NIGHT

The past few days, NIGHT found herself lazing about in the Town of Beginnings and the lower floors. Social interaction was more than welcome for her, but there was always this solid layer of uncertainty behind her days. The one fear that’s kept her shut away from stepping outside her workshop as readily as she’d wanted to.

Surrounded by her blankets, she didn’t have that to fear. She could just stay in bed, cozied up with her thoughts and her cat. Ceres told her she shouldn’t, and she had promised her somewhat, but what else was there to do when one thinks someone was hunting them down? 

It’s not like she ever did anything wrong either. She thought back to Mari, the player killer with an orange cursor, dancing above her head. It seemed so surreal to have the mark of a murderer loom over someone, announcing to all about the crimes she’d committed. Those were the types of players she’d imagined others would want to go after, for having taken out their loved ones, or something to that extent.

Hot cocoa. She needed hot cocoa if she was going to last the day. For the first time, she took a step out of bed, to no one’s obligation but her own. And as she was sipping her drink, the mail she’d been waiting for finally dropped in.

The red mark jumped up and down in eagerness at the corner of her vision. One slow breath. Then she opened it.

The questions about food came in hot and quick; perhaps just this once, NIGHT was thankful for all the time she thought she'd wasted watching those aesthetic cooking videos. "I don't usually eat too much for breakfast," she revealed, "And it's very sweet of you to make me some. Ah..." The woman looked away in thought, leaning onto the counter. "I guess if I had to pick -- a pasta, right? What about seafood spaghetti? Mussels... and calamari sound about right for me." She bowed her head -- a quick gesture. "Thank you very much!"

Her gaze travelled to the stage at the corner. Performers, huh? It sounds like it would be perfect for a young lady she knew. She nodded, before the man corrected himself, and NIGHT found herself smirking. "It's alright, there's no need for formalities like that, but good morning anyway, Lonzo."

"As for dessert, ah-- isn't that a bit too much to eat at once?" She rubbed the back of her neck, alarmed. "Though if you're taking suggestions, oh!" A snap of her fingers. "You can't go wrong with crepe cakes. It... takes a bit of work though, but I don't mind watching you cook." NIGHT smiled, leaning back on her stool. "It sounds like you really enjoy cooking, huh? Were you a chef back then?"

Her eyes widened when Lonzo fired his next round of questions. "E-even down to the drink? You're making me work for this meal, huh?" She placed a hand on her chin, thinking. "Ah... Oh, you know what? White grape juice." The woman let out a sigh, thinking about the canned drink. "I rarely came across it in the real world, I sorta miss it in here. It's not too extravagant, is it?" Then, she chuckled. "There's no need for you to work so hard, y'know?"

@Lonzo

A perfect, instant craft. The wait was more than worth it for this. The instant NIGHT locked her eyes on the crystal and her fingers wrapped around the crystal, she couldn't stop smiling. This item was simply worth more than what she'd bargained for.

She slid it in her waist bag, unlatching it's flap. "It's an amazing craft, that's for sure. I'm more than happy with how it's delivered." She brought out another smaller pouch. "You should have this. Although I don't know if it'll make up for the quality." Sliding the bag onto the counter, she strolled over to the door, grinning at Tala. "I really appreciate it. See ya."

Quote

> Sending 10 T1 Materials to Tala.

+ Izayoi

When she saw the orange marker... NIGHT flinched. Words of a message long gone by flashed before her eyes.

Quote

To: NIGHT
From: Yukiro

Everyone's got your back here, so never worry!

Except for PKrs. Worry about them a lot.

She'd gotten this close to a PKer.

No, let's not mince words. A murderer.

There was something about the term that didn't quite sit with her. As if it was abandoning all pretense of life before the game began to describe someone who only slayed others in this very specific instance. Questions like if the killing was intended, how harshly they should be punished -- questions like that went to the court. They weren't for her to answer. But meeting the player -- <Mari> -- still left a solid first impression, especially with that solemn attitude afterwards.

She'd panic and draw her sword to defend herself, if Mari didn't seem like she was trying to be accommodating. She had to remember that players like here were still human through and through. Plus, she was sure the slayer would've been able to kill them whenever she wanted to, had they been hostile on contact. NIGHT had given her the opening earlier -- a foolish move by any other day, straying so far from her aid.

It took her a moment to loosen her jaw so she could answer, shooting a tired look over to Cordelia. "NIGHT is fine." And she was glad that her suspicions were verified about Mari's strength, when she started estimating how the fight would go -- on her account.

Instead, Cardinal decided to surprise them today. A hand outreached, slamming the ground upon the cross section where NIGHT and Cordelia found themselves to be. The kid had ducked, grabbing NIGHT and pushing her out of danger, before yelling orders to the party, pulling out her blade.

Uh, NIGHT figured, as she scowled against the floor, shadows masking a foul look. a. I wish that would stop happening to me in general. b. This girl really is all business, isn't she?

A hiss, before the adventurer got up and unsheathed her blade. Perhaps if they'd noticed it spawn, the fight would be a different story. While Cordelia had Wukong's attention, NIGHT charged forth, striking it with a singular slash of her blade. For a moment, she actually believed her sword art could destroy galaxies, as she watched the Monkey King writhe in pain, an unholy screech, before starting to fade away at its extremities.

