Illiure

Illiure found it hard to walk now, especially since the snow was at least half a foot deep. She struggled to take steps that were only a foot away from her body. But she did have to enjoy the scenery, the snow covered landscape was quite fascinating to see and trees covered with the white powder stretched as far as you can see. Fake.. was the one word that popped into her head. It is indeed fake.. she let out an aspirated sigh, a sigh that would echo in every direction. Where are all of the animals? Illiure started wondering, at this point, some sort of mob should've popped up..

Her thoughts were interrupted as her foot hitting a rock beneath the snow. "Dumb rock," she muttered. Her bare hands clutching the hems of her cloak out of the cold. Her blank cyan gaze narrowed at the trees around her, What am I standing here for? She snapped at herself and went back to trudging through the feathery soft but thick snow, her boots crunching onto the ground with each step she takes.

Illiure looked up from her heaving body at the quest board. Finally. She sighed in relief. She dismissed the notice and looked at the NPC, the gypsy woman was giving her a toothy grin,."Er... Thank you,'" Illiure said graciously. That's not creepy at all.. Illiure thought, but shrugged it off. Who cares, I got the quest anyways. The gypsy nodded her head and held her arms together, and with that, she walked away. Her figure soon grew blurry in the snow. 

Illiure looked around, her cloak barely kept her from the sheer cold but she walked quickly to the nearest town exit. She rubbed her arms together, hoping that the friction could keep her hands from freezing off. Once she made it to the towns exit she huffed a puff of air and continued to walk into the snowy terrain of pine. Familiar, here I come.. she thought excitedly as she walked through the snow covered trees. She pulled down her hood to have a blast of cool air hit her face and a sigh made out of cloud of warm air escaped her lips.

"This familiar better be worth it.." she said, her tone matching to those of the temperature. It better be.

Illiure nodded and muttered a small "Thanks.." at the sudden advice from the two player. She shook her head at the thought of being reached and continued nibbling on her jelly pastry. She found it rather reassuring that they were at least trying to help her, not much people would do that. She thought as she continued to watch Marisa and the couple socialize, Marisa seems to be taking this well.. she sighed as she finished her last bit of the pastry.

She watched them for a few minutes, talking about their guild. But she soon became bored and started to toy with her hair again. She gave out a huff of air and spaced out while looking at the columns of pink and white. Her mind went blank for several seconds before she went back to fiddling with her hair. "So exciting..." she muttered in a bored tone.

@The Black-White Human @Beat @Shield

Illiure cringed slightly at his flirty remark but shook her head, "I'm not but I'll think about it,"  her voice flat and emotionless. More complimenting... she sighed and scratched her head in an awkward state. Is it possible to get any more awkard than this? Her eyes moved around to spot something or something to break the tension. She glanced at Marisa and sighed. Last resort.

Illiure grabbed Marisa's shoulders and pushed her in front of herself. "Yes, yes, why don't you talk to them Marisa?" Illiure said through gritted teeth. "I'm sure you'll get along with them just fine," she said in monotonously. She narrowed her eyes at the couple one last time before snatching a jelly filled pastry and shoving it into her mouth. The sweet pastry made her shoulders relax and her face soften. I'm getting you back soon enough Marisa, she thought while chewing on the baked good.

@The Black-White Human @Shield @Beat

Illiure narrowed her eyes at Shield and Beat. More people? she sighed, "Illiure," she tapped her heel on the floor. "Nice to meet you," I guess... She nodded both to Beat and Shield. They both look pretty happy. she thought, her stoic expression still remaining on her face. She was already satisfied with one person talking to her at all, but three? "Thank you,"  she muttered after hearing his compliment, more things that don't describe me. She thought frostily as she nibbled on her cookie again, the sweetness of it soothed her. Maybe if I wont talk, he'll only talk to Marisa, nah that wont work, I already said something. She gave herself a mental face palm and sighed. 

Complete strangers walking up to people and complimenting them, what's going on today.. she thought, her eyes concentrating on the floor. Why is everyone wanting to be nice to me lately... she wondered in her head, I didn't do anything to deserve this. She felt really weird knowing that people were actually talking to her.

She went wide eyed at Marisa's remark. "Marisa!" She stared in disbelief at the girl and back to Beat and Shield. "I don't. I really don't, don't believe her," she said to them with a frown.

