[F04 - PP] <<Avalanche>> The Winter From Within

[Elora 0]

 

Elora reached toward the flickering fire with gloved fingers splayed, her hands shivering uncontrollably as she prepared to confront the coldness once again. Retreating to this floor had been a means to search for solace, or at the very least, a solution to disguise the numbness which had begun to consume her. If she could convince herself that it was merely a symptom of her environment, then maybe, just maybe, it would cause the sensation to feel less foreign, a little less...terrifying... I thought I was better than this. I thought -- that after I came here, that this feeling wouldn't happen again. It has been so long -- I was doing so well... She could feel her frustration growing as the heat did little to instill a false sense of comfort. Well, you f*cked it up. You ruined it again. Trying to change in the real world didn't work. Why the hell did you think that it would be any different here? Slush-covered heels slid across the creaking planks of the lodge as Elora forced herself up and away from the seat beside the hearth. It doesn't matter how much harder it is -- you're going to do these quests alone now. You don't deserve the help. You need to learn how to handle everything yourself. You're not -- Sharply summoning her menu, Elora began to equip all of the warmer gear that she owned: a pair of tall woolen socks, a long-sleeved verdigris blouse with white and brown-colored accents, a fur-lined duplicate of her signature hooded --

The frantic clicking stopped as her finger hovered over the familiar silhouette of another cloak; it was the one that Freyd had lent her, the one that she had mended so that it would be returned to him without blemish. You're not -- going to disappoint anyone else..., she commanded of herself in an effort to curtail the feelings of loss that manifested upon regarding the object. 

He deserves to have it back. It can't end until there's nothing tethering us together anymore... 

 

Opening another menu, Elora wrote a message to send to her friend:

To: @Freyd - The Whisper in Shadows From: Elora Message:  I've got something to give to you. Meet me in Snowfrost if you're not busy.

 

 

Elora | HP:600/600 | EN:60/60 | DMG:9 | MIT:8 | ACC:2 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1

Spoiler

Name: Elora
Level: 30
HP: 600/600
EN: 60/60

Stats:
Damage: 9
Mitigation: 8
Accuracy: 2
L.M.:2
KEEN:1

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Unnamed Starting Weapon (T1 Rare 2HAS, ACC 1, DMG 1)
Armor: Auspicious Gi (T1 Rare Light Armor, LM 2)
Misc: Justicar's Vambraces (T1 Rare Trinket, ACC 1, KEEN 1

Skills:
2H Assault Spear [Rank 5]
Light Armor [Rank 2]

Extra Skills:

Mods:
Finesse 2

Battle Ready Inventory:
T1 Healing Potions*5
Teleportation Crystal*5
Requires Dimensional Backpack
Requires Extended Weight Limit 1
Requires Extended Weight Limit 2
Requires Extended Weight Limit 3

Housing Buffs:

Guild Hall Buffs:
Lucrative: Reduce LD needed for Salvage by 5 (10+ for Alchemist crystals, 6+ for everything else). +2 EXP per craft. Rank 9 crafters receive +1 crafting attempt per day. Rank 10 crafters receive +2 crafting attempts per day.
Col Deposit: +5% bonus col from last-hit monster kills and +10% bonus col from treasure chests.

Scents of the Wild:

Wedding Ring:

Edited November 24, 2020 by Elora

[Freyd 0]

Fresh from concluding yet another quest, Freyd was already scouring the rapidly-dwindling list of options for those he had not yet completed.  'Work, work, work, and more work,' he thought to himself.  It was just as he liked things to be.  He could lose himself in collating facts and observations, planning tactics and logistics, coordinating the various assorted tasks to be accomplished on the journey to whatever goal he had set.  Sipping at a cup of thick bitter coffee in one of the few serving establishments in Fortaleza, he fought hard to keep from revisiting the events of the latest dragon hunt with Katoka and Elora, on this very floor.  The Whisper had thought himself inured against such threats from within, but here he was infected by memories that kept flooding back to his mind every time he closed his eyes.  And then the message came.

Casmir, the barkeep, looked up to find a still-steaming cup set down carefully and quietly, abandoned in its prime.

"Snowfrost."  Searing heat turned to blistering cold and Freyd hardly noticed.  The thumping in his chest echoed in his temples, driving him with the same sense of purpose blinded by something which he could not articulate.  Entering through a back door, Freyd found himself standing in the shadows, watching her as she struggled to keep warm.  

Clearing his throat, he stepped forward into the light.

