(F01/PP) Heh, I'm in danger

[Oscar 0]

Routine was the enemy of adaptability. It was a comfortable trap, one that beckoned you in with honeyed words and kept you safe and insulated from the outside world. Incredibly easy to fall victim to and Oscar found himself inadvertently swaddled in its warm embrace. Wake up, cook for the orphans, go home. Unto infinity. The days would blend together. The city streets would fuse into an amalgam of rough cobblestone set upon a beige void. His shop, with its black and white checkers and the bright red seats would become the only novelty in that ocean of drab.

But life also came in phases. Routine, comfortable as it was, was equally fragile. It could be upended in a moment. An overheard conversation, a striking form. Any and all distractions. Often, Oscar found himself unconsciously awaiting those interruptions. He would come back to himself then. That flame of chaos would spark and he would stand singularly alone amongst an ocean of order.

Today was one of such glorious distraction.

He walked slowly towards his shop in the late hours of the morning. It was a mild day, a light breeze whipping through the buildings of the Town of Beginnings. He liked the breeze. A balm against his hot skin, cooling and soothing quietly as he walked. He wore his usual casual attire - dressed more like a butler than the deadly sharp Frontliner that he was. Dress shoes clacked against the stones, the man’s lithe form sporting blacks and whites of formality that was nowhere to be seen. His sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, his tie hung loose about his neck.

Even if one was meant to spend their day in front of sizzling grills and bubbling grease, class was sacrosanct.

 He heard it as he rounded a corner, loud and sharp upon the morning winds.

“Come on baby, we’ll show you a real good time.”

Oscar didn’t like the tone. His gaze quickly honed to a razor’s edge, his muscles tensing at the noise. The words thick with connotation and dominance, innuendo and lascivious intent. Oscar’s head swiveled to the side. Two men and a girl. A tale as old as time. Ordinarily, Oscar might have strode on past. There were usually plenty of standers-by that would handle this. But this far from the square, there were none far as they eye could see. And so the duty fell upon his shoulders.

Oscar clicked his tongue, slowly approaching the small gathering. As he neared, he saw how they loomed. Imposed themselves upon her space. Forced themselves into her being - stole and demanded her attention. And Oscar’s riposte was simple, yet effective. Walking up behind the woman, his arm snaked around her waist. Not too low or too high to be considered inappropriate. A chivalrous gesture as he pulled her close into his side.

“Hey babe,” he said as he kept his eyes affixed upon the pair. His voice was bright, chipper. “Sorry I’m late. You ready to go?”

“Hey!” One of the men protested, stepping forward in continuance of his intimidation. The only problem was it was hard to intimidate a man when you had to crane your neck to look up at him. “We were talkin' he-”

His words died in his mouth. Oscar’s steely gaze fell upon him. It was an expression of a man who would brook no argument. A warning shot of what would unfold should he choose to continue down this path. Their silent discussion continued and finished in an instant. That this only ended one way. That the power they once tried to lord over the woman had evaporated. That in no universe did Oscar consider them to be a threat in any fashion.

“Fuck off,” Oscar said, his voice a deep growl.

And so they did. A quick exit, stage left that left Oscar and the new stranger alone. He immediately released her, the cold gaze of his eyes softening into apologia. 

“I’m sorry. I usually don’t put hands on women, but you seemed a bit stuck in,” he said, offering his hand in greeting. “I’m Oscar.”

 

Spoiler

"Name: Oscar
True Tier: 10
Level: 34
Paragon Level: 58
HP: 960/960
EN: 128/128

Stats:
Damage: 23
Mitigation: 127
Accuracy: 3
Evasion: 1
Battle Healing: 
Loot Die: 5
Stealth Rating: -5
AA 
PHASEVAMP-O: 158
REC: 4

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<Kyūketsuki>> T4 KATANA//ABS.ACC/PHASE/VAMP2 
Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<TACTICAL UNDER ARMOR>> T4 HEAVY ARMOR//MIT/MIT/MIT/REC
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<IVORY GOLD LEAF RING>> T1 TRINKET//ACC/ACC/EVA/EVA

Combat Mastery:
  - Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
  - AOE Shift

Familiar Skill:
  - 

Custom Skill:
  - 

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

Extra Skills:
  - Concentration
  - Forgotten King's Authority
  - Meditation
  - Parry
  - Survival

