[[PP-F29]] Time for a REAL drink <<On The House>>

[Mari 1]

“Well…” Mari said to herself as she entered the 29th floor - She had yet to explore the others - walking past them on the ever spiralling staircase upward.

When Mari was told in passing by Macradon that one could get drunk now - by completing a quest - she went straight for it. After showering of course. But…he had failed to warn her just how off the floor was. He only mentioned there were no safe zones - but for Mari - marked as a Player Killer - that was a non issue.

A mist hung heavy and thick - smelling of rot and ruin. Of a long forgotten swamp that was best left unbidden. Small steps one after the other - She felt like she was walking once more, to the end - that was the only way to explain this floor.  An end. Each step steeped in putrid water that seemed to pool everywhere, from nowhere. The further she got from the stairs the more rain began to fall.

A light drizzle - to a tempered thump, to an onslaught. So quickly did the weather change. Mari wished she had bought more than a simple coat. 

If Mari stopped, she would feel that voices would rise in her head, tingling her ears and tickling the edges of her sanity. “A bit much…” Mari mumbled as she shook her head - clearly Kayaba was a fan of H.P Lovecraft.

Perhaps, I should have taken Macradon with me

Macradon seemed like he wanted to hang out, but upon her return. Her release. Mari simply wanted to do as she pleased. Those people were important to her, dearly so, but for now - she wanted to live for herself. A selfish whim, to be sure. But her selflessness is what had driven her near mad in the first place. Ironic really. Mari spent almost two years in prison working through her own delirium only to be wandering a floor that steeped in the essence of maddening decay. No, literal decay. Mari bought a hand up to cover her nose in futility as she passed what looked to be a bloated and rotting corpse. 

A little bit too realistic, even for Aincrad.

 —

How long had she been walking? Where was she walking? The rain beat down hard on her form, a smudge of orange amidst fields of green and grey.  Even with her skills, and her equipment the entire ordeal bore down on her. Rain. Cold. Decay. Wind. Even with the bad, Mari wasn’t upset - she was almost enjoying it. She hadn’t experienced these things. In prison, there was no breeze, no rain. It was stagnant, in a different way to what this floor was, a far more stifling way.

“I think I’m lost…” She breathed into the air.

Maybe she should have taken someone with her. Mari glanced behind her. She hadn’t been walking in a straight line. So she couldn’t wander back to the stairs even if she wanted to. Would she be able to stop a passing player? Would they stop for her? Mari had found a form of solace in her solitary days, but she was still branded as a Player Killer. And one wandering around on this floor didn’t exactly state ‘hey come over here, I’m friendly’

Then again, nothing on this floor did.

The village had to be close, surely.


Mari | HP: 900/900 | EN: 124/124 | DMG: 21 | MIT:30 | ACC:3 | KEEN: 1 | EVA:2 | BH:50 | HB: 20 | FLN: 8

Spoiler

Name: Mari
True Tier: 9
Level: 34
Paragon Level: 49
HP: 900/900
EN: 124/124

Stats:
Damage: 21
Mitigation: 30
Accuracy: 3
Evasion: 2
Battle Healing: 50
Stealth Rating: 3
KEEN: 1
HB: 20
FLN: 8

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket:
- Darkened Bore | T4 Perfect | ACC I | Keen I | Fallen I
Armor/Trinket:
- Infernal Shadow | T4 Perfect LA | EVA II | Holy Blessing
Shield/Armor/Trinket:
-

Combat Mastery:
- Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
- AOE Shift

Familiar Skill:
- Rending Familiar

Custom Skill:
-

Skills:
- Battle Healing R5
- Charge
- Energist
- Light Armor R5
- Polearm R5

Extra Skills:
- Survival
- Hiding R5
- First Aid R2

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:
- Focus
- Precision
- Resolve
- Stamina

Mods:
- Meticulous
- Surpise Attack: Trickster
- Untraceable
- Vanish

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:

Housing Buffs:
- Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat
- Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:
- Alchemist[exp] R1
Gathering Profession:

 

Edited yesterday at 04:10 AM by Mari

[Freyd 0]

Shambling along in the haze of persistent gloom, his drenched and steadily dripping form bore uncanny similarity to that of a water-logged Nazghul.  Coal-coloured cowl plastered to scalp, enough of its finely crafted ebonweave draped forward to provide shelter for his face, and likewise sold the part. Like a ghostly suit of blackened armor in quasi-samurai style, Freyd had trudges off the regularly beaten patrol paths in search of a trail and a rumor.  Acanthus had been acting strangely in their battle against the Spectral Knights, and others similarly before her.  Questions were asked.  Connections tapped.  Brokers squeezed.  Between the lot, enough gelled into place to pinpoint a comment source: H.P.'s.  Or, so said the weathered placard dancing in the wind, hanging from a single rusty chain.  Its mate, severed by raw brutal force, dangled beneath it, the rattling clinks of each link offering ominous warning.

