Oscar

Name: MIT Meal
Profession/Rank: Rank 10 Cook
ID/Roll:
245850 | CD: 11+1, LD: 4
245859-1, 245859-2 | CD: 10+1, LD: 11
Item Type: Meal
Tier: 4
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: 3 Mitigation
Description: Lol, no.
Link: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/17990-f01grandmaster-cook/?do=findComment&comment=697659&_rid=8792

Name: MIT Meal
Profession/Rank: Rank 10 Cook
ID/Roll:
245853-1, 245853-2, 245853-3 | CD: 11+1, LD: 16
Item Type: Meal
Tier: 4
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: 3 Overhealth
Description: Lol, no.
Link: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/17990-f01grandmaster-cook/?do=findComment&comment=697659&_rid=8792

Name: MIT Feast
Profession/Rank: Rank 10 Cook
ID/Roll:
245861 | 245859-1, 245859-2
Item Type: Feast
Tier: 4
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: 3 MIT
Description: Lol, no.
Link: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/17990-f01grandmaster-cook/?do=findComment&comment=697659&_rid=8792

Name: Overhealth Feast
Profession/Rank: Rank 10 Cook
ID/Roll:
245862 | 245853-1, 245853-2
Item Type: Feast
Tier: 4
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: 3 Overhealth
Description: Lol, no.
Link: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/17990-f01grandmaster-cook/?do=findComment&comment=697659&_rid=8792

Name: The Very Inappropriately Shaped Glizzy
Profession/Rank: Rank 10 Cook
245863 | 245861, 245862
Item Type: Feast
Tier: 4
Quality: Demonic
Enhancements: 3 MIT | 1 OH
Description: Too lewd and inappropriate for the System to render fully. You know what's hiding behind that mosiac. Ya nasty.
Link: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/17990-f01grandmaster-cook/?do=findComment&comment=697659&_rid=8792

Post Action: Tech-D vs Spectral Knight
ID: 244869, BD 2+5, hit
Deal 312 DMG

 [1]Wulfrin | HP: 966/966 | EN: 103/116 | DMG: 26 30 (+4) | MIT:75 | ACC:7 | AA  | EVA:2 | PARA-IM | BH:32 | FLN: 8 | FRB: 40 | TXC-V: 32 | FRZ: 64 | LD:8 | PROSP:3 | DOTE: 3/3 | PROB:36
[1]Hirru | HP: 1160/1160 | EN: 102/112 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 187 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 2 | BH: 58 | HLY BLS: 46 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | LD: 5 | THRNS: 76 | PARA | PROB: 36 | DOTE: 3/3 | {CD: PtA 0/3}
[2]Zajcica | HP: 1012/1012 | EN: 86/100 | DMG: 24 28 (+4) | MIT:301 | ACC:4 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:2 | FL.AURA: 16 | FR.AURA: 16 | FR.THORNS: 8/16 | THORNS:112 | BH:56 | LD:4 | DOTE: 3/3 | PROB:36
[1]Katoka | HP: 966/966 | EN: 107/118 | DMG: 26 30 (+4) | MIT:78 | ACC:7 | EVA:3 | BH:46 | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 |
[1]Ariel | HP: 920/920 | EN: 97/110 | DMG: 29 33 (+4) | MIT:0 | ACC:5 | AA | PHASE | EVA:3 | BH:51 | HB: 40 | REC: 3 | RISK: 8 | FLN: 16 | LD:5
[1]Oscar | HP: 1056/1056 | EN: 116/128 | DMG: 27 31 (+4) | MIT:187 | ACC:5 | AA  | PHASE | F-SPIRIT | EVA:3 | BH:58 | VAMP-O: 174 | REC: 4 | LD:5 | DOTE: 3/3 | PROB: 36

<<Spectral Knight>> | HP: 575/3700 | DMG: 300 | MIT:60 (-40) | ACC:5 | EVA:3 0 | FRB [40/2] | BLD [48/2] | BLGT [32/2] | BRN [56/2] | REND 28 (1/2) | P. Stun Imm. (1/3) | Burn 56 (0/2) | SHATTER 2 0/3

    Splinter | Whenever the Spectral Knight critically hits (BD 9-10), its attack instead only deals 50 mitigated damage and 60 unmitigated damage to the entire party as the weapon splinters into a sharpened spray. This attack applies all applicable DoT's to all targets when this occurs.
    Mist Body | Natural BD 9 attacks made against Spectral Knight will no longer automatically hit and will use accuracy & damage calculations as normal due to the Spectral Knight bending and twisting to allow dangerous attacks to pass harmlessly through. The hit is treated as a non-critical hit, and all enhancements that would activate on a natural BD 9 (bleed, holy, burn, freeze) will not trigger when this occurs.
    Attempted Rewrite | On a CD 10+, the Spectral Knight will find another NPC nearby and manufacture that NPC into a clone of itself with the same stat block including remaining hit points and any applied status effects.
    Tier Lock | For the duration of the fight, all of the participants’ stats that scale with Tier are calculated as though they’re Tier 4. [DMG/MIT/BLEED enhancements etc.] This skill only locks downward. Those at Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 will still have T1, T2, or T3 stats, respectively.

"Name: Oscar
True Tier: 10
Level: 34
Paragon Level: 60
HP: 980/980
EN: 130/130

Stats:
Damage: 23
Mitigation: 152
Accuracy: 3
Evasion: 1
Battle Healing: 
Loot Die: 5
Stealth Rating: -5
AA 
PHASEVAMP-O: 162
REC: 4

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<Kyūketsuki>> T4 KATANA//ABS.ACC/PHASE/VAMP2 
Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<TACTICAL UNDER ARMOR>> T4 HEAVY ARMOR//MIT/MIT/MIT/REC
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<IVORY GOLD LEAF RING>> T1 TRINKET//ACC/ACC/EVA/EVA

Combat Mastery:
  - Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
  - AOE Shift

Familiar Skill:
  - 

Custom Skill:
  - 

Skills:
  - Battle Healing R5
  - Energist
  - Extended Weight Limit
  - Fighting Spirit
  - Heavy Armor R5
  - Howl
  - Katana R5
  - Quick Change
  - Searching R5

Extra Skills:
  - Concentration
  - Forgotten King's Authority
  - Meditation
  - Parry
  - Survival

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:
  - Ferocity
  - Focused Howl
  - Iron Skin
  - Precision
  - Stamina

Mods:
  - Impetus
  - Night Vision
  - Tracking

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:
  - <<CRYSTAL OF DIVINE LIGHT>> ID: 236066 x
  - <<DARK SERAPHIM>> T4 HEAVY ARMOR - VAMP.D2/HOLY BLESSING 2 x
  - <<DIVINE RANCOR>> T4 KATANA - HOLY/HOLY/PHASE/BLIGHT  x
  - <<GLOVES OF CAERUS>> T1 LIGHT ARMOR//3 LD x
  - <<IMUGI'S INSPIRATION>> MASS HEAL x
  - <<RHINO'S HORN>> ID: 236068 x
  - <<SANCTITY'S RUIN>> T4 KATANA - FROSTBITE/BLEED/BLIGHT/BURN x
  - <<TELEPORTATION CRYSTAL>> x

Housing Buffs:
  - Basic Kitchen: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.
  - Storage Closet: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot
  - Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
  - Attic (Bedroom): +1 Expertise to declared utility skill. Cannot boost a skill without ranks, or increase a skill past its maximum rank. Cannot boost a skill the user has not learned yet. Ranks obtained using this buff will make the mods of that rank available for purchase. Mods obtained this way are unusable if this buff is removed until the skill is returned to the appropriate rank by way of SP purchase.
  - Basement: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll
  - Guest Room: Players can have one «Amenity» in a «Guest Room» and the «Amenity» cannot be recovered. Players are allowed to change which «Amenity» is in the «Guest Room». Multiple instances of the same «Amenity» do not stack. This buff affects the player and their choice of up to two party members.
  - Master Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat
  - Master Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down)
  - Extended Workshop: +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day
  - Ornate Fishing Pond: +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.
  - Dining Hall: Turn 3 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Feast. A Feast contains 6 portions of the food items sacrificed. Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.
  - Mega Slime Farm: +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild Totem:
  - Tanos
Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:
 - Cooking[5280exp] R10
Gathering Profession:
 - Fishing[100exp] R2"                                                                                                                            

"Name: Oscar
True Tier: 10
Level: 34
Paragon Level: 60
HP: 980/980
EN: 130/130

Stats:
Damage: 23
Mitigation: 152
Accuracy: 3
Evasion: 1
Battle Healing: 
Loot Die: 5
Stealth Rating: -5
AA 
PHASEVAMP-O: 162
REC: 4

