[F02-SP] I Don't Know What to Title This, But I'm Going to Kill a Dragon <<DHA:II>>

[NIGHT 0]

<<Dragon Hunter Anthology: Quartz Hatchling>>

It wasn't long until NIGHT found the source of her ire -- what was once a defeated hatchling had suddenly resurfaced in her absence away from the Dragon Hunter series, and NIGHT was by all means more than bothered by its presence.

There was no need for intricacies with a creature of this level; some standard gear would've been more than enough to pitch it into the ground or have its remains scattered across the field, and NIGHT had other things, better things to spend her attention on. Some better things like--

--

-- ;;

She couldn't bring herself to say it. The thought scrambled in her mind like a sizzling egg on a frying pan. The woman felt the sting and the buzz and the heat of the meal cooking as it sat at the forefront of her brain. In an effort to discard the facts, she turned her sights to the little creature in front of her and… oh.

It was the very same hatchling she was out here to kill.

	NIGHT   | HP: 1285/1285 | EN: 124/124   | ACC: 1 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 72 | BH: 51   | HM: 6 | LM: 2 | LD: 10   | Stealth Detection: 3 | Stealth Rating: 7   | Dungeon Search: 2
- - -
[Examine] [Equipment] Maneki-Neko Figurine -- [ Loot Die III | +3 LD. ] Sleek Shift -- [ Mitigation I | +27 MIT. ] -- [ Heavy Momentum II | +6 DMG on an unsuccessful attack. Buff is removed on a successful attack. ] Second Wind -- [ Mitigation I | +27 MIT. ] -- [ Light Momentum II | +2 ACC on an unsuccessful attack. Buff is removed on a successful attack. ] [Battle-Ready Inventory] [T1E3] Teleport Crystal (1) | Instant | TELEPORT Tier III Blank Dungeon Map (2) Skills Skills Mod Count: 8/8 Two-Handed Straight Sword | Passive | RANK 5/5 > Ferocity, Precision, Finesse Heavy Armor | Passive | RANK 3/5  > Athletics Searching | Passive | RANK 3/5 > Reveal Hiding | Passive | RANK 4+1/5 > Blindside, Vanish, Surprise Attack: Trickster Extended Mod Limit | Passive | RANK 3/3  Battle Healing | Passive | RANK 4/5 [Extra] Survival | Passive  Concentration | Active -- CD: 3 Familiar Mastery: Fighter | Passive | RANK 3/3 Consumed Buffs Spoiler Tanos Statue | +1 LD [T1E3] Ice Cream Mochi (1) | LOOT DIE III Spyglass (X) | -5 POSTS TO DUNGEON FIND (1/3) Misc. Buffs Spoiler Dimensional Backpack, Item Stash | +2 Battle-Ready Inventory Slots. Well Rested | -1 EN for the first three expenditures of each combat.  Relaxed | +(5 * Tier) HP per out-of-combat post. Full energy restoration occurs after two turns out of combat. Squeaky Clean | -25% DoT damage taken from the first DoT applied to this player in a thread. Skylight: Hiding | +1 Expertise to declared utility skill. Cooldown of 30 days to reassign. Multipurpose | +1 LD/Prosperity/Stealth/Detection to one post per thread. Can be applied after a roll. Filling | +1 T1 slot to a food consumed by this player in a thread. Can exceed Cook enhancement caps. Col Deposit | +5% col from loot-minimum mobs, +10% col from treasure chests.

[NIGHT 0]

The quartz dragon scuttled around the rock it stood upon, watching the woman with large opal eyes. It seemed delighted at her arrival, almost jovial with a flutter of its wings. With a small scree, it approached her closer. To that, NIGHT only needed to tilt her head and squint to acknowledge it as her competitor. In silence, she drew her sword. And at once, the dragon took flight.

It was a lazy dance for NIGHT, and she imagined it might've been an exciting time for her babe of a sparring partner. The dragon seemed to draw circles in the air as the player effortlessly swung her blade around, the little reptile even skittering off of the flat of her weapon when she'd cut through nothingness horizontally. She'd felt a slight bit inclined to allow it this one last freedom, one last routine to stretch its power and play around while it still could.

