Pinball

Pinball was sitting against one of the many buildings on the first floor, his head in his hands. He wasn't sad, just frustrated with his lack of progress. Pinball sighed, an event that had become all too common since the start of this death game. He needed a way to level up, and at the same time, get an idea of how the game works. Pinball sat there for a good thirty minutes, head in his hands, staring at the ground under him. Reminiscing. "... and then, Zackariah let us keep the potions we made!..." Pinball heard a voice walk past him, presumably belonging to a player. He stood up, brushed off his pants. This Zackariah had to be some kind of quest giver. He didn't know for sure, of course, but he decided he would have to trust his gut. He started jogging after the player, eager to find out just who this Zackariah guy was. 

Pinball has been itching for a fight. He never really got to use his dagger, as he was usually too busy trying to break (rather annoying) boulders with his fist. Of course, being a Level One, he couldn't really go out of the safe zone as often as he would have liked. He had Rank One in the Dagger Skill, and had access to a simple sword skill. Just to be safe, however... Pinball had dragged Stryder, a fellow guild member, to help him in his boar hunting extravaganza. Pinball hoped that with Stryder, he would finally be able to get some real experience. He didn't want to get killed, so he was really only going to stick to the simple boar that roamed the area near the entrance of the F1's main city. Staring out at the wide open space, he smiled. It was high time he fought back.

@Stryder

Pinball had been walking around the first floor's starting city, as he usually found himself doing. It served as a good distraction from the rather recent turn of events, and he often found himself lost in thought as he walked the streets and alleyways of the city. He found himself where the market stalls were set up. The marketplace, it seemed, was bustling with activity, but one voice stood out to him the most. It seemed he had walked into some kind of mini game event, an old lady arguing with a... wait. The old woman he had taken for an NPC actually had a green cursor above her head. Pinball's jaw dropped at the sight of it. It was so bizarre, seeing an old lady in an MMORPG. Girls, he knew, were rare, but grandmothers in their winding down years? Unheard of. At least unheard of by him. I have to talk to her, Pinball decided. He clenched his fist, and approached the old woman. 

Pinball resisted the urge to smile. She was shy, and not many would understand that as well as he, though its not too obvious when he puts on a front. Her nervousness far surpassed his own, he noted. He tried mimicking Stryder's friendly smile, though Pinball was certain it came out as more of a toothy grin. "W-well, I was just roping this guy-" he pointed at Stryder, "- into helping me out with aforementioned boulder quest. I need help getting the Extra Skill from it... Though from what I hear only the ones who initiate the quest would get the skill." He sighed. "In this case it would be me, but you're more than welcome to tag along if you want to. I'm sure it'll be... interesting." Pinball looked to Stryder. "Do you happen to know any easier way to get to the quest point? It was a really tiring climb last time I went. Would hate to have to climb that mountain the same way again."

Pinball turned to face the new voice, a bit shocked to hear English in a Japanese game. It was painfully obvious that the girl wasn't Japanese, with her heavy accent. He decided to respond in English. "I'm actually from Florida," he said, forgetting Stryder for the most part, offering his hand and then just as quickly stuffing it back in his pocket. "My name's Pinball. Nice to meet you.." He looked to Stryder, wondering how he would react to the new person. He had only just met Stryder himself, so Pinball wasn't quite able to predict what he would say. Pinball mulled over the arrival of the new player. He quickly came to the conclusion that it was indeed the more the merrier, and that this quest would be a hell of a lot easier with three people. He leaned back, lost in thought, waiting for Stryder to introduce himself.

Pinball wasn't at all surprised by his reaction. He himself would have reacted in a similar manner, if Pinball hadn't ignored the person all together. He was a bit embarrassed when the guy laughed, though.  He decided he was better off ignoring it along with what he believed to be a friendly punch. It wouldn't do to come off as any more aggressive than he already had; he didn't want anyone in the guild to dislike him that quickly. He took a deep breath, swallowed his pride, and spoke, though his face took on a red shade as he introduced himself. "I'm Pinball. I still don't really know how the guild thing works, though," he said, straightening himself. Pinball took a breath, then continued. "Anyways, about that boulder thing..." He trailed off, assuming Stryder would get his meaning. He needed the help, and his desperation showed quite clearly on his face. He didn't bother trying to mask his intentions, as he usually would.  At the moment, nothing mattered more to Pinball than getting this Martial Arts skill. 

