[F06;SP] Opportune Hearts

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Her feet swung underneath her as she waited, settled on the counter top and glancing back into the hallway every so often. She could hear the sounds of Onora in the room adjacent, going through a collection of pieces and likely trying to decide what would be worth taking, and what would be better left behind. This is what you get for last minute packing. She'd had to stifle a laugh, knowing that Onora had put a lot of effort into planning the trip - an amount of effort that Nari had questioned at first, before realising just how much this likely meant to the blonde.

We don't get much time to go out and just...enjoy. There's always work to do. Creatures to hunt down, quests to complete, orders to fill...this will be nice. The two had agreed to take some time away - a day or two at most, given how important both of their roles continued to be towards the actual possibility of escape. Nari had been resistant at first, wanting to spend the days leading up to the boss fight preparing, going over the various items she would need, hunting down any pieces that would be more beneficial, and just overly taking every second to ensure they were ready.

Onora, however, had argued that there was such a thing as overworking oneself - running into exhaustion and simply becoming useless in the end. She'd presented her arguments calmly, but with a firmness that had left Nari unable to argue. A fact that I'm sure, I'll never live down. She shook her head, smiling again at the thought. Onora had stood before her, arms crossed while Nari had sat on the counter with her legs swinging. Her eyes had bore into Nari, not letting the girl really look away as she had listed off every reason why the vacation would be beneficial - before giving Nari the chance to argue. And she'd come prepared. Shot down every single one of my counterarguments, every proposition.

"I think I'm almost ready..." The voice called out from the hallway, and Nari could hear the sound of footsteps heading down towards one of the other rooms. "Maybe one more small item..."

"Hey, if you don't hurry, we're going to be late!" Nari grinned, knowing that Onora was likely giving some sort of reaction to her words, even if no response came. She knew that instigating the blonde was dangerous; she'd pay for her commentary later, however she couldn't resist the urge when it came. It's a wonder she puts up with me...

---

 

  

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Spoiler notes [Theme] Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 32 | P. 49 | HP: 860/860 | EN: 100/100 | ACC: 5 | DMG: 21 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 78 | B.Healing [+47] | LD: 5 | Static: 40/24 Tier 4 | Tier 8 equipped Reaper's Charge [Scythe; Tier 4 Daemonic] Enhancement: Accuracy [3 Slots] Enhancement: Static [1 Slot]  Reaper's Aegis  [Light Armour; Tier 4 Perfect] Enhancement: Evasion [2 Slots] Enhancement: Mitigation [2 Slots] Twin-Fox Bracelet [Tier 4 Perfect Jewellery] Enhancement: Recovery [2 Slots] Enhancement: Evasion [1 Slot]   battle-ready inventory Teleport Crystal {3} Starter Healing Potions {4} | Heals 50 HP Divinity's Wait {4} | Tier 2; Perfect Potion | Mitigation III Divinity's Protection {4} | Tier 3; Perfect Potion | Overhealth III Cold Brew Coffee {3} | Tier 1; Perfect Potion | HP Recovery III Percephonius Pyratius {5} | Tier 4; Perfect Potion | Damage III Ketchup Chips {3} | Tier 4; Perfect Snacks| Probiotics III Siúil a Rún {2} | Tier 3; Perfect; Masterpiece Support Song | HP Recovery III [Mass] skills Spoiler Utility Skills Extended Weight Limit [Active: Passive. Effect: +2 additional Battle-Ready inventory slots.] Searching [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: +1 LD per rank. +1 to Stealth Detection per rank.] [Rank 3 Searching Mod] Detect [Active: Passive. Effect: Grants +2 Stealth Detection. Grants +1 LD when searching for dungeons and labyrinths.] Quick Change [Active: Free Action. Effect: Allows the user to instantly equip, unequip, or swap any equipment in their battle-ready inventory.  All active and temporary buffs and conditions granted to the player by the unequipped item are immediately lost, unless the new item carries the same enhancement (e.g. Keen, Heavy Momentum, Risky, etc.).] Combat Skills Battle Healing [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: While in combat, recover 1% per rank of your maximum HP (rounded down) at the beginning of your turn.] Weapon Skills Polearm [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: +7 DMG] Dagger [Rank: 1. Active: Passive. Effect: +3 DMG] [Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Stamina [Active: Passive. Effect: Reduces EN of all attacks by 2.] [Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Precision [Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 ACC.] [Rank 5 Weapon Addon] <<Weapon Type>> Focus [Active: Passive. Effect: Decreases minor critical threshold by 1. Also reduces DoT thresholds by 1. Players cannot use Focus and Ferocity at the same time for the same Weapon Type.] [Rank 5 Shift] TECH Specialist [Active: Passive. Effect: For TECH Sword Arts, +4 to multipliers, +3 to EN cost. No other Shifts may be taken.] Armour Skills Light Armour [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: 30 MIT. Mitigation is capped at 2 slots.] [Light Armour Mod] Meticulous [Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 base Damage.] [Light Armour Add-on] Resolve [Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 Accuracy and +10 * Tier HP.] Active Extra Skills Concentration [Active: Free Action. Cooldown: 5 turns. Effect: As a free action, gain Absolute Accuracy on your next attack. In the case Absolute Accuracy is already present, increase your Accuracy by 1 instead. Effect lasts until the start of next turn.] Meditation [Active: Post Action. Cooldown: 3 turns. Effect: Recover an additional (4 * Tier) energy.] Parry [Active: Post action. Energy cost: 9 EN Cooldown: 3 Turns. Effect: Apply the energy cost upon proc, not activation. Reduces the final damage of the next successful attack against you by 50% (rounded down) and negates stun/paralysis effects of that attack. If hit by multiple attacks, only apply parry to the first attack against you. Parry lasts for three turns. Cooldown starts when the player activates the Skill. If the player is hit when using Parry, the cooldown is reset to 3 turns.] [Parry Mod] Vengeful Riposte [Active: Passive. Cooldown: 4 Turns. Effect: A successful Parry also returns 50% (rounded down) of the raw damage that would be dealt to you back to your opponent. The reflected damage can be mitigated by the opponent.] Survival [Active: Passive. Effect: Increases Healing effects received from all sources by 10%. Grants immunity to all damage dealing environmental attacks/effects.] Inactive Extra Skills  Assault Mode [Active: Free Action. Energy Cost: 5 EN. Cooldown: 4 Turns. Effect: As a free action, switch your accuracy and evasion values until the start of your next turn.] Brawler [Active: Free Action. Energy Cost: 5 EN. Cooldown: 5 Turns. Effect: Increase mitigation by 10*tier until the start of your next turn.] Frozen Hide [Active: Free Action. Energy Cost: 5 EN. Cooldown: 4 Turns. Effect: As a free action, apply one slot of Frost Aura and one slot of Frost Thorns equal to your tier to yourself until the start of your next turn.] Combat Mastery Damage [Rank: 3. Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 * Tier additional Base Damage per rank. Ranks of this Skill obey Damage enhancement caps.] Familiar Skills Protector Familiar [Active: Free Action. Cooldown: 3 Posts; Effect: The next time you would take damage, your familiar rushes to your aid, reducing the final damage by 10%.] data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== sword arts Spoiler [x12] ST-I (12 10 EN) | A single-target sword art. [x15] ST-II (15 13 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. [x20] ST-B (20 18 EN) | A devastating single-target sword art. Can only be used if the sword art used the previous turn is not ST-B and had rolled a natural CD9+. When performing an AoE attack, use only the first roll. [x11] AOE-I (11 9 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. [x14] AOE-II (14 12 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE | A powerful sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. Only available for use when AOE-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if AOE-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. [x16] TECH-A (16 14 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy. [x16] TECH-B (15 13 EN) | DELAY | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Delay] on the enemy. [Delay] is a status condition that reduces the enemy’s ACC by 1 for one turn. [x16] TECH-C (15 13 EN) | COUNTER | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, places [Counter] around the player. [Counter] reduces the final damage taken by its user by 25% (rounded down) for one turn. [x16] TECH-D (15 13 EN) | SHATTER | A single-target sword art that applies [Shatter] to an enemy for 3 turns. [Shatter] is a debuff that can stack up to a cap of 3. Each stack of [Shatter] removes -20 MIT from an enemy, down to 0, if it has MIT. [x12] TECH-F (11 9 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE STUN | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. All struck targets are stunned for one turn. [x16] TECH-G (15 13 EN) | BURN | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Burn] on the enemy. [Burn] is a DoT ailment that deals [14 * Player Tier] unmitigated Burn damage for 2 turns. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== buffs Spoiler Estate Buffs Bedroom [-1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat.] Living Room [Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.] Storage Closet [+1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot] Basement [Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll.] Extended Workshop [+2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt & +1 crafting attempt per day.] Greenhouse [+2 Gathering EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to gathering attempts.] data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