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<Kyūketsuki>> T4 KATANA//ABS.ACC/PHASE/VAMP2 
Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<TACTICAL UNDER ARMOR>> T4 HEAVY ARMOR//MIT/MIT/MIT/REC
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<IVORY GOLD LEAF RING>> T1 TRINKET//ACC/ACC/EVA/EVA

Combat Mastery:
  - Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
  - AOE Shift

Familiar Skill:
  - 

Custom Skill:
  - 

Skills:
  - Battle Healing R5
  - Energist
  - Extended Weight Limit
  - Fighting Spirit
  - Heavy Armor R5
  - Howl
  - Katana R5
  - Quick Change
  - Searching R5

Extra Skills:
  - Concentration
  - Forgotten King's Authority
  - Meditation
  - Parry
  - Survival

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:
  - Ferocity
  - Focused Howl
  - Iron Skin
  - Precision
  - Stamina

Mods:
  - Impetus
  - Night Vision
  - Tracking

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:
  - <<CRYSTAL OF DIVINE LIGHT>> ID: 236066 x
  - <<DARK SERAPHIM>> T4 HEAVY ARMOR - VAMP.D2/HOLY BLESSING 2 x
  - <<DIVINE RANCOR>> T4 KATANA - HOLY/HOLY/PHASE/BLIGHT  x
  - <<GLOVES OF CAERUS>> T1 LIGHT ARMOR//3 LD x
  - <<IMUGI'S INSPIRATION>> MASS HEAL x
  - <<RHINO'S HORN>> ID: 236068 x
  - <<SANCTITY'S RUIN>> T4 KATANA - FROSTBITE/BLEED/BLIGHT/BURN x
  - <<TELEPORTATION CRYSTAL>> x

Housing Buffs:
  - Basic Kitchen: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.
  - Storage Closet: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot
  - Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
  - Attic (Bedroom): +1 Expertise to declared utility skill. Cannot boost a skill without ranks, or increase a skill past its maximum rank. Cannot boost a skill the user has not learned yet. Ranks obtained using this buff will make the mods of that rank available for purchase. Mods obtained this way are unusable if this buff is removed until the skill is returned to the appropriate rank by way of SP purchase.
  - Basement: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll
  - Guest Room: Players can have one «Amenity» in a «Guest Room» and the «Amenity» cannot be recovered. Players are allowed to change which «Amenity» is in the «Guest Room». Multiple instances of the same «Amenity» do not stack. This buff affects the player and their choice of up to two party members.
  - Master Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat
  - Master Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down)
  - Extended Workshop: +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day
  - Ornate Fishing Pond: +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.
  - Dining Hall: Turn 3 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Feast. A Feast contains 6 portions of the food items sacrificed. Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.
  - Mega Slime Farm: +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild Totem:
  - Tanos
Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:
 - Cooking[5280exp] R10
Gathering Profession:
 - Fishing[100exp] R2"                                                                                                                            

 Routine was the enemy of adaptability. It was a comfortable trap, one that beckoned you in with honeyed words and kept you safe and insulated from the outside world. Incredibly easy to fall victim to and Oscar found himself inadvertently swaddled in its warm embrace. Wake up, cook for the orphans, go home. Unto infinity. The days would blend together. The city streets would fuse into an amalgam of rough cobblestone set upon a beige void. His shop, with its black and white checkers and the bright red seats would become the only novelty in that ocean of drab.

But life also came in phases. Routine, comfortable as it was, was equally fragile. It could be upended in a moment. An overheard conversation, a striking form. Any and all distractions. Often, Oscar found himself unconsciously awaiting those interruptions. He would come back to himself then. That flame of chaos would spark and he would stand singularly alone amongst an ocean of order.

Today was one of such glorious distraction.

He walked slowly towards his shop in the late hours of the morning. It was a mild day, a light breeze whipping through the buildings of the Town of Beginnings. He liked the breeze. A balm against his hot skin, cooling and soothing quietly as he walked. He wore his usual casual attire - dressed more like a butler than the deadly sharp Frontliner that he was. Dress shoes clacked against the stones, the man’s lithe form sporting blacks and whites of formality that was nowhere to be seen. His sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, his tie hung loose about his neck.

Even if one was meant to spend their day in front of sizzling grills and bubbling grease, class was sacrosanct.

 He heard it as he rounded a corner, loud and sharp upon the morning winds.

“Come on baby, we’ll show you a real good time.”

Oscar didn’t like the tone. His gaze quickly honed to a razor’s edge, his muscles tensing at the noise. The words thick with connotation and dominance, innuendo and lascivious intent. Oscar’s head swiveled to the side. Two men and a girl. A tale as old as time. Ordinarily, Oscar might have strode on past. There were usually plenty of standers-by that would handle this. But this far from the square, there were none far as they eye could see. And so the duty fell upon his shoulders.

Oscar clicked his tongue, slowly approaching the small gathering. As he neared, he saw how they loomed. Imposed themselves upon her space. Forced themselves into her being - stole and demanded her attention. And Oscar’s riposte was simple, yet effective. Walking up behind the woman, his arm snaked around her waist. Not too low or too high to be considered inappropriate. A chivalrous gesture as he pulled her close into his side.

“Hey babe,” he said as he kept his eyes affixed upon the pair. His voice was bright, chipper. “Sorry I’m late. You ready to go?”

“Hey!” One of the men protested, stepping forward in continuance of his intimidation. The only problem was it was hard to intimidate a man when you had to crane your neck to look up at him. “We were talkin' he-”

His words died in his mouth. Oscar’s steely gaze fell upon him. It was an expression of a man who would brook no argument. A warning shot of what would unfold should he choose to continue down this path. Their silent discussion continued and finished in an instant. That this only ended one way. That the power they once tried to lord over the woman had evaporated. That in no universe did Oscar consider them to be a threat in any fashion.

“Fuck off,” Oscar said, his voice a deep growl.

And so they did. A quick exit, stage left that left Oscar and the new stranger alone. He immediately released her, the cold gaze of his eyes softening into apologia. 

“I’m sorry. I usually don’t put hands on women, but you seemed a bit stuck in,” he said, offering his hand in greeting. “I’m Oscar.” 

                        Alinta wasn’t wearing what one would normally expect in Aincrad - she didn’t don fancy armour - gauntlets or pauldrons. No, instead, she wore something far, far more simple.
                         
                         Reminiscent of her time outside the confines of the game, granted - it was a little too ‘casual’ for her liking. It missed spikes, it missed leather but for now, it’d do. After all - the town had slim pickings when it came to fashion. Worse still…when that fashion wasn’t fantasy based.                     
                                          
                        The redheaded woman sighed, walking tall and proud through the streets. They were emptier than usual today. “Huh.” Crimson eyes glanced to the side at yet another empty store.                     
                                          
                        She was hungry.                      
                                          
                        “Ugh…” Alinta huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest, long red hair swishing behind her as she walked. “You’d think SOMEONE…” She said loudly. “Would open their DAMN STORE! I’m HUNGRY”                     
                

     
    “Hungry?” Came a voice from her side, Alinta snorted, glossed lips pushing themselves into an annoyed pout as she side-eyed a tall man - wearing beginner gear. She gave him a toothy grin. “Why, what ya got packin?”
     
     “Come on baby, we’ll show you a real good time.”
    There was a second man now, they had both somehow managed to corner her up against a wall. The confidence quickly began to flitter away as Alinta shifted her eyes to and fro - people hurried by, not doing anything to help. Cowards.  One of the men reached up, brushing hair out of her face - his dirtied fingers pausing at her ears.
     
     Gross. Gross. Gross. Gross.
     
     “Hey babe,”
    Alinta breathed a small sigh of relief when she saw another - clearly not part of the duo who had cornered her. He was a head taller than her would be attackers - which meant he was at least two heads taller than her. With barely a word - the bearded man slid past the men and wrapped a warm hand around her waist. Fingers dipping into the flesh of her hips with a protective jerk toward him. “Uhm. Uh Uh…”  Who was this man?
     
     It wasn’t till the others left and he let go. 
    “I’m Oscar.”
     
    “A-Alinta…” She stammered as she reached out to clasp his warm hand. “I’m Alinta.” It took a moment for the shock to wear off, and she managed to plaster a confident smile on her face. Looking up at him she offered  a toothy grin. “Its…I didn’t need your help you know. I had it covered.”  She didn’t.  “I had them right where I wanted.”  She didn’t. She lied so badly even a child could see. Still, Alinta spoke with the confidence that she had fooled Oscar with her charade.
    “So.” She said with a firm shake, refusing to let go of his hand. “Know where a woman can get a good feed around here?”
            