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:
  - Ferocity
  - Focused Howl
  - Iron Skin
  - Precision
  - Stamina

Mods:
  - Impetus
  - Night Vision
  - Tracking

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:
  - <<CRYSTAL OF DIVINE LIGHT>> ID: 236066 x
  - <<DARK SERAPHIM>> T4 HEAVY ARMOR - VAMP.D2/HOLY BLESSING 2 x
  - <<DIVINE RANCOR>> T4 KATANA - HOLY/HOLY/PHASE/BLIGHT  x
  - <<GLOVES OF CAERUS>> T1 LIGHT ARMOR//3 LD x
  - <<IMUGI'S INSPIRATION>> MASS HEAL x
  - <<RHINO'S HORN>> ID: 236068 x
  - <<SANCTITY'S RUIN>> T4 KATANA - FROSTBITE/BLEED/BLIGHT/BURN x
  - <<TELEPORTATION CRYSTAL>> x

Housing Buffs:
  - 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.
  - Master Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat
  - Master Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down)
  - 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:

Scents of the Wild Totem:
  - Bialas
Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:
 - Cooking[5280exp] R10
Gathering Profession:
 - Fishing[100exp] R2"                                                                                                                            

 

Edited yesterday at 05:28 PM by Oscar

[Alinta 0]

Alinta wasn’t wearing what one would normally expect in Aincrad - she didn’t don fancy armour - gauntlets or pauldrons. No, instead, she wore something far, far more simple. Reminiscent of her time outside the confines of the game, granted - it was a little too ‘casual’ for her liking. It missed spikes, it missed leather but for now, it’d do. After all - the town had slim pickings when it came to fashion. Worse still…when that fashion wasn’t fantasy based.   The redheaded woman sighed, walking tall and proud through the streets. They were emptier than usual today. “Huh.” Crimson eyes glanced to the side at yet another empty store.   She was hungry.    “Ugh…” Alinta huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest, long red hair swishing behind her as she walked. “You’d think SOMEONE…” She said loudly. “Would open their DAMN STORE! I’m HUNGRY”

 

“Hungry?” Came a voice from her side, Alinta snorted, glossed lips pushing themselves into an annoyed pout as she side-eyed a tall man - wearing beginner gear. She gave him a toothy grin. “Why, what ya got packin?”

“Come on baby, we’ll show you a real good time.”

There was a second man now, they had both somehow managed to corner her up against a wall. The confidence quickly began to flitter away as Alinta shifted her eyes to and fro - people hurried by, not doing anything to help. Cowards.  One of the men reached up, brushing hair out of her face - his dirtied fingers pausing at her ears.

Gross. Gross. Gross. Gross.

“Hey babe,”

Alinta breathed a small sigh of relief when she saw another - clearly not part of the duo who had cornered her. He was a head taller than her would be attackers - which meant he was at least two heads taller than her. With barely a word - the bearded man slid past the men and wrapped a warm hand around her waist. Fingers dipping into the flesh of her hips with a protective jerk toward him. “Uhm. Uh Uh…”  Who was this man?

It wasn’t till the others left and he let go. 

“I’m Oscar.”

 

“A-Alinta…” She stammered as she reached out to clasp his warm hand. “I’m Alinta.” It took a moment for the shock to wear off, and she managed to plaster a confident smile on her face. Looking up at him she offered  a toothy grin. “Its…I didn’t need your help you know. I had it covered.”  She didn’t.  “I had them right where I wanted.”  She didn’t. She lied so badly even a child could see. Still, Alinta spoke with the confidence that she had fooled Oscar with her charade.

“So.” She said with a firm shake, refusing to let go of his hand. “Know where a woman can get a good feed around here?”

Spoiler

 

ALINTA OMBRE | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 1

 

Name: ALINTA OMBRE
True Tier: 1
Level: 1
Paragon Level: 0
HP: 20/20
EN: 20/20

Stats:
Damage: 1

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket:
-
Armor/Trinket:
-
Shield/Armor/Trinket:
- BLACK CROSS EARRING +2 LD

Combat Mastery:
-

Combat Shift:
-

Familiar Skill:
-

Custom Skill:
-

Skills:

Extra Skills:

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:

Mods:

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:
- HEALTH POTION +5HP x1

Housing Buffs:

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:

Gathering Profession:

 

 

Edited yesterday at 05:39 PM by Alinta

[Oscar 0]

"Of course," Oscar agreed. His voice was calm, reassuring. "I'm quite certain you were about to go boots-to-asses. But call me old-fashioned, but I don't believe that women should have to be the ones to smear their unwanted admirers across the cobblestones."

