[F14 - PP] A Budding Friendship <<The Lich's Calling>>

[Bahr 0]

Bahr's eyes lit up as he witnessed Lessa charge in, her rosy sword slicing into the nasty creature and depleting its HP by about a third. The light was struck from his eyes as quickly as it came at the realization that she had been cleaved clean of the creature, skittering across the cobble and coming to an abrupt stop alongside her familiar. No... The color drained from his as face at the same rate as the HP from her health Bahr, horror masking his visage followed by a tinge of rage. Not at her. Not at the Lich King. But at himself.

They had a plan. He had cast it aside. Why? Oh, that's right. He'd wanted to have 'fun.' Stupid. All energy in this life flows according to the whims of the Great Cardinal. How foolish he had been to defy it.

He poured energy into his blade and dashed forward, each stomp of his boot against the hard floor of the arena shredding through the silence and bouncing off of the walls. It was eerily quiet, save for the sound of his advance and the winding whistle of the Sword Art activating. He jumped toward the skeletal mass, prepared to strike when... the Sword Art flickered away, leaving him airborne with a sword raised and nothing to back it up. "Damn it-" The Lich King caught him with its forearm by his stomach, casting him away easily before continuing its stride toward Lessa.

It was the damn sword. It was rejecting him. Egging him on to give into that blind rage and render control to the blade. He couldn't afford to. He needed his focus now more than ever.

And then it happened again.

It sunk its sword through her abdomen and into the ground, pinning her there like a limp kabob near a campfire. His frenzied eyes made contact with hers as he scrambled off of the ground, everything moving in slow motion. Her HP cascaded into the red faster than he could reach her. And before long, that was all he could see - red.

No.

Snap back. He was still running toward her. He was still praying he could make it in time. He couldn't bear to see another name of someone he knew crossed out on that damn Monument.
 

Spoiler

[H: 1] Lessa: HP: 371-330=41/700 | EN: 57/70 | DMG: 11 | MIT: 72 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 3 | THN: 18
[H: 0] Bahr: HP: 680/680 | EN: 51+3-2=52/66 | DMG: 15 | MIT: 48 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3
CD: 11 (2 extra Energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x13] Galaxy Destroyer, -2 EN FOR MISS

Lich King: HP: 207/350 | DMG: 400 | ID: 122960 | BD: 2+3=5, Miss | MD: 10, Crit for 402-72=330 DMG to Lessa (after her turn)

 

[Lessa 1]

The woman inhaled deeply, willing her heart to slow it's frantic gallop. She was fine, Riker was fine, everything was fine. Sure, her health had taken a hit, but that was bound to happen. It was all part of the game, right? Part of their way of life? Just because she had removed herself from the battlefield didn't change that fact. Sword Art required a bit of risk, though she had hidden from it for far too long. She might take a beating, but she'd make it. She would be fine.

It was easier to blame her metaphorical bumps and bruises on Bahr, who had acted so recklessly in the first place. Had they targeted the Lich King together, the pair easily would have put him down without the problems they now faced. Why is he so rash, she asked herself as she watched him target the Lich himself. Whatever drove his frenzied combat style, it ran deep.

And for that reason, she really wanted to hate him when his attack missed its mark. It would have been so much easier to fall back on rage, and he was such a convenient target.

There he went again, screwing everything up, and wrecking any chance they had at success.

He should really get his act together, and start being a team player.

But those thoughts, and the blood-boiling resentment, never came. In fact, it was a spark of concern that flared as the Lich batted Bahr away like a child's forgotten plaything. And when the boss rounded on her, shadows playing across every line and curve of his ornate armor, that spark became slow-burning fear. Cloak! Evasion! was all she was allowed time to think before the Lich King's blade plunged through her midsection. Her stunned body toppled, her head bouncing pitifully against the stone.

Perhaps it was the terror racing through her, or the simple sensation of watching her health plummet, but the Lich's weapon tore a tortured scream from her chapped lips. Though she felt no pain, she knew she was dying.

Spoiler

[H: 1] Lessa: HP: 371-330=41/700 | EN: 57 + 1 = 58/70 | DMG: 11 | MIT: 72 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 3 | THN: 18
[H: 0] Bahr: HP: 680/680 | EN: 51+3-2=52/66 | DMG: 15 | MIT: 48 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3

Lessa does nothing.

Lich King: HP: 207/350 | DMG: 400 |

 

Edited August 28, 2019 by Lessa

[Bahr 0]

One step closer. Her health continued to drain. Another step. It depleted further and further. Almost there. His sword turned red. It all turned red. Everything. All of it. He attacked.

