Elora

Wind funneled through the door and whistled shrilly as it wove between cracks in the cedar walls of the submerging saloon. Creaking rafters and the rattling of cups and cutlery revealed that little time remained before the building would give way under the blustery winds and pummeling rain. Katoka's right, we need to get out of here. All of us.

Snatching a stein that she presumed to be full of beer, Elora raised it forward like a general would a sword as he commanded his troops to battle. "Grab your drinks and run like hell to the hilltops, everybody!", she called out before downing as much of the beverage as she could manage.

Villagers rushed out into the streets, and just as her and Katoka had finished giving the orders, a large timber support beam whined from above where Koga was now standing. In that moment, Elora swore she could see the tavern's rafters sway from one side, then the other before their boards suddenly buckled inwards. There wasn't enough time to explain. She needed to act -- quickly!

Pushing Koga's back, she shoved him forward with as much force as she could muster. Without the aid of adrenaline coursing through her body, she couldn't imagine that the act of moving someone larger than her with such speed would have been possible. Before her brain had the chance to process another thought, Elora perceived the sensation of raindrops pelting her frigid skin. 

She blinked.

She was outside -- standing with shaking legs in what looked to be a pool of liquid mercury. Her gut knotted at the strange sight. This isn't normal, her instincts finally confirmed. 

It was in situations like these that Elora really hated herself.

Whether it was because of breaking out of the house, failing a test, or simply misunderstanding a direction made no difference. She was used to her failures being met with ridicule. The ensuing argument would always start by her trying: trying to give reasons as to why she couldn't meet their expectations, trying to say she was sorry for screwing up, trying to find some way to make amends for her mistakes. It wouldn't matter. She would never be good enough. Frustrated voices would turn into screams and questions would turn into attacks. Her only way of making it end was to become numb, to drown in and to accept everything they told her that she was. 

Luckily, Freyd hadn't gotten even angrier with her, as her parents often did once it became obvious she'd shut down and chosen to disengage from the conversation. Elora could only assume that it was because he'd realized she already gotten the message through her thick skull. I can't believe I ruined the quest like this. Considering Grimm's position in all of this made her feel even worse. If this was his first impression of her, she couldn't imagine him ever wanting to speak to her again. 

As her mind churned with worry and remorse, Elora walked with shoulders slumped, her eyes looking downward as she clutched her spear close to her chest. 

Pausing with the mug held only centimeters away from her lips, Elora gave a sideways glance toward the player who'd taken a seat beside her. Unable to make out any distinguishable features from the current angle, she decided to pivot so that she could -- "Oh my god!", she found herself yelling from surprise. "Jesus...", she gasped, raising a hand to clutch her chest, "You can't just greet someone looking like the f*cking -- the Creature of Black Lagoon" Taking a brief moment to steady her nerves, she continued, "Is that all from the storm?" She gestured to the vegetation that hung from his appendages like rotten seaweed. "H-here" she stammered in search of some way she could help him in this situation, "You might want to swig this" Sliding a second beer towards him, she finally realized she'd neglected to take another sip of her own. Raising her glass to her lips --

"Elora?!", cried a feminine voice following the cacophonous sound of the tavern door tearing off from its hinges. Elora's mug fell from her hand, shattering dully as it hit the cement floor from beneath at least an inch of the murky water. 

"DAMMIT!", cussed the green-haired player as she shot up from her stool and turned to shout at... "Katoka?" Standing in the entrance of the coroded establishment was her guild-mate who appeared to be very troubled. "What's wrong? Are you ok?" 

Elora seemed all too oblivious of the ensuing danger brought on by the calamitous storm.