She was nervous. Rightfully so. Her words came out lacking sureity. Given her recently-resolved predicament, that was nothing to be surprised over. Oscar wouldn't add insult to injury by calling her on it. He merely offered her a slight smile, nodding gently. Oscar would not mention how her hand lingered too long on his. Or how he could feel the remnants of her ebbing adrenaline in the tremors of her fingers. 

"So. Know where a woman can get a good feed around here?"

Oscar's slight smile stretched over his features. Serendipity, they name was Alinta. 

"Yeah, just heading there myself. Come along," Oscar said as he beckoned her to follow.

They meandered through the city streets. Oscar followed that same beaten path. Routine seared it into his mind's eye. Every alley and shortcut. All led them to Oscar's shop in the middle of a run-down shantytown inhabited almost solely by NPCs. There were two store fronts standing side-by-side. A diner and a tailor. An odd match, but there was a saying about good things being in out of the way places. The exteriors were run down, but Oscar didn't mind it. Hidden gems, and all that.

He unlocked the front door and led Alinta inside. The interior was night and day from the exterior. Black and white checkered floors. Reds seats and chrome trim shining in the bright light. A 50's-style jukebox sat in the corner, beginning to play old slow Rock n' Roll.

"Go ahead and take a seat at the bar," Oscar said as he rounded the counter. He grabbed an overturned glass from the well and filled it with ice before fiddling with levers. Before long, he presented her with a glass of ice-cold liquid, dark and bubbly. "My best approximation of Dr. Pepper. I've found that most people think it tastes different, but no one says it's bad. What would you like to eat? Literally anything is on the menu. Even me. But that would be cannibalism, Alinta. And it would, in fact, result in a red cursor."

[Alinta 0]

Her mouth parted into a toothy grin as the very tall man reassured her. “Yeh, damn right I could.” She reiterated as confidently as she could, Alinta even straightened her posture, and puffed out her chest for good measure. He didn’t have to know how worried she was, this was usually a safe place. It's why she stayed here, for the most part. It felt almost like a real city, at least. It used to. A nervous lavender gaze swept over the empty streets. They used to be bustling, there used to be new shops opening almost daily. New clothes, new food…it felt like a small town. One of those cozy ones you’d see on holiday specials.

"Yeah, just heading there myself. Come along,"

Alinta’s eyes brightened at the promise of food. She took one step forward and looped an arm around his as they walked. Partly because she wasn’t going to let this free meal ticket go, and partly because - it made her feel safer. Something about him. The confidence in how he navigated the streets. The assured look in his  crystalline gaze. He didn’t wear anything too extravagant - but it was clear he could very well hold his own. Alinta tightened her grip. Even his smell…very woodsy with a hint of lemon. Finally she returned his sentiment. “Oh Oscar.” She placed emphasis on his name, dripping with honeyed tones. “Whatever shall a woman do? Sweeping off my feet, and offering a meal. One would get the wrong impressions from such actions, Oscar dear.”


The more well to do shops gave way to ramshackle establishments - looking like they were jammed in as tightly as possible. Alinta wrinkled her nose, she had to admit…she hadn’t really been in this area of town too much - she would people watch - and notice higher level adventurers pass through. Perhaps, she had even seen Oscar once or twice, and had paid him no mind. What use did she have in all that levelling up and sweaty finding nonsense when others would do it? There was no use in her risking her life.

Maybe, if someone carried her - that’d be nice.

But such things were rare, many were too self involved. (Herself included)

“You…sure we’re going the right way?” Alinta chanced as she gave a distasteful glance at one of the passing stores - boarded up.