Pinball whirled around at the sound of the man's voice. His hand was outstretched, introducing himself as Stryder. Well, that was certainly fast, the boy thought. He hadn't expected to actually find anyone nearly that fast, plus, He hadn't expected anyone to initiate conversation with him. He hadn't met him before, but the way he openly introduced himself told Pinball that he should have. He took a guess and assumed that Stryder was apart of the guild he had recently been invited to, the Emerald Harbingers. Without accepting his handshake, he leaned in close, poking Stryder in the chest. "I need your help, man. Really, really bad." Pinball normally wouldn't have been so rude in greeting, but he was impatient. He had to get something done, or he wouldn't ever succeed as a player. It was something that needed to get done, or Pinball would never rest easy.  "I'm sure you've heard of it... I need some help with breaking a certain boulder."

Pinball was still quite upset with the recent turn of events. He had spent a good amount of time climbing a mountain to find a Extra Skill, only to quit the quest not even halfway into it. He was back at Floor 2's main city, looking for somebody, anybody to help him. Well, anyone who seemed strong enough to help him. He didn't feel like finding a fellow newbie, only to spend a surplus amount of time sucking together. It probably wouldn't be the best idea, seeing as they would both only do 1 base damage with their fists. Plus, the thing was practically an immortal object, which couldn't help their luck. PLUS plus, what with the crappy accuracy of newbies, they'd probably miss just as often as they hit it, which would also end up making them stay longer than they needed to. Still, two people were better than one, and he wasn't going to be terribly picky with who he chose. The thought amused him, two noobs in starting gear flailing about, trying to break a boulder with their fists. Despite himself, he chuckled. He stared at the sky a bit, with a rather weak smile on his face. Back to business, he thought. He unfolded his arms and stuck them in his pocket, and started wandering the city, his head on a swivel. He was on the lookout for somebody, and did little to hide the fact. He wouldn't rest until he finally broke that boulder, felt the rock splitting underneath his fist. And for the first time in a good while, Pinball grinned.

@Stryder

Pinball sighed, and took a step back. He was severely dissapointed in himself. A part of him believed that he should keep trying, keep attempting to break it, chipping away at the rock's durability. Another, more reasonable part of him thought he should call it off, get someone more experienced to help him. He took a deep breath, sighed again. "I quit," he muttered. He glared at the boulder. He was going to find somebody. And he was going to wipe the smug expression off of the inanimate object's face. With one last glare at the boulder, he turned and started walking. There HAD to be somebody in the city who would help him. He wouldn't stop looking until he found someone. As he began his descent down the mountain, he couldn't shake a rather odd suspicion that the boulder was calling insults to him, begging him to come back and finished what he started. Pinball left his task unfinished, arms crossed and fuming, walking back to F2's main city. 

**QUEST FAILED**

Pinball sighed. He had barely started the quest, and yet he was already so bored. The idea of repeatedly punching this boulder until it cracked... God, it was annoying. He half-heartedly threw a punch that slid across the side of the rock. It didn't do any damage, and he hadn't expected it too. His heart wasn't into it. The thought of asking for help repulsed him. He didn't want to do it. Not with whiskers painted on his face, at least. He had thought to ask someone before he started the quest, but of course he wanted to prove something to himself... Looking back on it, asking for help wouldn't have been that bad. There were sure to be players that had to go through this very same painful ordeal. Surely they would sympathize. He sighed again. If he didn't start making progress, he would be forced to swallow his pride and ask somebody for help.

**BD: 1 -Critical Miss

No dmg done to Boulder. 

Boulder: 44/50

Patience and determination had become his motto. He kept telling himself, Patience and determination. Pinball was honestly surprised that he had managed to keep the quest going without quitting. Quitting halfway through was a very bad habit of his. He thought about what his mother would say if she could see him. Probably cry. That, or under nicer circumstances, laugh at the whiskers painted on his face. He took a step towards the boulder, fist clenched. Just keep throwing punches. You'll get through it. He took a deep breath, and took a swing at the durable rock. An audible smack was heard as he punched the boulder, and there was a brief flash of pain from his knuckles. He shook his hand as if he were shaking off water. His punch had successfully connected. 

** BD: 8 - Hit 

1 dmg to boulder done

Boulder: 44/50

ID#87080

Pinball was jumping around, still a bit excited about his last critical attack. He wildly swung his arms around, spinning and jumping with little to no aim or control. Immediately after coming out of a jump/ spin, he threw a punch at the boulder, hard again... And lost his balance. He tumbled onto the ground with a thud. He sat sill there for a while, any bit of excitement left over draining from his body into the dirt, where he lay, face pressed into the ground. He stood up, wiped himself off... again. To fall right after landing a critical hit seemed cruel. Unfair. Then again, everything about this game was unfair. He didn't want to be here anymore than anyone else did. He grunted and faced the boulder, prepping himself for another punch. He didn't plan on failing this quest. It wouldn't make sense to quit now, seeing as how his last hit had showed him that he could do it. 