Once an inn or tavern, judging by the look of it, some calamity had spawned inside and spilled into the cobbled street upon which he now stood.  Broken stools, shattered bits of glass and halves of bottles were strewn all about.  Though lashed by endless miring rain, enough ruddy red stains lingered to warrant doubt as to whether they were the dregs of blood or booze, or both.  Taking a knee to sift through all the flotsam, the ever-present pounding of waves dolled its doldrum beat in the background.  Everything beyond the reach of the piers was black, featureless and hungry.  He knew too well the nature of that void, yet also how pervasive its hold upon this floor seemed to be.  Hence the solitary investigation into territories even frontliners should be wary to walk without backup.

“I think I’m lost…”

Words muffled by the angry tides and teary skies harkened to a voice from ancient history.  Head whiplashed to the left so fast it sprayed a squiggly line of droplets in its wake, like fattened contrails too laden down for the effort.  This place weighed even upon itself.  Head tilting in disbelief that mustered every tool at its disposal for verification.  She'd been off the radar for... forever.  Could it actually be?

"Mari?"

His voice sounded hollow, distant, muffled beneath the layers of cloth failing to keep the weather at bay, and drowned by the effort.  A dark gauntlet peeled back the trademark cowl that might be unfamiliar after so much time to reveal a face so changed she might not recognize.  Even his eyes were different than since they last met, no longer red, now vibrant blue, made all more so by their contrast to drabiest of drab surroundings.  He could already feel the rain soaking into weary beard and facial features to which he'd not fully become accustomed himself.  Yet, despite all that, relief bolstered his voice when he finally found it.

"You're alive?!"

***

Note: CS (Shades of the Gemini) and CSA (Beckon the Void) are in use.  If any other player objects to these, please state in first post and it will be considered inactive.

Gungir’s Shard (Untradeable/Unique/Reusable Consumable): Smokin' Hot Honey Bun Tray | ACC 2 | EVA 2 | Feast (6/6) - snackses + ACC filled, because always

Freyd | HP: 1300/1300 | EN: 162/162 | DMG: 21 | MIT:152 | ACC: 8 (incl| AA)  | TAUNT | F-SPIRIT | EVA:4 | BH:72 | VAMP-D: 72 | VAMP-O: 143 | PARA-V | LD:5 (Stealth 5)

Spoiler

Name: Freyd, Bara no kuro kishi
True Tier: 18
Level: 34
Paragon Level: 144
HP: 1300/1300
EN: 162/162

Stats:
Damage: 21
Mitigation: 152
Accuracy: 4+2+1+AA
Evasion: 2+2
Battle Healing: 72
Loot Die: 5
Stealth Rating: -5
AA
TAUNT
VAMP-D: 72
VAMP-O: 143
PARA-V

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - Veritas | T4 Katana) | AA, PVO I, VO I, Taunt
Armor/Trinket: 
  - Negare Omnia | T4 HA | MIT III | VD I
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - Night Shades | T3 Trinket | ACC III | EVA I

Combat Mastery:
  - Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
  - AOE Shift

Familiar Skill:
  - Grappling Familiar

Custom Skill:
  - Shades of the Gemini (CS)
  - Beckon the Void (CSA)

Skills:
  - Battle Healing R5
  - Charge
  - Energist
  - Extended Mod Limit
  - Extended Weight Limit
  - Fighting Spirit
  - Heavy Armor R5
  - Howl
  - Katana R5
  - Quick Change
  - Searching R4

Extra Skills:
  - Disguise
  - Survival
  - Meditation
  - Hiding R5

Inactive Extra Skills:
  - Brawler
  - Forgotten King's Authority
  - Lady Luck
  - Photosynthesize
  - Assault Mode
  - Frozen Hide

Addons:
  - Focus
  - Focused Howl
  - Iron Skin
  - Precision
  - Reveal
  - Stamina

Mods:
  - Detect
  - Emergency Recovery
  - Impetus
  - Night Vision
  - Tracking
  - Untraceable
  - Vanish

