[SP|F4] Alone in the mountains

[Mordecai 0]

Malcom was trudging through the snow, a woolen blanket wrapped around his body to keep him warm. His pink hoodie with cat ears and his black pants contrast against the white and gray of the mountains. A small cave cut out of the mountain side shimmers with orange light. It catches his eye among the blue reflection of the night sky, beautifully sparkling on the snow. Why would anyone willingly climb up here...? He chuckles for a moment and pulls the blue and white blanket tighter around his upper body. Oh right, I did it. He reaches out and touches the side of the cave, peering in to check to see what was going on.

The warmth hits him like a welcome wall, almost pushing him back a little. A beautiful lady sits on a log and sips her tea. “Ahh... Hello, I didn’t bring any tea for you but you’re welcome to come sit.” She motions to a log across from her own. Her light purple dress and black boa only enthralled the boy even further.

“Oh, no worries, I’ll find my way out.” A smile crosses his face and he waves, but before he could leave she wraps her arms around his back and whispers to him. “No please... stay.” She whispers. His eyes widen and he feels a chill run down his spine, but he can’t help but wonder where this will go, so he backs up into the cave with her. The warmth of the fire reminded him of his father’s den, and he pulls the blanket much tighter around himself timidly, he didn’t want her to see his guilty pleasure of a jacket and couldn’t help but be embarrassed.

[Mordecai 0]

The fire offered familiarity and the lady offered intrigue. Had Malcom been in his right senses and not freezing to the point of confusion, he would’ve thought this was a ruse to rob him blind. Comfort, intrigue and familiarity were the perfect formula for taking down someone’s guard. His father had always taught him ways to convince people, the first was establish a connection, whether that be through liking he same sports team or being in the same situation. The second was make them feel comfortable, like a warm drink or comfortable chair. The third was always Malcom’s favorite, play to their interests. Cute girls, fast cars and money were generally the easiest way into a businessman’s heart.

This lady in the cave had managed to pull off all three in a miraculous event of coincidence and luck, or so the boy thought. His best senses had gone to sleep hours ago, he was pretty much running on fumes, and she had already torn down his defenses. All it would take to make him trust her was a little push. “Hello. My name is Persephone. Would you like some coffee?” She asks softly. Her tone reminded the boy of how all the refined girls at his dad’s parties would always speak. “Ma- Mordecai, and yes please.” He says, sort of confused. The blanket and hoodie provided an uncomfortable heat, but they both also gave him a sense of safety, a feeling he was not getting from Persephone.

Edited June 26, 2019 by Mordecai

[Mordecai 0]

A small metal cup of coffee presents itself and Persephone withdraws, almost like she was insulted for a moment. Soon though, her seductive eyes returned and she leaned in. “Please, drop the formality. No need to be so uptight around me.” She stands up and walks to the exit of the cave, stopping just short of the gentle snowfall outside. “Formal men are always such a drag. I prefer much more... personal... relationships.” Mordecai was entranced by the woman’s speech and movement. Even her walk was refined and sexy, but the coffee was only mediocre as the boy would find out soon enough. He sips on the brown liquid and can’t help but make a disgusted face as he sets the mug down. She frowns before chuckling a little and brushing her hair behind her ear. “Sorry, I was never good at making coffee, that’s why I drink tea.” She smiles and takes a sip of her drink.

Malcom hold his hands out and frantically waves them. “No-no-no. It was decent, I just like my coffee strong and bitter.” He explained. How was he supposed to be so cynical when all she did was be nice. It’s not like she has an orange cursor or anything. He looks up at the green crystal floating above her head, and his body lets out a sigh of relief. “Here, I’ll show you how to make it properly.” He kneels down by the fire and puts a rack above it, turning it into a makeshift grill. He sets a cup of water on the rack and goes through the motions, making a wonderful black coffee. He picks it up and sips it while it’s still warm, so it still had its full flavor and because the game dulled the pain to an unpleasant tingle. “Try it.” He extends his arm up towards the lady.

