[PP:F21] Up and Atom! [Complete]

[Anemone 0]

Business for the young cook had gone down hill dramatically the last few months. She had been a busy front liner now, and because of the new floor, her role as a Gatherer was needed by many of the players looking to deck themselves in the all new Tier Three equipment. Sadly enough, Anemone had yet to make the level fifty milestone in her journey into Aincrad, but she was somewhat close? She didn't think much of what she needed as far as equipment goes, she still had the very basics on her and no mitigation which made her somewhat of a painted target. However, the Tanks in the game have been kind to keep the aggro on them as she was not only a Gatherer, but a dedicated Support and Healer as well making her far more important than normal.

With daylight brimming, or what it could brim on this floor, Anemone had set up another material meeting with Shield. She knew this would be one of many more she would be at with him because...It was Shield, of course. Despite their odd pairing, the two were becoming good partners. Well, at least she had liked to think so. Shield was still quite the mysterious guy to her and she had prodded too much into his personal life before and it backfired. However, he did give some inklings of thoughts from his personal life with some things he had said before. Especially the endearing moments about finding materials and lickening them to an Easter Egg hunt. Perhaps with children or was a fond memory of his childhood.

Anemone took a few steps out into the bleakness of the neon looking world around her, Shield would be here anytime no doubt. And she was only a few feet out of the safezone. She should be alright to find some materials, or not it seemed. She had taken only a few steps out and found no sparkling nodes anywhere. "Oh drats.". @Shield

ID: 85234
LD:1 +8 = Bad Start

 

Edited May 28, 2017 by Anemone

[Shield 0]

When Shield arrived, it was not from the safe zone, but from one of the tunnels near the edge of town. There were bags under his eyes, and from the looks of him, he had not even left the floor in a couple of days. Still, aside from the extra lines, he did not let the wear show through.

"It's good to see you again," he said, inclining his typically shaggy head. "Are you ready to go?"

Spoiler

ID# 85235 results: Loot: 3 + 3 LD item + 1 skill + 1 expertise = 8 - No materials (0 total)

He nodded towards the tunnel that he had come from, leading the way across the footbridge that led to its entrance. The wood was solid, though the fact that the guard rails consisted mainly of hand ropes with a zig-zagging up and down weave to connect it to the foot bridge made it a little unnerving to cross. Shield kept his eyes forward, not letting them drift down to the cavern floor.

"Have you been well?"

@Anemone

Edited May 26, 2017 by Shield

[Anemone 0]

Anemone was slightly spooked by Shield's entrance. She had jumped back a few inches when she saw the shaggy brown hair reveal of set of eyes, "Oh! Shield. It is you. Thank goodness. I thought you were some specter or something." Anemone swept the long blades of crimson streaked hair from her ruby eyes and nodded to him with a soft glowing smile, "I am well thank you. I did not realize you were already out here this early. I suppose as a Merchant, your job is never ending for materials, huh?"

The woman followed the Tank to a rickety old passage way where she stopped inches behind him and shook her head, "Are you sure it's safe to pass over?" The woman took one look down and gulped heavily. With her small hands pressed close to her heart and chest, the woman fingered the coin around her neck that gave her the extra boosted ability to find materials or other items. Her dark brows creased as she took a step forward and would move quickly towards the tunnel, "Oh that's good. I am still alive." She said as she felt her heart threatening to leap from her chest. As she made her way forward, she had stopped to gather a nice collection of different colored rocks suitable for just about anything. But she enjoyed the splashy colors and smiled happily as she found her first set. Shield was a sweetheart thought for coming along, she would give him some of her findings at the end of their tour. @Shield

ID: 85236
LD:9 + 8 = +4 T3 Materials (4 Total) (1 to Shield)

Edited May 26, 2017 by Anemone

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 85237 results: Loot: 2+ 3 LD item + 1 skill + 1 expertise = 7 - No materials (0 total)

As Anemone expressed her concerns about the bridge, Shield began listening to her footsteps, making sure to keep moving but listening to make sure he wasn't getting too far ahead of her. He kicked himself a little on the inside for not knowing how to overtly offer support, but at the same time, he could feel his muscle memory taking over. Hovering behind a small bike, listening to the rattle of training wheels, not getting close enough to be grabbed by little hands, but just near enough to be a human safety net just in case.

