Lilik

"Never asked them to care about me." The words slipped out before she could register what she was saying, and they sounded petulant even to her own ears. She grimaced, but looked away from Oscar to hide it. Still, she couldn't let that statement hang for long. "I'm glad Lessa helped me with-" a pause "-some stuff earlier, but it was just a favor. I offered to pay her and that other guy for it. I didn't expect her to adopt me. She and that Kyra woman are trying really hard to make this friendship happen, but I don't need anyone. I don't want anyone. I'm fine on my own."

She swung back to him, her expression as hard as her amber eyes. "And I'm not looking to be psychoanalyzed, either. Don't tell me about how important relationships are, or whatever, because that's not what I'm interested in. I'm just making the most of being stuck here. And dodging monsters in the middle of a storm is a lot more interesting than the sex I've had lately."

She began walking again. "I saw someone say that the Spectral Knights were targeting the teleport gates, so I don't think we'll find anything out here."

Support Action - Search for stray Spectral Knights.

The woman huffed out a laugh. Don't strike me as the type to be scared straight. "Nice," she stated. "Observant, and not a complete idiot. You're already doing better than a lot of the Players I've met."

Then he went and opened his mouth again.

Lilik stopped, sighed, and turned back to him. She found him propped up against a tree, the end of his lit cigarette a cheery glow against the dreary backdrop. Of course he'd stand there, completely at ease, smoking like some sort of mobster. Not that it was a bad look on him, granted. But there was just something about his nonchalance after informing her how dangerous it was, and how busy he was, that fanned those flames of annoyance.

Her jaw worked for a moment as she studied him. "Lilik," she finally answered. Then, "And I don't know why you and Lessa are acting like I'm out here parading vulnerable children around or something. It's just me out here." It always has been. But the same way he had her figured out, she had a pretty good read on him, too - he wouldn't appreciate the sob story. And it wasn't as if she'd ever been one to sob, anyway. "I like the rush this place gives me. It's that same shot of adrenaline I get watching a horror movie, but multiplied like tenfold. And I might die. But nobody lives forever, especially in this place."

She waited until Lessa had disappeared from view before answering Oscar. While there was some part of her that took the time to organize her thoughts and find her next words, the main reason was to make sure that Lessa was out of earshot. "Then go," she replied tersely, motioning the direction Lessa had just gone. "Make up some story about why you couldn't stay. I don't really care." Her voice was dispassionate, but she didn't turn to look at him as she spoke. Instead, she took a few steps the other direction. "I didn't ask you to come, and I'm not asking you to stay. That's your choice."

Lilik walked for a few seconds, then paused to call over her shoulder. "None of this-" she mimicked his earlier hand gesture "-is because I lost someone. It's because I like it here. Lessa just likes throwing it in my face at every chance she gets, like it might make me change who I am. Scare me straight or something." She shrugged again, her sopping wet sweater clinging to her shoulders. "But I don't know what she's hoping to accomplish, because it's not going to change me."

She resumed her walking. "It's like you said, we've all lost friends."

"I'm going to talk about her," Lessa shot back, "because someone has to. She wouldn't want this."

"She's dead. It doesn't matter what she wants."

"She's dead because she wasn't protected." Her voice softened, barely audible over the floor's stormy soundtrack. "We couldn't protect her."

Lilik drew in a sharp breath, her nostrils flaring, but that was the only indication that the words hit home. "My being out here isn't putting anyone at risk except myself. And I'm fine with that. I happen to like this floor."

"Fine," Lessa echoed, throwing up her hands in defeat. "If all you want to do is stay on this floor, then be smart about it. While you're out here skipping through the rain and playing hide and seek with Cthulhu, keep an eye out for Spectral Knights. Someone sent out a message with their description earlier this morning, and I know Oscar's probably fought a few by now. He can point them out. And then you guys can alert the others, and we'll get a team out your way."

Lilik opened her mouth to object, but Lessa took a step toward her, closing the distance until their faces were inches apart. Her breath was hot against Lilik's face when she added, "Go protect someone else, like we couldn't protect her."

"That's not my job," Lilik muttered, but Lessa had already turned to address Oscar.

"Can you just walk with her, please? Not babysitting, just escorting while you both do some recon work? Just until I deal with this. They need someone with a support build, and I already said I'd be there. I can't leave them hanging. But I'll be right back."

Lilik, to her credit, didn't appear all that intimidated by the Beast. Crossing her arms across her chest, the woman took a long moment to look him up and down. "Who called the BFG?"

"Cute," Lessa muttered. "The BFG. Referencing childrens literature at a time like this."

Without shifting her gaze from Oscar, Lilik replied, "Roald Dahl was a fucking genius, and I bet you're just surprised that I even know how to read. Now who is this guy?"

Her eyes caught and held Oscar's, amber and gold sparking like crossed swords. Lilik appreciated Lessa, and the work that she and Bahr did to rescue Rainy, but she didn't have a ton of respect for her. She was too malleable - too easy to take advantage of. Lilik had encountered so many people just like the pretty blonde, and she'd steamrolled each and every one of them. Softness got you nowhere. Which was why Lilik could walk across the twenty ninth floor without worry, while Lessa insisted on safety in numbers. Lilik was tough. She could manage on her own. She did not need a damned babysitter.

