[[PP-F11]] Not all solutions are equal

[Mari 1]

It didn’t take Mari long to complete her task. Mostly - because her task was a near impossible one without the correct tools and equipment - so all she really could do was offer suggestions. Why did he even give her this? Why give her more work? Another test?

The dossier had been wrapped in a manila folder; and contained the following information

Pathogen; Airbourne, contact, bloodborne?
Airbourne pathogens in this case-would be preferred for fastest release and spread.

A. Pheromones. The biology of humans has adapted well beyond base pheromones and whilst the use of them in humans is widely debated we can say for sure that its far more common in base lifeforms.

Isolate and find a common protein in these - and use it.
Application would be airborne - may also attract mobs, but they’d be dead long before making contact. 

—
Was unable to fully test - diluted and mixed with secretions from the glans of various mammals. Breakdown in biology occurred. 

B. Cognitive breakdown? [Untested]
-humans should be smart. Creating something that humans would avoid, but mobs do not have the cognitive dissonance to avoid could result in an easily spreadable contagion.
Concerns - people are fucking stupid.
-contact diseases for mobs less than ideal.

-I DONT HAVE THE TOOLS TO RECREATE THIS?? I dont have a fancy lab.

FUCK . YOU.
Ps: 4 DAYS??? DO BETTER. PEOPLE WERE LOOKING.
–

Now…Mari just had to make it through Taft to get there. She stood at the entrance to the town, night had fallen. Hesitation hit her, Mari had never willingly set foot in a settlement since she had her orange cursor. Sure..there were times where she had been dragged into one - but…was she really willing to throw away one of the things she had held fast to all these years? Mari closed her eyes.

It would only take a moment…just a short run in and out. 

 

Besides…Mari did want to live more for herself now… “The things I do…” She breathed.
Then, Mari ran. A bee-line straight to the drop location. She expected there to be shouting - she expected there to be panic. For something..someone to stop her. But nothing happened.

The streets were quiet; aside from a tavern she passed - which roared with noise and laughter from within. Mari slowed her speed at that, lingering just a moment longer outside the establishment. She missed it. She missed cities…and towns..she missed the hustle and bustle of people. Being in the position she was …it was lonely. With a shake of her head Mari continued - till she found what she was looking for. A small box just outside the Grand Cathedral. “There…” Mari said quietly.

She wasn’t sure if she’d see the man again; considering they had no real way of communicating with each other. But at least she had done what she could. With what little resources she had.

Turning to walk away, Mari paused at a loud, reverberating sound.

*Bing Bong, Bing Bong*

“Oh…” It was…nice. She turned to look back up at the large cathedral - towering over all the other buildings in the city. Even from here, even in the dark of night, Mari could tell it was an architectural wonder. The white limestone practically glowed against the midnight blue of the dark - and colours shifted from within, behind painted glass windows.

This…sucked. Mari wished she could stay here.

“Oi! You! Stop!”

And there it was. Mari sighed as she turned to see two NPC guards running up to her. Ironic…how they yelled at her to stop, when she wasn’t even moving.

Yeh, no. She wasn’t going to deal with that today.

Mari turned; and began to run - two were easy to flee from. But it’d only take a few moments before they all were chasing her - and they’d do so till she left the safe zone.

That doctor better appreciate that shit.


<<Assist System Engaged>>

Spoiler

Name: Mari
True Tier: 9
Level: 7
Paragon Level: 0
HP: 150/150
EN: 37/37

Stats:
Damage: 12
Mitigation: 30
Accuracy: 5
Evasion: 2
Battle Healing: 8
Stealth Rating: 3
AA BLI: 8/-5
ENV-O: 8
PARA-V

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket:
- Paralytic Contagion | T4 | Absolute ACC I | Paralytic Venom I | Envenom OFF I | Blight 1
Armor/Trinket:
- Infernal Shadow | T4 Perfect LA | EVA II | Holy Blessing
Shield/Armor/Trinket:
- Glasses | T1 | ACC: 3

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] R10
Gathering Profession:

 

Edited yesterday at 06:44 AM by Mari

[Vitreous 1]

The flare of green glowed like candlelight from one of the large castle walls that adorned Taft's perimeter, the glimmer of a pocket watch as he'd look off into the city as if a silent vigil. The ticker spun, mirroring the clocktower with every passing second. A clutch closed, and he'd begin to walk down its length. His bill directed inward as he ran that thick glove down the length of the side, allowing the wood to splinter in its roughness. It would not permeate his PPE. The town was damn near dead silent, but when the birds were out the rats would play. The darker alleys at the southern side, where the pond scum loved to frequent whenever they could slip in. Some players had a habit of enabling such creatures in through a setting on their businesses, choosing coin above all else. Garbage, the whole lot...

