[PP - F8] During the Storm

[Ruby 0]

Takes place before: Boss Raid / After: Monument Thread and Halloween Event

Ruby had went back home after the whole party that had happened, she had kept thinking about the meetup at the monument and a part of her was worried that something might had happened upon that visit, and it seemed like her suspicions that something bad would happen had came true... it was coming close to evening and towards night, and the skies had seemed to get cloudier by the moment... she had sighed it was going to rain, she could fish comfortably to even get her mind of either. She had kept her thoughts to herself as she sat at her balcony looking out in the distance, she had seen no one, not a monster not even a soul. It was peaceful for once in her area, which was quite surprising. Ruby had shook her head, she needed to get her mind off another way... she had opened her menu's and sent a message to her newly found friend shes growing emotionally onto Jevi:

Quote

To: @Jevi

Hey, tomorrow's the big boss day... and, I know that we met not too long ago at the party... but, my mind is just going a million miles an hour. Can you come visit? I know its late and on floor 8 its looking like its going to rain, if you don't want to its fine... but I would really appreciate it if you could.

- Ruby

 

[Jevi 0]

The sound of the loud players at the bar drinking and pretending to be drunk echoed up through the wooden floor of the rooms above, where players without homes would rent out and reside for the night. The simple rooms contained nothing more than just a bed, a mirror, and a small table on the other side next to a window, a lamp on the wall to illuminate the room. On the edge of the bed sat the brunette, dressed in her nightly attire which was merely black leggings and a matching sleeveless shirt. In front of her, was an open screen,  the beginning of a private message to be sent out. The recipient of the message was Grave, the man she had once loved, and whom she thought loved him back. The details of the message asked, once again, about his whereabouts, but expanded from that. It went into how she had been feeling betrayed and lost, and asking why he was neglecting her as such. The end of the message served as the end of their relationship. With a heavy heart and sad, but determined eyes, her finger hovered towards the Send button.

Before she could tap the message, another popped up in its place, this one from Ruby. Her eyes scanned over the words on the screen, her blonde friend was requesting if she would be able to meet her on the Eighth Floor to help get her mind off of the upcoming boss fight. Despite the girl's conflicted feelings, she smiled softly and wrote out a reply to Ruby, telling her that she would be there within the hour. As she sent the message to Ruby, she had also closed out the message she was about to send to Grave, pushing it off to another time. Dragging her hand up once again to open the menus, she scrolled through her inventory and unequipped her clothes, leaving her in her underwear for merely a moment before they were replaced with her sky blue shirt and navy pants. 

Heading from the inn, Jevi made her way to the teleport gate in the center of town, warping up to Florenthia Village. Once she had arrived, she saw that it was a tad darker on this floor, thanks to the overhead clouds and impending rain storm. Sucking her teeth, the girl hurried off in the direction where Ruby's isolated shop was, hoping that she would not get caught in the rain. Jevi's luck had not run out, however, and she had made it to the front door of the Alchemist's lakeside shop without as much of a drop landing on her head. The girl knocked on the door, not noticing that Ruby had been standing on the balcony above her head waiting. 

@Ruby

[Ruby 0]

Ruby in her nightgown deep in her thoughts had sighed, a part of her really wonders what shes fighting for. She thought what would happen once they had gotten out, it was presumed that everyone must be in a hospital somewhere... but, she can only wonder whats waiting for her once she comes back... her roommate? Lord knows if he's going to let her back in or if shes even there, her parents? She doubted that her parents would fly to Japan to see her, even the friends she had met here... she doesn't know where any of them will be at, let alone if they'll ever meet. She had just thought... what was all of this fighting for? Out in the distance she had seen Jevi running to her house as it were about to rain, Ruby had moved inside and quickly walked downstairs and into her main store area opening the door to let Jevi in, Ruby had immediatly hugged her "I'm sorry for messaging you to see you this late Jevi..." after hugging her she had said to follow her as she escorted her out of the store area and her workspace upstairs where a table had been set up with a lamp in the center, she had sighed as she then heard a few drops coming from the sky with a sigh she had said out to her "Hopefully its a rare case where the rain ends soon... typically it rains all night once it happens, but... I just really needed to talk to you."