@The Black-White Human @Beat @Shield

Snow fell off of Illiure's hood as she walked with long strides through the stone brick roads of Snowfrost, her cyan gaze scanned the area hoping to find the NPC she was searching for. Her eyes darted from side to side as she walked around the area. She held her arms together to block the constant roar of wind and cold that came with it. Her cloak all over the place and her hood at times slid down to her neck where she had to pull it back up again. Aincrad's coldest. she thought through the howls of wind. Why would anyone want to make a floor like this..? she thought even more as she continued to walk. "Please let her be here.." Illiure muttered through clenched teeth. She rubbed her hands together in hope.

All she could see was white snow and a few lanterns of the cabins and cottages nearby. She gave a heft and depressing sigh and continued walking. She looked up, her cyan gaze filled with regret and judgment. She walked and walked and walked until she saw a small figure in the distance. Oh my god, is that really her?! Illiure thought, a flicker of hope rose from her chest. Her feet dashed off as she ran to the old woman. Wind and cold teared at her skin but she ignored and it and ran even faster. Only a few feet away did the NPC see her. "Hello young one, did you know if you feed a monster, it might accompany you for its entire life span?" the gypsy said. 

Illiure nodded and let out a choking sentence. "I would like to accept this quest," right after she said it, her quest board popped up, in it was the 'Feeding the Enemy' quest.

Illiure nodded at her response. "That does make sense I believe.. But I'd hardly believe anyone would like sweets more than you, and frankly surprised this game lets you inhale that many sweets," she said reluctantly. She took a bite our of the cookie and rested her hand on her lap. "This makes me question what you do in real life.." she bit on her lip to stop her from chuckling and then reverted to her stoic expression. "This is honestly the most lightened I've been in a long time," she sighed. She twiddled with her fingers out of boredom since she couldn't find the words to fit the conversation anymore. "You really are inhuman," she said after a few minutes of being silent. "But you have a kind heart," she said as she turned her head to look Marisa and did something she hasn't done in years, she smiled.

@The Black-White Human

A small pop up appeared in front of her, her quest board, in it was the 'Earning a Living' quest. She narrowed her eyes back to the artisan and closed the quest board. She crossed her arms, her cloak wavering as she did so. "So what do you want me to do first?" she said blankly. Surely this guy will actually make me do something useful. She thought in her head with an icy tone.

"Yes! First, can you help me restock these items?" he said, holding up the crate that held the trinkets. You mean the same items you've been restocking for the past 5 minutes? She held the remark on her tongue, but simply nodded, taking the crates from the NPC and walking off too a random shelf with it. She slid off her hood, finding it easier to work, and set the crate down on the floor. She crouched next to it and looked at its contents, jewelry and wristbands of all kinds filled it. She dug her hand into the crate and pulled out a well made topaz necklace. Not bad.. she thought before dropping it into the crate. She lifted the crate with one arm and started stocking the shelves. "Keep up the good work!" she heard the artisan reply from behind her, which left her rolling her eyes.

Her mind traveled on its own while she worked, her body was out of her control while she thought about the things that had happened so far while she was stuck in this death game,  she let out a scoff and returned to working, utter death is all that's happened so far. she hissed in her head. That's all that's happened.. her gaze turned sad.

Illure went wide eyed and shook her hands, "Er.. just forgot I said anything, don't want that happening," she said taking a small pink cookie with yellow stripes and took a bite out of it. "Do you think you'll ever find a place like this in real life?" She asked as she motioned her arms around the ballroom. I wish.. She thought as she looked around the ballroom,  this place would've cost millions in the real world. She thought as she eyed several groups,  must be fun being here with friends.

"Just don't be disappointed if you stick around this table with me the whole, ball yeah?" she stated to Marisa. Hoping that she would go out and socialize with decent people.

@The Black-White Human

Illiure nodded and went back to looking at the crowds of people. She clicked her heels together and leaned back on the table. The guy seems nice, nice but not very interesting. She sighed audibly and poked Marisa on her side. "Why don't you go socialize with other people, you certainly seem friendly enough to do it," she spoke reluctantly, I'll be fine if I'm alone anyways.. Its not like I'm not used to it. "You shouldn't be stuck with me the whole time anyways," she said twirling another strand of hair around her finger. I'll probably just drag her down anyways, she thought frostily while adjusting her mask. She'll meet a lot of better people here.. 