"Well, are you coming?" Onora's voice called from the doorway of the kitchen area, startling Nari and causing her to leap slightly off the counter top. She pushed against the cabinet behind her with her back, twisting her feet ever so slightly and landing - crudely - on the ground upright. Onora seemed to smile at the small shriek that the redhead let out, turning slightly in the doorway to provide space for Nari to pass, and raising a hand to wave towards the front doorway in the distance. "Adventure...awaits! That kinda sounds corny, doesn't it?"

Nari shook her head, still trying to calm herself from the small fright. She'd managed to close her eyes and fall asleep while she was waiting - which, if she was being honest, hadn't been a long wait - when Onora had awoken her with the sudden call. Likely, the blonde had known exactly what she was doing, and had found pleasure in causing her roommate's heart to race. Sighing, in as much of an attempt to calm herself as to show some sort of reaction to the blonde's teasing, Nari took a step towards the exit, tossing a hand in the air slightly as she went.

"Well, it's about time. And yeah, that sounds corny. Like something you'd hear in a movie, or a tele-show. One of those really old ones, you know like those black and white ones? The ancient ones? Adventure awaits! Come on, let's go!" She slid passed the blonde, poking the girl in the stomach slightly before collecting the small kitsune that had patiently waited in the hallway - settled into the bed that had been custom ordered for it. "Come on Mio, Nora's finally ready, and it looks like we may get to be free from this place once and for all! Oh, and if you didn't hear...Adventure awaits!"

"You're so funny." Onora stuck her tongue out, before stepping up behind Nari. The blonde had changed into a regular looking white and black shirt, the sleeves hanging down to just past her elbow, and a pair of black leggings that appeared both loose, and comfortable. Nari glanced down at her own outfit - a similar white and black t-shirt, with black leggings, before shaking her head. 

"You realise we look like a couple, heading out with matching outfits?" Nari mentioned offhandedly, waiting to see the blonde's embarrassment. Instead, Onora simply cocked her head, pausing for a moment as if in thought. Nari mimicked the woman's movement, coming to a stop just before the doorway out of the house. Seconds seemed to pass, before Onora suddenly reached out and grabbed Nari's hand, grasping it firmly before tugging her forwards.

"Well...I guess we look like a couple then."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari had been led by the hand out of the door, and down the dark lit streets of the Ylvon. Her mind had attempted to compute what she had heard, at first arguing that it wasn't possible for Onora to have said it, before realising that the blonde had, in fact, stated what Nari's ears had heard. Yeah, she definitely said it. I mean, I heard the words right from her mouth. But...maybe I heard it wrong? I mean, I'm sure I heard it right, but...

