pp-pt-f01 Do you like it? <<SotW: Keepers of Nature>>

[Lysette 0]

Life in Aincrad made for some real miracles.

Lydia stood over her bathroom sink, running her fingers over her bare, untainted arms. It was the first time since she was 16 that she was able to see the skin beneath the sleeves of ink. She always wore jackets, hiding her inkwork under layers of cloth. She did away with the piercings too, hand slowly moving down her midriff, her breath hitching when she didn't feel that ring beneath her fingertips. She felt clean for the first time in years. And sure, it was probably all illusion. They were still sullying her skin in the real world.

But here? She could live without feeling that itch.

She didn't need to be Lysette. Didn't need that carefully-curated image that her parents and her manager and the record label told her she needed to have. And she found that she didn't mind being just Lydia.

At least, so long as there was one person that liked the girl under the smoke and mirrors.

She ran her fingers through her hair, smiling faintly at the silver highlights and the golden contacts. Red was such an angry color. She didn't like looking at her new friends with rage in her eyes. They didn't deserve it, she would save it for the ones who did.

To Abellio:

Hey! I wanna show you something? Meet at the Floor One Plaza?"

There was only one opinion other than hers that really mattered. And she really hoped he liked it.

Spoiler

"Name: Lysette
True Tier: 3
Level: 22
Paragon Level: 0
HP: 455/455
EN: 62/62

Stats:
Damage: 19
Accuracy: 5
Evasion: 4
Loot Die: 31
Stealth Rating: 5
PARA

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<King's Betrayal>> T3 Perfect Polearm | PARA II, DMG I
Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<glasses>> T1 Perfect Trinket | 3 ACC
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<seafoam>> T1 Perfect Trinket | 3 EVA

Combat Mastery:
  - Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
  - 

Familiar Skill:
  - 

Custom Skill:
  - 

Skills:
  - Polearm R5
  - Unhindered
  - Keen Sight XV

Extra Skills:
  - Hiding R5

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:
  - Ferocity
  - Precision

Mods:
  - Surprise Attack: Trickster
  - Untraceable
  - Vanish

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:

Housing Buffs:

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:

Gathering Profession:
"                                                                                                                            

 

Edited 7 hours ago by Oscar

[Abellio 0]

Abellio was quick to answer Lydia's call. He leaned against the fountain, clear view of the Teleport Plaza. Each time it flashed to signal an incoming Player, his eyes lit up. Only to find himself disappointed that it was someone else entirely. And so it was for a few minutes, getting his hopes up and constantly deflating when the new arrival wasn't her. Each second that ticked by made his heart beat faster, redoubled his excitement. He was practically sparking with energy by the time she arrived.

At least, he thought it was her. She looked different. Same general style, far less ink and piercings. Her golden eyes were striking and those silver highlights seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. A long-lost doppelganger of Lydia's maybe?

But then she made a beeline straight for him. And her smile gave it all away.

"Oh my God," Abellio blurted out.

Lydia stopped short, just a small distance away from him. She seemed to recoil at his exclamation, her eyes softening. Wounded.

"You don't like it," she said, not asked.

Abellio shook his head. "Of course I do, you look amazing!"

He stepped forward, grabbing her hand and twirling her around, making a big show of taking the entirety of her new look in. Lydia laughed and shoved him lightly as she came back around to face him.

"Stop it! You're embarassing me!"

Abellio grinned. "Okay, okay. I guess I'm being a little creepy. But you're fucking stunning, Lydia. What made you decide to change it up?"

You're stunning no matter what style you're wearing.

Spoiler

"Name: Abellio
True Tier: 3
Level: 27
Paragon Level: 0
HP: 585/585
EN: 87/87

Stats:
Damage: 20
Mitigation: 109
Accuracy: 3
Battle Healing: 23
Stealth Rating: -5
LD: 20
BLD: 36 
PARA

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<Vanguard's Bastard Sword>> T3 Perfect OHSS | BLD II, PARA I
Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<Comfy Socks>> T3 Perfect HA | MIT III
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - <<glasses>> T1 Perfect Trinket | ACC III

Combat Mastery:
  - Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
  - AOE Shift

Familiar Skill:
  - 

Custom Skill:
  - 

Skills:
  - Battle Healing R4
  - Energist
  - Heavy Armor R5
  - Straight Sword R5
  - Keen Sight X

Extra Skills:
  - Forgotten King's Authority
  - Lady Luck
  - Assault Mode

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:
  - Ferocity
  - Focus
  - Iron Skin

