Ceres

NIGHT seemed a little...distracted, and that was okay! Ceres completely understood, they parted ways and bid each other warm goodbyes. The rose-red headed woman was in very good spirits, how couldn't she be? This was a really lovely time. There were so many people here too. Some she knew, and some she didn't. Lilac eyes spotted Alkor again, this time talking to a tall white haired man - they also saw Mari talking to a buff guy who looked like a walking tank - before she moved away. PRobably back to Alkor.

Ceres gave a coy grin as she watched, yeh - there was definitely something going on there between those two. Even Ceres - in all her oblivious ways had noticed that.  Ceres hummed happily as she wandered through the crowd. A jovial kip to her step. Every so often she'd accidentally bump into someone, and quickly apologize. It was one such player, a portly fellow who was not-so-carefully carrying four hot cocoas in his hands who had bumped into her.

'Oofff!'

Ceres was knocked back several feet, being knocked into a strange man. "Ah omygosh I'm so sorry! That guy came outta nowhere right?" She said as she rubbed the back of her head. "How does he carry so much anyway? Oh!" She blinked when she looked up at him. He looked...err...mad.  "OH are you ok? My names Ceres! I didn't make you spill anything did I?"

@Mewt

Ceres nodded. "Well, I am sure you will work it out. Just from our conversations it seems like you're err...a little awkward but very willing to help others." Ceres said as she gave him a reassuring pat on his shoulder. "You're a good person, and no one can be mad at you forever. And I mean - even if they aren't going to like you who cares. You can't have everyone like you." She said with a final nod. Ceres was sure many people didn't like her nor her antics, she was always so aloof in the real world.

"I appreciate your compliment, but honestly I'm a little clueless when it comes to people, I just sorta watch and mimic, yanno?" She gave his nose a small 'boop' "Remember, I tend to be oblivious to a lot of things." She said with a grin

Raidou's sudden outburst was unexpected, he pratically shouted 'You're on!' to her and scrambled to jump up and run off to some other place within the cavern to collect materials. Ceres laughed. She held her sides and laughed. "W-what was that?"  She asked. "Raidou that was adorable oh my gosh!" Ceres, still laughing took a few steps forward then knealt down to try and gather some materials of her own, but she was laughing too hard.

@Raidou

 

ID:134772   LD 4+ 5 =9    NIL  CD NA    (  Bonus Materials)

Total
T3 Materials X 42
-Spyglass in effect-  Next chest search on post 31-

"This is fun!" She corrected him with a laugh. Benjamin was already waist deem in the water -genuine laughter wracking his body. Despite the both of them being completely water logged. They were  both in good spirits. Ceres knew she certainly was. She watched as he went to pull something off his legs with a bemused grin. "Yeh, I usually find things in rivers, one time I fished up a chest! She said as she gestured with her hands, creating a square shape in the air.

Ceres shook her head when he asked if she had these 'crazy adventures' with her friends. "Actually uhm, I only really have two friends, one is quiet and reserved, the other...ahhh He's fairly busy cooking things all the time I think."  Ceres admitted, despite that admission there was no sadness in her voice. Nor did she feel crestfallen. "This is actually the first time I've gone out gathering with someone." She said with a grin. 

"And honestly I'm enjoying it quite a lot and- oh!" She reached out to once again fix his askew glasses.

@Benjamin Bookworm


#ID 134759     LD 8: +5 =  13    CD:/  ( / Bonus Materials)
no materials found

Total Materials Found by Ceres:  16 x  T2  Materials
Total Consumables Found by Ceres: 2 x T2 Materials (LINK) 
Total Col Found by Ceres: 825 Col

Raidou said he wouldn't 'bahp' her and Ceres just laughed, a tinkling sound that echoed in the cavernous chamber. "Silly! I wouldn't force you to. Then just tell me 'No Ceres that's inappropriate!' Ok?' She asked him. She didn't wait for a response. He had asked her how he should speak with only his intentions.

"Hmmm..." She tapped her chin in thought, sitting back on the ground, a plume of dust and dirt rising from where she sat on the cool earth. "That's pretty hard to figure out - I think it's something that comes with practice. We all make mistakes. To error is human, right? I think, its a mixture of being aware of you and the other person. Not jumping to conclusions and working together?" She posed it as a question, because she wasn't too sure of the answer herself, Ceres....never really thought about how she interacted with others, she just...did.

