Acanthus

THREAD SUMMARY Experience. [Word Count: 8572/10 = 857.2] * [True Tier: 8] * [Group Factor: 1] = 6858 EXP (Note: I did not count the weird spammy code ChatGPT I wrote in the post #10. I *did* include the words that the binary spelled because those are actual written words :eyes:) Col. 400 (bonus page) + 1028 (Laurel Wreath) = 1428 col Other. The ability to get toasty, baby. (<<Lightweight>> debuff applied. Can now get intoxicated.)

Acanthus came to sprawled in the floor of the filthiest bar in Aincrad. Her head pounded without mercy—not a new experience, regretfully. Her eyes shot open. “Edict—” As she expected, he was gone. Not a trace of their conversation remained. The bar had been emptied, as if she had never been there or made a shipment. Instead, the same vile bottles from the bar’s initial selection graced the shelves. The only evidence that last night had been real were her memories and a strange status effect that refused to go away. Her memories. She bolted upright. Didn’t she try to kiss Edict? Oh, *

A Drink on the House 243551 | CD 4 | Peach Cider ----- Entering the bar one more time, she rubbed her eyes in shock. Her legs grew weaker with each heartbeat. “E… Edict? Oh my god. Edict. I thought you were dead.” “That’s funny. I don’t really feel alive.” He stared at the back of the bar, avoiding her gaze. She continued with trepidation, as if every question bore the risk of disintegrating her friend. “...I saw your name on the Monument. You’re dead.” “Different guy.” “Different?...” Edict cocked his head, still talking to the far wall. “In a game with 10

It was time to head inside the bar again. Somehow the sight of her first gruesome mob fight on the floor had become a sight for sore eyes. The door limped open and closed on an invisible wind, and the cracked windows let in more rain than they blocked out. Part of her eagerness was the vain hope that led her here in the first place. Two hours ago (assuming that freakish distortion hadn’t prolonged her sense of time), a message appeared in her inbox in duplicate. Apparently, she had sent it to herself a week ago. Why it was only appearing now was anyone’s guess. But the invitation made her

In all honesty, Acanthus liked the taste of beer. It didn’t burn like hard liquor, and the bubbles were oddly soothing to her palate. She tried heavier beers and didn’t like them—they were overwhelming. Plus, they needed to be nursed carefully. Acanthus liked having drinks, not nursing them. So whenever she went out, light beer was her weapon of choice. Haru felt for the flask in her bag. The smooth, cold steel soothed her nerves. She preferred beer, or sake if liquor was a must, but practical concerns required vodka: odorless except for that necessary sting, and easy to mask. A test of t

“Isn’t this steak incredible? I had it imported. My chef only works with the best cuts, but the work he produces is undeniable.” The membrane that separated Haru’s thoughts from her words was weakening. I don’t even like steak that much. I would kill for a large bowl of ramen. “It’s sensational.” She cut into the entree with the enthusiasm of a distracted toddler and forced a bite into her mouth. The taste felt rubber and artificial. She panicked. No, I liked food back then. That’s not how this memory goes. She pleaded for Cardinal to stop. You can’t alter these. It’s all I have left

Akihiko and Haru drove up the mountain in comfortable silence. After twenty minutes, Haru asked in wonder, “Are we driving to the next island over? How far away does the director live, exactly?” Akihiko chortled. “He does appreciate his peace, quiet, and luxurious mountain view. The only thing he loves more is showing people how good the view is.” Another few switchbacks brought the house into view, and Acanthus struggled to take it all in. “That’s not a house. That’s a mansion. It looks like the size of the hospital.” “The Director really does live the good life.” “Does being o

Eiji appeared next to Haru’s desk again, his usual cheer noticeably absent. Haru spoke without looking up. “Another dinner, then.” Eiji groaned in confirmation. “That stuffy old man ruins the mood without even trying. I swear, he—” “—he is responsible for funding our branch of the hospital.” Mr. Nakatani cut in. “And he’s taken a special interest in the work we’ve been doing. Work that’s ended up spearheaded by our used-to-be intern, Haru.” Mr. Nakatani glanced sympathetically over to Haru. “I know it’s not how you’d prefer to spend your evenings, but networking is unfortunately very impo

Meter by meter, the carriage overtook the mysterious player’s steps. Despite the rattling wheels, the figure did not so much as glance behind. Had she been on any other floor, Acanthus might have written the oddness off as a person lost in thought. But Floor 29 lived to play nasty tricks on its victims. Close enough to make out the figure’s light copper hair, Acanthus prepared for anything. In the single, sharp sound of bone splintering, the mimic’s head snapped around like an owl, staring Acanthus in the eyes. It wasn’t just a mimic. It was one of the Gemini. How else did the thing know

Acanthus piled the last box onto the carriage. The work had moved slowly, but that was fine with her. Blood was still finding its way back to her fingers after her brief encounter with… the quest? Whatever had happened did not conform to any question she had been on. Even her experience with the glitched monsters on level three hadn’t quite compared. Those were still things that she could see and process. Her experience on the boat seemed like a burst of data she could not possibly process—like an ant trying to comprehend the lines of a book as it crawled over something it had previously regar

The atmosphere was anything but celebratory. Eiji had barely touched his food. Akihiko had a sober frown that she had only seen on the worst of work days. The entire team seemed devoid of their usual personalities, and it made Haru sad to see them so muted. “I understand your team has refined the workflow in a profound new manner. The reports seem to confirm that: more productivity than the rest of the hospital combined, and with half the manpower. Truly an impressive achievement.” “An achievement impossible without our newest member.” Mr. Nakatani signaled to Haru, who stood up clumsily

“Haru Masuda.” She seized, noticing the Director’s gaze. “Noboru Masuda’s daughter, yes?” Haru nodded meekly. Center of attention was worst of all. And today, she did not have her fermented weapons to protect her. The Director returned her nod. “An able doctor. Though less efficient since he took a sabbatical six or seven years back.” The rest of the table paled; Mr. Nakatani quickly jumped in. “Haru has been—” “I was talking to Masuda. Which you should also refer to her as, unless there is some closeness that I am unaware of?” The color from Mr. Nakatani’s face drained. He managed a

Smack

Your help terrifies me Recovery. +4 EN. +7 HP Main Action. Rest +10 EN 243489 | CD 8 | No Madness gained. (0 total) [5] Acanthus | HP: 168/200 | EN: 26/38 | DMG: 10 | MIT:56 | ACC:3 | AA | FL.AURA: 4 | THORNS:18 | BH:7 | HB: 9 | LD:3 | Hype 1/3 | Sanity 2 [0] Hirru | HP: 138/200 | EN: 27/38 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 42 | ACC: 1 | BH: 7 | HLY BLS: 9 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 2 | THRNS: 18 | PARA | ENV-0 8 | LD: 3 | Hype 2/3 CD 3/3

smack