"What are you so deep in thought about?" Onora's voice broke through Nari's confusion, the woman glancing over towards the redhead even as she continued to drag her along. They'd already reached the far side of the small settlement, the few NPCs passed by in silence. "You'd almost think that you were planning something. You're not planning, like, an escape or anything, are you?"

Nari's head cocked to the side as she looked at Onora, her frown of confusion slowly shifting into a sly grin. Her answer was quick, and filled with a tone of sarcasm - although it may have been halfhearted in nature. "Why? Are you worried I'm going to run away and leave you all alone, with nothing but memories to take care of you?"

She bit her tongue right after the words had left her mouth, realising the harshness that came with the commentary. She hadn't meant to bring such a heavy thought to their day, least not this early into their time together. Stupid. You should really think before you say something. Especially something like that. Be more considerate, and choose your words more wisely...you don't want to hurt her. The voice inside her head berated her, even as Onora began to answer the question. The blonde's attitude hadn't changed - in fact, if anything, she came across as even more humorous than she had previously.

"Oh, I don't think you'd run away. Cause trouble, perhaps. Or definitely. Definitely cause trouble. But...well, I know where you sleep, so you wouldn't run away. Right?" The wink that followed was more than enough to tell Nari that the blonde had been kidding - mostly. She didn't doubt that if she did actually try and wriggle away, that there would be consequences. Not that I plan on even attempting that...

"So...where are we going, anyways? You had this whole thing planned out, right? I'm sure you've got...some sort of plan here, right?" Nari decided to change the topic instead of continuing to push down the same path. She knew that Onora had put a lot of work into today's preparations - not that Nari had been privy to any of the planning, or even any insight into what was going to happen. All that she had been told, was that they would be taking the day to spend time together, before the assault on the Floor Boss. "Are we going to visit Aincrad's one and only Petting Zoo?"

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Rather than responding, Onora simply dragged the redhead along behind her through the entryway of the small settlement and into the fields beyond. They followed the road as it wound out of the settlement and into the dark beyond - the soft glowing lights of the civilised area giving way to the starry night sky. For the time being, Nari was content to follow along, letting her eyes roam over the darker areas just off the road in search of any creatures making their way towards them - cautious, aware that they were out of a safe zone. She wasn't worried that they would run into any trouble - the majority of the roads between settlements remained clear, or at least clear enough that the average player could make their way across the floors without too much concern. But, it's not good to become reliant on that. We never know when Cardinal is going to change things, and make it much more difficult...or just deadly.

As they turned the final corner towards Ronbaru, Nari felt herself tense ever so slightly A common reaction that she had gained during the final steps of any outing that she had gone on - an expectation of an ambush, lying in wait, just steps before safety. She'd encountered it far too many times, found that she had become almost expectant of it at this point. Beside her, Onora glanced over, apparently feeling the change in her posture as her entire body became different, both more rigid, and more relaxed at the exact same time. "Everything alright...?"

The blonde's voice took a small amount of the expectation out of Nari's form, and she forced herself to calm enough to continue walking as normally as she could. Breathing out a heavy sigh, she pushed a smile onto her face as she turned to look at her companion, trying to radiate the calm aura that she doubted she was actually managing. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just...habits. You know the old cliché where the danger leaps out at you at the last second...? Well, I've gotten used to expecting that. Last second..."

She gave a wave of her hand towards the gates that led into Ronbaru, signalling the approaching area of safety, and the gap between themselves and that safety. Onora's eyes seemed to follow her hand movement, tracing across the path before them as she took in the distance between themselves and the city, before turning back to stare at Nari. 

"Are you...expecting someone?" The blonde's face remained stoic as she spoke, but Nari could sense teasing nature behind the words. Instead of answering, she simply let out an exasperated sigh, shaking her head and giving once last glance around before looking up at the night sky. She wasn't entirely sure what it was about the twenty-seventh floor, but the area had always seemed beautiful to Nari, the stars twinkling in the sky almost seeming real, if she didn't look too hard. 

"It's lovely out..." Her words were soft, enough so that they seemed more like a whisper, rather than her actually saying them aloud. Onora, for better or worse, made no response to the commentary. Instead, the blonde gave a soft squeeze of Nari's hand, continuing to lead the two towards the city itself. As their steps continued, and the light grew bright enough to block out some of the stars, Nari let her gaze drop again. They passed through the main area without hesitation and Nari felt the small amount of tension leave her entirely, the return to the safe zone causing another shift in her physicality. "So, where are you headed to now?"

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

"This way...teleporter. Just...stick with me, and you'll be fine." Onora's words were distracted as she pulled Nari along beside her, the latter giving in and simply letting herself be led along. She was wholly unaware of their destination, and knew that resisting in any way would only hinder the actual path they were taking. I know her well enough to know that I can trust her...at least, with this. She took the time to glance around the main courtyard of the twenty-seventh floor's capital, seeing few familiar faces out and about in the early hours of the day. Ever present night, more like it. Still, no one I really recognise...although that's not saying much in itself. She, not for the first time, remembered that she knew only a small handful of other players personally - mostly those who had been engaged in her struggle to reach the front. 

"Alright." Onora had dragged the two up to the teleporter, standing in its centre and taking a breath before calling out to the air, activating the teleporter. "Floor Six! Krycim!"