He chuckled in return, a warm infectious sound that was muted, but could easily be heard across the room if he so chose. They paused in front of two stores and Alinta’s grip on his arm loosened as she wondered if she should get the hell outta there. What kind of ramshackle dump was he taking her to? HER?  “Uhm…” 

Before Alinta had the chance to judge by appearance he led her inside with a slight tug. Alinta had to take a moment for her eyes to adjust to the sudden almost fluorescent lighting. “Holy Cow…” She whispered seeing what was before her - ain’t no way. Ain’t no damn way!? “This is your place?” she asked, surprised. This was the last thing she expected. It felt like she was thrown from the dreary browns,greys and muted blacks of a fantasy world into…into the 60’s? “This is so cute!” She exclaimed with a clap of her hands together. “Here I thought you were gonna cheap out on me!” To some it could be considered an insult, but Alinta was just being honest.

She practically ran over to one of the cushioned bar stools and threw herself onto it, she bobbed up and down on it with an amused snort, feeling how squishy the cushions were. “This place is adorable!” She said with another bounce, glimmering eyes watching Oscar work.

“You know, I never would have picked you to own a place like this.” Another bounce. “You’re full of surprises.” Having had her fun Alinta stopped, and leaned on the bar, peering over at the strange bearded man. Now she had a moment, he was a bit of a looker, wasn’t he? But he probably knew that.

“Anything?” Alinta asked as she picked up the glass of appropriately copyrighted definitely not Dr Pepper soda. She kept her gaze on him and took a long sip. “You know, I could go for some nice juicy meat. This is a diner after all. What would the chef recommend?”

Even me. But that would be cannibalism, Alinta

Alinta coughed, dribbling soda down her chin - droplets falling onto her chest. “W-What?” She spluttered, cheeks bright red. “I - y-You?” She made some kind of odd sputtering sound. “W-Why would I? Y-You’re not even that good looking, your beard and face are mid a-at best!”

She wiped her chin with the back of her hand, giving herself but a few brief seconds to calm her rapidly beating heart she muttered. “I- I’d rather not a red cursor…thanks…I didn’t…think people like that still existed…” She knew of PKers, she knew they were a thing.  But…

Wouldn’t they all be better off dead? All of them?

[Oscar 0]

“I know, I know,” Oscar said. “But appearances can be deceiving. Never know when you’ll find a hidden gem.”

Truth be told, no one had ever called his establishment cute. Oscar didn’t dislike it, but he wasn’t sold on it either. Still, he had the good sense to keep his mouth shut when someone was enjoying themselves. Far be it from him to ruin her fun. He did enjoy the fact that routine hadn’t made him entirely dull. He was still getting his sea legs, every synapse screaming to be his normal charming, witty self. But he was so out of practice, it was very much out of his reach. But it was getting closer by the second.

A shame, though. Alinta was laying it on thick. He almost felt bad that he had so little to offer in response to her overt and obvious flirting. Was this her way of thanking him for his efforts earlier? Or perhaps it was simply her personality. Oscar also had the good sense to not get in the weeds or up in his head trying to take her measure.

Such a thing would be a long and hands-on process.

And then it all clicked. His off-handed movie reference put her on the back foot. She went from alluring to adorably flustered at the drop of a hat. He met her gaze, a slight smirk playing at his face. 

“Going from ‘Oscar, dear’ to ‘Mid, at best? You're giving me whiplash here, Ali,” Oscar said. His eyes never left hers as his affectionate nickname dripped from his tongue. He stepped forward, resting his elbow on the counter as he plucked her drink from her hand. He took a long sip - his eyes never leaving hers - and placed it back on the counter in front of her, flashing a smile and quickly looking down as he dipped into the kitchen. It was a forward gesture, certainly. 

But she was simply too damn cute when she was flustered for him to resist.

Oscar worked quickly. The ritual of knives and pans were wholly unnecessary. The system did most of the work for him at the press of a button. But it was important. To him at least. He was old-fashioned. And when it came to women, there was no room for laziness. And so he prepared it all by hand, his movements mostly obfuscated by the wall. He would look up from his work and peer through the window, catching her gaze as she sipped at her drink. The silence was deafening. Intentionally so. It was always so delicious to watch the moment build. So decadent to see her shift, gears turning, trying to decide what she wanted as the desires flicked back and forth like a metronome.

He didn’t give her the time to truly figure out what she wanted as he rounded a corner with a plate of food. Oscar placed it down in front of her, stepping back and leaning against his counter as the room filled with the smell of Grandmaster-crafted Americana. A simple dish, two hot dogs - stacked with all the fixin’s - and a handful of hand-cut fries.

