Ceres

"Nooooo!" Ceres whined as she fidgeted. "If you sing it'll make everything run away!" Ceres hadn't actually heard him sing, but she had no doubt in her clustered, distracted mind - that if he tried, he'd scare everything away. "I don't want another one, I want this one..." Ceres mumbled. She lifted her hand up toward the tiny squirrel. "Did you hear that? I don't want anything else, I want you!"   Ceres smiled sweetly at it as she jiggled her hand to and fro - "I saw it in your sweet brown eyes."

The squirrel came closer, its orange tail flicking in curiosity. The tiny pink of its nose touched Ceres' fingertips and she giggled, feeling how wet the nose was. "If you stay with me I'll let you sleep on my shoulder!"

The Squirrel came closer, till it was sitting on her hand, it picked up a sunflower seed then began to nibble on it. Ceres carefully....very carefully drew it closer to her face. "Hello. I'm Ceres."

She patted Ronnels head. "And this is Ronnel. He's a giant dopey Puppy. What's your name?"

The Squirrel wriggled its pink nose and clambered up her arm to rest on her shoulder, its wet nose pressed into the shell of Ceres' ear. "Peeko?" She asked.

"Nice to be your friend Peeko!"

@Ronnel

#ID134151  CD9 = SUCCESS

"I can't help my hair fluffiness!" Ceres said with a pout as she lightly tapped on top of Ronnels head, a small and innocent way to 'hit' him without actually hurting him, not that one could be hurt in this game. "Just like that fluffy bab can't help theirs!" She rustled his hair. "Besides. Your hair also feels all fluffy and soft Ronnel!"

As Ronnel shook his head, it tickled her legs. Ceres stiffled a laugh...then laughed - almost loosing her balance, she sprinkled sunflower seeds everywhere and only a small amount remained in her hands. "P-Puppy! stop! That tickles!" Ceres snorted. She looked up at the Squirrel which stopped in its tracks. It was close now, close enough for her to reach out and grab it but that's not how trust was formed, she wanted the creature to come up to her on its own.

"I...I think I accidentally scared it..." Ceres said with a worried tone, she didn't want it to just leave her. But if she missed out on this one...they'd just keep looking. She'd spend all day and night to catch one if she had to. Hopefully Ronnel was prepared to be in this for the long haul.

ID#134150  CD: 6 - FAIL
1 attempt remaining

@Ronnel

Ceres was out in the fields of the first floor. She just finished up in her shop - and there was nothing left to identify, nothing left to junk...nothing left to...well...do so she decided to go for a walk. The Rose-red haired woman wasn't planning on venturing too far out, she just wanted a breath of fresh air. So step by step, she wandered through the grassy fields, enjoying the delicate caress of the blades of grass against her ankles. Her shoes were off, and in her inventory. Ceres didn't feel the need to wear them right now.

Often, people were far too busy to enjoy these small moments. To feel the sun warming their back, the gentle grass - the buzzing of dragonflies as they waltzed through the air to the soundless samba of an enternal summer.

A delicate hand reached up to brush rose-red hair away from her face, tucking it neatly behind her ear as Ceres came to a small lake. She knelt down, fingers dipping just beneath the mirrored surface of the water. They dipped lower and pulled out a few glittery rocks.

Ceres leaned back to sit, and began to dry the rocks with the loose material of her shirt. "I promised myself I wouldn't get so focused on farming...yet here I am..." She said softly to herself with a laugh, followed by a snort.

@Atzo

#ID: 143111  LD:15+=Success
CD: 8 = 2 Bonus Materials
---
3 T1 Materials Total

"See! Look how fluffy it is, and its cute little cheeks." Ceres said as she walked on the spot in excitement. Her own cheeks flushed as she struggled to get the tiny creatures attention. "If I could just get a little bit higher maybe it'd notice me and be my friend."