How the hell is this thing still alive?

The blow-back from Bahr's assault had rendered the creature across the stadium. Somehow it hand managed to cling to life. Cardinal was at it again. He hastily snatched its blade and pulled it out of Lessa's abdomen, casting it aside as concerned eyes scanned over Lessa. She was alive, barely. 

His gaze couldn't linger long. More mobs were upon them. The first tried a straight thrust with its blade toward Lessa, sensing that she was on the brink. Bahr stepped in front of the attack and jammed his sword into the ground, shoulder checking it into the soldier's sword, thwarting its attack and sending it stumbling backward. But there was yet another monster upon them already coming in at Lessa from the adjacent side. He scrambled to place himself in front of the attack, his hand fumbling for the hilt of his sword but unable to grasp it. Its blade sunk into Bahr's shoulder, but that was okay. He had taken the damage, not her.

Good. 

Good. She was alive. 

"Arms around my neck, now," he commanded as he pitched forward, wrapping one arm around her waist and hoisting her off of the ground. His free hand grasped his sword and carried it along as he dashed away from the mobs and their follow up attacks, past the Lich King's greatsword which had still not been recovered and toward the far side of the arena. Once it seemed like the coast was clear, Bahr finally released the breath he had been holding back. He set her down, arms trembling, eyes gracing hers for only a moment before he looked off to the side. "I'm really sorry. I..." A squeak came from his throat. "I'm sorry."

He had to get away from her before he turned into a puddle. He couldn't even afford to look at her without guilt anchoring him into position. He needed to finish what they had started. He turned and stared down the mobs, each shambling toward the duo at what almost seemed a leisurely pace. It seemed the Lich King had finally recovered its weapon. With a sigh, he stepped forward and back into the arena, tossing his sword nimbly into his dominant hand and getting ready for whatever came next.
 

Spoiler

Encounter: Shambling Soldier 3
HP: 100 | DMG: 140
If not killed immediately, they will begin to attack each other.

Encounter: Shambling Soldier 4
HP: 100 | DMG: 140
If not killed immediately, they will begin to attack each other.

Spoiler

[H: 1 - 0 - 0] Lessa: HP: 41/700 | EN: 58/70 | DMG: 11 | MIT: 72 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 3 | THN: 18
[H: 1 - 0 - 0] Bahr: HP: 680-93=587/680 | EN: 52+3-13=42/66 | DMG: 15 | MIT: 48 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3
CD: 10 (2 extra Energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x13] Galaxy Destroyer, -13 EN

Lich King: HP: 207-195=12/350 | DMG: 400 | ID: 123000 | BD: 6+3=9, Hit for 15x13=195 DMG | MD: 2-3=-1, Miss
Shambling Soldier 3: HP: 100/100 | DMG: 140 | ID: 123002 | BD: x | MD: 7-3=4, Miss
Shambling Soldier 4: HP: 100/100 | DMG: 140 | ID: 123003 | BD: x | MD: 9, Crit for 141-48=93 DMG to Bahr

 

[Lessa 1]

When he demanded her cooperation, she gave it willingly. Lessa's eyes were twin saucers, wide and unfocused, as she grappled with the sensation of being skewered. The blade had pierced her, and been ripped free, but she had hardly felt a thing. Save for a tingle, like a foot fallen asleep, there was no bodily evidence that she had taken the hit at all. The entire thing was akin to watching her hand be chopped off but experiencing no pain, and the girl was having a difficult time rationalizing it. Not even Bahr's broken apologies could reach her, and it wasn't until she was set on the hard ground that she was jarred from the trance.

A glance at her health bar revealed nothing more than a red sliver; the sight nearly made her gag. What was she down to, five percent? Four? What did the math matter - it was bad. Part of her wanted to run. Hell, if she were being honest with herself, most of her wanted to run. If she had a teleport crystal, she might have. Watching the last of her life cling to the end of the health bar, reality struck her with even more force than the Lich King's blow.

I don't know what there is to live for, but I still don't wanna die.

She could run. She should run. But Bahr wasn't. Through panic-clouded eyes, Lessa watched Bahr position himself between her downed form and the approaching danger. He towered over her, the Lich towered over him, and Lessa had never felt so small in her entire life. How could she run, when he chose to stand? For her?