Nari's vision was whited out for what felt like a few seconds as they were transported from the previous teleporter on floor twenty-seven to the teleporter on floor six. She felt, before she saw, the oppressive heat and humidity from the jungle that made up the floor. She blinked a few times to clear her vision, before looking at the area they had arrived in - a small village like settlement that contained a variety of reed and bamboo based structures, which seemed to blend in and fuse with the very trees that they surrounded. She couldn't remember the last time she'd come to this area, if she had at all, and found herself drawn in by the sights and sounds. She'd taken a step down from the teleporter at some point, her attention entirely focused on the jungle around her as she tried to process what was surrounding them. 

"Beautiful, isn't it? I came here a while ago, to get some materials, and...well, you'll see. Someone showed it to me, and I thought you might like it...come on!" Onora grabbed Nari's hand again, pulling her through the walkways of the village and towards what was clearly the outskirts leading to the jungle itself. They passed a few of the locals as they went - women of varying ages who smiled at them as they passed, all of them well built in ways that made Nari believe they lived tough lives, fighting against the elements of nature itself. She nodded to the few who waved at her, smiling at the others in what she hoped was a pleasant manner. It wasn't until they'd passed by what must've been the tenth or eleventh woman, that Nari began to suspect something was off.

"Alright...not that I'm complaining, but...why's it all women here?" Even as she asked the question, her eyes were searching the area, looking for any signs of someone who wasn't a woman. She wasn't entirely hopeful to find any such male presence, more so simply befuddled by the lack of them. 

"Oh...they live on the other side of the floor, in a smaller village by a swamp. A lot less appealing than this place, if you ask me. And not just because it's all men, but because the place is...well, less appealing. But yeah, it's all women here, expect during a specific time of the year, when some event happens and some of the men come here in order to...well, reproduce." Onora talked with an excitement in her voice - which immediately dropped off towards the end of her explanation. Nari couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, glancing at the blonde with a look of curiosity and suspicion.

"That almost sounded like you're against the idea of reproduction. If I didn't know any better." Nari's tone was stoic, no accusation in her tone as she stared at the blonde. As expected, Onora's face had flushed slightly - just enough that Nari almost missed it. 

"I'm not against it...I just...think it's weird to have a whole...celebration, event, whatever, for it. Like, that's something that should just...be a thing..." Onora's response caused Nari to giggle, the entire scenario seemingly adorable to the redhead as she was dragged along behind her friend. "Oh hush you..."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

The two had wandered through the small village until they had hit the edges. Nari's first impression was simply that of subtly surprise and wonder. The jungle seemed to take over mere steps away from the village, with some areas entirely impassable. The collection of branches, foliage and assorted trunks simply blocking any chance and/or attempt to move through the area - no matter how determined an individual may be. A few minor paths seemed to lead to various areas, the dirt disappearing into the distance and leaving Nari with no inkling of where they may head.

"If I remember right...this one." Onora had dragged Nari over to one of the paths, leading in a direction that she could only assume was easterly. She glanced over at Onora, an eyebrow raised as she questioned just how well the woman had planned their current outing. "Don't you worry...a couple of these paths lead to the same place, just take a bit longer to get there...I'm, like, ninety-nine percent sure this one is the shortest."

Nari gave a click of her tongue and a small shake of her head, but remained silent. She followed along behind the blonde, diligently accepting whatever path she was pulled along - knowing that if she argued even the slightest, the emerald green stare would silence her concerns. Instead, she took the time to view the jungle that they were passing, spotting a small number of critters in the area, from what appeared to be a variety of birds, to small rodents that reminded her of squirrels.

"So...are we there yet?" Nari stifled another giggle as she asked her question, immediately feeling the tension rise in the other woman's shoulders.

"Ask that again and I'm throwing you off the nearest small ledge..." Onora growled back. Nari could, however, hear the slight tone of amusement in the woman's voice - a clear sign that she wasn't anywhere near as agitated as she may have been pretending to be. Still, Nari knew better than to push her luck with the other woman, and instead chose to fall back into silence. And hope that we don't have to walk too far to get...well, wherever we're going...

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

They'd come to a stop. Not at their destination, as Nari's quick observation had figured out, but at a crossroads. A place where the dirt path seemed to head off in two different directions, and Onora's head swivelled back and forth as if she were trying to figure out which direction to head in. Nari had waited patiently, quietly, for a few moments at the blonde's side in the hopes that the other would suddenly remember which way to go.

"So...we're lost, right?" Nari cocked her head and shifted her position slightly. Her tone had held no judgement or negativity - in fact, she'd kept it as flat of emotion as she possibly could. The heavy sigh that escaped Onora's lips, however, told Nari everything she needed to know. She glanced back and forth between the two directions, trying to figure out a solution. "I mean, you said that these paths all basically lead to the same areas, right? So there's a fifty-fifty chance that if we follow one, it'll take us where we need to be? Like, if we go left, it should get us to the same spot as going right, just faster or slower?"

"I...well, yeah, that might work...I'm not entirely sure that these two paths lead to the same place, though..." Onora's tone was filled with a tinge of annoyance. Nari knew that it wasn't directed at her, and that Onora was simply frustrated with the fact that her well planned day had just hit a large snag. The blonde continued to look around the area, as if hoping that something would eventually stick out, and remind her of the direction that they needed to go. 

"Okay..." Nari waited a few more seconds, before simply grasping Onora's hand and pulling her down the path to the left. She blonde gave a few words of surprise and disagreement, before simply giving up and letting Nari drag her along. "Worst comes to worst, we turn around if this clearly doesn't lead us where we need to go. But...I figure taking a step forward, even if in the wrong direction, is still taking a step forward. Right?"

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

They had travelled in silence for a while, Onora eventually taking the lead back. Nari settled in slightly behind the blonde, content to let the other lead them along the path. She'd already agreed to following Onora for the day, and she figured it would give the woman a bit more comfort to be in control once more. Besides, it's nice to follow someone else for a change. No need to always lead, sometimes it's good to just...be led.