*Bing Bong, Bing Bong*

His mark, Rodger Fresno, age 23. A glance over the balcony and he was right on schedule. The man reaches into his belt bag and removes a small glass sphere. Held in his hand, he'd lift his arm and extend it over the side and right before he has the chance to drop it...

"Stop Right there CRIMINAL SCUM." The sudden sounds of the constant droll of idiotic mimics ran through the city in a wave of stupid. Like a mindless droning on and on, same voice, same faces. A commotion, so late at night of all times. Someone stealing fruit at this hour? Or worse? A turn as he'd start to trail the wall back toward the southern gate. Although dark, that signature top of bright orange hair was a bit hard to mistake. Beneath a modulated breath, the man would murmur in a rough accent "Subtle."

The billowing of a jacket, he'd hop onto the side. That small glass sphere is swapped out for another, this one filled with an aggressive and abrasive toxin that would create a nasty and quick death. Dropping it straight off the wall, it would land right between the pack of moronic drones and Mari. It shatters, sending a wave of yellow fog in all directions. Dropping a second or two after, the crow drops into it like batman with a solid thud. While Mari was still busy coughing out a lung, she'd have a plague mask shoved onto her face. "Breathe." as he'd throw that rag of his over her. All before he ripped a knife out and started slitting the incapacitated guards throats as they'd gag and vomit.

---

<<Assist System Engaged>>
Level: 7
Paragon: 0
Tier: 1
True Tier: 1

Final EXP reward: +5%

---

Event:
Free SP | 185
Taken | Reflective (18)

---

Vitreous | HP: 140/140 | EN: 32/32 | DMG: 1 | MIT:18 | Thorns: 156

Spoiler

Name: Vitreous, The Grim Physician
True Tier: 1
Level: 7
Paragon Level: 0
HP: 140/140
EN: 32/32

Stats:
Damage: 1
Mitigation: 18

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - 
Armor/Trinket: 
  - Vanguard's Heavy Plate | T1 Heavy Armor | 232786 | MIT 3
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - 

Combat Mastery:
  - 

Combat Shift:
  - 

Familiar Skill:
  - 

Custom Skill:
  - 

Skills:

Extra Skills:

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:

Mods:

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:

Housing Buffs:

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:

Gathering Profession:

 

Edited yesterday at 06:30 AM by Vitreous

[Mari 1]

It  was two. Then three. Then five.

“Fucking seriously?” Mari muttered. The NPCs were ruthless. She had to pause and sidestep the swing of a guards sword.

Smash

Mari heard the crackle of glass - and the hiss of smoke. She didn’t stop to look behind her till she heard the cries. “Huh?” A wave of smoke billowed - and its noxious plume headed toward her. Mari took several steps back, shifting her gaze to the side - would it be possible to jump into one of the nearby houses?

She was already coughing - her chest heaving as her lungs burned. Her eyes burned. 

"Breathe."
 

Mari heard the command as she felt something slipped over her face - trembling hands reached out and felt the tough leather of gloves affix something to her face before shifting away. The woman took a moment to tighten it and breathed. Her rattled breath coming in short rasps even with the ventilator built into the mask.

What the…

It was Solnyshko? Why was he…helping her. Mari quickly opened her inventory - and swapped out her own clothes for the ones he had given her a few days prior. The long black pants, and shirt - lest the gas had any effect on her skin too. She had managed that just in time before being engulfed in it. 

“Solnyshko?”

Mari could hear screaming, gagging, gurgling - all belonging to the NPC guards - what was happening right now? Mari was focused on keeping her breathing steady. Keep her heart-rate steady.

They’re just npcs…
They’re just npcs…
They’re just npcs…

She kept telling herself that as she heard another scream.

He was helping her - he had gone into a full flurry attacking the guards. Mari could have gotten out on her own, probably - but he didn't know that and now he was also putting himself at risk. Mari shook her head, equipping her weapon. Just NPCS She never really cared about NPCs. They'd respawn.

So when one of the guards was about to strike the doctor from behind Mari swung her polearm into his side - sending him flying into a nearby building before he had the chance to hurt the doctor. Mari was shaking, her entire body visibly shaking. Her eyes wide. Her teeth and lips trembling. She was thankful the mask hid that. With a tilt of her beaked mask she glanced at him- as if to ask if he were okay.

One of them had to be

Edited yesterday at 06:55 AM by Mari

[Vitreous 1]

A barreling wave of absurdity as they'd scramble for anything orange, hair or cursor. One is clipped down to pieces, catching a knife its chest and as he clasps the knife in both hands attempting to sub divide another, one of those damnable guards starts flailing around like a ravenous animal. On a back foot, the good doctor tries to rush and look for some out. A wide sweep from Mari sees one galivant out of the gas, bouncing across the cobblestone like flat rock on a lake. Colliding with a building, it shatters a wooden cover on a window with enough force for the shop sign to sway. Leaning down he picks up his hat and dusts it off with a heavy thud.