It was his fault - all of it. His stupidity, his obsession with danger, his rash behavior. If it hadn't been for him, she wouldn't be in this position. But if it weren't for him, she'd be dead. That was a fact she could not, would not, lose sight of. Hell Rose lay forgotten, paces away, beside Riker's unmoving form. She had nothing to fight with, but she would still fight. "Wait," she mumbled, though her mouth was dry and her tongue felt too large in her mouth. "Bahr, wait." Shakily, she found her feet. "Bahr, wait. I'll help. Let me help you."

[Bahr 0]

He wanted to tell her to stop. To stay put. To not put herself in harm's way any more. To just sit back and let him take care of it.

But, "I'm sorry," was still all he managed to utter.

This had almost played out in the worst way possible. Hell, it was a miracle that it hadn't played out in the worst way possible. He had summoned her to be his tank, disregarded the plan they built together, and she had only a sliver of health left to show for it. Why? Because the greatest mania of all is passion. Dopamine. Adrenaline. The thrill of a near-death experience. It was all fun and games when it was Bahr's life on the line, but he should have known better than to toy with another's. He was a natural slave to that passion; the balance between his brain and soul and body was as wild and delicate as the skin of a Ming vase. 

A glow pulsed into existence around his sword once more, blade vibrating as a hum rang out. Closing the distance between the pair and the mobs accosting them took but a blink, and just as quickly it was over. He silently sheathed his blade against the small of his back as the rain of pixels cascaded before him, Lessa's would-be assailant reduced to azure dust. It was over. They were safe.

She was safe.

When he returned to her, a breath of relief escaped his lips as he saw her health bar beginning to steadily climb back up. What now? Did he ask her if she was okay? That would have been a stupid question. Of course she wasn't. Her terrified expression and trembling frame paid credence to the trauma she had just experienced. Of course she wasn't okay. Physically, yes. Mentally? Would you be after being skewered and forced to accept your fate? 

"Are you- is- should-"

Nothing. There was nothing that could be said to reconcile what had just happened. No words existed that could appropriately express what either of them were going through. There was nothing that could explain this away. The heavy silence shared between them was all that was left.

Spoiler

[H: 1 - 0 - 0] Lessa: HP: 41/700 | EN: 59/70 | DMG: 11 | MIT: 72 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 3 | THN: 18
[H: 1 - 0 - 0] Bahr: HP: 587/680 | EN: 42+1-14=29/66 | DMG: 15 | MIT: 48 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3
CD: 1 (No extra Energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x8] Tempest, -8 EN

Lich King: HP: 12-120=0/350 | DMG: 400 | ID: 123059 | BD: 6+3=9, Hit for 15x8=120 DMG | Lich King defeated | -2 EN
Shambling Soldier 3: HP: 100-120=0/100 | DMG: 140 | ID: 123060 | BD: 5+3=8, Hit for 15x8=120 DMG | Shambling Soldier 3 defeated | -2 EN
Shambling Soldier 4: HP: 100-120=0/100 | DMG: 140 | ID: 123061 | BD: 7+3=10, Hit for 15x8=120 DMG | Shambling Soldier 4 defeated | -2 EN
-14 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Lessa 1]

"Yeah," she finally agreed on an exhale, the whisper barely audible in the now-empty arena. He couldn't find the questions for her, and really, she didn't have the answers. So Lessa merely stood there for a moment, studying whatever it was in Bahr's dual-toned eyes. The more time that passed, the harder her own grew, until her expression was nearly unreadable. She turned from him.

Long strides carried the battered woman toward her fallen companion, across the same floor where she had lay only minutes before. It all happened so fast. Her jaw clenched, lips drawn tight with emotion she didn't care to share, Lessa dropped to her knees beside Riker's head. In her heart, she knew the system wouldn't kill the creature. But the slow rise and fall of his chest, and the slight wag of his busy tail sent relief coursing through her veins. "Hey, big guy," she began, voice strangled as she fought to draw a deep enough breath. When she spoke again, she was steadier. "You did good."

In one careful, deliberate motion, Lessa eased the wolf's head into her lap; her fingers gently traced the curve of his shaggy ear as she waited for their health to return. 

"Thank you," came her sudden statement. Though her eyes remained fixed on her familiar, it went without saying that she now addressed Bahr. "For keeping me alive." Unlike when she spoke to Riker, much of the emotion had been carefully controlled before she spoke to the other player. Instead, she held on hard to control, voice unwavering, nearly monotone. There was anger, coiled like an enraged viper just beneath the surface. But as she stared at her downed comrade, Lessa struggled to call it up. "You changed the plan. Why did you do that?"