"I think we're almost there. This place looks rather familiar." The words surprised Nari from her thoughts, and she glanced around. As far as she could tell, the jungle still looked the same. Not that she was going to argue with Onora about it; if they were almost there, they were almost there. "I can hear it...in the distance a bit, but it sounds like it's getting closer!"

Nari strained her hearing as much as she could, but aside from the sounds of the forest around her, she couldn't pinpoint anything that would signal their destination. Not that she knew what she should be listening for, to begin with. It could be anything from a song on the wind, to the sounds of a stream in the distance. Or maybe the sounds of some sort of creature... The last seemed the most unlikely to the redhead. She saw no reason that the sounds of a creature would signify their arrival, but she didn't immediately cast it aside either. 

They'd made it another few hundred steps before the dirt path took a sudden sharp right turn. Nari was tugged along behind a now faster moving Onora, her companion seemingly excited at something. She bounced along behind, forced to quicken her pace just to stop from being outwardly dragged.

"Hey, careful. If we're a moment or two-" Her words stopped as they turned the corner, and Nari saw the scene before them. The waterfall was still a distance away - far enough that although the water crashed into the pool at the bottom, it was barely audible against the numerous other sounds. She could, however, see the details of the piece, and felt her breath leave her for a few seconds. "Beautiful..."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari found herself standing and staring at the waterfall and surrounding area for a few moments, taking it all in. She'd never been to this portion of the floor - in fact, as far as she could remember, she'd barely explored the sixth at all. She'd had no idea that locations such as the one before her could even exist, and she found herself once more shocked with the beauty that could be found in the death game. 

"Are you just going to stand there all day, or are you coming?" Onora had already moved a few dozen steps into the main area, holding out a hand back towards Nari. The blonde wore a soft smile on her face, and had at some point called a picnic basket into existence. Nari gave a single shake of her head, before stepping forward and taking the blonde's hand, content for the moment to be pulled through the area towards their destination.

Onora didn't go far, stepping a few metres into the area and towards the edge of the pool. A flat area of rock, covered lightly by sand, provided an almost perfect place to sit and relax. Onora had, from the picnic basket, pulled out a large sheet that shifted from a flow of sea foam green through a soft red, placing it onto the ground for them to settle onto. Nari waited, patiently, for the blonde to signal for her to sit down before stepping onto the piece. 

"Alright, so...this is a bit better than busy beach side. You should be proud of yourself. I didn't even know this place existed..." Her eyes travelled over the area again, amazed at just how captivating it was. She'd never been a huge fan of jungles - or at least not the thought of them - but she found herself immersed in the current location, the tranquillity of it all washing over her. "It's beautiful here..."

"They say you need to take a beauty to somewhere beautiful to really appreciate it."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

The words had entirely passed over Nari's head as they had begun to set up the various foods and beverages that Onora had packed for the excursion. She'd just turned to eye out their swimming spot, when her mind caught up to what Onora had said aloud. For a few seconds, Nari felt herself staring out at the water, her face flushed and her mind screeching to a halt as she tried to process everything. Slowly, her face void of any expression, she turned back to face the blonde. 

"Uhm...what?" Her voice seemed to shake slightly, as if her entire body had forgotten how to work properly. At some point, she realised she'd forgotten to blink, and her eyes moved to catch up. She was sure that, to Onora, her expression and reaction must have seemed extremely off-putting. "I...what?"

"That certainly took you a while. They say you should bring beauty to somewhere beautiful, is what I said. More of less." Even as she spoke, Onora had continued to lay out the various items, rearranging a few of them absentmindedly. Nari knew the woman enough to know the nervous ticks that she had - just as she would know, and recognise Nari's own. We've lived together long enough to know one another fairly well...to recognise the patterns and behaviours. It's hard to miss it, even if we wanted to. Before Nari could say anything, however, Onora had continued speaking, bringing her mind back to the present "What I mean is...well, you're beautiful. An absolute pain in the ass sometimes, but beautiful. And caring, and...well, I might not say amazing, but you're pretty great, all things considered."

The flash of a smile followed the commentary, and Nari felt herself reeling again, trying to focus on keeping her breathing going and not having her mind simply shut down in response. She understood what the blonde was saying, where the conversation was going, but something in her still felt like she was being pulled along, as if the entire situation was nothing more than a joke. "I mean, you're amazing and beautiful yourself...and like...a really great person...and I wouldn't want to do anything to ruin that, because I like having you around and spending time together and-"

The hand that shoved her caught Nari off guard, and for a brief second she thought she had said something to upset the other woman. As she scrambled to find her apology, however, she saw the faintest smile on the blonde's face, and a look that was clearly a mixture of embarrassment, as well as joy. Unsure of what to make of it, Nari found herself falling silent, waiting to see what the other would say. She didn't want to break the peacefulness of the encounter, to overcome the bond that had grown between the two of them. Not like I did before. I can't do that again. She thought back to the younger girl she had met in this world, the friendly figure who had become something more, for a time. She thought, also, of the ways in which things had fallen apart between the two of them. They remained friendly, enough, but there was still a divide - an awkwardness that Nari didn't want to experience again. Especially not with Onora. I...don't think I could handle losing her too.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Instead of pressing the conversation at hand, Onora instead turned to the food that had been brought. Nari glanced over the assortment of breads, meats and cheeses - paired along with some sauces that she didn't recognise. She waited, patiently, as the blonde set the pieces out in an almost orderly fashion, arrangement them in a mannerism that reminded Nari of the individuals who spent more time on the presentation than actual consumption of their food. It's an art of it's own, even if I don't necessarily get it. There's nothing that says I need to understand, only appreciate and be patient. The words were easy enough to say, but Nari found herself fidgeting slightly as she waited.

