NIGHT

NIGHT looked to the fry offered just as she drank from her spoon. What was she; a pet? A dog? Even she knew rationale like a person more so than a beast directed by their stomach. So the apology afterwards was welcome. She analyzed the other, still tentative, still eating her meal, awaiting for the end of her speak. And NIGHT nodded, cooing lowly, before going back to her food. "Well at least I know you've got half a brain in there..." ... No, that response wouldn't do. With a breath, her shoulders lowered, and her head dipped slightly. "Sorry, that was harsh. What I guess I'd meant

“I couldn’t resist something so beautiful." "It was until you ruined it." "And…well, it was to lighten the mood." "Lighten the mood for whom?" Each objection from the woman came on instinct, as though it was a banter by any other day. She stirred her meal with her spoon, disgruntled still. Until-- "Oh and I licked that spoon.” NIGHT took a breath, noticing the woman emphasize it. "I got that," she hissed back. "And thankfully for you, not everyone is saliva conscious, especially in a setting like Aincrad." She continued watching her bowl, seething somehow fam

In the quiet that followed, NIGHT considered her rationale: that hesitation. But her mind drifted, followed a train of thought that lead her to obstacles, if she were to consider Nari's offer seriously. Anyone's offer seriously, even. Because she wasn't just the only one with baggage in Aincrad, she knew that much. But for them to take a real form in this world was much, much worse a concept. She thought back to the dream with Hidden, bouncing back to the discussion with Yuki. How she hadn't been ready to entertain such a thought in the first place -- finding romance? Especially in a deat

The same crossroads. The fear of not taking no for an answer. NIGHT usually hadn't a difficulty there -- she didn't once or twice over before. And yet, this time... There was hesitation where there shouldn't be. A thumping in her ears. It wasn't as though there was anything wrong with saying no, but it was almost like an affirmation was clearly not the best choice. Yet it hung over her head, like a Sword of Damocles. “I understand and respect if the answer is no but…I hope…well, I hope that maybe in time…” Nari may have understood, but NIGHT didn't. And not for not wanting

"No, I get what you mean." It paled in comparison with what Nari was talking about, of course. She didn't have as much experience with grief as anyone else rightfully did, and pain like this wasn't capable of proper comparison. Still, she made the effort to understand, thumb still running over skin. "I don't think... we'll ever move on from the people we've met. Especially if they've meant so much to us. And... it comes and goes in waves, doesn't it? Like an old friend, like a ghost that keeps haunting." Sad eyes bore into the wall they sat next to. And a sliver of a smile came throu

They didn't have guns in Singapore. Even so, she walked down memory lane with Nari. The woods at the park near her house. Someone, someone familiar she trusted. To spend only weekends with the person, and then, how many years? NIGHT closed her eyes, trying to envision, thumb sliding on her companion's skin subconsciously. And the part where she couldn't accept no? Her teeth gnashed together, fingers tightened, as she continued imagining. "I said yes…but her parents learnt of it…and I was away for the weekend, out exploring out special spot." Any crime like that would've be

So the tears-- they had been the surprise. NIGHT had assumed their discussion were going fine, but it seemed that those words -- that recital -- may have been more impactful than she'd expected. And the woman was anything but knowledgeable about emotions, but-- Man, what was with her and making girls cry? The past melted away just as she watched Nari's tears, listening. Just the same as Yuki, the same acceptance; except more remorse where there shouldn't have been any. "If you have no fears, nothing to regret," NIGHT willed herself to ask, "Then... Nari, why are you crying

"Well…yes, I guess. The desire to escape, although I guess that’s not a great excuse…” In truth, she had been like of mind. “…I guess, there is a reason – albeit I don’t know if it’s a great one. It’s…well, those around me." So a standard reason. Just as similar as Yuki's. The reason for one to head towards the front was always in lieu of someone else -- to escape the world, open up the gates of freedom for their similar prisoners. NIGHT nodded as she listened, an elbow on the table, cheek cupped in a hand, and it all seemed normal. Until-- Nari closed her eyes, and it

It hadn't been too long since Ronbaru was released. So Nari's commentary was strange -- but welcome. A smile only came to NIGHT when it was mentioned, and the player's gaze followed the waiter once they'd left, the latter showing after a quick call from earlier. Her attention was stolen back at the mention of col, and the woman couldn't help but turn suspect at her companion's wallet. "An estate isn't a simple purchase." Either Nari was stacked, or she was pushing her means. And judging from her situation, it was more likely the latter. NIGHT waved off the player's intent of paying.

"Mm. Why did I have a feeling you'd say something like that?" Nothing about Nari gave away that fact visually. And any player who'd stepped outside of the Town of Beginnings had every right to do so without aiming for the floor raids. Rather, NIGHT should've guessed it from how quickly the woman had taken to the latest floor. There had to be a specific trait for someone to have done so. If it wasn't for a sense of duty, like many others, then perhaps it was a distraction from an idle game, or the wonders of an ever expanding world that kept the player entertained. Something, a reason, tha

A quick murmur from the entity was more than enough to indicate an acknowledgement. And NIGHT was busy trying to clear space for the construct upwards. When blue eyes peered over the ledge again, she pulled the woman upwards, close, the entity fighting to cling onto the player for support. Almost like it was on purpose. "You know," DAY whispered, and it was close enough that NIGHT could feel the heat in her ears as the other was breathing. "It would've been better if you'd been in his position to begin with." And the grip on her tracksuit tightened, right at her chest. The player bar