@Koga @Katoka

Closing the gap between them, Elora greeted Kiluia in turn, "Hey. I'm glad that I was able to find you. Everything's been alright with me, but how about you? You're getting MARRIED!" Her arms reached out as she gestured excitedly toward him with splayed fingers. "I'm actually kind of surprised Haine isn't here with you", considering for a moment, she continued, "Wonder if Katoka's taken her out to shop for a dress today. I heard they had plans for -- er, I don't know if I was supposed to spoil that --" 

Geez, I've been talking a lot, haven't I? I should give him a chance to say something. Nervous energy seemed to emanate from her as she hyperactively bounced on her heels and circled around the produce stand while she spoke. It probably had something to do with, well, what Kil said -- that they hadn't seen each other in a long time. Conversation felt quite a bit less natural with him than it with some of the other guild members. Still, she found herself being thankful that they weren't strangers. Talking would likely become easier as they went about the day.

Nodding in agreement to Katoka's call to start the journey, Elora made a quick stop at a well along the way to refill her canteen before they left the city. Her teetering stride gradually subsided into a sulking saunter as they wound through the canyons whose smooth sandstone walls stretched until they broke against a clear cerulean sky. Twisting striations of scarlet, cinnabar, and sangria mirrored the motion of an ancient river that would likely have coursed through this passage, had its design been influenced by geological formations in the real world.

Remaining silent to take in the view, Elora found her mind mulling over the idea of change in her own life. Had she really grown that much since the day she was trapped here? Certainly not as much as someone like Freyd, who had already soared through the system's ranks and was now preparing to fight alongside the game's strongest players in their crusade against a formidable boss. Sure, her and Katoka were fairly matched in skill, but she worried it wouldn't be long before her new companion excelled at a rate she could no longer keep up with.

The more she became consumed by her worries, the further behind she began to trudge from her friends as they made their way to the hiding place of the next hatchling. Forcing herself to break from her thoughts, she hurried her pace until she fell only slightly behind them. 

"Are you scared at all about joining The Frontliners, Freyd?", she asked quietly and with hesitancy. The question came from a place of concern, not in doubting his qualifications for the mission, but for gauging whether or not he experienced convictions, felt the same fear of failing other people as her. 

"Take cover!", roared a man with a hefty build as a flood of NPC villagers swarmed into Nimbus's municipal tavern. The sudden and simultaneous slamming of the building's doors and shutters nearly caused Elora to hurl her Guinness across the bar in alarm. "Christ!", she complained as she wiped the spilled beverage from the wooden counters with the tail of her cloak, "What the fuck is going on?!" 

She stood and made her way over to one of the windows, doing her best to force its boards open against the gusts of a powerful gale. Finally managing to catch a glimpse of the landscape outside, Elora could see that a sinister storm now loomed over the viridian countryside, threatening to snuff out its sunlight within a handful of passing seconds. Players frantically darted across gravel paths in search of cover, seemingly unconcerned with using the floor's portal to simply vacate the floor. "Well...that doesn't look great...", she admitted before latching the window closed and returning to her stool, "Guess I'll just stay in here 'til it passes"

Elora hadn't been doing much that day. In fact, there were rarely any days she spent doing more than lounging  The Hummingbard Inn or meandering through the streets of the Town of Beginnings. So when the all-to-scarce sound of a message reverberated through the poorly-insulated walls of her studio apartment, Elora immediately opened her HUD to see what the occasion was about.

The next moment she was sprinting out her door, down the creaking steps, through the bustling marketplace, and into the teleportation portal to Floor 22. Chaser that f*cking bastard! What the hell did he do to Freyd? I should have known he'd be trouble with what he said to Katoka and I!

Elora yanked at the handles of Firm Anima's entrance of the main hall before remembering -- "God dammit!" -- she kicked in the push-doors, which swung open to reveal Freyd, who was directly on the other side of the large room. With two other members she was unacquainted with waiting inside, she decided it best to curb her worry and refrain to speed-walking around the gargantuan table and over to where her friend was sitting. Her hand clenched the top of the chair beside him and yanked it from its spot, causing a shrill scraping sound to echo awkwardly throughout the chamber. Taking a seat, she quickly turned to Freyd and whispered, "What happened?! Are you ok?"

@Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

Elora's vision didn't need to be clear for her to perceive how angry Freyd's response was to her reckless attack. As she made out the details of him driving her spear into the ground, she could feel the sharp, sudden, and cold sensation of regret resonating throughout her body. It felt...numb...like her body and her mind were just -- shutting down -- succumbing to passivity as the condemnation of her choices continued. 

"Do you understand what happens if you strike another green-icon player, even if it is by accident?", began Freyd. With a dryness creeping down her throat, Elora didn't feel that she could find the words to make things right, nor the will to do more than sit frozen, with eyes fixed forward as his cowl laid limply in her open palms. I thought...we were just playing a game..., she thought as she tried to search for an explanation -- a reason, or maybe even an excuse for why she had screwed up so badly. I was wrong. This was all my fault. I shouldn't have gotten so carried away. I shouldn't be so stupid. Why am I always such a f*cking idiot?

A hurricane of hurt waged within Elora's sapphire eyes, her otherwise hardened and unmoved expression leaving little to indicate that she was receiving or processing the criticism. Suddenly rising from her seat, she approached Freyd without making the slightest effort to meet his gaze.

"Sorry.....", she murmured with a raspy voice before taking back her spear and hastily turning to head back the way their party had come. 

"FREEEYD!", screamed Elora shrilly as she shuttered in revolution upon feeling the thick ooze matting in her viridian hair trickle down the rest of her body. "WHAT THE HELLL...", she continued to whine with wet hands wiping the slimy substance away from her eyes. Filled with tears from disgust, anger, and the inflammatory digestive chemicals, they seemed to be indicative of her experiencing a fair amount of distress from the ordeal. "I-I'm gonna get you back!", she swore vengeance through a choked voice. 

With a raised hand, she began to swipe at the air and pat around the trunks of surrounding trees like a blind woman trying to navigate without assistance. It wasn't long before the trio could hear the familiar slithering noise of the new Nepent furrowing through the field and rushing over to them. With little hesitation, Elora turned and hurled her spear like a harpoon toward whatever obscured figure appeared to be closest to her. The lack of a resolute "death" or "screaming" sound made her question whether or not her weapon had pierced its intended target.

"......"

"Who'd I hit?"

Elora nodded in agreement at the idea of having lunch where Katoka and Hanami had met. Before she could finish her drink, she noticed Katoka's eyes begin to widen, then narrow as she smirked and adopted a more suggestive expression. "Wha --", began Elora, her face turning an even deeper shade of red, "N-no -- nothing happened! T-there are no deets" She took a final swig of her tea, hoping that the brief pause would be enough to imply the conversation's conclusion. 

Just then, Katoka scooted closer to her, "Tell me yours and I'll tell you mine." 

Dammit, how is someone as sweet as her so confrontational?! After a hesitant grumble, Elora gave in and decided to tell her friend what had happened. "Fiiine, I'll tell you! Just don't get all nosey and talk to Freyd about it -- This conversation is between us!" She pointed at Katoka warningly, her stern face still smothered by an unwelcome blush.

After another brief huff, Elora started, "So, after we ran away from the circus, we decided to hide in the woods for a bit -- well, until morning -- when it would be safer for us to head back to the town" The green-haired woman couldn't help but look away in an effort to hide her embarrassment as she began to fidget in her seat, appearing somewhat flustered as she tried to recall the 'deets', "And, well, since we had to sleep in the forest, he kind of, let me rest my head against his shoulder so I could be more comfortable. And, I guess that I just -- sort of -- fell asleep like that while he stayed awaketokeepwatch" Rushing through and wincing at the girlish doting of that last part, she cautiously continued, "But -- I don't know -- it wasn't like that. He just wanted to help me out. I-I was just surprised at how considerate it was, I guess" And how strong he was when he carried you, her mind nagged in the wake of her dismissal. 

