[F06-SP] castor&pollux. <<The Gemini>>

[NIGHT 0]

<<The Gemini>>

changes to the system had also underlined an alteration in some places, like the world being shifted around to some mad mage's antics from on high. roads had grown shorter, some streets stretched longer than others, and assets were updated, places obfuscated and revealed where they once may not have been as such. and there was one locale that night hadn't meant to keep a tab on, yet picked up on the sense that it had differed, when bistro offered her a paper that went over a few changes reported to her by word of mouth that needed to be confirmed first-hand.

the only place on the list she hadn't decided to look towards was the pool on the sixth, by some mysterious stranger now known to all players as the initiator of the quest leading them towards 'the gemini'.

hence her hesitation. she pondered on that intel for days.

| NIGHT  | Lv. 136 >> P. 104, Lv. 32  | Status: //  Notes:  //

Spoiler NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 144/144 | DMG: 22 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 1 | LM: 2 | REC: 8 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 81 | Stealth Rating: 6 equipped oathkeeper. FLN II, HLY II (16) stitches.   HOLY BLESSING, LIGHT MOMENTUM II penance. ACC II, REC II battle-ready inventory [T1E3] Teleport Crystal (3) | Instant | TELEPORT skills Spoiler mod count: 5/7 2HSS | RANK 5/5 focus, stamina, precision shift: aoe CLOTH ARMOR | RANK 5/5 athletics, nimble COMBAT MASTERY: DMG | RANK 3/3 SEARCHING | RANK 4+1/5 reveal BATTLE HEALING | RANK 5/5 ENERGIST FAMILIAR: PROFESSION QUICK CHANGE CHARGE EXTENDED MOD LIMIT extra SURVIVAL CONCENTRATION HIDING blindside, untraceable, vanish, surprise attack-t buffs Spoiler statue KUMATETSU | +1 DMG consumables - - - - - - paragon Lv. 5 | Gain additional col equivalent to 15% of EXP earned in that thread. Lv. 10 | +1 LD to looting. sword arts Spoiler en cost matches multiplier unless stated otherwise. shift underlined. ST | x12 -> x15 | x20 AOE | x15 -> x18 TECH-A | x12 | STUN | 13EN TECH-B | x12 | DELAY TECH-D | x12 | SHATTER TECH-G | x12 | BURN misc. Spoiler housing 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: Searching | +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. gathering Greenhouse | +2 G.EXP, +1 CD&LD to gathering attempts. Familiar: Profession | +2 G.EXP Demeter's Cornucopia | +1 CD to gathering attempts.

 

[NIGHT 0]

someone else got the check in for bistro instead. night paid good money for the broker not to poke her about why she'd wanted to know, and the pool was confirmed to be the gemini's new home.

strange, then, that it was day that didn't know about its existence until night had taken her to the sixth floor, by chance. because one of them continued to have questions about the dagger, after uncovering its existence yet present in that murky, still puddle. the other was only too happy to have followed along.

"c'mon, hurry up~!"

night paced behind the entity, the latter frolicking through the woods with a laughter as genuine as humans'. a step over a large vine here, a weave through close trees there. cardinal made it difficult to get through the jungles around krycim with its new updates, especially towards where they were headed; strangely enough, it kept the road to her ruins in tact that one eve.

[NIGHT 0]

so she followed. the trees were starting to look a little different, at this part of the woodlands. a tempered mist was slowly starting to seep in, and there, everpresent, was an atmospheric humming in the air, as though a signifier that something was alive.

perhaps part of night would've been willing to ask if that was the sound of her doppel's processes, that life force, had the rest of her not been found to be on edge. just as before, knowing that something in their environment was off only set her mood off-kilter, despite the joy her other was experiencing. and, in that silence growing weary between both of them, it was only at the foot of a mountain that they both stopped, day first before the player, the two looking straight at a collection of overgrown ivy.

"it's in here," day clarified, pushing the leaves aside with the reach of her arm.

[NIGHT 0]

what unveiled before her was a small pool that looked as though it was starting to grow into a lake in shape, but not size. the water, crystalline, flowed from one small stream at the far back of the room towards the entrance, and it was by miracle that the diminutive leaks towards the grove's entrance weren't made to pour out of their designated zone. at the outer edges of their surroundings, the mist was thick, obscuring minute details, fog hiding in the dark with the shrubs and the trees clustered together with nary a gap. small rocks upon gravel and sand greeted the water at its shore. a graceful lapping from that face, that surface, almost mirroring ice.

night took one look at day, inquisitive, before stepping through the boundary. and there, she could feel the air having shifted. no longer stifling, but comfortable; a cool humidity, like a light shower, greeted her skin forming dewdrops on her arms.