And if this guy was who Lessa called in her moment of need, he'd be just as soft.

Just as easy to control.

"I thought that was you." Lilik smirked down at the blonde. "Or some version of you. Had to come see if you'd been turned into one of those zombie things."

Lessa, to her credit, didn't begin steaming from her ears. She looked like she came damn close though. "What the hell are you doing out here?"

If Lilik was annoyed by Lessa's outburst, she gave no indication. Instead, she simply tilted her head, her voice light and mocking. "Oh, it's fantastic to see you too, Lessa! I've been great, thanks for asking. It's been really great to-"

"Will you shut up?" This, it seemed, was enough to finally get the other woman's attention. Lilik blinked owlishly, then opened her mouth to speak again, but Lessa cut her off. "Seriously, shut up." Lessa held up one gauntleted hand, her blue eyes wide and dancing with rage as they met Lilik's. While the other woman had half a foot on her, in that moment, Lessa commanded all attention. "You should not be out here."

Indignation colored Lilik's cheeks. "Says who? Says you?"

"Yes, says me," Lessa shot back. "Says me, says the game, says the fucking universe." Throwing her arms wide, Lessa gestured to their surroundings. "Have you seen this place?"

Lilik's smirk returned, though her amber eyes hardened beneath her thick eyelashes. "Isn't it sweet?"

"No, it's not sweet," Lessa ground out. "It's a damn nightmare. You're way too low level to be up here alone."

"You're alone," came Lilik's matter-of-fact retort.

"I know what I'm doing." Lessa blew out a hard breath, fighting the urge to massage her temple where a massive headache was already taking root. "Look, I have to go."

"Then go."

"I'm not going to leave you here."

Lilik scoffed. "Who the hell do you think you are? My mom?"

"Why, would your mom leave you in the middle of these woods?"

"My mom's dead."

Lessa let her head fall back, a whispered "fuck" slipping past her lips before she heaved a sigh. "Fine. But can I ask a friend of mine to come keep the mobs off you?"

Lilik picked absently at the red polish on her right thumb nail. "You can do whatever you want," she answered simply. "I'm not your mom."

⋇⊶⊰Lilik⊱⊷⋇   Lilik Level: 17 Paragon Level: 0 HP: 340/340 EN: 52/52 Stats: Damage: 8 Equipped Gear: Weapon: Vanity Whip Armor: Vanity Armor Skills: Whip R5

The rain pounded the earth incessantly. Thunder boomed and crackled like fireworks sizzling across the black sky. The warped cries of hellish, inhuman creatures came from all directions, a bastardization of the natural night music. And above it all rose a peal of high-pitched, full-bodied laughter. 

Lilik stood among the trees, her arms outstretched, her head thrown back in ecstasy. Drops pelted her, tiny bullets that stung her exposed skin and soaked her already water-logged clothes. Her lavender hair lung in long, wet tendrils, while her bangs lay plastered to her flushed cheeks. An expression of sheer, unbridled joy lit her features, a stark contrast to her dreary surroundings. Her yellow eyes danced, and the grin that curled her lips was almost sexual in nature as the Player opened herself up to the downpour.

"It's soooo good," she howled to no one in particular before finally standing upright again. The woman gave a little shiver that had nothing to do with the cold. Both hands went to her face and she scrubbed the water from her eyes, then raked her fingers through her hair. The gesture was so commonplace, and to anyone watching, she looked like a woman entirely at ease. Or entirely vulnerable, given her complete lack of visible armor or weapon. And that assessment would be correct. As a level seventeen Player with only vanity gear and no formal training, Lilik had absolutely no business crossing the most dangerous floor currently available. The same floor that had nearly chewed up and spit out the Frontliners upon their initial arrival.

So why was Lilik on Floor 29?

Simple.

Because she wanted to be.

The unveiling of new floors had never impressed her much. Oh wow, another forest! More dark floors lit by colorful crystals! Another mountain! Whoopdie-fucking-do. Lilik could not care less about any of it. She did not lie awake at night, wondering just how many Defiled Churches the creators could cram into one floating castle. All that mattered to her was that each floor cleared meant one step closer to freedom. With that being said, she had dropped everything the moment she heard that Floor 29 was ripped straight from the pages of a HP Lovecraft story. Literally. She had pushed back from the table, sprinted from the tavern, and raced to the teleport gate, leaving her bewildered date waiting for their drinks at the bar. It was no great loss, as he'd been a bit of a dud.

Floor 29, on the other hand, exceeded her expectations. The horror aficionado couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so free, felt so alive, since getting herself locked in Aincrad. It was the buzz that in-game alcohol simply couldn't give her, and the high she hadn't felt since her last hit in her little Tokyo apartment. The lightning that zinged through the clouds above couldn't hold a candle to the electric hum singing through her veins. This, she thought to herself, is where I belong.