    "Of course," Oscar agreed. His voice was calm, reassuring. "I'm quite certain you were about to go boots-to-asses. But call me old-fashioned, but I don't believe that women should have to be the ones to smear their unwanted admirers across the cobblestones."
    She was nervous. Rightfully so. Her words came out lacking sureity. Given her recently-resolved predicament, that was nothing to be surprised over. Oscar wouldn't add insult to injury by calling her on it. He merely offered her a slight smile, nodding gently. Oscar would not mention how her hand lingered too long on his. Or how he could feel the remnants of her ebbing adrenaline in the tremors of her fingers. 
    "So. Know where a woman can get a good feed around here?"
    Oscar's slight smile stretched over his features. Serendipity, they name was Alinta. 
    "Yeah, just heading there myself. Come along," Oscar said as he beckoned her to follow.
    They meandered through the city streets. Oscar followed that same beaten path. Routine seared it into his mind's eye. Every alley and shortcut. All led them to Oscar's shop in the middle of a run-down shantytown inhabited almost solely by NPCs. There were two store fronts standing side-by-side. A diner and a tailor. An odd match, but there was a saying about good things being in out of the way places. The exteriors were run down, but Oscar didn't mind it. Hidden gems, and all that.
    He unlocked the front door and led Alinta inside. The interior was night and day from the exterior. Black and white checkered floors. Reds seats and chrome trim shining in the bright light. A 50's-style jukebox sat in the corner, beginning to play old slow Rock n' Roll.
     
     "Go ahead and take a seat at the bar," Oscar said as he rounded the counter. He grabbed an overturned glass from the well and filled it with ice before fiddling with levers. Before long, he presented her with a glass of ice-cold liquid, dark and bubbly. "My best approximation of Dr. Pepper. I've found that most people think it tastes different, but no one says it's bad. What would you like to eat? Literally anything is on the menu. Even me. But that would be cannibalism, Alinta. And it would, in fact, result in a red cursor."
                     

Her mouth parted into a toothy grin as the very tall man reassured her. “Yeh, damn right I could.” She reiterated as confidently as she could, Alinta even straightened her posture, and puffed out her chest for good measure. He didn’t have to know how worried she was, this was usually a safe place. It's why she stayed here, for the most part. It felt almost like a real city, at least. It used to. A nervous lavender gaze swept over the empty streets. They used to be bustling, there used to be new shops opening almost daily. New clothes, new food…it felt like a small town. One of those cozy ones you’d see on holiday specials.

"Yeah, just heading there myself. Come along,"

Alinta’s eyes brightened at the promise of food. She took one step forward and looped an arm around his as they walked. Partly because she wasn’t going to let this free meal ticket go, and partly because - it made her feel safer. Something about him. The confidence in how he navigated the streets. The assured look in his  crystalline gaze. He didn’t wear anything too extravagant - but it was clear he could very well hold his own. Alinta tightened her grip. Even his smell…very woodsy with a hint of lemon. Finally she returned his sentiment. “Oh Oscar.” She placed emphasis on his name, dripping with honeyed tones. “Whatever shall a woman do? Sweeping off my feet, and offering a meal. One would get the wrong impressions from such actions, Oscar dear.” 

The more well to do shops gave way to ramshackle establishments - looking like they were jammed in as tightly as possible. Alinta wrinkled her nose, she had to admit…she hadn’t really been in this area of town too much - she would people watch - and notice higher level adventurers pass through. Perhaps, she had even seen Oscar once or twice, and had paid him no mind. What use did she have in all that levelling up and sweaty finding nonsense when others would do it? There was no use in her risking her life.

Maybe, if someone carried her - that’d be nice. 

But such things were rare, many were too self involved. (Herself included)

“You…sure we’re going the right way?” Alinta chanced as she gave a distasteful glance at one of the passing stores - boarded up.

He chuckled in return, a warm infectious sound that was muted, but could easily be heard across the room if he so chose. They paused in front of two stores and Alinta’s grip on his arm loosened as she wondered if she should get the hell outta there. What kind of ramshackle dump was he taking her to? HER?  “Uhm…” 

Before Alinta had the chance to judge by appearance he led her inside with a slight tug. Alinta had to take a moment for her eyes to adjust to the sudden almost fluorescent lighting. “Holy Cow…” She whispered seeing what was before her - ain’t no way. Ain’t no damn way!? “This is your place?” she asked, surprised. This was the last thing she expected. It felt like she was thrown from the dreary browns,greys and muted blacks of a fantasy world into…into the 60’s? “This is so cute!” She exclaimed with a clap of her hands together. “Here I thought you were gonna cheap out on me!” To some it could be considered an insult, but Alinta was just being honest.

She practically ran over to one of the cushioned bar stools and threw herself onto it, she bobbed up and down on it with an amused snort, feeling how squishy the cushions were. “This place is adorable!” She said with another bounce, glimmering eyes watching Oscar work.

“You know, I never would have picked you to own a place like this.” Another bounce. “You’re full of surprises.” Having had her fun Alinta stopped, and leaned on the bar, peering over at the strange bearded man. Now she had a moment, he was a bit of a looker, wasn’t he? But he probably knew that.

“Anything?” Alinta asked as she picked up the glass of appropriately copyrighted definitely not Dr Pepper soda. She kept her gaze on him and took a long sip. “You know, I could go for some nice juicy meat. This is a diner after all. What would the chef recommend?”

Even me. But that would be cannibalism, Alinta

Alinta coughed, dribbling soda down her chin - droplets falling onto her chest. “W-What?” She spluttered, cheeks bright red. “I - y-You?” She made some kind of odd sputtering sound. “W-Why would I? Y-You’re not even that good looking, your beard and face are mid a-at best!”

She wiped her chin with the back of her hand, giving herself but a few brief seconds to calm her rapidly beating heart she muttered. “I- I’d rather not a red cursor…thanks…I didn’t…think people like that still existed…” She knew of PKers, she knew they were a thing.  But…

Wouldn’t they all be better off dead? All of them?

    “I know, I know,” Oscar said. “But appearances can be deceiving. Never know when you’ll find a hidden gem.”
    Truth be told, no one had ever called his establishment cute. Oscar didn’t dislike it, but he wasn’t sold on it either. Still, he had the good sense to keep his mouth shut when someone was enjoying themselves. Far be it from him to ruin her fun. He did enjoy the fact that routine hadn’t made him entirely dull. He was still getting his sea legs, every synapse screaming to be his normal charming, witty self. But he was so out of practice, it was very much out of his reach. But it was getting closer by the second.
    A shame, though. Alinta was laying it on thick. He almost felt bad that he had so little to offer in response to her overt and obvious flirting. Was this her way of thanking him for his efforts earlier? Or perhaps it was simply her personality. Oscar also had the good sense to not get in the weeds or up in his head trying to take her measure.
    Such a thing would be a long and hands-on process.
    And then it all clicked. His off-handed movie reference put her on the back foot. She went from alluring to adorably flustered at the drop of a hat. He met her gaze, a slight smirk playing at his face. 
    “Going from ‘Oscar, dear’ to ‘Mid, at best? You're giving me whiplash here, Ali,” Oscar said. His eyes never left hers as his affectionate nickname dripped from his tongue. He stepped forward, resting his elbow on the counter as he plucked her drink from her hand. He took a long sip - his eyes never leaving hers - and placed it back on the counter in front of her, flashing a smile and quickly looking down as he dipped into the kitchen. It was a forward gesture, certainly. 
    But she was simply too damn cute when she was flustered for him to resist.
    Oscar worked quickly. The ritual of knives and pans were wholly unnecessary. The system did most of the work for him at the press of a button. But it was important. To him at least. He was old-fashioned. And when it came to women, there was no room for laziness. And so he prepared it all by hand, his movements mostly obfuscated by the wall. He would look up from his work and peer through the window, catching her gaze as she sipped at her drink. The silence was deafening. Intentionally so. It was always so delicious to watch the moment build. So decadent to see her shift, gears turning, trying to decide what she wanted as the desires flicked back and forth like a metronome.
    He didn’t give her the time to truly figure out what she wanted as he rounded a corner with a plate of food. Oscar placed it down in front of her, stepping back and leaning against his counter as the room filled with the smell of Grandmaster-crafted Americana. A simple dish, two hot dogs - stacked with all the fixin’s - and a handful of hand-cut fries.
    “Hot dogs are my specialty,” Oscar said. “It is a diner after all. You said nice, juicy meat correct? I can say with confidence you won’t have a better experience than with mine.”
            
    Ali
     
     And there it was again; just as quickly as she was able to calm down, she felt that same hot sensation that flooded her cheeks. “A-Ali!” She took a breath. “I only allow my friends to call me Ali. Oscar…”
     
     Breathe Alinta, Breathe.
     