@The Black-White Human

'Illiure sighed as she stood outside the Artisan workshop, her hooded figure staring blankly at the small shop. I hope I don't regret this.. she sighed audibly and stepped inside the workshop. Her boots clattered with the old looking wood as she took small steps to the front counter. The artisan, a brunette male NPC was holding a crate full of jewelry and accessories and stocking a nearby shelf with them. He was almost robotically moving, everything seemed unnatural, like he lacked all emotion while doing it. Fake, Illiure said in her mind bitterly. But not wanting to be rude, she stood silently in front of the wood polished counter with a monotone look. The NPC still paid no attention to his customer and continued stocking up his supplies, humming a small tune while doing so. Its all fake, everything here is fake.. Illiure thought miserably.

Illiure watched as the brunette do the same thing over and over and over. Is this what NPC's do when players aren't around? Do the same thing over and over and over?! She hissed in her head. Finally snapping after 5 minutes of the NPC singing the same song repeatedly, she spoke in a harsh tone. "Excuse me," she said, her eyes twitching in annoyance. The NPC looked over his shoulder at her before finally speaking in a jolly but somewhat dead voice.

"Ah, hello there!" he looked at her with a bright smile that seemed too happy. "Illiure, what brings you to my humble little shop?" he said to her. This is too creepy, he already knows my name. She shrugged, ignoring the thought. Guess that's how NPCs work. She looked at him with a blank expression, his face screamed happiness, but she could see that his eyes were just as blank as hers.
"I want to do the 'Earning a Living' quest please," she spoke in an almost demanding way. This artisan better not be giving me a crappy job for this quest. She bit her lip that would've done damage to it in real life, but she felt nothing.

"But of course!" replied the Artisan with a gleaming smile.

Illiure turned to Marisa. "Hm.. adorable," she said raising her hand to scratch her chin. She gave in and shrugged, "I guess I am.. to you at least," she said casually. "But I really doubt that anyone else would call me that.." she sighed with a smidge of dejection. She saw Marisa take another handful of cookies of the table, yeesh, how many cookies have you eaten today..? She pondered in her mind. "At this point, choose anything on the table," she told Hei. I suppose most children would like sweets anyways.. She shrugged. "Or you could just take one of everything," she went back to fiddling with her fingers, finding the conversation uninteresting. Just take some and be over with it.

@The Black-White Human @Hei

Illiure blinked at Hei, He's probably asking for that small child.. She sighed, her heartstrings tugging her chest. She pointed to the platter of heart shaped pastries she was eating earlier with Marisa. "Those should be good," her voice full of monotone. She crossed her arms and cocked her head to look at the child. How did she ever get stuck in here? This game shouldn't have been in her hands.. Illiure thought sadly, her cyan gaze wavered and went back to looking at the floor, her legs crossed. The silver pink tiles gleamed from the golden chandeliers that hung from the ceiling. I wonder if there's any place like this in real life.. she said in her head. That would be a nice place to take a vacation..

She looked up at Hei again. "Are they for that kid?" She said pointing at Fae. The small child looked happy in the environment, almost at peace with herself. Which was something I haven't had in a long, long time. She thought with a tang of sadness, her mind filled with mixed thoughts.

@Hei

Illiure, raised and awkward eyebrow as the player snapped his fingers and ran outside. Well isn't that weird.. She thought, crossing her arms. She sighed and exited, her hood wavering in the slight wind that echoed through the town. She slowly made her way through the crowds of NPC's and players to the exit of the large town. He isn't wrong, the forest should have an abundance of materials for this quest. She thought while weaving through the crowds of people. Soon enough she made it to the exit of town, and there he was, the same guy from the workshop. She sighed and continued to walk away from the confused player, her cloak swaying with the breeze.

@Core XI

Illiure nodded. "I might find that useful later in the future, thanks," she said bringing up her hand to scratch her neck. "But I'm sure no one would be jealous of me either, what's there to be jealous of?" she sighed, and leaned back on the table again. Just plain old me, why would anyone want to be jealous of me.? She gave a small frown and started fiddling with her fingers again. "I bet a lot of people would be more jealous of you, I don't find being friendly a particular bad thing anyways," she said nudging Marisa with her elbow, bet she has a lot of special people in her life.. She crossed her legs as she was thinking, not paying much attention to the world around her. After a few moments of s[acing out she finally spoke. "Why would being friendly, be a bad thing anyways?" she wondered out loud. "I mean, who wouldn't want to be friendly?" she said casually while she eyed  group of people in the distance, a small girl rested between the group. Looks like a child.. she can't be much older than 8 or 7.. Illiure thought sadly. Shame she has to spend her early years here..