Edited August 30, 2019 by Lessa

[Bahr 0]

"There was just too many of them," he spluttered, the words just spilling out of his mouth before his lips could catch them. There was an apologetic tone to it, along with a certain frenzied hastiness that accompanied the words. This was the closest Bahr had seen anyone come to death in this world, save for Zayne.

As he made his way over to the woman and her fallen comrade, Swine Bajesus leapt out of his pocket and joined the pair. To Bahr's surprise, the tiny pig actually seemed to trying whatever it could to console the poor creature, rubbing its plump frame against the wolf's neck like a cat claiming its owner. "You saw that that thing was capable of. Imagine trying to tank that and the other four," he suggested, though deep down he knew that was only half of it. It was the speed he had craved. The carnage. Some people would tell you that slow was good, but Bahr had always believed that fast was better - in spite of the trouble it had often caused him. Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube.

Then there was the matter of her armor. He had trusted it more than he should have, and it did not function as intended. Perhaps he had been too flippant with the design, and had sacrificed utility for style. Perhaps the Lich King had simply been experienced enough to see through it all. Regardless, his work had failed, and he would need to see about getting it back at some point and inspecting it to make sure it was as it had been evaluated. But not now. No, now was not the time to talk about Lessa's failure to dodge.

"We're alive. That's what matters." And there was little more he could offer than that. Take the good, acknowledge the bad, move on. It was a simple equation for Bahr, but would Lessa feel the same?
 

[Lessa 1]

Despite the envy he had experienced earlier, Riker seemed to tolerate the other familiar's affections. In fact, Lessa might say he appreciated them, as his tail began to thump with more fervor. But his amber eyes, like wide pools of good, rich whiskey, remained only for her. His tongue snaked its way through her fingers, giving her trembling hands a comforting lick. The sensation did more for her frayed nerves than an entire tumbler of alcohol. Maybe, if Riker could aside his negativity for the time being, and accept some love from a growth-stunted boar, she could do the same.

"Yeah," the woman said again, blonde braids falling across her shoulders to cloak her face, "we're alive. Barely, but..." her voice trailed as she heaved a massive sigh, offering her other hand to Swine Bajesus for inspection. "Alive."

"I'd rather not do that again though," came her next confession. Perhaps it was a stupid thing to say, as it could be assumed no one wished to die. But she had felt no thrill in coming so close, and the adrenaline that still pulsed through her brought no joy. In fact, it just made her tired. "I don't get a high off this stuff - the combat, the near death experience, any of it." While she spoke, she grew steadier, finally getting the truth out in the open. The climbing green bar of health certainly helped matters as well. "I'm not sure I ever have. I doubt I ever will."

[Bahr 0]

One way or another, she had accepted his plight. Though, she had taken the opportunity to came it clear that combat wasn't her thing. It appeared that, in that way, they were very different. "Yeah. Can't blame you. Don't think I'll be taking you on any more of these trips," he divulged. Lessa was good for a nice chat, but when it came to something like this, she wasn't a great fit. Maybe there was a reason she had been out of commission a while. 

"Don't worry about being 'summoned' for any more of these quests. I won't bug you anymore," he exhaled, clicking his tongue as a cue for Swine Bajesus to come back. The small boar sneered at its owner, openly defying the command and remaining by Riker's side. Seemed Bahr was going to have to stick around until his familiar decided it was satisfied. Or he could just leave it there. He was sure Lessa wouldn't mind, and Riker might get a good meal out of it later. 

[Lessa 1]

Really, it was the worst possible thing that Bahr could have said. Had he slapped her across the face, it would have stung less. As it was, her cheeks burned a bright crimson at his flippant dismissal. Hurt flashed in eyes gone stormy, before hardening to twin sapphires. "Taking me on these trips?" she managed, each word dripping from her lips like poison. "Won't bug me anymore?"

Even Riker could sense the sudden shift in his friend's nature, and gave a small whimper of concern. Lessa hardly heard it. "Okay yeah, that's fine," she growled in a tone that sounded hardly recognizable. "I'm good for a little chat when you're feeling sad, but when I [censored] up in a fight, we're done." Her throat tightened, but she swallowed around the newly formed lump and barreled ahead. "Just because I don't get off on this [censored], I'm no good to you. Alright. Great."