Spoiler

ID: 156303 | BD: 4 (3, +1) | MD: 4 (3, +1) | LD: 2 
NIGHT missed!
Zylara, Quartz Hatchling missed!
> Heavy Momentum, Light Momentum stack gained. (+6 DMG, +2 ACC)

Zylara, Quartz Hatchling | HP: 175/175 | DMG: 65 | MIT: 35 | ACC: 1

[0] NIGHT | HP: 1285/1285 | EN: 123/124 (-1) | DMG: 25 | MIT: 72 | ACC: 3 | BH: 51 | HM: 6 | LM: 2 | LD: 10 | MEND MINI-TWIGS

MEND MINI-TWIGS: LD15+, -1 ACC on players

[NIGHT 0]

Because shortly after that, its corpse landed on the ground. A dull thump, a burst of light, and a shatter of crystals to mark its unceremonious death.

How cruel. NIGHT never understood why the dragons in particular were such a menace to the environment that they had to be put down so simply. She'd let her sword be taken hold by the system's intelligence, Cardinal slipping the weapon back into her inventory as she turned around to leave. There was little reason to stay on Floor 2, especially once she'd concluded that there were no fresh faces to be seen as of late and no Basuke to chase down for information or conversation. And without company this day to tail (as much as NIGHT enjoyed tagging Yuki around, she could only be a third wheel for so long), the equation meant that her next stop was to one of the higher floors.

Spoiler

ID: 156305 | BD: 9 (7, +3-1) | LD: 16
<<Galaxy Destroyer>> vs Zylara, Quartz Hatchling.
25 * 13 = 325 DMG | 325 - 35 = 290 DMG
> Heavy Momentum, Light Momentum stack lost. (-6 DMG, -2 ACC)

Zylara, Quartz Hatchling | HP: -115/175 (-290) | DMG: 65 | MIT: 35 | ACC: 1

[1] NIGHT | HP: 1285/1285 | EN: 115/124 (+1, -9) | DMG: 19 (-6) | MIT: 72 | ACC: 1 (3, -2) | BH: 51 | HM: 6 | LM: 2 | LD: 10 | MEND MINI-TWIGS

MEND MINI-TWIGS: LD15+, -1 ACC on players

[NIGHT 0]

She had to admit. Aincrad's third rung of the tier ladder looked really bleak with only four floors to select from. Two of them were caverns, while one of them was a forest. The most hospitable location NIGHT found herself spending time at was the twenty-fourth with the ocean vista a welcome, pleasant sight. And she didn't want to get started about the complications of going into floor twenty-five--

Right in front of the teleporter, she sent her message to her mirror, her emotions still made of a bundle of complex nerves untied and untangled till this hour. It didn't matter how many times she'd hung out with the system creation; the sight of her Gemini was always enough to fill her with both longing and dread at the same time. Wasn't that a particularly special kind of hell to find herself in?

How cruel indeed. Maybe the hatchling had the better fate between the two.

[NIGHT 0]

| Floor 24

It was strange, she thought, how she always went straight for her doppel when she needed someone's company, but didn't want to bother anyone living at all. Rather stranger still was how reliably they'd always show up; promptly too, as though they were made to be at her own beck and call.

--Kind of like a dog.

"Hey~!" DAY cheered, stepping off the teleporter and running towards NIGHT. Their face was as bright as the sun with an ever enthusiastic smile stretched across their face, gold locks dancing in the wind. The woman tensed up, pushing herself back against the wall she'd leaned against as she waited, the duo having gathered near a small white building with a red roof as per an architectural standard across the settlement.

Tucked under her arm was a black band of some sort, and upon noticing DAY's awareness to it, she'd hid it away further behind her back.

[NIGHT 0]

"What is it you're looking to do?"

"A walk around this floor," NIGHT breathed through squiggled lips.

"Then what's that in your hands?"