Inactive Mods:
  - Surprise Attack: Assassin

Battle Ready Inventory:
  - Bear Trap (Reusable 1/combat) x1
  - Bear Trap (Reusable 1/combat) x1
  - Crystal of Divine Light (Reusable 1/thread) x1
  - Mass HP Rec [Inst] (+10% HP) x7
  - Meathook (Reusable 1/combat) x1
  - Ordsea Crystal-B (Reusable 1/combat) x1
  - Ordsea Crystal-B (Reusable 1/combat) x1
  - Rhino's Horn (Reusable 1/combat) x1
  - Samael's Pride | T4 Katana | FLN II | HLY II x1
  - Teleport Crystals x7

Housing Buffs:
  - Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat
  - Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down)
  - Basic Kitchen: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.
  - Storage Closet: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot
  - Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
  - Attic (Bedroom): +1 Expertise to declared utility skill. Cannot boost a skill without ranks, or increase a skill past its maximum rank. Cannot boost a skill the user has not learned yet. Ranks obtained using this buff will make the mods of that rank available for purchase. Mods obtained this way are unusable if this buff is removed until the skill is returned to the appropriate rank by way of SP purchase.
  - Basement: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll
  - Guest Room: Players can have one «Amenity» in a «Guest Room» and the «Amenity» cannot be recovered. Players are allowed to change which «Amenity» is in the «Guest Room». Multiple instances of the same «Amenity» do not stack. This buff affects the player and their choice of up to two party members.
  - Extended Workshop: +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day
  - Ornate Fishing Pond: +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.
  - Dining Hall: Turn 3 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Feast. A Feast contains 6 portions of the food items sacrificed. Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.
  - Mega Slime Farm: +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.

Guild Hall Buffs:
  - Guild Hall I: Allows a Guild the ability to create one Guild Quest. Narratively, it also allows players to teleport back to the Guild Territory when using Teleport Crystals.
  - Storage Vault: Allows a guild to create a Storage Vault in their Guild Page. Members can use this thread to store and withdraw items. Any items that have trading restrictions cannot be moved to a Storage Vault.
  - Trading Hall III: Reduce LD needed for Salvage by 5 (9+ for Alchemist crystals, 6+ for everything else). +2 EXP per craft. Rank 9 crafters and Rank 4 merchants/performers receive +1 crafting/identification attempt per day. Rank 10 crafters and Rank 5 merchants/performers receive +5 crafting/identification attempts per day. Appraisers gain an initial additional reroll per identified item at no cost.
  - Treasury: +5% bonus col from last-hit monster kills and +10% bonus col from treasure chests.
  - Laboratory I: Once per charge, when receiving single-use consumables from Quest Rewards, if a Guild Treasurer were to receive additional tokens, one guild member may claim 1 x (Additional Token / 2) copies of the consumable.
  - Bureau II: Once per charge, if two or more Guild members are present in a thread, allow two dungeons to be spawned/explored in that thread, regardless of Dungeon-searching cooldowns. This buff may only apply once per thread.
  - Library I: Once per charge, if a Storyteller is eligible to claim a Guild Token, their character gains +10% bonus EXP at the end of the thread. This buff may only apply once per thread.
- Armory II: Once per charge, players may submit a Skill Refund evaluation regardless of the 30 day cooldown window. In addition to Armory buffs, when submitting a Skill Refund evaluation, guild members have the option to pay an additional Token to refund up to 30 additional SP.
- Menagerie III: Guild members undertaking <<Feeding Your Enemy>> gain +1 LD to familiar searching rolls and +1 to familiar taming rolls. In addition to Menagerie II buffs, the maximum number of familiars guild members can tame narratively is five (5). Guild officials may also appoint a familiar mascot, shared between their guild members to accompany them narratively in their threads.

Scents of the Wild Totem:
  - Tanos
Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:
 - Appraising[3478exp] R5
Gathering Profession:
 - Fishing[576exp] R5

 

Edited 20 hours ago by Freyd

[Mari 1]

Somehow, despite being lost, and completely soaked by the onslaught of rain - Mari had found herself in what she thought was…the remnants of a village. Or maybe, an outpost? A port? It was impossible to tell. “Eargh..” She lifted a foot up as she felt something distinctly slimy move over it.

"You're alive?!"

A voice called out, to her right. Mari blinked and turned to see the source of the sound. Under the rumbling ruins of a building - almost safe from the torrential storm - stood a tall man. There was a slight hesitation as she stared at the unfamiliar face. Her eyes glanced up to the floating crystal over his head - A player.