She moved into a jog, long strides eating up the distance to the edge of the forest. When she broke through the trees, Lilik found herself pinned between the woods and an endless void. The dark waters, oily in their blackness, thrashed and tumbled with the howling winds. It was as if the sea itself was alive, an enraged animal hell-bent on unleashing its wrath upon the rocks it crashed against. A single entity stood between the Black and the rest of the floor, a silent, stalwart protector. Its beam sliced through the night, guiding lost souls to safety as its kind had for thousands of years.

"A fucking lighthouse," Lilik mused aloud, her hands on her hips as she gazed appreciatively up at the tower. "That's so goddamn perfect."

When the quest window populated, she didn't even pause to read it before slamming the accept button. 

She almost believed him.

The lack of expression on his handsome face, and the relaxed way in which he addressed June, worked wonders to put the other Player at ease. Lilik, however, noticed the faintest pull at the corner of his thin lips. Was that his tell? Then of course, there was the fact that "bad patrols" rarely left helpless young women alone in caves. The man was lying to June, which didn't bother Lilik quite as much as it might have normally. The plum-haired Player typically detested dishonesty, especially when it was directed her way. But was there truly any harm in keeping the woman in the dark?

Yes, some dark part of her answered. She deserves the truth, just like you did. But instead, Lessa told you she'd save Rainey.

Lilik's hands clasped into fists at her side, and her expression hardened. "June, I don't want to be the bad guy, but you-"

The words died on her lips as Godzilla snagged her wrist, lugged her up, and draped her across his back.

Oh! Ohhhhh.

Had a man ever picked her up like this before? A tiny, selfish piece of her had always been envious of petite girls who could be tossed around like dolls. Scooped up and carried across thresholds, to beds, whatever - she figured her height would forever exclude her from such experiences. So even as the strong independent woman who didn't need no man inside of her rioted against the manhandling, Lilik merely swiveled to prop her head up a bit. No point in going along blindly. She gave a very embarrassing squeak of surprise as he took to the rooftops, but to her credit, she didn't give into the desire to burry her face in his broad shoulder.

When he finally came to a stop, and allowed her to slide gently from his back, she pinned him with a stare. The way he stared off into the distance suggested a skill of some sort, though she was far too low-level for such thing. She remained silent, her arms crossed tightly across her chest, letting him think aloud. When he offered a hand, she knocked it aside, stepped into his personal space, and slammed the side of her fist into his sturdy chest. It likely did nothing to him, but she hoped it might get her point across. Plus, it felt good to give her frustration a physical outlet. She had to rock onto her tiptoes, but she managed to get into his face when she sneered, "Never do that again, do you understand me?"

Just as quickly, she stepped out of his reach. "Lilik," she offered simply. "I assumed PKers, too. Are you strong enough to deal with them?"

Total liability when it comes to finding missing sisters.

Cool, another white knight. Where was he when the woman was asking the entire bar for help? Did he only feel a need to offer his apparent expertise when there were two damsels in distress? A sharp retort sprung to Lilik's lips, but as she whirled to fling the verbal darts, she found herself facing a barrel in men's clothing. It took a long, long climb before her gaze finally settled on his face. And "I wanna fuck this guy up" gave way to "I want to fuck this guy".

But for all of Lilik's faults, she still had some self respect. So she simply turned to sneer at the lesser-brute, taking immense pleasure in the way that he wilted beneath the other man's hard stare. What Lilik could only assume was a duel request populated, then died just as quickly. Is Sasquatch here really just that intimidating? Lilik found herself wondering. Or does he have the levels to back it up? Regardless, having Mister Tall, Dark, and Sassy on her side wasn't a bad move as she ventured into the the fifteenth floor's wilderness. As only a level seventeen Player herself, she was really opening herself up to potential danger. Any mob could come out of the trees and attack her, and she wouldn't be able to defend herself. Granted, any Player could do the same, including Goliath here. But was that risk worth letting the woman's sibling stay missing?

If the image of Rainey's smiling face hadn't swam into Lilik's mind, she probably would have said yes, and gone back to drinking her shitty wine.

Lilik motioned for the frightened woman to lead the way, and gave the dejected man a hearty slap on the shoulder as she passed. "Thanks for nothin."

Once the trio stood outside the bar, Lilik guided the woman to a nearby bench. It was dirty, and she was shocked there wasn't a hobo sleeping on it, but the other Player looked like she might collapse. Lilik dropped onto the other end, draping her arms over the back of the bench, and crossing her legs. The casual demeanor perfectly matched the casual question. "So what's going on?"

The woman clasped her hands in her lap, trembling a bit as she looked from Lilik to her companion, then back again. "Well, like I said, April left first thing this morning for the Temple of Kunchen. She is deeply spiritual, and goes this time every week. She's always back by dark, normally even around lunch-time, but she's not back yet. I don't know what happened." Large, tear-filled eyes blinked hopefully at Lilik. "Thank you so much for bringing my sister back to me."