“Hot dogs are my specialty,” Oscar said. “It is a diner after all. You said nice, juicy meat correct? I can say with confidence you won’t have a better experience than with mine.”

Edited 16 hours ago by Oscar

[Alinta 0]

Ali

And there it was again; just as quickly as she was able to calm down, she felt that same hot sensation that flooded her cheeks. “A-Ali!” She took a breath. “I only allow my friends to call me Ali. Oscar…”

Breathe Alinta, Breathe.

She took a deep breath and attempted to put on a confident smile. “So - does that make you a fri-” Her words caught in her throat as he leaned forward, close. Dangerously so - the tickle of his hair against his forehead - the exhale of his breath against her skin. Alinta had to lean back. She watched as he snatched the drink from her hands, his eyes never leaving hers, practically daring - no commanding her to keep her eyes focused fast to his. She was akin to a deer stuck in headlights - a stark contrast to her usual confident veneer.

She was shocked back to movement when he slipped the glass back in her hands. Alinta cleared her throat and in a sign of defiance picked up the glass and downed the rest of the drink. Slamming the empty glass down on the bar. “Heh.” Alinta gave him a quirked smile.

“So. Friends it is then.”

Alinta was thankful that he became engrossed in his work - it gave her a moment of reprise. Most backed down when she put on the confident and flirtatious front - rarely, if ever did they reciprocate. So when Oscar did, it left her flustered. He was probably just some kind of playboy - after all - he had so easily dragged her to his restaurant.

“Hot dogs?” Alinta said - genuine surprise. “You know…most the dorks here normally offer ramen, or katsu - or sushi..but hot dogs?” She offered him a grin as he sat on the stool next to her.  Their shoulders practically touching. “I can’t remember the last time I had a hot dog!” Alinta said as she picked one up - and in one large bite she had bitten the hotdog clean in half. In. Half. She chewed, enjoying the comfort of western tastes. After swallowing Alinta turned to him - missing his joke entirely.

“You’re right. Your meats the best!” She said, before eating the entire last half of the hotdog.

[Oscar 0]

Oscar exhaled a slight laugh as he realized that his joke had gone completely over her head. He considered, for a moment, calling attention to it. But he would wait for his moment. She'd all but inhaled the first dog. Clearly her hunger had not been overstated. There was a certain pleasure that he - or any Cook for that matter - took in watching people enjoy their food. It was a pleasure that was singularly theirs. It was almost intoxicating, the jubilation of watching someone gush over the food you so painstakingly prepared for them. A warm half-smile played at his face as he stepped behind the counter and refilled her beverage. Oscar returned to his seat, enjoying the blissful moment.

He had to admit, it was nice to have company.

"Yeah, I can make all of that stuff. But like you said, ramen stands are a dime a dozen. We need some variety if we're going to be trapped here."

He peered out of the corner of his eye and watched as she picked up the second dog. He waited, fingers twitching in anticipation as she took her first bite. And as she began to chew, he struck like a viper.

"Ali," he said. "My meat's the best? Think about it."

Edited 16 hours ago by Oscar

[Alinta 0]

“Ahh…” After having eaten the fist hot dog in virtually two bites. “That really hit the spot.” Alinta said as she rubbed her bare stomach, then accentuated it with two pats. “Thank you Oscar.” She laughed softly, “That - you’re right they’re so juicy! Ahh~ And the way the bread just soaks up the slightly sweet sauce - the way you caramelise the onions!”  Alinta picked up the second hotdog and instead of just shoving it into her mouth she gave a chance to appreciate the aesthetics. “Look!” She said, showing him - as though he hadn’t made it himself. “Look how even the toppings are! The sauce doesn’t drip! The relish is perfectly spotted throughout!” Alinta took another bite, this time appreciating it, masticating slowly before swallowing.

Alinta took a second bite, and began to chew - Then came the comment

"My meat's the best? Think about it."

Alinta choked. Coughing and spluttering. “W-I -What?” An image flashed in her mind that most definitely should not have. Nothing that should ever be muttered in any sort of company. “O-oscar!” Alinta breathed. “I -” She shifted her eyes back to the hot dog. “Y-Yeh.” She said, trying to hide her embarrassment. “I’d -I’d..I’d say it is pretty good.” her demeanour was mismatched with her appearance, her clothes, and usual cadence suggested a cavalier I dont give a fuck attitude but truth be told… Alinta got flustered too easily when it came to a sort of attention.