     She took a deep breath and attempted to put on a confident smile. “So - does that make you a fri-” Her words caught in her throat as he leaned forward, close. Dangerously so - the tickle of his hair against his forehead - the exhale of his breath against her skin. Alinta had to lean back. She watched as he snatched the drink from her hands, his eyes never leaving hers, practically daring - no commanding her to keep her eyes focused fast to his. She was akin to a deer stuck in headlights - a stark contrast to her usual confident veneer.
     
     She was shocked back to movement when he slipped the glass back in her hands. Alinta cleared her throat and in a sign of defiance picked up the glass and downed the rest of the drink. Slamming the empty glass down on the bar. “Heh.” Alinta gave him a quirked smile.
    “So. Friends it is then.”
    Alinta was thankful that he became engrossed in his work - it gave her a moment of reprise. Most backed down when she put on the confident and flirtatious front - rarely, if ever did they reciprocate. So when Oscar did, it left her flustered. He was probably just some kind of playboy - after all - he had so easily dragged her to his restaurant.
     
     “Hot dogs?” Alinta said - genuine surprise. “You know…most the dorks here normally offer ramen, or katsu - or sushi..but hot dogs?” She offered him a grin as he sat on the stool next to her.  Their shoulders practically touching. “I can’t remember the last time I had a hot dog!” Alinta said as she picked one up - and in one large bite she had bitten the hotdog clean in half. In. Half. She chewed, enjoying the comfort of western tastes. After swallowing Alinta turned to him - missing his joke entirely.
     
     “You’re right. Your meats the best!” She said, before eating the entire last half of the hotdog.
                     
    Oscar exhaled a slight laugh as he realized that his joke had gone completely over her head. He considered, for a moment, calling attention to it. But he would wait for his moment. She'd all but inhaled the first dog. Clearly her hunger had not been overstated. There was a certain pleasure that he - or any Cook for that matter - took in watching people enjoy their food. It was a pleasure that was singularly theirs. It was almost intoxicating, the jubilation of watching someone gush over the food you so painstakingly prepared for them. A warm half-smile played at his face as he stepped behind the counter and refilled her beverage. Oscar returned to his seat, enjoying the blissful moment.
    He had to admit, it was nice to have company.
    "Yeah, I can make all of that stuff. But like you said, ramen stands are a dime a dozen. We need some variety if we're going to be trapped here."
    He peered out of the corner of his eye and watched as she picked up the second dog. He waited, fingers twitching in anticipation as she took her first bite. And as she began to chew, he struck like a viper.
     
     "Ali," he said. "My meat's the best? Think about it."
            
    “Ahh…” After having eaten the fist hot dog in virtually two bites. “That really hit the spot.” Alinta said as she rubbed her bare stomach, then accentuated it with two pats. “Thank you Oscar.” She laughed softly, “That - you’re right they’re so juicy! Ahh~ And the way the bread just soaks up the slightly sweet sauce - the way you caramelise the onions!”  Alinta picked up the second hotdog and instead of just shoving it into her mouth she gave a chance to appreciate the aesthetics. “Look!” She said, showing him - as though he hadn’t made it himself. “Look how even the toppings are! The sauce doesn’t drip! The relish is perfectly spotted throughout!” Alinta took another bite, this time appreciating it, masticating slowly before swallowing.
     
     Alinta took a second bite, and began to chew - Then came the comment
    "My meat's the best? Think about it."
    Alinta choked. Coughing and spluttering. “W-I -What?” An image flashed in her mind that most definitely should not have. Nothing that should ever be muttered in any sort of company. “O-oscar!” Alinta breathed. “I -” She shifted her eyes back to the hot dog. “Y-Yeh.” She said, trying to hide her embarrassment. “I’d -I’d..I’d say it is pretty good.” her demeanour was mismatched with her appearance, her clothes, and usual cadence suggested a cavalier I dont give a fuck attitude but truth be told… Alinta got flustered too easily when it came to a sort of attention.
    She had to change the topic of conversation…right… Alinta picked up the soda and took a few long sips to help her choking coughs.
    “S-So..what do you do, like - you look…you have the air of a strong person, yanno?”
                     
    Oscar could only laugh at her reaction. It was clear that the outward persona was just veneer. Not that he considered that to be any sort of negative thing. It was cute, the juxtaposition of her outward persona with her inner thoughts. She pivoted, doing her best to recover from Oscar's perfectly timed jab. She was failing, of course. That was rather the point. His laughter eventually ebbed away, mellowing into small giggles as she took several swigs of her soda.
    "I appreciate the compliment, Ali," Oscar said. He lingered on her name again in a teasing inflection. Three letters drawn out longer than they should have been. And then came her question. A subject change, but one that Oscar didn't exactly expect. One would be surprised how many people merely assume that others are on their level. After all, what would a Frontliner be doing all the way down on the first floor. Oscar, of course, had his reasons. And her question reminded him of those. He slid from his chair, mercifully giving Alinta space to breathe. Oscar wouldn't deny there was a certain chemistry, though he found that he meshed well with most outside of a very specific type of person.
     
     There was one notable exception, though.
    He stepped back into his kitchen, grabbing his knife and spinning it deftly around the back of his hand. "Do you mean levels or personality?"
     
     It really didn't matter which, honestly, but he wanted to be clear. He set himself to work, working with trained precision. "I mean, I'm on up there in terms of levels. And I like to think I'm pretty strong in the gray."
     
     He paused for a moment, looking up from his work to catch her gaze. "And you're totally Level One aren't you? You're in good company. Some of the best people I know have never set foot out of this town."
            
    Alinta flicked her long crimson hair behind her and scoffed as Oscar laughed, loud and boisterous. Clearly enjoying his sleights and jabs at her. “Hmmph.” Alinta picked up the last of her hotdog. You know the little weiner part that sticks out over the side? She jabbed that right into his cheek. “Listen here dog boy.” She retorted with her own nickname for the jovial man. “You keep dishing that out, and I may just have to dish it back.” She had slowly become accustomed to his antics - and his laughter set her at ease.
    She tilted her head at his question, she had honestly just meant levels. Nothing more or less. Someone who held that much confidence. “I meant levels…” Alinta began, speaking her thoughts. “You know…you can tell. People who gain a couple levels, they walk around like they’re hot shit. They flaunt. It.” She paused, shoving the last of the hotdog in her mouth, and continuing whilst chewing. “But people on the frontline? Its quiet. Muted. You know they’ve seen things - they don’t want to boast - because its a different world. One I may never understand.”
     
     Alinta gave him a wry grin. “After all. I’m only level one. Mis -tah - grey”
    Alinta had nothing to concentrate on - so she tapped her long nails against the linoleum to keep them busy. “I already know I count among the best of them - since I”ve never left.” She said with her usual veneer of confidence.
                     
    A masterful riposte. Few could hope to land a hit on him and, when they did, it scarcely had any effect. And yet, here was this level one newbie shooting him straight in the heart with her adorable gesture. Oscar chuckled again, bringing his thumb up to his cheek to swipe away the leftover condiments. He brought the digit to his mouth, his tongue flicking out to clean it of the sauces as he kept eye contact with Alinta. Just because she had mounted a successful counterattack didn't mean that he didn't have more in his own arsenal.
    "Don't make promises you can't keep, Ali. I love a girl who gives as good as she takes," Oscar said with a smirk.
    Alinta was right in her assessment of the Frontlines. Shockingly so, given she was only level one. Most lowbies he encountered had little conception of the Frontlines. But she'd hit the nail right on the head, though not for the reasons she thought.
    "It's the trauma, honestly," Oscar said without meaning to. He'd not wanted to bring down the mood, but the Frontliners carried a heavy burden. Everyone trapped in the game, everyone who had died trying to get them out. One had little time to flaunt it when they had such weight upon their shoulders. Not that many of them wanted to. Oscar, perhaps, was the one who came the closest. An imposing presence upon the Town of Beginnings. A confidant to many, a patron to many more. He often considered that if he'd abandoned the Floor like so many others whether it would fall to lawlessness. Would Laughing Coffin use the cradle as their stomping grounds?
     
     "Forgive me, that's the therapist talking," Oscar said. "Hard not to comment on it when you're trained to see it."
     
     It was Oscar's time to flounder for a different topic of discussion. He latched onto her last statement, looking up from his work with a bright smile. "Would you like to leave? I know a guy who would totally escort you."
            