@Jevi

[Jevi 0]

As Jevi stood outside under the dark sky, she felt a droplet of water collide with her shoulder, and then her head. Frowning, the woman took a step closer to the door to try and shield herself from the oncoming rain. Only a moment had passed after she had knocked on the door did it swing open, revealing the blonde woman wearing a night gown. Before Jevi could even say anything or even greet the woman, Ruby's arms had extended forward, her body pressing into Jevi's as she embraced her, holding her tight. Taken by surprise, the brunette slowly brought her own arms up, wrapping them around Ruby for a moment. After agreeing to go to, what Jevi believed to be, her first boss fight.. the nerves and thoughts of the worst case scenarios must have been bothering her and running through her head. She separated herself from Ruby and smiled at her, ~"No no its fine." Ruby then led Jevi into her mostly empty shop, closing the door behind them. Jevi looked around to see where exactly the two would be conversing, but then Ruby led her to an upstairs portion of the store. Upstairs, there was a simple table set up, a lamp in the center being the one source of light in the room. Ruby had hoped that it would not rain all night, but she insisted that Jevi come over to talk. Jevi smiled as she sat down in one of the chairs around the table, ~"Of course, I know you've probably had a lot going through your head with this boss fight... and if it rains, I don't mind running back and getting a little wet." she said with a small giggle. ~"What is it exactly you want to talk about?"

[Ruby 0]

Ruby had placed her hands together as she had looked down after she had asked what exactly she had wanted to talk about, she had looked down with a bit of a saddened look and said "Well..." she had taken a deep breath before speaking out again "I've just went through a lot of thoughts lately... today more than ever, I just... well, I don't know." she looked to the side, she knew she should have prepared what she was going to say, she shook her head at this point she just wanted to say it how it is "Well... to be honest with you, I don't know what I am fighting for. I am fighting to get out and for all of us to get out... but. I don't really have anything to look forward to in the real world, dont have a significant other, I am starting to forget some things with clothing design, I havent done it a long time... don't really have someone in the real world to see other than maybe my mom and my dad, and we cant guarantee that we'll all see each other." she looked at Jevi and teared up, she shook her head and laid her chin on the table looking over "Even though I wanna see someone once this game is said and done..." she mumbled.

@Jevi

[Jevi 0]

Jevi listened to Ruby as she struggled to find the words to say, tearing up as she finally spoke up to Jevi. Ruby was conflicted about what it was she was fighting for, not only with the boss battle, but in the long run. Jevi's frown deepened as she gently fiddled with her own fingers on top of the wooden table, listening to every word Ruby said to her. Of course, she wanted to get out like the rest of them, for there was not a single soul stuck in Aincrad that did not want to return to the real world at some point. However, Ruby didn't know what she would have in her life when she returned to the real world... her skills were being forgotten, being replaced with survival and combat skills, she had no boyfriend or girlfriend to call her own to look forward to seeing again. However, her one string to hold on to of her real life seemed to be her parents, despite only touching upon the topic. 

The brunette swallowed down the knot in her throat that formed once Ruby mentioned her mother and father, still being alive and well, hopefully waiting for her on the other side. She reached a shaky hand across the table, placing it on top of Ruby's, and forcing a smile. ~"I'm sure you have more than that.. waiting for you." she said, her voice as shaky as her body. Her shoulders seemed to shudder as she held back the tears that created pools in her eyes,  ~"At least..... At least you have parents waiting for you.." she said, still trying to force that smile on her face to cheer Ruby up.. though it did not hide the sadness that she was keeping inside, bubbling up with the terrible memories. The memories of each of her parent's funerals. Her head dropped towards her lap, shoulders shuddering as she held back sobs. She quickly picked her chin back up and looked into Ruby's eyes, with a long inhale through her nostrils to push the sadness back down. ~"Well.. How about I come visit you when this is all over? A-And we can hang out. and be friends in real life. I..I can promise that I'll do that. At least you'll be seeing me." she said with a small giggle. 

[Ruby 0]

Ruby could barely look at Jevi after saying her words, she sat up after she had finished and looked down forming tears in her eyes. She had wiped her tears with one of her hands then she had seen Jevi's hand placed on top of hers trying to say out to her saying that there must be someone, then her words began to shudder as she had mentioned something about parents. She had tried to cheer her up, Ruby had shook her head and said out "No... I don't Jevi, for all I know they don't have a clue that I am even stuck in this game. After moving to Japan I just lost connection with them, and even then I doubt they would fly all the way out from America just to see me out of this game that they probably don't even know I am in in the first place, I don't really have any friends really in Japan, my roommate might just be gone for all I know. I don't even know if I can even recover my job either!" she began to cry out, however Jevi had said out that she could come visit her once its all said and done, and they could hang out and be friends, she shook her head and said "Again I'm in japan... and I just... I...i..."