Still leaning over Raidou's shoulder, Ceres pulled some more of the herbs out from the ground, putting them straight into her satchel. "You're smarter than me when it comes to this stuff. So I'll trust your words!" She said with a grin, not understanding why he would apologize. "What? What was crass?"

Ceres dusted off her hands, admittedly they felt a little...itchy after picking so many of the leafy herbs. "Wow, that's..." She peered into her satchel, shuffling a few things around. "That's like over 40 materials I've gotten so far! I only really needed to get 10...haaha..." She shut her satchel, feeling quite proud of herself. "Hey, Raidou, how many do you have?" 

It was then, that her eyes widened and a glint, a cunning sparkle formed in her wide and innocent lilac gaze. "OHH I got an idea!" Her grin grew, smiling ear to ear. "Wanna have a race? First to 100 materials gathered gets...uhm.... uhh...." Crap, she hadn't thought that far ahead. "Owes the other person one whole favour!" She finally said as she held up a finger. "And to make it fair, I'll even split what I find in chests with you!"

@Raidou
 

ID:134688   LD 11+ 5      2  materials gathered  CD 2    ( 1 Bonus Materials)

3 Materials gathered!
-Spyglass in effect-  Next chest search on post 31-


Total
T3 Materials X 42

"OSCAR!" Ceres said as she clasped her hands together in delight. "It's so good to see you here! Look isn't it beautiful!" She said as she gestured around her shop. "It's no mansion but hey! Oh- and smell that! It always smells like bread!" She said with a laugh.  "So what caan -gub?"

She made a weird sound as he dumped a large bag of Col on her bench. "Holy stingrays Oscar! I've never seen so much Col in my life! seven hundred and...w-what? I uhm..." she panicked looking around, was this a joke. "Am... I being the punking'd?" She asked. Getting the name of a long since dead show completely wrong. 

"Uhm hang on..."

Ceres had to take several trips to and from the back of the store. Finally the bench was covered in T1 maps, they littered the floor and the doorway. "Uh...that's everything." She said with an awkward laugh.  He had bought them at base price, so Ceres would get zero col in total profit. But she didn't mind...he wanted to help her - and she...well. She was just happy to help him. Besides, her experience meter for her merchant rank was still gradually climbing. "Wow uhm...anything else I can get you?" She asked.

Inwardly hoping he'd say no.

During this, she also got a message from Mari; who was asking for a spyglass and a custom ambition tool. Ahh.., That's right, Mari was also waiting on an order of Materials too. So she was getting back into crafting, right? Ceres smiled as she opened up her menu, organizing the exchange. At least she made some money today.

"Hey Guess what, with your purchases, and Mari's, I'm now a GrandMaster Merchant!~"

@Oscar


 

Quote

Sent 77,800 Col to Banker
for 773 X T1 Blank Maps.

Sent 
1x Spyglass to Mari
1x Custom Ambition tool to Mari

Received:
2500 Col Mari

Sent
1600 to Banker

 

@Oscar

"Aww I don't think that's too bad." Ceres said reassuringly. "I think at some point most everyone wants to be a hero. It sounds like an amazing and dazzling thing. So of course people will want the allure of that. I guess I personally never did but I'd be the kind of person running around asking for autographs instead." Ceres said with an embarrassed laugh as she tugged at her hair. 

Benjamin suggested the river and Ceres was all to happy to agree. What she wasn't expecting was for him to break into a run. "H-hey!" He was already off, already ahead. And Ceres took several seconds before her feet pushed up off the ground and ran after him. There  was no real way she'd win the race, but at least they were having fun. 

She made it to the lake just after he had, skidding to a stop a tad too late. Her feet sloshed into the water as she took two large steps into the river. "A..ahh..." She fidgeted as she opened up her menu to remove her shoes. "Why did Aincrad have to include the feeling of wet socks"She whined. At least her shoes were now safely in her inventory.

@Benjamin Bookworm

#ID 134621     LD 1: +5 =  6    CD:/  ( / Bonus Materials)
no materials found

Total Materials Found by Ceres:  16 x  T2  Materials
Total Consumables Found by Ceres: 2 x T2 Materials (LINK) 
Total Col Found by Ceres: 825 Col

"I hope you do!" Ceres said with a laugh. "Hold me realll tight to it! So you can bap me on the head over and over if I do get too mad!" Ceres joked with Raidou. It was good to see him slowly opening up. It seemed like he didn't have many people he could get along with and Ceres wholeheartedly wanted to change that.