Ripping a knife out of the neck of the last, it would shatter like glass in a forceful wave straight up that is quickly lost in the fog of yellow. A black silhouette but not much more he'd manage to find her in the horrid fog, as more respawning guards kept helping themselves to an early grave. Like lemmings they'd rush into the cloud without direction and proceed to fall to their knees in agony within a few steps, drooling profusely out of any orifice that they could. Closing the gap, he'd scan her with a tilt back and forth wrapping that thick black rag of his around her like an oversized blanket. Girl was real fucking short. But it was better then expecting the single layer to prevent the mustard gas from burning a hole through her stomach.

He'd lean and lift his left hand, and pop it into the universal symbol for 'ok' a wave of his hand to beckon her he'd start to walk back through the gate. A safe zone, but unlike her he wouldn't appear even the slightest bit concerned. Tapping a singular disk into a wall as they'd pass, it blinks in metallic sheen. After all, he wasn't even sure if she had made her delivery yet. In his perspective, she was caught at the gate and had a dumbass barricade keeping her from going further. Down the darker passages of the city, as he'd slide through one of the nooks of the city holding his pocket watch out. A wall shifts slightly to the side, and he takes a quick left through the newly opened passage. It would be clear he spent a lot of time in Taft and its moving sections. Like a living maze, and he kept a timer on each little doorway and when it would open. A ping, sees the man lift his left arm looking at his wrist. A press of an awaiting button sees a loud screeching in the distance, one that sounded quite like a murder of crows. Into this small little cul de sac with a brown stone well at its center, he'd look into the well to confirm there were no extra bodies hanging out to hide from the bees nest they'd kicked tonight. A wave of his hand he'd ask for what she came with, without knowing she'd already shoved it into the chapel.

Edited yesterday at 07:11 AM by Vitreous

[Mari 1]

OKay…
He was okay. Good.

After the first wave of guards had been felled the doctor came up to her, quickly wrapping her trembling form in more, thick material - and it wasn’t till he had that Mari realized her skin felt like it was stinging. She gave her head a small nod of acknowledgement, and thanks.

The man beckoned her to follow and Mari obliged. She did not want to stay here. They may just be NPCs - but the longer they stayed, the more likely it was a player would fall into the frey and that’s the last thing Mari wanted. She was silent as he lead her through various different sections of the city, she inched closer - a small hand reaching out to clasp one of his sleeves. The machinations…the trick walls…the hidden pathways…Mari never knew things like this existed. It seemed to be based on time - if his close eye on the pocket watch was anything to go by. 

He lead her into a cul de sac and it seemed…safe enough. Abandoned almost. Mari slowly let him go.

When they finally stopped he held his hand out expectantly. Mari furrowed her brow, then realized he couldn't see her facial expression. So she shook her head. Mari opened  her mouth to speak but all she could manage was a series of coughs. So she pointed from him to the chapel. She had already deposited what he wanted. But - what she could still provide.

Mari opened up her inventory, and out dropped the orange vial - half full. And a secondary vial - a murky green. She extended her hand to him. Offering them both. One, the solution he had given her - two - a very messily put together enzyme utilizing the common protein of animal pheromone - not that he’d know without reading her file.

[Vitreous 1]

The dead stare in a strange silence, until the girl shook her head. Did something break in there? Or was she still functioning on the idea of sleep and a prayer? Attempting to speak her voice immediately choked, the abrasive gas still making it difficult to speak. A fact he knew all too damn well. A glance up toward the chapel as she'd point he'd return and cross his arms in an x pattern toward his chest. Then he'd mimic little legs. The guards were surely out trying to poke every bush and tree just in case it happened to have offended a players feelings. But she opens up her HUD, sending him on edge but he tries his best to not pull a knife on her. Out pops a pair of colored vials to which she offers them, one the precursor and the other an unknown. A thicker green solution that moved a bit like syrup as he'd turn it on its side. Lifting his left sleeve, he'd pull the handle on that thing on his wrist causing it to spring open and he'd shove the thing into it. Rubbing the beak of his mask as if it were a chin, he'd notice the girl giving him the big eyed treatment. Her fixated stare would follow as he'd realize that it was locked to that device, moving it to the side see her tilt a little but it was hard to tell under the mask.

A muffled sigh escapes the mask, and he extends his arm given she had done more then enough to at least oblige her. Pointing to a brass dial, he offers her to turn it. As she did it would hiss and a jet of steam would pour out of a small valve on its side near his hand. The heat causes a single drop to transfer from the contained vial to one on its immediate right, and as it does a small little recording crystal transcribes its chemical makeup and reads it out through a little slip of reusable paper.