Instinctively, Lilik held up both hands, palms forward. "Whoa there, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Look, uh..."

"My name is June," the Player offered helpfully.

"April and June. Cute." Lilik blew out a hard breath, then leaned forward. "I can't promise anything, except that we'll look for her."

The woman moved from table to table, inserting herself into conversations, and shouldering her way into gatherings of people. She would say something, eyes wide, hands moving wildly, before being dismissed, and the cycle would continue. Typically, the other patrons simply shook their heads, or motioned her away with flicks of their wrists. In a couple of instances, however, the woman was physically shoved, catching an elbow to the chest, or a none-too-gentle shoulder check. Apparently undeterred by such interactions, she went on speaking to anyone who would listen (or rather, those who would not).

Lilik watched the scene from her perch atop a barstool, her amber cat-eyes tracking the strange Player's movements. Who was she? Some sort of prostitute, propositioning herself and getting rejected? A beggar, asking for col, and also getting rejected? A lonely soul hoping to find a friend? Fat chance, in a hellhole like this. Lilik took a pull from her tankard of barley wine, wincing at the thick sweetness, and once again wishing for the saltiest of margaritas. But this tavern specialized in the barley wine, so when in Rome. It was also the cheapest, and Lilik was nothing if not dirt-poor.

So... a prostitute, a beggar, or a sad person? Lilik pursed her lips in silent thought, not entirely sure which option was the most pathetic. Granted, everything in The Tashi was pathetic. Its bad food, its horrible stench, its terrible location in a bad part of town, and all the brainless muscle daddies who frequented it. And Lilik, if she was getting technical about it. She was also pathetic.

As the mysterious woman drew closer to the bar, Lilik found herself leaning slightly toward her, eager to finally hear what the woman was saying. And how much she was charging (purely for research purposes). As soon as the words finally reached her, the barley wine soured in Lilik's gut.

"Please, my sister. She went on a trip to the Temple of Kunchen, and she hasn't come back yet."

The beast of a man to Lilik’s left gave an annoyed snarl, glancing up from the turkey leg he was desecrating. For a split second, he looked like he might chew the skin off the poor Player next. “No one gives a fuck,” he spat, sending spittle and turkey bits flying into the woman’s face. For whatever reason, that disrespect was what finally pushed Lilik over the edge.

She reached over and placed a hand on the man’s broad shoulder. Once he turned to her, she gave him her sunniest smile. “Pardon the interruption,” she began, “but maybe you could stop speaking for the whole class?”

Lilik moved her steady gaze back to the other female’s, that smile never wavering. “What shit-for-brains here actually meant to say was ‘of course, we’d love to help your sister.’”

As the walls closed, Players simply shifted closer together. Lilik supposed it was a bit like the instinct to step away when someone joined you in an elevator. There was no rule stating it had to be done, but it simply felt like the most natural, comfortable response. It wasn't until the smaller space became evident, and the situation more dire, that unease finally rippled through her companions. Lilik herself experienced the first flicker of uncertainty, but she refused to feed the flame. Panicking won't help, she told herself firmly. Panicking was for the weak. I'm not weak.

The pink haired woman's voice snagged her attention, just seconds before Lilik instinctively snatched the flying key from the air. She wanted to snap back, demanding to know when she was made honorary 'key girl,' but the impulse quickly died away. What would be the point? Besides, as one of the tallest Players in the room, it made sense for her to deposit the keys into the locks.

Once more balancing precariously on the arms of the chair, the long woman reached up to slide the key into the lock. With the faintest click, which she felt more than heard, it did its job. Lilik glanced down again just in time to watch a blonde scale a redhead, giving her the boost she needed to finish the key puzzle.

"Ni-"

Before Lilik could finish the word, the chair broke beneath her feet, sending her tumbling into a pile of limbs and wood.

Putting Key #3 (from Blueberry) in the lock.

Lilik spun a slow circle, taking in the small space. Though the expression she wore wasn't exactly disgust, it did flirt with disapproval. "This is it?" she muttered to herself. "We go from this huge chamber with some ancient death trap to some guy's private study?" Hands planted on her slim hips, Lilik's gaze came to rest on the grand desk situated beneath the stained glass windows. That would be the obvious place to stash important information, right? Including how to get to the top of the tower, or what awaited them there? It was certainly worth looking into.

Long strides carried her there, but she was forced to stutter-step when a book tumbled into her path. A pink-haired elf stood in front of the shelf, tearing books from their perches with reckless abandon. Lilik could appreciate the tiny person's enormous energy, and as such, she simply skirted around her. Then, as an afterthought, she added, "Give me a holler if you need help with the books on the top shelf." Considering Lilik had a good ten inches on the girl, it would be easy to access the places she couldn't reach. Unfortunately, though the comment had been made in good faith, it was difficult to tell if it would be received that way.

