[F1|PP]<Feeding the Enemy> Cute Little Kitty Cats

[Scarlet Firefly 0]

The coalescence of light that ported her between locations over took her senses. Firefly was sensitive, yet intrigued, by color schemes and even the half second of bright lights in her vision was enough to get her dizzy. She had returned to her favored area of Floor One, the Town of Beginnings. Totally not because she had been too scared to venture to higher level floors up until now or anything. If she was going to be stuck here for years now, it was only fair that she got the chance to see everything that she could of Aincrad.

She would wait at the teleport gate for her new guild mate to join her at the town. They’d met during the introductory meeting that Morningstar had arranged, and she’d expressed her desire to obtain a familiar much like the one she’d met at the Evening Star, Nyanko was its name? She wondered how it would be to go outside of the safe zone for the first time, having been too inexperienced to bring forth the courage to attempt it without reason.

Using Pheromones. Scarlet Firefly | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 7 | MIT:6 | ACC:3 | EVA:2

Edited September 24 by Scarlet Firefly

[Pollux 0]

A column of light flashed from the center of the teleporter and out of it stepped Yue Hua, pressing a hand to her forehead with a small frown. The space between floors: she could never get used to it. She flicked her bangs out of the way and she stood on her tiptoes on the elevated platform, trying to spot her guildmate's pale hair among the players scattered about the plaza. With her dizziness, it took her longer than it should.

There she is -- oop.

The teleport system needed the receiving area cleared and the player was loitering. An invisible force physically nudged her off the platform and she went stumbling forward a small amount of steps, her tail swinging for balance. Like a cat herself. Perhaps Firefly would be happy with her instead? Yue Hua was eternally at her fellow trackers' beck and call anyway.

But she moved on, unfazed. She fixed her bangs again as she approached. "Firefly, hello," Yue Hua greeted, raising a hand to wave. She was right on time, down to the last second. "Bright and early. Ready to get your cat?"

 

厌倦你浪潮般涨落地爱我 当作莫名靠岸惶惑地来过 再说了从未幻想过你爱我 天马行空都埋没

Spoiler LEVEL 2: HP: 40/40 | EN: 22/22 | DMG: 7 SKILLS: Spoiler  | skills mod count: 0/5 STRAIGHT SWORD | RANK 2/5 [BASE: Proficiency] +4 DMG | expenditure Spoiler Total SP: 10 | Spent: 8 | Unspent: 2 SKILL: Straight Sword (8)   EQUIPMENT: Spoiler Dull Blade DAMAGE II TIER 1 RARE STRAIGHT SWORD it's worn from use. but the swordswoman favors it anyway. it was her first blade. INVENTORY: Spoiler (1) Teleport Crystal Use a post action to activate a teleport crystal. Teleports the player to the town or designated teleportation area they specify.   (1) Spyglass (x3) Use to reduce the number of posts required to search for a dungeon, familiar or field bosses by 5 posts. Effect lasts for one thread.

Edited November 25 by kali

[Scarlet Firefly 0]

Not soon after her own teleportation, Yue would follow behind her. It had only just occurred to her the Yue was a really interesting name, she wasn't sure that she'd ever even heard of anyone with a name like that in books that she'd read. Perhaps it was a ghost name like a writer might use for publishing.

"Good morning Miss Yue Hua!" Firefly would say somewhat excitedly, with a bright smile on her face. "I'm feeling great today, always been a morning person despite not really getting out much."

She'll start walking in the direction that she thought they should go, stop momentarily while she overthought it until she pulled up her menu and checked her note she'd written in her notebook. If Kali took a moment to peak on her notes, she would notice that it was written entirely in Braille dots - if she could even recognize it as that. Not effective but she still wasn't very confident with the roman alphabet. "Oh, yeah. That cat in the Evening Star was too adorable, I just have to have one." Conversing with others one on one was way easier than the big group of strangers all at once. "I think we can find them over this way."

[Pollux 0]

Firefly greeted her back and her smile was bright as sunshine.

Swayed by her companion's excitement, the corners of Yue Hua's lips quirked up a little. The other had lost her stammer and her fretful mannerisms -- was it the day itself, or was she warming up to the guild in general? "Good to hear. I'm an early to bed early to rise kind of person, too; you know what they say about evenings making one gloomy. I like to avoid that. Let's get started."