"You know...if you were trying to pretend to wait nicely, you suck at pretending." Onora grinned widely as she glanced at Nari out of the corner of her eye, the redhead sticking her tongue out in response but remaining silent. Her wait didn't last much longer, as Onora finished placing the final pieces and sitting back with another grin. "I brought an assortment of things...to try out. Some of them are my own creation, so...I apologise in advance if they're horrid."

"Nothing you make is ever horrid. Barely passable, maybe, but never horrid." She laughed a little as Onora gave her a light tap on her shoulder, smiling in response to Nari's teasing words.

The two ate in silence for a while, content to simply be side by side and enjoying the scenery. Nari glanced over at Onora a few times, considering what the woman had said earlier, and trying to wrap her head around the entire situation. She wasn't sure she understood - not even the slightest bit - what the woman had been insinuating, but she also didn't want to read into things that were clearly not there. Especially if things are not there. The last thing I want to do is...assume. Anything. That always leads to disaster and... She cut the thoughts off, figuring there was only one way that she was going to be able to determine exactly where the two stood, and if she was imagining things.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Although the quiet stretched, Nari found that it wasn't uncomfortable. She wasn't sure how to label it, but it almost felt calming - as if there was no need to communicate anything. Maybe that's the case. We do know each other really well. Maybe not perfectly, but well enough that there's been times when we just know what the other needs or wants. She thought back to the many times she'd interpreted Onora's needs without the woman even needing to say a word, and the ways in which Onora always seemed to know what Nari needed. Maybe...maybe there is something to that.

"Hey, I...have a question." She didn't look at Onora as she spoke, falling silent after her comment and waiting for the other to respond.

"If I'm supposed to guess what it is, I've no idea." There was a tinge of sarcasm to the tone, but Nari found herself smiling instead of getting annoyed - something she realised she only did with Onora. 

"Would you say...there's a connection between us?" She kept her real meaning vague, figuring that Onora would figure it out, like she always seemed to. She bit her lip as she waited for an answer, still staring off at the waterfall as the silence seemed to stretch. She could, somehow, tell that Onora was considering the question herself, not wanting to give an answer immediately and somehow give the wrong information. Not that Nari knew what to make of that - it could be that she was imagining things, or perhaps Onora was as nervous as she was.

"Yes...although I'm not sure if the things I feel are...mutual..." The hesitation brought Nari's gaze around, noticing for the first time that Onora seemed to be staring at the ground, a small flush in her face. It was the first time Nari had seen the blonde unable to make eye contact, a sign to the redhead at the topic truly had struck...something. But what do I do with that information? She wasn't entirely sure, and found herself pausing as she tried to figure out a response. "I've always wanted to ask..."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

"Yes." A single word that was out before Nari had even considered it's meaning, or the impact it could have on their entire relationship. She'd assumed the question, left unspoken, and had immediately answered as soon as the silence had fallen. In contrast to her expectations, Onora had appeared surprised in reaction, her eyes jumping up to look at Nari and her expression shifting to one of shock. "That's...assuming I understood the question correctly."

Nari finally broke her gaze, looking away from Onora as she felt her own face flush. She'd never been this confident before, when it came to dealing with people, and she found herself amazed at how well she was composing herself all things considered. Still, she couldn't help but feel the tingling sensation that came with the embarrassment of expressing herself - something she'd never been good at, even with her growth in confidence. 

"I...I think you did. I mean, I guess I should clarify." There was a soft coughing sound from Onora as she seemed to prepare herself, before sitting upright and placing her hands in her lap. "I just wanted to confirm that there were mutual feelings between the two of us...romantic feelings."

Nari's head nodded harshly in response, her excitement getting the best of her as she tried to show her own feelings without saying anything. She didn't trust her voice at the moment, with everything that she was feeling inside. I wasn't imagining things? That's...that's a miracle. I mean, maybe...well, no. She said. I heard her say...she feels it too. I should ask. But she just said. But maybe I should ask anyways? That would be the right thing to do, right? Before she could even fully comprehend her own thoughts, a hand had touched hers. It was light, a sign of comfort and control in the unsteady moment she was having, but it made Nari happier than she could've expected. She grasped the hand - careful not to move too harshly or quickly - wrapping her fingers around it.

"I'm glad." The words were soft and quiet on the air, but seemed to fill Nari's ears. "That was...easier, and harder, than expected."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari sighed softly, before breaking out into a laugh. Thankfully, Onora was quick to join in, not giving Nari any weird looks or questioning glances. Their laughter seemed to echo around the area, the waterfall in the distance doing nothing to overpower their noise. After a few moments, Nari found herself under control enough to continue speaking, the tears in her eyes blurring her vision only ever so slightly - although she couldn't say whether that was from the laughter, or something else.

"That was...that was definitely hard. Emotions are hard. Why are emotions so hard?" She felt herself giggling slightly again, and fought to keep herself from losing control again. "I mean...it's just...words, right? Why is it so...so hard to say? Although...I guess I'm horrible at it, more than you are..."

"I don't know about that...I've been holding this in for a while, I'll have you know." Onora poked her suddenly, the blonde seemingly more relaxed than she had been mere moments ago. Nari tilted her head, curious to know what the blonde was talking about, but unwilling to interrupt anything further that might be said. "It's taken a long time to get the nerves up to...well, and then there was the other girl. I didn't want to be a rebound, after all...and...time. Time helped a bit, though, I think..."

