[OP-F5] Do You Like Pina Coladas?

[Guest]

(These are gonna be long, well-written posts. If you can't meet those standards, then no Pina Coladas for you.)

 

Sand. Sand, everywhere. Keith heard there was an oasis out in Floor 5, and he needed a break from constant snow, but how was he going to find it? He held a hand over his eyes to block out the light, as if it would help him more. A few more steps through the hot sand and he would see the oasis. At least, that's what he kept assuring himself. He climbed over another sand dune, one of the many he had done. And looked up slowly again.

 

And then he saw it.

 

It was an oasis, with palm trees around it and a small smoothie shack nearby. Keith's face exploded with joy as he jumped up, running over to the oasis. He skidded to a halt nearby, and reached one hand into the water. This wasn't a mirage. He then thrust his head down into the water, holding his breath for a few moments before pulling out. Hopefully, he wasn't alone out here to party at the super duper amazing oasis for the cool kids.

[Arekkusu Sepera 0]

Arekkusu felt like he was on top of the world, staying in the highest peak of land… in a floor that he has cleared so many times… and is much lower of a floor level than he should be on. Regardless, he loved seeing the sight of the lands… until he noticed that there was one in particular that he didn’t recognize. It was covered in much sand, no surprise there, but there was water? Arekkusu wasn’t the biggest fan of water, not even close. He was more of a Fire type of person, hence why he is trying to mimic the Phoenix. Regardless, Arekkusu was thirsty for a drink, hopefully in was a spring that wasn’t filled with salt.

 

The distance was long away as usual, that was the point in Arekkusus hiding. He didn’t want to get caught, which ironically works in high places. Even when he does get caught by enemies he doesn’t want to encounter, he ends up running down on the other side, creating huge distance between Arekkusu and the enemies.

 

Despite the long distance, Arekkusu hadn’t had a drink for a while, about 6 hours since he had a drink of Ginger ale, or what he called Ginger ale anyways. That wasn’t the healthiest thing for him to drink, but any drink would suffice. It just turned out that Arekkusu was lucky to find water of all things.

 

Until… he realized he wasn’t so lucky. There was already someone who wasn’t drinking the water, but rather in it. Arekkusu could wait… he lost his favor for drinking the water now. He had been disappointed before, but not this badly. The distance of walking wasn’t fun either, and this was the result. Surprisingly though, it seemed rather lively for a 1-player spring. Maybe there were others coming his way. He didn’t know, but Arekkusu didn’t want to walk all the way back up the slope. So he decided to sit on the sand and rest for a minute.

 

“And I still need a drink of water.†Arekkusu panted out loud, once more using his bad habit of talking out loud, but he was tired. He wasn’t thinking too well at the current moment. 

[Lessa 1]

"Sand shark.... are you kidding... who even..." The woman muttered angrily, filling in choice cuss words wherever the opportunity arose. Her fair skin was slick with sweat. It pooled in the small of her back and between her breasts, and stray hairs clung to her beet-red face. The blinding rays reflected off the surface of her silver armor, and her heavy claymore felt uncomfortable on her back. The air was stuffy, and it burned her lungs with each breath. Twice, she was pushed to a coughing fit by simply inhaling. Once, someone had advised her on how to breathe in such conditions, but the words were lost on her now. Now, the woman focused on putting one foot in front of the other one. The quest she had accepted a while ago had not gone as planned, and now Lessa was left wandering across one of her least favorite floors. "I hate this place," she spat to no one in particular.

Her legs burned as the earth slanted upward under her boots. She had reached another sand dune, and as the fine grains shifted under her, the already weak woman had to work twice as hard to keep her balance. Now, more than anything, she wished she had brought a transport crystal with her. I need to get out of here.

Luckily, a surprise awaited her on the other side of the dune. As she crested the hill, her tired blue eyes found the oasis, and she heaved an excited moan. "Thank god." Slipping and sliding down the sand pile, Lessa lugged her limp body to the side of the pool. Though the appearance of two other familiar players took her by surprise, she barely noticed upon her arrival. As she closed the distance to the oasis, the sweaty blond brought up her menu, and swapped her battle gear for the teal bathing suit she had purchased with Celes. Just as the twisting ribbons of color died away, the woman let herself flop into the water.

[Guest]

Keith finally pulled his head back out of the water, breathing heavily as his blue hair matted down on his head, some of it getting into his seafoam-green eyes. His head had been under water the entire time, so he hadn't heard or noticed anyone coming onto the scene. Keith whistled as he slid open his menu, scrolling through his items and then stopping at the clothing items. He equipped a pair of white swim trunks, before unequipping everything else. Trotting up beside Keith, Ruby yipped happily and dived into the water, making a tiny splash.

 

Chuckling, Keith rubbed his neck and then backed up, running towards the pool and then jumping in. Keith held his breath and then swam back up, releasing his breath and just floating for a moment as Ruby doggy-paddled up alongside him, yipping happily as he rubbed up against Keith. 

 

Keith then just eased back, sighing happily as the refreshing coolness swept over him. It was definitely a welcome change from the heavy heat above. He floated on his back, with Ruby on his chest casually and lazily laid in the water. 

[Arekkusu Sepera 0]

Arekkusu couldn't even entertain himself either, he could barely move his arms. the rosin might melt in the sun, and the Violin strings would just about instantly break. Humans in the real world could die in this weather, and here he was, not even in the water. Drinking it was one thing, but to be in it... still, Arekkusu didn't know how hot the water was. Maybe it's like the average water, in which it were just a few degrees cooler than the sand, which doesn't really help. Then again, the water was designed in the game, and going through desert-like areas with a spring in the middle of it seems way too low of a chance for it to be done naturally. Maybe it was like a stopping point? The designers might've made it cool for this reason alone.

 

Arekkusu began sweating, the sand burning below his crossed legs. He felt his blood boiling in him, the water in his inventory left a long time ago, he was no beginner anymore. He needed to find his own solutions, and it was right in front of him the whole time. The water looked nice after a while, but that was out of desperation. Or maybe it was because two people were in it already, which really made drinking the water a bad idea.

 

Just... one. Arekkusu thought to himself as he slowly stood up from where he was sitting, dragging a bunch of sand onto his coat. Arekkusu looked through his inventory to look for his casual clothing, he placd them in one outfit so he didn't have to go by piece by piece. Once he clicked "Equip", Arekkusu clothing dissolved into the air, quickly materializing into the outfit he wanted to put on. He had a short-sleeved light blue shirt on with an orange "X" slicing down vertically. He wore Dark blue jeans that seemed to be a bit baggy for him now, proving that he needed to find some that are shorter. His spiked up boots were no longer on his feet, but rather, Black shoes with white stripes striking through the sides. His fingerless gloves left him with just his hands as well. There was no blade socket either, lightening the load the most, The Rising Edge being extremely heavy for him.

 

Arekkusu wanted to take in the atmosphere of the water, letting it cool him without him actually going in. It was going to be a while before he actually decides to go in at free will. Again, he isn't the biggest fan of water, even if it does cool him down. Besides, he didn't want to get his clothing wet. These are first-world problems, many would be grateful for an opportunity like this. But then again, Arekkusu would shun such thoughts but inviting them into his world if they wanted the water so badly.

 

Arekkusu rolled up his jeans up to his knees before sitting down once again. He took off his shoes quickly and his socks even quicker, getting more desperate for a cool down. Finally, he placed his legs in the water, taking in the cool feeling of cold water. This made his blood shutter in him in a cooling way, the water felt so great for his legs. He could understand why players would go in, and he could also understand why no pther players would even take a drink from it.