt a certain amount of confidence in his capabilities to survive, logic dictated that a chain was only as strong as the weakest link, thus it would be up to Seul whether or not they should brave the task.  He shared as much with the party goers, saying "I suppose I would not mind...contending with more interesting fare.  In addition, since dungeons can appear just about anywhere...the two tasks are not mutually exclusive.  However, I do not believe...the decision should be up to me.  In my opinion, I have found...that it is the completion of a job, and not the job itself...that proves a man's worth.  So, I put the question to Seul:  which would you prefer?  The left, or the right?"  As Brax said these words, he turned to face the trailing member of their party, and awaited his reply.

     As Brax listened to the woman's explanation of events and her offer for him to apply and join with the Knights of the Blood Oath, he considered the matter quite carefully as he stood stoically still and expressionless of face.  He had been...considering joining with a guild for some time, as he was soon to reach the point where his solo skills would no longer suffice to allow for growth, both of his primary mission of recovering his past and of the discovery and handling of his emotions, if and when they appeared.  And as he had discovered from examining the message boards from time to time, the KoB was on the resurgent path upwards, so the offer to join was...an honor, if his interpretation of both her words and body language was correct.  Though, the logical question still remained buried in his thoughts: even if she considered the man worthy, what did he truly have to offer in return?  Until he was able to answer that particular conundrum, Brax would be...unable to connect her logic and his own.  All this breezed through his mind as the woman spoke to...Seul, he believed she had called him?...and as they headed out he made sure to offer a proper greeting to the individual himself, after Opal had explained what their task was and where they would be headed.  Extending his hand as they walked, he gave only the most perfunctory of proper greetings, stating "I do not believe...the Lady gave my name.  I...am Brax."

     Turning back to the Vice Commander and the impressively long blade she bore, Brax did choose to comment saying, "No, I...don't believe I had the chance to view your blade in action, Lady Opal.  During our...trip in the desert, you were...seemingly more concerned with the heat rather than our...protection.  Though, having said that, we did not overly require your weapon's aid on the journey.  It is...an impressive tool, to say the least.  I have...never seen the like.  The craftsmanship is...both aesthetically pleasing and functional."  Finished with the talk over her particular weapon of choice, and while he was intrigued by the style and wished to delve more into perhaps WHY she had chosen the blade, Brax was more intrigued by where they planned to go for their search.  He had explored the floor not long ago for the first time, and had thought the place quite suitable for dungeon diving himself with the myriad of ruins laying about to hunt through.  He asked the question that bubbled up from his consciousness: "So, what sort of enemies...do you expect us to encounter, both on the way...and in the dungeon proper?  In addition, do you...expect the Champion's to possess unique abilities, or will they simply be...larger and stronger foes?  I ask so as to be well prepared, since...I have never been on such a trip before, nor have I had...the chance to face such leveled beasts.  Any information you possess would be...quite helpful.  Your hands may be safe...but I would wish to trust my own, as well."  It was not that the Stalwart Stoic did not trust the Vice Commander, far from it, but he wanted to...if not prove his worth, as he needed no validation, then to show...that his training and hunting had not been in vain.  For the moment, he disregarded the offer of recruitment so as to focus on the preparation for the dungeon, their task at hand.

     After his journeys on Floor Nine, and a few rest stops on the first floor, Brax was almost ready to begin having his 2nd tier gear crafted and equipped.  Remembering the quality of the piece he had acquired from Ishida, he again made the trip to the Midnight Armory where the boy plied his craft.  Walking into the shop he greeted the...white armored boy? with a clear statement: "Greetings, Ishida.  You...seem to have changed your armor.  I...assume the crest is of the Knights of the Blood Oath?"  His confusion over the fellow's gear almost stopped him from his ordering...but not quite.  "Forgive me, I was...slightly distracted.  My purpose here...is to upgrade my gear for the next tier, as I am soon to reach level 25.  Do you have to time to be able to craft these pieces for me?"  After his question, Brax filled out an order form for several heavy armor pieces.

-32 materials

     Seeing more people walk in and brush past him mattered not to the stone-hearted man, as he felt no insult from the apparent dust-offs.  Each individual was here of their own accord, taking part in the 'glorious' and 'vibrant' life of Aincrad.  'To each there own,' thought Brax as he continued to wait for his supplies to be finished, if in fact the place could do so.  A few of the attendees did catch his eye: first, Ishida waltzed in wearing a new set of armor, the colors of the Knight's of the Blood Oath on proud display, though he seemed...uncomfortable? with the attire, but Brax could not be certain without investigation; next, another member of the KoB arrived quickly afterwards, not really noticing his fellow guildmate as he traversed the room to sit opposite the counter at which Brax, Ishida, and the dark cloaked boy were positioned; finally, even flashier than the Knights was the appearance of a...no, his eyes were deceiving him, for entering the sweet treats tavern was a dual wielding swordsman, wearing a tuxedo of all things, and a bowtie to match.  Brax racked his brain, and discovered that he had heard of this so-called 'Hero of Aincrad' that strolled forth with almost palpable arrogance.  The blonde sat at a table and called to a girl that had followed him in, and while she looked as if she did not want to join him she sat anyway.  Shaking his head to clear the confusion that had arisen due to the 'Hero's' arrival, Brax decided to occupy his waiting by joining Ishida at the counter, sitting on the stool next to him with his back straight and stiff, and offered a single comment, "You look...unwell, Ishida, correct?" but offering no council or words of comfort.