    Her smile faltered slightly as he returned her jest with another overly flirtatious remark. Was he like this with all women? Probably. Definitely. He practically oozed playboy. Alinta wouldn’t be surprised if he did it to the men too. “What a shame, Dog boy…” She said her little nickname for him slowly, drawling out the two simple syllables.  “I’ve run out of meat to poke you with.” She said with a shrug and a laugh. “I’d offer to find something else - but I think you’d enjoy that a little…too  much.” A practised pause, a purse of her lips, and a tilt of her head. “Yanno?” she asked, with an overly dramatic inflection on the question.
    Her smile faded when Oscar mentioned the trauma. Trauma? Is that what the frontlines faced? Alinta bounced on her stool, forcing it closer to his till the two bumped together. The woman pressed her torso onto the bar - so she could lean right over - peering into his steely gaze. “I didn’t think that people had that happen to them here. I just thought it was all like…serious planning n’ stuff.”  SHe never really stopped to think about the actual lives on the line - the battles, she was living in her own little world of make believe, in a digital world of well…make believe.
    Then he mentioned therapist, and Alinta reached out to give him a small pat on his shoulder. “Hey, how much do ya reckon it’d cost for me to vent about my bitch of a mum who gave me daddy issues?”
    He still seemed a little …what was the word? Bummed out? And Alinta wasn’t really good at making people feel better about themselves. She was good at taking photos. Looking good. And writing fanfiction. 
    Just as she opened her mouth, ready to tell him one of her many stories - his smile returned. A little more muted than before, but it still broke the lines in his face - still held that strange and alluring warmth.
    “L-leave? Like here?” She glanced down at her attire. “I’m…not exactly dressed for it. Nor do I have any kinda …weapons. But…it would be nice to see the fields of crossing at least. So - is that like…a date?”
                     
    "A shame, indeed," Oscar agreed. "Though, I think I'd be best suited to do the poking, no?"
    Her second question earned her a bark of laughter in response. Oscar hadn't engaged with his own profession since he'd got stuck here. Sure, he'd been the confidant and he gave advice as best he could. But he'd never busted out his rate clock. And he wasn't really about to start now. Besides.
    "I don't think I'd charge, but my methods would be as physical as they are unethical. Definitely more fun than soul searching and head shrinking, though."
    In the real world, Oscar would never have dreamed of making light of it. But everyone was fucked up at all times. He was no exception. And he was also just one man. There was little that one man could do to solve the epidemic. And by the time all was said and done, everyone would need years of therapy to undo the trauma that a video game left. So it didn't really strike him as the perfect time to start that journey when they hadn't even escaped the game yet. And Oscar always like to say that 'when in Rome, fuck it we ball.'
    "Yeah, we can call it a date. Got the perfect quest to knock out for ya. All you need to do is sit back and look pretty. I really don't think you're gonna struggle with that."
            
    The question left her lips before she even had time to register what he meant. “Poking me? Why would you be better suited to-” She caught herself before finishing it, and instead of overreacting she clamped her mouth shut, staring at the squares of the linoleum floor.
    He then laughed - The Physical part she got but…”Unethical? Why?” Alinta knew she’d regret asking that, especially with how Oscar stared her down, a twinkle in his eyes when she asked. As though he were waiting for her to ask such a question.
     
     Alinta pushed herself off the little barstool and stretched by arching her back just so. The coy smile returned. “Sit back and look pretty? Honey thats what I am paid to do. You’re paid to talk, I’m paid to flaunt.” She accentuated the final word with a smal jut of her hip and an extra bounce in her step as she shifted toward the door.
     
     A date though…Alinta didn’t exactly think he’d call her on it. “Y-You know…” She mumbled. “It doesn’t have to be a date. I was just kinda kidding, unless you wanted it to be, but even then its just…” She breathed in and out, slowly to calm her erratic heart. “Its just jokes, right?”
                     
    "Oh shit, you're actually a model?"
    Oscar probably should have picked up on that. The confident stride and the attention to her appearance. It was lost in translation somewhere between innuendo number one and euphemism number three. Looking at her in that lens made it relatively obvious. Her clothing was fashionable - casual. He tilted his head as she strode toward the door. He tried not to *leer* but a thorough examination could easily be confused. And were this out in the street without them having met, he was quite certain that the intensity of his gaze would be entirely misunderstood. But there was a certain... something there. It was definitely her attire. He couldn't place it - or really vocalize it - but it was almost like the clothes wore *her.* As if Alinta was in fashion and not the other way around.
    Oscar followed along as she headed for the door. He shoved his hand into his pocket as they stepped outside. After their tit-for-tat it was only natural that she would want to clear the air. Certainly, being confronted so brazenly about intention would trigger some awkward charge in the air. And maybe it did for her, but Oscar was just as calm now than before the question was posed. He answered with a casual shrug. Not the definitive statement she sought, but an action that highlighted his current temperament.
     
     "I do not joke about beautiful women," Oscar said. "Men either, really."
            
    Somehow, the whole ‘date’ thing was swept up and away through other conversations and Alinta was very grateful for that. She had calmed down a lot after initially meeting the man and his jabs and quips definitely got her flustered. But Alinta knew she had this. She could overcome stuff like this - she dealt with far worse online.
     
     “Mmhmm…” Alinta began as she opened the door to his…what would she call it? His Hot-doggery. Then, he stared. An intense gaze, unwavering as his eyes slowly drifted up and down her body. Their eyes locked - Alinta cleared her throat. “Y-you could almost be one too.” She muttered, breaking away from the gaze. That was close. She could feel her heart thump hard against her chest. Distractions, yeh. They were good. Alinta stepped out into the street. Fresh air. Also good. Was it a little warm in there? She fanned herself.
    “I had been modelling alt-fashion for about…hmmm…” She tilted her head to the side, tapping her lip. “Maybe about three or four years. Got into it when I was 18. Grew an online following. The sponsors pay for most things.”
     
     They were walking down the street now - Oscar a few feet in front of her. Alinta had to quicken her pace to keep up with his tall languid strides.
     
     “So…” Alinta said as she skipped forward a few steps to be in line with his own. “Where exactly are we going? Whatcha got planned in that rugged mind of yours?
                     
    "I appreciate the vote of confidence," Oscar said with a smile. "But comparatively speaking, you got it way more than I do. Besides, I couldn't handle the pressure. I like to keep it low key."
    Not entirely accurate, now that he thought about it. But it was close enough. He was plenty confident but somehow he didn't think he would be comfortable strutting his stuff on stage. It was definitely a learning skill - one that he didn't have the inclination (or frankly the courage) to pick up.
    As the conversation continued, he had to stifle the knee-jerk E-girl response. Somehow, he knew that would go over about like a lead balloon. He was doing so well thus far and absolutely refused to fumble it. Mercifully, she came skipping past his flank. The sudden movement almost spooked him. A dangerous thing when he was accustomed to people sneaking up on him. For a brief second, his fingers flexed as he almost summoned one of his weapons to his hand. The impulse passed and he distracted himself with his own response.
     
     "Floor Five. There's a quest there that people are using nowadays for some easy levels. You just need a high level carry. And look at that, it's me."
            
    Alinta nodded at his response. “Yeh… its…you know the amount of hate comments I got on the daily? Its wild. Pure vitterol. But, it was easily handled. They were faceless people on a screen. The harder stuff, that was the live events. One time, this other girl - Raven - threw a bucket of milk mixed with honey all over me right before I was supposed to go out on stage. I mean. She got fired, and sued for damages but…” Alinta smirked. “Suppose her lil itty bitty A-cups were jealous.”
    It was a difficult world to navigate but one Alinta enjoyed just the same.
     
    “Floor FIVE?”
     
     The panic was evident in her voice, “I…you know I haven’t left this town, right? Right? I mean - I don’t have any weapons, any armour - I barely know how to use the combat system. Like I barely got my character created before we were thrown into whatever fan fiction bullcrappery Kayaba wanted us to do!”
     
     He mentioned carrying her and Alinta had to remind herself this man was one of the higher levelled players. His calm deposition, the confidence - okay…”okay…” Alinta breathed as they neared the town portal gate. “I trust you.”
     
     She slipped her hand into his.
    <<Fortaleza>>
    “GAH!”  
     
     Alinta let go of his hand and stumbled forward a few feet, almost falling over. The sudden shift in everything felt…weird. “D-Do people do that all the time?” She asked. It was equally exhilarating, and terrifying. How everything just instantaneously shifted around her between one half second and the next.  The city was …much more drab than Alinta expected, she was hoping for fancy buildings - rising high into the sky, maybe something a little more ..modern. Instead - she was thrown into what felt like a scene from that one kids movie with the genie.
     
     Alinta turned to look at Oscar, completely deadpan. “Oscar.” She began. “What kind of sandy hellhole did you take me to?” She held up her arms, showcasing her exposed midriff. “Am I gonna get sunburnt?”
                     
