NIGHT

Phoenix, fly

NIGHT stepped back at the end of her move, sliding just out the way of the falling flame bird. It crumpled to the floor with a horrendous flurry of caws, struggling to get up and beat its wings again. The adventurer watched the bird's head fall beside her, a gigantic thud creating winds strong enough to fling her backwards, sending dust up into the air. She struggled to take hold of the situation, plunging her sword down again, keeping herself steady.

You cover your wounds, but underneath them

Just a little further. The dust was clearly beginning to settle, and the bird beginning to wrestle control away from the system it held itself liable to. Dragging her blade across the floor, she ran over to where its neck was, elongated.

A million voices in your head that whisper...

Stop singing.

Blade up, red glow, sundering the phoenix's throat, a clean cleave that drained the rest of its health bar slowly. One last croak, the heavenly voice beginning to fade away from the arena.

Go bury your demons...

And with a collected shatter, the bird was no more.

Quote

ID: 132526 | BD: 6 (5, +3 -2)
<<Galaxy Destroyer>> vs Phoenix
14 * 13 = 182 DMG | 182 - 50 = 132 DMG
Phoenix has been defeated!

Phoenix | HP: -8/290 (-132) | DMG: 87/137 | MIT: 50 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 2 | BURN: 1

NIGHT | HP: 493/580 | EN: 25/58 (+1, 13) | ACC: 3 | DMG: 14 | EVA: 3 | PARALYZE: 2 | BLEED: 1
> Cooldowns: <Concentration> (2)

Arm yourself, a storm is coming

Another shriek from the bird, as NIGHT tumbled backwards, stopping herself with a wedging of her blade to the floor. The warrior hissed, pulling it out of the ground before running towards it. There was a faint song, in the distance she could hear, and she wasn't sure where it was coming from, until the phoenix peeped again, beginning to wave its wings around again.

Fly, Phoenix, fly

Fly?

Oh no you don't.

She sprinted, weapon trailing behind her as she switched to the offensive. If she didn't stop the bird from soaring, she might be losing her chance to strike it at all, and NIGHT couldn't have that happening to her kill. Her sword flashed with light, coming to life as she swung herself forward, barely hitting her target. A premature sword art, but one that would carry her and the last of her strikes to where the bird was.

As its feet began leaving the ground, it screeched out.

What you gonna do now?

NIGHT's faussar tore into its flesh, sending the bird into a frenzy when it came toppling down on itself. Another sqwark, in protest.

What are you willing to lose?

Quote

ID: 132525 | BD: 6 (5, +3 -2)
<<Fight Blade>> vs Phoenix
14 * 6 = 84 DMG | 84 - 50 = 34 DMG
Phoenix was stunned!

Phoenix | HP: 124/290 (-34) | DMG: 87/137 | MIT: 50 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 2 | BURN: 1

NIGHT | HP: 493/580 | EN: 37/58 (+1, -9) | ACC: 3 | DMG: 14 | EVA: 3 | PARALYZE: 2 | BLEED: 1
> Cooldowns: <Concentration> (3)

The bird was huge. Incredibly so. It circled the area, going over the four rocky pillars that were at the four corners of the plateau, each of them holding a nest of their own. Had this not been a game, she would've felt a tinge of pity and stepped down from the fight. Instead, she pulled down her sword as the phoenix descending, the beast towering over her, with its size. Its wingspan easily stretched from one end of her arena to the other, and its ear-bleeding caw--

-- Enough was enough. She was already seeing visions of the stranger manifest in her periphery; this wasn't just some trauma she would be capable of dealing with haphazardly anymore. Once she got her blade changed, she'd have to look elsewhere for advice, and that meant getting home -- alive.

Pushing herself off the ground, she ran over to her opponent, delivering a blow of her own, before the phoenix delivered theirs; a shove from its enormous bird feet backwards, tossing her onto the ground.