Well, that was better than nothing.

Mari quickened her pace over to the figure, reaching out she grabbed him by the cuff of his sleeve and dragged him into the decrypt building so they were both out of the onslaught. “You.” Mari breathed as she let him go. Back turned to him. “I thought I was the only one out here…”  She had been wandering the floor for almost an hour -

“Does it…always rain so hard? What the hell is with this floor?” Mari muttered, more to herself than to the stranger.

The woman straightened, stretching her back out as she finally turned on her heel to look back at the man. His eyes, wide and blue, stared at her in disbelief. Ah. Right.

Mari took a large step backward to widen the berth between them. “Look, man. I don’t -“ She sighed as she ran a wet hand through wet hair, slicking it back out of her face. She was cold. Even with the <<Survival>> skill it was enough to cause her to shiver slightly, but frankly…Mari welcomed it. It was a sign she was alive, and free.

How should she approach this man? He was alone, seemingly…on the highest floor - so surely he could handle his own, a frontliner maybe? One she didn’t recognize - but it had been two years. “You’re clearly a frontliner.” She said, gesturing to him with the shift of her chin. “I don’t want any trouble. I’m just…” Her blue eyes, tired, shifted away from him. “I’m just lookin’ for a drink.”

This place was probably once a hub of activity. Stools, tables, chairs - all strewn around the floor. Behind them, an empty fireplace - to their side; what could have been a bar. Every so often Mari felt like she could see something out the corner of her eye, but when she went to look - it was gone. The entire damn floor was off putting. Anyone here alone, was either insane, or had reason to be here. 

Normally…in the past, Mari would shrink into herself, so filled with guilt, and wracked with the pain that she had caused others. Every step forward she took was filled with so much self doubt, so much weight she carried. Of her own expectations, of others. Yet right now, she had none of that. She simply stood, staring at the man curiously.

The silence stretched further between the two till Mari finally spoke up.

“Mari. I’m Mari.”

 

Edited 13 hours ago by Mari

[Freyd 0]

Freyd's widened at the sight of her, like a child watching something deemed impossible manifest itself before them in defiance of suppressed naivete.  That wonderlust slain by jaded aging and the dreaded pragmatism of adulthood.  Yet, in that moment, the oppressive gloom of their surroundings melted away and even the heaviest downpour failed to keep his spirit from alighting with cherished relief.  Dozens of questions piled up behind his lips, vying for control of his larynx, denying any one of them access to his voice.  All that emerged was an awkward gurgle and snort as she did all the things the real Mari would do.  Paranoid doubts of a doppelganger in orange unwove themselves.  Mari always exuded too much raw Mari for anyone else to plausibly imitate.  Even truer when it became clear that she dragged him indoors without any hint of recognition.

“Does it…always rain so hard? What the hell is with this floor?”

"Pretty much always, except when you might actually want it to."  A wry grin matched in joining her particular brand of banter.  Already wringing herself out like a freshly roused cat, the first thing that struck him was the subtle difference behind her movement.  The Mari he knew had always been tired.  So tired.  Exhausted beyond careworn and ground down with guilt, piled over with self-imposed burdens.  Not undeservedly, from what he'd manage to gather.  But that was not this Mari.  Her eyes vibrant and alive, cavalier yet eager...

“I don’t want any trouble. I’m just… I’m just lookin’ for a drink.”

"You could have just stayed outside and kept your mouth open for that."  Because, clearly, sass would help, diffused by a jovial and familiar tone - or so he hoped.  "But if you're looking for something stiffer, you may be out of luck.  This place looks completely picked over, and then some." 

To call it pilfered was an understatement.  A tornado met a hurricane and gave violent birth to a tsunami in this place.  Every surface was marred and broken by shattered bits of something belonging somewhere else in the space, often cross-pollinated with the dregs of clothing for which there were no people.  No bodies.  No bones.  There never were, anywhere on this floor.

“Mari. I’m Mari.”

Another playful smirk.

"Not, 'just' Mari?  Are you sure?  Though I suppose it's been awhile, and things could change.  Some things, certainly have."  Tugging back at his cowl, she'd watch his features bleed away their wear and grey, revealing a more mischievous, prideful version of himself.  Red-eyed, with the same unruly mop - save full black - hair, he summoned his old grey cloak to hand. It was the same woolen fabric he'd draped over her overloaded shoulders while they hid at the outskirts of Kalanaes, from the local guards.