She had to change the topic of conversation…right… Alinta picked up the soda and took a few long sips to help her choking coughs.

“S-So..what do you do, like - you look…you have the air of a strong person, yanno?”

[Oscar 0]

Oscar could only laugh at her reaction. It was clear that the outward persona was just veneer. Not that he considered that to be any sort of negative thing. It was cute, the juxtaposition of her outward persona with her inner thoughts. She pivoted, doing her best to recover from Oscar's perfectly timed jab. She was failing, of course. That was rather the point. His laughter eventually ebbed away, mellowing into small giggles as she took several swigs of her soda.

"I appreciate the compliment, Ali," Oscar said. He lingered on her name again in a teasing inflection. Three letters drawn out longer than they should have been. And then came her question. A subject change, but one that Oscar didn't exactly expect. One would be surprised how many people merely assume that others are on their level. After all, what would a Frontliner be doing all the way down on the first floor. Oscar, of course, had his reasons. And her question reminded him of those. He slid from his chair, mercifully giving Alinta space to breathe. Oscar wouldn't deny there was a certain chemistry, though he found that he meshed well with most outside of a very specific type of person.

There was one notable exception, though.

He stepped back into his kitchen, grabbing his knife and spinning it deftly around the back of his hand. "Do you mean levels or personality?"

It really didn't matter which, honestly, but he wanted to be clear. He set himself to work, working with trained precision. "I mean, I'm on up there in terms of levels. And I like to think I'm pretty strong in the gray."

He paused for a moment, looking up from his work to catch her gaze. "And you're totally Level One aren't you? You're in good company. Some of the best people I know have never set foot out of this town."

Edited 14 hours ago by Oscar

[Alinta 0]

Alinta flicked her long crimson hair behind her and scoffed as Oscar laughed, loud and boisterous. Clearly enjoying his sleights and jabs at her. “Hmmph.” Alinta picked up the last of her hotdog. You know the little weiner part that sticks out over the side? She jabbed that right into his cheek. “Listen here dog boy.” She retorted with her own nickname for the jovial man. “You keep dishing that out, and I may just have to dish it back.” She had slowly become accustomed to his antics - and his laughter set her at ease.

She tilted her head at his question, she had honestly just meant levels. Nothing more or less. Someone who held that much confidence. “I meant levels…” Alinta began, speaking her thoughts. “You know…you can tell. People who gain a couple levels, they walk around like they’re hot shit. They flaunt. It.” She paused, shoving the last of the hotdog in her mouth, and continuing whilst chewing. “But people on the frontline? Its quiet. Muted. You know they’ve seen things - they don’t want to boast - because its a different world. One I may never understand.”

Alinta gave him a wry grin. “After all. I’m only level one. Mis -tah - grey”

Alinta had nothing to concentrate on - so she tapped her long nails against the linoleum to keep them busy. “I already know I count among the best of them - since I”ve never left.” She said with her usual veneer of confidence.

[Oscar 0]

A masterful riposte. Few could hope to land a hit on him and, when they did, it scarcely had any effect. And yet, here was this level one newbie shooting him straight in the heart with her adorable gesture. Oscar chuckled again, bringing his thumb up to his cheek to swipe away the leftover condiments. He brought the digit to his mouth, his tongue flicking out to clean it of the sauces as he kept eye contact with Alinta. Just because she had mounted a successful counterattack didn't mean that he didn't have more in his own arsenal.

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Ali. I love a girl who gives as good as she takes," Oscar said with a smirk.

Alinta was right in her assessment of the Frontlines. Shockingly so, given she was only level one. Most lowbies he encountered had little conception of the Frontlines. But she'd hit the nail right on the head, though not for the reasons she thought.

"It's the trauma, honestly," Oscar said without meaning to. He'd not wanted to bring down the mood, but the Frontliners carried a heavy burden. Everyone trapped in the game, everyone who had died trying to get them out. One had little time to flaunt it when they had such weight upon their shoulders. Not that many of them wanted to. Oscar, perhaps, was the one who came the closest. An imposing presence upon the Town of Beginnings. A confidant to many, a patron to many more. He often considered that if he'd abandoned the Floor like so many others whether it would fall to lawlessness. Would Laughing Coffin use the cradle as their stomping grounds?