Mods:
  - Impetus

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:

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.
  - 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
  - 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:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:

Gathering Profession:
"                                                                                                                            

 

Edited 7 hours ago by Oscar

[Lysette 0]

Her mood suddenly darkened. The smile slipped from her face, replaced by a slight frown. Lydia really wished Abellio hadn't asked him that. Because now that he asked, she needed to answer. And she remembered what he'd said. How he needed her to pay closer attention. How he had been so clearly and plainly honest with her. She would match his energy. Lydia had never really confided in anyone about her past or her life outside of the game. The sudden change would require that she explain herself. Or at least try to. To Oscar. To Warren. And Abellio especially.

She took a deep breath, opening her mouth to speak.

"You know, if it's too personal, you don't have to tell me," Abellio cut in.

And there he went again. Giving her the choice that the people who should have never gave her. Her eyes grew misty. But she wouldn't break down this time. Lydia was better than that.

Lydia was better than that.

"No," she said. "I want to. But it's a little fucked up. You sure you want to hear it? I don't want to be depressing."

Abellio nodded, taking her by the hand and leading her over to a nearby bench. He turned in his seat, his entire upper body facing her. She had his attention. His full attention. It seemed important and she was his friend. He'd fight tooth and nail against his impulsive nature to give her the focus she deserved. "Lay it on me," he said. 

[Abellio 0]

Lydia took another steadying breath.

"Okay, so," she began. And she gave him the entire story. About her job in the real world and about how she was never given a real choice about it all. She told him about the piercings and the tattoos done at her manager's behest. With her parents' blessing. She spared no detail about how much it hurt or the sharp "corrections" her mother gave her for having the audacity to cry. How dare she be emotional over her skin being permanently marked? Good girls didn't cry, even when the needles bit into her skin.

"But I'm here now. And I don't have to look at them if I don't want to. And I don't want to," Lydia said simply. She was proud of herself, not breaking down telling Abellio about her trauma. It might have been because of the way his jaw set as her story progressed. The way his hand found hers, fingers tightening in anger. He was shaking. And, for a moment, she was worried about how he would respond.

[Lysette 0]

Abellio had to think for a moment.

What was someone supposed to say to soothe years of trauma?

God, she probably hated herself. But at the same time, she was taking command of her life. From her skin, to her clothes, even the way she acted. Because she probably wasn't going to ever leave the town without that first push. And she would have never learned what she could do. Never would have found that confidence to just stop silently suffering with it all. Abellio's fingers curled around hers. He was suddenly keenly aware that their hands were entwined. But he couldn't pull away right now?

He wasn't a smart man by any stretch, but that was only because it was so damn hard to keep focused.

But Lydia commanded his attention. It was his turn to take a breath.

"You're beautiful with or without them," he said suddenly. Honesty, just like he promised. "Don't get me wrong, I liked the ink. But I love the idea of you being comfortable in your own skin. It's your body."

Edited 2 hours ago by Oscar

[Abellio 0]

She wasn't going to cry. Even though Abellio's words felt like a warm, comforting blanket draped heavily over her shoulders - oddly weighted yet so very light. She wouldn't cry. Lydia's eyes stung and her tears threatened to fall, but she wouldn't let them. She'd cry later. Right now, she just wanted to be in the moment. To enjoy her personal sun for just a bit longer before her own storm clouds obfuscated them.

She. Would. Not. Cry.

Instead, she twisted in her seat and scooted as close to Abellio as she possibly could. She felt him try to release her hand. She didn't let him, her fingers giving just enough resistance to make him stop trying. And, finally, she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. He was warm and inviting. She could have stayed like this for hours. But a slight smile rose to her face as she craned her neck to meet his gaze.

"Hey," she said sweetly. "Wanna go do a quest?"

[Lysette 0]

Abellio didn't want to move. Didn't want to breathe, either. His breath caught in his throat the moment Lydia scooted over. He tried to pull away and get some space, but she didn't let him. She just rested her head on his shoulder. Perfectly serene, perfectly relaxed. He could only match her energy. His back, once stiff and tense, melted as he heard her breathing slow. Abellio was screaming inside, but he kept it contained with just a small content smile.

After a while, he felt her shift. Looking down, he found himself staring straight into those piercing golden eyes. Her expression was soft. A small smile played at her face too as she met his gaze. Abellio wanted to say something, but his words caught in his throat. Who could dare to speak in the face of something so stunning?