***

Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1630/1630 | EN:175/175 | DMG:20 | MIT:79 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:163 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:5 | BH:81

Spoiler

Name: Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows
Level: 80
HP: 1630/1630
EN: 175/175

Stats:
Damage: 20
Mitigation: 79
Evasion: 2
Accuracy: 4
BH:81
VAMP OFF:163
HLY:6
FLN:6
LD:5

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Samael's Pride (T3-2HSS, VO 1, HOLY 1, FLN 1)
Armor: Skirmisher's Garb (T3 LA, MIT 2, EVA 1)
Misc: Night Shades (T3-Trinket, ACC 3)

Skills:
2H Straight Sword [Rank 5]
Light Armor [Rank 5]
Searching [Rank 4]
Battle Healing [Rank 5]
Parry [Obtained]
Energist [Obtained]
Charge [Rank 5]
Extended Mod Limit R3 [Obtained]
Hiding [Rank 4]
Martial Arts [Rank 3]
Quick Change [Obtained]

Extra Skills:
Disguise
Familiar Mastery: Fighter 3
Survival
Meditation

Mods:
Precision
Finesse - Rank 3
LA Athletics
Ferocity
LA Sprint and Acrobatics
Night Vision
Vengeful Riposte

Battle Ready Inventory:
Teleport Crystals*5
Gungnir Shard: Haniel's Modesty (T3 Perfect HP Rec [Instant]*5
Flash of Rejuvenation (Mass HP Rec [Instant] (+30*Tier HP)*5
Fruit-Infused Tea (T3 HP Recovery)*5
Imugi's Inspiration (T3 Mass HP Recovery)*5
Mega-Duper... Sauce (Antidote 3)*5
Grave Injustice (T3-2HSS, ACC 1, Keen 1, Abs. ACC)*1

Housing Buffs:
Rested: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat
Clean: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down)
Hard Working: +2 EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day
Filling: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot.
Item Stash: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot
Delicious: Turn 3 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Feast. A Feast contains 6 portions of the food items sacrificed.
Relaxed: Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
Skylight (Searching): +1 Rank to the Searching skill.
Angler: +1 material gained when fishing
Advanced Training: +2 SP to a thread. Limit one use per month [0/1]
Multipurpose: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll
Decor [Potted Tanabata Bamboo Tree]: This buff affects the player and their choice of up to two party members.

Guild Hall Buffs:
Lucrative: Reduce LD needed for Salvage by 5 (10+ for Alchemist crystals, 6+ for everything else). +2 EXP per craft. Rank 9 crafters receive +1 crafting attempt per day. Rank 10 crafters receive +2 crafting attempts per day.
Col Deposit: +5% bonus col from last-hit monster kills and +10% bonus col from treasure chests.

Scents of the Wild:
Kumatetsu Statue: +1 Base Damage for a thread

Wedding Ring: n/a

 

[Elora 0]

She'd already turned away from the fireplace in anticipation of leaving the lodge. Just as she'd finished reorienting herself toward the exist, her eyes fell level with the sight of a charcoal cowl. "O-oh", she stuttered, taking a step back before freezing in her stance, "You got here...faster than I was expecting..." The admission sounded more remorseful than it did surprised. "I, um...", Elora took a moment to summon the garment into her hands, "just wanted to make sure that this got back to you..." She made no mention of the various debris, holes, or snags that had accrued during their flight from Valentina since Setsuna's meticulous repairs had practically restored all of the blemishes to a near-mint condition. Besides, he'd be happier to know that it was never damaged, she told herself. Her gaze lifted to meet with his as she extended her arms to offer it in return. Whether by the dim lighting of the room or something more significant at play, her azure eyes appeared devoid of their usual brightness, the secrets that they had previously contained now swallowed by an ocean of insecurities. 

Before Freyd had the chance to accept the memento, Elora thrusted it into his chest, breaking free from his stare to step around him and disappear into the welcome frigidity of the arctic night. Gloved hands now pulled her hood over her head with haste to conceal the set of elven ears that jutted out from beneath messy locks of pale green hair. No matter how painful the endings became, she remained determined to continue layering disguises until, one day, she could eventually transform into the person they wanted her to be.  Keep walking. Don't look back. There's only progress to be made. Abandon your mistakes. Fix yourself. Then, they will accept you. The player's focus remained on distancing herself from him, from her, from all of them. She needed to start over. But dammit, she didn't know how much longer she could continue fleeing reality. 

Edited November 24, 2020 by Elora

[Freyd 0]

Freyd caught the thrust cloak with his left hand as he watched Elora race out the door, clearly distraught.  This was his chance to cut those ties and simply walk away.   His cowl turned right, staring back at the shadows from whence he'd come, mulling over his future.  Here was a crossroads.  Once he made his decision, he wouldn't look back.  Turning his lost gaze downward, recognition dawned.

"My old cloak..."

Clenching it tight in his fist, the black leather of gloved hand creaked as he struggled to suppress the same stirring sensations.  Walk away, said the coldly rational analytical engine that governed so much of who he was - who he was.  That had been changing, slowly but surely, and thanks in very large part to the woman who had just run out that door.  The cowl turned to the left, feeling the cold wind whip through the still-open door.  Details beyond were lost in the blinding glare of light on white.  He sniffed something tickling at his memories, a familiar scent upon the fabric in his hands.  Relaxing his hand, he let the fabric drape loosely towards the ground, expecting it to be burnt and torn.

"She's had it mended..." he said to his own shadow.  

What will you do?  It asked in return, though he doubted whether anyone else could hear it.  If only he could send that dark herald one way while he chose the other.  The grey wool vanished an instant later, the decision finally and firmly made.

"She mended me."  An instant later, he was racing out the same open door, choosing light over darkness.