Elora leaned back into the sofa and carefully crossed her arms, watching as Borris and Hanami seemed to play-fighting. The pair appeared to be playing a game of chase where Hanami would dash around the room as Borris tried to block her exit by planting his different stones in various sections of the room. During this particular attempt, Hanami thought she had escaped from him until one of his rocks rolled out from under a cabinent and slid beneath her foot. The nature of its rounded shape caused her to trip and fumble to a halt. This prompted all of Borris's pieces to gather beside her before they reassembled into his usual golem form, and he attempted to help her up. Geez, I've got to make sure he isn't being too violent. It looks like Hanami is alright though, she probably just gets some of her clumsiness from Katoka.

"Symmetry?", remarked Elora as Freyd made off to destroy a few of the creatures, "The fact you brought that up first makes me worry that you think its their most concerning quality"

Elora was surprised and honestly a little taken-aback by Freyd's uncharacteristic playfulness. Typically he seemed more reserved than this, even acting like a bit of a stickler at times. She departed herself from analyzing the change and shifted her attention to entering the battle, as he had encouraged her to do. 

"Not bad, but it looks like you missed one", she retorted by tilting her head and flashing a smirk. Swiftly maneuvering around him and a pair of lofty oak trees, Elora's spear met with the bulbous body of a lurking Nepent. The creature made a terrible squealing sound as it folded over and withered away like the witch from Oz after she'd been splashed with hot water. Just then, another Nepent slithered from the shadowy recess of the woods and lurched at her with its vine-like tendrils. "Wha --!" Elora jumped back, nearly screaming at the unexpected horror of having to see one try to eat her. "Where the hell did that one come from?", she exhaled unsteadily, taking a moment to clutch her chest and still her breathing. Lifting a finger, she looked over to Freyd. "You better not", she warned, fully expecting him to tease her for her hypocrisy. 

"I think this one is all your's, Grimm", she insisted in part because of how afraid she was to approach it again. The similarity of its roots and coiling arms to the body of a snake was all too unsettling.

Without hesitation, Elora reached down and clenched the stems of another carrot. This time, she yanked it free with so much force that the segment she was holding tore from the vegetable as it remained lodged in soil. "DAMMIT!", she yelled shrilly as she hurled the evaporating bundle toward the ground. It landed with a quiet and unsatisfying noise. "F*CK THESE STUPID -- WHAT EVEN ARE CARROT?! -- ROOTS!" In a fit of anger, she ripped out the remaining stocks until the entire patch was desolated. Elora huffed and got up to walk back up the hill that -- wait a second, where was Jackpot? After taking a moment to scan the surrounding area, she concluded that he must not have followed her down the bank in fear of fumbling over the terrain. Well, whatever, maybe he's looking for materials in another area. Hopefully he didn't wander too far away. Although she'd only just met him, Elora felt that she had an obligation to make sure he didn't get lost, or worse, since he had left the safety of the city to aid her in her mission to cure his impairment.

Hearing that explanation made the name seem sentimental and understandably appropriate for the creature. "That sounds really nice", sighed Elora with a daydreamy expression, "I'd like to go see the cherry blossoms again. I don't think that I've really had the chance to appreciate them since Tanabata, and even then..." She trailed off and flashed a smirk at Katoka. The two of them both knew exactly how that peaceful night had been turned on its head. 

"Yeah, we both got away safely. It was dark out, so I think that made it difficult for them to follow us", pausing briefly to scratch her head, she added, "She, uh, had like -- a mob of NPC goons. They were running some sort of circus to lure in players we think. It was really weird..."

Elora couldn't help but start laughing after Katoka told her how Freyd had helped her find her familiar. "Wow, I can't believe he wanted to do that all again after how things went for us" She took another drink after taking a moment to stabilize the tea, which had begun to swish back and forth from her abrupt movements. Cupping the warm ceramic cup carefully in her hands, she found mind begin to flood with memories of their hunt: the thrill of racing down the waterfall, the comfort a meal together in the quiet mountain town, and the similar warmth of --

Her face began to flush.