She's not a child... Still, there's nothing wrong with being here for support, I suppose.

As they arrived, he kept moving, not turning around, but still feeling some relief when the sound of Anemone's feet changed from the hollow sound of stepping on boards to the shallow scuffing of foot on stone.

"I'll be interested to see your luck with some of the farming spots I've found," he said, nodding down the passage that they had taken.

@Anemone

Edited May 26, 2017 by Shield

[Anemone 0]

"Lead the way, Shield. We'll see how lucky I can get." SHe said with a stifled giggle. Once again, she was unsure if her bubbly attitude towards things was something he disliked hearing, or maybe...he was not all that big a fan of people laughing in general. There were only small times that she had seen him with something of a smile on his otherwise stoic like face. Her red eyes lowered to the ground, where they once stared at the back of his head, she was unsure where they stood in terms of friendship. She sighed mentally and dropped the subject...somewhat, although her mind decided to pick it right back up and she struggled with it mentally, but kept a glowing smile on her face anyways.

It was not her place to enforce any kind of friendship anyways. Shield was just -boop-. Anemone had been looking down at the ground and mentally talking to herself until she had ran smack dab into Shield, rattling his armor as she scrunched her brows and bowed deeply, "I'm sorry, Shield. I wasn't looking where I was going again..." she apologized quickly and rubbed her chest a little, thinking that his thorns might have activated due to her bumping against him. Because ya know? Anemone was a very threatening mob.

ID: 85238
LD: 15+ 8 = +4 T3 Materials (8 Total) (2 to Shield)

"Is this one of them?" She asked pointing to a glowing spot. The mines were filled with sparkling items, but some of them were just for decoration but not this. Four nice sized diamond like rocks fell from the crevice of space and she had collected them into her satchel, "I didn't thank you yet for escorting me. I'll make it worth your while once I get back to the establishment." @Shield

Edited May 26, 2017 by Anemone

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 85239 results: Loot: 6 + 3 LD item + 1 skill + 1 expertise = 7 - No materials (0 total)

Shield had paused at a fork, trying to recall with his sleep-deprived mind which fork led to the first of his spots that he had found. Before he could come to a conclusion, he lurched forward having been bumped from behind. He turned around, having subconsciously drawn out and summoned his axe, whipping around to come face to face with... Anemone. His axe was still down at his side. Hopefully she hadn't noticed.

"What?" he said, slipping the weapon behind his back until he had time to try to put it away without being noticed.

I need to get off the front lines for a while and sleep...

"No," he finally replied, shaking his head. "It's... further ahead. Though you'll probably have an easier time finding things along here than I will."

He turned back around, using the concealment of his back to put away his axe before starting back down the path. It was upsetting, because he knew that Anemone was a sensitive individual and he knew that he had to be coming across as cold or uninterested. He would have to make an effort to be more engaging.

"You seemed keen to come up here and hunt," he said, trying to sound a little more off-handed than he was sure he had so far. "Any special plans for your finds?"

@Anemone

Edited May 26, 2017 by Shield

[Anemone 0]

Her eyes shied away from Shield as he asked the question and she smiled nervously while entwining her hair with one of her fingers, "Umm. When you gave me that note the other day about your appraising, I had to come to terms with having to do more and be active more with material findings so I could eventually get what I wanted from you. But for that, there are quite a few things I can't do alone." The woman swept her hands to behind her back as she walked slowly along the gleam filled tunnel. Bits of rock and dust seemed to shift with each passing step she made as they continued down the low lit corridor. 

"Most importantly, I can't do any damage what so ever. So I was in need of a DPS. There is a player named Calrex who I was told is a pretty good hunter for these kinds of things. I was able to enlist his help with finding items for you to identify in exchange I would pay him in the new tiered materials for his own equipment necessities. So...lots of stuff." She said quietly.