She wasn't being entirely fair to him, and deep down, she knew that. But only moments before, he had seemed so concerned for her well-being. In fact, she'd been willing to overlook his behavior because he seemed genuinely apologetic, genuinely... genuine.  As if, maybe, he understood her. Or, could help her understand herself. The backs of her eyes burned, a culmination of the past half-hour's events, and she concluded with a final command. "Don't patronize me, Bahr."

[Bahr 0]

Suddenly she was staring daggers at him, spitting acidic terminology and flinging accusations around with wild abandon. It seemed she had graduated into the anger phase of her recovery, which was a good sign. Probably. Bahr had never actually been very good at reading people, despite what he may have led others to believe. But navigating the labyrinth of emotions that accompanied a near death experience was something he familiar with. Be that as it may, it didn't stop her words from striking a chord. Bahr was never the sort of person to take guff from anyone if he didn't rightly deserve it. 

"That isn't what I meant, or even said. But please, don't let that stop you from prattling along with this little temper tantrum you're having," was the icy retort Bahr laid out in response. There was a moment of silence that followed. "No, seriously. Go on. Tell me about all the ways I've wronged you in the five minutes we've known each other." Pushing a pissed off women was always a gamble, but Bahr had always been the sort of man to bank on low odds. Sometimes it worked out, sometimes it didn't. "You said you'd 'rather not do that again.' If what just happened isn't what you signed up for, then I'm complying with your request and not inviting you along on any more quests. You're welcome."

[Lessa 1]

"Temper tantrum?" Both eyebrows winged up as she choked out the word on a humorless laugh. Pulling away from Riker, Lessa climbed to her feet. While Bahr still had the height advantage, she would not allow him to talk down to her in the most literal sense. Her familiar, unsettled by the scene unfolding, stood as well. Careful not to squash his small pig friend, Riker slowly backed a few paces away from his volatile companion.

"Yeah, I'd rather not do it again," she shot back. "I'd rather not lie there, pinned to the floor with a sword through my gut, using my final moments to convince myself that its okay that I'm going to die here. Rationalizing my own death like it's totally fine that it means nothing, and that I've accomplished nothing in this stupid place. If I can avoid it, I'm going to. Why in the world would I sign up for that? Why would anyone? It's the worst case scenario!" As she spoke, red-hot anger gave way to exasperation. By the time she was finished, her little monologue had left her winded. Chest rising and falling beneath her tight-fitting top, she stared at the man who stood opposite her. Without anything else to do, she brought both hands to her face, and scrubbed at it warily. 

"If in the five minutes you've known me, you've already written me off, I guess that's the way it is." Her hands remained across her face, voice slightly muffled against her palms. "But you've never bugged me. I don't think you could" 

Edited August 31, 2019 by Lessa

[Bahr 0]

There it was. A spark of something more. Peculiar.

"The worst case scenario was death," he stated very matter-of-factly, no particular negative tinge to the comment. The same couldn't be said for what came next. "Again, I never said I'm writing you off. It isn't that you're 'no good to me.' You don't ever want to have another experience like that, and I couldn't live with myself if I put you through one again. That's all."

A pause. A rolling breeze. Dead leaves skittering along, the sound of their scrapes across the uneven cobble the only thing to be heard. He came to the sudden realization that she meant far more to him than she ought to. What was it about her? She always managed to coax something out of him; an authenticity he had buried so long ago he had practically forgotten it existed. It felt good to feel genuine again, for better or worse. He felt like saying something to this effect, but to make a point of declaring friendship was to cheapen it. 

"Look, if you think I'm ditching you, I'm not," he began, "but what just happened is never happening again. Ever."

[Lessa 1]

Lessa’s hands came away from her face slowly, and she eyed him with an apprehensive interest. “I just,” she began slowly, “I mean, it seemed like...” You didn’t want to be my friend anymore? What was she, five years old? So she drew a breath, letting the breeze chill her flushed skin. The soft fabric of her cape whispered around her in the cool wind. The cape he had made for her, without her asking, or prompting, after only speaking to her for a few minutes. Had she ever paused to ask herself why?

The woman’s bare arms wrapped about herself as she looked away from him. Riker was busy nuzzling Swine Bajesus, and the gesture of friendship was so pure that it hurt her heart. “I was under the impression that, since I wasn’t much for combat, you weren’t interested in, uh, spending time together anymore.”

The statement could have stood alone, but in typical Lessa style, she was overcome with the need to further explain herself. “We’ve only just met, really, and this quest was the first thing we’ve done. So I don’t know what else you might want to do, outside of fighting.” She should have stopped, but she couldn’t. She had reached the point of sheer exhaustion, and like the cracking of a dam, everything threatened to spill out. “And you said you wouldn’t bug me, so, I just thought we were done.”