Katoka doesn't need to know about that.

"Yeah, he is..."

Vanity tag: @Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows

"Yeah, that's probably true. I bet he'd have a grating voice", she laughed in agreement with Katoka. "What made you choose that name for her? Does it mean anything in Japanese? I'm uh...not from Japan, so I'm still trying to learn the language" Elora wasn't entirely sure she wanted to admit the detail, but there was a chance that doing so would allow Katoka to help her understand more about - what seemed to be - the woman's native culture. "Well, I'm glad you had better luck catching a dragon", muttered Elora as she sunk back into her seat and started to sip from the still steaming cup of black tea. "Oh, thanks for making this by the way", she added somewhat shyly. 

"So, anything new happening with you?"

"Umm...", contemplated Elora as she struggled to recall what might have happened in her life outside of their escapades, "Wellll, I guess not much. Though, when Freyd and I were looking for Borris, we did kind of come across and get chased by a player killer" Elora took the opportunity to add suspense and gauge Katoka's interest by taking a moment to drink more of her tea before deciding whether or not to continue the story.

"I don't know. Seems unnecessary to me considering we're all always dressed up", she shrugged to dismiss the idea before shifting her attention to listen to Grimm's introduction. His bright eyes and seemingly radiant personality made it difficult for her to stop smiling as he elaborated on his invitation.

Oswald. Yeah, that does sound like a pretty British name. Something about the properness of it didn't seem to match his docile personality, but Elora did her best not to read into the feeling more than that. She had a way of getting whisked away by her thoughts, which often made conversations hard to follow, and subsequently, continue. So for now, she agreed to keep the boy company since doing so would also allow her to complete the quest for her own benefit.

As the three of them walked to the meadow where the creatures would spawn, Elora consumed the stat-boosting food that Freyd had given her. Although she didn't see herself needing the assistance, having a salty snack in place of her missed breakfast was admittedly a welcome gift. The semi-wooded area was sprinkled with splotches of sun where the Dairy Queen-mascotesque-looking flowers, if you could even call them that, writhed and slithered around on their all-too-smooth gnarly appendages "Ew, that's what they look like? Yeah, I'll be happy to kill them once we get this thing started." 

Figuring she may as well step up to the challenge of assisting an inexperienced player with one of his first quests, Elora prompty accepted the...Wait, is that really his name? The Grimm Reaper? Geez, sounds like an edgelord. She arose from her rickety bed at the nearby Hummingbard Inn and leisurely made her way to the town's main gate. There she noticed two loitering players -- likely those who she would be accompanying on the mission. The taller one of the two was dressed from head to toe in black, making it difficult to distinguish any of their features, especially those that remained inconspicuous behind a mask. This looks like some kind of intervention, she warned herself with hesitancy. However as she approached them, Elora could make out something familiar behind a pair of garnet eyes. It was -- "Hey Freyd", she nodded to him curtly, doing her best to shrug off the scrutinizing stare she had likely given him during the attempt to decipher his appearance, "Dressing up for Halloween?" The comment was quite brash and bordered on deprecation, but he likely understood her well enough at this point to know that this had not been her intention. Cracking a smile at her own sarcasm, she quickly turned to greet the man who'd likely invited them. "Sorry -- I'm Elora" 

Elora | HP:560/560 | EN:56/56 | DMG:9 | MIT:8 | ACC:2 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1

Elora pinched Borris's headstone and lifted him up, using a napkin to dab off any icing that had adhered to his makeshift appendages. "Yeah, there's two left. You and your familiar should probably hurry and eat them before he decides to play target practice again though" She gave the feisty golem a condescending glare as his arms pinwheeled in a vain attempt to free himself from her hold. "Oh, I guess I haven't actually told you yet -- his name is Borris. He's got a lot of...attitude...so hopefully he won't make this difficult for either of you" 