No, not something.

Someone. Her. Lydia. His friend.

His friend that he'd come to think of as more than.

But, there was that fear. When friendship bloomed into something more and that concern that you would prefer to pine from afar than ruin what you had. He'd never been one to subscribe to the notion. But as his eyes locked with hers, he realized what people were getting at.

"Do you wanna do a quest?"

Abellio laughed lightly. Back to the origin.

"With you? Always."

Bold, but vague. But it was the best he could manage.

The two of them set off. Of the same mind without speaking. Towards the cave.

Traveling to Cave

Edited 1 hour ago by Oscar

[Abellio 0]

Always.

Was that excitement or a promise? Probably the former? Maybe the latter? What did always even mean? Didn't matter.

It just sounded so sweet when he said it.

Lydia would need to be forgiven for clinging to his arm the entire way to the cave. It was such a simple thing, but it was so foreign to her. Lydia knew the physical. Those brief moments of rebellion when her hangers-on were caught up in the lights and the bass of those concert after parties. The sins committed in a shadowy VIP section with some random guy who happened to catch her eye at that moment. Rebellion that served a purpose. Filled a need. It was her brand, after all. Of course the tattooed, sultry Lysette would get down any chance she had, with person closest in her orbit. Man, woman, didn't matter. That was the persona they'd made for her. And she was a good girl. She played the part.

But none of that felt quite so sinful as just holding Abellio's hand. Simply existing in his orbit. If he was her sun, did that make her his moon?

Or was she simply getting ahead of herself?

Lydia couldn't make sense of it all. This new blazing heat in her chest. It radiated out, down to her fingers and toes. They hadn't even put a label on it. No whispered confessions. They hadn't even kissed. But it was just so natural. And she couldn't wipe that contented smile off of her face.

Spoiler

Post Action -> Searching for Tablet
ID: 248282 | LD: 4+20
Running Total: 24

 

Edited 54 minutes ago by Oscar

[Lysette 0]

Pins and needles.

That's what he felt the entire way to the cave. Through the dark tunnel and into the cavern proper. He was constantly aware of Lydia's presence. Hard not to be, the way she clung to his arm for dear life. She had gone well beyond hints. Abellio wasn't that dumb. But he was absolutely chickenshit. He was convinced that if he just kissed her that it would be off to the races. The start of something special. Something real. But as convinced as he was, Abellio was equally convinced that he would fuck everything up if he did.

"Lydia," he said. "You're really close."

Her arms wound tighter around his. The ambient light of the cavern cast a verdant glow over her as she looked up at him. "Yeah?" 

Abellio spied the tablet they were looking for just behind her, sticking conspicuously out of a pile of rubble. "And there's the thing we're here for."

Lydia's eyes didn't move from his. She blinked up at him, slowly. Lydia thought for a moment, biting her lip. "Uh huh," she said.

And then she vanished from his sight. Before he could even make sense of what had happened, he felt a invisible hands grip his collar. He was pulled down, bent at the waist. And he felt a pair of soft lips press against his. It was just a quick thing. So fast that he almost didn't register. The next moment, Lydia had reappeared, holding the tablet in her hands and smiling brightly at him.

"What was-"

"Hm?"

Spoiler

Searching for Tablet
ID: 248283 | LLD: 6+30
Running Total: 60
Tablet Found

 

Edited 45 minutes ago by Oscar

[Abellio 0]

Thread Summary

Abellio | [Word Count: 2052/5 = 410.4] * [True Tier: 3] * [Group Factor: 1] = 1231 + 500 = 1731 EXP
Lysette | [Word Count: 2052/5 = 410.4] * [True Tier: 3] * [Group Factor: 1] = 1231 + 500 = 1731 EXP 