"Mmm...time cures all wounds..." Nari mumbled in response. She didn't want to think about NIGHT, or any of her history right now. But Onora had brought it up, and she couldn't very well ignore it. Instead, however she found her words coming out automatically, without thought. "That's over. History. It's...a bit awkward, between us, but...we're nothing more than compani-er...coworkers, might be a better word, on the battlefield. I'll make sure she stays alive, and she makes sure I stay alive."

Onora seemed to consider her comment for a second, before adding a soft response of her own. "She better..."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

She tried to think of anything else to say, words of comfort, or expression, but nothing came to mind. Instead, she ended up falling silent, letting her hand grasp Onora's and her mind blank as she simply accepted what had transpired. She wasn't entirely sure whether to believe it - a part of her kept wondering if there was some sort of joke to be had here, or if she were actually asleep and dreaming up the entire thing. Somehow, although she knew it to be real, her mind simply would not accept anything happening, as if it somehow believed she wasn't allowed to be happy. It's not like anything leading up to this point has really inspired happy endings for...well, anyone. Maybe it's natural to be cautious, to be doubtful. Or maybe we've just...come to doubt that anything good, anything nice, can truly happen. I wonder if she feels the same. The quick glance sideways at Onora brought a questioning look in response, before the blonde spoke up.

"Let me guess...'this couldn't possibly be real, this is all a dream, I must be dreaming', is what you're thinking, right?" Nari's slightly squinted eyes and half-nod must have given away her sudden suspicion, because Onora started laughing in response. Rather than speaking up, Nari simply waited for the other to relax enough to continue where she had left off, not wanting to interrupt whatever the blonde was going to add to her original question. "Turns out you and I think...a lot alike. Who'd have thought, right? I was just sitting here, thinking the exact same thing, when you looked over. Wondering if any of this could be real, considering...everything we've been through."

Onora paused long enough to wave a hand at the area around them, breaking Nari's concentration for just a few seconds as she followed the movement with her eyes. "Hard to believe anything good would happen after all that...and it's not even over yet. But who's to say we can't spend a bit of time being happy...? Especially if it isn't going to end happy, we should be making small moments of happiness to keep us going forward, shouldn't we? Isn't that part of how we survive?"

"Yes...yes, I think it is." Nari's voice sounded emotionless to her own ears, and she couldn't help but wonder if Onora thought she was just placating her. She rushed to continue her thoughts, trying to put a bit more emotion, a bit more happiness into her voice. "I mean, it's that little bit of happiness that keeps us fighting. It's knowing that there's people who look up to us, or out for us...either beside us, or waiting for us to return when we go out. The little things that make sure we're careful, cautious, but still approach things head on, right?"

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Onora seemed to hum at Nari's words, as if agreeing to them without saying a thing. At least, that was how Nari interpreted the response. She knew Onora well enough to have figured out that the woman would argue, or say something in response, if there was any disagreement with the commentary. And once again I'm reminded of how well we know each other, just from our time spent together.

She was certain that they were only going to continue the conversation, even if they had reached agreement, and was thoroughly surprised when Onora suddenly changed the topic entirely. "You know, this waterfall is supposedly one that people come to whenever they need to clear their thoughts, to look inwards and consider the world around them...or themselves, and their place in it. At least, that's what the locals and the quests say about it."

It took Nari longer than she would've expected to reply, her mind trying to catch up with the shift even as she considered what the blonde was talking about. When she did eventually speak, it was slow and halting, as if she wasn't entirely sure of what to say, or how to go about it. "I...yeah, it seems...relaxing...being here, I mean. Like, maybe not right in this moment...but...I could see it being...a good place to - I mean, it's not that I'm not relaxed, it's just that..."

She felt herself growing more and more flustered as she spoke, eventually forcing herself to stop as she stuttered her way into an answer that provided nothing of substance. She could see Onora's smile off to the side, as if the blonde had intentionally set her up for this exact moment - but Nari also noticed no jesting in it, as if the woman found it amusing, but hadn't intended for it. 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari let some time pass in silence, content to enjoy the company and the surroundings as she considered their current place, and the future that was awaiting. She knew that the moment of happiness could be swept away at any second - something that she still feared having occur. She had, over her time within Aincrad, come to realise that she couldn't allow that fear to hold her. To stop her from moving forward, taking risks. It would easily sweep over her and take away any that of the momentum that she had carried these past months, leaving her as nothing more than a statute standing amidst the flow of time. 

"We should probably head back soon..." Onora suddenly spoke up, her voice relatively quiet compared to before. Nari had the weird feeling that the blonde was simply mentioning it due to a necessity, rather than any actual need to return. Both had taken the time today to simply relax, making sure that they had no dire, pressing urges or needs that had to be dealt with until the following day. Still, Nari couldn't very well argue with the commentary.

"We can head back in a little bit, perhaps? For now...I just want to stay here, in this moment, a bit longer. If that's alright." The hum of approval that came in immediate response was all that Nari needed from the other, and she laid herself against Onora's side, placing her head upon the woman's shoulder and closing her eyes. Even though the world around them wasn't real, their bodies weren't real, Nari found herself comforted by the touch. The feel of the other person beside her - immaterial and untrue, and yet somehow a solid piece of her life, ready to support her with anything she needed. "If I haven't said it before...thank you for being there for me."

There was no response - nothing verbal, at least. Instead, the fingers that had clasped her hand seemed to tighten slightly, and Nari felt herself tugged a little bit closer. She could feel the way in which Onora tried to pull Nari into herself, tried to take the woman and make her one with her own form. A comfort that came without expression, without the need to speak the responses that were felt between the two of them. It left Nari feeling a numbness in herself, beyond just her chest. She could feel it running down her arms, her legs, even to the tips of her fingers - a feeling that spread and seemed to reverberate within her at every possible point of her existence. She gave in to the feeling, sighing softly as she chose to simply exist in that moment.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari and Onora had remained seated for a while beyond their final words, neither one wanting to break the otherwise enjoyable silence that seemed to envelope the area. A few times Nari had considered speaking up, but thought better of it. She was far from any sort of rush to leave their current position, much less disturb the peace. Instead, she found herself falling into a semi-slumber, aware of the blonde beside her, and yet oblivious to the other surroundings. 