Quote

ID: 132524 | BD: 8 (6, +3 +1 -2) | MD: 7 (8, +2 -3)
> Concentration was used. (+1 ACC)
<<Galaxy Destroyer>> vs Phoenix.
14 * 13 = 182 DMG | 182 - 50 = 132 DMG
Phoenix attacks NIGHT! (-87 HP)

Phoenix | HP: 158/290 (-132) | DMG: 87/137 | MIT: 50 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 2 | BURN: 1

NIGHT | HP: 493/580 (-87) | EN: 45/58 (-13) | ACC: 3 | DMG: 14 | EVA: 3 | PARALYZE: 2 | BLEED: 1

The summit.

As her gaze met the horizon, she had expected to see the phoenix’s nest. Instead, her sights had laid eyes upon a familiar stationary white, surrounded by multiple white and blue fragments, the wind whipping the particles and their cloth around brazenly. A haunting shadow meeting her daydreams, out from her worst nightmares to hunt her down personally. Physically.

With tense footsteps, she stepped onto the surface of the plateau, the sound of metal hitting rock drawing its attention. Their head turned, from looking up above, cloth moving along with them. For a moment, the light bounced off their skin, and NIGHT swore she spotted the faintest hint of her face painted on theirs. Pink lips that mirrored hers, moving as they shot her a look from behind their shoulder. They were saying something. What was it?

S… Stop, now?

So are you gonna die today or make it out alive?

A piercing shriek from above, and NIGHT took the swiftest of glances, following the trails of lights upwards to the darkened heavens above. Amongst the clouds, a stunningly bright red tear drifting down, the thunderous flapping of wings echoing, stirring the glistening fragments to circle the borders of the summit. Her mark.

When her vision returned to the stone, her shadow was gone.

Stylahm. Of course it would be Stylahm. Cardinal would never let her get away with anything when it comes to her emotions.

She hadn’t planned on taking the bridge -- no, not this time. Instead, there was a flight of stairs that was much better suited for ascending the mountain. Mako had informed her to check a clearing nearby, clustered with multitudes of shrivelled plants. What wasn’t burnt, dead or long gone was only holding onto hope to survive, hope that the system selectively chose to fulfill. 

NIGHT kept her faussar equipped, preferring not to see the weapon that would kill her on her person. Nyanko peeped out of his bag as the two made the climb, curious. The adventurer glanced at him with a slight smile. “It’s because it’s a bird; that’s why you’re curious, isn’t it?” An honest meow from the kitten, and her lips formed a smirk instead. There was something incredibly satisfying about making a right guess.

Quote

> Swapping the following equipped item:
[T1E3] Liquid Luck Pendant
-- [ Accuracy III | +3 LD ]

with the following item:
[T1E3] Eye of Horus Enamel Pin
-- [ Accuracy III | +3 ACC ]

“The…” A sigh, accompanied by furrowed brows. He got up from his stool, taking the metal in his hands to the furnace, setting it down to heat up again. His ashen hands brushed away the dark locks from his face, before they rested on his hips. “Okay. So I’m assuming you’re new to this. Am I correct?”

“Yes…?”

“Brilliant. Five materials is adequate, and props to whoever told you that.” Mako folded his arms. “Usually people who come see me first hate hearing about it.” Oh, NIGHT thought. Any other day, and she would be able to relate to their sentiments closely. “But the next part’s the true test. We need a phoenix feather to change your equipment. Now, obviously,” he began, passing his hammer back and forth in his hands. “A phoenix feather must come from a phoenix. Right?”

NIGHT nodded, following.

“So, that part is up to you.” He pointed the head of his tool over to her, eager about the prospect. “You’d obviously need to have the mettle to fight one and win, and bring back a feather from your conquest. Otherwise, my work isn’t sufficient enough for the outcome. A lot of the… uh, magic comes from the beast, you know.”

“Okay. So, where can I find phoenixes, again?”

A shrug. “You might want to check...”

With all five items finally in tow, NIGHT returned to town, footsteps much more energetic than she'd imagined. While she wanted this day to be over with, she hadn't expected the time to fly by her so quickly. Even so, the 9th floor was not a good place for her to be at. A quick visit to the workshop, and she'd have her problem settled for the day.