Both Players Receive: 1 Mon, 1 Token                                

Thread Transcript

Spoiler

Life in Aincrad made for some real miracles.
Lydia stood over her bathroom sink, running her fingers over her bare, untainted arms. It was the first time since she was 16 that she was able to see the skin beneath the sleeves of ink. She always wore jackets, hiding her inkwork under layers of cloth. She did away with the piercings too, hand slowly moving down her midriff, her breath hitching when she didn't feel that ring beneath her fingertips. She felt clean for the first time in years. And sure, it was probably all illusion. They were still sullying her skin in the real world.
But here? She could live without feeling that itch.
She didn't need to be Lysette. Didn't need that carefully-curated image that her parents and her manager and the record label told her she needed to have. And she found that she didn't mind being just Lydia.
At least, so long as there was one person that liked the girl under the smoke and mirrors.
She ran her fingers through her hair, smiling faintly at the silver highlights and the golden contacts. Red was such an angry color. She didn't like looking at her new friends with rage in her eyes. They didn't deserve it, she would save it for the ones who did.
To Abellio:
Hey! I wanna show you something? Meet at the Floor One Plaza?"
There was only one opinion other than hers that really mattered. And she really hoped he liked it. 
 Abellio was quick to answer Lydia's call. He leaned against the fountain, clear view of the Teleport Plaza. Each time it flashed to signal an incoming Player, his eyes lit up. Only to find himself disappointed that it was someone else entirely. And so it was for a few minutes, getting his hopes up and constantly deflating when the new arrival wasn't her. Each second that ticked by made his heart beat faster, redoubled his excitement. He was practically sparking with energy by the time she arrived.

At least, he thought it was her. She looked different. Same general style, far less ink and piercings. Her golden eyes were striking and those silver highlights seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. A long-lost doppelganger of Lydia's maybe?

But then she made a beeline straight for him. And her smile gave it all away.

"Oh my God," Abellio blurted out.

Lydia stopped short, just a small distance away from him. She seemed to recoil at his exclamation, her eyes softening. Wounded.

"You don't like it," she said, not asked.

Abellio shook his head. "Of course I do, you look amazing!"

He stepped forward, grabbing her hand and twirling her around, making a big show of taking the entirety of her new look in. Lydia laughed and shoved him lightly as she came back around to face him.

"Stop it! You're embarassing me!"

Abellio grinned. "Okay, okay. I guess I'm being a little creepy. But you're fucking stunning, Lydia. What made you decide to change it up?"

You're stunning no matter what style you're wearing. 

            
    Her mood suddenly darkened. The smile slipped from her face, replaced by a slight frown. Lydia really wished Abellio hadn't asked him that. Because now that he asked, she needed to answer. And she remembered what he'd said. How he needed her to pay closer attention. How he had been so clearly and plainly honest with her. She would match his energy. Lydia had never really confided in anyone about her past or her life outside of the game. The sudden change would require that she explain herself. Or at least try to. To Oscar. To Warren. And Abellio especially.
    She took a deep breath, opening her mouth to speak.
    "You know, if it's too personal, you don't have to tell me," Abellio cut in.
    And there he went again. Giving her the choice that the people who should have never gave her. Her eyes grew misty. But she wouldn't break down this time. Lydia was better than that.
    Lydia was better than that.
    "No," she said. "I want to. But it's a little fucked up. You sure you want to hear it? I don't want to be depressing."
    Abellio nodded, taking her by the hand and leading her over to a nearby bench. He turned in his seat, his entire upper body facing her. She had his attention. His full attention. It seemed important and she was his friend. He'd fight tooth and nail against his impulsive nature to give her the focus she deserved. "Lay it on me," he said. 
                     

Lydia took another steadying breath.

"Okay, so," she began. And she gave him the entire story. About her job in the real world and about how she was never given a real choice about it all. She told him about the piercings and the tattoos done at her manager's behest. With her parents' blessing. She spared no detail about how much it hurt or the sharp "corrections" her mother gave her for having the audacity to cry. How dare she be emotional over her skin being permanently marked? Good girls didn't cry, even when the needles bit into her skin.

"But I'm here now. And I don't have to look at them if I don't want to. And I don't want to," Lydia said simply. She was proud of herself, not breaking down telling Abellio about her trauma. It might have been because of the way his jaw set as her story progressed. The way his hand found hers, fingers tightening in anger. He was shaking. And, for a moment, she was worried about how he would respond.

 Abellio had to think for a moment.

What was someone supposed to say to soothe years of trauma?

God, she probably hated herself. But at the same time, she was taking command of her life. From her skin, to her clothes, even the way she acted. Because she probably wasn't going to ever leave the town without that first push. And she would have never learned what she could do. Never would have found that confidence to just stop silently suffering with it all. Abellio's fingers curled around hers. He was suddenly keenly aware that their hands were entwined. But he couldn't pull away right now?

He wasn't a smart man by any stretch, but that was only because it was so damn hard to keep focused.

But Lydia commanded his attention. It was his turn to take a breath.

"You're beautiful with or without them," he said suddenly. Honesty, just like he promised. "Don't get me wrong, I liked the ink. But I love the idea of you being comfortable in your own skin. It's your body." 