... Huh?

That's it?

She lowered her sword. I really thought Sun Wukong would put up more a fight. A shrug and a confused look was all she had to offer as she turned around. "So uh... Hi?"

@Mari @Cordelia

Quote

ID: 132347 | BD: 9 (6, +3)
<<Galaxy Destroyer>> vs Monkey King.
14 * 13 = 182 DMG | 182 - 50 = 132 DMG
Monkey King... has been defeated? (I guess it has?)

Monkey King | HP: -12/250 (-132) | 50 MIT | 240 DMG 

NIGHT | HP: 500/500 | EN: 37/50 (-13) | ACC: 3 | DMG: 14 | EVA: 3 | PARA: 2 | KEEN: 1

NIGHT slept in that day. By 11 in the morning, she was tossed onto her side, trying to return to her rest as the sunlight slipped into her bed through the windows. With a buzz, a mail notification, she cursed, bundling up in her blankets again.

I don't wanna answer...

But someone more awake than her did, poking and prodding at her face with a paw. Nyanko was up early, bothering her owner to get up too, with chittering and murps as NIGHT squeezed back into her sheets. "Noooo..."

"Mrrow!"

A moment of silence and unease. Then, "Mrghrh-- fine..."

As she started to rise, curling out of her blankets, Nyanko hopped to the floor, ready to walk her owner to his food bowl. She stumbled, following behind him, pulling open the message she'd received earlier.

An invitation from Lonzo? This early? NIGHT glanced at the time, looking away with a sigh. Oh. Early comment rescinded.

- - -

After breakfast for Nyanko (All she had to do was shake the bowl; it's not empty, kitty!) and preparing to head out of town, the two made their way over to Horunka. It was surprising that two of the chefs she knew chose this place as their home base, but she wasn't complaining -- it was a good work out for the treats they would provide. She followed the system's tracker, tailing Lonzo over to his shop, and by the door she entered in the given code.

The wooden door swung open, allowing her to enter, and she made it a point to close the door behind her. NIGHT didn't even know doors could be locked like that. She had to wonder if she even needed it in the future.

"Yo!" The woman called out to her friend, at the bar counter. She took a seat on a stool, examining the place with a scan. "So, what's the occasion? Is it about the other day? What was it, caviar?"

@Lonzo

"Never had a shield. I'm starting to wonder if you're mixing me up for someone else, now," she joked in astonishment, grinning. "I don't exactly recall leaving behind another sword... But I do swap my weapons from time to time, yeah." NIGHT gestured with her hands. "The last one I used was made by Yukiro; a black great sword. Benched it when I moved up a tier."

"And I'm obviously not gonna take a dip in the river." A chuckle. "That just screams extra bad for many reasons. I'm sorry to think that the worst turned out for you there, though."

With Lonzo's invitation to look at houses, she nodded. "Sure, I don't mind. It'd be good to make plans for it in the future. I'll see what's available for us to grab; I'm thinking an apartment for myself." NIGHT bowed, soon after. "It's alright. I'm glad you invited me here. It was nice catching up with you. And hey, let me know if you want any help in the future, yeah?"

NIGHT grinned at the man, before watching him turn in the quest. All in a day's work.

- - - - -

Thread Summary

Quote

[Total]
Lonzo
+ 5SP
+ 200col
+ <The Matriarch's Stinger>

NIGHT
+ 2SP
+ 200col
+ <The Matriarch's Stinger>

NIGHT was quiet for a good bit. Thinking about how nice and warm and patient Ceres was about her monologue. And she was right about a lot of things.

For starters, it was rather difficult to come to terms with her orientation. And she'd entirely disregarded the struggle and the emotional mess that came out of her, then and now, resulting in her feeling sorry for herself now. She hummed in agreement, chuckling when she was about to speak, still stroking the flowers' petals in her hand with a thumb. "I wouldn't even know what to say, if I wanted to talk about it. But I appreciate the invitation anyway."

As for cultures, NIGHT had initially expected Ceres to be used to directness herself from friends and family around her. "I'm actually rather surprised to hear the culture you grew up with wasn't that open with affection," NIGHT joked, smirking. Knowing that it was an inherently unique trait to her just made it feel all the more special. It was more fuel for her to learn how to calm down, for once. "I'm not Japanese, by the way," she informed her, watching her flower spin. A laugh. "Sorry, just figured I should clear that up first. Chinese is pretty close though."

She ran her fingers under the skin of the petals, feeling the weight of the flower shift in her hand unsteadily. NIGHT continued nodding at intervals, as the woman listened to her friend share a few signs of fondness. At least they both agreed that physical affection wasn't much of a thing that occurred with her culture. As Ceres continued to recount, a part of her yearned for the same tenderness the woman had spoke of mirrored in all aspects of her life. Maybe she was just a soft kind of person, like that.

Another really made an effort to lead her imagination astray. She brushed the thought aside, accidentally crushing the flower in her hand. Crap. She picked up another flower, letting the shards fade with the wind.