Raidou went on to say that he found himself listening in more often than not, and Ceres had to tap her lip in thought at the statement. "Mmmm...how do I explain this. People do hear you, but do they hear you. You hear others but do you hear them?" She knew she wasn't making much sense but it was difficult for the redhead to put into words. "Like, for instance I had someone trying to help me, but I didn't hear their intentions, only their words. So we got frustrated with each other. Does that make sense?"  She hoped it did. 

Ceres reached out for some more of the leaves, unceremoniously grabbing a handful.

"Aww..." She pouted. "I mean, really? A teeny tiny tasty looking leaf would kill me? fine." She placed it safely away in her satchel. "Just because you asked me to, I won't eat the alchemical ingredient." She said with a wink as she wrapped an arm around his shoulder in a half hug and gave it a solid few pats before letting go. If he would melt into a human puddle then, Ceres would finally get the hint that maybe no touchy was the way to go with her bespeckled friend. 

"I am happy I could help you, Raidou~~"
 

@Raidou

ID: 134611  LD 19+ 5      2  materials gathered  CD 10    ( 3 Bonus Materials)

5  Materials collected.
-Spyglass in effect-  Next chest search on post 31-


Total
T3 Materials X 39

"Mmm..." Ceres wasn't sure what she thought of having a cart, or shop so close to  the monument of life. "The placement of your cart seems..." She tried to word it delicately so as not to upset her friend. "Detrimental...yanno? I understand its an important reminder, but constantly being around it? I guess for me - it'd always make the air feel heavy and tight. I think I'd struggle maintaining a positive attitude being so close to something that carries so much...well weight."

Ceres thought about the monument, and about Pkers - about people who had lost their lives. Benjamin was right...none of that should be happening here. "Sometimes...I wish that this were all some sick prank, and those who died are actually all waiting for us in the real world. That'd be nice right?But we can never know for sure. There are too many uncertainties."  Ceres

paused to ROLLING

"But, whilst we are here, and are alive, I think it's important for us to keep living, keep smiling, and keep doing our best - for everyone on that monument." Ceres gave Benjamin a warm smile. The topic had turned to quite a heavy discussion and she wanted to show him that she was okay. Ceres reached out and gave his arm a small squeeze.  "For now, let us focus on the here and now. Like right now, what do you wanna do?" Her lilac eye shifted forward. "Do you wanna wade around in that river?" She asked as she pointed to the trickling stream to their side. "Do you wanna climb those trees?" She asked again, "Or try to find another chest filled with all sorts of goodies?"

@Benjamin Bookworm


#ID 134610     LD : 20+5 =1 material    CD:6  ( 2 Bonus Materials)
3 materials!

Total Materials Found by Ceres:  16 x  T2  Materials
Total Consumables Found by Ceres: 2 x T2 Materials (LINK) 
Total Col Found by Ceres: 825 Col

"Oh so you want one of these?" She asked as she pulled out the strange velvety leafed herb. "Sure!" she smiled as she reached out and handed it to Raidou. "I am happy to help, I mean that's what friends are for, right?"  She watched as he grabbed another from where they are growing, she didn't mind in the least. After all, they were gathering things together.  It was only natural for them to share their resources, and Ceres was all the more happy with the company. She'd much rather it than being alone.

He said he pissed people off and Ceres shrugged off his admission. "I mean, you haven't upset me at all. I guess...I am hard to upset or to anger, but I guess if you upset someone all you can do is apologize, and give them space. I think space. Yes. Definately that."  Ceres said with a nod. "Give people time to work through their anger and frustrations." She said, after all, that was what she did with both Alkor and Mari, and it had worked out. So she assumed that'd work for others too. "Anger stems from misunderstandings, we always talk to each other, but its even harder to listen to each other." She said softly as she approached Raidou from behind. He seemed worried...that he'd push her away.

Ceres scoffed. "Pshhaw, I'm not that easy to scare away. You could yell in my face and I'd still be the kind of person to make sure you're ok after." And it was true, she had done just that to others in the past. 