[Mari 1]

They couldn't go to the chapel. well no shit sherlock. Mari gave an exasperated sigh, and realizing he wouldn't hear that, she crossed her arms over her chest. Tilting a beaked head to the side. For now - the two would have to keep playing charades till she had her voice back. Was this why he never spoke? Not because he couldn't - but because it hurt to? Considering how often he had been around all manner of chemicals and gases...it wouldn't surprise Mari. That...was kinda sad. So much could be misinterpreted that way. Just how many people had misinterpreted him? His actions?

At least the man accepted the two vials. He pulled a handle on his wrist and Mari perked up - her eyes widening. He always had so many odd contraptions. Just...what did this one do? Mari was fixated on it, like a child a newfound toy. The man caught wind of this and gestured for Mari to come closer. She hesitated, just for a moment - her eyes shifting to his other arm - where he had kept the needle last time, but his intention didn't seem to trick her - but to show her. So Mari broached the gap. Standing real close to him now.

With a gloved finger he tapped a brass dial. Mari carefully took his arm with one hand, glancing up at him as if to ask is this really okay? Then with a nod - Mari turned the dial. A hiss of steam poured out the side of his hand - heating up the liquid. 

What the?

Was he....able to figure out the chemical makeup of her terribly put together concoction?

...That was going to be embarrassing. Mari had no real way to isolate things, so she just had to essentially liquidate the entire pheromone gland - as a rough sample. And here he was analyzing it???
Mari let go of his sleeve. How would she mime that she just didn't have the tools he did?

Mari pointed at herself, and made a cross with her hands, then she tapped his device, and made another cross. She didn't have this skills in engineering. They were panicked movements, as though she were embarrassed. 

[Vitreous 1]

A final his of the machine sees that thick glove clasp the dial, slowly spinning it back counterclockwise with a ratcheting sound as it locks back. A little slide pops open on its right most side, near his hand and a little bottle is extended from the door. A clasp of index and thumb sees it turned out, like unscrewing a lightbulb he'd drop the vial into a pouch and pull out another filled with distilled water. Uncapping it, he'd offer it to Mari and let her screw it in. Pushing back toward the main contraption, the little door clicks shut and hides it with only the smallest seam in its brass frame. A clasp of the grooved handle at its top, not unlike a briefcase handle with finger divots the man turns it and causes the contraption to fold back into a thin brass square running up his forearm about a foot in length. He'd tap the recording crystal causing it flare with light, causing the little paper to begin to list out the liquid as a baseline protein.

Turning to face Mari in her mask, she'd start to mirror his own silent charades as the inflicted condition and mask would rob her of a voice and all facial expression. Two crosses and a tap of his wrist bound analyzer conveyed a meaning he understood loosely. Either A. she didn't like it, which given how fixated she was on it a moment ago seemed rather unlikely. Or B. she didn't have one, or better didn't have things like it. Which would explain the rudimentary yield she had of meat soup in her little vial. It would be rather hard to explain to the woman that he'd done a quest to become an artisan, constructed all of his own tools. Then a blacksmith, then made other equipment, then finished off as a tailor to make the last. Raising a finger, it would offer the universal 'ok' and begin to rub the beak as if deep in thought. There was a curious idea of offering her use of his lab, but that could be drastically dangerous. Her background he wasn't sure, her attachments could prove bothersome and more over putting all the eggs in the same basket seemed like a poor choice. However she clearly had 'something' or she wouldn't have been able to create even one semi functional sample.

He'd been meaning to create another safehouse, a fact that had yet to have a major purpose until now. He hadn't had any scares large enough to require him to do so. As useful as the girl was, she was still a rogue element. An unknown variable. Trust would come slow, for there was too much at stake. After all competence didn't equal reliability. Standing up straight from his lean on one of the side walls, he'd remove his watch and press the top to have it swing open. A glance confirmed the time, and he'd beckon with a wave of his fingers. They'd slip out through the back streets. The girl needed glass, brass, pipes, and supplies. The man couldn't offer her much more then a place to get started.

One of the only settlements to not give a flying fuck what your cursor was, with plenty of brass to go around.

A wall grinds out of the way, making it a short jump to the warp gate. A glance to the woman a point to her and another wiggle of his hand would convey running feet. He'd gesture to himself, and pull out a pair of glass balls that looked almost like snow globes without a base. About the size of a golf ball, filled with that familiar yellow sludge. He'd offer her one, then point at the street beneath their feet. Drawing a blade and pressing his back against the dark corner, he'd hold the blade straight toward the sky as it glimmer with the ball in his other. They just needed to get to the pad.