"Forgive me, that's the therapist talking," Oscar said. "Hard not to comment on it when you're trained to see it."

It was Oscar's time to flounder for a different topic of discussion. He latched onto her last statement, looking up from his work with a bright smile. "Would you like to leave? I know a guy who would totally escort you."

Edited 4 hours ago by Oscar

[Alinta 0]

Her smile faltered slightly as he returned her jest with another overly flirtatious remark. Was he like this with all women? Probably. Definitely. He practically oozed playboy. Alinta wouldn’t be surprised if he did it to the men too. “What a shame, Dog boy…” She said her little nickname for him slowly, drawling out the two simple syllables.  “I’ve run out of meat to poke you with.” She said with a shrug and a laugh. “I’d offer to find something else - but I think you’d enjoy that a little…too  much.” A practised pause, a purse of her lips, and a tilt of her head. “Yanno?” she asked, with an overly dramatic inflection on the question.

Her smile faded when Oscar mentioned the trauma. Trauma? Is that what the frontlines faced? Alinta bounced on her stool, forcing it closer to his till the two bumped together. The woman pressed her torso onto the bar - so she could lean right over - peering into his steely gaze. “I didn’t think that people had that happen to them here. I just thought it was all like…serious planning n’ stuff.”  SHe never really stopped to think about the actual lives on the line - the battles, she was living in her own little world of make believe, in a digital world of well…make believe.

Then he mentioned therapist, and Alinta reached out to give him a small pat on his shoulder. “Hey, how much do ya reckon it’d cost for me to vent about my bitch of a mum who gave me daddy issues?”

He still seemed a little …what was the word? Bummed out? And Alinta wasn’t really good at making people feel better about themselves. She was good at taking photos. Looking good. And writing fanfiction. 

Just as she opened her mouth, ready to tell him one of her many stories - his smile returned. A little more muted than before, but it still broke the lines in his face - still held that strange and alluring warmth.

“L-leave? Like here?” She glanced down at her attire. “I’m…not exactly dressed for it. Nor do I have any kinda …weapons. But…it would be nice to see the fields of crossing at least. So - is that like…a date?”

[Oscar 0]

"A shame, indeed," Oscar agreed. "Though, I think I'd be best suited to do the poking, no?"

Her second question earned her a bark of laughter in response. Oscar hadn't engaged with his own profession since he'd got stuck here. Sure, he'd been the confidant and he gave advice as best he could. But he'd never busted out his rate clock. And he wasn't really about to start now. Besides.

"I don't think I'd charge, but my methods would be as physical as they are unethical. Definitely more fun than soul searching and head shrinking, though."

In the real world, Oscar would never have dreamed of making light of it. But everyone was fucked up at all times. He was no exception. And he was also just one man. There was little that one man could do to solve the epidemic. And by the time all was said and done, everyone would need years of therapy to undo the trauma that a video game left. So it didn't really strike him as the perfect time to start that journey when they hadn't even escaped the game yet. And Oscar always like to say that 'when in Rome, fuck it we ball.'

"Yeah, we can call it a date. Got the perfect quest to knock out for ya. All you need to do is sit back and look pretty. I really don't think you're gonna struggle with that."

Edited 4 hours ago by Oscar

[Alinta 0]

The question left her lips before she even had time to register what he meant. “Poking me? Why would you be better suited to-” She caught herself before finishing it, and instead of overreacting she clamped her mouth shut, staring at the squares of the linoleum floor.

He then laughed - The Physical part she got but…”Unethical? Why?” Alinta knew she’d regret asking that, especially with how Oscar stared her down, a twinkle in his eyes when she asked. As though he were waiting for her to ask such a question.

Alinta pushed herself off the little barstool and stretched by arching her back just so. The coy smile returned. “Sit back and look pretty? Honey thats what I am paid to do. You’re paid to talk, I’m paid to flaunt.” She accentuated the final word with a smal jut of her hip and an extra bounce in her step as she shifted toward the door.

A date though…Alinta didn’t exactly think he’d call her on it. “Y-You know…” She mumbled. “It doesn’t have to be a date. I was just kinda kidding, unless you wanted it to be, but even then its just…” She breathed in and out, slowly to calm her erratic heart. “Its just jokes, right?”