It was then she heard Ronnel say 'up you go, Firecracker' and before she could turn around and question him - Ceres felt him kneel down and she practically tumbled over his shoulders. Ceres gripped his shoulder tight, lest she suddenly fall off. "O-Oh wow! Is this what tall people see?" Ceres asked as she looked around. Wait, no. She was getting distracted. Ceres looked up at the squirrel, their eyes met. the creature had this most beautiful chestnut brown gaze. "Awwwww...." Ceres held out her hand with the sunflower seeds in it. "C'mon lil' guy...almost there..."

The squirrel came a little closer, running down the trunk of the trea to sit on a branch just out of Ceres' reach.

"P-puppy get me a little closer please?"

@Ronnel

ID#134110 CRAFT 8 = FAIL  (9 is needed)
2 Tries remaining.

"That's true... " Ceres said as Ronnel talked about the lack of choice. "None of us asked to be here... I wonder how lucky the few players must feel, the ones who logged out before it became impossible..." Ceres mused as she opened up her menu, her finger hovering over where the 'log out' option used to be. "I was going to log out, but I decided....nah just 10 more minutes....those few extra minutes are what kept me here today. I guess I'm just thankful that no one removed my headset. Although... I live alone so had no chance of that happening." Ceres gave Ronnel a smile.

"Sorry things to a little deep there, we should continue our search." She patted the tree she was beside. "Maybe our friend is hiding in here."

Ceres lifted the spyglass to get a closer look. "Oh! Look! See. Up there in the treetops, its a small fluffy red squirrel." Ceres put away the spyglass and pulled out the familiar food, pouring a pile of it into her hands. It looked like sunflower seeds. "C'mere little one." Ceres said as she waved her hand to and fro, reaching as high as she could.  The Squirrel barely noticed.

Ceres sighed. "I think..I'm too short for it to notice me. But I Don't wanna shout and scare the poor thing away."




ID#134101 - LD: 13+5 =18 - SUCCESS
ID#134102 - First attempt to tame - FAIL  3 Attempts remain

"I don't feel lonely..." Ceres said. "Well..I didn't feel lonely. I had my friends that I went out and saw sometimes - but as a journalist, I didn't really leave the house much. When I did it was on business trips..." Ceres tugged on her hair as she talked. "So I  can relate a little. I guess I never felt lonely because I was always so wrapped up in what I was doing. And even though its my business to stay on social media trends, I never really kept up with my own. So I didn't have that whole 'Fear of Missing Out' thing. Because I didn't see what I was missing out on."

Ceres turned to Ronnel, "It's why when I first came here I kept to myself. I told myself there was no reason to befriend others. Why should I? We won't see each other outside this game. Many of the people I meet may die. But meeting people here...running my store..." Ceres faintly smiled. "It..made me realize how beautiful this place is. And the people in it."

She paused and placed a hand on the closest tree. "Like this. Look at the soft moss growing on the tree, and the tiny glowing mushrooms growing out the ground beneath it. We may be trapped here - but at least we have entire expanses to explore. I just...wish people would stop focusing on fighting...even just for a moment to see what is right in front of them."

@Ronnel

*2 posts till next familiar search*

Ceres huffed as she puffed out her cheeks at the nickname. Oh how the tables had turned. This was his revenge for all the times she kept calling him puppy, wasn't it? "W-well...yes you are a puppy." Ceres said with a final huff. Turning away from him. "A big dopey puppy." She tapped the spyglass against her cheek as they walked side by side along the forest trail. He didn't answer her question about his sister, was it a sore subject...if it was why did he bring her up in the first place. Ceres was about to question him about it but NIGHT's warning reminded her not to be so...oblivious  to certain social cues.

"I work in the city." Ceres said. "I work from home in a two bedroom apartment - it's cheapish...and they let me have the cats, so I can't complain. Although trips to the forests or beaches are rare. I sometimes would take a trip to the beach and just walk along the shoreline with bare feet, I like the feeling of water..." Ceres laughed. "Maybe I should have tried to find a beach, I bet not many people would have a starfish familiar, right?"