Frustrated with his containment, the creature disassembled, causing several stones of various shapes and sizes to clatter onto the floor like a bag of marbles that had been spilled. Elora simply sighed at the cacophonous sight. "Aaand of course you did that -- I'm actually surprised you waited so long this time" She turned to Kat with an expression not far departed from that of an exhausted mother, "This is how he expresses himself. As far as I know, he isn't able to speak"

The earthy smells and sounds of low-lying deciduous forests and babbling spring-fed brooks overtook Elora's senses the moment she teleported into Urbos. Sunlight spilled over the horizon and trickled down the mountainside, shedding a scattered light into the steppe below. Combined with the cool breeze shaking dewdrops from the curled leaves of spindly plants, it still felt like morning in the little village she'd visited once before. Elora found herself sighing in content as she basked in the tranquility of such a familiar climate. It all felt so -- well, like home. 

She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her trousers before taking to meandering through the criss-crossed cobblestone streets in search of her guildmate. I wonder if he's even here yet. Maybe I showed up too early? Happening upon the central square's bustling marketplace, she spotted a familiar head of shaggy white hair. Thankful for the man's recognizable appearance, Elora called out with hands cupped around her mouth, "Kil!"

Hyperthermic shock. Yeah, that's probably how Elora would describe the effects of the abrupt and drastic change in temperature she'd just experienced. It made her feel sick to her stomach. Reluctantly, she held her gut and trudged forward, doing her best not to keel over and vomit onto the side of the sandstone alleyways that snaked throughout the city. Shortly after leaving the main portal, she came across Katoka and Freyd. Both seemed fully adjusted to the shift in climate. Elora straightened up and did her best to sweeten her sickened voice as she greeted them. After all, she didn't want to look like a wuss. "Geez, you guys sure are in a hurry. Why don't we just take it slow and appreciate the ennn...", she began to groan as she placed her hand on the gateway, leaning against it search of support, "Ennnvironment --", she managed to utter. Man, this heat is awful. I don't know how I'm gonna survive if it keeps up. Blessedly, it seemed that the entrance of the town led out into a narrow canyon bathed in a cool shadow. I hope that goes on for a little while. As long as we walk in the shade I'll probably be fine.

Elora | HP:560/560 | EN:56/56 | DMG:9 | MIT:8 | ACC:2 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1

"A giant? I'm hardly above the average height of a woman -- at least from where I grew up", retorted Elora as she picked up a donut, which prompted Borris to unravel himself from her arm. It's icing was practically sliding off toward every minute direction she happened to tilt it in. Figuring it best to eat before it slopped onto the floor and made a mess, she swiftly stuffed the entire pastry into her mouth.

And just as Katoka asked her what kind of tea she wanted.

Great, brooded Elora as she tried to chew and swallow it before Katoka would notice. It wasn't working. "Ooommm...", she stalled as she lifted her hand to cover her mouth so that nothing would spill out, "Anefhing ish fine. Gef me somefhing exsheiting" Borris seemed to study Elora closely as she consumed the donut, then struggled to speak. He looked over to the donuts, then back to her before suddenly charging the carton and punching one in the center. Icing exploded in every direction, coating the walls, floors, and the front-side of the little golem with the sugary confection. "Borris!", shouted Elora as she practically inhaled her food, "What the hell -- no! Those aren't enemies!"

The mention of the recently-encountered player killer boded more ominously with Elora than the abnormality of the current situation How the hell does she know about that? There's no way she was around during all of that. Freyd must have just told her at some point. "I'll do my best", she found herself responding in summation to it all. Although it was difficult for Elora to conceptualize the truths she had left unspoken, she was certain that they existed somewhere within her mind, or perhaps, woven into the fibers of her being. It would probably be much longer before she would have the confidence to admit them to other people, let alone, to herself.