This was Firefly's familiar they were looking for, so Yue Hua's role was mostly to follow, chat away the waiting time between searches, and provide what meager protection she could with her EXP back to near zero. She was happy with it but she wanted to go a little beyond, given their shared membership in the Trackers Alliance. "I bought a little something that can help you. You said you've got a potion prepared, right?" Distracted with fishing her 'helpful item' out of her own inventory, Yue Hua didn't have the opportunity to peer at Firefly's notebook. She would have too, subtly because it was a little invasive. The scope dropped heavy onto her palm. "This is a [Spyglass]. Its buff stacks on top of the potion you already have and speeds up the searching part, somewhat. Take it and no need to pay me back. Guildie privileges."

Once one of the girl's hands was free, the item changed hands. Yue Hua casually swung her tail from side to side as they walked, a low hum passing through her lips. "I've never been to this Evening Star. So the shopkeeper's got a cat? What do they sell?"

 

-> trading to Firefly: Spyglass (x1)

Edited November 25 by kali

[Scarlet Firefly 0]

Soon her little Braille book would find it's way back into her inventory once she was sure that the direction she'd learned of was properly identified. Just as she was closing her menu, a trade offer would come up in front of her, one (1) item under the name of a [Spyglass]. Hua would mention that it paired well with the pheromones that she bought from Bistro. "Oh, really? You're too kind." The girl would say kindly as they exchanged the item. "I'll find some way to pay you back I hope, if not monetary then another."

After a painfully long moment of her figuring out how to use the items correctly, Firefly would lead the way. Hua would ask her about the Evening Star. "Well, I actually didn't get to meet them. I'm guessing the shop owner is a busy person. They sell things like these little nick-knacks." She would show off the custom order the person made for them after a day of leaving the order with them. The name would read 'Firefly Witch Light'. It would mimic a firefly in appearance, and glowed softly as she held it out. "The cat was black as night but adorably friendly. It was named Nyanko."

Spoiler

https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/122449561

Using Spyglass.

Edited September 24 by Scarlet Firefly

[Pollux 0]

"Whoa. Pretty."

Yue Hua tipped her head to one side to inspect the item, her iridescent eyes shining with curiosity. 'Witch Light' was an apt name. It glowed by itself, seemingly; from the angle which Firefly held it, Yue Hua couldn't tell where the light was pouring through. The Evening Star was an artisan's shop, then. And given her liking for all things related to expressing oneself through appearance, her interest was thoroughly piqued. "Send me the coordinates later. I'll definitely check this place out sometime."

(Sometime being as soon as their excursion concluded.)

"Hehe. 'Nyan'. I can picture it. Cats are so rarely affectionate around strangers, aren't they? Nyanko must be well taken care of." She'd never had a cat. Or a pet, in general. Too costly, too big of a responsibility for one who couldn't even take care of herself. But she knew enough people who did in this world and the past one and she liked feeding strays. "Do you want yours black like Nyanko? Or a different color?"

Edited November 25 by kali

[Scarlet Firefly 0]

Once Hua had a proper look at her cute little trinket, Firefly would stow it back into her pock where it belonged. The other would shortly after ask if she could have the location of the Evening Star. “Of course, it’s right her one Floor one and difficult to miss.” She would once again summon her notebook. It seemed like she was either a meticulous note taker, or she had a very bad memory needing to write everything in her journal lest it be lost to time. Comparing her knowledge with her menu map, she would create a custom marker on it and share it with Hua. “Not a pinpoint spot but, like I said, you shouldn’t have trouble finding it.”

Mentioning how the nature of cats might be inclined to dislike those they don’t know, Firefly tilts her head slightly. “Really? Nyanko seemed so well behaved. I guess the relationship with their owner might be very long at this point then, yeah.” She’d never seen a cat until Nyanko let alone owned one. “Oh, that’s a good thought. I’m not sure, Nyanko is very cute but perhaps I should find one with a different color scheme.” What other colors did cats come in, she wondered. “Leaving it up to fate and partnering with the first one I see wouldn’t sound awful in my opinion.”