"Oh look." She picked up some more of the strange blue leaves with white trim. She placed most of them in her satchel and made a joke. "I wonder what these would taste like."

@Raidou
 

ID:134586   LD13 + 5      2  materials gathered  CD 8   (2 Bonus Materials)
4 Materials collected.
-Spyglass in effect-  Next chest search on post 31-


Total
T3 Materials X 34

A small tongue sticking out the side of her mouth as she tried again, this time on some strange blue leaves with jagged edges and a white trim - "Ooh these are softer than I thought!" Ceres said as she started to pluck them from the ground, they were almost velvety to the touch.

"Oh!" Ceres understood his embarrassment. "I didn't mean this was a date! Sorry..." She said as she turned to carefully approach him. "I didn't mean to errm..." she paused as she looked over his flushed face. "Fluster you, I have a bad habit of being forward or oblivious with my words. So if I say something bad or upsetting please tell me." She gave him a grin. "Otherwise I won't learn!" She gave her head a small knock with her fist. "I like to think I am pretty smart, but really, when it comes to social interactions, derp. I'm not that great." Ceres reached out and grabbed his hand, forming it into a fist between her own - she then pulled it toward her head and gave it a light 'bap' with his hand before letting him go.

"Just do that and say 'bad Ceres' Okay?" She said with a smile and a laugh.

His words turned to her profession, and Ceres was all too happy to answer him. "It's really fun, I get to meet all sorts of people, and in the beginning my business was doing really well! It's a little quiet now, but I can't blame people. I think...the only downfall is if I want to improve my ranking, it relies on other people coming in. I can't sit there and craft stuff - I gotta identify or sell things. Which relies heavily on other people. Who was your merchant friend?" 

@Raidou

ID:  LD:134584  LD 20+ 5       2 materials gathered  CD 10   (3 Bonus Materials)
5 materials gathered
-Spyglass in effect-  Next chest search on post 31-


Total
T3 Materials X 31

 "P-Poisonous!?" Ceres said as she quickly grabbed Peeko and shoved him down her shirt for safe keeping. The Squirrel wasn't happy and fidgeted around till he found a safe, warm, crevice to nap in. She grabbed the material she was using as a belt and instead wrapped it around her nose and mouth, it was a little difficult to breathe this way, but it was better than breathing in toxic fumes, right?  

She lowered her body, following him as she crawled through the small tunnel into a sub cave. She tried not to laugh as she watched his butt wriggle around in front of her - No Ceres, don't do it...don't laugh at him.

Her eyes widened when she saw the cave she straightened her back and lowered her mask, noting that the thick vapours were no longer present. "whoaa... this is amazing Raidou..." She said in an awed whisper. Small steps carrying her forward. "It's so pretty - it's like the perfect place to take someone on a date or something don't you think?" She asked as she turned to look at him. "Thanks for bringing me here!"  

Her lilac gaze turned back to a crystal formation in front of her She  broke off a few red crystals, placing each one into her satchel before turning to Raidou. "So what does this thing do?"


@Raidou

ID: 134581  LD:20      2 materials gathered  CD 1  (0 Bonus Materials)
-Spyglass in effect-  Next chest search on post 31-


Total
T3 Materials X 26

 Ceres opened up her HUD, scrolling through her inventory. She only had the one left - but she didn't mind giving it to him. He clearly needed it more than her. she pulled it out of her inventory and it materialized in her hand. Ceres gently pressed it into Raidous waiting fingertips. "Here you go." She said with a smile. He seemed to be a little more energetic, she could relate.  Delicious food always motivated her too. "I'm just happy to help~" 

Her eyes turned to the mossy clumps. "Like bandages huh?" She asked as she began to pick them off the stalagmite one by one, placing each straight into her satchel. "That sounds useful, I'm sure someone would be very grateful for them." She said with a smile. "It's a shame...merchants have no need for materials. It'd be nice to be able to work with them, but...I just like doing this." She turned her eyes to his amber gaze. "Especially when  I have people like you with me."  She said in complete earnest.

She blinked when the party invite came up on her screen and accepted it without a second thought then began to follow him. "Ooh, where are we going?"

@Raidou

ID:134578   LD: 20 +5     2 materials gathered  CD 10  (3 Bonus Materials)
-Spyglass in effect-  Next chest search on post 31-
-5 Materials gained!


