NIGHT

"ah, no-- that's alright. thank you though." a bow of her head -- niceties weren't her strong suit, especially when made to play house guest after it'd been quite the while of seeing chase. but she listened to him talk about the estate, and night couldn't help but agree with the notion the more he went on. the player shot back a small chuckle once he was done. "i feel the same," she admitted, rising to her feet. "i mean, i used to live in an apartment, after all. but cardinal didn't seem to like catering to smaller spaces, strangely enough." night took her place by chase's side with anoth

"ah--" when chase stood up, night wondered if she should've followed. even moreso when he returned with refreshments -- sure, she didn't know his house better than the man who lived in it, himself, but still. she wasn't the player between the two who was sick. "you should show me where everything is one day," she commented, looking over the kitchen entrance as grabbed the cup offered to her with two hands. "if this cold of yours stays, especially. we've got to look out for each other, these days." "K-Koga? You mean the homocidal guy with the katana...?" and night was about to ha

were they? were they not? night narrowed her eyes in thought, sights cast to the ground as she stewed. it wasn't as though she'd spoken about what they were with nari. wasn't as though she didn't like the woman. wasn't as though they shared a bed once, or she used her shower, or she'd shared that deepest of secrets, of the sentient construct in the room. wasn't as though she had forever confided to her. boyfriend. and she thought it striking from raidou. it was even worse coming from chase -- but at least this was a person she wouldn't mind standing to correct. night didn't ge

"likewise." though night didn't seem as confident, like a haze had drifted over her eyes. with a blink, it was gone, no more than a fleeting moment of distress. where else would she take her narrative? "right, the revolution of ladonia afterwards." but the player couldn't recall so much -- rather, she did focus on the man who'd lead the front into discussions with gabrandr in the first place. "it wouldn't have happened without hirru, i think. he's a different player. spared the king some mercy, given some thought. it seemed like he was an old hat at it -- granted, it had equal conseq

"just thematically is all," night responded, almost lucid in her eyes. "the thought of what happens to you, in death, especially without your will." and the player only looked up from her hands once the query about their dress had been answered. for a moment, she turned to day, who had cocked her head to the side with a scrunched expression. "um, hello? i'm right here, you know, and i resent that." she wondered if the man saw the irony in the situation -- the two players, alone with one of their opposing kin in a single cart. "In any case, I don't think we've got much time. We'

she did wonder if it was better, then, for her friend to get some relaxing consumables for his sake. the coughs worried her just a bit, and night was considering where to source for the necessary ingredients at the back of her mind, though... their conversation. "i'm not. but that's not because we'd managed to spare it." her gaze turned away from chase, the woman lost in memory. "do you remember? the last time you dropped by our home." the piece of information felt incredibly trivial, and yet at the same time it was the crux of the issue. night grumbled at the thought of faultin

to say that night didn't care what others thought of her was incorrect. better that, depending on what they said, she couldn't care any less. so, here... "i do," the player added, after a short pause. the hand playing with nari's locks went for the woman's fingers instead, night interlocking her own with the other's. "i want them to talk." --to know night for who she was, when she was with someone she trusted. to make it into the books as something concrete, beyond 'simply housemates'. if there was any modicum of control over her life, it would be this, without question and do

a short hum, night satisfied at nari's answer. her eyes narrowed in amusement. it was adorable how nari was quickly tamed in light of affection as such, though the woman was careful to make a note not to abuse it. her response to the kitten was almost honey-laced. "good to hear." “Remind me what I’m helping with again…?" then, she couldn't help from hiding her smirk any further. "I…was distracted." "oh, i know." "Which is your fault – but don’t you dare think I’m complaining. I’m not. Complaining.” "mhm~" and the player wondered if nari really did need the

"well, wet noodles go in warm broth, right?" they passed over the commentary. night wasn't even sure where it was coming from. "You seemed like you had a lot on your mind when you came in." that was, in fact, because chase's guess had been right. and night wasn't exactly sure where she should've started from. the player matched her friend's casual seating, pulling herself into a cross-legged position, fidgeting as she wondered what the best route of storytelling was. "day's been alright. nothing's been off for her, as far as i can tell. though for my reference," the woman asked,

she thought she would've seen the stumbling over words, a jesting justification. but the more she watched nari try to rationalize her actions, the more night wondered how it was being taken. and she noticed the thought on her face, tensions upon its corners. the player's hand only toyed at the locks even more before shifting it closer to nari's neck, if only to feel the beating of her heart upon her wrist. “You’re the only one…” troubling. her other hand was set upon the table's surface, fingers tapping audibly. she hadn't the slightest doubt of nari's position towards herself -- in

thread summary. [notes] @Freyd @Nari-Lanreth @Astreya @Calrex @Snow please remember to add your stats into the first post in the future. [total] ALKOR | t7 | post count: 3 + 8785xp | (6275 * 7 * 0.2) + 1317col | (xp * 0.15) ASTRALIN | t4 | post count: 7 + 10040xp | (6275 * 4 * 0.4) ASTREYA | t5 | post count: 8 + 12550xp | (6275 * 5 * 0.4) BALDUR | t9 | post count: 6 + 22590xp | (6275 * 9 * 0.4) + 5388col | (xp * 0.15) + 2000 CALREX | t10 | post count: 1 ERUDA | t9 | post count: 4 + 11295xp | (6275 * 9 * 0.2) + 1694col | (xp * 0.15)

the name took her by surprise, first. then, once she realized what it meant, the implications started to sink in, in earnest. "chase cressfield." she repeated it, feeling the syllables upon her tongue. almost one hell of a name, that -- one to inspire awe in the way it sounded, felt on one's lips. night only nodded, once she understood her pronunciation right, before taking her friend's hand into her own for that shake. "got it. it's nice to meet you, cressfield. i'm ren. ren jun hui. singapore -- no localities there." "When we get out, let's meet up..." "if we could, definitely

her demeanor lightened at that smile. a dewdrop of relief. "if i didn't want to, i wouldn't have asked earlier." and her gaze went to the order once the menu was swung it her way. night's hand was still wrapped around nari's wrist. and she squeezed it, gently, looking over the items. part of her hadn't expected her lamb to be considered into the equation so quickly -- she was still curious at the mention of 'poutine', after all -- and leaned close to her companion in examination. "that works." it wasn't the t-bones she was used to, but it did look delectable. “Circling back, I uhm…al