***

Freyd activates Hiding (ID #178571 | LD 11+4=15)

[Elora 0]

  ♪  The Winter from Within  ♪  

 

The warm ambiance emanating from lanterns strung throughout the city's streets swiftly vanished as the Elora made her way from the tavern toward the desolate tundra. Determined legs carried her quickly as her stiffened shoulders knocked against the bodies of automated villagers and various other players who inattentively clogged the walkways to gawk at the seasonal festivities. Jovial laughter fell to deafening stillness as Elora tried to remain resolute in her decision, her mind digressing only momentarily to worry about how Freyd had interpreted the encounter. 

It's better this way, she reassured herself in light of the ceaseless onslaught of condemnation that churned within her mind. It felt as though the voices of anger and of disappointed grew louder the more distance she willed between herself and the man she had come to admire. You'll never be as strong as him -- I need be better than him, the doubts instilled by others and her instinct to silence them in search of fulfillment fought to command her focus. 

"Shut up...", she groaned in frustration as she raised a hand to grip her throbbing forehead, "Just shut up! Stay quiet -- stay focused -- just for once!" Elora seemed like she was practically pleading with her conscious to become silent. It isn't fair...why does this always happen the second I try to set my mind to something...?

A frigid wind sliced against and stung her exposed cheeks as she pushed forward to cure her wandering mind with the thrill of a challenging fight. 

Edited November 26, 2020 by Elora

[Freyd 0]

Fortunately, the ever-present layer of soft powder that covered most of the floor made it relatively easy to track her direction.  Her footprints were easy to distinguish by their elfin gait and shape.  It made her unique, as did so many other things.  If only she could see it in herself.  Having watched her dance with such passion during one of their recent hunts, he also knew how quickly she could move when she let her spirit free.  It was yet another mental image that had to be pushed aside as he fought to focus on his goal. 

Keeping up with her from stealth might be a challenge, but at least floor four's natural terrain and climate would help.  Tossing the gifted grey cloak over his shoulders would help reduce the drastic contrast of his black fittings.  It felt strange to wear this again after so long, yet strangely appropriate - like a new beginning.  Maybe.

There!

A hint of green in the distance and direction of the trail.  Leaping high onto the frost-covered boughs, Freyd recalled a snow-covered chase where Setsuna had sought to make him prove his worth to lead.  This was an altogether different challenge.  How could he tell her what had fought its way from the tiniest fledgling flame to a warmth that made him feel more human than he had in over a decade?  Despite the monstrous, self-inflicted cage that clad his withered heart, she had reached him just by being herself.  She needed to know what that meant.  Instead, his clumsy outburst had caused her to shatter and withdraw inside, like he had done.  No one deserved that.  And he couldn't be the cause of it.  Not to her.

[Elora 0]

  ♪  Fighting The Cryonic Colossus  ♪  

 

Elora made her way north of the settlement, trudging through staggered snowdrifts that had covered the cobalt-colored ice of Frostbite Lake. All the while, she  navigated by the soft glow of a small menu that disclosed the location of the monster she intended to kill. Jagged edges of the lake gradually tapered off, guiding her to a simulated watershed where a series of spindly streams trickled out from a narrow pass between a pair of picturesque mountains. 

This map's showing that it should be right here...maybe I've got a ways to climb before I can match its elevation..., she concluded with a sigh. Thankfully, there seemed to be a traversable path winding up one of the slopes. Scaling its slippery surface, she eventually stepped out onto a sizable ice shelf whose outer edges were sparsely encompassed by evergreen trees. 

A chill ran down her spine as Borris began to rattle warningly from around her wrist. The sensation of the vibration was soon snuffed out by a much louder, much deeper rumbling sound that followed the shifting of nearby crystals as they quickly emerged from snowy banks. Before long, a gargantuan and glassy-looking golem was towering over her, marking that the battle she'd been searching for had begun.

T-Tha'ts..., Elora's eyes widened, WAY LARGER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE! At least, it was compared to the tiny pebbles, pigmy boars, and baby dragons that she had grown used to fighting. The panicked player quickly summoned her weapon into her hands. She'd been so distracted by her own thoughts that she had completely neglected to prepare for safely instigating the encounter. As the monster charged her, Elora frantically sliced at its crystalline shell, nearly managing to kill it in a single blow before it raised its fist in retaliation. Thinking she had enough time evade the attack, Elora tried to leap out of the way. As her feet left the ground, she could feel the force of the creature's strike making contact with and course through the side of her frame. The otherwise negligible attack was bolstered by a blistering hailstorm that sent her body flying into the air. She slammed into the icy ground and rolled backwards, her body continuing to slide towards the ravine as she struggled to stop her momentum.

Just as Elora was about to plummet off of a steep drop, the ends of her staff met with the trunks of two pine trees whose roots were halfway suspended over of the edge of the chasm. As her motion came to a sudden halt, Elora could feel that her legs were dangling freely beneath her. She exhaled deep and ragged breaths, her mind sharpening in clarity as she became aware of her dire circumstances. Any second she spent stalling on taking another action only gave her enemy more time to find her and finish the job. 