[Bahr 0]

"Oh, I see how it is," he jeered with a frown, leaning in toward her and squinting into her eyes. "I see how it is. Obviously, all I'm good for is violence. We've known each other for five minutes, and you've already written me off as a caveman. Ooga ooga. Right!?" he inquired harshly, his eyes flaring open with the last word spoken and staring intensely into hers. He moved closer to her, maintaining eye contact and then... nudged her elbow with his. As he did, the facade was shattered, and he couldn't help but crack a cheesy grin. "Just kidding. But man, you should see your face right now. I almost lost it when I said 'ooga ooga' and you just kept on looking at me like that," he chortled, a chuckle escaping his lips.

"I'm starving, let's go grab a bite," he suggested nonchalantly once he had composed himself. Why bother staying upset and broody when matters had been settled? More than anything, he was relieved she even wanted his company. "I know a place on the fourth floor. I'm pretty sure we can catch them before they close."

[Lessa 1]

Lessa stared up at the man with her lips parted dumbly in quiet confusion. She blinked rapidly, a machine unable to compute the new data it had been given. Even after he grinned at her, and ribbed her for her obvious bewilderment, she continued to gape. Finally, she shook her head, braids flying as she cleared the haze from her mind. Was this guy serious? Was it worth worrying about, given how close she'd come to making an ass of herself? Should she just go along with the complete one hundred and eighty degree shift that had just taken place?

Why not? He'd offered her food, and that was pretty much a bulls-eye in any situation involving Lessa.

"Uh, sure," she replied slowly. "The fourth floor is nice." She looked him over a final time, confident she'd find some sign of deception. Was he making another joke at her expense? But when Lessa found nothing, she moved to retrieve her discarded sword from where it still lay. As she housed the massive Claymore back in it's sheath, she felt Riker move up alongside her. I guess it really is crisis averted.

[Bahr 0]

She sure was apprehensive. Probably didn't trust Bahr yet. He figured he could solve that with some good food and a nice drink or two. Speaking of, he wasn't even really sure what she liked when it came to stuff like that. As Swine Bajesus scurried along to keep up with the group as they started back toward town, Bahr turned to address his companion with an inquisitive look. "What are you into, anyways? Coffee? Beer?" It didn't matter. Where they were going had it all, with a rich and soothing atmosphere to tie it all together while the snow fell in thick sheets outside. "Actually, don't worry about it. They'll have whatever you want anyways." By this time, the micro-pig had somehow found its way onto the back of Riker, who seemed to be willing to tolerate it. At least for now.

It wouldn't take the pair long to make their way back to a safe zone and breathe a sigh of relief. It wasn't like they couldn't handle the usual lurkers of the floor, but it was safe to say that the day's earlier events had left them both wiped. Combat was the furthest thing from either of their minds.

Huh. The furthest thing from either of their minds. Interesting.

That wasn't usually the case for Bahr. After something like that, he would usually feel compelled to go clear mobs for an hour or two just to blow off steam. He had always associated fighting in Sword Art with stress relief, a reprieve from invasive thoughts, and a sense of personal satisfaction in a place where the sensation was a rarity. At the moment, at least, he wanted nothing to do with fighting. There was a negative tinge cast against it now, something he had been overlooking in his countless solo adventures leading up to this. He couldn't put a word to it, but it was lingering, gnawing away at his preconceived notions and making him very aware of the risks associated with such ventures. 

Thinking about it wouldn't do him any good now, however, so he pushed the thoughts out of his mind as they approached the Teleportation Plaza. They loudly announced their destination, and within moments their bodies were disintegrated and scattered to the whims of the great Cardinal, deposited seconds later on the fourth floor.

FLOOR 4

The cold. He had forgotten about the cold. Sweet merciful Jesus, it gripped him with its talons and refused to let go every time he stepped off from the teleport gate. He was frequently reminded by the fourth floor just how weak he had become when it came to matters of natural frost and snow. Having grown up in the Midwest, it was a massive disappointment. His friends would be cackling maniacally if they witnessed his reaction. Which he was doing a fair job of keeping under wraps - this time. Was he about to show this sort of weakness to someone he barely knew? 