"!!"

There was a bite to her own attitude; something that wanted to shove her other away from its attention, or to blow the Gemini off with a 'mind your own business'. It had been instinctual to NIGHT, as it had almost always been with her to most other strangers -- but this time it was different. This time there was a guilt attached to it.

NIGHT really struggled to hold herself back from spilling.

In a near mechanical fashion, she raised the band from her side, arm wavering in the action. Hell, even meeting DAY's ever curious expression was already a task and a half in itself. But NIGHT bit at her lip and held out the accessory to her other half anyway. Because -- fuck it, there were some things in life that were worth living for and goddammit this was one of them.

[NIGHT 0]

-- It really wasn't, but neither DAY nor NIGHT had the affordability of readership hindsight, so let's leave that issue at that.

"Just-- Just put this on..."

The accessory NIGHT was holding was a set of dog ears to be worn on one's head. While NIGHT wanted to gorge herself with laughter, a part of her was dying from refrain, too embarrassed with her sudden show of a request to someone so personal -- to someone who looked just as personal -- for a wish in that same selfish vein to be granted.

It was a funny joke to NIGHT at the time; treating DAY as a lost, eager puppy. Unfortunately for NIGHT, her Gemini hadn't taken the hint.

"Hmm? Oh, okay."

And so with two hands pinching the sides of the wooden curve, DAY took it and slid it onto their head. Fluffy brown ears folded down above the front of their hair, as they looked back at NIGHT with a curious expression.

[NIGHT 0]

"Well? Was that it?"

Even the curious tilt of their head was enough to send palpitations through her body. NIGHT forced herself to keep DAY within her sights as she took her gaze off to the side, cheeks noticeably glowing as she toyed with a lock of her hair. She'd imagined herself suppressing a smile, but it burned through anyway, and at the corners of her vision she swore DAY's lips turn up into a smirk.

"Y-you look good in that."

"Ah, I do now, don't I?" The blond's grin spread out wide, self-satisfied as they righted their pose and placed their hands on their hips. Their assuredness grated on NIGHT's nerves enough to pull her out of her deluge of embarrassment for a second, but only just. "I'm glad to see you're finally enjoying yourself there, chief!"

“E-Enjoying myself…?”

"Mhmm!" DAY nodded with great vigor, smugness easing up from their expression.

[NIGHT 0]

So too did NIGHT's guilt shift in accordance to her words; a different kind of pang settled in instead, the woman pushing herself to look at her companion in the face. She'd wince ever so slightly, heart beat picking up speed when DAY merely smiled kindly back at her, and NIGHT huddled herself closer to the wall. Something about the Gemini's acceptance for her treatment irked her somewhat, especially now that the player was willing to give her some of her time...

-- But like, that delicate smile though. The fact that she could even see it again was a miracle in itself.

"Is it really that effective?"

What?

NIGHT jumped back into her skin, alert. "Huh?"

Her dazed expression was met with pride, her double's lips hidden by a few fingers covering their mouth. Even in their voice, the same acrid haughtiness had started to seep back in. "You were staring, NIGHT."

-- ;; ;;

[NIGHT 0]

It was in their tepid state that they'd moved on from Paraneze. And no, out of sheer enthusiasm, NIGHT's double was still equipped with the animal ears, a sight that sparked an agitation in their prankster while putting their thoughts to shame. Upon sandy shores they'd walked, the player sulking as she kept a hand buried in their pocket. The other held out a blank map, the woman trying not to look DAY's way as she looked upon their vicinity.

"Another map search?"

"Mm." Bahr had mentioned the term 'dungeon hunter', and she'd forgotten about those types of players until it was name-dropped again as of recent.

"Are we running this together?"

"After last time...?" NIGHT could still feel the floor give way beneath her feet as she closed her eyes, remembering that she'd only been kept safe by way of DAY rushing in to save her. Like a knight in shining armor arriving to save their princess--

Spoiler

ID: 156524 | LD: 23 (11, +12) | Advanced Dungeon found.
Caching dungeon find in a Blank Tier III Dungeon Map. Received [Advanced Dungeon Map: Floor 24 (#156524)].