Concentrating all of her energy into one desperate attempt, she successfully used the strength in her arms and her leverage on the spear to pull herself upwards. As she peered over the ledge, Elora could see Avalanche preparing for another assault. Her boots finally found and pushed off of a series of fortified roots, allowing her to scramble over and away from the dangerous drop. Her thoughts remained silent as her cold eyes stared onward, concentrated on calculating her next course of action. 

 

 

Spoiler

Elora Attacks with "Vent Forth"  [x10] Vent Forth (11 Energy) - A five-hit skill that employs three spinning slashes, concluded with one final thrust.

Elora ID#: 178699 BD:8 + 2 ACC = 10 Hit 
Avalanche: 100HP - 90 = 10HP

** KEEN activated **
(+1 to BD next round)

Avalanche Attacks with "Precip-Ice"
Avalanche ID#: 178700 MOB9 Minor Critical Hit
Elora: 600HP - 40(+1) - 8 MIT = 567HP

-----

Elora | HP: 567/600 | EN:49/60 | DMG:9 | MIT:8 | ACC:2 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1

(Disengaged from Combat)
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1630/1630 | EN:175/175 | DMG:20 | MIT:79 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:163 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:5 | BH:81

-----

[1/0] Avalanche | HP: 10/100 | DMG: 40 

Edited November 27, 2020 by Elora

[Freyd 0]

'Not really the best way to start a fight.'

Crouched up against a mottled hunk of ice-covered rock with his back pressed against a high ledge, Freyd had a good vantage point over Elora's battlefield.  The mix of greys, blues and white all around him blended with his cloak well enough to make him seem like just another fracture in the cliff face.  The Whisper chuckled to himself at the thought.  How many opening moves had he botched?  It really came down to betting on whether he'd smash his face into the ground on slip on some mammoth beast's dung.  Criticizing her misfortune would either be the height of hypocrisy or entirely appropriate commentary from a master of battle-bungles, and he didn't currently feel like qualifying himself as either.

Muscles tensed as he watched her sliding towards the chasm.  A bit of condense breath escaped his lips as she caught herself.  This was her fight.  She needed to prove her prowess to herself in order to gain the necessary confidence.  He understood the significance, especially for her.

"Why do you have to be so hard on yourself?"  He asked the rock face behind him.  It stoically refused to respond.

'And why did you have to be so harsh about the Nepent?'  Montjoy's mental message was as incisive as ever.

"I think... because I care?"

How had that happened?

[Elora 0]

  ♪  Escaping the Expectations  ♪  

 

This time when the monster raised its fist to knock her down, Elora ducked and darted out from beneath its swing. Once she had cleared its attack radius, she found herself swiftly spinning, using the anchor of one of her feet to pivot and deliver a powerful blow to the back of the creature. It released a grating roar as its body cracked and shattered, their jagged chunks plummeting into the bottomless gorge below. Elora stood frozen as the agonizing cacophony echoed through her body, her emotionless stare following the tumbling remains as they vanished into the void.Elora steadied her breathing and readied her stance in anticipation of evading Avalanche's next strike. The glacial giant was surprisingly agile given its sturdy stature; she could practically feel the frozen ground beneath her shake as it menacingly glided toward her. Just stay focused. It's weak. You can finish this.

Wasn't it supposed to feel better than this? She'd imagined that accomplishing something so remarkable on her own would feel wonderful...serendipitous, even.

Instead, she just felt hollow. Empty. Unsure of who she was supposed to be anymore.

Without anyone around to congratulate her on these victories, were they ever even worth it? What good was it to overcome things for herself if she was incapable of finding fulfillment in them? Elora fixated on the fall as the observations began to flow freely through her uninhibited state of consciousness.

What if I joined it? I could disappear into the darkness -- put an end to this cycle. It would be so easy. Once I hit the bottom, I won't even feel the pain. Just one step forward and it will be over. No more running away from myself. No more living up to anyone's expectations. No more failing to start a new life. No one would even know what -- Her resolution was curtailed by a sudden realization -- "N-no, they...they would know...the Monument of Life...would show them the truth... Elora weakly wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to subdue a faint pain that had begun to manifest in her chest. They would know that I couldn't handle it. They would know that I'm a coward. Oh god -- I'm never going to be able to escape this!

 

Spoiler

Elora Attacks with "Twin Thrust"   [x2 Stun] Twin Thrust (5 Energy) - A pair of quick thrusts aimed at the user's knees to immobilize them.

Elora ID#: 178742 BD:3 + 1 BD + 2 ACC = 6 Hit
Avalanche: 10HP - 18 = 0HP

** KEEN activated **
(+1 to BD next round)

-----

Elora | HP: 567/600 | EN:44/60 | DMG:9 | MIT:8 | ACC:2 | L.M.:2 | KEEN:1

(Disengaged from Combat)
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows | HP:1630/1630 | EN:175/175 | DMG:20 | MIT:79 | EVA:2 | ACC:4 | VAMP OFF:163 | HLY:6 | FLN:6 | LD:5 | BH:81

-----

[1/0] Avalanche | HP: 10/100 | DMG: 40 

Edited November 27, 2020 by Elora

[Freyd 0]

When the last of the shattered ice had turned to shards and stillness returned, Freyd faded into view.  He barely recalled having jumped from his hidden ledge to arrive at the battle's edge.  Somehow, his weapon wasn't even drawn.  It wasn't needed.  Nor was it the reason he had come.  Standing in the snowy landscape, clad in his pristine cloak, he felt like the novice for a change, having no idea what to do or how, but feeling that something needed to be done.