Looking for a key? she mused, reflecting on what the others had said. A key would be easy enough to find in the desk's drawer, or maybe tucked away in a secret compartment that-

Something small and shiny winged past, only inches from her face. It fell soundlessly to the thick carpet, and reflected the fire's light in such a way it looked to be smoldering itself. "Nice," Lilik managed, stooping to scoop up the key. Then, with an undignified grunt, she dragged one of the ornate, straight-backed chairs just below the key holes. With a foot on each arm, and with considerable balance and reach, she managed to slam the key home.

"One down," she announced.

Putting Key #1 (from Nian) in the lock.

Akin to a lost sock in a dryer, Lilik tumbled ass over tea kettle. Even before she splatted on the ground, her amber eyes were already firing manically. She spluttered as she found her feet. Her mouth filled with her all-time favorite phrase. "What the fu-"

With a gasp, the lanky woman stumbled to the side, arms pinwheeling comically. She tripped over her own feet as the world shifted, and without any obvious handholds, Lilik was yeeted into the abyss. Amid the free-fall, her final thought was "I can't believe I'm going to die this way."

Yet as she splatted for a second time, she took no more damage than before. In fact, she hadn't lost a single sliver of her health bar since accepting the cryptic quest from Cardinal. In any other situation, that thought would have intrigued her, and perhaps motivated her to take further risks. But in the moment, she was just pretty annoyed about ending up in some kind of pit.

Lilik climbed to her feet. Then, planting her balled-up fists in the small of her back, she stretched dramatically. "That really sucked," she declared cheerfully.

ID: 202359 LD: 12

North Corner: 0/50
East Corner: 0/50
South Corner: 0/50
West Corner: 0/50

"Why though?" Lilik muttered to herself as she jogged along the hallway, sneakers squeaking comically on the marble. Why in the world were Players bothering with the NPCs? Rallying the rebels, interrogating the guards - what was the point even? None of it made any difference, unless one of them somehow held a fast-pass to the top of the tower. And she wasn't about to waste her time trying to see if that was true.

Instead, the purple-haired woman opted for the old-fashioned way up - the stairs. Dodging the handful of guards proved quite easy, as they appeared preoccupied with the peasants that swarmed their castle. Whenever Lilik heard one approaching, and they were none too stealthy, she simply peeled off and hid behind a decorative vase or suit of armor. Then, after a few breaths of relative quiet (save for the chaos below), she continued her trek.

When she reached the tenth floor, Lilik expected just another flight of stairs. Truth be told, she had fully expected to waltz her way straight to the top. Instead, she found a landing, a painting of some deer, and a door. Without missing a beat or breaking her stride, Lilik grabbed the handle and turned it. It stuttered in her palm, and the door did not budge, even as she gracelessly plowed into it.

With a frustrated growl, she tried again.

ID: 202022 LD: 3

Progress: 132/150

Somewhere, Lilik had heard that jumping the moment a falling elevator hit the ground would save you from dying. Whether that actually held any truth or not, the woman thought of it as she stared down at the rapidly approaching lawn. Her hand tightened around the rope she held, the rough fibers slick in her sweaty palm. So if she jumped the moment the vessel crashed down, or maybe swung out on the rope, she should avoid any impact. Yeah, she could do that. Swing a little arch through the air, like the pirates did in the movies. Suddenly feeling far more sure of herself, Lilik gave the rope a hard tug. The opposite end, which had been lazily draped over a pole, slid like a snake through the air to coil at her feet. The curse word that exploded from her lips was absorbed by the sound of screeching metal and snapping wood.

The force threw Lilik from her spot at the rail, and like a toy thrown by a mid-tantrum toddler, she was tossed into the air. She fell hard, bouncing across the grass, limbs and purple hair flailing wildly. When she finally came to rest, a limp, jumbled mess, Lilik just assumed she was dead. No one could have survived that, right? But a glance at her health bar confirmed she had taken no damage whatsoever.

It took her a moment to find her feet, and though she groaned the entire time, her body quickly forgot the shock of the fall. Just as the long woman straightened to her full height, a sea of NPCs washed over her. Apparently, they had finally broken through the barrier, and were joining the Players in their storming of the castle. Fine by me, she mused, slipping into the crowd. A distraction's a distraction, no matter how ridiculous.

The thought proved true, as Lilik managed to slip by the guards who appeared preoccupied with wrangling the protestors. By the time she gained access, all hell had broken loose. A gaggle of kids were scurrying by like frightened little insects, guards flinging through the air, an animalistic shrieking from somewhere down the hall.

"What the flying fuck-?" she stammered, flinching as a stone pedestal crashed to the ground. 

ID# 201954 LD: 10

PROGRESS | 115/150

Lilik kept a single hand on the wall as she traversed the lower decks, the other hand holding yet another gem. The sudden burst of speed from the crystals had knocked her off balance, and she'd be damned if she went ass over tea kettle again. So as she dragged her fingertips across the cold surface, she climbed her way back up the stairs, and into the middle of a Jersey Shore outtake.