"Hey...good nap?" Nari woke to the voice, speaking softly beside her, and felt herself flush in response. She'd felt herself slowly drifting away, but hadn't actually expected to fall asleep entirely. She hummed a response, semi-positive in sound, as she tried to shake off the final feelings of the slumber from herself. Blinking, she realised that the bright sky had shifted slightly, a sign that they had been there for quite some time now.

"Yeah...should we be heading home soon? I don't even know what time it is..." She groggily realised that she could look up at the time even as she said the words aloud. Before she could do that, however, Onora had already responded, her own voice tinged with a similar sound of tiredness - making Nari realise that the blonde was likely exhausted as well, and in as much need of sleep as Nari herself was.

"Yeah...it's getting late. I think. It's...actually, I don't know either...early evening, maybe...?" Onora's voice was low, and seemed to be filled with pauses as she spoke. A sign that Nari had learnt meant that the woman was extremely tired - tired enough that she wasn't thinking straight. Pushing herself upright, Nari began collecting the few meagre items that had been spread out around them, beginning to pack up.

"Nah-ah, you stay there...I got this." She gently pushed Onora back to where she had been sitting as soon as the blonde had begun to rise in order to help put things away. Nari was surprised when Onora put up no argument, instead settling and watching as the redhead went about cleaning up. Nari was surprised, but didn't say anything aloud at her partner's compliance. Instead, she focused on her clean-up, making sure to place the few pieces back exactly where Onora had pulled them from - knowing that she would get nicked for it later if she didn't do it perfectly. "I think that's everything...should we get going?"

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

The walk back was much simpler than their original trip outwards. Nari walked alongside the blonde - Onora still leading the way ever so slightly, even though neither would've needed the guidance. Still, Nari was content to simply follow; content to be lead through the woodlands without the necessity of having to check her map or try and piece together where she was going. The sounds of the trees, a small whistling of wind causing the leaves to shake and rattle against one another, could be heard all around them. The sound was far more peaceful than Nari would've expected, and she found herself smiling in spite of herself. 

"You seem...happy. Care to share?" Onora said after a while, not looking away from the path ahead of them. Nari took her time considering how to answer the question. It wasn't that there was anything to hide, so much as she wasn't entirely sure how to put it all into describable words. 

"Today has been...amazing. Maybe the best day I've had, since this whole thing started." She gave a flippant wave of her hand at the mention of their current situation, as if to try and drag the attention away from herself somewhat. She felt her smile drop for a brief second at the mention, but it soon returned as she forced herself away from the darkness that came with it. "It was nice to just spend the day with you, to not have worries or concerns or the need to do...well, anything. It was...well, I think the best way I can describe it is peaceful. Maybe fulfilling?"

"Oh? Well...I'm glad I could provide such a wonderful experience." There was no snide tone, or sarcasm behind Onora's words. Nari's single glance towards the blonde showed a look of slight embarrassment, as if the other hadn't been expecting to hear the words at all. She couldn't help but feel a moment of pride at having taken Onora by surprise with her admission - although she knew better than to try and use that against her partner in any way. "But best day ever...I don't know about that."

Nari shook her head, not wanting to argue with Onora. She knew that the girl was poking fun at her, that her words had truly left an impression. She didn't want to ruin the moment by bickering - even if it was simply in a fun manner. Instead, she simply squeezed the blonde's hand a little bit tighter, staying silent as the village came into view in the distance.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

"It...feels different." Onora commented as they sat at the dinner table, the meal the blonde had prepared steaming in front of them. Nari hadn't wanted to say it aloud, but her partner had little issue with mentioning it. Nari had noticed it as well, the way in which the place somehow felt more homely after the day they had. Nari wasn't sure if it was the deeper connection between the two of them, or if it was something else that seemed to have made the house turn into what felt like a true home. She'd simply accepted the fact that it was, and moved on. 

"Different, but not in a bad way." Nari paused in reaching for the bun that she had wanted, smiling over at Onora before continuing for the piece. The meal wasn't anything different from normal, nor had the house itself changed in any way. The only thing that Nari could think of that was different was the two of them. "Unless you're going to tell me that it's, somehow, worse?"

Onora's only response was to stick her tongue out at the redhead, refusing to say anything out loud. It didn't bother Nari, content to simply enjoy the presence of the other. This is how things should be. This happiness, the carefree air. The way that everything feels...right. It won't last forever, so enjoy it for now. Before you have to head back. Normally, the thoughts would be filled with an almost depressive venom - a reminder that the world was still wrong, still broken. That they were still trapped within the game itself. This time, however, Nari felt like it was more of a push to enjoy it. To make it last as long as she could, as if it was a blissful moment that she could look back upon with happiness. A reason to keep pushing forwards, no matter what should come.

"I think things are going to get easier, from here. Maybe not when it comes to the frontlines, but when it comes to knowing why I'm fighting. What I'm fighting for. And what I need to do, in order to survive." The words were out before she'd considered the impact they could have - but Onora only seemed to nod, her expression showing that she understood. There was no venom, no depression in the statement. In fact, if anything, it was a reminder to both of them that things were, as best as they could be, perfect for the moment.

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Thread Summary
Word Count: 8,563
EXP: 8,563 / 10 x 8 x 1 = 6,848
Col: 400