Start with the truth.

"Elora."  His voice was hoarse and muffled under all these layers.  Too many layers.  Too many defenses.  Too many secrets.  The hood and cowl fell back of their own accord, plied from within by Montjoy's hidden hand.  The tie of his mask fell loose and it slipped from his face, leaving him wholly exposed.

"Elora," he repeated, his voice gentle and clear.  "That was amazing!"  Normally harsh brows curled down at the sides as a smile laden with sincerity smoothed his features and softened their seemingly endless edges.  The action paused as recognition dawned in him that she was in distress of some internal kind.  He realized then, how far away they were, not just across the clearing, but because of their own, individual struggles.  Eyes filled with pride and joy turned to confusion and a hint of sorrow.

"What's wrong?"

[Elora 0]

A wave of worry shot through her body as she heard him call out to her. 

No... 

No, there had to be a way to retreat from his presence. Elora could feel gloved fingers desperately digging into her forearms as she tried to force herself to become small. It was no use. He had started to approach her, a tone of concern emanating from his otherwise unusually cordial voice. Elora couldn't stop herself from shaking as the doubts flooded back into her mind. Run from him! Hide! Don't let him see you like this! He can't know that this is who you really are. Why won't you move? Do something! You're pathetic. You're a coward. He was right to hurt you, she could hear them practically screaming for control over her sanity. Prying her hands from their constricting hold around her arms, she quickly raised to place them on either sides of her forehead. She rubbed her temples gently beneath the guise of her hood, hoping that the sensation would somehow silence her conscious enough for her to speak.

"You're not supposed to be here...", was the only welcome she could articulate in light of her panicked state. With back still turned to him, it became increasingly obvious that she had meant for the previous encounter to be their last. 

[Freyd 0]

"I don't understand.  You called me here and then ran off."  He shook his head as the words broke free, the stern familiar set of his eyes returning as he scrutinized he standing in the snow, wisps of white dancing between them.  Freyd sensed a growing distance even as they remained mere yards apart.  "You didn't even give me a chance to say thank you.  This was a thoughtful gift, and a treasured memory.  I appreciate it."  He'd known her long enough to catch the tells in her body language.  Something was definitely wrong, though he could only connect it to his recent chastisement.

"I also wanted to apologize for what happened against the Nepents.  It came out more harshly than I'd meant, but..."  his voice faded.  It wouldn't be a real apology if he qualified it.  "I'm sorry."  

The silence that followed was deafening.  Freyd's mind raced through possibilities, analyzing various options and scenarios?  Had the field boss somehow afflicted her with some condition in its death throes?  Was she injured or stunned?  Maybe those elfin ears were a liability out in the cold, and why are they drooping like that?  Having no frame of reference for comparison, his heart made the only assumption it could fathom: rejection.  

"Oh." 

His eyes searched for purchase on something that might put the machine back in charge.  It was the first time she'd seem him withdraw his piercing gaze. and seemed akin to the reaction of a wounded child.  Pain thumped through his chest as his lips pursed to somehow suppress or distract from it.  His mind cursed the bleak landscape and the cold.

Isn't this what you wanted before rushing off to the labyrinth?

"I'll just... go... then..."

As much as his heart cried for an answer, and to challenge this... whatever this was... his mind was resolute.  It had insisted on a purging of distractions, which it deemed Elora had become.  A warm, timid and passionate distraction, beautiful in its fumbling ferocity and random joy  - the very opposite to everything he was.  The logic inside had been arguing relentless to suppress this connection and move on to more pressing priorities.  But, she had kindled something inside him that had tethered itself to her, and would likely wither and die if allowed to be so easily severed.  

'I don't know if I'm even human anymore,' he had told Mari, so very long ago, or so it seemed.  Maybe it was finally time to decide.  Freyd had already taken a half-turned step to head back up to Snowfrost when his leading foot planted itself heavily in the snow.  It seemed like he was drawing a line through the middle of himself that he could no longer afford to straddle.  When he spoke again, his voice was a mix of cold calculus and hoarse desperation.

"...as soon as you tell me why."

[Elora 0]

  ♪  Lies Behind Our Eyes  ♪  

 

"There's no reason to apologize...", she coughed out sharply, "You were right to get angry with me. You're still right to be angry with me. I was being stupid and someone could have gotten hurt!" Elora's voice grew increasingly more stern as she tried to convince herself as to why his reaction had been appropriate, why there was no reason that his anger should have her hurt as deeply as it had. Her hood blew free from her face as she found the courage to turn and face him, the pain she was feeling now manifesting into an anger of its own. "I always do stupid shit like this -- I always f*ck up! No matter how much I try to change, no matter how much I try to be better, I can never do it right!" The tips of her fingers gestured toward herself, rhythmically striking against her chest in cadence of the criticisms as they were being recited. "I run away -- I start a new life -- I try to get people to accept me, then they realize that I'm incapable of succeeding at anything!" 