[NIGHT 0]

she breathed it in; the atmosphere, the revelation, the clarity and cleanliness of it all. an uplifting feeling, being here in the pond -- though night was certain what players were to follow their gemini in would have thought otherwise, for certain. and the woman watched then, just as her arms were starting to stretch, as day over took her from behind, her doppel leaping forth with eager steps. the entity danced upon her fur boots' tips, glancing off the water's surface. that pool barely rippled, almost formidable, and day only giggled at the sight of the reaction to herself.

"isn't it wonderful? a whole place just dedicated to me! it's amazing!"

'you and every other copy of players out there,' night had wanted to rebuke, and yet couldn't find the strength to do so, gleaming it insensitive for the cardinal construct that would be shunned by most to this day.

[NIGHT 0]

so it was in silence she watched the gemini prance for a moment, as the player stepped forth, allowing her sneakers to breach water from the earth. unlike her companion, her steps seemed to phase through the liquid -- her soles were soaked before she realized it. and as night looked down to notice, a brief groan passed her lips, catching the attention of her other.

"oh hey, what's wrong?"

"just a little slip up," night mentioned, gesturing with a raised shoe. "that's all."

and water droplets dripped from that rubber lining, falling to running streams that snaked their way around the woman's presence. all it took for day was one look towards the environment and the reality of their circumstances kicked back in. the bright demeanor sunk back to neutrality, as a warbled hum passed from her throat, her player approaching with no further complaint.

two open palms were gestured to night, and instinctively, the woman placed her own hands upon them.

[NIGHT 0]

"but you agree, don't you?" a quiet whisper; day's head still turning, eyes wandering, the entity looking past the player clearly captivated, distracted. night wasn't sure if she was made to do so, to be so distant in such a locale, but matched the construct's gaze in looking. the rushing fall, however small, in the back looked attractive. so too were the decorative ferns that framed it so. and there was one rock or another beside a boulder that seemed fitting to prop themselves against for a moment of respite, had they came to visit alone another time.

"it's like... my own personal sanctuary, away from the world. just like how a home would be for you."

part of night found herself disagreeing with that statement. "yeah, except i don't know why cardinal would place you outside." it was a rebuke that was quickly followed up with a different sentiment, because the player couldn't put past the system's efforts into creating the sanctum.

[NIGHT 0]

"it is pretty though. and relaxing."

"isn't it?"

from the corner of her vision, she saw day beaming, turning to face night before her gaze fell to their hands. a soft massaging of fingers as they were examining the hideaway had loosened night's grip, released the tension in her palms, kept them warm. the player’s glance, stolen to her different's image, only left her speechless with that contemplative pout and half-lidded gaze. words that felt natural in recent days danced upon the tip of her tongue, and night pondered on the bar she would be crossing just to say them aloud.

she wouldn't have done so in the past. kept them hidden away, because it wasn't day that deserved them. not for lack of trying, but because it wasn't her visage to use. she would've fought back with teeth against the thought, but the chains were loosened, weakened, this time.

those words still weren't meant for her, however. they stayed there, pearl-like, keeping her mouth only slightly agape in her looking, a hold on reality only fading slowly as her hands curled, sides of her hands brushing closer, slowly, further into that cupped warmth.

[NIGHT 0]

if they had something to say... why was it never the right words being exchanged?

night considered this, just as her vision grew faint; between the soothing pour of the stream, that tranquil pool, and the permanence of the two souls, still amidst the pond. if their scene had been put to painting, it could've seemed like a forever, in some respect, yet she knew that for both of them time would march on outside of that work of art. and it was only beautiful, too, if only in the sense that the subjects were in a realm of their own; no external interferences. nothing that seemed to remain besides and between the two. 

day allowed one of night's hands to drop, palm collapsing onto the other, and brought it up to level near her neck. head dipped, and that faded gaze that seemed lucid.

even then, as the player was thinking, so too could she tell her construct had been and was calculating her every move.

[NIGHT 0]

it was only when their eyes finally met that each of them knew better than to speak with gestures. because words were complicated, and if not both entities, then at least one of them were built, made, born with complexities that the other did not.

day was the one to fold, first, a faded smile gracing her face as she cooled from tensing. head raised towards night, and that hand, cupped, lowered. it was only at the heartbeat dissipating from the player's throat that the construct began to speak up, tone mimicking the reflection of her every fiber, every make. "if you ever need to hide away, you know where to find me and go."

and part of her wondered if there was ever the need to. she thought of oathkeeper, and the remembered scenario from the last floor boss fight against gabrandr. a taste of what conflicts would befall her, if she took a real stand against their opposition; if she decided her stance didn't allow for leniency, for choice.