Total
T3 Materials X 24

So close yet so far, it was always that. Ceres was tired, all she wanted to do was find an inn, curl up in bed, eat a pint of ice cream...and sleep. But no, she was stuck on this stupid ship with a toothy old man and a Sword Fish which had just jumped out of the water to attack her.

She ducked as the fish flew high overhead, it waved its pointed snout to and fro in a fruitless attempt to try and skewer Ceres. But that silly, sad, infuriating Sword Fish had simply jumped too high, and completely missed Ceres.

And Ceres, try as hard as she might, could not reach the silly Sword Fish - even standing on her tip-toes her dagger could not swipe it. So went another round of woman verses fish, where yet again, they both had missed their marks.

Ceres began to wonder if she was stuck in some sort of Groundhog day scenario. 

 

"Raidou!" Ceres repeated with a vibrant smile. "I like that name better than glasses." She joked. He had told her that eating materials..as is...probably wasn't the best idea, and no doubt a waste. Ceres shrugged her shoulders as she lifted her hands up to shrug with them. "I unno, it just seemed like something to try at least once. No harm done, right?" She asked him. "Besides, I'd rather just do things like that and enjoy them than not do things at all, right?"  Ceres asked Raidou.

But....he seemed to melt. Or fall, no..melting seemed like an adequate explanation, his body slid to the floor as he fumbled around, trying to pick up the mossy growth on the stony outgrowth. Was...he ok?

"They're.... Bahfhdhdsdsd?" Ceres asked in earnest curiosity. Wondering if that was a different language, or if it really was just gibberish. She shrugged as she placed them into her satchel. She didn't mind. 

Ceres knelt down and patted Raidou's head in gentle and tender strokes. "Are...you ok? You're not sick or tired right? Did you want another donut?"

@Raidou
 

ID:134574   LD: 6 +5=11 NO CHEST FOUND
-Spyglass in effect-  Chest Search on Post 15-
 4 materials gathered!

Total
T3 Materials X 19

Ceres turned to the old man. Fisherman Pete... She wanted to think he was mostly useless..but really he was doing a lot of work, he kept on reeling in the fish if it swam out too far, somehow, magically - through the power of Cardinal, that tiny thin fishing line had yet to snap or  break. Or maybe Old Petes fishing skills were just that good.

"Are you tired?" Ceres called out to the old man. 

"Aha, not quite yet lassie!" He called out with a wink. "You just keep yer eye on the prize. I wanna eat good tonight!"

He...he wanted to go through all this so he could EAT the fish? 

Was he...mad?

Ceres made a grumbling noise as she turned her attention back to the Sword Fish, that was leaping out the water to attack her, she just managed to defend herself in time, jamming the blade of her tiny dagger into the underside of its belly. "TAKE THAT!" She watched as its HP dipped again.

She had to be close to killing it...right?

...

Right?

She glanced at its health, it looked...like she had maybe a third of it to go. That was good, she thought. If it only had a third left. That was just under half. And at least its bar was no longer green.

Ceres snorted as he seemed alarmed at her nickname for him. "S-sorry!" She said as she stiffled a laugh, "It's just that... you never gave me your name - and I mean, you don't need glasses in the game right? So its an aesthetic? I didn't mean to offend you." Ceres reached out and 'booped' the rim of his glasses with her index finger. "I like them." 

Ceres seemed...confused when he told her they weren't just mushrooms. Wasn't that what she was picking up? He started to go through each and every one he had pulled out of his satchel. Explaining them in detail. And whilst most of that detail was lost on Ceres, she found it interesting, leaning in closer to inspect them as he showed her their differences.  There was no way on all the floors of Aincrad she'd remember all of this.

She placed the others in her satche. "Thank you! I appreciate it! But...are you sure."  She  kept the blue one, turning it to and fro in her fingers. "This one looks pretty." She said before popping it straight into her mouth! Her face immediately scrunched up as she stuck out her tongue and started scratching it with her fingers. "B-Blah...." She said between coughs. "That's so bitter!"  

Ceres cleared the air with another cough as she grabbed his hand with her free one, and pulled him along the path.

"I like that." Ceres said softly as she squeezed his hand tighter. "How passionate you are when you talk about the ingredients. I may not understand it, but I think it's very ...."  She paused trying to find the right word. "Hmmm Pure? Maybe? Innocent? I'm not sure, but I like it." She stopped in front of a large stalagmite, and started pulling off clumps of an off coloured moss. "So what is this one?" She asked him as she placed them in her hand. "They feel all soft and mooshy." 