"oh no." this was starting to sound horrifically familiar. but the better question was the one chase posed afterwards. "potentially." night leaned back on the couch, contemplative. the side of her thumb was upon her chin before she knew it. her eyes darted around the room. "granted," the woman began, "our brains might be wired to understand how our bodies and their states might be in reflection of the real world. that... sounds possible, in the same way it can believe placebo effects. but this one's with more evidence, since it's regulating the body it physically governs." not that night

the relief that crashed into her at chase's fluster was immeasurable. especially the decision not to mention the doppel by name -- that was how night was truly aware that mischief was afoot. and she'd deflated almost instantly -- "oh, gods, chase," -- in the midst of his explanation, the menus brought up one by one for elaboration. then he coughed, and it was like all of that concern, undone, came seeping back in like a toxin that couldn't be rid of. "sick," night repeated, understanding the concept but believing it like a rumored myth. as far as she knew, players weren't the type to

"no," night commented, unaware, as the duo made their way inside. "i'm really not." as always, the player had managed to select a booth located towards the back. and she hadn't expected to be nudged into her own seat -- as playful as it was -- but squished up against the wall, locked between it and nari, the woman could only wonder how close and clingy her other was going to be. (stifling. stifling had been the appropriate word to think of, after all.) in the sincerity of her question, night had been reminded of the kiss they shared on the docks just moments before. and she roll

"chase." moments where night would've been caught with emotion other than fie in her voice were... rare. this was one of them. being greeted by the familiar face into his abode (she'd never seen it before), had she been a more excitable person then perhaps the woman would've tackled her friend with a hug. instead, she merely walked in. the light of the home wasn't too great in the floor, and hence it must've been easy for the woman to miss the signs of disarray. there was the softness in his voice, and night didn't think too hard on that, either. it could've been from anything. weari

it was chase. and for a moment, night wondered if she should've brought day along. neither the two had caught sight of him after the transition into new territory, what with cardinal deciding its systems should get an update here or there. she paused for a moment before responding. NIGHT: omw NIGHT: addrss? there was no set time, but she wanted to be there as soon as possible. there was much, much to discuss, and her eyes almost bled from the list that came to mind, so real and true that it swore to break her sights from reality. almost as real as her interface. floor 21 seem

so, the frost. night knew where she'd wanted to go, but found it difficult to find. either the fall from earlier, the player caught up in her attack, had allowed her to find her directions mixed up in the snow, or cardinal had decided to remove that smaller ice rink that she swore had been somewhere nearby. that was fine. the starglades were a good secondary location, anyway. and she pried into her friends menu, as though to read the locations of the players she knew she saw. koga, on the fourth. nari, on the fourth. unblinking. her eyes only stung further from the sharp w

so the difference between an art and a science -- assuming one didn't see the latter as an art in the first place. and had that switch in perspective been what it took for her to get started on the craft in the first place, night would've found that rationale reasonable. she nodded, thoughtful, before looking over the menu. as hard as she did work to find it, if nari had this much doubt cast over the dish, then perhaps she'd gotten it wrong in the first place. night only really stopped mulling over it when she felt those lips to her skin once again. almost short-circuited, the decisions i

a new haul from a new day. and night never got the memo how understaffed the shop seemed to be. which was strange, because last she was told, there were multiple hands involved in running the store. where was iris, if she wasn't a known adventurer by trade, and neither left a listing for running out on an errand? it only sank in for the player that the rationale of having that velvet barrier was meant to communicate unavailability. either of the shop or the staff, in general, at all times. she set the package of items on the table. wrote a note from the supplies on the desk. lef

"really? -- even if the steps were simplified?" night wasn't a cook by trade, but what little experience she did have in the kitchen was enough to get her through her days without having to eat out frequently to deplete her col. not only that -- it tasted better with the effort she thought to have invested. she appeared sheepish at the question posed to her about her experience in that field. "only a little." she had to get better at it, the player resolved. likewise, the sudden desire for the specific dish took night by surprise. poutine? it sounded like some sort of salad -- or was

thread summary. [total] NIGHT + 21120xp | (1760 * 12) + 155485col | ((combat loot) + (800) + (xp * 0.15)) / 2 + orange infraction 2/5. Koga + 14080xp | (1760 * 8) + 155485col | ((combat loot) + (800) + (xp * 0.15)) / 2 + 136 materials | combat loot [notes] all rewards going to iris for identification. + 10 gleaming scales. + 5 demonic shards.

a huff, and a scowl that mixed with a pout. how the woman was such a physical type with her movements, she didn't know. but night kept herself distracted from the innuendo with her eyes searching the different buildings of coral. there weren't as many as the resort they'd come from, nor was the village as exciting as ronbaru's. on the contrary -- it was only hospitable enough for a handful of buildings. had she retraced her steps towards the other side of town, the player knew she'd be at yuki's doorstep within no time. (if only the paladin was present, of course.) "i was considering