[Mari 1]

The man seemed to understand her panic, he didn't judge her poor attempt at a sample. At least, Mari didn't think he did. It was really quite hard to tell. She never had any sort of facial expression to go off - and his movements, even his pantomimes, were always so concise. As Mari fiddled with the contraption on his arm she couldn't help but feel a little envious. imagine having something like that of her own? Being an alchemist in and of itself had been useful - but Mari had grown bored with it, and never really did much with it beyond crafting things for frontliners. But this man had in no words - shown her an entire new world she could potentially play with. He simply told her 'okay' then stroked his beak as though in thought. Mari couldn't help but laugh at the gesture - the man had worn the mask so much so, that it was akin to stroking a beard - or scratching a cheek. The attire was an extension of himself. 

The man, who Mari still had no name for straightened - and checked his watch. With one short motion he beckoned her to follow, and follow Mari did - She wasn't sure why she so easily followed a man she knew nothing about - the allure of the unknown? The curiosity of his devices? The concern she had for her friends? It was difficult to pinpoint one exact answer. All Mari knew was she was doing this for herself, and herself only. Freyd had already shown great concern for this path. Mari had to try and assure him there wasn't anything wrong. That she was okay. Just...had a tendency to get a little tunnel vision. 

As the man paused, he pulled out delicate glass balls, handing one to Mari. Was this...she tilted a beaked head to the side as she held the ball up for closer inspection. That same yellow gas that had decimated the town guards earlier. The one that made her lungs burn. Made her skin burn. Oh

"M-Mustard Gas...?" She asked, her voice croaked and scratchy. Was that what it was? Mari felt a chill hit her spine when she said those words. As though spoken aloud had given the concoction extra power. There was hesitation there as she held the ball. It was one thing to do this to NPcs...but people? 

People would get hurt by this. Hell - Even Mari had been - her throat hurt, and her skin still prickled.  Even as he pointed the hesitation within Mari was evident. Her gaze shifted from the ball to the street below then back to the ball. They were empty...so it would be safe right? Her companion seemed like the calm and calculating type. He wouldn't involve other players in something like this - not when it'd so easily come back to him.

So Mari decided to put her faith in him. She threw the ball down onto the street - and it smashed open. PLumes of yellowed smoke hissed as they began to billow outward - and that's when Mari started to make her way to the teleportation pad.

[Vitreous 1]

As the gas would disperse into a thickened cloud, the man watches on listening for the footsteps. As if right on queue that marching rhythm started to bleed in from the south side. Like bees to honey, the array of metal tin men without souls wormed toward the players as if they'd tripped some sort of silent alarm. Lifting that marble sees it gleam, and with an overhand whip of his hand the thing crashes point blank against the town guardsman's chest plate. A wave of smoke released from pressurized glass, condensed it immediately mixes in the air like water from a tightly wound water balloon. It would pour over them as others from the side streets aimed to join them. The one impacted starts to writhe and drops, being the first to be debilitated and turned mortal instead of a strawman through its excruciating pain. The others, moving for the pad would find themselves lead straight into Mari's web like a black widow and dropping like flies. Offering the handle of his weapon to both hands, he slips a finger through a loop and tugs. The thing unfurls not unlike a pair of pliers and with a heavy tug it rips clean in half with a flash of sparks, producing two equivalent versions of the same serrated ritual knife.

That thing is flung at absurd speeds, clipping clean through ones armor and getting stuck in the eye of the one behind it. Another clasp of that blade and he rips off another copy, tossing them as he'd advance. Clamping onto the girl, she'd get pulled in and poked by all manner of little vials and baubles strapped to him like uncomfortable ribs and bone. "Floor 26, Ladonia" That rough and thick voice jumps from the mask, as the warp gate would scream to life. Within an instant, it finds them both in the middle of a populated city cloud and all. The nearby drones are rattled and flee the fog as he'd let her go after navigating the bill of her mask out of his armpit. They had some shopping to do, and the guards here didn't give a damn who they were labeled as.

[Mari 1]

Mari felt a strong arm clamp around her and pull her in close - she could feel various vials poke at her through the contact. This embrace wasn't warm like Oscars - it didn't bring a sense of peace. It felt like one almost out of necessity. The woman was very still, and very quiet as the man tightened his grip on her - rough voice calling out their destination. Warping was always a dizzying experience - and Mari had forgotten what it was like, as she was usually one to just walk everywhere. Her eyes shut tight and she allowed the brief sense of vertigo to pass.

The small woman was coughing, even as they exited the plume of smoke. She felt a strong hand pull against her mask - up and away from him. So Mari stepped back. She had no intention, nor desire to encroach on his personal space. She brushed herself down with the palms of her hands then frowned - turning them over to inspect them - they were looking a little raw red. Mari made a mental note to not touch her face until she had washed her hands.