@Ronnel

-4 Posts till Familiar search - Spyglass in effect-

Ceres sighed when Ronnel assured her that he was happy to be here. "I know I can be awkward with my mannerisms...." She mumbled, turning her lilac gaze away from him. She knew, but she often was so lost and caught up in the moment. She knew she was overenthusiastic about everything, she knew she took joy in the smallest of things and it annoyed others. "So I get that if you wanted to rescind your offer, I'd be fine with it." Ceres gave him a grin. "I have lots of fun, even on my own. And I have others who I could invite out too. It's not like I'm lonely."

Ronnel approached her, apologizing for treating her like a kid. And that it was because she reminded him of his little sister. Ceres tilted her head to the side, tugging on her earring. "Ohh... that must be hard, how old is she?"

Ronnel smiled faintly as his gaze shifted up to the treetops. "She was 15 when I started...so she'd be 17 now I guess."

Ceres wasn't good with comforting others. She reached out and squeezed his arm. "I bet she misses you just as much as you miss her." Came Ceres' simple response. That was the best thing she could say to him in this moment, right? And it wasn't too forward or inappropriate, right?

It was then that Ronnel changed his name for her, now using the term firecracker. "Eh? Firecracker?" The word lifted the mood between them. "I'm not a firecracker!" She retorted with red cheeks. "You are! And I don't mind being alone. I'm used to it. We can find peace in solitary moments, I think we all need them." Ceres snorted as she held the spyglass up to her eye again, using it to focus on the trees ahead. "I don't like piers. I Love water and the ocean...but as long as its not deep. That's just scary."

@Ronnel

-6 posts till Familiar Search-

"I'm an adult." Ceres said simply in response. "But who ever said you needed to loose your innocence when that happens? Who dictactes how an 'adult' should act. Why can't we jump in rain puddles or create fantasy stories? I do my taxes. I pay my rent. I'm an adultier adult thank you very much!" Ceres ended with a snort as she reached out and lightly jabbed him in the chest with her spyglass.

"Rosy?" Her brow furrowed as she turned to stare at him. What kind of name was that? It was...kinda...odd? Maybe? Ceres shrugged her shoulders. She wouldn't tell him not to call her that, besides she had been calling him puppy since they met.  Ceres didn't like the fact that he had told her to slow down. She was simply moving to a different part of the forest. "You're putting a damper on things yanno." Ceres said simply as she turned to face him, now walking backwards. "We aren't stomping through the woods, and I am relaxed. Very much so." Ceres wagged the spyglass at Ronnel. "If anything you're the one worrying about everything."

Ceres crossed her arms over her chest. "You know...Ronnel...If you don't want to be here just tell me." Her voice was a little more quiet than it usually was. Did he change his attitude? Or was he always like this and she was simply barrrelling him over? Was this what NIGHT meant when NIGHT said Ceres could be extremely forward at  times?

"I'm used to gathering and searching for things on my own anyway!" Ceres said as the smile returned to her face.

Oh thank you these are perfect! Please come by my store any time and I'll offer you some materials for crafting. Bless your sweet heart little prince

I need some T1 hand wraps so I can do that breaking boulder quest!
Preferably with damage, thank you :D

Let me know how much!

Ronnel lifted her up with ease. Her Lilac eyes widened at how easily her petite hand fit in his, but she didn't say anything about it. Her mind drifted elsewhere, especially when he mentioned that she shouldn't stick her face into unknown holes. "Bitten?" Ceres laughed as she brushed it off. "I don't mind!" She pointed to her nose. "Maybe I'll be lucky enough to catch what we're looking for. Do you think I look enough like a nut?"

Ronnel blinked a few times then chuckled nervously. "I...am going to plead the fifth here." He opened his mouth to say something more but Ceres was already by his side, leaning on him so she could stare up into the trees above.