"It's good to see you again, my friend," his features fading back to their new default.  "It's been too long..."

Edited 12 hours ago by Freyd

[Mari 1]

The stranger, a bearded man with an almost jovial smile responded - "Pretty much always, except when you might actually want it to." 

Something was off about this man. Mari couldn’t quite pick it. There was a familiarity with the way his gaze fell upon her, he seemed relaxed. Which was fine, but it was almost too relaxed. He held himself in a manner of someone speaking to an old friend. Maybe…that’s just how he was, Baldur was always similar in that way.

"You could have just stayed outside and kept your mouth open for that." 

The lion, the witch, and the audacity of this bitch. Mari glanced from him, to the rain outside, then back to him. “Unfortunately, I’m looking for something with a little more body - but by all means - don’t let me stop you from drowning yourself in that. You seemed pretty at home slinking around with those slimy abominations out there.” A snarky comeback, with less fire, and it fell a little flat - but one all the same. She didn’t know this man. But he, and it was clear now, must have known her. By her tone, it was clear she meant no ill will, and was simply matching him, tit-for-tat. Her mouth even quirked into a small smile. In a way, she missed banter like this. But, how did he know her?

Thing is, Mari couldn’t recall any handsome, dapper bearded men in her past. Not ones that were still alive. As he mentioned the place was picked over Mari sighed. So he had been through it already? “Macradon mentioned a quest…” She muttered the name intentionally - eyes watching him to see if she’d get any kind of response, any hint of familiarity at the name.

Not, 'just' Mari?  Are you sure?  Though I suppose it's been awhile, and things could change.  Some things, certainly have." 

And there it was. Something so innocuous - but so obvious. This man did know her. Mari straightened herself at those words. He tore away the hood that hid most of his features, and she could see more now - silvery hair. Stark blue eyes. Before she could focus too much on them, they bled away. As though he were a mirage in the desert his form rippled. Red eyes. Grey cloak. “Wait…”

Was that… No. It couldn’t have been. Her eyes narrowed, distrusting of what was before her. If he could change his appearance, then he could have changed it to anyone from her past. Mari just Mari - that’s how she had introduced herself to nigh everyone. It wasn’t enough. And...why Freyd of all people? Why would anyone choose to imitate his form unless they were truly him? Did they know her? Were they trying to dredge up old wounds?

“Say something else. What would you say?” Her words were spoken as a confident command. If he really were Freyd, she’d have to know for sure . She crossed wet arms over a wet chest. That's when it happened - something fell from his form, inky black dripped from him and pooled at the floor. Shadows from the surrounding area seemed to be sucked into the vortex, and between one blink and the next. There were two of them.  "What would you have us say?”

The Gemini.
 

 “Something about how I had engineered my own oblivion?” She asked, clearly not entirely happy with seeing the manifestation. The man who stood before her now was undoubtedly Freyd, not quite the one from her memories but still very much the same person."At one point, that wasn't aimed at me - but last we spoke - if my memory serves me correctly. It was" As she spoke, the memories trickled in now. The sight of the shadow creature dredged up memories she'd rather forget. a blue haired child - scared and angry. Freyd. A confrontation that never should have happened. Everything that had come from Freyd always came with extra pain. It hurt that little bit more. Mari shook her head. When was the last time she properly spoke to him? When he was telling her he was doing her ‘good’ by having her fight off a literal sludge manifestation of herself? The boss battle? The two never quite reconciled, did they?

“It’s…been a while.” She said, a little more guarded than she had been when she thought he was nothing more than a stranger. Wary. In the past he had no qualms with using her to his own gains, granted there was an underlying level of concern for her but… the things he had done...

Mari closed her eyes and exhaled. She would try not to judge him on his past, he never once did judge her for her own transgressions. “It looks life has treated you rather well. You look more handsome with a beard.”

Apparently, being locked away for two years made one not-so-great at the whole socializing thing, who knew?

“I need that drink now…more than ever.”

Mari pushed past him, between Freyd, and the manifestation of his shadow, his self? Mari wasn’t sure. She headed over to the bar - ignoring the single lantern for now to peruse the shelves behind. “I think I liked you better when I thought you were a stranger.” She began, picking up random things. Cups, mugs, wet stacks of linen. Her words might have been harsh, but he had been too. She paused, standing, hand on the single sheet of paper. The only thing not affected by rot in this hellhole.

“Freyd.” She finally said. As though she had gathered her thoughts. “I don’t know if I’m happy to see you or not.” She spoke with a somber clarity that was not prevalent earlier.