@Jevi

[Jevi 0]

Every word that Ruby brought up about her parents was like a knife into her heart. Not only did she feel bad for Ruby that her parents were in a different country.. but at least they were alive. The brunette bit down hard on her lip as she listened to Ruby cry and tell her all about it, trying to suppress her own feelings. But she didn't know what to say anymore, and all of her emotions just bubbled over. Jevi brought her other hand onto the table, grasping both of Ruby's in her own and leaning forward slightly, the tears returning to her eyes. ~"Cecilia you know you're not the only one. I've didn't have any friends when I was younger. I don't have any friends now. I don't even remember if I had a job. My life was absolute [censored] before SAO too, thats why I spent half of my life's saving on it, to escape that [censored] [censored]." Tears finally rolled down her cheeks, ~"And at least your parents are still alive somewhere, and you can see them again." Her hands shook as she clamped down tighter on Ruby's hands, not only comforting the blonde, but trying to comfort herself. ~"And I don't care if you live in Japan and I live in America. I will find you when we get out of here.. we..we will continue to be friends.." She fell from the chair, onto her knees, throwing her arms around Ruby, holding the sobbing girl in her arms as comfortably as she could. ~"I'm sorry.. I'm so so sorry.. I know how you feel completely.." 

[Ruby 0]

Ruby had looked up briefly to Jevi which had related to her, tears had fell down her cheeks describing her own personal hell, saying that her life had been worse that hers. In a way she had felt like she was trying to say how much her life is worse... however, she's just trying to relate to her, eventually she had said out saying that at least that she had parents that are still alive, Ruby had blinked a few times realizing... her parents... have died? She was still upset and tearing up however she was just baffled how she described her previous life along with her parents being on top of that. Eventually she had said that she would find her once they had gotten out to still be friends, Ruby had said out after that statement saying "J-jevi I-" before she could finish her statement she had made her way over to Ruby on her knees throwing her arms around her, Ruby too falling her knees pulled her into a tight hug sobbing into her shoulder she had eventually found her words after Jevi's statement and said out "If only you know more about I felt really..."

@Jevi

[Jevi 0]

The girl was tired of crying. She had done more crying than she had done since her father died.. and she was still just as sick of it after all of these years. Her head shook from side to side, taking in deep breaths to calm her own emotions. ~"I-I'm so sorry.." she said with a sniffle, pulling herself away from Ruby's embrace. She found her way back to the chair she had fallen from, wiping the tears from her eyes, one last time hopefully. She shook her head again, trying to shake away the thoughts in her mind and the lump in her throat. ~"I came here to help you.. to cheery you up. And here I am.. talking about my own past. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."  Her tanned hands ran through brown locks, pushing all of her hair to the back of her head, some of the bangs returning to their natural place, others flipping out to the side. Another large breath entered through her nostrils as she continued to compose herself. ~"I just haven't spoken about all of that in so so long.. I just needed to let it out.. But.. I came here for you, not for you to hear about me." However, as Jevi rambled on with her apologies, one small piece that Ruby mentioned had almost gone ignored. She looked over to the woman, staring into her fuchsia eyes, ~"What do you mean.. about how you feel?"

[Ruby 0]

Ruby had looked to Jevi still with tears in her eyes when she had said she was sorry, Ruby had shook her head and said to her "You don't have anything to be sorry for Jevi." she had let out  small chuckle. Ruby sniffling she had tried to wipe the tears out from her eyes as she had listened to Jevi speak out, she had shook her head and said "Jevi... just because I called you here to talk to me doesn't mean you can't talk about your past." she had eventually just said that she hadn't spoken about it in a long time and she had just needed to let it out, Ruby had shook her head and said "And I am here for you, sometimes coming for someone can lead to caring each other its okay." Eventually... she had asked about how she had felt, she was very embarrassed to admit this and she had felt guilty because of the relationship she was in... Ruby stood up and didn't know what to do she took a few steps back and said almost hyperventilating "I-i just... I... well... you said to be friends and a part of me... just..." she shook her head and said out "...begs and hopes for something more." she shook her head crying again before heading to her room closing the door "She has a boyfriend I cannot believe I let myself get to that point..." she had said out to herself she had thrown herself on the bed placing a pillow over her head and essentially is punching the pillow essentially beating herself up about it.