"That's what matters right now," she echoed, examining the new flower in her hands, before looking over to the redhead, smiling as she enjoyed Nyanko's company -- and offered to lend a ear. "I'll try not to forget, that's for sure. On the other hand, I'm not too much of a public sleeper. But if you're feeling up to it, I'll keep an eye out for danger for the both of us."

And the day passed them by as the two of them rested in the fields, taking in the lazy, dreamy day to their hearts' content.

- End

- - - - -

Thread Summary

Quote

[Total]
Ceres
+ 5SP
+ 200col
+ <The Matriarch's Stinger>

NIGHT
+ 2SP
+ 200col
+ <The Matriarch's Stinger>

[18/12/19]

Dammit.

Jeez.

Ughh.

NIGHT hissed, waving the blue lights away. She sighed, hunched over her desk, her fingers running through her hair as she pushed the locks back. Maybe she shouldn't have gone to the festival. It sure was making her more than upset, and it showed in her work.

Nyanko jumped onto her lap, meeping and mewing for her attention. At least she had him to comfort her. She played with the kitten further, lightly letting him try to catch and bite her fingers, watching all the while. Eventually, when the cat was too tired to play, he curled up on her lap. NIGHT sat up straight, stretching, ready to try again.

"Thanks, Nyanko."

Quote

ATP Member Bonus: +5 LD on Salvage, +2 XP/Craft
Athena's Lens: +1 CD
Ambition: +1 XP/Craft
Loot Die: +3 LD

ID: 132300 | CD: 4 (3, +1) | LD: 22 (14, +8) | Salvage (Success)
ID: 132301 | CD: 2 (1, +1) | Fail
ID: 132302 | CD: 12 (11, +1) | Success! (Perfect)
ID: 132303 | CD: 4 (3, +1) | LD: 9 (1, +8) | Salvage (Fail)
ID: 132304 | CD: 13 (12, +1) | Success! (Perfect)
ID: 132305 | CD: 6 (5, +1) | Success! (Uncommon)
ID: 132306 | CD: 5 (4, +1) | LD: 10 (2, +8) | Salvage (Fail)

Result: +47 (26, +14 +7) XP, -6 TI Materials, [T1E1] Uncommon Crafted Trinket (1), [T1E3] Perfect Crafted Trinket (2)

"I'll let you know if I figure out my baggage, yeah," she reassured him. NIGHT doubted that it'd be any time soon, though.

"Inn baths have lines. And strict schedules on when players can use them. I hate them so much..." NIGHT sighed, shaking her head. "But I'd agree on getting a house for myself one day. A place to keep cozy sounds just about right for me." Her workshop was beginning to run out of space, anyway. Ever since Nyanko came in, she'd been wanting to remodel her rooms so that the kitten could enjoy her space the way a proper cat should be allowed to. "I think an apartment would be just perfect, and then I can get down to thinking about improving on it in the future."

She raised a brow when Lonzo asked about her blade. "It's two-handed, actually." The woman held the sword out in front of her, examining it over. "I personally think the skill's been helping me wield it with ease; it's why I'm able to use it like a one-handed sometimes. But I don't advise anyone doing that..."

"I'll be up for a match, sure," NIGHT added, storing the blade to her back. "Just let me know when you're looking for the fight." She began her stroll back to town, making sure the man was following along. "And I'll see if there's any alchemists up and running when I can. Cardinal knows I need to find one myself, anyway."

@Lonzo

Quote

ID: 132299 | LD: 5 | Treasure Chest Search
> There's nothing here...

Quote

To: NIGHT, Lonzo, Yukiro, Tala

Hey guys, I wanna tell you all something if you wouldn't mind meeting me at the ramen booth on the eleventh floor. It's just outside of the festival, so we won't have to yell over others while talking.

Not the festival again. Ugh.

NIGHT really hated the festivities this month around. Everyone always had to get involved when it came to the new year. Resigning herself to her fate, she composed another message, relaxing on her couch in the workshop.

No doubt that if they had to meet in person, it would be because it's of great importance. But she couldn't even make herself get to thinking about the reasons why everyone was to attend -- not when she was too buried in her loathing. Well, at least they had a ramen store, and that was nice right? NIGHT imagined herself tucked away in a wooden pop-up store, just having a lovely meal and trudging off into the snow...

... That alone was scenic enough to convince her to go. She erased the draft she'd written up earlier, trying to reassure herself that it was a better idea this way. Plus, it's not like Noctua had done anything to her. She didn't deserve to see her frustration this early.

In two shakes of a lamb's tail, she was there, her kitten peeping out a gap by her waist bag. She'd spied the shop, heading there immediately, ignoring the other stalls that were available. A quick order for herself -- Shoyu Chashu -- and she took a seat by the counter, a little aways from the group. Looks like Yuki got together with Tala alright. Good for him.

NIGHT nodded at his suspicions for the contacts she'd shared. It was more than alright by her for him to be aware about them. But she wasn't sure how to breach the subject of her worries. "It's more like... I'm not too sure what they are. I have some, of course," she looked away saying it, eyes tailed to the bushes. "And maybe when I pin them down, I'll tell you."

When the Wasp Queen busted out from the trees, Lonzo lunged for it, cutting through its abdomen with his axe. She spun around, taking notice of the creature.

"Wanna see something cool?"

