[PP-F3] I had a home and now I...

[Snow 0]

The light of Aincrad's floor crested the horizon and danced through the branches of Floor 3's endless trees. The little beams of radiance permeated through the windows of a small estate just outside of the main town, Flora. From the wooden floorboards, the column of illumination slowly crept up thin, cotton sheets. It traveled over many folds and danced between strands of golden blonde before finally coming to rest on the fair skin of Snow's cheeks. She rustled beneath the covers. As the day's light grew above the horizon, more poured through her curtains and stretched from her head to the foot of the bed. Its warmth seeped under the sheets and into her small frame. Snow flopped to her other side as though to try and grow more comfortable. Instead, two azure eyes cracked open with a soft sigh. The girl rolled to her back, arm over her forehead, as she stared toward the ceiling. The game's realistic graphics even went so far as to render the motes of dust floating listlessly in the morning light.

Another day in Aincrad, she thought to herself.

Edited February 11, 2022 by Snow

[Snow 0]

After a while, the sunlight warmed her enough to cast aside the covers. The cool air tickled at the skin not covered by her silken night gown. Outside, she could hear the early songs of the birds and the clatter of wagons on distant cobblestone roads. With a lazy reluctance, the blonde finally slid herself out of bed. A creature of habit, Snow pulled the sheets tight and began making the bed. Pillows fluffed, sheets tucked, and comforter smoothed, she drudged into the kitchen for a light breakfast.

Lockne, her familiar, opened several of its eyes. The little mimic about the size of a jewelery box opened its toothed maw in a yawn. It leapt off the nightstand beside the bed and hopped along the wooden floor to catch up at Snow’s heels. 

“Oh!” Snow exclaimed when the little creature bumped into her foot. “Good morning, Lockne. Breakfast for you too?”

The alabaster mimic opened its lid and chattered it shut as though it tried to purr. Snow figured this meant something positive. She certainly knew what a negative reaction looked like and so did Shield— his poor nipped fingers…

Edited February 11, 2022 by Snow

[Snow 0]

Once in the kitchen, Snow swung open the door to the ice box and much like before this death game, she stared at its contents blankly. She knew what was in it, but a force of habit encouraged her to simply gloss over all of the ingredients and leftovers within as though she was seeing it for the first time. Lockne took this time to squeeze between Snow's feet and join her like the mimic she was in looking over its contents. Unlike Snow, Lockne would have been content eating any of it. The little mimic's chatter broke Snow from her leisurely trance and she settled on a classic breakfast: eggs and bacon. As Snow removed the ingredients, Lockne followed her hands with intense focus. Her familiar knew what to expect just as Snow knew just what to do to make the little creature happy.

"You ready, Lockne?" Snow teased, holding two eggs above the mimic with a slight shake. In reply, her familiar hopped and chattered its lid.

Edited February 11, 2022 by Snow

[Snow 0]

With a wry smile, Snow set the eggs down and searched the cabinets for her cast iron pan. She used the stove's UI to light a flame and let the surface get to temp. While she waited, Snow used her trusty Sushi Knife she had made for her cooking profession to slice off a few pieces of bacon from the slab. When the pieces hit the pan, they crackled and sizzled like music to her and Lockne's ears. Do mimics even have ears? Snow shrugged at the thought and wrapped up the slab of bacon. She placed it back in the ice box and grabbed the two eggs yet again. Lockne chattered. Snow smiled.

"Reeaaadddy?~" Snow teased again. Lockne hopped and threatened to nip at Snow's ankle only to illicit a laugh from the girl. "Okay! Okay!"

With that, Snow cracked both eggs into the pan where the bacon had begun to render. Then, she tossed the two shells to Lockne who caught them mid-air with a series of crunches.

Edited February 11, 2022 by Snow

[Snow 0]

Why Lockne liked egg shells, Snow didn’t know, but it seemed mimics practically ate whatever you gave them. Non-food items they just liked to keep inside likely to entice something to reach in. Snow lost count how many times Lockne took a nip at someone’s fingers. Still, the mimic did a great job of protecting Snow’s little trinkets and valuables. Even when feeding, somehow Lockne kept the food and Snow’s things separate from one another. I’m short, mimics must be scavenger monsters. Whatever food they could find, they ate. So, for Snow, Lockne was the best little scrap cleaner she could ask for.

Eggs sizzled, bacon crackled, and the whole house filled with the savory aromas. Food nearly ready, Snow pressed a few buttons on the stove’s UI to cut the heat. From another cupboard, she grabbed a square plate and served her breakfast on it. Before she could go sit down at her small sitting table near the front window, Snow put one of the three pieces of bacon in her mouth. Bacon dangling, she walked over and took a seat, Lockne in tow.

Edited February 11, 2022 by Snow

[Snow 0]

From the window beside the sitting table, Snow looked out the the vivid colors of the third floor. Every day, the colors shone vibrantly. On rainy days or the few weeks of snow, the floor still held a semblance of its color. In fact, the winter month yielded special berries similar to a cross between cranberries and pomegranates. Thankfully, her estate offered her plenty of privacy. No one would be peeping in on her in her nightgown, not that it was particularly revealing or anything. To be seen in your nightwear is reserved for close friends or partners.

Snow sighed.

"I miss you..." she softly mumbled. Snow held her fork to the window and looked past it until the shape blurred away. In a way, the faint silhouette almost looked like a person. She missed her best friend and even though Snow knew her name laid etched out on the Monument of Life, she still felt like Daire would walk through those doors at any moment.

"I wonder what Mari is up to...?" It had been ages since her other friend that looked a bit like Daire had contacted her. She hoped all was well. At the same time, her chest tightened with the thoughts of worse fates.

Lost in thought, Snow quietly munched on her breakfast while Lockne gnawed on the leg of her chair.

[Snow 0]

Long after she finished her breakfast and let Lockne lick at the plate, Snow still found herself staring out the window as time ticked by. Her thoughts drifted to all those she met in her life in SAO and how many of them were no longer with them or missing. At least she still had Baldur, Calrex, and the rest of Jacob's Ladder. Hand against her head and propped up, Snow let out a long drawn sigh. Her mind slipped back into the reality of now and the list of chores she planned on completing today. All of which likely started with her getting herself dressed. She lifted her head off her hand and checked under her chair's legs for Lockne. Sure she wouldn't run over the little critter, Snow slid back in her chair and snagged her dish from the floor. She quickly ran it under the water until it became clean and stashed it away with the rest of the china.

The blonde made her way to the bedroom and vanished into the walk in wardrobe. Menus pinged and swiped from inside until she stepped out in a modern set of attire she had tailored. It felt more like home to her.