She inhaled raggedly before continuing, "I know you've told me that it's fine and that I just need to keep trying -- but goddammit -- you don't have to lie to me, Freyd! I know that you're sick of me, I know that you're just trying to make me feel better, somehow" Admitting that last part caused something inside of Elora to visibly break, her vehement expressions quickly deteriorating into one of vulnerable desolation. "I know that no one can stand to put up with me, and I can feel that you don't really mean the things that you say. So, please..." Tears flowed down Elora's faintly freckled face as she fought the urge to bury it behind a pair of covered hands. "Just stop pretending like you care...", she whimpered with a shake of her lowering head. 

Edited November 30, 2020 by Elora

[Freyd 0]

Red eyes watched and puzzled at the outpouring of contradictory emotions that seemed to flood from Elora, despite her best efforts to contain them.  The bile she reserved for herself was a vile and virulent as the burdens he heaped upon himself.  She needed to get it out.  He needed to let her do so, or she'd run away from it again.  Struggling to remain still, he watched the play of her hands as they sought to stab through her own heart.

"You made a mistake.  Mine was not telling you why I reacted as strongly as I did." 

Freyd's hands struggled to figure out where to be.  It was so unlike him not to be in control of himself, nor certain of his next steps.  Whether choosing what to have for breakfast, or who's life had to be sacrificed, he always seemed to know where he stood and why.  Yet here he was, uncertain and floundering.  There was no plan, no stratagem, no scheme.  It was just him, alone, left to react with the side of him that knew not how to do so.

"I'm not sick of you," he mumbled, closing some of the distance between them as she spoke, but still struggling against his instinct to interrupt and doubtful that she even wanted to hear ir.

"I know that no one can stand to put up with me, and I can feel that you don't really mean the things that you say. So, please..."

His hands rose as he somehow made his way across the invisible divide that had somehow grown between them, taking her hands in his and nestling them against his chest.  A fragile heart within teetered between fracture and flourish, without knowing which would win out.

"You don't mean that.  And you know full well that I won't do anything I don't mean, unless by choice."

"Just stop pretending like you care..."

Gloved hands raised as black, leathery fingertips gently pressed against her face to wipe away her tears and lift her gaze towards his.

"I'm not pretending."

Locking eyes with her and cradling her sweet, freckled face, Freyd leaned forward tenderly pressing his lips against hers.  Behind it followed the weight of every ounce of longing for love he'd ever experienced concentrated into a single, desperate outpouring of the near-forgotten emotion.

The 'Elora' Song

[Elora 0]

The anticipation that grew as he drew closer -- the warmth that radiated from his assured embrace -- the gentle sensation of his lips meeting her own. 

 

Elora's heart fluttered in culmination of them all. 

 

She didn't understand why, but maybe, that was okay. Maybe emotions like these weren't meant to be rationalized, but to be welcomed and cherished in all of their uncertainty. Releasing a brief exhale to steady her breathing, she carefully laced her fingers beneath the fabric of his cowl, pulling him eagerly back into the kiss. Overwhelming worries dissolved into static, then finally to stillness as Elora melted into his touch, allowing herself to fully surrender her sadness in exchange for experiencing the beauty of this moment. She knew that its comfort would pass all too soon.

Snowflakes twirled and danced in the night, their translucent bodies made visible only by the faintly flickering lights of an emerald aurora cascading above them. Some swiftly disintegrated as they swept towards the heat of the pair's flushed faces. In contrast to the frigid air of the frozen climate, Elora could feel the trembling of her body gradually subside as she continued to hold Freyd close to her. Even with so many layers still between them, she swore that she could hear his heart beating just as quickly as her own. Was this what it felt like to be accepted? To share something special, and to be treated as an equal? 

Eventually, their mouths began to drift apart, leaving Elora to gape and gasp trails of condensation in the wake of their intimacy. 

"I'm convinced...you've convinced me...", she remarked with a whisper and the flash of a timid smile. 

Edited November 30, 2020 by Elora

[Freyd 0]

Freyd took in a deep, gasping breath of frigid air, like a newborn child filling its lungs for the first time.  Tension bled from his shoulders as she spoke.  His forehead, leaning down, lightly touching hers as if the mere contact could bleed away all the silent strain he somehow constantly carried.  This had been the biggest gamble of his life, and he silently thanked Katoka for her insights.  Somehow, it had come down to just a leap of faith.

"Good!" He whispered back, relief audible in his ragged voice.  "Because I had no plan B for this one."  Closing his eyes, he actually looked to be at peace for the very first time since she'd known him.  "I confess... that I haven't the slightest clue what I'm doing. This is all so new."  Pressing her open palm against his chest, he pulled her close to offer warmth and thanks for her acceptance.

"You've been my guide, all this time, teaching me what it means to be alive inside.  I...love that... and...you, for showing it to me.  For having faith in me, like I've always believed in you." 

Joy was like an ideal to him, forever beyond reach, yet now suddenly thrust to the forefront of his poor, unprepared senses.  Freyd turned beet red as he pulled off the plain grey cloak she had only just returned to him, loosing the simple buttons that clasped it in place.  The garment whirled in the wind and came to rest perfectly upon her shoulders.  