Before the field boss could react to NIGHT charging at it, her blade began glowing a bright crimson, set to her side. With one singular swing, she cut through the bug, creating a cross through where Lonzo had left his mark, and decimating its health bar faster than NIGHT had ever seen before. As long as the strike had hit, the damage would be critical. She slung her blade and rested it on her shoulder, grinning to herself as she watched its form crumble into stardust.

"It's called Galaxy Destroyer." She laughed, beaming. "And I'm glad it tore through the boss. That's how strong you're gonna be one day, Lonzo, but a little more, I think." A finger pointed towards his axe. "That thing's capable of taking out multiple enemies with sheer force, I believe. I saw it in action once. You'd be surprised at the damage you could deal with that thing."

NIGHT sheathed her sword, with a final exhale. "Anyway, about the baths, they're not exactly my thing either. I only got used to them because there was nowhere else that had a bath installed, and the inns' have this... scheduled queue." She frowned. "I hate thinking about it."

"Back to town we go, then?

Quote

ID: 132283 | BD: 10 (7, +3)
14 * 13 = 182 DMG
Wasp Queen has been decimated!

Wasp Queen | HP: -168/50 | DMG: 20

NIGHT | HP: 500/500 | EN: 37/50 (-13) | ACC: 3 | DMG: 14 | EVA: 3 | PARA: 2 | KEEN: 1

She really did match the flowers, NIGHT thought, watching her friend tip over onto the ground. A scatter of petals flew up to meet her gaze, gently waving and scattering away in a light breeze. "It's fine," she replied, smiling. "There shouldn't be anything wrong with being direct, really. Maybe it's a culture thing." Her gaze wondered over to the sky, watching some of the petals float higher and higher. "I know that mine doesn't pride itself on friendliness too much."

"And thank you." NIGHT chuckled at Ceres' words of appreciation. It didn't surprise her when she felt no wounds from Ceres' reminder of her own feelings to NIGHT. Of course not; the woman had known the same the whole time. The hurt lied in knowing she hadn't done enough in trying to suppress her reactions. "I-It's more like... I don't want to cause any trouble or messes with your emotions or mine."

She took a seat, finally next to her friend, watching her relax in the fields. "I'm still... coming to terms with getting close to women, I-I think." Her gaze dropped to the flowers beside her, fingers slowly starting to reach out to them. She traced the surface of their petals, following their veins. "It- It's kinda ridiculous, really..."

"Tying into solitude... I rarely ever left my house. I've told you that I think." NIGHT found herself at a loss for words, watching the flower, so gentle, be tugged and pushed in the many directions she poked at it. "In our household, there were rarely any words of affection, of kindness or care or consideration. They'd all been brushed under the rug, or shoved aside to make way for some other problem my mom had to deal with."

"So it's tough, getting close to people. Conflict... is most of what I know. Ah--" The woman caught herself there. "Non-physical. There's no need to worry about my well being in that regard. But that's why I'd figured it felt easy to take your actions to heart, and -- uh -- my preference doesn't make it easy, I think." Now it was her turn to rest with the flowers, leaning against her blade for support. She picked a flower, twirling its stem in her hands. "I don't know how I really feel about you, actually. I... I like you too, b-but I'm not certain in which manner." A slow, calming breath. "But I'm more than happy with just being friends and getting to hang out with you."

NIGHT smiled at Ceres. "I'll try not to lock myself away on purpose. But I definitely need time to slow down and think. It's not like I'll ever be fully alone, either." She unlocked her bag, allowing a fully awake Nyanko to leap out of it, scampering over to Ceres in curiosity. NIGHT laughed. So that's what all the scuffle in her bag earlier was about. "I still have him, don't I?"

@Ceres

A whistle, and a crow swooped down from the skies to perch atop Cordelia's frame. So that was Pacco. She wondered if the familiar actually fit her, though. Watching their mannerisms, they seemed to mirror each other's stoicism. Was it for the best?

Well, that wasn't her problem. The more unnerving part of the interaction was when the girl had brushed off her concern with a shrug and a sniff. Oh, and she followed it up with some generic phrase of irritation. That... that was it? NIGHT hadn't even considered that players as closed off or as nonchalant as her would even make it past the first rung of the castle climb, but it seemed like life had different opinions on the matter. "Uh, yeah, sure..." was all she found herself replying, trying to relax in the girl's pressurizing presence.

On up ahead, the forest opened up to a clearing. It seemed apt that they would be fighting the dexterous monkey here. More room to manoeuvre meant a better chance of not getting hit, and NIGHT was certain she really needed that boon in the fight.

“What in the—“

Huh? She turned her head, then caught an orange glimpse amongst the trees. As her partner in crime pointed out to the mysterious person, NIGHT found herself squinting hard, before approaching the figure slowly. Who'd want to hang out around here, anyway?

@Mari

"I know, I know," NIGHT retorted in a jest, teeth showing with her grin. "But you might be busy that day, is what I'm getting it." She made a mental note to remember the co-ordinates for the place they were in, too; it'd make good information to pass onto her informants when she got back to talking with them. The more specific details were taken down by Ceres -- at least she could always fall back on her for that information if she needed to.