Yes. Yes he was. The facade of comfortability wasn't something easily maintained when it came to heat or cold, and Bahr only made it about ten feet in before his teeth began to involuntarily chatter and his upper body convulsed in random spurts - a protest against the invasive clutches of wind and snow that permeated his thin armor like a bucket of water through a cheap paper towel. He silently trudged along, pace quickening a bit now, not daring to look back toward Lessa and take in whatever snide expression she was surely wearing.

Finally, they had made it. The White Rabbit Tavern. Almost not even a tavern in general atmosphere and appearance, but like a cafe that also served liquor. The homely vibe and warm temperature soothed Bahr's rigid frame as he passed through the threshold, the pleasant ambiance allowing him to begin decompressing for the first time since their fight.

"Welcome to the White Rabbit Tavern! Ah, if it isn't Bahr and Lessa! What can I get fo-"

"Don't need the spiel, dude, just get my usual," Bahr interjected crudely, furrowing his brow at the NPC. "What a sec, did you just say 'Bahr and Lessa?' You know her, too?"

"Yessir! She's one of my-"

"You come here, too?" he inquired, shooting Lessa a curious glance. "For how long? I've been coming here ever since the floor opened." As he waited for her answer, he eyed the NPC bartender, who was simply standing there, smiling awkwardly at them. "Dude? My usual? Now?"

[Lessa 1]

The fourth floor was always a bit like going home. As Lessa stepped from the teleport gate, she drew a long, deep breath. The sensation of filling her lungs with cold, crisp air never failed to rejuvenate her. Of course, goosebumps raced up her bare arms within seconds, and her body trembled, but the girl didn't seem to mind. The cold was simply a reminder that she could feel, and something so raw was somewhat comforting. It was true that she nearly died twenty minutes before, but the frigid temperature snapped her back from the dark place she might have landed herself in. Once, she had stood in the pasture with the horses, stripped to her t-shirt, letting the chill seep into her. It had been a place for her to cool her hot head, both literally and figuratively. Now, when she needed that shock, she visited the fourth floor. And if she closed her eyes, it almost felt like Michigan.

Glancing over at her companion, Lessa noted that he also shivered against the falling snow. As he remained a few steps ahead of her, she was unable to see the expression he wore. But it was likely he did not share her love of the cold, given the fact that, well, most people didn't.

Still, the blonde gave a soft sigh of contentment as she entered the White Rabbit Tavern. What were the odds that Bahr might choose the same bar she frequented? Considering that it was positioned near the Teleportation Plaza, she wondered if it were simple convenience that led him to her favorite spot. The bartender's declaration, however, proved that incorrect.

Lessa observed the exchange in quiet contemplation, and only spoke when the NPC turned to look at her. The smile that bloomed across her face was as warm and welcoming as the fire in the hearth. "I'll have my usual as well, whenever you get the chance. Thank you!"

She watched him bustle off, then she turned to pick her way toward the pair of armchairs positioned in front of the crackling flames. Riker trotted ahead of her, pace quickening as he realized he was returning to his favorite lounging spot. Fortunately, Swine Bajesus was able to stay atop the wolf, though he bounced comically as the pair approached the well-worn rug. Once they had settled down together, and Lessa had dropped into one of the overstuffed chairs, she finally cast Bahr a quizzical glance. "He has a name you know," she began, "and it's not 'dude.' It's Alexander. He runs the place with his wife, Margaret, and their little daughter, Wren."

Her voice carried no malice or bite, but instead, something that almost resembled mild amusement. His other questions were forgotten as she noted, "It doesn't take anything to be nice to NPCs."

[Bahr 0]

Humor danced across Bahr's visage as he followed her over toward the armchairs, listening to her tell the life stories of virtual objects as though they were actual people. How cute.

He maintained this coy expression as he plopped into one of the chairs, immediately taken aback by the comfortability it offered. He had always been the sort of guy to sit up at the bar, uncomfortably shifting on the stools that stood there. Knowing that these armchairs had been here the entire time and he had never even looked in their direction made him feel a little foolish. Perhaps she had been paying more attention over the years. This put him at a disadvantage.

"Ehh, I never really paid that much attention, to be honest," he mused, crimson and verdant orbs shifting to meet with her violet. "Whether they have different names or backstories, it's really difficult to treat them as anything more than virtual objects when half of them use the same talk track. 'Alexander,' for instance, shares the exact same voice and dialogue options with Frederick from the eighth floor, and Tobias from the second floor. They look different, sure, but they read from the same script."