Mari had never been to Ladonia before. She hadn't realized it wasn't exactly a safe zone. She tilted her head to the side - waiting for the smoke to clear. Then when it lingered she chose to step away from it - the two figures dressed all in black - a blot against shifting hues of death and decay. Not that Mari would ever fully make that connection.

Now they were a safe distance away from the teleport pad Mari grabbed the beak of her mask, pulling it up so she could give the man a quizzical look. "What's -" She paused. Her voice still hurt. Mari swallowed and continued through the pain. "What's here?" She finally asked. Mari never quite knew what to expect from him.  Was he going to take her to a workshop given their previous 'conversation' It seemed unlikely that it'd be his personal one. Last time he took her there - she had been unconscious for it.

Oh.

"4 Days." Mari stated - since he had not read her dossier she'd have to spell it out for him. "Do better." She chastised. "People were worried and..." Mari sighed, pulling the mask completely off her head for the moment. She clutched it in her hand. "I got into a fight with a friend - he didn't like that I seemed to be experimenting with things." Freyd was adamant that Mari had to look after herself, and Mari knew that it came from a place of worry, still...she didn't like the fact that they had clashed over something that genuinely interested her. 

[Vitreous 1]

In the square as all manner of people would flee, the crow stepped from the pad and reversed his grip on that knife. Shoving it up his sleeve, it disappears without even a peep. A glance back and forth, he'd scan them for signs of resistance or rebuttal. The township on this floor was so gloriously lax. They couldn't give a damn what they were up to, or frankly who they hurt as long as it wasn't sporting royal attire. A fine place for some procurement. Scanning the signs he'd begin to wander, looking for something that would leap out at him as a possible placebo or substitute for manual labor. This wasn't possible years back, mainly because this floor was only available in the most recent year. But given the circumstances and Mari's total lack of subtly this was their only safe bet.

Mari chokes and removes her mask, beginning to try and struggle out words. A point down to his arm, as if to explain physically that it may be a substitute for what she lacked. The man was still on edge, and the night was slowly pushing closer to morning. It wouldn't be long until players would start to rouse from slumber, bouncing around and sticking their nose into everything. "4 Days." The statement causes the man to perk up, looking at her over his shoulder finding it an odd statement.

"Do better."

His upper body would twist, finding the gall of the statement to be rather bitter. This woman couldn't help but fumble her way through absolutely every conversation and success, no matter how capable she was. The sheer irony in her undermining his work, his ingenuity while being as helpless as she seemed to be. "People were worried and..." There it was, that pathetic heartfelt pity. What a fucking waste, no matter how much she could be that moral high ground would always rear its ugly face. It showed in the cell, it showed when she destroyed that strain of MAV. A misguided sense of right and wrong. Drawing a blade, he was fuming at the horrendous squandering of his precious time and energy. Everything she could have been, yet it would all boil down to this.

Ripping the mask out of her hands as quickly as it was given, he'd shove her down and press the dagger through her right shoulder and into the street beneath. "A day for a simple protein...pathetic. I'm done....wasting my precious time on....weakness" That rough voice under a modulated and cool tone, as if empty of feeling. The dagger remained as he'd stand and move for the warp gate. He was done, no matter how capable she was.

[Mari 1]

Mari felt a sense of loss as the mask was ripped out of her hands. "H-Hey!" Then he pushed her down into the ground with a knee into her chest - and a dagger through her shoulder - effectively pinning her to the ground. "You FUCK!" Mari hissed. "I was worried about YOU! I was keeping YOU safe!" Mari winced as she ripped the dagger out of her shoulder and threw it to the ground.

weakness?

weakness!?

She was MARI. One of the strongest in all of Aincrad - and he called her weak. Mari stared at him with frustration. "Done?" No...that wasn't fair...it wasn't fair... people were always throwing her away when they were done with her.

Everyone...everyone did.

Mari opened up her inventory and pulled out a smaller vial - with a small amount of the orange liquid in it. Mari wanted to keep it, to study it. But she was just so...so... ANGRY.... Mari threw the vial toward him, - it uselessly smashed against the back of his outfit, fizzling.

"I refuse to be called weak."

Mari followed, not relenting. This wasn't fair. There was no way....

"Is it weakness to be cautious of others? " She asked.  "Im done with living for anyone but myself." Mari shook her head and shifted to stand in front of him. 

[Vitreous 1]

The rattle of a knife as it clatter to the street, popping in a disperse given it was a clone of his main weapon. The girl spat venom again but he was used to such shitty behavior from colleagues, this time was no different. The abrasive vocal lashings would find no purchase, and if circumstances were different it probably would have progressed much further. Thankfully most of his secrets were still held close to his chest, and his guard was correct to remain solid. An attachment and a projected expectation was not something that he had to oblige, or did he have to cater to her every need like a parent. The smash of a vial against his back splattered in a glimmer of glass shrapnel, returning to the ether like so many other objects. A child throwing stones.