Thankfully, the blacksmith’s retreat was easier to find that she’d thought, in an isolated corner at the center of town. For a moment, she wanted to wonder how that might’ve been possible, but ignored her thoughts, noticing a man look up from his work as she approached him. Hammer midswing, he asked, blue burning eyes staring back at her in earnest. “What is it?”

“I heard you can reshape weapons to take on a different form. Is five materials good enough for you?”

“Five is sufficient. Put them over there.” Mako, the man was called. He signalled towards a desk by the workshop’s entrance, letting go of the blade in his hands for a moment, before returning to finish the task. “Have you brought the Phoenix feather?”

NIGHT blinked, as she was setting down the materials, caught off guard by the question. “I’m sorry, the what?”

So, now, NIGHT was walking around with a cat strapped to her shoulder. A hand to his butt to hold him up and in place, she sighed when Nyanko adjusted his legs, feeling his feet patting her arm.

It wasn't so much a bother to carry him like this; the challenge would come when it was time to set him down afterwards. The immediate benefit that NIGHT took comfort in was that Nyanko would watch the adventurer's back, carried like this, and it was with this modicum of safety she began humming a soft tune. Something to lift the spirits, with hers being so dark and lost almost all of the time.

And there she saw it -- her final material, sat right at the base of the mountain she was beside. The woman bent down to pick it up, trying to ease her cat off her shoulder gently. Then, she scooped him up again, setting him in her bag, taking out a handful more so the kitten would have space to relax in.

Quote

ID: 132522 | LD: 18 (15, +3)
5/5 Materials gathered!

"Myah!" Her cat's eyes squinted, his features only somewhat discernable, but NIGHT could tell how distressed he had been, with the clatter of orbs shoving up against his back. The woman, on the other hand, was hunched over a patch of dead grass, gently rifling through the desolate zone with a hand. "I'm sorry, Nyanko," she returned, for the third time since they'd stopped. "It just felt like something was out there, okay? I'm really sorry about it."

More squeaking, the kitten now standing atop a boulder nearby, trying to keep himself steady at the tip. When NIGHT finally resolved to look somewhere else for her goods, she picked her familiar up, smooching him gently at the back of his head. "I mean it, Nyanko," she whispered, desperation showing in her tone. It didn't bother the wiggling kitten, though, as he meeped again. NIGHT sighed, knowing what she had to do to make it up to her cat

Quote

ID: 132521 | LD: 7 (4, +3)

Lonzo was silent. For quite a good amount of time. It was rather surprising, as he dipped his sights; NIGHT imagined the man was stuck in his own thoughts. All the while, she waited patiently, eyes shifting to study her environment.

I wonder what he's thinking about. For such a layered person... it's gotta be harsh to figure out who you are inside.

Then he spoke. About not being ready to speak on his thoughts just yet. NIGHT smiled back in understanding. So that was why, huh? I get that. "Don't worry about it. Things like these... Feelings, emotions, traumas... they can't be rushed." Instead, she took hold of her drink again, sipping on it. The woman was glad she hadn't finished it all in one go, earlier.

What was more interesting from his ramble of thoughts was about the announcement from last night. Noctua and Koga, getting engaged. Yukiro and Tala, starting to date. The man had used the phrase 'in their own head' specifically, and NIGHT wondered if for a moment, she would've been classified under that category had Lonzo known her heart had been following someone else at that moment. Her sip was more tentative this time, as she set down the glass on the counter.

"The first person... that has a chance of surviving... not about drama..."

That... that's kind of a... a tall perspective for me, Lonzo...

And... I don't know if I'm okay with that.

Then he said something about his mask. And if NIGHT hadn't been lost in her own thoughts then, she would've said something faster than Lonzo could dismiss them. It deserved a proper response, after all. She tried to shuffle that to the back of her mind, her vision back to the man's concerned face, as he'd asked the questions she had been dreading herself.

She grinned, not really sure how to express herself. About what she'd been up to recently. The... whole premise of it felt bogus to start with, especially with Lonzo's gap of adventuring tied up with the group abandoning him for who-knows-how-long. Her eyelids fluttered, sights casted to the base of their seats touching the floor.