** BD: 1 - Miss

No dmg to boulder done.

Boulder: 45/50

Pinball hesitantly took a few steps out of the City's gates. The weather was pleasant, and he had decided to take a walk. Of course, he wasn't going too deep into the fields. That was, in his mind, suicide. He had no skill fighting as of yet, and he could barely swing his dagger. Even so, he kept a tight grip on his weapon, constantly alert so as to be prepared if anything decided to attack him. The mobs weren't exactly hostile on the first floor, he knew, but he didn't take any chances. Better safe than sorry, his mother would say. As he walked he came across a player leaning against the wall. Resting, maybe? He normally didn't mingle with other players, but he had a feeling that this particular player wouldn't attack him. Not right away, at least. "Hey!" he called out, raising his hand above his head in an awkward wave.

Ok ok, it's time to get serious. It was a boulder. Come on, it has to be one of the easiest things he'll ever do in this death game. He jumped up and down, prepping himself. He was feeling pumped. This punch was going to count. He took a few steps back, ran up, and swung at the boulder with all of his might. SMACK! Yellow and red sparks jumped as his fist made contact. He let out a loud cheer,  unable to contain his excitement. So this is a critical hit, Pinball thought. With a satisfied chuckle, he stepped back, admiring his handiwork. Sure, he had a very long way to go, and it was going to be a bit rough doing this quest himself, but this critical hit showed that he was going to be able to get it done. "Let's try that again," he said aloud, quite proud of himself. He stretched his arm and backed up, mentally preparing himself for the next swing.

** BD: 10 - CRITICAL, +2 dmg 

3 dmg done to Boulder 

Boulder: 45/50 

ID# 86966

Pinball turned to the man who introduced himself as Atzo. He took his hand and shook it. The man wore a casual smile, held out his hand. However, there was something... guarded about him. He was hiding something, wearing a facade. And he was good at it... He couldn't determine what it was he was trying to cover up. Pinball quickly dismissed it. It wasn't any of his business. Pinball took his hand, shook it. "I'm Pinball. I'm rather... new to this whole thing. I was just exploring the city and such."  Pinball honestly had no idea how to proceed in the game, and Atzo seemed to be pretty well established as a player. After all, he did have his own guild. Pinball decided it wouldn't be so bad if he asked him for a little advice. "Hey, uhh... What do you think I should do? I don't really know what to do, but I need to get leveled up, quick. I don't feel like dying as soon as I step foot outside of a city." Pinball was studying the man, looking for anything in the way he moved or talked that would betray any hidden motives... if he had any.

  Patient and determined. He could do this. He has to do this. Pinball was now taking this task personally. If he couldn't do this, he had no right to even try to do anything other than hide in the Starting City. There was little to no reasoning behind this thought, but Pinball believed it to be true. "It's just punching a boulder," he said aloud. "It's not like it's gonna knock me off the mountain." Only two (successful) punches into the quest, and already Pinball was drifting away from the task at hand. Pinball was pacing, playing out in his head his life in Aincrad based on his choice now. He caught himself, shook himself off. Getting distracted, he thought. Just get this over with so I can go sleep. But he knew he wouldn't sleep comfortably. He was broke, and this skill was going to be his means to an end. Mid-stride he turned and swung. The boulder was three paces ahead of him, and he had swung at air. Embarrassed, he shuffled back to his former spot in front of the giant rock.

*** Battle Roll: 1 - MISS

No dmg done.

Boulder: 48/50

ID# 86928

Pinball let out a long sigh. This was definitely going to be a while. The boulder obviously wasn't going to break easily. And with no weapons to help him? Craziness. Maybe he should have asked somebody to help him out. He didn't really know anyone that well, but there had to have been somebody willing to help a new player out. No, Pinball thought. This is something he has to do himself. He dropped back in position, a crude imitation of a Martial Artist's stance. He didn't know if he was standing right, as he had only seen it on TV... but it wouldn't do to doubt himself. Pinball threw a punch. Luckily, his punch connected, chipping off another point of the Boulder's health. Good. If he could keep this up, he would be walking away with the Martial Arts skill. He just had to be patient. Patient and determined. 