"It always looked better on you," he said, recalling the last time he had gifted it to her.  "Why don't we get you some place warm?  Then you can decide whether to talk or just enjoy each other's company.  Just tell me what you think you want, or need, and we'll take it from there.  Or, maybe I just need to shut up and listen to Katoka's advice again."

Vanity Tag: @Katoka

[Elora 0]

All the while, Elora remained quiet and attentive, though her tired mind found it increasingly difficult to grasp the gravity behind his words. That was until --

I...love that...and...you, for showing it to me.

Wait. Was that -- was that what she thought it was? Did he just say...?, her thoughts began to churn as he appeared to blush a deep red, Wait, he LOVES ME? That doesn't -- how would he -- what does that make us, then? Are we dating, boyfriend and girlfriend, friends with -- no, that wouldn't be it. Elora could feel the confusion bubbling up inside of her as he wrapped her shoulders in his cloak and offered for them to return to a settlement. "No --", she replied somewhat abruptly, "Actually, why don't we just enjoy this --", she gestured vaguely to everything around them, "-- and walk back to Snowfrost? It is a really beautiful night, after all" Elora worried that the magic of their intimacy had already begun to slip away. She wanted to savor the happiness she felt in any way that she could. For now, that meant trying to slow down their time together, and to delay their inevitable departures. 

Affectionately wrapping her arms around one of his own, she guided him back toward the other side of the clearing. As the two of them walked, Elora began to wonder where their...whatever it was...would go from here. Truth be told, she wasn't even entirely sure what the two of them would spend their return-trip talking about. 

What do I know about Freyd...?, she asked herself in search of a topic of conversation. 

It was then that the realization dawned on her.

Uhhhh, what DO I know about Freyd? Well, ok, I'm sure that there's a lot of things -- For one, I know that he likes to where dark clothing! Two, he owns a house. And three..." 

Her mind came to a blank. 

Fuck, is that really all? Those things can be said about like -- at least 50% of the players in SAO! Not good, not good! We've always had battles and stuff to bond over but now -- what common ground do we even have? She took a moment to smile and direct her sights to the galaxy above, pretending to revel in all its majesty as panic consumed her mind. This means we're probably gonna spend the rest of this night making..., Elora shuddered, SMALL TALK! No -- I will NOT let it come to that! I'm sure I can find something to ask him abou --

"So", she started, "Are you, uhh, settled into your new place yet? How are..." Shit -- what were their names?! "You know...those other two players -- the ones who were helping you sell stuff?" Great recovery, Elora! You really sound like someone who cares! Clearing her throat, she made an effort to continue, "I know things were kind of chaotic the last time I dropped by, so I imagine you guys have made a lot of progress by now!" To Freyd's detriment, it seemed that Elora had wrongfully, and somewhat naively, assumed that his shop and his house were one in the same building. "I'll have to come see it all again soon", she added as a well-intentioned tease. 

[Freyd 0]

She could feel him tense, as he felt he'd said something wrong.  Pursing his lips in an awkward smile and scrunching his face, he looked as if he just wanted to hide deeper under his hood.  Damnit, Takeshi, just shut up and enjoy the moment!  Hope rekindled when Elora wrapped her arms around his.  Taking a deep breath to clear and still his frantic mind, he seemed to centre himself again.  

"Actually, why don't we just enjoy this and walk back to Snowfrost? It is a really beautiful night, after all"

"Good idea," he said, staring up at the starlit sky, a thought dawning in the process.  "Hey, Persi, how about a little glamour for the occasion?"  

His slinky companions' inky head popped up at the summons, but on the side opposite from Elora.  Eyes blinking repeatedly as if she'd just been awoken from a perfectly good nap.  They darted first to Elora's presence and proximity, then widened momentarily as realization came.  She was always faster at picking up on this stuff than her Lummox had ever been.  Narrowing her gaze an instant later, she cocked her head to give Freyd a sly look with her brilliant azure eyes.  He could practically hear Katoka's voice giving approval through their kindred blueness.  Shivering from head to toe, Persistence called forth the stars' blessing granted to her after the Tanabata event.  A thousand pinpricks of winking lights spread across her shifting form, turning from the purest black void to match the purple-indigo and star-scape of the most spectacular night's sky.  Smiling at him through those eyes, Persi closed them and slunk down to become a blanket of starlit midnight spreading out over his shoulders like some sort of celestial shawl, also covering Elora's hands with silky and approving warmth.

"Quip and Dingo?  They're good people, though our meeting was ill-timed and tinged with sadness.  They had just lost their young sister, Maeve, to a trap on a lower level.  Desperate, they bought into some jerk's false tale about an artifact on floor thirteen that could bring her back to life, if activated soon enough.  I never found out who it was that would tell them such a thing.  My neighbour, Quaestor - a good man - told me what they were doing.  I rushed out the door and raced to catch up, but only reached them as they were at the gates to the Valehaven chapel."  Freyd's eyes looked down at the snow drifting by their feet.  "We checked it out.  Quip wouldn't leave otherwise.  She blamed herself for Maeve's death.  It was another trap, and we had to fight our way out of town with a horde of zombies converging on us.  It was close, but we got out with a bit of timely help."  His eyes caught hers as he was telling the tale, and she could see that it had affected him deeply. For all his stern severity, Freyd had a weak spot for the suffering of children.  Maeve must have been young.  It was the one kernel of caring he'd managed to keep alive while shutting everything else out.  His voice gained strength as he continued.