Either way, this encounter was beginning to grow too personal for her liking. She had completed the task that she hadn't necessarily set out to accomplish, and now it was time to leave. "Thank you again", she said out of curtesy before carefully pulling open the shop's door and seeing herself out.

Elora read Kil's message and suddenly threw her sheets off of her and shot up from her bed. "Oh, sh*t -- I wasn't expecting him to respond so quickly! I need to get ready!" She quickly looked to Borris as if he could offer her any help. The rock golem simply shrugged and began to scuttle toward the door. "Hang on! I know that you don't have to wear clothes, but I do! Give me a few seconds to get ready!" Only a matter of moments passed before Elora was able to open her menu and change into her usual attire. The system caused a series of fairy lights to spin around her, dissipating as they floated upwards to reveal her clean outfit and styled hair. She found herself becoming bored of the monotonous morning routine, although it took little effort on her part. One of these days I'm gonna have a reason to wear something else, nodded Elora to herself as she hurried out the door, stooping down to grab her eager familiar who was already on his way out.

The...what...? The Whisper? Is that what they call him around here? Elora did her best to not put too much thought into the passing comment, but she couldn't help but feel curious upon hearing the mention of a mutual goal. What's that about? Well, I guess that he is a captain after all, so maybe it's got something to do with that. Weird that he'd have an obligation to a phantom seamstress. Either way, it's probably not really my business to ask. 

"Thank you", she offered gratitude to the tailor with a bow of her head. The gesture of appreciation often demonstrated in Japanese culture was really started to rub off on her. "For the repair -- and for the advice, that is. It's funny, because I've learned that I apply words in essentially the opposite way", she began as she crouched down and carefully lifted the mended garment from the floorboards which remained obscured from a lingering mist, "I have a tendency to run my mouth until it ends up hurting someone I care about and severing our friendship as a result..." Holding the garment close to her chest, it became evident that Elora was reflecting on a memory associated with the article of clothing that she so desperately wanted to protect. She suddenly began to laugh at herself upon realizing the ridiculousness of the situation. "I guess on that note, I should probably shut up and pay you for your service. How much do I owe you?"

"Uhhhh", responded Elora, uncertain of how to communicate with the strange fog. How the hell does it know about Freyd?! Well, whatever, it's only aware of his identity and not mine, so I'm sure that it's fine. "Yeaaah", she continued as she awkwardly scratched the back of her head in attempt to negate the feeling of a chill running down her spine, "I mean, at least I think that's what he'd consider me" Hopefully... Was this all some sort of a trap? Perhaps even a boss fight that she hadn't realize would be incited by her visiting this place? Well, whatever it was, this thing seemed to be offering to help her, so she continued to try her best at negotiating the proposition, regardless of how disarming the building's atmosphere was.

"Anyways...It would mean a lot if you were able to help me. I'm worried that if I return it to him like this, that he'll think that I don't care -- and -- I don't want to just not return it at all" Although Elora wasn't much more than uncomfortable, she appeared to become finicky from standing still for so long. Her feet shuffled from side to side and she could hardly manage to keep her fingers from tapping at her thigh as she waited for the entity to respond. 

Elora encroached on, then crouched beside the small patch of carrots. They looked awfully adorable compared to some of the other strange produce that sprung from the ground in this area. Putting all of her concentration into collecting the item still proved to be fruitless as she once again failed to do so correctly. Her hand had wrapped around the vegetable's stem and, somehow, plucked it free from the soil with such slowness that the game didn't understand how to accurately compute the action. Before the carrot could be added to her inventory, it had already dissolved into oblivion. "Why am I so fucking bad at this...?", she sulked, I can't just keep coming up empty handed or Jackpot is going to think I'm a complete loser. I'll just have to keep trying until I manage to gather something...At least then I could make the excuse that I was looking for the best carrot to use...or...something...