“Before you…” She glanced at his gemini. “Essentially used me as a test subject - and I know that was not your intent, but it was what I had felt. I liked you. I really really liked you. Now? I’m not so sure.”  Her held tilted to the side. ”And, if truth be told. I'd rather like you, again."

Edited 10 hours ago by Mari

[Freyd 0]

“Unfortunately, I’m looking for something with a little more body - but by all means - don’t let me stop you from drowning yourself in that. You seemed pretty at home slinking around with those slimy abominations out there.”

A weaksauce rebuke?  She was either out of practice, or playing it coy until she knew who she was dealing with.  His complete nonchalance about her orange marker might have put her on edge, being more readily accustomed to people freaking out in proximity - especially anyone knowing her past. Clues continued to drop, wondering how long it would take.  .  

A prompt and reply.  Montjoy conjured and standing as twin by his side.  Widening eyes and clenching breath signaled apprehension, not necessarily in the best way.  Not undeserved, but it still stung, mildly. That very fact was a significant departure.  The Freyd she knew lacked any emotional intelligence to be aware of the harm he could cause.  This one understood, at least, though the struggles remained just as poignant as ever.  Such was the price of finding his heart, challenged by the most dire of duties.

“Something about how I had engineered my own oblivion?”

A confirming nod, eyes never leaving hers, even as they drifted and brightened back to blue as the barest hint of a flinch flashed across his brow. Freyd knew better than to dwell on guilt, if he felt any.  This was more… regret… that his methods had been so crude and cruel.  He’d never meant her any harm.  Quite the opposite, in fact, but circumstances had become…complicated.

“It looks like life has treated you rather well. You look more handsome with a beard.” Where was the attack?  The snide deflective accusations that would reflect away any focus on herself?  She had changed too, though pointing it out openly seemed unwise until he knew more.  Old Mari might still be in there, with all the volatility that carried.

“Thanks,” he replied quietly, pensively grazing a slick black gauntlet over the wet fuzz on his cheek.  “It’s new.  Still getting used to it. Dying takes its toll, apparently.” Yeah. That wasn’t loaded with begged questions at all. But it might mark the measure of time’s passage and toll. Part of him wanted to return the compliment, but the moment just felt wrong.

“I need that drink now…more than ever.”

“So you’ve heard the same rumours? Booze or otherwise, players have been acting extra strange since we opened this forsaken floor.  The trail led here.”  She shoved past him, recoiling from contact with his shadow, and strode across the ruined room to a counter where a clean sheaf of paper lay unfurled.

“I think I liked you better when I thought you were a stranger.”  Not unexpected.

“Montjoy,” Freyd added, softly addressing his other self, “Thank you for your service.  It might be best if you left us awhile. Hold watch on the outskirts. I’ll call when you’re needed.”  Void slender man nodded and shimmered as it slipped through the barest crack in the outer wall, leaving its master without a proper shade. Shade?

“How is that lantern lit?  We haven’t seen a single sign of life, other than the twisted horrors and abominations prowling every dark alley in this place.”

“Freyd.” There it was. “Before you…” Eyes flittered to the shadow’s wake, “essentially used me as a test subject - I liked you. I really really liked you. Now? I’m not so sure.” 

Dismissing his own interpretation of events, he held her gaze throughout. Raw spark of human emotion and connection shone through the back of his eyes.  Something not present when they’d last encountered each other, now paired with the downturn of his hawkish brows. Their harsh and predatory mien momentarily lost its edge in a way she’d never seen before, because he’d never been capable of it when fate collided their past lives.

“Fair.  Probably more than I can readily admit, even to myself.  It may not ring true to you, but I never meant to hurt you.  Quite the opposite, actually. I just didn’t know how to show that sort of thing back then.”  Floodgates held closed.  It wouldn’t be him if he let loose a babbling torrent of pent up secret thoughts and sensations, feelings he still struggled to understand and decipher in himself.  This was as close to an apology as the Whisper could come, and felt she might potentially accept.  Any more would insult what she’d endured, whatever portion of it inflicted at his hands, and real or imagined.

A quest prompt suddenly appeared over the sheaf, revealing it as a shipping manifest.

“Ah.  That might explain a few things… kinda?”

Edited 2 hours ago by Freyd

[Mari 1]

Mari visibly calmed down after the strange shadow had left. Montjoy an add name - but she couldn’t question it, she literally named her koi fish familiar, Kohaku - literally koi. Her shoulders fell and a long, low breath escaped her lips - blowing steam into the cold room. Her stance shifted, moving even weight to one foot as she picked up the piece of paper beneath the lantern Freyd had mentioned.