@Raidou

ID:134571   LD: 14 +5=19    2 Materials  CD 6 (2 Bonus materials) 
 4 materials gathered!
+4 from Raidou
-1 Eaten
Total
T3 Materials X 19

Old Pete, the fisherman continued to chortle. His gruff laughter egged Ceres on, so she could prove him wrong. The last thing she would ever do, is give up. Especially when she had come so far. His jest may be insulting, but realistically...it was a good thing right? She'd torn off an entire third of the Sword Fishes health! That was amazing...right? 

Right!

The Swordfish swam away from the boat, then came back around. Its dorsal fin cutting through the water - Lilac eyes remained focused on it. Steady...steady.... 

Then the fish hurled itself out of the water. Ceres was taken aback, she wasn't expecting that, she lifted up her arms to defend herself - luckily, she was still gripping her dagger tightly, and it tore into the underside of the Sword Fish. The monster wriggled then gave up on its attack as it belly flopped back into the water. Dancing upon the surface before disappearing under the turbulent waters again.

"Phew...that was close!" 

Ceres nodded in agreement when the man told her it was calming. "It really is. It lets me see Aincrad in a whole different light." Her lilac eyes danced around the cavernous floor. "Err...Literally." She reached out, leaning just over his legs so she could grab a mushroom by his side. "I like doing stuff like this. It's calming, and its fun, and rewarding. And there are no monsters involved." She said as she gave the mushroom a small squeeze before shoving it into her satchel. So far, she was making good progress.

The man talked about how he found it hard to trust people, and a bit more about Mari. "Ahh....so you ran into her too?" Ceres asked, curious. The man...seemed...dismayed, or upset. He was clearly down in the dumps so Ceres decided to make him feel better.

"C'mon then, glasses!" She said as she grabbed his hand and tried to pull him to his feet. "We can't sit here picking mushrooms all day! Otherwise little mushrooms will grow out of our heads! Let's go searching!"  The tiny red squirrel on her shoulder chattered in agreement. Ceres held up her spyglass to her eye, peering at his amber gaze through it. "Who knows! We may even find a treasure chest!"

@Raidou

ID:134563    LD: 8 +5=13     Materials  CD 1 (0 Bonus materials) 
 1 materials gathered!
Total
T3 Materials X 12

Ceres laughed at his enthusiasm, "Yeh! I do! Well, I sell the materials for them yeh...so if you ever get sick of gathering-" She paused and snorted with another laugh. "Or hit your head too hard, be sure to visit my shop ok? It's called the 'Best Kept Secret' and it's in the Town of Beginnings. Oh and it smells like bread!"

She picked up a few more mushrooms and placed them in her bag, her hand reached out to get more but it paused mid-air when he asked about Mari.

"What do...I know?" Ceres tapped her lip. That was a good question. "I know a great deal about her. I got to interview her- err but she seems like the kind of person who doesn't like to discuss her personal life." He seemed to take a great deal of interest in the orange haired woman. She wasn't sure why, and hoped he didn't want to wish harm on the PKer. So Ceres kept her notes short - choosing to say things that most everyone knew. "Well...she's killed 8 people...I guess that's why a lot of people don't like her..." Ceres fumbled with her hands -

It was this moment that her familiar, Peeko chose to climb down her arm and nestle between her hands. Ceres gave a faint smile as her fingers brushed through his bushy tail before continuing. "She told me why - and I think...she's the kind of person not to trust people. She's been hurt a lot. Oh and she really really hates when people try to comfort her or push her for stuff too much." Ceres said with a nod, remembering how Mari snapped at her when she tried to pry and help her.

"She's clearly lonely, but I don't think it's smart to force things on her. She needs to learn things on her own." Ceres said as she gently pat her pet. "I get that, I guess. I know when I'm upset the last thing I want is someone constantly asking me why."