    "Yeah, I can totally see why the A-Cups would be jealous," Oscar said with a laugh. It was a stark reminder that modeling was always a cutthroat business. And how catty women could be, but Oscar really didn't need a reminder about that. He was plenty catty himself. He didn't have time to travel down that road too far before Alinta began to vocalize her dissent. Floor Five was definitely cause for trepidation for someone who hadn't even cleared the tutorial. Oscar had his own reasons for not going. But as she continued to have her moment, Oscar was swiping through his menus. He quickly tapped several icons, activating an assortment of buffs to get himself ready for combat. Finally, when all was said and done, they had arrived at the Teleportation Platform. Before he could say anything to calm her nerves, she had slipped her hand into his and activated the dias.
    Teleporting was an acquired taste. Even now, Oscar usually preferred to close his eyes while hurtling through subspace. The nausea that followed was something that one rarely got used to. In a flash of light, they had left the familiar climes of the Town of Beginnings behind and now stood in the center of the desert sanctuary of Fortaleza. Oscar's appearance, too, had changed. Gone was the elegant button-up and slacks, replaced by the leathers of combat. His sword, the jet-black Kyuketsuki, hung loosely at his hip. Oscar brought his fist up to his lips, closing his eyes as he choked the wave of nausea back down.
    The heat was miserable. And even with his light garb and half-open shirt, there was little to be done about it. There were reasons why Oscar preferred fighting the Forgotten Time King to this and they all centered around how hot it was here.
    "Five thousand experience, Ali," Oscar said with a defeated sigh. "It's almost worth it. I think."
Alinta watched as Oscars clothing changed and shimmered - he was…equipping armour right? Oh. Should she do that? Glancing down at her own form - tank top and baggy jeans…the attire wasn’t really battle-ready. “Uhm…” She hoped he would keep his word. Alinta was an honest person - and took people at face value. Expecting them to extrude that same level of honesty. “So, this is safe right? Like…I’m not gonna go out there and die?” Her question was posed with a joking tone, and she managed to laugh it off - but - the danger was very real.
     
     “Five thousand….” It seemed like a lot - but Alinta had nothing to compare it to. “That’s…a lot, right?” She asked. “Like - if  I were to think of it in terms of money…five thousand…damn that’d buy me a lot.” 
    Alinta broached the gap between them and patted his chest with the palm of her hand. “So - you said you’d carry me right, am I supposed to climb on your shoulders - or you gonna do it princess style?”  Of course, Alinta knew what carrying meant - she’d played games before. But he looked uncomfortable, leather plus sun - a mix Alinta knew did not go well from personal experience.
    “C’mon Mista Hotdog. Its worth it, because I’m keeping you company.”
     
     Alinta didn't want to be completely useless - she opened up her screen - and sent Oscar a party invite. "C'mon. The sooner we can get this done the sooner we can get you out those clothes!" She grabbed his hand and practically dragged him to what looked like the town square. 
     
     "Right...so we need to pick up the quest..." She mused to herself - still dragging Oscar behind her.  
     
     THERE
     
     In the center of the town square stood a man - who seemed to be waving the two down. Alinta approached. "Sup."
     
     He cleared his throat- and gave some sort of spiel that Alinta did not pay attention to- she got distracted watching a fly crawl in and out of his mouth while he talked. "Hey..." She jabbed Oscar in the side with her elbow. "Look at that fly go to town on him."
     
     As the NPC - Abdullah finished talking a prompt window popped up in front of her. "Oh...so this is how quests work in this game..." Alinta shrugged and hit accept.
     
     "Right. Time to carry me."
    Oscar needed no further invitation.
    Quick as a flash, he had scooped Alinta into his harms and broke off into a sprint. He shot out like an arrow from a bow, leaving a trail of dust and sand in his wake. Oscar faulted nimbly over crates and wagons - even a building or two when he couldn't bother to move around them. The wind whipped up by his speedy forward dash was oddly soothing in the desert heat. Which was helpful as they left the safe environs of Fortaleza and struck out into the open desert. Oscar was moving based off of memory, surging through the sands until he found the tell-tale bloodstains upon the gold. He skidded to a stop, tilting his frame to the side to place Alinta's feet on the ground in the shade of the one random tree for miles. He didn't lose momentum, however as he grabbed hold of the trunk and used it to whip himself round to dash off in another direction.
    "Shark!"
    His voice rang out and a wave of force rippled out from all directions. It was hard to nail down exactly where the Quest Boss would be. But Focused Howl would do most of the work for him. Sure enough, he saw the sands begin to shift. With an explosion of dust, his quarry appeared - eyes set upon its prey.
            
    Oscar scooped Alinta up and she had to wrap her arms around his neck to stop herself from falling. “H-Hey I know what carry means you don’t actually have to-” But it was too late. He moved, at a speed Alinta didn’t think was possible - then again, this was a game. She just…never bothered with any of the actual game mechanics. She didn’t know things like this were possible. She winced - burying her head into his collaarbone as sand and wind whipped at her face.
    Builds fell, giving way to endless reaches of sand - as far as the eye could see. Alinta chanced a glance at their surroundings…nothing. They were surrounded by absolutely nothing, so then why…why did she feel so…excited?   “whoa…”
    Finally Oscar stopped; allowing her to stand beneath a single solitary tree. How convenient. “Hey-”
     
     "Shark!"
    
     The beast emerged from the sands with a roar and Alinta backed up until she hit the tree. If she could have climbed it, she would have - although she doubted it’d do much. “T-Thats uhm…” It was giant.
     
    
    She thought the richly dressed NPC mentioned something about a shark? But this…was different - its armour reflected the suns rays in harsh blinding light - and its giant maw could swallow her whole.
    Fear.
     Alinta was afraid.
     Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to come out here with narry a weapon or armour.
                     

erra Firma didn't take too kindly to being called out of its name. Or maybe it was Oscar's general presence in its vicinity. EIther way, Oscar quickly found the creature's razor-sharp teeth wrapping around his frame. It was a good thing that the leathers were only there for the aesthetic and his actual armor was a bit more substantial. Most of his fleshy bits were well protected against  the creature's snapping jaws. It was rather funny, how hard the beast was trying. It bit down, only to have its fangs denied by Oscar's harder-than-usual candy shell. Its tail and limbs whipped about as it flailed wildly. Its desperation could be felt as it tried so hard to turn Oscar into its next meal. Oscar mounted a counterattack, but he was busy laughing at the predicament that the Quest Boss was in.
    He turned about to look at Alinta, the boss turning with him as it failed to pry its jaws off of him. "See Ali? Perfectly harmless!" He winced as a fang jabbed him in the side. "Mostly harmless."
    Alinta covered her eyes, squealing when she watched the giant shark creature lunge at Oscar.  This wasn't even the frontlines! This was floor five! FIVE!? And things were this monstrous? How did anyone go beyond that? How did anyone have the guts to fight the actual floor bosses? She peered at him through her fingers - the beast was practically gnawing on him. But...he ...seemed fine? It was almost like a chihuahua fighting something 10 times its size.  
    "Uhm..." Alinta pulled her hands fully away from her face -  then - she slowly stood. It was almost comical how Oscar fought with the beast. "D-Do I try....I don't know...punching it?" Alinta asked as she watched the large beast clench its jaws down harder on Oscars arm. Alinta winced. That sound...it was so graphic, but...she guessed pain wasn't really a thing here, right? That's why he was able to stand there with almost a jovial laugh and smile on his face.
    "That doesn't look harmless to me!" She called out. Her eyes shifting up to his HP bar - It had gone down. Only a fraction, the tiniest bit - but it had still gone down. Just...how strong was he? If it tried to bite down on her, would she just instantly die? She didn't have any armour - and she was still only level one.
    "I mean," Oscar began. His voice was level, even as the creature's fangs dug into him. Almost as if he wasn't even in combat at all. At least, nothing that he considered to be combat. Bad as the thing looked and scary as the boss was, it didn't really amount to much in the grand scheme. It barely had enough damage to cut through Oscar's armor. The battle had barely begun and he was already back to full. It felt more like a game of tug-o'-war with a dog than fighting for his life.
    "Did I not tell you that all you needed to do was stand there and look pretty?" Clearly he hadn't overstated the simplicity. But still, upon looking back and catching her worried expression, Oscar closed his eyes and gave her a bright smile. "This guy doesn't have any sorts of area-of-effect attacks. And I've got his attention so you're totally safe. And he could gnaw on me all day and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't get me much lower than this. So if you wanna jump in and get the feel for fighting, by all means. You are one hundred percent safe."
Stand there and look pretty huh
    
    Alinta sighed, feeling a pang of uselessness bubble up inside her core that she didn't like one bit. Here was a man who had been nothing but kind to her, even going as far as to offer her food - and she was just...standing there and looking pretty. Her lavender eyes cast downward at her perfectly manicured, perfectly painted nails - then down to her feet - stylish sneakers. Her entire appearance was comfy, but, was it an affront to people like Oscar who were fighting hard? 
    