As she was talking, wondering about the Wrath incarnate, Ceres donned a beautiful yellow flower, and NIGHT smiled without noticing. At least she seemed to behaving fun herself.

T-then came her turn to don one-- The adventurer shifted her sights elsewhere, taking in Ceres' warnings. She appreciated both gestures, of course, but her words more than the flower. All she could manage was a chuckle, blushing with her eyes tracking the distant enemies again. "It's not about that, but... thank you. I do appreciate the sentiment." She ended her words with a grin, glancing back at the woman.

And NIGHT found out that was bad timing on her part, as the redhead pointed to the flower in her hair, matching her own. A-and the compliment? Ceres was really good at compliments that nailed her theme on the head. If NIGHT wasn't panicking, she'd definitely have appreciated that more than the woman in front of her would realize. She started turning red once more, but found that Ceres seemed to... do the same, except color seemed to be draining from her face -- hey, wait a minute.

Was this about her own signs of attraction?

... She really needed to wrangle them under control, didn't she? NIGHT felt sorry for her friend, having to put up with her own antics and quirks like that, and her face fell into one of concern more than anything. "Sorry," she tried to joke, placing a hand behind her neck, tilting her head to one side. "I... I guess I really did look pitiful there, huh?"

The woman had wanted to follow up with "I'll try to get used to you"... or something along those lines, but a buzz caught the two's attention instead. 

The boss?

NIGHT darted over to the creature before she could process what Ceres had said, vengeance in mind and adrenaline -- from panic, mostly -- ran through her veins. Within ten seconds of its appearance, the adventurer had already pulled out her blade as she closed the gap between them. The next five consisted of her pulling out Lightning from her arsenal -- there was no way she wanted to risk throwing up when she'd already burdened her friend with so many problems.

It fell before Lightning's stun nor her sword could even take a chance to hold the queen in place. NIGHT sighed, setting her blade's tip into the patch of flowers, trying to gather her thoughts once again before her friend got near.

"I'll... I'll try to do better, Ceres. I-I promise." She announced, and turned to look at the woman, when she got close enough. "I... don't want you to feel uncomfortable when you're around me. It's just... maybe you're the first person who's ever been this direct with me, y'know?" NIGHT did her best to form a smile, coming up a hint short. "So it's not your fault, and it's definitely okay if you don't share the same feelings either." She cast her sights to the ground. "Maybe I just need a few days more of rest or solitude... or something."

@Ceres

# placeholdr

Quote

ID: 132220 | BD: 12 (9, +3)
<<Lightning>> vs Wasp Queen.
14 + 1 = 15 DMG | 15 * 4 = 60 DMG
Wasp Queen has been defeated!

Wasp Queen | HP: -10/50 | DMG: 20

NIGHT | HP: 500/500 | EN: 43/50 | ACC: 3 | DMG: 14 | EVA: 3 | PARA: 2 | KEEN: 1

NIGHT wasn't exactly the most social when it came to larger scale gatherings like these. She'd have to thank Bistro for the hot tip though. The player wouldn't be caught up here without a reason on a normal day, and it seemed safe enough from her current activities to warrant taking a peek, if not a visit.

It clicked into place why she'd omitted out a handful of details from their messages, like what the event was about. She sighed, watching the snow fall from the sky. From her inventory, she brought out a scarf, covering her neck and face with it, before taking a step closer to the cathedral. There was a stall here for disc throwing, right? Might as well take her shots. No point dawdling around here, with this many players about.

Quote

Brandy's Disc Throwing

ID: 132216 | BD: 5 | Target: 3 | Missed
ID: 132217 | BD: 4 | Target: 3 | Missed
ID: 132218 | BD: 4 | Target: 3 | Missed
ID: 132219 | BD: 6 | Target: 3 | Hit! (+4 points)

Total: 4 points >> 1,500col

And once that was done, the next stall had something else for free, it seemed. Hot Cocoa? Don't mind if she took one, then. Holding the cup in her hands for warmth, she brought it closer, looking into the cup with a distant stare.

"Happy birthday to me... I guess."

Quote

Hot Cocoa Stand

+ Sharp Hot Cocoa (+4 LD)

Was Cordelia okay? She looked... incredibly out of it. Glossy eyes, distant stare -- name one of the few things that would happen if you were disassociating, and the girl had it, but amplified. NIGHT frowned, tilting her head and humming in agreement at her question. She knew from experience she seemed like... like a stick in the mud. But this nature of hers -- uh, was it always like this? -- felt downright... what's the word...

Ugly? Disrespectable?

She looked up to the sky for some answers for a quick beat, before pulling up the party menu with a, "We should party up then," before sending her an invite. She tried, tried hard not to acknowledge the comment Cordelia had made, as the girl patted down her pants or something. NIGHT continued walking past her to advance on their journey, deciding to herself that maybe, for her own well being, she shouldn't look too hard into the kid's eyes, either. Instead, when Cordelia got close enough to whisper distance during the walk, she asked, "Uh, is everything okay there, miss...? You're looking... a little off."

@Cordelia

She watched as Ceres came to a realization about what NIGHT had said herself, chuckling. She hadn't figured that it didn't make sense just yet. "Whoops, guess I'm jumping the gun there," she smirked, bowing her head lightly in apology. "I'll be waiting for that message, you know; if you're actually going to send it. But take your time, yeah? There's no rush needed."