     "Hmmm...I am well, Teselmar.  The upper floors are...quite invigorating, and so very different from the lower ones both in monsters and scenery.  Currently, I am hunting on Floor Nine, but I required...a change in scenery.  The heat is...almost too much to bear for long stretches of time."  After sufficiently explaining his current situation, Brax posed a question himself to the fair haired man: "What...about yourself?"  Normally, the stoic was not one for idle chit chat, but he logically understood that...it would have been rude to not at least ask about someone, just in case they wished to share something.  He sipped at his drink while waiting for the man's response.

     As for Ishida, he had made a joke, or at least it sounded like a joke, about his actual body and a hot nurse to care for him, eliciting a short laugh from Teselmar in addition to a small smile.  Not necessarily wanting to appear less than involved, Brax considered how he would, or perhaps should, respond.  A myriad of answers came and went before he chose one, that being a laugh and a grin, both in succession.  Putting his drink back on the table, Brax sat up straight and let loose three mechanical sounding "Hah-Hah-Hah!"s before putting what could only be described as a giant clown's grin on his face for a few seconds, enough to show he understood the joke.  The smile then vanished, replaced again by his gargoyle-like face and it's absence of emotion.  He spoke afterwards, saying "Yes, that is the hope."  Turning to face Ishida, Brax continued, "Most amusing, Ishida.  By the way," he asked, taking another drink and redirecting the conversation, "I wish to ask, was it that 'fun' you speak of that directed you to insult me last time we met?  I bear no ill will, mind you, but I do wish to understand...why you did so."

     Brax was...well, the best word others would use to describe his current attitude was 'annoyed'.  His usual cook, the one who made most, if not all, of his field rations had been MIA for several days, and the Stalwart Stoic was in need of a resupply.  He was someone who was satisfied by habit and routine, a man who preferred to lay out a plan of action, then execute said plan with power and precision.  Whether that be the people he went to for gear and supplies, or the meticulous way his hunting trips went, from one floor to the next, Brax was eminently more comfortable with the dull mediocrity of monotony over the unbalanced nature of chaos.  Not that he was incapable of dealing with change, mind you, rather that he did not want to.  It was...uncomfortable.  Thus, he had established a set group of shops that he would frequent for basic necessities, mainly supplies.  Like, if he wanted food for his trips, he had managed to find a player who had set up shop in Delilah Village that made rather decent functional and simple meals that assuaged his hunger while chasing down mobs, so he had gone to them for weeks.  Now, the player had been missing for days, and as Brax had returned from Floor Nine to Three for supplies, the shop had been his first stop.  But, the place was...empty and closed, with a 'Be Back In Five' sign hanging from the window, an irritable annoyance that left the heavily armored man grumbling.

     It was the reason he was wandering the markets of Floor One, searching for a backup location from which to receive his supplies, but sadly every cook he visited was...less than ideal.  After visiting 5 starter shops that could barely cook an egg, Brax was beginning to believe he would need to work out his distractions before continuing his search, recognizing that he was not being...agreeable...due to his frustrations at the situation before him.  He chose to make a final stop, and if this place was also a dead end, he would...return to the fields of boats that lay outside the city...and slaughter as many as were necessary to vent his annoyances.  The tavern was large, large than most, which he would logically admit held promise.  Walking in the door, though, revealed a different tableau: it was less a tavern and more a restaurant, and that brought a rare small smile to the emotionless man before it vanished like a trick of the light.  'Finally, I may find something actually useful,' the heavily armored and unknowingly out of place man thought to himself as he strode up to the counter, arriving next to a dark haired individual wearing a black cloak over a red top and brown pants.  As the...emotional looking individual, though what emotion it was Brax had difficulty discerning, ordered a mug of hot milk, he waited patiently for the waiter behind the counter to take notice of him.  Not very hard, mind you, as in a place such as this meant mostly for a more...vibrant clientele, the imposingly battle equipped man, having no other more appropriate clothes to change into for casual purposes, stood out like a sore thumb.

     When the waiter turned to take his order, Brax began to lay out his list: "Yes, I am in need of some rations.  Some...functional and simple meals for the next few days.  What do you have to offer?"  The waiter considered for a moment, his brow furrowed in extended consideration.  "Well, we...really aren't set up for that, sir.  We mostly do sweet treats and more...well, decadent meals.  As far as...functionality, the cooks try to be as healthy as they can, but no one comes here for 'function', you know?" and with that, the waiter indicated with a brush of his hand the current food fight going on out in the main dinning area.  "They come here for the fun!  But, let me see what they can whip up, I hate to see someone turned out.  Give me a sec, 'kay?"  With that, the waiter winked and turned back to speak with the people in back, ostensibly to see if his needs could be slated.  His frustrations began to vanish as he was being assisted, freeing the stoic to observe the goings on around him instead of stewing in his problems.  Other than he person next to him at the counter, he managed to see two pink haired girls, one tall and one short, as well as a lighter featured individual chatting up someone who was definitely a starter player, looking a little lost due to a lack of...energy?  Brax looked at each group in turn, idly wondering what they were all feeling while he waited with an intrigued look upon his face.