@Jevi

[Jevi 0]

Jevi watched as the blonde stood up over her, revealing what exactly she had meant. Her words had stammered out in a nervous rush, but Jevi understood enough to know what Ruby was saying. She had thought that.. all the flirting and care she was shown was just out of fun, and because of their friendship. Jevi did not realize that.. Ruby had actually developed feelings for her. With wide golden eyes, she could only watch as Ruby, with tears in her eyes, stormed off into the next room, slamming the door behind her. The brunette placed a hand over her mouth in shock. Did she really care about her that much? She had not been shown that much care since.. since Grave. And now, he was no longer around. The conflicted woman stood up from her seat and walked over to the window of the balcony, looking outside for a moment as she thought about what she should do. With a deep breath, Jevi turned around and slowly made her way to Ruby's bedroom door. Her hand hesitantly reached for the door knob, slowly twisting it to open the door, revealing Ruby crying on her bed, beating a pillow that was over her face. The brunette hurried forward, grabbing both of Ruby's wrists to stop her from hitting herself,  ~"Cecilia! Stop!" she yelled. She pulled the girl upwards so that she sat in a sitting position, the pillow sliding off of her face. With a heavy sigh, she sat down beside the woman, her hands still clutching at her wrists. ~"What the hell are you doing?" Her eyes looked stern, but concerned. 

[Ruby 0]

Ruby had cried and she kept hitting the pillow "Stupid... stupid, why would I ever do that..." she thought to herself when she was doing it. While she was doing it she had heard the door open and footsteps coming to her, the woman had grabbed onto her wrists and pinned them down against the bed asking her to stop. She had cried, she was really disappointed in herself and embarrassed, eventually she had asked out after the pillow falling off and still clutching onto her wrists she had said out "I... I was just beating myself up about it... I- I know that you are in a relationship and I just- fell for you, what seemed like it was head over heels, and..." she started to cry more she shook her head "I don't know it seemed unfair I guess... why did I have to fall for you? While you were in a relationship that's already being stressful, and- and, I don't know... I just want something to at least fight for." she had cried out, she didn't care that she was crying her hardest, she was just ashamed in herself and embarrased that it had gotten to this point.

@Jevi

[Jevi 0]

With tears rolling down her cheeks, Ruby told Jevi just why she had been beating up on herself. It hurt her that she had developed feelings for Jevi, despite believing that she was still in a relationship, and she regretted telling her all of these things. Jevi looked to the girl as she continued to sob, trying to look into her glistening eyes full of tears. Yellow orbs went back and forth from the crying eyes to her quivering lips as she stammered through her words to try and explain her reasoning to Jevi, not sure why she had to fall for her and all. The brunette simply rolled her eyes, ~"Oh shut up." She leaned her body forward towards Ruby, her eyes closing as her face closed the distance between her and the blonde. Before Ruby had any chance to reply or do anything herself, Jevi had slightly puckered her lips and pressed them into Ruby's. She felt the warmth of her lips, as well as the warmth from her moist cheeks. Slowly, she brought one hand up and rested it on Ruby's upper back. All of the feelings she had been hiding for the girl herself she finally let out in this moment. 

As their lips separated, she looked to Ruby, her cheeks a slight tinge of red, ~"Never regret having feelings for someone.. you can only regret if you don't do something about it." The woman then shook her head, ~"I took your advice.. as far as I'm concerned.. what was between Grave and me is over.." She looked over to Ruby, who still seemed a little shocked about her kissing her, chuckling, ~"Oh come on.. you showed me more care than anyone has in the past half a year. Did you not think I was going to start liking you too?" 

[Ruby 0]

Ruby had looked towards Jevi as she had rolled her eyes and had told her to shut up, Ruby was almost worried about it, however before she could really say anything else she had moved in to kiss her. Ruby's eyes had widened and her chest had moved upward as if her heart was trying to claim this girl for itself. Eventually she had moved her hand to her upper back and Ruby had closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around her neck. As they had separated she didn't say anything she was at a lack of words, she was happy yes, but she was also confused. Jevi had given her words of wisdom then had said that she took the advice and as far as shes concerned the relationship was over, she was just... shocked that she had felt this way too, she had moved one arm to wipe of her tears from her face and placed it back around her neck where she had let out a chuckle after her last statement "W-well... it's just shocking that you felt that way too..." she looked to the side blushing, she blinked and looked back forward to Jevi and said "W-well... after this boss battle is said and done, w-would you go on a date with me?" she giggled.