@Raidou

ID: 134550   LD:6  +5=11   1  Materials  CD 4 (1 Bonus materials) 
2 materials gathered!
Total
T3 Materials X 11

Ceres stifled a giggle as he sat up, shoving the donut into his mouth. She was glad that it seemed to help and re-energize him. She blinked. Surprised at his question. "O-oh." He didn't know? That was new. "It's a profession. I run a store, I sell goods you can't get elsewhere. Things that help with quests, and maps. I can even junk your old useless items, and you get some nice Col from it!" Ceres gave him a wide smile. "I can also identify objects. It's...a little randomized, but it can be useful. Sometimes you get lucky." She said with a wink.

"I also sell materials - I want to be able to help those who are too busy to gather them themselves...so I try to sell them as cheaply as I can. Most people come and buy them in bulk. I have a back order of T3 Mats from an Alchemist too!" Ceres said with a smile. "Her names Mari - do you know her?" 

Oh wait...Didn't Ronnel tell Ceres that she shouldn't go and tell people that name so easily? Because of the whole Pker thing?

Ceres cleared her throat and quickly tried to change the subject, it helped that he had screamed out in pain. The ever oblivious woman leaned toward him, reaching out so her hands gently cupped his head either side of them. "Are you ok? Hurt? I think I have some potions if you like."

@Raidou

ID:134548   LD:2 +5=7   0  Materials  CD N/A  (/ Bonus materials) 
Total
T3 Materials X9

"U-uhm....." Ceres tilted her head to the side as his hand slid out and away from hers As he lowered himself to the floor Ceres followed suit - crouching down on her knees. "Are you alright?" She asked, concern laced in her bright voice.

He whispered something, but Ceres hadn't heard it, "What did you say?" She asked, being distracted just long enough to grasp a few of the mushrooms to the side, and deflty placing them in her satchel. When she turned her lilac eyes back to the strange sliding man, he was now completely sprawled out on the floor.

Ceres reached out and gave his head  a few pats.

"Know what I like when I'm feeling sad, donuts."

She opened up her HUD and pulled out two small chocolate frosted donuts. Keeping one in her hand Ceres reached out with the other to hand it to the stranger. She went to place it on the ground and paused. No...the ground was dirty, his hand? No ...that was shaking...how about ..."Hmmm...Here." Ceres plopped the small pastry atop his head with a gentle laugh. "There." She then straightened his glasses and ssat beside him as she ate her own donut.

"I'm a merchant. What are you?"
 

@Raidou

ID:134547   LD:15 +5=20  2 Materials  CD 1  (/ Bonus materials) 
2 Materials Gathered

Total
T3 Materials X9

Ceres nodded in agreement, "mmm....mmmm A few people have told me that the uhm... economy system here is quite whack-a-doodle. Because its much easier gaining money as a adventurer than say, a merchant or alchemist. That people aren't willing to pay things for what they are worth, but also - some people have so much money they don't know what to do with it." She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm content with what I've been doing."

"It is harder. My profession is based purely on who can bring items to me, unless I go out on ventures like these and sink all my col into identifications. Crafters have special potions or items to aid them, but we...kinda don't." Ceres laughed as she waved the notion off. "Not that I mind, I knew what I was getting into when I became a merchant."

Ceres reached out to a flower that was growing out from a passing tree trunk, but as she pulled it away, it shattered in her hands. She gave a small frown. Wow...she really had to focus more on her gathering, but the lock-picking skill was so tempting. It'd save her a tonne of col in the long run. "Mmm....Say Benji..." Ceres began as she glanced up to the sky. "Do you have any goals in here? I find myself... not really having any. I see people wanting to be on the frontlines, people getting married but me? I dunno, is it wrong for me to be content with how things are as I work towards escape?"

@Benjamin Bookworm

#ID134546     LD 2: +5 =7    CD:/  ( / Bonus Materials)


Total Materials Found by Ceres:  13 x  T2  Materials
Total Consumables Found by Ceres: 2 x T2 Materials (LINK) 
Total Col Found by Ceres: 825 Col

She grabbed another material, "Aww...this is nice..." There was movement on her shoulder; and Peeko, her red squirrel familiar peeked out from the wavy mess of her hair. "Oh, hello Peeko! Look at this!" Ceres picked up another material and held it up to her furry friend. Peeko sniffed the material then made a chittering nose. "Yeh, these are high quality, huh?"

Ceres almost bumped into another player when she stood up straight. Wait...a player....here!?!? 

Her rose-red hair whipped back into the direction of the man. He was tall with dark hair and he wore a long, red coat that billowed in an unseen wind behind him. She couldn't see the front of him, but she watched as he bent down and picked up some materials, quickly putting them away. Her lilac eyes lit up at the prospect of another gatherer. She practically ran over to him.