ID: 85240
LD:10 + 8 = +4 T3 Materials (12 Total) (3 to Shield)

With her hands fidgeting behind her, the woman took a small step to the left and examined the wall of the tunnel. Sure enough, several colored rocks and jewels came spilling out. Lavender lips curled, "Great! I got some more over here. Looks like its going to be another great haul." @Shield

Edited May 26, 2017 by Anemone

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 85241 results: Loot: 13 + 3 LD item + 1 skill + 1 expertise = 18 - +1 Material (1 total)

"Heh," Shield chuckled to himself, which was an oddity for him except that he was running on so little rest that he was bound to be a little loopy from time to time. "That's definitely a name I'm familiar with. Cal and I have done a few quests and dungeons together, not to mention plenty of hunting up here. He's actually buying the only noteworthy item I've found up here."

As he walked, his earring flared up, shedding bright golden light across the walls and the path in front of them. Glancing down to see what might be causing it, he spotted a fist-sized nugget of silver which he bent down to pick up and store away in his inventory. His hands felt stiff as if he had been clenching them. He had begun to settle down though and forced his hands to relax their fingers.

"If you've got an order, then take care of that before you worry about me," he assured her. "We're coming up on it now," he said, pointing ahead to a widening of the path. The chamber beyond was brightly lit, almost appearing as daylight compared to the rest of the floor so far.

@Anemone

Edited May 26, 2017 by Shield

[Anemone 0]

"Everything will work out in all parties interested. If I want to be the top shape in terms of being to heal, I'll need a little help from the special enhancements from unique equipment. I can't just idly stand by anymore with what I have since I am in the Knights now." She had explained. Sweeping hair from her eyes and ducking briefly to avoid a low hanging rock, the woman's satchel was snagged on another rock and she thought she was being nabbed by something. With an alarmed yelp, the woman swung her body around and flailed at the air with her head and eyes looking over her shoulder. Whatever was gonna catch her, she didn't want to look at it. But she stopped soon thereafter giving a tug and dislodging her pack from the rock, "Oh. It was actually nothing." She looked to Shield and puffed her cheeks slightly, "I can take care of myself, you see?" her red eyes twinkled a bit with a smile she could not sweep from her face, in all honesty if anything had attacked her, she probably would have fainted.

ID: 85242
LD: 17+ 8 = +4 T3 Materials (16 Total) (4 to Shield)

When Shield pointed out the next turn, her eyes lit up with a sparkle as the seemingly dark and dreary like landscape opened up to a much more brighter and welcoming center. She held her hands up her to mouth in aw and took a noticeable look around. With all the bright light, she could easily find more items and materials here and that's exactly what happened. @Shield

Edited May 26, 2017 by Anemone

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 85243 results: Loot: 16 + 3 LD item + 1 skill + 1 expertise = 21 - +1 Material (2 total)

"Is it only because of the knights that you can't stand idly by?" Shield asked. His dark brown eyes were focused on her, their whites haloed in lines and bags. Although he was easily in one of the older age brackets of Aincrad, he somehow looked even older now. "You're a helper. You like to help people. You build yourself to find resources and goods and then hand them over to other players without question."

As they entered the chamber, Shield's earring went berserk, shining with abandon as he trued to spot a material that might cause such a reaction. The nearest candidate was a cluster of glowing crystals on the nearest wall. He stepped over and tapped the most prominent of them. The menu that appeared was a telltale sign that he had found at least one potential cause of his earrings reaction, and he stored away the material.

"Everyone knows the Knights of the Blood Oath," he said, taking note that his earring had not yet faded. "Don't tell me you joined without knowing what would be expected of you in the line of duty." He turned back to her, his face serious but not angry. "You can't have just joined the biggest guild in Aincrad without knowing. For whatever reason, maybe just because you like to help those in need, you took on the duties of your station, and not only that, but a role designed to help.

"So don't give me the 'my guild is making me' stuff regarding pushing forward," he said, turning his eyes to the ceiling where there hung a massive crystal chandelier-like crystal cluster easily the size of a car. "You chose this path."