@The Black-White Human

Illiure raised a questionable eyebrow. "I don't think my name and adorable belong in the same sentence unless it's 'That girl is not adorable'." She said with a tone of surprise in her voice. "I don't think anyone would want a hug from this," she added pointing to her face, the feathers on her mask wavered as she adjusted her position. Blank, stoic, monotone, cold are all words to describe me but I don't think adorable would be one. She sighed sadly. "Frankly, as far as I'm concerned, you're the only person whose ever called me a friend," she bit hard on her lip, feeling nothing. She was stuck between Marisa's arms but she didn't pay much attention to it. Friend. The word echoed in her head for a questionably long time before she snapped back to what was happening. She poked Marisa's arm. "Can you let me go now? Not that I don't enjoy a hug but its been a long time since I've had one," she recalled, the last time I had one was with mom and dad..

@The Black-White Human

"You could say I am somewhat.. like her," she replied plainly. "I don't like showing weakness, yes," she sighed crossing her arms with the half heart cookie still in one hand. "I think a lot of things, about a lot of things," She said as she brought up a hand to fiddle with her hair, twirling it around finger and back. Illiure looks up at the circular ceiling of the ballroom. "I would like to fix a lot of things," her cyan blue eyes sparkling. "I just don't know how.." she muttered the last part under her breath. She looked at Marisa again, a huge grin was plastered across her face, "As you can see already, I'm not a people kind of person, I don't attend events like this much," The hand that held the heart wavered to her side. "That's the basics about me," I guess you wouldn't expect much.. She thought as she took a small bite into the cookie. I wouldn't expect much either.

@The Black-White Human

"No problem," Illiure said taking the small bit of cookie left. She held the heart bit with two hands and watched Marisa closely. "Anyone on your mind?" she asked in a monotone voice. Sounds like you wish someone was right next to you. She thought sadly, something I wouldn't dream of having. She started staring down at the floor in thought, Friends. Has anyone ever considered her as one? Stoic and expressionless Illiure, a friend? She bit her lip, confused, utterly confused. She looked back at Marisa, who was grabbing snacks off the table. "Yeah. Friends.." She said audibly. She searched through the crowd, realizing that some people were in fact alone in the ballroom. I guess I'm not the only one...

@The Black-White Human

Illiure gave a small shrug and handed the heart shaped cookie that had a small bite mark in it. "Be my guest," she said plainly. She crossed her arms and leaned back on the table. her cyan gaze traveling down to the salmon colored floor. They made this ballroom way too pink, I hate it. She thought as she looked at the pink tiles disgustedly. Her fingers taped on the side of her arm in boredom, what am I even supposed to be doing here? She thought miserably in head. Singing? Dancing? How is anybody able to do that in times like this? Its certainly better than at home but still... She tugged on the hems of her sleeves.

She stood there in silence as the sounds of laughter and chatter echoed from the ballrooms walls. How is any of this real..

@The Black-White Human

Illiure looked around the interior, her eyes narrowed to the two people in the room, an NPC, and a player. Please don't tell me I gave to interact with people. She sighed and walked over to the NPC, trying to ignore the player staring at her. She flickered her eyes at the NPC, an old man with long white hair and and an equally matching beard. "Hello," she spoke almost audibly so that the person behind her couldn't hear what she was saying.

"Hello hello! What brings you to my humble little workshop?" he said in a jolly tone that reminded her of Santa. Are all NPC's this happy? She thought but regained her focus on the old man.

"I would like to take the quest called 'The First Few Lesson are Free'?"  she sighed, disappointed on how much she had to talk to get a simple quest from an NPC. I hope this quest is worth it.. she narrowed her eyes at the boy behind her, still staring at her. What's this guys problem? she thought grimly.