Mari made no movement, no flinches, as she heard, then felt him approach. Standing opposite of the bar. She wasn’t mad at Freyd. She wasn’t upset with him. He had hurt her - but that was the past. Normally, Mari would have reacted in anger. But that anger was a shield she wore, so full of thorns that it did nothing but draw blood not just from her ,but all those around her. Mari offered the paper to the man before her. Brows furrowing.

“Is…does this event seem a little…off to you too?” She asked as she accepted the quest prompt. Apparently for the both of them - since they were in the same vicinity. “The letters and words seem a little jumbled. Everything here is.” Oh.  “That’s why you’re here.” She said quietly. Freyd was one to seek out those anomalies.

“-It may not ring true to you, but I never meant to hurt you.  Quite the opposite, actually. I just didn’t know how to show that sort of thing back then.” 

Mari knew this, she had always known this. His awkward attempts at reconciliation, him checking in on her but equally keeping his distance…Mari knew. Back then, all that emotional pain - the weight of the world, and others would drip from her like bile. So even though she understood back then, she simply could not let herself see it that way. Not with how guilt ridden she was. “What you did…” She began quietly. “Left invisible scars that ran deep.” Mari didn’t want to hurt him with her words, she just wanted to be truthful.

“I’m not mad.” She said quietly, turning the paper over, trying to make sense of it, they had to travel to the docks? Simple enough… “And I don’t say this to hurt you. Think of it as…closure.” Her voice was even, speculative. It wasn’t weighed down - broken, lost. Guilt ridden. “I meant what I said. I’d rather like you again.” But, then, there was something he said.

“It’s new.  Still getting used to it. Dying takes its toll, apparently.”

Dying.

Mari’s eyes rose from the paper - signalling the start of a quest to meet him. Something he had told her, a long time ago, flashed to the forefront of her memory. He had no plans of leaving here. Much like her. “Freyd?” Her head tilted at those words. Trying to search his eyes for any semblance of emotion that came with such a weighted notion.

There was something more behind his gaze. Usually they held so fast to her own - burning bright red, not quite emotionless, but calculating. An unnerving concentration that never broke. The waver of the gaze before her. That wasn’t Freyd. Not the one she had known. How his glance left hers, the briefest hitch of his breath. The large swallow. Mari spoke her thoughts aloud. “What… happened to you?”

A hand went to reach out to his, but hesitated - landing instead - mere millimetres away from his gauntlet clad hand. They weren’t close enough for that. Her brows furrowed, and her gaze showed nothing but concern for the man. “You once…told me you had no plans of leaving this place. What happened?” She asked again, voice louder. Not quite demanding, but almost begging for some kind of answer that wasn’t what she thought it could be.

[Freyd 0]

No lashing out.  No bitter bile spewed or accusations.

“Is…does this event seem a little…off to you too?”

In more ways than one.

“The letters and words seem a little jumbled. Everything here is.” Epiphany strikes.  “That’s why you’re here.”

“Moth to the flame.  Guilty as charged."  Hefting himself onto the remnants of a stool, he glanced at the parchment without gleaning much. "This whole floor is completely off its rocker.  Nothing here makes much sense, which seems to be this place’s particular meta-puzzle. When we fought the last raid boss, the mob had been twisted grotesquely, driven mad by something I can only guess oozed its way down from this floor.”

Looking around the room and into the shattered world beyond justifiably echoed his observations.  

“We’ve seen even stranger mobs recently.  Huge silvery humanoids with glass-like skin that can infect other mobs and convert them into versions of themselves.  They’re called spectral knights and seem to be multiplying, converging on the portal in Ilridge.  Even familiars are not immune.” A glance spared for her floating fish, though there was no evidence of sly Persi who’d so long been his companion.  "Don't go near them alone."  Something in his tone warned of personal experience in the worst sense.

“What you did…” His breath held, unconsciously, back stiffening as if preparing for the inevitably pummeling that never came. “I meant what I said. I’d rather like you again.” 

Gently smiling as he exhaled made him look so different than she remembered, like a well of depth had been added to a previously cold, calculating veneer. 

“I’d like that too. Sounds like an occasion needing a toast,” chuckle factor sprinkled on in a vain attempt to lighten the mood. “And I think I’d very much like that too.”  Whether he meant liking her or himself felt open to debate. "You can tell me what the hell happened to you.  Whatever it was seems to have changed you too."