Since Firefly had already had the moment to talk with the quest giver before Hua arrived, they were in the clear to start hunting the cat down. Passing through the barrier of the safe zone, she would hesitate momentarily. It was the first time she would step outside of it. It wouldn’t take her too long but it was a noticeable length of time. “Ah… Sorry.” The emerald clad swordswoman would nervously step through behind Hua. “I’ve not been outside the city yet- Well, I guess now I have.”

[Pollux 0]

This time, Yue Hua’s nacreous eyes were free to slide over to Firefly’s notebook. She had written there the coordinates. What a cute, meticulous person; Yue Hua couldn’t compare. But... the paper was white from top to bottom. What? How come she was still flipping through empty pages with purpose? A privacy setting? A nervous habit?

Then she saw Firefly’s hand glide along blank pages.

Yue Hua had looked away by the time Firefly turned over the coordinates. “I’ve been to this side of town,” she said, pleased with her own realization. The painted hand she held over her own map made aimless motions, zooming in and out of the newly highlighted area. “If I recall, some player crafters took to building their shops close to each other on that street. One could drop by in there and have a great deal of their purchasing needs fulfilled. Though I had never been inside the shops myself. I was already well-equipped.” And she missed the gear she had lost, but at least she had pieced her vanities back together with the reset. Yue Hua shut the map window. “My thanks, Firefly. After all these years, Aincrad still has so many places left to discover.”

She didn’t think she would run out of them anytime in the future. Morningstar had provided an entire board of curiosities right off the bat. “Yes,” Yue Hua said, continuing to talk about the cat. “It would be sweet if we found one that is friendly from the get-go. Saves us the typical familiar chasing and it’s a sure guarantee for the cuddliest little friend.”

Time went by quick with good company. They had reached the gates. Yue Hua had passed, nonchalant but for a pat on her sword's hilt to confirm that it was there, and briefly surveyed the serene plains of Floor 1 -- then glanced back to her side to find that Firefly was gone. Uh oh.

Luckily, she had just dropped behind.

“That’s alright.” Yue Hua waited until Firefly caught back up, then she followed her fellow tracker in whichever direction she chose, carefully keeping pace. Beginner's anxiety was natural. Unlike how things were at the start of the game, they had the liberty to take things slow. Perhaps treat it as one would a walk in the city. “We could stay within view of the gates. We’ve already passed the boundary. It’s possible to make quest progress this close to the safe zone, especially on these lower floors.”

-> GATHERING: 237934: LD 11; Fail.

Edited November 25 by kali

[Scarlet Firefly 0]

Once all their information sharing was finished, Samantha returned her notebook to her inventory. “Then it would be hard for you to miss. I’ll definitely be visiting that area again when I need supplies.”

Her companions mention of the several undiscovered places of Aincrad had piqued her interest. “You think so? I know that you mean places that you’ve discovered but I wanna see sights no one else is privy to. Wonderful views of mountains and forests, oceans and rivers, deserts and ruins. I wanna see all kinds of things like that.”

Sharing her hearts desires with the strangers around her had become a new hobby at this point. The nerves she had for years were pretty laughable now. Even if her choice leads her to a path that ends, she will be content with the decisions she’s made to this point.

”That sounds like a safe idea. It shouldn’t be hard to find a familiar on a low level floor like this.” Firefly will tell her companion. “Better start looking around then.”

[Pollux 0]

"Of course," Yue Hua remarked. "That is what our guild is for."

She could not help but recall that Firefly had said almost the exact same thing during their first meeting. She mulled on it as they walked along the town walls, folding her hands behind her head. It made her the picture of ease, though she was still poised to respond to danger should it impossibly present itself this close to town.

"I suppose I could say I'm here for the same thing. My trouble with levels aside, I have always been curious about what was going through Kayaba's head when he made all this. Creation reflects creator. If this game's world was so beautiful anyway, why choose to lock us in? T'would have been praised to high heavens back in reality, rather than reviled both inside and out. If we dig deep enough, there might be -- something.

"But even if there isn't, the process is rewarding still."

-> GATHERING: 239039: LD 10; Fail.

Edited Tuesday at 04:03 AM by Pollux