A cutesy blonde shoved a black-haired woman with wild eyes, sending her stumbling into the Player who shadowed her. The cry of "tyrant" burst through the space like a gunshot. "Uh, is this part of the event or something?" Lilik caught herself mumbling to no one in particular. The NPCs were all hyped up on some revolution bullshit, so maybe the Player was just... playing along? Really getting into the mood? Lilik rolled her eyes so hard she worried they might pop out of her skull and go rolling across the deck.

In response, the victim began muttering something about commoners, breezing by the blonde as if she were merely a bug in need of swatting. Oh god, Lilik thought, groaning aloud, its a full-fledged production. There's no way they aren't acting right now.

And when the man in the bathrobe began monologuing, she strode to the railing and peered over at the ground below. She wondered if she would survive the fall damage. She also wondered whether she really wanted to.

IDX | LD 6 | --> supplies

PROGRESS

Navigation: 113/100
Power: 109/100
Supplies: 91/100

Crystal thingies?

If Lilik had been a dog, her ears would have perked up at the sound. All thought of the maybe-rum-maybe-pickles-filled barrels forgotten, the long woman's gaze scanned the deck of the ship, curious as to where the cry had come from. The voice had appeared muffled, and when she didn't see the speaker right away, Lilik picked her way toward a descending staircase. Her rubber soles of her tennis shoes squeaked faintly as she picked her way deeper into the belly of the ship. After a few moments of venturing downward, the woman realized she had no idea which floor - story? deck? - the man resided on. She opened her mouth to call out, but the sudden, pungent odor of fish slapped her across the face. Grimacing, Lilik turned a corner, then another, following the stink to the source. 

She didn't know quite what she expected to find. But whatever it was, it wasn't a man wearing a tattered brown robe. Her grimace worsened, the lines crossing her forehead deepening into full-fledged trenches. What the actual-?

But when her amber eyes fell on the crystals clutched in the man's hands, all rationale thought left her. Sidling up beside him, Lilik plucked the largest crystal from his grasp. It was a deep black color, with a strange metallic sheen that reminded her of an oil spill. "Thanks," she commented simply. Then, because she couldn't help herself, Lilik added, "You reek."

Briefly, she considered taking a few more, but ultimately decided against it. It made more sense for her to do a little research, then go back and "pirate" a few more crystals once she knew what she was dealing with. At least now she knew where to find them, and besides, the man didn't look like he could put up too  much of a fight. Wandering down the hall, Lilik ducked through an opening, and found herself in what appeared to be a futuristic boiler room. Or, at least, that's what she assumed. She'd only seen Titanic one time.

Finally holding the gem out in front of her, Lilik focused intently, summoning an item inspection. The gem, called a 'Power Crystal,' had no description, aside from a warning that it could not be traded or sold. When she tried to equip it, or add it to her existing gear, nothing happened.

"Useless," Lilik scoffed. As annoyance flared, she yanked open a nearby drawer, chucked the crystal inside, and slammed the door shut.

Now humming from it's new power boost, the airship lurched forward.

ID201848 | LD10 | --> power

PROGRESS

Navigation: 59/100
Power: 57/100
Supplies: 63/100

The NPC's death held a bizarre macabre that Lilik hadn't encountered in Aincrad. Most enemies simply exploded into fragments, their bodies occasionally crisscrossed with crimson gashes. Watching the Knight's body convulse, foamy spit oozing from his slack lips, Lilik could find only disgust. Not because of the gruesome sight, or the violent deed she had just witnessed, but simply because of the wasted time and effort. She might have felt something for the dying man if he were real, but pausing to observe a line of code's final moments felt wholly unnecessary. As it was, they had wasted precious seconds bringing an end to the guy's life. Lilik's one-way trip to treasure was likely seconds from taking off, and if Blondie robbed her of the chance, she might kill him herself. No good deed or some shit, she thought dully, before moving back into a sprint.

The Player followed her - why, she had no idea - but she took the opportunity to weigh in on his sage advice. "Or," she began matter-of-factly, "you could have just run faster." She managed to give a flippant shrug without breaking stride. "They're just dumb NPCs. Be smarter than them, and you won't have to waste time on fighting." Wide words from a level six, but she still believed it. Aincrad already has enough monsters, she thought, cutting the man a sideways glance as he met her stride for stride. There's no time to waste on things like mobs and NPCs. Not that this stranger would understand that. He had never met Dominic.

She looked as though she might say more, but the Player's sudden declaration had her stumbling. "Wha-" she managed, before a strong arm hooked around her waist and dragged her closer. Her hands flew to his chest, ready to shove him back, but the sudden lift had her grabbing fistfuls of his clothes instead. It took only a split-second for the initial shock to wear-off, and once it had, Lilik grinned maniacally, gazing between their dangling feet at the city below. When he invited her to climb fist, she did so without hesitation. Hand over hand, she dragged her long body flush with the airship's railing. Then, with a soft huff, she pulled herself up and over.

Without pausing to check on Blondie, she turned to a collection of barrels lined up beside her. She gave the wooden side a swift kick with the toe of her sneaker, and when something inside sloshed, she tilted her head. Water? Rum? Pickles?

Motioning to a nearby Player, Lilik called, "Give me a hand with opening these. I don't have a sword or anything."