"Hmmm......" Ceres pursed her lips as she bought the Spyglass to her eye, peering into the treetops. "I don't see any fuzzy lumps around here...Let's go further into the forest." Ceres reached up and grabbed his wrist. "C'mon Puppy, follow me!"

@Ronnel


ID:#134014 LD:9 + 5 = 14 FAIL
(Spyglass in use- next attempt in 10 posts)

"Ohh it's Mari!" Ceres exclaimed when she saw another message pop up. The Pker was quickly becoming a popular customer... well...maybe not popular but Mari was a high paying customer. And more often than not, Mari had always given Ceres a nice bonus, she wasn't sure if it was because Mari felt guilty about their last encounter, or if she just had no use for her Col - but Ceres wasn't going to question it. She'd simply graciously accept the excess.

This time Mari wanted another dimensional backpack. "Mmmm...why would someone need two?" Ceres asked... then moments later realized that Mari was probably buying one for a friend. Ceres smiled, happy to see the worn woman forging friendships. After a few exchanges back and forth via PM Ceres sent Mari the Dimensional Backpack.


-Dimensional Backpack sent to Mari
-sent 5000 col to bank.

"Oh!"

Ceres blinked, Oscar had snapped her out of her stupour. She tried to give him a smile. "It's good to see you, Oscar." Her smile faded, for a few moments as he pointed out that she was not her usual cheery self. Ceres coughed, cleared her throat then forced out a laugh. It...did not sound right.

"Caught me!" Ceres said as she poked her tongue out him. "I just...did this Worn out Welcome Quest and uhm..."  Ceres leaned forward, fidgeting with her hands. "I had to fight this Dark Elf and he uhm...s-stabbed me and then told me I'd die alone in battle..." Ceres tried to play it off like it wasn't bothering her. "It's so silly right?" She tried to laugh again, but it came out warbled and shaken.

"W-why would it say that?" She finally asked him. Ceres didn't want the meeting to go like this, she wanted them to go on a quest together and talk about what she should do when she opened her store. She didn't want their greeting to be marred with such...inconsequential issues. "S-sorry I'm being silly...aren't I?"

@Oscar

Ceres pulled the spyglass away from her eyes. They were well and truly in the forest now. "Owls....ooh I know where to find them." Ceres said with a wink. "But it'll cost you and - Oh Hang on! I want to search for some more materials..." Ceres ran a few steps up toward a log. "Did you know the last time I looked in a log I found a treasure chest!" She exclaimed. Ceres ducked her head in to peer into the log. Instead of finding a treasure chest a small bat screeched at her.

Ceres screamed a she stumbled backward, landing on her behind. The tiny bat screeched again as it flew up and out of the log. It's dark wings carrying it away to its next hiding place. Ceres could feel her heart beating fast, and it had scared her, but instead of reacting negatively she couldn't help but laugh. She pointed at the log, "Hahaha....what was a bat doing in there? The poor thing! Imagine trying to sleep only to see my stupid face shoved into its bed!" She managed between fits of giggles.

"That poor bat!"

@Ronnel

ID# 133983 LD 9+5 =14=FAIL
2 T1 Materials Gathered Total

Junking

2 X T2  Rare Consumables,  #ID133359
250Col x 2 = 500
1x T2 perfect consumable #ID133508
375 COl


Pls gib Ceres  Total 375 Col PLs

Name: Ceres
Your Profession: Merchant
Your Rank: 3
Item Type: Two hand Sword
Roll Id: ID Roll 133959  LD 6  Slot 1   | ID Roll 133960 6 Slot 2
Tier: 2
Quality: Rare
Enhancements:  +2 Taunt
Description: A large Two Handed Sword, when you wave it around it makes a ringing noise, attracting enemies
Post Link