"Oh hey!" She said with a smile as she reached out to lightly poke him in his back. "I just saw you gathering some materials." Ceres said with a smile as she took a few steps forward so she could stand in front of him. "I'm doing the same. This floor is a little scary, right? I haven't been up this high before." Ceres reached out and softly grasped Raidous hand, giving it a small shake. "I'm Ceres, it's lovely to meet someone else who likes gathering! I feel like we're a rare breed! Did you want to  be my partner?"

@Raidou

ID:134503  LD:7 +5=12  1 Materials  CD 5  (1 Bonus materials) 
2 Materials Gathered

Total
T3 Materials X7

This was the first time Ceres had travelled up so high. 

Floor 21

Ceres stood at the edge of Tomoika, a large town where she first appeared in when she teleported here. It was beautiful really, despite the cavernous nature of the floor. (which was a little scary to Ceres she much preferred the outdoors)  The town was brightly lit by a plethora of glowing mushrooms. Giving the entirety of the area a faint and evanescent glow. There were towns and stores carved out of the cavern walls and even some of the larger stalagmites. Resourceful...if not a bit odd... There weren't many players around - most of the people around her looked to be NPCs, dressed heavy in miner wear. Hardhats, coal covered faces, thick and heavy boots...

It was daunting.  But....there were hot springs, so that sounded nice...right? 

Ceres took a deep breath and took one step out of the city limits, then another, then another. Carefully being sure to stick to the path that would have no monsters. She didn't want to deal with any goblins or cave spiders.


As she walked she grabbed hold of her trusty Spyglass, which hung around her neck. - something that proved to pay for itself. With it she would be able to find treasure chests much more quickly, and the pouch at her side jingled, filled with golden keys. Beyond that...she was more than defenseless - but Ceres knew that when this quest was active she was less likely to run into danger. 

She paused seeing a set of glowing mushrooms along the side of the road - kneeling down to pick some up. "How cute..." She mused as she placed them into the satchel she wore over her shoulder.


@Raidou

ID:134497  LD:11 +5=16  2 Materials  CD 10  (3 Bonus materials)

Total
T3 Materials X5

She gave him a wary smile, one that didn't have the usual sweet exuberance she had. "If that...was a prerecorded line then...it's awfully scary to think about. It was so pointed. It felt like it keyed in on exactly what I was feeling at the time. I wonder if that's just something the Cardinal system does?"  It...kind of made sense...this was a very immersive game. "It's...scary to think that the system could pick on your insecurities and thoughts like that. It's far too close to mind reading."   she Oscar was so...calavier about the whole thing. Ceres envied that she wished she could just brush the incident off without a second thought. But it was then, that he mentioned that she was worried no one would miss her when she was gone.

...

Crudsticks.

He was right. Ceres shrank at the mention of it. "H-Homerun Oscar." Ceres said with a forced and warbled laugh. Damn...how could she not even realize it herself until someone else pointed it out. He told her he would miss her if she went and died on him, and Ceres ...strangely enough - felt better. "Thanks Oscar. I appreciate it." She wasn't sure if he was serious or not, they'd only met each other a few times - but she knew if it were the other way around she'd be sad and miss him - so why couldn't the same apply for her?  

To perhaps distract her, Oscar asked her about a quest "Venomous....what?" her gaze followed his pointed finger. Ah... some merchant man? Yeh. She could do that. "Okay!" Ceres said as she stood, smiling at Oscar. It seemed that her energy and innocence was slowly returning.

Ceres stood and headed over to the NPC. He reached out to her with a small bottle in his hands. "You've com efor the bill I posted? Bless you child. I am Gatsly. I am buta mere merchant making just enough to support me and my family." He sighed heavily as he ran a spare hand through his graying hair. "But lately all of my supply caravans have been destroyed or chased away by a ferocious beast. I don't have much but if you could slay the beast...I'd pay you."

Ceres accepted, and the coordinates appeared on her map. He handed her a vial and when she accepted that she noticed it was some sort of strange green antidote. Ceres told the NPC she'd help and left to return to Oscar. A confused look scrunched up on her face. "He gave me an antidote. I guess I'll probably need this later, right?"


@Oscar