    Then...came the offer - she perked up, offering him a big smile. "Y-Yeh! Okay!" Alinta nodded her head. She could do this! SHE COULD DO THIS! All she had to do was run up and land a big ol' punch on its underbelly, right? She went to run toward the Terra Firma - a spark of fire twinkling in her eyes - exuberant, ready! Ready to FIGHT!
    
    Unfortunately...one of her shoelaces were untied, and she tripped, falling flat on her face. Alinta groaned, and pushed herself back to her feet, dusting the sand off. Well...that was embarrassing.
    
    Alinta shook her head and plastered a large smile on her face, well...if there was one thing she could do good, it was standing there and looking pretty. So, Alinta kicked up a foot, and gave Oscar a lil finger bang gesture with a wink. "C'mon Hotdog boy - you get this done soon and there'l be a sweet surprise for you." She crooned as she blew him a kiss.     Watching Alinta faceplant brought back so many painful memories. It was what tended to happen when you were level 1 and didn't have a spec of Accuracy to your name. But, he had to give her credit where it was due - she absolutely gave it a shot. Maybe not her best shot. But a shot. Which, against a boss that could realistically kill her with the lightest of scrapes, that amounted to more than he could communicate. If she was serious about it, she definitely had the balls to get the job done.
    Which he found just so insanely attractive.
    Of course, it was hard to be suave and charming when there was a massive land shark chomping at your arm. But her words of encouragement still reached him. And, with a laugh, he grabbed the beast by the neck and swung it over his shoulder - slamming in into the ground. His weapon flashed to his hand and he brought it down upon the creature's flank, flaying it open with one precise strike. He looked up as he dealt the blow, a small huff of laughter escaping his lips. "I've never really had a cheerleader before. You're absolutely killin' it. But again, don't write checks you aren't willing to cash, Ali."
    Her face was covered in sand; and her white crop stained. Her shoulders were tinged an angry glowing red- early signs of sunburn - for she did not have the survival skill. Still, Alinta laughed, a melodious and carefree laugh as she feebly tried to push sand out of her face. “This…is actually kind of fun.” She laughed.
    So, Alinta - wanted to try again. She bent down and tied up her shoelace and hopped on one foot then the other to test them. “Okay. Okay. Let’s go Alinta.” And go - she did, this time, Alinta got closer now to the Shark like beast. Almost close enough to punch it, but as Oscar went to swing it over his neck Alinta was pushed back, landing this time on her butt.
     
     “Ooff..”
     
     It hurt, but not much - rather, it was a tingle telling her ‘this would have hurt’ but beyond that… Was pain really a non issue here?
     
     Still sitting on the ground, covered in sand, Alinta looked up at Oscar - eyes wide in awe.
    “Aww, but I’m just a widdle level 1 - sorry to say Hotdog boy, but I ain’t got all that much cash left.”
    Oscar was glad that she was having fun. He'd brought many a low-level Player through either this quest or the other one and they almost always ran into issues. They almost always didn't give Oscar time to establish Hate. Hell, even against a simpler Quest Boss, Abellio had come so close to biting it. So he was happy to see someone actually having fun trying to level themselves up. But it did mean that the tutorial would very much be a slog. But that would be an issue for Alinta's future. 
    "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself," Oscar said brightly. "Most would be quaking in their sneakers by n- oh fuck!"
    He'd allowed himself to get a little distracted. Terra Firma's flailing caught his ankle right as he was about to deliver yet another blow. His foot flew out from under him and he lost his balance. It had been quite some time since that had happened. Oscar contorted himself as gravity took over and seeing his trajectory, pivoted at the last moment. His hands and his knees took the impact. Better that than falling on top of Alinta with his full weight. But it did put them in quite the compromising position. Her back flat against the sand with Oscar looming over her. If there were any onlookers, they might get the wrong idea.
    He looked down at her, eyes wide in shock for a moment. And then he smiled. Even when he fucked up, he still came out - quite literally - on top.
    His head dropped down low, his lips just a hairsbreadth from her cheek. When he spoke, his voice was nothing but a whisper. "You're a smart girl. I'm sure figuring out payback wouldn't be all that hard."
            
    "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself,"
     
     Alinta nodded. "Y-Yeh. I guess I am." Her eyes shifted behind him at the Terra Firma. It was...daunting this close. Scary. She shifted herself back 3 feet, still on her butt - ensuring she was far enough away that Oscar could essentially wrestle with it as much as he wanted to. Her chest heaved with heavy breaths - a mix of adrenaline and fear fighting for dominance within her. She was putting on a brave front but truth be told she was quaking in her sneakers. Literally. She was shaking. But - There was something about him that made her feel safe.
    Alinta took a deep breath and was about to push herself up off the ground when it happened. Oscar wavered- tripping on a flailing fin. The Terra Firma boss broke free from munching on his arm and Oscar came tumbling forward.
     
     BANG
     
     Their foreheads collided, and Oscars weight pushed her right into the ground. Alinta’s heart was still beating fast and hard  as she looked up at him. Alinta could smell it even now- that same mix of lemon and mahogany, tinged with acrid sweat. Somehow, it was the fragrance of a safe place, a warm embrace, home. Without realizing her own actions Alinta closed her eyes and lifted her head, tilting it so she could sniff the crook of his neck.
    She snapped out of it when she felt his weight shift. He was straddling her - and if Alinta wasn’t feeling a plethora of other things right now, she’d be embarrassed - and potentially freaking out. Instead the woman stared up at the man looming over her. Lavender eyes wide. He seemed just as shocked before a smile broke the moment.
     
     Payback…figuring out…right….right she did say that, didn’t she?
     
     Crap…why was he so close…why could she feel the tickle of his lips against her cheek? This was too much, this was way, way, way, way too much.
    With a hard shove, Alinta managed to push Oscar off of her, but not before her lips - albeit accidentally - pressed up against his cheek.
     
     “S-Sorry Sorry!” She immediately stammered. “Accident!”
                     
    He felt the soft caress of her lips upon his cheek. And he knew that it was entirely accidental. He rolled off of her, quickly kicking their almost-forgotten Quest Target away as it went in for another attack. He calmly rose to his feet, grabbing the creature's tail as it whipped around. He reaffirmed his grip, fingers digging into its leathery hide. And with one herculean effort, slung the creature over his shoulder to slam it into the earth. The maneuver seemed to daze the creature. So much the better because Oscar was not even focused on the fight. He found himself distracted by the now beet-red Alinta clambering to her feet.
    He was certain, of course, that her rosy colored cheeks were not entirely because of the sun.
    Oscar gave her a smile, his fingers rising up to touch the spot that had just been graced by her lips. Of course, it was an accident. He knew that. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to strike while the iron was hot.
    "My, Ali. Quite forward, aren't we?"
            
    As Oscar rolled off her Alinta rolled to her side and pushed herself off the ground, her feet sunk into the loose sand - up to her ankles and she groaned, feeling the tiny grains filing all the crevices of her shoes..that’d be a pain to deal with later.
     
     Still with her back facing him Alinta reached up and pressed her fingers to her lips. It was nothing more than an accident, but…it had all felt so real. She could really feel the tingling warmth of his skin. Really taste the salt of his sweat - and the granules of sand that clung to her lips. “It felt so real…” She whispered quietly, as though amazed. Alinta turned back to Oscar - watching as he dazed beast struggled to right itself after being tossed like a discarded toy.
     
     “It…It felt so real.” Alinta said again, louder now. “I didn’t - think stuff like that would have even been coded into the game.”
     
     "My, Ali. Quite forward, aren't we?"
    
     Between one breath and the next; Alinta’s confident veneer returned. “O-only when I want to be.”
                     
    "Oh Kayaba is an infamous freak, Ali," Oscar said. "Shit, what's it called? Disable Moral Code. It's literally an option in your menu." It was almost funny, but leave it to the mastermind behind the death game to also program in the sex button. He knew what he was doing. Shoving a bunch of horny assholes somewhere they could not physically leave. If the NerveGear didn't get you, the being pent up for years would.
    Oscar had to pause to duck under the lunging Sand Shark. It sailed through the air over Alinta's head, aiming straight for Oscar like an arrow comprised of fangs and claws. Oscar was, thankfully able to dodge, but he wasn't able to mount a counterattack before the creature sailed out of his reach. So much the better, really. Oscar's heart just wasn't in the fight anymore. It was different when they constituted a threat. But now? He couldn't find the fucks to give.
    Probably and especially because of Alinta's presence. What red-blooded man would choose nasty monster over a beautiful elf girl? "Only when you want to be? So that was you wanting to be forward?"
"D-disable...what now!?" Alinta asked as she stared at him in disbelief, there was no way....  Alinta quickly opened her menu, trying to find anything in her settings ....was it even in the settings? No? Huh...was he... "OSCAR!" Alinta shouted in frustration. "Y-You're not supposed to lie to a woman you're trying to court!" Was he trying to do that? It very much seemed that way. She almost believed him for a second, because - it could have been very real. After all - PKers were a thing right? She had heard rumors of Chuckling Coffin was it? A whole group of people whose morals were very questionable.
    