"Afterwards, they needed a place and time to recover.  I had just opened the shop and offered them sanctuary if they'd keep an eye on it for me.  The rest you know."

He seemed lost in thought for a moment, before continuing.

"Actually, I've been thinking of moving."  He glanced sideways to gauge her reaction.

"I chose a home in Angel's Point because I didn't want to be found, like... ever.  The shop was originally meant as little more than a front and never actually meant to garner business.  Funny how things work out, isn't it?  But it's really no place to live."  The last words were a confession on their own - that he had been hiding from life, from the joy and warmth that came with it.  That, maybe, it was time to step out of the mist and the shadows, at least a little at a time.

[Elora 0]

Hundreds of twinkling lights shimmered across the thin surface of ice that now glazed the snowbanks of the silent tundra. Eyes the color of frozen water wandered as Freyd began to speak, their sights transfixed by the breath-taking display of stars mirrored between the black void that stretched above them and the white expanse that subsided below. Kaleidoscopic fractals of luminescence swept across her boots as she walked, and for a moment, Elora felt as though she was treading a transcendental boundary that separated the ethereal plains of this world from that of their own. 

Surprised to discover that Persi not only served as Freyd's familiar, but also his personal pocket-sized planetarium, she began to wonder, what other abilities is Borris capable of learning? Just as the thought had entered her mind, she could feel the motion of him loosening his grip from around her wrist. The amorphous string of stones stretched out to coil around Freyd's counterpart, leaving the two of their hands to be locked in place as they contently clasped one another. There may not be many, but at least he always finds a way to keep me grounded.

"We checked it out.  Quip wouldn't leave otherwise.  She blamed herself for Maeve's death.", she heard him say as her focus returned to the conversation at hand. 

"I can understand that...I would feel awful if the same thing happened to Liam -- my brother, I mean. Even though he isn't trapped in this world, I still feel guilty for what my situation could be putting him through...", she let out a long sigh, "With any luck, he isn't worrying about what state I'm in. It's more important for him to focus on getting his degree" Elora hadn't planned on letting details about her personal life slip during their discussion, but it only felt natural to try and use her experiences to communicate her sympathy for their loss.

"Actually, I've been thinking of moving." If Freyd had been paying attention to her reaction, he would have caught the brief glimpse of her ears perking up at the mention of the idea. "I chose a home in Angel's Point because I didn't want to be found, like... ever.  The shop was originally meant as little more than a front and never actually meant to garner business.

"A front? Like...for money laundering, or something?", remarked Elora as she tried to divert attention away from any excitement she might have earlier expressed, "Well, it'd be a bit of a shame -- that floor does have a really nice climate to it. Buuut, I understand why you might not want to fight through hordes of zombies every time you so much as want to go to the market. I was a little bit worried myself when I came to visit that one day, granted, I didn't actually know about all of the enemies then", she paused for a second before adding, "At least if you move to anywhere on one of the lower floors, it'll be a little bit safer for me to come see you" Well, that's kind of a dumb thing for him to have to take into consideration. Just level up faster so he doesn't have to worry about it! "Is there somewhere you have in mind already?"

[Freyd 0]

Placing his other hand over hers, he pulled her close to offer unsaid sympathy.  Elora spoke as much with her actions, if not more so.  It was a language with which he was sorely lacking in vocabulary.  How the hell to you learn that on the spot without stepping on someone's feelings?!  Just be yourself, Katoka had said.  Freyd closed his eyes, trying to figure out what that meant in this situation.  He'd probably normally put his foot in his mouth by over-analyzing things.

"I'm sorry about that.  I must have forgotten you mentioning you had a brother."  He couldn't honestly remember whether she had, or not, but it seemed the safest way to cover it up, either way.  "What's he studying?  Were...are you close?"  He stumbled awkwardly over the question, not sure where to take the conversation and how to avoid having Elora withdraw inward again just for asking.  She did that so often by default.  Maybe I can even up the score and make her feel less exposed?  "I have no siblings and have been largely estranged from my parents since long before coming to this place."  There was no extended family or friends, but... someone must be looking after him or he'd have faded away already, right?  Freyd's brow furrowed at the prospect.  "We don't really know how long we've been trapped in here, do we?"  It seemed like the first time he'd ever even thought about it.

Maybe you should make the most of it.

"I'm really not sure where to go instead of Floor 13.  This is kind of a new concept for me.  What would you choose for a home, in here at least?"  Red eyes watched her, with soft edges but not having missed her reaction in the slightest.  Freyd didn't think she had a place of her own.  Maybe...?  No.  That would be too forward and too soon, regardless of the potential practically.  Listen to Katoka's advice and let things fall into place when and as they will.   You both have a lot to figure out.