----

Name: Ceres
Your Profession: Merchant
Your Rank: 3
Item Type: Two hand spear
Roll Id:  ID Roll 133963  -  Slot 1: LD 10    |   ID Roll 133964 -  Slot 2 LD 14    |   ID Roll  133965-  Slot 3: LD 1   
Tier: 2
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements:  +1 Paralyze +1 Damage +1 Keen
Description: A large Two Handed Spear, It's a Crimson Colour and has a neat black ribbon tied around the shaft.
Post Link

----

Name: Ceres
Your Profession: Merchant
Your Rank: 3
Item Type: Two hand Spear
Roll Id:    ID Roll 133978-  Slot 1: LD  16   |   ID Roll 133979-  Slot 2 LD  8   |   ID Roll 133980 -  Slot 3: LD  1
Tier: 2
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: + 1 Dam  | + 1 Bleed + 1 Keen
Description:  A large Two Handed Spear, It's a Crimson Colour and has a neat black ribbon tied around the shaft.
Post Link

Identify Rolls

T2  Rare Weapon   #ID133359
ID Roll 133959  LD 6  Slot 1   | ID Roll 133960 6 Slot 2
Enhancements +2 Taunt

T2 Perfect weapon  #ID133508
ID Roll 133963  -  Slot 1: LD 10    |   ID Roll 133964 -  Slot 2 LD 14    |   ID Roll  133965-  Slot 3: LD 1   
+1 Paralyze | +1 Damage |  +1 Keen

T2 Perfect weapon  #ID133508
ID Roll 133978-  Slot 1: LD  16   |   ID Roll 133979-  Slot 2 LD  8   |   ID Roll 133980 -  Slot 3: LD  1
+ 1 Dam  | + 1 Bleed + 1 Keen

--
Sent 2,700 to bank
 

T3,  "I haven't been up to the higher floors yet, I'm a little worried."  Hello Ceres said as she hid her mouth, mumbling into it."I'm just not wanting to die but I suppose I could run too..." Her smile brightened when he mentioned he was a gatherer build. She hadn't met anyone else yet who did gathering. worried "OH! Me too! I am putting all my skills into searching - oh but I did get fishing too...ahh and I'm going to get lockpicking next! I love looking for chests it's so much fun! Don't you think?" 

Ceres, forever in her oblivious and forward ways - reached out and clasped the other mans hands in hers. "I'd love to go exploring with you! It'd be fun. I am used to doing things on my own but I tend to talk to myself a lot and I wonder if I'm going a little crazy..."  She let go of his hands and ran her own through long, thick and wavy rose red locks.

@Benjamin Bookworm

Ceres pulled away from him, her cheeks hot with a flush as he had reached out to tousle her hair. She swatted him away and smoothed out her rose-red bangs. Pouting at him. "Y-yeh...well..." Her blush grew as she admitted to him that she fought it with no skills whatsoever, and that she was a dagger user at the time. Ceres gave an exasperated sigh. "Could you imagine me hanging off the side of that boat, uselessly waving around a tiny dagger!?"

He laughed. Threw his head back and laughed. "Oh you poor little thing. I bet you looked just this side of a cute drowned rat." He was clearly bemused, a wide grin splitting his lips as he looked back at her. 

Ceres pouted when he mentioned that quest line. "I really don't want to think about that whole quest line....I did it all in a single day and regretted it so much! I had nothing! No real useful skills, back then I had a dagger instead of a sword ...and I just..." She buried her head in her hands. "Hannah was so lovely...why couldn't it just end with her....why did the last thing have to involve a Sword Fish?"

She hated thinking about it, how her throat was hoarse and dry as she shouted at a Sword Fish... no skills, no idea how the game worked. The most basic of gear. If she could do it again - and she wouldn't unless someone paid her 10,000k Col she'd make sure she had a few more Sword Arts under her belt, or at least buffs that would help her aim better.

"Puppppyyyyyy...." Ceres groaned as she tugged on him, practically hanging off the hem of his sleeve. "Did you find that fish annoying too?"