[NIGHT 0]

she thought of her promises made, the one to nari that she intended to keep. that meant escape seemed out of the question, to someplace like this, away from prying eyes. just the two of them -- it had been enough, once upon a time, pretense that only night herself would know to keep and savour.

it hadn't been enough since the beginning. night knew that now, that in some respects she was a better liar than most, if she had been able to fool herself in earnest.

so her tone, too, was wilting, as though they were mirrors, an infinity running through them having been placed side by side. there was no intent behind the words; it seemed like concern from one morning to an eve -- her lips wavered at her speech, and for a moment, as the light beams flickered through the foliage, she tasted frost on her lips. "i'll keep that in mind."

[NIGHT 0]

they could've stayed in that moment, allowing the silence to draw. but day knew better than to have that happen, thumb rubbing against her opposite's palm. "i mean that, you know." half stated with laughter, and night only relaxed once she recognized brilliance dawning on the construct's face. the latter looked away too, smiling.

"i'll always have your back, night. always."

the snort from the player in realization of that irony only pushed grins from both parties once the former started to giggle from that unexpected genuinity.

"what? …what’s so funny about that?"

night raised her grasped hand, and day only followed, gleeful. and to hide that smile -- a futile manuever, the moon only managing to cover a slight bit of herself from the sun's rays.

and they giggled. they laughed.

"that was a poor choice of words," night finally said, breaking their stalemate. "downright awful. and you know it."

[NIGHT 0]

"oh, c'mon...!"

it took the player but a moment to recover from her senses. despite that fact, day merely kept searching the other woman's face, attempting to get their eyes to meet again. cheerful, as always. "tell me, where else could i go night? if it weren't to be by your side--"

"okay, okay--"

for there were a million places in rebuttal that should've come to mind, to voice. but night simply kept grinning, that guffaw in poor taste, and her mirror couldn't help but resemble it in the same vein.

"-- who else could i love but you?"

that moment of recovery came and went. and night sombered with a knowing smile, palm pressed tight against the hand that day slipped into her own, the entity's other holding firm their grip; almost like a pact, their hold. there was something tender about the way the doppel's fingers were placed upon the back of her own and it was in wanting, knowing to trust in day wholeheartedly that she allowed that gentleness to stay.

[NIGHT 0]

"i know," night found herself replying, half-pushed through a giggle, an underlying calm in equal measures of her anxiety-induced understanding. "i know."

her free hand merely joined with the connection between the construct and herself. and, like a weight off her shoulders, in their little confinement, their sanctuary, night realized she felt free. a burden missing on her shoulders, if only for a second. if only for a heartbeat.

still, it was in all but sound, in words that the gesture made sense. and day tilted her head, curious, like a cat, smile only faltering just slightly. "do you?"

"i'm pretty sure i do," the player replied. but all at once, when that clarity was put into question, so too did her statement start to ink of doubt.

"you were still laughing." day had objected, cool, with a questioning smirk. to that, night rolled her eyes, lighthearted.

"and it's so hard to be genuine, day--"

"well i don't buy that," the entity returned. "i don't want you to misunderstand what i'm saying, either, night."

"well, i'm not--"

"--will you humor me for a moment?"

[NIGHT 0]

those choice of words felt so glaring, edged like the blade of a knife -- day didn't need a practical one, after all. night paused for a moment, disposition kept, "humor you?" despite their commemoration earlier, now it felt as thought the air was growing tense.

"night," day started, and the construct searched her eyes, windows to an open, human soul. "do you trust me?"

yet the player was anything but fluent in binary, in understanding the machinations of a system beyond her in return. but she sobered and nodded, blinking away all traces of curiosity, doubt and agitation. what was left behind pupils was a conviction, a belief underlined by a pinprick of fear.

and that was enough of a justification for day to loosen her hold on night. a shuffle backwards, the entity grinning, never losing sight of her target, her better half as she took one step after another -- unflinching, unfazed.

"then let me show you; on my word, let me prove it to you."

[NIGHT 0]

reflections moved underneath vivid hues, those blue eyes. the world echoed back onto herself, like the stream the duo found themselves standing within; day was above her other, her steps gentler upon the water's shifting surface, that height difference between themselves exaggerated by only a hair further. and it was in those murky colours; shaded, roiled, that a white light was beginning to consume them, for everything else would be a distraction to her words, her purpose.

night was stuck, still, wondering what her different had meant by those words, ominous yet undark. and the drift of her eyes to the mirror's side could not have been faster -- programmed, meaningful, by the game's intent, day was faster than the summoning of her weapon itself, darting around the player in a blurred leap. her surroundings melted in a surge of darkness, blending together in a swirl; she felt the small of her back gain a cut where she'd least expected it, and it almost beckoned another snort out of the woman instead.