It was time for her to talk.

"Why... why not? Haha..." The woman couldn't help but chuckle with disappointment. "...You might want to sit down for this one."

- - - - -

When Lonzo was ready, NIGHT closed her eyes, thinking when would be a good checkpoint for the man to understand the crux of her problems. "I hope you're fine playing confessional, dude."

"Remember back when you'd invited me to visit the wasp queen? Just the day before... I was doing the same, actually. With... with a girl." The words got stuck in her throat for a moment, but she tilted her head, as if in defeat. It wasn't going to be easy to hide this fact about herself from her friends, and if it had to be anyone... at least it was Lonzo.

"If you have to put me anywhere... you can lump me in with those love-lorn losers too, Lonzo. No need... to be afraid of it. 's not like I'm planning on getting lucky, anyway..."

"But back to my dilemma." She took a sip from her drink, avoiding eye contact with her friend. "I'd told you about... about the person who was hunting me, right? And that I had people on the issue... the day after our mission, we caught wind of them."

"Floor 6. The city of Krycim. White cloak, red dagger, their hood always up..." NIGHT found herself fumbling with her thumbs. "Under the hood was me, Lonzo. My face. My voice. My armor, my weapon. They got under my skin and dug their nails in... just the way I knew I would."

"Incredibly dramatic, too. Gods, if they were me... I wouldn't be in this position now, I think. ... Did you know they had a song setup and everything? F*cker picked a tune I knew, took advantage of my hesitation and jumped at me... Flamboyant a**hole..."

"If I didn't survive, I wouldn't be here right now, I think..." Another sip, tears she couldn't help clouding her vision. "And they would. And they'd take advantage of the fact that we're opening up to each other by now, and... and..."

"And then I pinned them down. I looked at myself right in the face..." Deep, stuttering inhale. "I... I really wondered if I had the courage to kill myself. To see myself fading from this world. A-a death of my own, orchestrated by me..." Sniffle. Warm hands interlocked with each other. "I-I couldn't do it, Lonzo. I couldn't-- I... I let them go."

NIGHT stewed in her own silence, as she took the time to clean up her act. The woman was practically shaking like a leaf by now. Loud ugly sniffles, tears running down her cheeks, the unraveling of multiple stitchings and threads that made up her seams and pulled her together. Unsteady. Unstable. Unreliable.

"A-and and now," she huffed, almost choking on her words again. "T-they might be out there, doing things in my name, things that I-I can't forgive myself for doing..."

It was the truth. It was the whole truth, and nothing else aside from it.

And NIGHT wished she hadn't loosened her grip on herself like that.

At this point, her quest had gone so swimmingly well, it felt like a miracle. The fourth material was lodged, stuck in a crack at the side of a large rock face. NIGHT whistled, reaching out to pick it up with a slight grin. Sometimes, she wondered, if Cardinal was taking anything away from her elsewhere, with a streak of luck like this.

She slid it into her waistbag, Nyanko beeping as he stuck his head out, almost to stop her from depositing the items where he stayed. The woman giggled, petting her kitten tenderly. "Sorry, Nyanko. I didn't mean to cramp up your space like that."

"Mrrrao!"

"I'll carry the next one myself, don't you worry," NIGHT reassured him, starting to walk away from the fracture. For a moment, she felt a stare bearing down her back, and her heart raced. Without looking, she picked up her speed, clutching the bag in her hand, much to her cat's audible displeasure.

Quote

ID: 132518 | LD: 20 (17, +3)
4/5 Materials gathered.

Perhaps her luck was changing for the better. NIGHT wondered if her pendant had anything to do with the sudden turn of events, feeling it rest and roll against her skin. She would've examined it, wanting to check if the liquid in the bottle was going down with each consecutive stroke of luck, but she didn't really want to mess with its power either.

For a moment as she was strolling, a white had caught her eyes. The woman tensed, whipping her head around to look. Nothing. But when she continued, it showed itself again. Where...?