@Jevi

[Jevi 0]

Jevi cocked a brow when Ruby said it was still shocking to her, ~"Oh come on.. a hot girl saves my life, and shows me the love of a friend that no one else has for awhile? I'd be stupid not to fall for her." She chuckled and winked playfully at the girl. Was this truly what she had wanted? For her relationship with the man who showed her love to be over, to replace it with Ruby? Or was she just lonely.. and this was the best chance at fixing that. No, she shook the thought out of her mind. She wanted this, just as  much as it seemed Ruby had.. Jevi was just a bit... more patient. A bashful Ruby rubbed at the back of her neck, asking if she would be able to take Jevi out on a date after the whole boss fight was over. Jevi smiled and nodded, ~"Yeah. I'd like that." The girl's yellow gaze took a more stern look as she leaned towards Ruby again, poking her in the upper chest and holding her finger there, ~"You just better come back alive.. you hear me?" Her scolding look turned into a smirk as she chuckled, ~"But now it looks like you have someone worth fighting for." Despite her jokes, Jevi still worried for Ruby.. though she knew Jomei and the others would keep her safe. After a moment, Jevi looked into Ruby's eyes yet again ~"Just please.. stay safe." 

[Ruby 0]

Ruby had listened to Jevi and she had let out a small chuckle she had said out to her as she had winked at her "Well... I suppose you have a point, but I don't think I am that attractive." she giggled. After she had asked her out on a date after the boss, she had said out to her that she would like that, Ruby had smiled then was almost concern when she had gained a more stern look, she had placed a finger on her chest and said out that she better come back alive then with a chuckle had said out that she had someone to fight for, Ruby had giggled and said "I will come back alive, I promise... I will be safe, at least as safe as I can be." she took a moment and took a look at Jevi she eventually let go of her neck and took the pillow and placed it under her head as she had went to lay down, she had then looked up to her, eventually she had broke the silence and asked again to stay safe, "Of course Je- er... Alexandria, I will be as safe as I can-" she moved her hand on top of Jevi's "-for you." she smiled at Jevi.

@Jevi

[Jevi 0]

Jevi smirked and shook her head, ~"I beg to differ." she said under her breath about Ruby believing that she was not attractive. Ruby promised Jevi that she would stay safe during the boss fight, referring to her by her full name. Jevi smiled at Ruby, ~"You can just call me Alex." she giggled. As Ruby removed her arms from atop Jevi's shoulders, and hands from the back of her neck, she laid down on the bed. ~"Good." Jevi said with a nod. Her gaze turned forward and towards the floor, ~"When you said you were going.. I almost jumped and said that I would go with you.. to fight along side you." she shook her head and chuckled, ~"But I'm nowhere near any of your levels.. I would have gotten my ass killed." she turned to look back at Ruby, ~"You probably would not have forgiven me if I did that." She looked at the woman who laid beside her for a moment, a pink tint on her cheeks. After a few deep breaths, she moved herself to the other side of the bed and laid down beside her, staring up at the ceiling. 

[Ruby 0]

Ruby had looked up at Jevi as she had said out that she could just call her Alex, and went on saying that she had half a mind to join in the fight to fight along side her, but she didn't join since she wasn't high enough level and probably would have gotten herself killed, and that she wouldn't have forgiven her for it, Ruby had thought about that for a moment, then before she knew it she had laid down beside Ruby, she had looked over and moved her hand to meet hers, she resisted to hold it for a moment however she wrapped her hand around hers holding onto it, with a smile she had said out "I wouldn't have forgiven myself. I am the healer and I failed my job by not keeping you alive. ...but, you shouldn't have been there anyways." she closed her eyes and smiled widely shifting her body over to her placed her head on her shoulder.

@Jevi

[Jevi 0]

Jevi felt a sense of contentment in her mind as she felt Ruby' hand brush against her own, before her fingers laced with hers and took her hand in her own. She looked down at their hands before looking over at the blonde, who shifted her body towards Jevi, gently resting her head on Jevi's shoulder. The woman smiled and let out a soft sigh of relied. ~"I know, thats why I'm still going to stay away.. Until I'm ready. I still have a very long way to go before I can catch up to you guys." Her eyes closed, moving her head to the side so her temple rested against Ruby's head, the comfort she felt laying in the bed with Ruby was unlike any she could get at an inn's bed.. the pure bliss of laying with someone she cared about. After a moment of silence, Jevi's golden eyes opened, turning to look at Ruby. ~" ... do you really want to fight? I mean... like you said.. you didn't know what you were fighting for. So.. why did you agree to go with Jomei?"