The woman hadn't even noticed they were walking into flowers. With her eyes still set on Ceres in the middle of their conversation, it took her a good few petals flying up at her face to even acknowledge where they were. Was this the place? Possible. NIGHT spied the cliff where her and Yukiro had taken down the queen -- it could easily have been a spawning mishap for that day, or that week. This field, with the brown, buzzing blots in the distance, felt more like its home.

She took in the location with her senses, still trying to register that this -- this lovely floral landscape had been under their hunt's location the whole time. And NIGHT never knew. A strong floral scent hit her nose, and it was pleasant and sweet, contrary to her expectations.

Then Ceres said something. Huh? What was it?

When NIGHT had turned to face her friend, the overwhelming majesty and beauty of her image and the landscape put together was too much for her to handle.

They just fit... so well.

She must've loosened her jaw for a moment, because when she came to, she had to close her mouth, hiding it away from her friend. Damned instincts. The conversation was about her help, right? "D-don't mention it," NIGHT murmured, keeping her eyes closed for a moment. "It's only fair that... people are given the time of day... 'specially when we've got it... N-no rush to anything..."

The mention of affairs with her friend immediately sobered her up, a dark grating feeling in her heart emerging. Trying to avoid Ceres' stunning appearance for the moment, she shifted her gaze over to the wasps, watching their movements for a second. "I... don't know. I'm trying not to interfere with his life... is what I can say, I guess." The sight of the petals she'd picked made her turn to look at the redhaired woman, and she covered her face in habit by now. "How do I put this..."

"... I'd rather let things slide between us, y'know?" An exhale. "He, uh... He's not interested in seeing me, I think. Not after I told him the same about his..."

Her sights flickered over to the woman, and NIGHT tried giving Ceres her best smile, lowering her hand a little. "He'll be fine, I think, given some time. One fight over it... shouldn't be enough to wedge a friendship."

As Ceres carried on, continuing their discussion about skill distribution, the two watched the petals float off into the distance, the pink and purples contrasting against the bright blue sky. She waved them off with a muted smile, the other hand stuffed in her pocket.

"They shouldn't be able to," NIGHT replied, still staring up at the sky. "It's not a robot, exactly. Insects just have these weird, interloping segments and indentations?" She scratched her cheek, returning her gaze back on Ceres. "It makes them look, uh, artificial. I'm almost certain that's what most sci-fi concepts are built on, but that's just my musing."

@Ceres

"I'll see if I have anything on hand," NIGHT replied, trying to recall if she'd have left anything back in her workshop. Junk sales. She wondered if Ceres would have an issue with that. "But I'd love to keep some dungeon maps on hand, given the opportunity. It would make for an interesting adventure. I'd look for treasure chests and the like, but..."

She huffed, hands stuffed deep in her pockets. "They always elude me. I'm almost certain you'd have better luck tracking them down on your own, what with your skill points going to recon... right?" NIGHT wasn't exactly familiar with the support players' handbooks, assuming there was one, but she tried her best to adapt, anyway.

"My friend took out the wasp," she mumbled, with a breathy hiss after it. "We were tracking it one day -- separately. I only managed to spot them headed towards my direction from a distance. They... weren't up for talking much that day." The adventurer recalled as Yukiro left gashes into the tree with his sword, punching it in anger just before the fight began. She sighed, groaning. "I hate bugs -- but the giant wasp queen -- ugh -- looks more like a robot than anything else. The sound of the wings beating fast is what gets to me."

NIGHT shivered, in fear of her ears. "You can keep the poison if you want. I'm not too interested in it at the moment. As for combat..." The woman looked back at her companion, grinning. "If you're interested in it? Do you find yourself having any use for it at the moment?"

"We usually max out our weapon mastery first," she stated, an observation she'd picked up from watching Yukiro grow. The weight on her back -- her blade -- became apparent as she imagined the sword in his hand being swung against a bark. A frown, for a moment, before she adjusted her face. "We get our sword arts from there, so it's part of a crucial multiplier system. For a support build though... those points might be spent better elsewhere to begin with, but that's just my two cents. If you're in no rush to get a working system up and running," NIGHT grinned, a little too carefree. "Then it's really just based on preference there, y'know?"

@Ceres

"Motives?" NIGHT repeated, wondering. "I'm almost quite certain they share our sentiments; aside from making a buck as they do, of course." She wrung the back of her neck with a hand. "It's part and parcel of our cycle these days -- we give them money, they get us information, and vice versa if we find anything of interest. If you want to meet them I'm sure they'll oblige, though Fleur's more elusive than Bistro, I think."

NIGHT folded her arms with a smirk when Lonzo asked her about her baggage. "I mean, maybe?" She slung them behind her head, leaning back. "Some. But I'm much more fortunate than others, I think. People... have lost their loved ones in here. But I don't think I can say the same." For the better, she assured herself.

But she nodded when Lonzo spoke about privacy. The guild question had to be noticed answered to first though. "I find it more like a... Community Centre." Was that the word? She frowned at the term. "--Yeah. No invitation needed, I think. 's not like I met the owner myself, either; they just seem to let anybody in to reap the benefits."