"Yes yes! That quest!" the craftsman remarked with a warm tone. "I'll need you to get 5 Teir Materials for me and help me make a potion after words, yes yes?" he said raising his hand up to a few potions stocked on shelves around the workshop. Their colors were vivid and variant which only made Illiure wonder. What do some of these potions do..?

"Alright," Illiure nodded and accepted the quest, making her quest option pop up, the only one was labeled, 'The First Few lessons are Free.' She spun around only to be facing the same boy again. 

@Core XI

"I hear you," Illiure said as she grabbed a small heart shaped pastry off one of the plates. She herself could hardly recognize herself at the party, much or less anyone else. "I wonder if we're the only ones here without a date," she sighed, feeling slightly better that she had someone to at least talk to. She nibbled on the heart and started eyeing everyone in the ballroom. She was still utterly confused why everyone was so happy, more or less why anyone showed up at all. This is a death game, she thought key coldly, not some party where you can go lovey dovey. But I'm probably never going to see this again even if I do get out of here.. she sighed sadly. 

@The Black-White Human

Illiure's eyes went wide at the physical contact but calmed down as Marisa lead her to the tables. "It's not gonna happen," she said dispassionately. It's true, some people have tried, random classmates, teachers, her parents.. "Trust me, people have tried. And failed," she  sighed, while tugging on a loose strand of her milk chocolate colored hair. "Just the way I am, I guess," she shrugged. "I'll stay, for the food that is," she said, eyeing at the plates of pastries and goods plastered on the tables. Her steps were small and fragile but she managed to keep up with the odd girl.

"So you don't know anyone here either, yeah?" she crossed her fingers hoping that she wasn't the only one who didn't know anyone here. It'll be a lot less embarrassing if someone here was like me. She thought hopefully, avoiding eye contact with anyone to escape embarrassment. Social stuff isn't for me, and probably won't ever be. I'll leave that to the oh so special social butterflies. She bit her lip frustration and a small tang of sadness. I don't know what's wrong with me sometimes. She said her in head sadly.

@The Black-White Human

"Nope," she replied with a simple shrug. "I don't think friends are relevant to this games situation," she said almost coldly while clenching her fists. No one should deserves to be I'm this situation. "I only came here so that I could relax, that's all," Illiure brought up her hand to adjust her crimson feathery mask. "I think I might've gone over the top especially since I'm not going with anyone here." She said pointing at her mask, she didn't want to even wear it. She just wanted to enjoy a day without worrying if she'll die in the next hour or the next few minutes. I just want to know that I'm actually safe. She thought sadly in her head.

She cupped her hands over each of her elbows and went back to staring at all the couples. So happy, it was like they were never trapped here, in this excuse for a world. Her gaze was sad but it was covered by the shadow of her mask, which she was relieved for. She tapped her fingers on her arm. After a few moments of not saying anything, Illiure replied. "You're right, they are just bonuses," she said in a dead voice.

@The Black-White Human

Illiure's averted her eyes to the girl speaking to her and nodded. "Illiure," she said blankly. She gripped the side of the table and straightened her back. "I'm fine," she replied, "I wouldn't want my first kiss to be with the ground of a death game anyways," she said plainly with a shrug and went back to staring at the unordinary amount of people who showed up to the ball. Of course they showed up. they actually have someone to spend the time here with. She gave a heavy sigh and her  eyes went back to looking at Marisa, and then at her hand, and then back at Marisa, she reluctantly shook it and then slapped her hands back to her sides. "I'm not even hungry anymore, no thanks," she said her in her usual stoic tone.

Illiure started fumbling with her fingers to keep her mind busy, she was sort of kinda glad she came the ball. It gave her time to think to herself and relax, which is something she rarely does ever since the game started. She looked up from her fingers, couples laughing, groups cheering, people smiling. This was something she ever rarely saw in her life since the only emotions that were showed to her were disgust, or some form of it.

She looked back at her hands again and gave a weary smile. Certainly more cheery here than in the real world.. She thought, wish my life was like this.. 

Illiure went back to looking at the elegant design of the pillars and the ballroom and decided it was time she would actually do something. She lifted herself from the pillar and wobbly walking torwards where the food and drinks were. Halfway there she almost stumbled and feel on her face but she regained her balance in time, she gave an annoyed sigh and kept walking, her cheeks glaring under he velvet mask. I just made a fool of myself, such an idiot, idiot, idiot!