[NIGHT 0]

"--Ideally not." If her cheeks hadn't been flushed the moment before, they were now.

DAY pursed their lips, murmuring their disagreement as their fingers wrapped the side of their waist. "You're no fun. C'mon, we can take it on together...!"

"Not alone we're not. Besides, I think you count towards the player requirement half the time, too. I'll just end up taking out the bosses at the same pace I would alone."

"Then the company..."

"...Now you're just trying to put me in danger's way."

NIGHT was busy toying with the map's interface, dragging its focus on its surroundings to hone in on the coast beside them. DAY peeked over her shoulder, almost resting their chin against her original's form. The display closed it and revealed a red dungeon entrance icon as before. NIGHT rolled it up shut in her hands, and with an aqueous luster it vanished into her inventory.

[NIGHT 0]

Incidentally, the shifting of her arm from her pocket also brought a tickling to the side of her jaw. Before NIGHT could lean into its touch, she'd shot a look towards DAY, realizing that it wasn't her cat meeting her with fondness during her idle pursuit for labyrinths. Carefully and slowly, she'd reeled her head to the side, keeping a careful watch on the blond's blue eyes.

-- Then their gaze met by accident, and NIGHT slunk away, a fuming attitude for various reasons.

"Hehe~"

No matter how many times she'd seemed to be uncomfortable with DAY's chagrin and smugness, the Gemini's disposition never seemed to waver. Was her puppy oblivious then? No -- they most likely knew fair well that their attitude was grating on their nerves. Hadn’t they shown signs of awareness even back in their last dungeon?

Maybe she should teach them a lesson. Just a quick one, so they wouldn't push her around any more.

[NIGHT 0]

Just when NIGHT figured that DAY's cheery smile was starting to wane from time, her arm lunged for the top of their head, reaching to grasp the band. It came off easily, and before the doppel could stop her, she'd already withdrawn from their immediate range, clasping the item within loose fingers.

"Wh-- hey! I was wearing that!"

Frustration on DAY painted a pretty picture (as though they weren't already pretty enough). It was almost curious to NIGHT how she hadn't seen this side of her companion before, with their tightened hands to their sides and their pearly whites clenched. If she hadn't been given the context, it looked as though DAY was about to cry.

Of course, they were instead seething from NIGHT's own audacity, and the woman didn't think her other would break down at the first sight of conflict. An absolute shame, the player thought, if their hubris hadn't had any bite behind it to back them up.

[NIGHT 0]

"And now you're not." NIGHT waved the band around with a lowered gaze to her partner. Now with their dynamics changed a little, the player couldn't find herself complaining with her new position of power. She'd held it out of reach as she'd walked along, the Gemini circling around her just for a chance to swipe at it. Each attempt was meaningless in its result -- NIGHT was always just a little too quick on the draw, and she allowed herself to partake in some pleasure in watching her companion race around.

"Give it back...!"

"You know, it was mine before I handed it to you." Another dive, another swing of the accessory away from the blond. Their ponytail nearly hit her with the way the ocean breeze blustered past them, and in that beat of weakness, DAY got a little closer with this attempt, bumping involuntarily into the player with a miffed grumble.

[NIGHT 0]

"So?! You chose to give it to me," they mentioned, bouncing backwards when NIGHT staggered a little, eyes still set on the prize. As they spoke, their hand darted towards the fluffy ears with fervor, only to find themselves stumbling forward as the woman tore it away again. "It's-- gotta be mine now, that's how it works, right? --Hand it over...!"

NIGHT was almost half tempted to whisk it into their inventory immediately, with how violent her companion was being, their zeal for contention unexpected to this extent. Instead, she held it high above her head; it was unlikely DAY would be able to reach it, even as they'd shared the same, if not a similar height. With cautious suspicion, she tossed the entity her query, a drop of malice punched in with her tone. Though, with the way her double had reacted to her words, she wondered if it had gone unnoticed. 