"And I can agree on the bathing front," she sighed, wondering if she would ever be able to change her situation on that front. "The public bathhouses are getting a little... cramped? Uh, muddied. Y'know what? It doesn't matter," NIGHT hissed, sinking her head into her collar. "But I'd definitely like some privacy myself." She continued mulling over the baths. They really needed cleaning. Maybe she could take a day out of her schedule to clean them. It'd be good training, maybe, while she was benched.

But at the man's notice that the field boss might be near, she snapped out of her thought spiral, pulling out her blade. "If you see it, take the first strike," she ordered. "It won't live past the next that hits it, that's for sure."

@Lonzo

To say that NIGHT was ready for the Monkey King was incorrect. Instead, her vendettas drove her here -- if there was one myth she hated, it'd have to be the journey to the west. She wished the media would stop using it for inspiration, and lived in blissful ignorance until today. And so here she was on the 8th floor, ready to sunder one Sun Wukong, even if it meant putting her life on the line for it. 

The place was deserted. NIGHT wondered if Bistro had given her the correct information before she spotted a familiar figure in the distance. Cordelia? Like the sharp tongued girl who was hanging out at the tavern that one time? She bit her lip, wondering if she should approach her, before resolving to do it anyway, grunting repeatedly in various pitches.

When she was close enough, she pulled up a menu instead of saying anything, hoping she wasn't going to be noticed. Wait, was Cordelia always at her level? Maybe she'd been training so much that she'd not noticed her catching up with the expert here. Plus, what bothered her more was the potential that she'd lost somebody, and NIGHT hadn't. Whats up with that discrepancy? Maybe NIGHT was just lucky. Really, really lucky.

At any rate, she cleared her throat, closing the examination window. "Uh hey," she began, faking a pretense of unfamiliarity and a hand outstretched to gesture. "You here for the Monkey King's head too?"

NIGHT nodded, resting her cheek on a hand, listening intently. The more Ceres mentioned Alkor, the more she imagined how awful the man could be. She bit her lip, annoyed at how powerless she was at the moment. The next time she was out anywhere, she'd definitely have to keep an eye out for mister-edgelord. "Let me know when your shop's open," she said, curious. "I'll come visit some time."

Ah, and then Ceres reached out to her, squeezing her hand gently. The woman knew it was a gesture of empathy, but couldn't stop smiling anyway. And to top it all off, seeing Ceres happy once again, after all that's been said made her the most satisfied she'd felt today. NIGHT was glad she could cheer her friend up, even if it did mean she forgot to breath.

Right? B-breathe, NIGHT breathe--

She inhaled, her face stuck in a grin. "Thank you. And I'll be looking forward to how your build goes," the adventurer managed to say, before picking up her bowl of soup and downing it in one go. It wasn't so much because she was hungry, or the soup was getting cold, or that it was about time they left.

NIGHT was just struggling to hide her face from Ceres, that's all.

After a short moment -- to finish her meal much more properly and recover her composure -- NIGHT resumed listening in to what Ceres had to say. The woman was right, in her conviction. She hated imagining players running around ready to put down others. And when Ceres went to rub her eyes, she felt like it was the last reason she needed to give herself to even go after the guy in question at all. "Let me know if he shows up again. At all. If he does anything to hurt you, I want to know."

"And as for my vendetta..." NIGHT cracked her knuckles with a smirk. "Yeah, I think it's high time I pay our mark a visit."

@Ceres

"It's fine to have your concerns," she commented with a smile. It was... relieving to see someone worry about her in the flesh. Her informants had done it over text, and she did meet up with a couple of people who'd shown the same anxiety towards matters relating to her. But the feeling of being worried over was always fresh. "I had mine too. If it helps, Fleur's probably an informant that Yukiro uses. But you didn't hear that from me," she grumbled, "Because he doesn't think so."

"Regardless, Bistro's been operating since nearly the start of the game. That's... why I feel like I can trust her." NIGHT sighed, going over the facts the woman had shared with her. "She's also pretty open, so it never feels like a one-way channel. And she's always open to chat, because business is slow. That part though, is from a lack of marketing."

Lonzo's hug was tight, but brief. She patted him lightly on the back, feeling like he'd needed it. When he let go, NIGHT wondered how she hadn't been crushed yet, but grinned all the same. "I'm glad you feel better," she stated, "And take your time with the baggage; we seem to have a lot of it while we're here in the game." The woman chuckled, keeping a hand in her pocket.

"As for the guild, it's a mercantile operation." She placed a hand over her chin. "They have bonuses that help you gain col on monsters you fight, but I've mostly been in there since they provide information and brochures on crafting techniques. It's a reliable benefit, and they have my vouching for them." NIGHT shrugged, a lazy, subdued smile on her face. "You should board with them, even if it's temporary. I'm sure it'll help in your cooking if you need it."

@Lonzo

NIGHT found herself beaming, trying to hide her flushed smiles behind a hand of her own. From Ceres feeling like her help was valuable, to having her efforts be praised, if not acknowledged; even for her own presence to be notable in someone else's time in Aincrad-- It was in scenarios like these that NIGHT found herself shy in front of the woman she was speaking with. How could someone be so direct and open about her appreciation like that? It was all she could do in the moment to keep her cool, trying not to look like an excited puppy with a big dumb grin on her face.