**Battle Dice: 6- Hit

One dmg done to Boulder

Boulder: 48/50

ID# 86902

Pinball took a step back, pulling his fist back. All he had to do was keep up what he was already doing. Easy enough, though it may take a while, he thought. Pinball took a few steps back, gaining enough room for a running start.  He charged, fist pulled back, jumped... and missed by a good two feet. He couldn't stop himself mid-jump, and when he landed he stumbled and fell on his stomach. He stood and glared at the boulder. The boulder stood completely still, Health Gauge unchanged. Taunting him. He stood and brushed himself off. "This may take longer than initially thought." He walked back and resumed his spot in front of the boulder. He was already getting beaten. If he couldn't beat a boulder, how was he going to survive against aggressive minds?

** Battle Dice: 1 - Miss

No damage to Boulder done. 

Boulder: 49/50

Id# 86895

He faced the boulder, fists raised. He didn't know whether or not to to punch it or karate chop it... Surely regular punches will register the same. He didn't feel like looking like an idiot to whoever happens to come and try the same quest. But then again, who in their right mind would deliberately come to do a quest in the middle of the night? Even so, he couldn't help but consider the possibility. He shook himself. It wouldn't be wise to think about something of such little importance, anyways. Pinball came here to destroy a boulder, and that's exactly what he planned to do... No matter how long it takes. He took a swing... And landed a hit. An audible SMACK was heard as his fist connected with the rock, and an HP Bar appeared over the Boulder, indicating he had dealt 1 dmg to it. Good enough, he thought. Now, again.

**Battle Roll: 6

Deals 1 DMG to Boulder.

Boulder: 49/50 HP

ID# 86857

The mountain itself took a good amount of time to find, and the climb was...  rather taxing, both emotionally and physically. More than once during the ascent he considered just turning back and going home. But night fell quickly, and he decided one night without sleep wasn't that bad when compared with death. Shadows danced in the moonlight, and more than once Pinball could have sworn he saw somebody watching him. By the time he finished the climb and began his search for the quest-giver, he was exhausted. With some difficulty, he found the boulder. The moon was high in the sky when an NPC appeared behind him, quickly painting whiskers on his face and informing him of the quest's requirements. Secretly, he enjoyed the whiskers. It reminded him of the cat he left behind in the real world. Casting the thought aside, he stood and stretched and faced the boulder with renewed vigor. "Let's get this over with, huh?"

Even though he hadn't fought an actual intelligent mob before, It became apparent that the dagger had it's flaws. Pinball had originally hoped to become a stealthy character, but when the incident started he had quickly shut down any thoughts of leaving the first floor's starting city. That is, until recently. He decided that the dagger alone wouldn't help him, and that he would need to collect a variety of skills if he hoped to survive. Pinball had done some asking around, and found about a certain boulder on F2, that when broken in half awards the Martial Arts skill. Seems easy enough, he thought. Once more, Pinball considered his options. He could go back to wasting his life in the starting city, or he could attempt to accomplish something for once. It didn't take him long to decide. Without thinking twice, he started his journey to the quest's location.

I'm gonna be giving this a go 

Pinball was wandering the streets, exploring the city and considering his current situation. Up until now, he hadn't actually mustered up the courage to really do anything, not with his life on the line. He had huddled up in the starting city, waiting for the whole situation to blow over. He would occasionally wander out of the starting city, but never to fight and never far from the gates. Every time he had gone out of the city he had thought of taking on a boar, but he had only ended up wimping out at the last minute. When it was obvious nothing was changing, he had finally decided to at least try and do something. He sighed, stopped walking, and examined his surroundings, not recognizing the area his walk had taken him. He was set on doing a quest, something that would help him get started. Only problem was, you don't really know how anything works when you haven't tried anything. So, he thought. What now?

Profile

Username: Pinball

Real name: Finn Lan

Age: 18

Gender: M

Height: 5’10”

About - History:

Finn Lan is an anxious teenager born in Florida, USA. Growing up, he showed a great interest in books and writing. However, for the most part, gaming quickly replaced these hobbies once he discovered it. In online games, he had always found himself drawn to the social and economic aspects of the community, finding that talking behind a screen was much easier than holding any sort of conversation in real life. Sadly, due to a profound lack of motivational drive, he never got especially competitive with any of the games he played, but he enjoyed himself all the same. His hobbie served as a temporary break from the hassles and responsiblities of everyday life. 

For Finn, life at home wasn't particularly difficult. Though his father was a heavy drinker, and as such, was liable to inciting rather violent fights with his mother, he still managed to make more than enough money to keep food on the table and support his family. Once, Finn had snuck a peek at his father's paycheck, and had been shocked at how much he actually made. It seemed to him that with that kind of income, Finn and his mother ought to be living much more comfortable than they were. Still, they weren't in poverty, and Finn knew it wasn't his place to question his father or his family's income. 