    "I...I actually believed you..." Alinta muttered as she slicked back her fringe. "There are so many questionable people here I almost...I thought it was a thing. I mean , why else would people be brazenly walking around with orange crystals above their heads?" 
    
    Alinta ducked as the Terra Firma flew over her head and missed Oscar. Crashing into the sand, Alinta coughed - breathing in the debris. "Eurgh..."
    
    Oscar questioned her, was that her being forward? Alinta shook her head, still coughing. "No. Trust me - if I want to be forward you will know it. You won't be prepared for it."     "You didn't know?" That was surprising. They'd been stuck in the game for a while. He thought it was pretty much just common knowledge at this point. Common knowledge no one ever really spoke of, but common knowledge nonetheless. "It's not visible unless you're in a private area like an inn room or a house. But wait. Does that mean that you've never... you know. Since you got stuck here? I applaud your restraint."
    He would have continued the conversation, but it was rather difficult to do so when Terra Firma chomped down on his head and slung Oscar over his back into the middle distance. Oscar landed on his feet, skidding to a halt just in time to see the boss wheel around and lock onto Alinta. It didn't get time to take a step. Oscar launched himself off of the ground, flying high into the air before crashing down onto the beast's head. He pivoted quickly, kicking the Quest Boss away like a rag doll.
    "Damn, I think its mad because I've been rag dolling it," Oscar said, flipping his sword over the back of his hand. "But I'm just so good at it. I can't help myself." He turned his head to look back at Ali and gave her a cheeky wink before giving the boss his full attention.
His reply concerned her - but at the same time...confused her. "Wait...so it is a thing?" Alinta asked confused- and it was only available in...private areas.  She stared at Oscar, the gears slowly ticking in her head. He didn't mean morality... as in straight up morals he meant.... 
    
    "Oh."
    
    HIs follow up questions.... "But wait. Does that mean that you've never... you know...."  Never...what....He wasn't implying that, was he? He mentioned applauding her restraint, and suddenly it all began to click together. He meant...people would actually get down and dirty in this game? "A-Are you kidding me?" Alinta cried out, this time she was unable to hide the unabashed embarrassment she felt. "O-Of course I haven't done something like that here! its a GAME! I didn't even think you'd feel stuff like, kissing and you're telling me people BANG each other when there's monsters roaming around them?" It sounded completely and utterly ridiculous. 
    
    A loud roar reverberatted around them, and Alinta had to remember they were in a battle. Her eyes snapped to the shark like creature.  "O...Oscar...." She whimpered when she saw its beady black eyes lock onto her - it began to charge at her and Alinta feebly shielded herself - but it barely took a single step before Oscar crashed into it, sending it spiraling into the floor.
    
    This...was dangerous.
    
    "D-Don't let it get the upper hand." She tried to stammer, but it was clear that the near encounter had scared her.
          "Well like I said, it's only done in Safe Zones."
    Oscar found himself distracted by the topic at hand once more and noticed that Terra Firma had suddenly decided that Alinta was a far more appealing target. After all, she'd not landed a hit and Oscar had been brutalizing the poor bastard for the past five minutes. It leaped over Oscar's head trying to reach the easier meal. With practiced effort, Oscar decided to put an end to this. His weapon disappeared, replaced in the next moment by <<Divine Rancor>>. Quickly tapping his Battle-Ready Inventory, Oscar activated his Crystal of Divine Light. Divine Rancor's passive glow intensified into a blaze of white flame. Oscar stepped forward and struck, bisecting the creature. White flames ignited upon its model, searing the two segments of the creature as it slowly dissolved into Crystal Shards.
    With the threat dealt with, Oscar finally put his weapon away. He stepped forward through the remnants of the flames, looking Ali over with a visibly worried expression. "Are you okay? The thing shouldn't have gone for you at all." He grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her left and right to make sure she was unharmed. "I'm very sorry," he said. "I should have been more careful."
            
    Again the thing went for her, and Alinta felt like she was going to throw up. Was this how she was going to die? All the excitement she felt earlier, the quips and jabs, flirtatious remarks - they all ran through her head - all of that - leading to her death - Alinta dropped to her knees and covered her head. What did it feel like to die here? Would it be instantaneous? Would it hurt? Would she wake up in the real world? No....that was just blissful ignorance. 
     
     A whimper fell from her lips.
    Then, the sound of metal carving flresh - clanging - and a rupture followed. Alinta chanced to peek - only to see the monster dead. "I...it's gone?" She asked, her voice shaky. Trembling with fear. For all the bravado she had earlier, it was like she was the complete opposite now. Oscar knelt beside her, a firm hand on each shoulder as he asked if she was okay. Alinta gave a timid nod. "Y-Yeh."
     
     The bearded man apologized and thats when Alinta swung her arms around his shoulders. "That was scary." She mumbled, trying to calm her shaky breaths. She could feel her heart pound erratically against his chest as she squeezed him tighter. "I-I could've died, right?" She said. Slowly using him to help her stand. "I don't want that fear! I don't want that for me!" There was a pause. "I don't want that for you!"
     
     Another pause as she refused to let him go. Her head resting against him. "Is...is that what you go through daily? You acted like it was nothing. Every time it bit into you - it was like it didn't even bother you." She shook her head. "Can we go back to the town?"
                     
            
    He was being comforting, and Alinta soaked it up. Each iota of warmth. She burried her face in the crook of his neck and took multiple deep breaths. She was so excited to fight, but it flickered away like a dying flame - and she was practically a mewling kitten in his warms. "Its okay." Alinta mumbled as he hefted her easily onto his back. Alinta Squeezed him tighter. "I wanna be better." She admitted as he carried her slowly back to the village.  
    "You're....very warm." She mumbled. "And...even though I got scared - I enjoyed myself. And, it made me think maybe I could be a little bit better. Maybe...I could try to do something. Maybe...maybe not big monsters like that but I could gather things, people do that right?" She pressed her cheek fast against his. It was a close call, a terrifying experience - but she was still here, and still alive. It was thanks to Oscar.
    
     "Don't apologize." Alinta said as they entered the town again. "I really enjoyed my time with you." She stepped closer, grabbing each one of his hands. “A shower? Hah..” she laughed gently, resting her forehead against his chest. “You don’t smell that bad to me, Oscar.” She squeezed his hands. “It reminds me of home. So - what did you want for that reward?”
                     
    Was she simply trying to make him feel better about his colossal fuck-up? It had been her neck on the line, after all. Oscar didn't much think that he deserved such a sweet reaction after almost getting her killed. But neither would he reject the gesture. He'd rather deal with the guilt than her the rejection. So he played along, but his heart wasn't exactly in it. 
     
     "I'm glad you did," Oscar said. "Except for that bit right at the end there, it was a very enjoyable day." Her resting her head against his chest came as a shock, but it was a nice surprise. He breathed out a laugh and shook his head.
    "I just feel gross," he said. "But as for that reward, you've already kissed me on the cheek."
    He tilted her head up, hooking his fingers beneath her chin. Then, he bent down low and gently kissed her forehead. Pulling back with a slight smile, Oscar patted her on the head. "So I'll just return the favor."

Terra Firma Attack vs Oscar
ID: 244566 | BD: 10, Deal 90 Damage

Post Action -> AOE-I vs Terra Firma
Free Action -> Quick Change: Kyuketsuki -> Divine Rancor (-AA, - VAMP, +16 HLY +36 BLI)
Free Action -> Crystal of Divine Light
ID: 244567, BD: 10
26+2 (Crit) + 16 (Holy) + 8 (CoDL) = 52 Base Damage
52 * 14 =728 - 75 = 653 DMG

Oscar | HP: 923/960 | EN: 94/128 | DMG: 26 | MIT:212 | ACC:5 | AA  | PHASE | F-SPIRIT | EVA:3 | BH:53 | VAMP-O: 158 | REC: 4 | LD:5 | HLY: 16 | BLI: 36/2
Alinta | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 1 

Os12, Al0 Terra Firma | HP: 0/950 | DMG: 300 | MIT: 150 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 4