In fact, she was so enamoured with Ceres' praises that she'd almost forgotten she had breakfast ready in front of her. When she realized, her eyes widened, before looking towards her cream of mushroom, hesitantly picking up the bread and continuing to eat it, dipped in the soup. She tried to listen in on her friend's recounting of the stranger; picking up his name -- Alkor.

Alkor, Alkor... I gotta save it to memory.

"I'm more surprised you went to visit the 4th floor at all," NIGHT pointed out, mouth half-packed with bread. "Alkor had a point, but it's alright for a newbie to sightsee. I think that's the whole point of making the towns players teleported to safe zones."

He towered over her? How tall was this man? NIGHT furrowed her brow, trying to estimate his height using Yukiro as a measurement. Her concerns didn't end there however; yelling and insulting her friend -- no, anyone at all -- was unacceptable. "I'm... genuinely sorry to hear that happened to you," was all she could manage, with her eyes cast to her soup, watching it in disgust for the stranger. "And I'm... sorry to say," she chuckled, "But he's wrong."

"Not to reject the idea of heading out of town without safety or precaution, of course. But combat oriented players like us..." NIGHT stirred her soup with a spoon, trying to distract herself from her feelings. "We rely on support players like you. For information, usually, but it grows into crafting and networking as a service later."

"If someone more associated with battle came along a piece of information, like our hunt as an example, they'd more than likely keep it to themselves as an advantage over the competition." She set down her spoon to the side of the bowl. "That's what I think Alkor is imagining, and it could theoretically happen. The good news is that folks like you, informants, try and get the information from adventurers who're more likely to talk. Then it gets circulated, and everyone benefits from the advantage."

NIGHT folded her arms, leaning back in her chair as she watched the soup bowl, deeply lost in thought. "Going outside of one's comfort zone in a game like this... it has its benefits, but it's also dangerous. That's why in turn, you can find yourself ending up relying on me." She close her eyes, bracing herself for what she was about to say. "We... protect you. So that you can get the information you need to others."

T-this is sounding... very straightforward.

The adventurer coughed, trying to resolve the tension in the conversation. "S-so, don't be afraid to rely on me. A-and if you're really interested in trying to stand up for yourself, I can at least oversee how you're trying to do so?" A finger to scratch her reddened cheeks, and a shifted gaze elsewhere. "T-the work you do here is important, n-no matter how big or small, and you shouldn't let some random stranger come up to you and tell you otherwise, no matter who they are."

"A-and if I have to..." NIGHT set her sights back on Ceres, hiding her mouth with a hand. "If they come looking for you... I won't even let them try putting you down again."

@Ceres

Not knowing what had seemed off, she tilted her head, looking up at the man's face with concern. At least she could respect his views; it only made sense that players alike would band together to survive. It's what humans did naturally, right? "It's alright," she offered, "but if you're feeling unwell, you should head back and rest after this hunt. And hey, it's always nice to know that you'd be accepted by people around you, right?" NIGHT's grin was true, but it faded as the man lowered his shoulders. "If it was anything more than a sudden headache or a cramp, let me know. We can take it easy until we spot the boss."

"Not all info brokers are NPCs right?"

"Nope," she clarified, pulling up her friends list. "I'm in touch with two -- no, three players. One of them's up and coming," she found herself saying, trying not to turn scarlet from the mention of her new friend. "I can give you a contact if you'd like." With a wave, she sent the menu away, committing her informants' handles to memory.

"I didn't think it was that many," she added, counting them again. Three. "I'm sitting on the edge of Tier 2, if that's what you're asking; it's a little surprising to say the least... but it's not impossible." NIGHT folded her arms, satisfied. "I'll rely on you when I find the need to. Until then, I'm good with helping you out too. No more needing to be lonely."

Lonzo further wondered about who she was, turning to look right at her face with a smile. "I'm who I say I am," she replied, smiling in return. "I mean, I'm part of a trader's guild... But I haven't really made contact with the other members yet. A-and I'm not an assassin." The woman found herself chuckling at the idea. "No, I can't even imagine the idea. I can't even hold a-a knife--I can promise you that. I've just been relying on information brokers too much."

"They're... good company. Especially when you find yourself out hunting on your own." NIGHT fumbled with her gloves. "When you're out in the wild alone, it's just you and your thoughts sometimes."

The look on her face grew even more complex when Lonzo seemed to be genuinely... worried? NIGHT was certain her beliefs were rather standard, maybe a little more welcoming than others, but... with the way the man was acting, she was, truthfully, curious and concerned.

What had Lonzo been up to in real life that put him in a place where he couldn't express his empathy?

A hug? "Yeah, you can," she offered, opening up her arms wide, a face of worry on it. "Of course you can. And don't feel bad about it, either."

"I'll let you know if I need anything from you, and if you really do feel strongly about the same," she breathed, "then you'd better do the same too. Anything at all, from training to just wanting to talk; from a friend to another."

It was nice to be told she was trusted.

It was nice to find someone she could trust, too.

@Lonzo