 

She wasn't going to cry. Even though Abellio's words felt like a warm, comforting blanket draped heavily over her shoulders - oddly weighted yet so very light. She wouldn't cry. Lydia's eyes stung and her tears threatened to fall, but she wouldn't let them. She'd cry later. Right now, she just wanted to be in the moment. To enjoy her personal sun for just a bit longer before her own storm clouds obfuscated them.

She. Would. Not. Cry.

Instead, she twisted in her seat and scooted as close to Abellio as she possibly could. She felt him try to release her hand. She didn't let him, her fingers giving just enough resistance to make him stop trying. And, finally, she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. He was warm and inviting. She could have stayed like this for hours. But a slight smile rose to her face as she craned her neck to meet his gaze.

"Hey," she said sweetly. "Wanna go do a quest?"

 Abellio didn't want to move. Didn't want to breathe, either. His breath caught in his throat the moment Lydia scooted over. He tried to pull away and get some space, but she didn't let him. She just rested her head on his shoulder. Perfectly serene, perfectly relaxed. He could only match her energy. His back, once stiff and tense, melted as he heard her breathing slow. Abellio was screaming inside, but he kept it contained with just a small content smile.

After a while, he felt her shift. Looking down, he found himself staring straight into those piercing golden eyes. Her expression was soft. A small smile played at her face too as she met his gaze. Abellio wanted to say something, but his words caught in his throat. Who could dare to speak in the face of something so stunning?

No, not something.

Someone. Her. Lydia. His friend.

His friend that he'd come to think of as more than.

But, there was that fear. When friendship bloomed into something more and that concern that you would prefer to pine from afar than ruin what you had. He'd never been one to subscribe to the notion. But as his eyes locked with hers, he realized what people were getting at.

"Wanna go do a quest?"

Abellio laughed lightly. Back to the origin.

"With you? Always."

Bold, but vague. But it was the best he could manage.

The two of them set off. Of the same mind without speaking. Towards the cave. 

 Always.

Was that excitement or a promise? Probably the former? Maybe the latter? What did always even mean? Didn't matter.

It just sounded so sweet when he said it.

Lydia would need to be forgiven for clinging to his arm the entire way to the cave. It was such a simple thing, but it was so foreign to her. Lydia knew the physical. Those brief moments of rebellion when her hangers-on were caught up in the lights and the bass of those concert after parties. The sins committed in a shadowy VIP section with some random guy who happened to catch her eye at that moment. Rebellion that served a purpose. Filled a need. It was her brand, after all. Of course the tattooed, sultry Lysette would get down any chance she had, with person closest in her orbit. Man, woman, didn't matter. That was the persona they'd made for her. And she was a good girl. She played the part.

But none of that felt quite so sinful as just holding Abellio's hand. Simply existing in his orbit. If he was her sun, did that make her his moon?

Or was she simply getting ahead of herself?

Lydia couldn't make sense of it all. This new blazing heat in her chest. It radiated out, down to her fingers and toes. They hadn't even put a label on it. No whispered confessions. They hadn't even kissed. But it was just so natural. And she couldn't wipe that contented smile off of her face. 

    Pins and needles.
    That's what he felt the entire way to the cave. Through the dark tunnel and into the cavern proper. He was constantly aware of Lydia's presence. Hard not to be, the way she clung to his arm for dear life. She had gone well beyond hints. Abellio wasn't that dumb. But he was absolutely chickenshit. He was convinced that if he just kissed her that it would be off to the races. The start of something special. Something real. But as convinced as he was, Abellio was equally convinced that he would fuck everything up if he did.
    "Lydia," he said. "You're really close."
    Her arms wound tighter around his. The ambient light of the cavern cast a verdant glow over her as she looked up at him. "Yeah?" 
    Abellio spied the tablet they were looking for just behind her, sticking conspicuously out of a pile of rubble. "And there's the thing we're here for."
    Lydia's eyes didn't move from his. She blinked up at him, slowly. Lydia thought for a moment, biting her lip. "Uh huh," she said.
    And then she vanished from his sight. Before he could even make sense of what had happened, he felt a invisible hands grip his collar. He was pulled down, bent at the waist. And he felt a pair of soft lips press against his. It was just a quick thing. So fast that he almost didn't register. The next moment, Lydia had reappeared, holding the tablet in her hands and smiling brightly at him.
    "What was-"
    "Hm?"

 

Edited 41 minutes ago by Oscar