Though his father generally treated his mother poorly (she wasn't innocent either, technically), it came as a great shock when it his father was reported dead. He had died in Oregon on an extended business trip, and to Finn's great confusion, his mother refused to attend the service. Instead, she moved herself and Finn to Japan where they would live with his grandmother. Finn was eleven years at the time. It was at this tender age that Finn began to piece together the true nature of his father, though he mostly kept his discoveries to himself. 

In Japan, Finn struggled to adapt to the wildly different culture. His time spent playing video games increased exponentially. To his mother's delight, the language came to him easily, and through his family's support, he was more or less fluent in under a year. He spent most of his days locked in his room, reading or playing games, and the years slipped by without presenting anything particularly interesting. At the age of 13 he picked up jogging as a hobby. Originally he had hoped to meet new peopl this way, but his lousy attempt at becoming social ended up just being a way to get outside more.  It was on one such jog he found his cat and namesake, Pinball. 

When SAO was announced, Finn was immediately taken. The fantasy, open-world genre had always appealed to him, and as such, SAO complemented his tastes nicely. Thankfully, he managed to save just enough money as to where he was able to buy the game for himself. His mother, being a teacher, already owned a nervegear and had originally used it for educational enrichment, though at her son's insistence lent it to him. An MMO like SAO, he knew, threatened to steal hundreds of hours of playtime. It took all of that, and more. Finn, known as Pinball to the sorrowful prisoners of Aincrad, joined the death game at the young age of 15. 

About - Personality 

Finn is generally an introverted person. He is easily embarrassed, he stammers when he speaks, and is overall just an anxious mess of a guy. His days spent indoors had done little to sharpen his social skills. However, given enough time, Finn gradually opens up, his demeanor changing dramatically. Once he's comfortable with a person, Finn is prone to eccentric outbursts, often muttering (or screaming) nonsensical phrases to himself and others. Humor is something he relies on heavily to break the ice, and once the shy in him dies, he isn't afraid to embarrass himself to get a laugh or get a rise out of somebody else. It also serves as a coping mechanism; behind most every joking, stupid thing he says, there's a constant undertone of sadness to him, and he holds himself to the belief that in the end, no matter what, he's a hindrance to the people he cares about. When upset or sad (which he is, a lot of the time), he'll jump on the oppurtunity to do anything that fills that void. In a game like SAO, where substances have no real effect on the mind, this usually comes in the form of adrenaline seeking - namely: throwing himself into dangerous situations, getting a rise out of other players, picking fights, and spontaneous larceny.

Virtues:

1 - Perceptive: Finn isn't smart by any means. He struggles a great deal with math, in particular, and even though he had picked up writing and reading as hobbies early on in life, his English (or Japanese, for that matter) isn't the greatest. Still, Finn displays keen observational skills, especially when it comes to people. He's 

2 - Sympathetic: Though when he's shy, he seems a bit standoffish, and when he acts the joker he can come off as a tad bit rude, at the heart of things, Finn is a kind soul.  He has an extremely soft spot for children and the elderly. Finn will often do anything he can to support someone in need, willing to be either someone's shoulder to cry on or their punching bag. 

3 - Honest: If there's one thing Finn values, it's honesty. Finn is extremely honest, especially when it concerns himself. He hates lies, and if he's ever made to tell one, it usually weighs heavily on his mind (not that he's particularly great at lying anyway). 

Flaws:

1 - Softie: When it comes down to it, Finn is a softie. He has a gentle spirit, and struggles to make the tough decisions. Though he can come off as seeming like the last person to care about anything, he is extremely sensitive and is hurt very easily. Furthermore, he has a bad habit of bottling these things up, just creating a melting pot of negative emotions. This, in turn, contributes to his melancholic episodes. 

2 - Melancholy: Under everything he says and does, there is an underlying sense of sadness about him. When he opens up, it becomes obvious that he has a very subdued pessimistic outlook, and he has a tendency to partake in long episodes of brooding, cut off from everyone else. Oddly enough, he seemingly bounces back from these episodes, apologizing in his own humorous ways, only to later succumb to his sadness at other, almost random times. 

3 - Impulsive: Finn is actually a very impulsive person. His comedy heavily relies on shock factor, and as such, he doesn't give his actions much thought.. This, of course, can lead to getting himself into varying shades of trouble. However, these impulsive tendencies aren't limited to his unusual attempts at humor. There have been plenty of times he's done something horribly reckless for whatever reason, not thinking about the inevitable consequences of his actions. 

~ Character Data: Stats, Inventory, Col/Mats, SP, Etc. ~

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13FC6eyt6KanRliDt2SZm-JcQC8m328KFGFxItw4l0VI/edit?usp=sharing