@Anemone

Edited May 26, 2017 by Shield

[Anemone 0]

"N-no! Of course not. I mean..." the woman had appeared flustered and red. She knew of course going into the Knights meant that she would be working her butt off because they helped push the frontlines. Since for however long she knew, they were a pretty dominant force there and although the members have changed, their goals had remained solid through and through. Shield was right, she was a helper and it was her personal Oath not only as a Knight, even before then, she wanted to help everyone. It was just in her blood to do so. But there was also..."Selfishness..." she muttered at long last twiddling her thumbs in front of her, red eyes cast down at the solid ground. "No one...ever thanked me for anything even when I helped them. And I never did it for the thanks. I did it for the smiles on their faces when I did do something helpful. But I was always left out of everything, no one looked at me. I was just that girl that tagged along and didn't do anything. A burden to them when I walked around in groups. I wanted to feel important to someone, special!" she blurted out. She sighed and shook her head. Crimson streaked hair fell into her face as she shielded her eyes away from the person who took notice of a large chandelier-like crystal formation above their heads.

Anemone was not good at speaking from the heart to someone who was as a stranger to her as Shield was, she knew her motivations and what she wanted, "Yes, I chose my path. And even if I was not part of the Knights, I would probably still be doing the same thing...probably." her voice was a little more than a whisper, she thought she might have said something to make him angry at her again.

ID: 85274
LD: 10+8 = +4 T3 Materials (20 Total) (5 to Shield)

Anemone had finally looked up to spot the massive large collection of colored crystals, it was pretty to look at but she didn't have anyway of getting up there to collect them. Instead she moved to a location where the same formation of crystals were at, but in much smaller and manageable to pick up.  @Shield

Edited May 26, 2017 by Anemone

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 85280 results: Loot: 9 + 3 LD item + 1 skill + 1 expertise = 14 - No materials (2 total)

Shield stopped mid-stride, pausing to look up at the great jutting structure of glowing crystals that dominated the ceiling above. He chose his words carefully as he thought through how to respond.

"Being a front-line tank is dangerous," he said, his tone very frank and matter of fact. "If I'm not properly geared to take the hits, nobody else is going to be. The head-start you gave me in tier three materials allowed me to get myself geared one hundred percent before the mad rush for orders started coming in."

He did not look at Anemone. Although he himself had no problem being up-front with people, he had never really been good at comforting others. At least not grown-ups. Kids were easy. They weren't afraid of things like kindness and warmth. One could offer them freely without any fear of rebuke or dismissal. Adults were a lot more complicated.

"If I had not had the help you gave, I would likely be stuck in that line with everyone else waiting on orders," he went on, picking up on his previous thought. "Your contributions may be harder to spot than mine, standing there taking hits from things that would flatten other players. Still, the ability and willingness to sacrifice for others is essential to our survival."

That part of what he had to say was the easy part. His eyes remained transfixed on the natural chandelier, trying to force his words to form in his mind in a way that was not overly self-critical. The silence stretched on as he thought, and finally, he sighed and made peace with the fact that his words would be what they were, and he could only temper them so much.

"If you're looking for smiles and laughter, I'm afraid that I'm going to disappoint you," he said, his tone as apologetic as he knew how to make it, which was, unfortunately, not very noticeable. "I'm notoriously bad at allowing myself to be expressive. It doesn't help much that the last time I tried to make a joke, you took it as actual criticism and stormed out of a bar. That's all water under the bridge, and I don't hold any grudges over it. Just..." He was losing focus on his intent, so he eschewed the rest of that line of talk, skipping to the matter at hand. "Know that I am grateful for your help. There are fights where I may not need a healer, but players still need one another, and without the proper resources, we who take and deal the damage on the front line can't do what we do. You ended up in the Knights because it's where you're needed."

@Anemone

Edited May 26, 2017 by Shield

[Anemone 0]

Anemone's eyes flickered at Shield, he was trying hard to ease this conversation, but he was not the best to put his feelings out into the world. And it didn't help that Anemone was a girl that did not know how to talk much about much of anything directly to people. But his words, they made her smile in one form or another. He was grateful as he said to her, the woman rubbing her booted toe into the dirt as she looked down with a very weak smile, fingers fidgeting behind her as she looked all shy like. "Thank you for the kind words. Not just because you said you were grateful, but the way you said how I ended up in the Knights, because I am needed there." The woman swept hair from her face, allowing the style to bounce and a very rejuvenated smile on her face.