---

ID208660 | md9 | -> NIGHT
 | guess who forgets the gemini attacks first? /pensive

256 + 2 = 258 DMG

1060 - 258 = 802 HP

NIGHT | HP: 802/1060 | EN: 144/144 | DMG: 22 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 1 | LM: 2 | REC: 8 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 81

DAY | HP: 960/960 | DMG: 256 | MIT: 64 | ACC: 3+1 | EVA: 1

[NIGHT 0]

the strike was nothing; both of them knew that. and how their conversation had devolved into an exchange of blades -- finally, from one soul to another, that they returned to their base instincts in this sword-ridden world. night held her tongue despite the beam, oathkeeper forged in her hand as she whirled around to keep up with her other's movements. and so it was two lights matched evenly, one upon the other, sword held in the player's off-hand as it stopped the shaft of the spear, pointing its tip downwards with its weight.

all it would take was a quick jab from day, and another point would've been scored to her knee. not that it would hinder her, nor hurt. a ferocity was underlined in the face of the construct, showing through as a grin; and though night herself had been caught off-guard, neither did she show a hint of malice nor annoyance for the sudden maneuver, that ambush.

---

ID208661 | bd4+3-1 = 6 | md4 | -> DAY

802 + 81 = 883 HP

13 -2 = 11 EN

22 * 12 = 264 DMG
264 - 64 = 200 DMG
> stunned.

NIGHT | HP: 883/1060 | EN: 133/144 | DMG: 22 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 1 | LM: 2 | REC: 8 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 81

DAY | HP: 760/960 | DMG: 256 | MIT: 64 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 1 | STUNNED

[NIGHT 0]

it was by play, then, that their equipment found themselves matched. day looked to the player, all smiles, while night's lips only curled in response once their gazes had met, the raise of her weapon an allowance for the other to move. and that draw backwards of the spear in her hands -- there was no anticipation in her own leg for the sting to occur had white steel be driven into it, because a careless swing of her own nail against the entity was enough a signal for the blonde to fall backwards. two leaps, the second for show -- like an acrobat, the spear set to her side behind her back once she'd come to a halt, a hand outstretched to the pool, friction keeping her still.

traces of a wide cut were prominent, though fading, at the construct's rise from that position. the gemini brandished her spear, just as night repositioned herself, sword passed to her other hand in a quick toss.

---

ID208662 | bd4+3-1 = 6 | md1 | -> DAY

883 + 81 = 964 HP

15 + (2*1) -2-4 = 11 EN

22 * 15 = 330 DMG
330 - 64 = 266 DMG

NIGHT | HP: 964/1060 | EN: 122/144 | DMG: 22 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 1 | LM: 2 | REC: 8 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 81

DAY | HP: 494/960 | DMG: 256 | MIT: 64 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 1 

[NIGHT 0]

that made the perfect opening for cardinal to exploit, and she showed it with that lunge forward -- without telegraph for even the quickest of reactions, that distance between them closed within less time it took for night to blink. the defense night brought up, then, was futile despite her renewed advantage; her arms pulled inwards, attempting to block the blow, blade held towards day though was ineffective at what the player had meant to do.

with a rush that fast, the force behind the impact was enough to push night backwards had she not also stepped to one side; in that very shift was she only left stumbling as an outcome, conscious dizzy, eyes searching for steadiness just as the hand that held her blade wave wildly, though mild, trying to reorient herself while testing to see if her movements were still intact. they were.

all it took for night was another blink, and she would've righted the world--

---

ID208663 | bd1 | md3+3-1 = 5 | -> DAY

964 + 81 = 1045 HP

2 -4 = +2 EN

NIGHT | HP: 1045/1060 | EN: 124/144 | DMG: 22 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 1 | LM: 2 | REC: 8 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 81

DAY | HP: 494/960 | DMG: 256 | MIT: 64 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 1 

[NIGHT 0]

--yet in that same vein did day push the offensive, the tip of her spear shooting accurately towards her chest, pointed at the player's very sternum.

in mid-air, did she catch sight of the entity's gaze. light was still caught on them, those shimmering orbs, the brightness of her spear a pure white painted life in a swath that mimicked an uncanny valley. there was coldness in that shove, a steely frost that was desperately different from the one upon night's own lips from earlier. the kind that sealed metal doors shut, grew upon the surfaces in the frigid cold, the depths of winter, the kind that made icebergs all the more difficult to melt, thaw through and work with. the kind that gave ice its own resistance against pressure, the kind that made the player lift her head up in objection, for she knew which she herself was to be claimed by. a protest -- that reveal from neck to chest -- just as her back hit the ground, the player falling into that wet pool.

---

ID208664 | bd1 | md5+3-1 = 7 | -> DAY

1045 + 15 = 1060 HP

2 -4 = +2 EN

NIGHT | HP: 804/1060 | EN: 126/144 | DMG: 22 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 1 | LM: 2 | REC: 8 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 81

DAY | HP: 494/960 | DMG: 256 | MIT: 64 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 1