ID: 201787 | Loot: 11 [Supplies]
Progress:
Navigation: 28/100
Power: 19/100
Supplies: 31/100

"Do I look like a Ladonian guard or something?" As she spoke, Lilik motioned to her appearance - black leggings and a light jacket. "What about this makes you think royalty?"

Still, the burly NPC blocked her path, his hairy hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Nobody goes in," he informed her in a voice like an ax cracking wood. "That's how this is going to go."

Something about the way the man spoke really chewed Lilik's ass. As her golden eyes sparked, she drilled a finger into the man's hard chest. "Oh-ho no way," she scoffed, "you do not tell me how 'this is going to go.'" This time, she planted her finger into her own chest, and continued, "I am the Player, you are the NPC. You take orders from me, do you understand?" He didn't, of course, as Players and NPCs were abstract concepts he couldn't possibly fathom. But Lilik still felt damn good reminding him of who was in charge. She lunged to the right, attempting to slip by the brute, but he easily side-stepped into her path.

"Listen, Hulk," she seethed, "you gotta let me through." With a wave of her hand, she gestured to the dark sky, and the black warships circling there. "That's my ride to the Central Tower, and I'm going to be pissed if they all leave without me. So move. your. ass." Ducking her shoulder, she plowed into him like a linebacker, but only succeeded in making a fool of herself. All around them, voices rose like instruments in a symphony, each contributing to the soundtrack of the Ladonian Rebellion. Sharp cries of pain or fear mingled with low, explosive cries of triumph, and chanting still carried like a consistent back-beat. None of it mattered to Lilik as she glared holes into the NPC's chest. Suddenly, she she gasped, pointing to the man's right. "Is that Inspector Javert?"

When the beast of a man turned to follow her gaze, Lilik ducked under his opposite arm, sneakers sliding across the stone as she exploded into the tangle of chairs, barrels, and other assorted furniture items. As she blew past him, she reached out and dragged the coiled bullwhip from the man's belt, tucking it into her armpit for safe keeping. It wasn't as if she had any knowledge, or even interest, in using it. She just didn't want him to use it. "Insurance!" She cried out, long limbs flailing as the Player scampered over the barricade.

She hit the ground with a jarring thud, the wind whooshing from her lungs as she struggled to stay upright. Skyport, she told herself, arms pumping as she began to pick up speed. Have to get an airship. Have to fly it to the tower, and get to the treasure before everyone else. Or, at least, she assumed it was treasure. What else did a bunch of nobles with sticks up their asses keep in the top of a locked tower?

As Lilik turned onto a main street, she became aware of two things at exactly the same time - the Player who ran in front of her, and the guard who ran behind him. Blowing out a breath between her clenched teeth, the woman used her system-increased speed to drop behind the guard. What do I do now? she asked herself, staring at the soldier as his armor glinted in the firelight. It would be easiest just to let the other Player fend for himself, but there was something sick about a line of code attacking a human from behind like that. 

So without giving it much thought, Lilik yanked out the bullwhip, and pictured Indiana Jones a she let it fly. She'd hoped to give the man a solid thunk on the back, potentially shoving him off balance. Much to her shock, the whip coiled around the  man's throat, and when she instinctively gave it a hard tug, he was yanked completely off his feet.

Surprise came first, but soon, victory soared through the woman. Had she finally found her weapon, after half a decade in Aincrad?

"Watch your ass, Blondie," she called out to the Player, falling into step beside him. "Guard almost got you. You're lucky I was here."

201749 | LD: 8 | 107/125

@Alkor

Ⓛⓘⓛⓘⓚ   Lilik Level: 6 Paragon Level: 0 HP: 120/120 EN: 30/30 Stats: Damage: 8 Equipped Gear: Weapon: Vanity Whip Armor: Vanity Armor   Skills: Whip R5

"Hey, watch it!"

Lilik's pretty face curled into a snarl as an NPC shoulder-checked her. Were it a Player, she likely would have thrown a punch, or at the very least, delivered a hard shove of her own. She was in the middle of a city, so it wasn't like she'd go orange or anything (though, really, who gave a flying fuck if she did?). But considering that the man was just lines of code, or whatever, Lilik determined he wasn't worth the energy expended. She did, however, glare a hole into his retreating back. When a second man shoved into her, she sucked in a surprised gasp, stumbling forward a step before whirling on her attacker.

"Are you shitting me?" she demanded, hands balling into fists. This time, she was going to throw those hands, NPC or not. But surprise dampened the mad as Lilik watched the NPC dutifully follow the first. Suddenly intrigued, the woman spun a slow three-sixty, finally noticing the odd way in which the NPCs filed past her. They flowed past like a river, parting around her as if she were a boulder in their path. One or two still bumped into her, but this time, she did not bother to shout.

"Where are you little ants going?" Lilik murmured, golden eyes flashing devilishly. She allowed the crowd to swallow her up, moving briskly along the streets of Ladonia. They weren't quite running, but there was a rolling, no-nonsense feel to their gait. Anticipation, she decided, long legs pumping to keep up. These guys mean business. But where were they going?