"You are free to call on me anytime if you need materials. While you may seem cold and distant at times, I have noticed you becoming more human in our times together. Maybe some of my bubbliness is rubbing off on you. But I know you have your own personal duties and why you do things. I won't question those. You are becoming a great tank and a good friend as well. I feel safe around you."

ID: 85311
LD:4 + 8 = 0 [ T3 Materials (20 Total) (5 to Shield) ]
There goes the streak...

She wasn't sure if what she said would make him feel any different as a person, he probably had a very thankless job as well, being one of the Tanks of Aincrad. So, while she found no glowing fields of crystals nearby, she had looked up to him with those ruby studded eyes of her and they twinkled lightly, "Thank you for being here." @Shield

 

Edited May 27, 2017 by Anemone

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 85312 results: Loot: 3 + 3 LD item + 1 skill + 1 expertise = 8 - No materials (2 total)

Shield could feel Anemone's eyes on him, but he couldn't bring himself to meet them. He gave a nod, acknowledging her thanks. While not entirely sure how to take them, he was at least glad that she had a better understanding.

"I don't know that SAO has changed me exactly," he said, though even that much he wasn't sure about. "It's difficult for me to let people get close though, so for a long time, that's just the way I come across to people. Cold and uncaring and such. It isn't intentional, but..."

He was unsure how to conclude that 'but,' so he merely left it hanging at the end of his incomplete sentence. As he returned to the task at hand, he realized that he was clenching his sharply-angled jaw. Did being vulnerable with people, even to that minor degree, really make him so uncomfortable? He shrugged off the thought and forced both his jaw and shoulders to relax.

"Come on," he said. "We've still got searching to do."

@Anemone

Edited May 27, 2017 by Shield

[Anemone 0]

"I believe you. And I wouldn't want you to be any other way that you were uncomfortable with. I can tell you are a good person and fighting like everyone else is to go back home. We'll just leave it at that." She would interpose on his 'but,' comment and let it shift into finding more materials. The woman flicked her hair off her shoulder and smoothed the long curls around her ear. There was a small well or spring of water nearby and the woman was quite famished.

"Think it's safe to drink?" She said, though she wouldn't really wait for an answer as it was more of a rhetorical question to be asked.

ID: 85313
LD: 15+8 = +4 T3 Materials (24 Total) (6 to Shield)

The woman had got down on her hands and knees and scooted towards the edge of the pool of water. It was crystal clear and she could see her reflection as clear as a looking mirror. The subtle pink and white eye shadow over her eyes, the dark eyeliner, the bright red eyes staring back at her face. She smiled at herself and scooped her hand in the water and brought it up to drink. Feeling the spring water rush through her. Though rather interesting as she finished her drink, there was a long crystallized weapon that was found within the water. She had to lean forward to reach it before snatching it with her had as it cracked in several pieces. "Well this looks rather interesting. I suppose it is all the same in the end though." @Shield

Edited May 27, 2017 by Anemone

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 85315 results: Loot: 16 + 3 LD item + 1 skill + 1 expertise = 21 - +1 Material (3 total)

While Anemone might have needed a break, Shield had finally just broken his streak of bad luck. As he crossed the room, his previously dormant earring blazed to life, shedding a bright light down his body and onto the ground which was the nearest surface to reflect off of. Bending down, he examined the floor, trying to spot the nearby source that Seeking Aura had discovered. There in a small pile of pebbles was a small stone that glinted in the light.

Picking it up between his fingers, he examined the fragment, noting its pale color, while meanwhile there was a sheen over the surface that seemed to move and undulate. Whatever this was, it would make a stunning trinket for someone who was perhaps a little more focused on appearance, although who's to say it couldn't also be of value as far as enhancements went. It largely depended on the one who did the crafting.

"That's a little more like it," he said aloud, giving a quick bob of his head in satisfaction.