@Ronnel

The Sword Fish came back around again, its large tail slapping the surface of the rocky lake water. It covered her with a mighty splash. Not that it really mattered to Ceres, she was already soaking wet at this stage. What was another wave of water upon wave after wave? It's attack pattern was similar to before....that meant it was going to try swinging its...err..sword nose at her again, right? 

Right. It did just that, and Ceres was ready for it. She rose her tiny dagger high over her head and thrust it down into its head. The Sword Fish flailed around before tearing itself free from the blade, leaving a jagged mark of red pixelated data in its place before it dove back under the water.

"Congrats Miss - you've finally torn off more than a third of its health. Only two thirds to go." Old Pete said with a Laugh."

Ceres....failed to see the funny side of the joke. She grumbled. Just wanting this to be over.

Ceres pursed her lips when he asked her the question. "Oh..." She laughed softly. "Honestly... I didn't even realize! I'm sorry! I just..." Ceres pointed to him. "You really look like a big lost puppy. I don't know why." She read the description of his greaves and gave a few nods of affirmation. "Mhmmm Mhmmm, See, even the game agrees with me. You're Puppy." Ceres said with another nod. "Err... Unless you don't like it?"
 

"Eh, it's fine. Puppies are usually well liked." The man chuckled softly. 

Ceres reached out to clasp his hand, it was giant and practically enveloped hers. “Okay. Follow me~” She cheerily said as she shifted past him, leading Ronnel out into the wilderness. 

“Oh…” She paused as they were leaving the safe zone. There was a boulder nearby. Ceres pointed to it. “Mind if we stop there before heading into the forest? I’m also kinda wanting to gather some materials...I’m running low for my store.”

Ceres didn’t wait for a response, she left Ronnels side and headed over to the rock. “Hrmmm..” Usually materials would be shoved just underneath it, it was too heavy for her to lift but she could see a few glimmers hidden amongst the grass, Ceres carefully pried them out from under the rock and held them up to Ronnel. "Lookit that! So lucky!"

@Ronnel

ID# 133906 LD 12+5 =17=SUCCESS
CD: 4 =1 Bonus
2 T1 Materials Gathered Total

Ceres nodded as she opened up her menu, inviting him to the party. “You can tag along, I’d enjoy the company. We’ve only spoken in my store, so it’d be nice to get to know you more.”

Ceres tugged on her hair as she shifted her lilac eyes to the people in the streets. “Squirrels and chipmunks and stuff they’re foragers, right? That is what my build is based off. So I thought it fitting.” Ceres turned back to Ronnel. “Besides, its not like I’d ever be able to have one as a pet in the real world, so why not have one here? It’s small enough to take with me everywhere I go also its warm and fuzzy.” Ceres gave Ronnel a warm smile, “And...I think in these trying times, thats what we all need. Right?”

"Hmmm. You might be right there. People are all caught up in this whole debacle that we lose sight of some of the nicer things."

“Oh…” Ceres pulled out a small object and placed it on the table. “This is a spyglass. It’ll help us find it quicker! So I’m ready whenever you are Puppy.”

@Ronnel

“Oh!” Ceres cried out in surprise. “It’s you Puppy!” She gestured to the seat in front of her. “Please take a seat,” he chuckled and pulled out the chair to sit opposite her.

“I’m just finishing up some bread. Ohh It’s so nice here!” Ceres ripped it in half and grabbed his hand, placing the bread- still oozing with butter into his palm. “Isn’t it nice?”

Ronnel blinked once, then looked down at the bread before returning his gaze to her. With a slight tilt to his head and a shrug of one shoulder he lifted it up and took a bite of one end, and chewed it. "Huh. Not bad."

Ceres laughed as she sat back down. “Right! It’s one of my favorite things to eat - and I don’t have to worry about watching my figure, so I can eat as much of it as I want!” She took a big bite of the bread, and continued to talk with her mouth full.

“I’m goob tobay! Gon do the fabibmirar quest!” She said. Translation; Ceres was planning on taking the familiar quest today.