This time, it was Lilik who plowed into the NPC. With a hard oof, her face rammed into his sturdy back, face planting between his shoulder blades before she stumbled backward. A curse and an insult tanged on the tip of her tongue, but she bit it back as she peered around the tree-trunk of a man. They had stopped. No, they had been stopped, by an enormous form taking shape fifty feet away. 

"Oh god," Lilik muttered, gazing up at the hulking barricade that loomed overhead. "It's some weird Les Mis bullshit."

Current Level: 6
Current SP: 13
Link to SP Tracking: [link]

Notes:
I am a baby Lessa alt and have no things.

Both ruby eyes flew open, gleaming dangerously in the dim light. The long woman sat up, right hand grabbing for the spear that rest beside her bed every night. Before Aincrad, her instinct would have been to grasp the knife or the pistol beneath her pillow. Now, of course, things were very different. Well, not so different - the night terrors had stuck around.

Lilik's chest rose and fell on ragged breaths, the pointy end of her spear sweeping the air in front of her as she pivoted atop the tiny mattress. With her legs tangled in the thin sheets, maneuverability was limited, but she could still take in the entire room. Nothing there. Of course there's nothing here, the spearswoman thought with a huff, replacing her weapon against the headboard. What had she really expected, to find a giant lizard stomping around her teeny hotel room? That might be more terrifying than the dream itself.

Muttering a colorful string of curses, Lilik flopped back over onto her stomach. "I shouldn't have eaten that burrito," she told the empty room, before falling into fitful sleep.

Of course Lilik noticed the hesitation, but she gave no indication. Rather, she merely stared at the woman he was doing a piss-poor job of introducing her to. Elora was cute, but pretty fragile looking. Wonder if people think that about me, she mused, though only for a split second. If that were indeed the case, it was high time she get involved in the fighting.

"No can do, Jack," she answered, giving her massive spear a quick twirl. As she leveled it across her chest in a ready position, she gave Elora a quick wink. "Gotta hop in before there's nothing left to kill."

Without another word, the long, lanky player lunged into the fray. It was easy enough to avoid the other players when she had no regard for their safety or well-being, though she did nearly trip over some clumsy blonde who flopped like a fish in the mud. It's like an idiot's attempt at a snow angel, Lilik thought, bemused. When she finally drew close enough to see the enemies in all their glory, she pursed her lips. 

The lizard-looking one, she decided. Everyone else appeared to be attacking it, and at this rate, maybe she could snipe the final blow. Soundlessly, the spearwoman plunged her weapon into the effing Lizard King.

So many people. It reminded her of a mob after a big sporting event. Everyone went to the same place, but they still pushed and shoved like petulant children. Instead of reflecting on the game/concert/show/etc. that they'd just witnessed, most became irate, focused entirely on being the first to the buses, the cabs, the parking lot. It was honestly an exceptional time to pick their pockets.

Lilik mulled this over as she watched from a distance, back propped against the trunk of a tree. Disinterest rode high on her sharp face, but her ruby eyes continued to skim the spectacle before her. Somehow, amidst the chaos and the commotion, the plum-haired player spotted a familiar form. A grin slashed across Lilik's face, and with a pep in her step, she strode across the battlefield toward the unsuspecting target.

Ignoring the man and woman who stood with him, Lilik smiled coyly at Jackpot. "Have you ever seen so many nerds in one place?" With her hands on her hips, she gazed across the crowd. "It's all so fascinating. They're so into it."

@Jackpot @Elora

[Just arriving, so takes no action.]

Her ruby gaze had just reached the message's half-way point when the shopkeep started blabbering. 

Once you've reached the city limits, you'll need to-

And that's as far as she got. Every time she inched closer to learning what she needed to do, the man's voice broke her concentration. Lilik's jaw clenched, eyes narrowing, as she attempted to block him out. She could practically visualize the walls she constructed in her mind, sound-proofed and all, meant to shut him up until she was done reading. 

Once you've reached the city-

"Someone who has experience with weapons." 

Maybe what she needed to do was envision him with a muzzle.

Once you've reached the city limits, you'll need to locate the-

"Saaayyy."

The plum-haired player actually snarled. He might have heard it, and hey, all the better if he did. She certainly had no reason to hide her frustration. She was clearly attempting to read something, and he was being exceptionally rude trying to butt in. Besides, reading was difficult enough for her. Being reminded of her inability to listen to him and read along only infuriated her further. So she gave up, just in time to hear the guy pitch his proposal. I hope whatever else he said wasn't important.

"Look, asshole," she shot back, finally looking up from her HUD. "First, don't interrupt me when I'm reading. That's just rude. Second, no, you wouldn't be doing me favor, so cut the gallant knight bullshit. It's pretty evident that you just want some fast money, so don't sugarcoat it. Which leads me to three." The long, lean woman leaned forward a bit, and plucked a teleportation crystal off a nearby shelf. "Seventy-thirty. And you give me one of these."