@Anemone

Edited May 27, 2017 by Shield

[Anemone 0]

Sweeping her hands across her pant leg to dry them off from the spring water, the woman got up and saw the glint from Shield's hand. It was a pretty stone from what she could see from the distance and truth be told, something like that would be cute as a belly ring or maybe set in a finger ring as well. Any of the colored stones here would actually look quite complimenting on a woman with the wide variety of colors available. She smiled with her full lavender lips and as scouted around the area to look for some of the very same, hopefully snatching some other unique colors.

ID: 85318
LD: 7+ 8 = +4 T3 Materials (28 Total) (7 to Shield)

Ask luck with find it, the female gatherer took the time and patience to really root around in the cavern to discover those pretty little pebbles. She had found a glorious amount within a crack of a wall as they spilled out onto the floor. She picked up her choice of a fire kissed stone, a beautiful sapphire blue, a very deep obsidian with a luster shell and an emerald colored one. Happy with her findings, she got up on her feet again.

"Looks like I am having more luck this time than the other time. These materials will certainly come in handy." @Shield

Edited May 27, 2017 by Anemone

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 85319 results: Loot: 3 + 3 LD item + 1 skill + 1 expertise = 8 - No materials (3 total)

Although Anemone may have been having significant luck, Shield had seen quite the opposite on this venture. While he had more in the neighborhood of eight or so of his own last time, he only needed one hand to count what he had found this time, and even then he would have fingers left over.

"And this was such a profitable spot for me before," he sighed, combing across the chamber floor with his eyes, examining the many things that looked as if they would be valuable, but according to his earring's ability to detect such things, were not. "What I would really love to find around here is a chest. They can be incredibly lucrative, not to mention the potential to find loot that can be appraised."

It was unclear exactly what had changed. Perhaps it was that he and all of the merchants who had come before him had done too thorough of a job, but he could no longer find items in his shop that could be appraised. It seemed that the only luck anyone had had was to find fresh loot that had not even had cursory identifications.

"I guess it's just the way things are now."

@Anemone

Edited May 27, 2017 by Shield

[Anemone 0]

Her bright red eyes brightened at Shield as she smiled a bit at him, despite not having the best luck with his adventure of finding materials, she was getting a new nice collection worth it seemed. Eyes flashed across the room when he mentioned a treasure chest. Well! That would certainly be an awesome discovery if they could find one of course. She had yet to experience any loot explosions in this game, and she had heard some wild stories of players obtaining some very neat items within. Of course finding one was not as tricky as opening those suckers up. Equal to the tales she had heard, other have said they were attacked by the chest itself. Something called a Mimic if memory had served her.

Of course if they stumbled upon a Mimic, hopefully Shield would be able to take care of it, if now, they'd probably have to call for some help. She was unsure how strong those little buggers were. In the end though she was hopeful, if there was one thing she could do for Shield she had wanted to discover and open a chest for him. If not, she would give him another helping of her skills as a material gatherer and go for another spelunking adventure.

ID: 85334
LD:9 + 8 = +4 T3 Materials (32 Total) (8 to Shield)

From the glow of the ground, the female walked a little towards the path and found many shards of broken rocks lay scattered in thin chunks of layers one over the other. Interesting find none the less as she hefted the chunks and placed them in her satchel and patted the heavy pack down with one hand. @Shield

Edited May 27, 2017 by Anemone

[Shield 0]

Spoiler

ID# 85337 results: Loot: 19 + 3 LD item + 1 skill + 1 expertise = 24 - +1 Material (4 total)

The more they poked around to try to find things that could be considered useful and valuable, a question finally surfaced in Shield's mind. 

What is the purpose of this room? There have been a fair number of craftable materials here, but they don't make rooms just for that.

He scratched his head, pacing around the room's perimeter. As he walked, his dark eyes scrutinized every lump, every divot, and every crystal in the stone walls.

There's no exit and there doesn't seem to be a function of its own other that aesthetics. So what gives? What's so special about the room other than having a pretty thing on the ceiling to look at?

His prying eyes spotted a glint, which he shorty realized was glare from his earring. It was hard to say how long it had been lit. In his focus to discern the point of the room, he had forgotten to check. On the wall, he spotted a molt from what seemed to be a large insect. He had found a number of these in the past, though their exact purpose had so far eluded him.

@Anemone

Edited May 28, 2017 by Shield