"Why do you want it back so badly, anyway?"

[NIGHT 0]

"Isn't it obvious? You gave it to me--"

"O-Oi...!"

The one thing that NIGHT hadn't planned for was her double grabbing onto her shoulder and reaching out high for the accessory on their toes. DAY's efforts had managed to earn them a brush against the wood, even a hold that their fingers could lock onto, but the wrangling would always slip out of their grasp, forcing them to try again.

Meanwhile, the closeness was a living hell for NIGHT. Pushed up close against her partner, every step she took backwards was another that DAY advanced towards her. The blond's hair tickled gingerly at her skin; her cheeks and neck and collarbone, and the faint fragrance of clean laundry from their cloak wafted in range of her senses. In the warm glow of the afternoon sun, NIGHT could barely tell if it was their closeness or the heat that she could attribute to her face's rosiness.

[NIGHT 0]

The player had almost gotten ready to topple over herself, when she felt a hand wrap around her waist, pulling her back in close. It was almost instinctual how she followed up with the act on her own, arm pulling the double in close just in case she were to fall. Even from beneath her jacket, her shirt, her skin still tingled from the sudden, unusual contact.

It was brief, and NIGHT felt the instinct to shrivel away even further, but there was no escape.

-- Until DAY's fingers wrapped around the smooth surface of the band, finally, and with one final struggle managed to free it from NIGHT's hold.

"Ah--!"

When it loosened, the Gemini bounced backwards, a grin still pinned on their face. In the fallout, the player's arm had slipped away from having pressed against their cloak to their back, the woman staggering with a hunch to hug their suit close to them.

[NIGHT 0]

They had been close.

Close, close, close...

From the spot where they'd latched onto her, NIGHT was still buzzing from the unwanted sensitivity, the gentleness of their action still lingering her form. Strikes from the monsters of Aincrad had always been fast. Sharp and cutting -- even in their fading numbness they were centered to a point and spelled little in way of unsettling the surface of her skin. Like any stubborn pinches or welts one gave to themselves, she could tell their impacts had been cushioned. Little pain, if not any at all.

And then there was her Gemini. Who'd somehow found a way to triumph over all of her defenses and get under her skin. Mechanically speaking.

NIGHT bit her tongue as DAY lorded their victory over her. They'd shake the toy, as though the player was one to pick up on their challenge. With a bit of thought, the woman could summon the urge.

[NIGHT 0]

But she just watched DAY gloat in agony; still trembling, still hesitant--

-- still eager.

One slip and the ears found their home on DAY's head once again. The Gemini's cheeriness only solidified just how pleased they were at their battle's outcome. They set their hands behind their back in a fulfilled glee, pacing slowly over to their original's side.

Meanwhile, NIGHT rose from her withdrawal in silence and a scowl. Her hands immediately reached for the zip of her jacket, pulling it up completely despite the heat from above. She sunk into its comfort, cat eyes watching her doppel approach her without care, and though her tracksuit's collar was only managing to hide just a tinsy bit of her face, the player decided that they would take any millimeter of privacy they could get within their immediate reach.

Whatever. She could always try that again later, NIGHT thought to herself.

But so much for that dumb lesson.

[NIGHT 0]

"So, shall we on our way? -- Hey hey, what made you want to pick up these ears, anyway? C'mon; you can tell me!"

"..."

As they'd started to walk, it occurred to DAY just how unresponsive their companion was. The epitome of someone who didn't want to converse -- NIGHT's hands were shoved in her pockets, lips half buried against the folds of her black layer, and shifting eyes that only gave them a glance now and again. She chose not to speak a word, letting only the crunching of dirt underneath her shoes underline her withdrawn silence for her.

Whatever thick tension the player was basking under seemed at first to be lost on her oblivious companion. Yet, given the delay in the woman's response, tiny shifts in the double's expressions began to give way. A relaxation of their cheeks, a narrowing of their bright eyes, and soon it was easy to tell that they both sat equally in the same unrelenting discomfort.