Ah. Inside that scorched tree stump. That didn't seem like it was suitable for someone to hide in. She peered in, gingerly, hoping she wouldn't find anything too dangerous, and to her surprise it was a gift for her. One white, sparkly orb, just like the two on her person. NIGHT picked it up, rubbing it gently against the fabric of her clothes, before sliding it in her bag.

Quote

ID: 132517 | LD: 19 (16, +3)
3/5 Materials gathered.

By... by the lava. A good guess, by her standards, but one that made her quiver in her boots.

Nyanko stuck his head out, curious about the scavenger hunt. When he spotted the red liquid, the kitten let out a tiny hiss, before he turned his sights over to NIGHT. The adventurer was squatted down by a dead patch of grass. At least she wasn't in danger this time.

But she had held onto something. In her hands was another white shiny, that she tucked away in her waistbag. A shrill from her kitten, one of surprise. The woman smirked, rising from her position, before striding away from the pool of lava, quick to leave what might've been one of her causes of death.

NIGHT hummed. Her search was going well. At least, that's what she figured. Any point now, her luck could change for the worse, and she was one familiar with the disappointments of material searching.

Quote

ID: 132516 | LD: 15 (12, +3)
2/5 Materials gathered.

What materials were even on this floor? There was the obvious obsidian mines she'd come across the other day, but surely they weren't going to pass one up once more. Her eyes scanned the vicinity, trying to discern stillness from life, wondering if there was something more specific that should be grabbing her attention.

Well, there was a rock that was sitting right there. She approached it, half-heartedly, expecting the toil and turmoil that she would be shackled with in her hunt for materials. In a stroke of luck, there was a small fern right beside it, still alive, somehow thriving in the harshest of environments. And-- look! A small glowing light right beside it. That's what she needed. Picking it up gingerly, she patted the rock and stroked the fern gently. I really hope it survives in here, NIGHT wondered, starting to get up once again. There was much more searching she'd have to get to.

Quote

ID: 132515 | LD: 15 (12, +3)
1/5 Materials gathered.

So her plans of the day were settled, then. NIGHT would travel to Floor 9, Nyanko wriggling in her waistbag as always, and they’d hunt down some materials for the opportunity to revamp her blade. It seemed like such a simple plan in hindsight, and her preparations in the workshop went as routinely as possible.

But she hesitated at the door. Something about the lead made her heart feel sunken, as her hand rested on the door knob. A kindly meow from her kitten, peeping out of her bag, when the woman’s gaze strayed beyond the hatched windows, stuck, lost in thought. “No. No, it’s nothing,” she breathed, opening the door and continuing on her way, pretending that nothing had been bothering her.

The stranger… She’d let them go the other day. Her thoughts had been stuck on them ever since.

Where were they?

- - -

| Floor 9

One quick teleport, and NIGHT could smell the smoke and sulfur that lingered steady in the air. She stretched, hands behind her back, before taking the exit out of town. If there was anything she’d felt like doing with regards to the request, it was to gather the materials the crafter would need first.

She let the item fall onto her form, donning it, uncertain about getting adjusted to it. With a sigh, NIGHT leaned back into her chair, pulling up her messages. No replies. A huff, as she reviewed her last sent message.

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To: Bistro

is there anything to change my weapon’s appearance
i dont wanna drop my sword
but im seeing it in my nightmares

Her eyes sat lazily, tired on the word ‘nightmares’, before a new message indicator appeared, grabbing her attention instead.

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To: NIGHT

You’re in luck. And I’m glad you finally asked me for something to help your mental state, for once. It’s on Floor 9 though. I hope you’ll be okay with that.

You’ll be wanting to find Mako, the blacksmith in the region over at Yogan. They’ve been providing this service for quite a while now, so it’s rather reliable. I’ve heard several complaints about the materials needed, though, since you’ll need to offer some items that can only be found on the floor itself. You should bring something along that might help with that, if you’re able to.

Let me know if you need anything else.