The hasted tapping of footsteps to keep pace with his stride given how much she dwarfed beneath his leg span. Yet that cacophony of taps would speed up, as if stricken with desperation or desire. So she actually had some drive in those little bones? Being met with a sharp glare as she'd look up to him, bright orange locks matching them in intensity.

"Is it weakness to be cautious of others?"

"I'm done with living for anyone but myself."

He'd lean forward, locking beady little green eyes of the mask with Mari's. A close view would reveal the sharp and jagged slits of folding bits of brass that caused them to close in a counterclockwise 'retina' of sorts, showing that it had life all its own. They'd even narrow a bit, almost like the shutter on a camera lens as it would focus in on them. From his leather jacket, he'd pull a vial that he hadn't used on her. Even he didn't know if it was out of pity, remorse or a lost cause fallacy. But he hadn't when he very well could have. Perhaps he should have. Instead however, he'd give her all the proof she would ever need that he was right. "Prove it." as he'd pen the name: Hinata Rei to the slip of paper. A players name sporting a troublesome green marker, wrapped around the neck of a vial of the same blackened ink that had killed Jonathon Drake. Either her weapon would taste that toxin, or their business was done. Waving the vial out in front of him, this was her last chance.

[Mari 1]

He leaned forward, encroaching on her space and Mari stood her ground. Staring defiantly into his eyes. She had never noticed it till now - but those eyes. Tiny clockwork eyes of golden swirled to meet her own cerulean. She'd have loved to have analyzed that more - if given the chance, did they react to his own eyes? To emotion? So many questions. Despite the curiosity bubbling Mari did say a word. 

"Prove it."

Her head tilted as he wrote a single name on a piece of paper and handed a vial with it attached to to her. Prove it? "Hmm..." Mari took the vial and rolled it to and fro in her hands. What was to stop her from using it on him? Not that she would No... Mari only hurt those that deserved it. That was what she was doing for herself. 

Mari wanted to prove to this person that she was worth it.  But Hinata Rei? who was that? Why would he care what happened to her?

"I'd have expected you'd have used it on me." Mari mused quietly as she held the vial up to the sky - eyeing the liquid inside.

There was something about her demeanor. When Mari was focused - she was very focused. Poised. She held herself differently then when she had her guard down. It had a confidence, a purpose. It was the kind of dangerous caution that gave weight to the stories of her being one of the most dangerous Pkers.

Mari wouldn't give him his answer straight away - if this Hinata person deserved it - then so be it, but Mari wasn't going to just follow someone blindly. Mari pocketed the vial - then shifted her eyes back to him.

[Vitreous 1]

The eyes open up as he'd slide back, taking in the shift and finding it a lot more palatable then the complaining child that needed its hand held the whole way. A flick of his wrist would see the knife at his side slipped behind his right forearm, returned to the sheathe. A thrust of the mask back into her hands, perhaps his point was clear. He didn't have time for games, her friends, this horrid bitching about his own creations. None of it. He was beyond tired of children, and having interpretations of events thrust on him. The girl was probably no more then 50kg wet, so the fact of the matter is the girl would be dead if this wasn't a game. The amount given had left her under for far longer then necessary. And what she didn't realize is he had to bathe her ass, tote her around, feed her while making sure she didn't fucking choke and cloth her in that time. Just like a child.

"I'd have expected you'd have used it on me."

He'd offer a dismissive shrug, given he didn't quite have an answer for why he didn't. Probably because its a bit messy, it would put his name on the wall again. Something he was hoping to avoid. That and all those friends of hers would certainly start sniffing around. There was issues with it, yet he could easily deal with them. Probably. A tap of his foot, toes down he'd point to the sign he'd spotted right before he stabbed her through the shoulder. Right over the glowing red wound, ironically. Noticing it, he weighed if he cared enough. It would be rather annoying if she fucking keeled over after all this emotional one sided roller coaster. A heavy modulated sigh, his mind made up as he'd reach into a chest pocket and pull out a little silver case. From the same pocket the watch was. A safety measure, that he was once again providing for the woman. Pushing the small little square button, the case flips open to show five small ampules tipped with needles. Inside a vibrant green liquid that mirrored the IV bag from his lab. He'd gingerly look inside, pulling one out and shoving it into his neck.

A hiss as it is injected, and he exhales. Grabbing another, he'd hold it aloft between an index and a thumb.