Hesitation, NIGHT could stand. Faltering? The woman was only thankful Nari had kept her balance, though kept a hand on her wrist, tight grip, eyes open wide in fear. "Hey, careful." Though the chide was direct, the concern was intensely more so. That hold never left even as they continued walking towards the restaurant. They'd played it off as an accident -- NIGHT hoped it so, for the only time she could remember something similar occurring to her was when she was feeling faint, having not eaten in Aincrad in moments before her journey began. And Nari sounded okay, sounded more than okay

The woman letting go wasn't a problem. NIGHT righted herself back up and fell to Nari's side without question. Rather, the pause in her speech gave the woman concern, a tilt of her head, wondering if there had been a problem with the location. And the fumbling with the dress... "I-It looks good on you," she mentioned, realizing it might've been the disparity noticed. Her hand snaked up her neck, NIGHT turning away, towards the path they were moving down. "Sorry. If I'd known this was what you meant, I would've come in something better fitting. A-anyway, it's just dinner. It's not like the

"Oh, this is the tall factor, isn't it." "I'll get her." Two arms wrapped themselves around NIGHT's waist, and she'd nearly squeaked in the surprise. "Be quiet," the entity hissed. In the dark, she couldn't see anything -- and it was even worse looking at Koga and only identifying cryptid-light eyes as an indicator for her friend. At least DAY's own seemed familiar, and now they were behind her. NIGHT struggled to stay still as she felt herself lifted through the void, and only simmered once the corner of her foot hit an unseen edge. "Up you go," she heard her other breat

To know some player would quickly move in to a new floor after their hard work was more than enough of a compliment for the woman. For starters, she hadn't expected anyone to have paid their floor progression a mind, let alone find a place unlocked that was far lovelier than the others they'd visited to consider it a home. NIGHT nodded, tucking a lock behind her ear -- she wasn't one to speak much in the first place, and being allowed to listen and comprehend was welcome, almost more her pace even. "But! I know of a decent little place that serves a collection of different foods, even som

When NIGHT heard about getting something together to talk over a meal, she'd totally expected something casual. Instead, given a time (evening?) and somehow a location on a high-ranking floor, to say that the intention was that was... optimistic, to say the least. Incidentally, that was also the outcome she'd expected to see by giving Nari the benefit of the doubt. And all the researches up in Ronbaru would not have given her less notice, knowing from past experience after trekking along the floor in her tracksuit. She thought she could feel eyes on her, specifically, her eyes paired with

After an ambiguous amount of time had passed, the party had decided to meet up for yet another dabble in the lessons. If NIGHT had anything on her mind, it was certainly about how Koga had picked up Bacon from just a while ago. Would the man be bringing the tiny hog along? He knew this quest was about slaying pigs, didn't he? It pained her to even warn the man about his impulsive decision, after she'd noticed his taking home the Bacon. She just hoped whatever would happen to him wouldn't mimic what's happened to previous boar owners, too. It didn't exactly surprise the player to see their

THREAD SUMMARY [Total] NARI-LANRETH + 3905XP | (3455 * 1) + 450 + 700col | 200 + 500 + 5 materials + An Assortment of Potions BISMUTH + 3905XP | (3455 * 1) + 450 + 700col | 200 + 500 + 5 materials + An Assortment of Potions KOGA + 24185XP | (3455 * 7) + 3627col | (xp * 0.15) NIGHT + 38005XP | (3455 * 11) + 5700col | (xp * 0.15)

If only NIGHT could read the fleeing woman, perhaps she would've agreed with Koga. Unfortunately, watching the player stop, look to her and gape like a fish only made her even more confused, so NIGHT stayed outside, pacing around the workshop in what could be defined as a nervous fit. "It's not even about coming around," she hissed, dowly at Koga once the players were out of earshot. "Coming around to what...?" But that was all she decided to say, a cluster of question marks filling up the most of her brain whilst she continued to wander, trying her best to stay sane. The squeaking o

'worthy'. so cardinal got to decide who lived and who died now, was it? by nature of selection, it made sense who got to the target first would reap the benefits of having taken out their mark. but that thought couldn't even sour on the flat of night's tongue. tasted like a corpse. an object already slain, yet her blade hadn't moved at all. and infinitesimally, night found her pile of questions growing, an anger festering, reasons left unchecked and unverified. she hadn't got through her fie once the construct shot out the door. hadn't gone through the concept of 'everything'; nor th

"So they're behind this section of the cave?" NIGHT knocked on the rock wall with the curl of her fingers. Not that it was easy to see without what advantage Koga seemed to have -- she knew the man had slid down, and tried to avoid where he could've been besides. If anything was guiding her through the void, it was the sheer shine of her doppel's eyes -- a light in the darkness that, when the player felt a finger curl around her index once more, she knew wouldn't leave her for naught. "Quieter," DAY had replied, though a nod of her head seemed to convey another message. Huddling close to

NIGHT hadn't expected her strike to land cleanly, but the blow was welcome -- the last launch whilst the man was midst faltering had won her the match. As she withdrew, recovering from her speedy pace, she watched as Macradon drop his blade before picking it back up. “Well fought, I very much enjoyed this.” Though she'd kept silence as she usually did in combat, a final exhale broke it, the woman shrugging off the tension from the fight. "The same can be said for you," she said. In her ear, NIGHT could still hear the sound of wind as the man's swings drew closer to her form, and she