-B.

| Floor 1

Her nightmares had been leading her to this -- toiling, toiling away at her crafting table. She’d hoped that her previous two gift ideas would be enough to dissuade the bad dreams from coming back, but…

Darkened eyes. Weighed down to the floor. A white cloak, hiding all signifiers of their person. An arm, raising their sword over their head, their shoulder. The bandages coming loose from the blade, the metal gleaming off sunlight, and with one swing--

She caught her breath, trying to remember to breathe. NIGHT fiddled with the glass bottle in her hands, small and delicate enough to sit in the center of her palm without fault. As Nyanko made his way into the room, the woman held it out to him, letting him examine it when he jumped onto the table. “You’re lucky I’m done with my work today, kitty,” she commented, stroking the quickly-growing cat in her hands. A meow back, Nyanko clearly trying to see if the bottle was edible, with the way he jingled its chain with a prod of his snout. NIGHT withdrew it with a gentle huff, smiling. “That’s not food, silly.”

Item Name: Liquid Luck Pendant
Profession: Artisan
Rank: 6
Roll ID:  132065
Roll Result:  12 (11, +1)
Item Type: Trinket
Tier: 1
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: Loot Die, Loot Die, Loot Die
Description: A small glass bottle half-filled with blue liquid with golden sparkles, corked shut. It's made to be hung by a golden chain. 
Post Link:   http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/18303-f01-r6-artisan-the-evening-star-open/?do=findComment&comment=590817

She understood where the man was coming from, when he put his fears into perspective. In the game, everything could be strategized, calculated. Out in the real world, just like how they got themselves into this mess, it was unpredictable enough to feign ignorance or be unable to prepare for threats of death. NIGHT watched him continue, tilting her head just as Lonzo was about to cut himself short. The mask was beginning to slip again.

"It's alright, you know. To say what's on your mind?" Her fingers tapped the counter in a playful manner, but the tone in her voice was calm and caring. She turned herself on her seat to face the counter again, setting her elbows on its surface. "I could tell you had it rough out there. I mean, you needed a facade to be able to talk to people; that's how bad it got. You don't have to tell me all the intricacies, and I wouldn't want to pry, but..." NIGHT shot her friend a knowing smile. "If you want to talk about how you feel about it, you can take your time. I'm all ears."

"I can take the gift when I leave, I think," the woman added, smiling. "And young blood's just what happens when you put games and fantasies into the hands of the public. I'm more surprised that there's adults who've managed to find time to get this game and play it at launch." She paused, putting a hand to her chin. "Wait-- that's me. B-but to make time for it, specifically, I mean." A nervous chuckle. "Usually, I'd think people were too busy to be taking time off to play games, y'know?"

Then NIGHT folded her arms, leaning forward to meet the counter's edge. Her lashes fluttered as she looked at him with suspicion. "Compliments aren't flirting, are they? They come from the heart, and are genuinely rooted in evidence." She tilted her head again. "There should be a difference, even if I'm not getting it right this time."

"And I'll be glad to stay. Talking like this... I need it as much as you do, I think." She allowed her cheek to rest on a palm, returning a smirk to the man. "I'm actually not supposed to be doing anything right now, so I'm up for whatever's here to kill time."

@Lonzo

The woman finished chewing on her first bite, ignoring the sounds of choking and discourse from the group. She looked up from her dish at the sound of the announcement. Wait, married? Already? And here she was, being a downer. With an exhale, she widened her eyes and lowered her shoulders, trying to retain an everyday facade. "Oh, I didn't know. Congratulations, you two. I'm really happy about it."

Ah... that means I have to get them money, right? NIGHT tried to recall what it was one was supposed to do at weddings, realizing she knew next to nothing about the formalities. Whatever it was, money was definitely involved. She scanned the group, trying to make light conversation and restore her good humor. "So, when's the ceremony? And--" The woman turned around, pointing her chopsticks at Yukiro and Tala, adding, "-- when's you guys' turn?"

Not wanting her food to go cold, she immediately went back to her noodles, enjoying the noodle broth with a sip.