[Mari 1]

A small sigh fell from Mari's lips. She hadn't realized she had been holding her breath - the mask had been returned to her and Mari somehow felt a little better. Mari thought about apologizing - but...he had stabbed her in the shoulder. A slightly numbing and tingling sensation that still ebbed. So - Mari simply held her tongue. When Mari made the remark on why he didn't use the toxin on her - he shrugged dismissively. In response, Mari pulled her hair back and clipped the mask back on. The less words said, the better. Mari kinda preferred it that way at times anyway. The inside of the mask smelt slightly of sulfur.

She thought he would either lead her onward, like their initial plan - or he would call it a day and leave her standing in the middle of the city. To her own devices. It was the former - they'd continue on. A beaked gaze would follow his pointed finger. A sign. Oh - an artisan store? Pipes? Pipes Mari's eyes widened. They were shopping to help her fashion some sort of devices similar to his.  Mari knew they were doing something akin to it - but wasn't sure on the specifics. 

Mari turned to enter the store but paused when she heard a sigh, followed by an impatient tap of a foot. Her beaked mask glanced over her damaged shoulder. Quirked in confusion as he puled out a silver case. Instead of asking questions Mari silently watched - he pulled out a needle - and with a hiss injected it into his neck. Why? Showing her it was safe. He handed a second to her.  Mari picked it up. Pausing to inspect the needle - the button seemed to release steam - which powered it into a more powerful release? Huh. A hand, still red and raw from exposure danced over the contraption curiously before she held it to her neck. 

hissss

shhht.

With a small hiss - the liquid was injected into the woman. She paused. It was a cooling sensation. Not unwelcome, not unpleasant. The area where the needle had been - was a little mofe cold, slightly uncomfortable. But it wasn't bad. She felt the soreness in her shoulder dissipate. She could have just used a healing crystal - or even leave it. Unless his knife had been tipped with something she had been unaware of.

Mari handed him back the syringe. 

"Thanks."
 

Edited 3 hours ago by Mari

[Vitreous 1]

Closing the small silver case, he'd wrangle it back into his chest pocket. He'd take the lead because he was almost certain she would abject to what was coming next. Moving up the stairs, Vitreous turns and looks down the streets of bronze. Even going as far to slink around the corners to peer down them. As soon as the coast was clear, he'd slide up the small staircase that led to the high rise door. It was still early enough that most shops were closed, but waiting for it to be open was hardly in the agenda. A quick and heavy pair of pounds on the door would see a small light turn on. The sounds of footsteps as the occupant would usher themselves down a set of stairs inside. Mari would only have an instant to see the blade help itself out of his sleeve, a sharp jerk firing it into his palm. The door opens to reveal a woman in her mid 40's, an NPC given the marker. "Yes, its a litt..." mid phrase, a blade slides through the bottom half of her jaw and out of her right eye as he wraps his left arm around her back and starts to drag her inside leaving the door ajar.

Her toes dragging as one black flat bottom shoe drops off, as he easily lifts her up by her own skull. Dropping her on the stairs he wipes the blade on his left shoulder. A flick of a lantern, the store was his to 'shop' in. The man would start to wander the shelves, collecting all manner of brass tubes and any bit of glass that wasn't taped down. Glasses, bottles, pens, sewing needles. The whole 9 yards.

Edited 3 hours ago by Vitreous

[Mari 1]

Mari followed him up the stairs, being sure to close the gate behind them. The place smelt welcoming, despite being an artisan there was a scent of baked goods in the air, of herbs and rosemary. Things meant to illicit feelings of comfort, and of home. Mari paused on the stairs to take in the scents. She had to admit...It was nice. Mari followed the man up the stairs - waiting as he knocked rhythmically on the door. The familiar sshiik of blade leaving its holster caused Mari to straighten- be more alert. Guards? 

A door opened to reveal a very homely looking woman in her 40's she wore a warm smile that beckoned the two of them in. Then, before the poor woman even got a sentence out - he slammed his blade up into her jugular. Mari flinched at the action. It was...a little brutal. The womans eyes bulged, then rolled into the back of her head. She gargled then fell dead. Mari felt nauseous watching the scene unfold. But the woman would respawn. Her head tilted staring at the body as Vitreous unceremoniously dragged her into the store. "Well, that's one way to shop..." Mari muttered. Again, Mari never really cared about NPCs- and he had made quick work of the woman. Still...it was so gruesome. Mari kicked her shoe into the store with a few half hearted kicks. 

With a 'thump' he dropped the npc on the ground and began pocketing wares. "Beginning to see why you have an orange marker." The comment wasn't judgemental, simply making an observation. Mari watched - seeing the types of things he would grab - then turned and started doing the same. She could have paid, Mari had plenty of col to spare - but their....partnership? Their whatever it was was already precarious. She didn't need to make things worse.  She grabbed a box and began to place various glass, bottles, needles, cases, pins, small metal bands - shafts, whatever she could fit in the box.

Her stomach churned.
her chest hurt.