The sweet aroma of apple cider wafted through the air, accompanied by the bitter scent of coffee. The smells blended into a pleasant potpourri, tickling Bahr's nose and causing his focused expression to flicker elsewhere. It was none other than Alexander, delivering their 'usuals' to the pair. "Here we are - a hot caramel apple cider for Lessa, and a cinnamon nutmeg coffee brew for Bahr. I've also brought some creamer." He placed the tray with the drinks on the short table in front of them, folding his hands and regarding the pair afterward with a smile. "Is there anything else I can help you two with?"

"Thank you very much, Alexander," Bahr chirped, casting a sly glance Lessa's way. Alexander seemed a bit taken aback by the sudden shift in tone and demeanor, his face contorting into an uncomfortable and confused expression. "Actually, there is something. Can you tell us a bit about Friben Village?" Alexander's expression jarring shifted to a neutral one, and he very matter-of-factly regurgitated the system's information regarding the eighth floor locale.

"Yes! Friben Village is a unique location on this floor. While smaller than Florenthia, Friben is perhaps considerably safer from monsters due to being suspended off the forest floor, and being constructed just below the canopy of the massive forest. The White River flows beneath it, which is rumored to be teeming with monsters both large and small. The village itself is interconnected by long rope bridges and winding staircases up and down the tree trunks. This village offers a smaller number of shops for the player's benefit, although the real attraction are the Inns and Taverns built into the hollowed out portions of the massive trees."

Bahr maintained eye contact with Lessa, mouthing every word that came out of Alexander's mouth as though reading from the same script though. Then came Alexander's afterthought.

"But that isn't on this floor, so why ask me?"
"But that isn't on this floor, so why ask me?"

They delivered the last bit in unison. Bahr finally broke eye contact and looked up to Alexander. "If it's not on this floor, Alexander, then why did you start your explanation by saying it was a unique location on this floor?"

Alexander simply froze for a moment, expression unchanging as he looked Bahr dead in the eye. One might say they could see the wheels turning, but Bahr didn't think so. He had exhausted the thing's talk track. "I'm sorry, but if you'll excuse me, I have other customers to tend to." With that, the NPC wandered back over to his station behind the bar.

"You see," Bahr began, turning back toward Lessa, "that is, verbatim, what Frederick from Floor Eight will describe to you if you ask him the same question. The only addition is that afterthought at the end, explaining that it isn't on this floor. But whoever programmed in the afterthought fix apparently missed the part in the dialogue itself that states that it's on this floor. It's little glitches and quirks like this that give it away, and I can't bring myself to regard them as humans when some of them are so blatantly copied from one another."

He leaned forward and wrapped his fingers around the handle attached to the creamer pot, tipping it over his mug of coffee and adding enough to bring the liquid to the brim. He replaced the creamer, picked up one of the small spoons that had come with the tray, mixing the contents of his mug before carefully bringing it to his lips and taking a thoughtful sip. Delicious, as always. The best in Aincrad. "Anyways, what did you get? It smells good."

[Lessa 1]

"Caramel apple cider," came her easy reply. "My usual. Of course, when I ask for my usual in the Jolly Otter, which is a few floors up, they give me a spiked lemonade. In the deli in the Town of Beginnings, its a grilled ham and cheese." The girl sipped from her steaming mug, and without shame, closed her eyes to relish the taste. When she opened them again, she regarded Bahr over the brim. "You could call it programming, I guess. But the NPCs do make an effort. I don't see any harm in returning the favor." Now she smiled, a lopsided expression that remained a bit thoughtful in nature. "Besides, you could even argue it's the glitches and quirks that make them more human. I mean, the NPCs in the games I grew up with were lucky to have more than one pre-recorded line. It was generally something along the lines of yelling 'I'm reloading' incredibly loudly in a stealth mission." 

The woman stretched her legs out in front of her, settled back into the cushions, and loosed a small shrug. "And maybe I just find it easier to regard them as real people. As soon as you start seeing them as lines of code, you might be forced to do that for everything else. You know, the sky, the trees. The monsters we fight, and the weapons we use." Her eyes flashed as another realization struck her. "Hell, even the other players, once you've been in here long enough. I've seen people killed for less."

Her gaze remained on Riker and Swine Bajesus, who snoozed together on the rug. Her hand moved to her mouth, and she chewed absently at her thumb nail as she let her mind drift. Then, "Where does it stop, you know? Could we even consider ourselves unique enough to stand out in this coded world? It's like you said at the Monument, we're all falling into pretty clearly defined boxes. Most of us would probably have the same responses to questions, at this point."

Edited September 2, 2019 by Lessa