@Lonzo

NIGHT found herself wanting -- needing to meet her friend's eyes when she revealed her own birthday. Seriously? This is a cruel joke from fate, right? She thought for a moment if she should invest in larger, thicker scarves, as she sunk into hers further. But a beat passed, and she returned to whispering with Ceres. "W-What, you mean to tell me no one's merged your birthday with Christmas before...?" An exhale. She was uncertain if it was from the cold, or if she was still recovering from the peck on the cheek earlier, but she was certain to turn her face to look away. NIGHT didn't want her friend to see her expression shift to sadness again.

"No one... No one usually remembers mine."

Why would I tell her this?

"And... And it's the eve, so everyone's with family... After a good few years, I just gave up letting people know." Her hands were shaking, breaths staggered. At this rate, Ceres would end up being her only confidant in two years, and that was dangerous to her, for more reasons than one. NIGHT hummed, nervous, trying to get a grip on her conflicted feelings. With a deep breath, she looked over to the woman, now a partner in crime, and tried her best to smile. "I'll... do my best to remember yours. T-Thanks for telling me about it."

Ceres brought her attention back to Mari, moving away, but making sure she wasn't asphyxiating with a hand, NIGHT still stuttering from the encounter earlier. "I-- I don't think she threatened us..." Her gaze went back to the orange marker in the distance. "It looked like she wanted to help... Maybe ignore questions about her orange indicator. But we were just passing by. I wasn't too sure what she was up to right before we met her."

She shifted her scarf, hoping it would cover her face better with a tug. "Thanks," NIGHT muttered back, hiding a warm smile. "I appreciate the concern, really. And no, it's fine. There's no need to go nuts today." The player stuffed her hands into her pockets, looking at the ground. "Hey, um... thanks for coming today. And calling me over earlier. I uh... I mean it."

It... means the world to me. Just for the moment. And then I'll let it go, I promise.

@Ceres

It must've been the second gift she'd gotten in her life.

And because of how different the nature of it was... she wasn't sure how to take it. The moment seemed to last longer than she'd wished it had, the implications only managing to hit her thoughts when Ceres pulled away.

What... what was she supposed to do? NIGHT held her breath, sinking further into her coat and scarf out of embarrassment, covering her mouth with a hand, once again. Then she took a single step back, gaze averted. "Y-you promise not to tell anyone, right?"

"T-thank you..."

A sudden tug barely managed to pull her focus back to the present, the woman thrown off her emotional rut and stability all at once. The PK-er was the last of her worries that day. "I-I think so," her voice still low, trying to keep any sign of Ceres out of her view. "U-uhhh.... mmm-- M-Mari. Y-yeah. Mari. Right." She turned her head, doing her best to not look directly at her friend-- er, friend? "A-ah, wwwe met her when we were after a b-boss... W-we can go somewhere else if--if you want...?"

@Ceres

"Maybe," she muttered back. "But I wouldn't be so sure." First impressions certainly made their mark, and her judgement of him wasn't going to go away with a wave of a hand. Her eyes bore into the man's back, watching it follow his position in the distance. "That might just be me, though. Sorry." NIGHT turned her sights back to her friend. "I'll still keep an eye out. And..." Her vision focused in on Mari, who seemed lively -- livelier? with Alkor around. "Maybe you're right. It sure look that way. I... wouldn't know too much, though."

The woman smirked, when she saw Ceres' blush. What, had the tables finally turned? It only felt right with the request being within her power to fufill. "You don't have to get me anything," she replied. "Actually, making these helped me lighten up a bit. I'm just glad that you might find a use for them."

Packet unwrapped, items examined. "I hope they fit you. I couldn't stop thinking about the flowers--" NIGHT pointed to the corsage. "-- with that one."

Then a hug.

NIGHT was glad she was wearing her scarf.

The heat also helped her in coping with the cold -- this one time, she felt like she couldn't complain, even if she wanted to. She closed her eyes, thankful for the warmth, before opening them to hear Ceres' question. "When is your birthday? I will have to get you something extra nice to make up for this."

"..."