[Mordecai 0]

Her soft hands wrap around his on the warm cup as she pulls it closer to her lips. Slowly and tenderly, she took a sip of the boy’s drink and pulled away, wiping her lips and smiling. Malcom had no idea what to do in this situation, but he could tell he was blushing. His face was almost pink enough to match his jacket which was now revealed. “Mmm, it does taste good.” She smiles and  kneels across from him, taking a much more relaxed pose as she chuckles. “You know, I was thinking. We should go hunt, maybe I can show off my spear skills.” The boy smiles and equips his sword, standing it in its sheath up against the log he had been sitting on before, and then he equips his blue and gold armor. “Maybe we should wait until after the snowing stops, it’s pretty cold out there right now.” He explains, hoping she’ll accept his request to stay in the area.

The request came out of nowhere, and he was kind of worried about how she suddenly asked to leave the security of the cave. He had no idea how strong she was, but she likely wouldn’t attack if she was part of an ambush group. She can’t risk getting an orange cursor, lest her ruse be ruined for good. He thinks, looking deep in thought for a moment as he contemplates accepting her request.

[Mordecai 0]

Her gaze turns back towards the boy and she smiles excitedly before walking next to him and sitting down, placing her cheek on the boy’s shoulder. She leans back and pulls him down with her so they lean up against the log, and Malcom puts the blade back into his inventory. He smiles and just stares at the fire as she lay there, but he can’t help but wonder why she’s being so nice to him. He didn’t want it to matter, he wanted this to be a real thing, but just couldn’t shake the feeling creeping down his neck. Why was she in a cave with two seats and just waiting? What’s her game pla- oh crap. Does she have someone coming back to rob me? A quick glance at her face reveals a gentle and content smile, and he has to do a double take before his nerves finally stop firing on all cylinders. “This is nice, but I can’t help but feel uncomfortable.” He tries to explain to her without saying she was scary.

”Oh, I know a way to fix that.” She pulls the blanket over and pushes the log back so they’re completely flat. Malcom’s face was a bright red and she notices, giving him a smile. Her finger comes up and is placed on his lips. “Purge the thought Kai, this is just to keep warm.” She explains as she sets her head on his chest and closes her eyes. She hasn’t opened her menu or anything, but I don’t want to risk it. Not while I’m not in the safe zone. Maybe if I can take her back to my place, I’d be able to trust her. Her head nuzzles into his chest and his just falls back into the dirt. Okay, I guess this is okay. He continues to fight the sleep deprivation further, as best he can being that tired and comfortable.

[Mordecai 0]

Kai was smiling a little before the darkness settled over his mind. He was so comfortable and he was so warm with her next to him. Nothing too adult was going on so he was growing drowsy. Maybe it was something in the tea he drank. The dark warmth was somewhat homey, like a bedroom almost. They had their own little hide away and they were taking advantage of it. That is, until his vision went dark and his body lost all feeling.

———————————————————————————

A dark room is all he sees, a sword made of fire and ice sits in a pile of col. He goes to grab the blade but a monster slams it’s claw into the ground in front of him. It has no face but glowing red eyes. He fights the monster tooth and nail until he eventually grabs the blade, and it splits into two. He continues to dodge all the monster’s attacks and eventually grabs the ice part, freezing the monster and drops it, gripping the fire part and killing it. As he goes to pick up the other blade...

——————————————————————————

A pitter patter of footsteps draws the boy back to reality as he looks around for a moment, out of it and kind of trying to grasp exactly what the dream was about. A figure looking over him says something but the sound is muffled and then it reaches down towards Kai...

[Mordecai 0]

The hand of the woman with blue hair crosses his body and her foot slams into his armpit. In the real world that move would’ve been punctuated with a crunch of ribs and a pop. Kai’s leg would push out the man’s legs from under him, and they would get up and he would grab her hand, as he pulls her out of the cave. “Let’s go, better keep up.” He pulls her arm and spins her around, picking her up bridal style. “Oh... purge the thought Seph, It’s just to keep warm.” He smirks, taking off running and jumping over the fallen tree he had passed on his way to the cave.

They get into town and he sets her down, spinning her and pulling her in for a hug. “I’m having fun, wanna go do something more exciting?” He asks, and she looks down at the ground, looking almost sad as she looks back at him. “No sorry, I have something to do.” He frowns at her and she turns to walk away. His eyes scan her up and down and he notices a small detail, one he hadn’t noticed until now: she wasn’t refraining from attacking him to keep her cursor green, because it was already orange.

He smiles, thinking nothing of it as he climbs up onto the rooftops, watching the city around him and the people underneath him.