 Then she caught on the casually passing death bit. 

“Callisto. The bear abomination that was the last raid boss.  A friend miscalculated and doomed himself.  I… just reacted, and stepped in between.  Should have died. Knew… I... died.  Yet here I stand, breaking the rules once again." As much as he'd struggled to make sense of it, there was no answer to be found. 

"This,” he gestured to his changed appearance, “was apparently part of the deal.  And… Persistence.”

That last part looked like it took a toll just to speak aloud, though he did his best to gloss over it.

[Mari 1]

Mari listened quietly as Freyd talked about the last raid boss; driven mad - oozing. It sounded…similar to other things he had looked into, but for the time being. Mari kept silent, it was best to listen right now - she was oh so very out of the loop. The man before her is a clear tribute to that fact. Just what changed to make him irrevocably more…humane

Her mind began to work through the information, cogs and neurons long since dormant started to move, and spark once more. “You know…” She began, “This sounds awfully similar to the things you were looking into earlier.” Mari said pensively as a manicured (and now thankfully clean) fingernail tapped the shipment order.

“If it’s made its way to this floor. Whats to stop it seeping to the one below, and below that?” Her eyes shifted outside - to follow Freyds own gaze. “There's something uncanny about this floor, and I don’t mean the heavy reliance on lovecraftian thematics. If I feel it, I know you do too.”

He had always been that way. Far too astute for his own good. Mari offered him a small smile, “Moth to the flame, as you say.” She shifted away from the bar; opening up her inventory to pull out a black cloak - it’d do little to fend away the rain outside, but - it was better than nothing.

 “We’ve seen even stranger mobs recently.  Huge silvery humanoids with glass-like skin that can infect other mobs and convert them into versions of themselves….”

Freyd had continued speaking, but if Mari were honest - she hadn’t heard the rest of it. Her eyes snapped to his. “Sorry, what? Infecting others? Converting things into themselves?” Her lips pursed at this information. This sounded… ”That’s scarily similar to the sundered spire, no?” She could be remembering wrong…it had been such a long time ago now - and whilst Mari knew the man before her was investigating that ordeal. She never knew if it was solved. Didn’t that have some sort of infection too?

"Don't go near them alone."

A warning. Mari stepped out from behind the bar, heading toward the door. “You should know me by now, Freyd. I usually am alone.” She said quietly. That much still remained true. Her time away from the world - made her want to seek out others again. She was done with pushing people away, but - small steps. With her back to him, Mari added. “I don’t want to be. So I will take your advice into consideration.”

Mari pushed open the door, and the two were hit with a flurry of ice cold gales, before the two of them - stood a horseless carriage that was not there before. Mari glanced over at him, ensuring he’d follow. “After all. Loneliness leads to dangerous mindsets and pretenses - solemn swears of never wishing to leave a digital prison.” There was a pause.  Mari knew he had chosen to never leave, but…had she ever told him?

She didn’t think she had.

“I should know. For I hold-” Another pause. It hurts to admit. Just as much now as it did back then. Mari wanted to say that she had changed, that she no longer wished to cease as the final floor cleared, but she couldn’t. She hadn’t beaten that desire. The scary and alluring call of it all… A small hand tightened its grip on the doorframe. It hurts. Her heart felt heavy. Her brain buzzed and vertigo threatened to send her reeling to the floor. The truth…was so difficult to accept, and even more so - to admit. “I hold that same sentiment." A pause, then, just to ensure there were no misunderstandings. "I never intend to leave Aincrad. We should…talk more in the carriage.”

Without another word, Mari stepped into the rain - and it only took another three to climb into the carriage- and she was once again protected from the rain. At least this seemed to be nothing more than a simple fetch quest.  Sapphire eyes of glimmering blue, filled with concern stared at the open door to the tavern. Where Freyd was. He almost died by the last raid boss?  No, he had died.

“That’s the second instance…” Mari quietly said. The first being Alkor - who she had seen die, and come back to life. Now - the same had happened to Freyd. Just what the hell was happening in Aincrad? Were the rules of death absolute? There were cracks in the very foundations of the laws that governed this hell hole. That much was clear.

She would wait till he climbed into the carriage before speaking again. “The appearance is a welcomed change. The persistence?” She paused. Mari had no words to say on that, so instead - she sighed and turned away from him. Her eyes watching the dreary scenery outside the carriage window.

 

 

Edited 14 minutes ago by Mari