... How was she going to answer? NIGHT looked away, sighing. Of course fate would have it that she, out of all people, would've been able to ask this question. She mulled over the question in her mind, her eyes moving to look at Ceres as she contemplated on the thought. Then, a beat later, NIGHT took a few steps closer to her friend, trying to be discrete. "Promise you won't tell anyone?"

"... It's the day before Christmas."

@Ceres

It was amusing (and alarming) to watch Lonzo try to dislodge the knife in his wall. NIGHT continued eating, as the man went to make something simple -- no shows this time, just simple cooking. That was something she was more likely to get behind on. When he was done, she'd been chewing on squid, turning her head to see him take a seat beside her, burger on his plate.

With her question, he gave her an answer that seemed to slide past some details -- actually, any details at all. That felt odd. She swallowed, before gently getting ribbed by her friend. Those were some big dreams he had, proclaiming in wanting to be a castle-reknown restaurant. NIGHT closed her eyes, imagining the rush of people -- sat down, talking, enjoying their meals to a familiar singer. She wondered for a moment if non-players would've stopped by for a visit, even to perform; her guess was a resounding agreement there.

"That'd, stunt my leveling but... I can't afford to fight and lose. There's something I regret and I have to fix it or... I don't want to think about it."

That came as a surprise. She opened her eyes, tilting her head as she looked at Lonzo. "You don't have to. There's also no shame in wanting to hang up your axe for a bit." The woman returned to her meal, getting the last bit of meat out of her mussels. "I think it's noble of you to want such a goal for yourself, y'know? And whatever you have on your mind... It can always come later."

A clatter of metal, as she set down her utensils. Half the meal had been touched, NIGHT feeling full and bashful about her appetite. "Sorry; I guess I'm not used to eating a lot just yet. The meal was nice though." She shot him a grin. "Thank you very much!"

She sipped on her drink as she listened to the man ramble. "The show was good," she quipped, "If you were looking for feedback on it." Her eyes narrowed. "As for the club... I get the terrible feeling that someone's actually already done it. But that's none of my business to pry. I get the feeling it's gotta be in town, though, on the first floor." Another sip. "But don't take my word for it."

NIGHT ended her thoughts with a nod, popping the last berry in her mouth. She hadn't been sure about the drink when she'd seen the wine being poured, but it was rather close to what she had wanted. "It's for a good cause; entertaining people. The best thing you can do is enjoy the process and the smiles on their faces. Which, it looks like you seem to do yourself." She grinned back at the man, adjusting herself on the stool she was on. "Take pride in that, Lonzo. It's a one of a kind passion. So, what's next on your checklist for today? Uh, if it's more meals, you might have to give me some time to recover from the fullness."

@Lonzo

Her gaze shifted to Azhoda, blankly nodding at what her friend was telling her. They went over to talk to Koga. Huh. She trusted Ceres' judgement, but couldn't shake off the thought that there might've been more to the story, if another one of her friends were trusting of them. "Don't feel too bad about it," NIGHT responded, squinting hard. Mostly because I'll feel the indignation for you. No matter how well the duo in the distance got along, she still didn't agree with those viewpoints that had been relayed to the redhead by any measure.

Then her sights turned to watch the two PKers near them bicker somewhat. Mari aside, now her grudge just felt personal. Knowing how sharp and slanted Alkor's views are, and then adding the death of another person onto it...

It's not like NIGHT would pick a fight, of course. But she would have to stay on her guard with the figure around. "We can't help what the system allows. Best we can do is stay away from them."

When Ceres placed a hand on her shoulder, it felt like an invitation away from her own brooding. Like she was welcomed back to the present, even though she didn't want to be for the moment. "I'm fine," she tried to offer, blinking slowly, exhaustion shown on her face.

But her friend being right next to her did remind her of something. "I got your message the other day," the woman breathed. She pulled out two items from her waist bag, offering two paper packets to her friend. Colourful and light, in red and blue festive wrappings. "Merry... Merry Christmas. Or Happy Holidays, if you'd prefer."

@Ceres

Quote

> Trading Gold Feather Hairpin, Peruvian Lily Corsage to Ceres.