[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 | EVA:2 | LD:3+3}
^{Mochi(LD III) Consumed}

Edited December 29, 2024 by Scarlet Firefly
Fixed stat blocks cause they were wrong

[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, 2024 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, 2024 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, 2024 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, 2024 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, 2024 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 December 17, 2024 by Pollux

[Scarlet Firefly 0]

Samantha would take a moment to survey the area. This was her first time actually seeing the world from outside of the cities. It honestly was underwhelming as she had seen it all from the confines of the safe zone but something really did feel different to her. It was the same sense as when she powered on the NerveGear. I new place worth exploring for its simplicity alone. "If you find any interesting places, I would like to know about them then. And, of course, if I find anything you might be interested in I will make sure you know about them." The teenager would smile at her new friend.

Not nearly a few step outside of the safe zone, the two girls would find themselves face to face with the most terrifying creature they could meet on floor one: A level one Silver-furred Stray Cat. It's beady blue eyes observed the two women carefully. "Oh!" Firefly would whisper to not frighten the little beast. "There's one of the cats. I guess staying close to the city was a good idea." Reaching for the food given to her by the gypsy, she would hope that the cute feline wouldn't bound off without at least seeing what she had to offer it.

---

ID#239470
LD: 18+6 = 24 

Familiar located!

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by Scarlet Firefly

[Pollux 0]

Firefly's (hopefully) cat was seated atop a half wall, beckoned by the spyglass. It was white, with a fluffy face, and its blue eyes watched them back as both players quietly exclaimed their appreciation. "So cute," Yue Hua gushed behind Firefly. She was just about imagining squishing its little cheeks and playing with it along with her guildmate.

"Your move, Firefly. I'll stay back here."

She was hardly the clumsy sort but she did not want to trip on anything and ruin Firefly's chances. Familiar taming was a delicate thing. Though a number of creatures in Aincrad were friendly to players, there was a different level of trust required to get one to follow a player around permanently. Yue Hua receded into the brush, drawing her tail close to make the minimum level of noise possible, and she set about combing through the area for materials while keeping Firefly and her (hopefully) cat in sight.

-> GATHERING: 239490: LD 6; Fail.

Edited December 31, 2024 by Pollux

[Scarlet Firefly 0]

Pollux would encourage her quietly from behind, moving away to ensure that the familiar wouldn’t get spooked from multiple people. A smart move on her part probably. Firefly wasn’t really an expert on domesticating animals but it seemed like too much of a presence would quickly mark her as a threat rather than a potential friend. The girl attempted to get close to the stray cat, approaching as quietly as possible as its eyes studied her.

It would observe her momentarily as she reach out her hand with the food. “H-here, I have something tasty for you.” Her tone of voice notably quieter and softer. Her approach was the safest possible, at least the way she saw it. Though, for the cat, it was not as impressed. Picking itself up to paws, the cat would start to walk along the wall keeping an eye on Firefly for any subtle movements. As she got closer, Samantha had decided that this was her familiar. If it fled she would chase it down if she had to. It would be swayed, somehow.

---

ID#239492
CD: 7+1

Failure 1/4

Edited December 30, 2024 by Scarlet Firefly

[Pollux 0]

She struggled with her attention split. Yue Hua’s main priority was still watching over Firefly. She had identified a thin, delicate flowering plant on the ground shortly after she sharpened her sight, but if she crouched down to properly dig it out, the tall brush in front of her would obscure her guildmate from her vision. So, Yue Hua took to awkwardly nudging the tip of her farming boot into the ground, scraping the soil away from the plant, as her focus still rested on the girl and the cat in her peripheries. One centimeter too far, and she accidentally snapped the plant’s roots, extinguishing the material’s yellow glow.

No time to dwell on her failure. The cat was on the move and so was Firefly, the gypsy’s treats on her open palm. Yue Hua slunk after them, keeping to the thick of the surrounding forest. She thought herself on a stealth mission and -- wasn’t that also fun?

-> GATHERING: 239522: LD 14; Fail.

Edited December 31, 2024 by Pollux

[Scarlet Firefly 0]

The silver-furred feline was just about to hop off the little perch she stood upon and go about her day before Samantha made her move. The girl would approach a little aggressively but staying careful to not spook it. “Wait, I promise you’ll love this. If you do, I can get you more, for sure!” The begging was not a good look for a cute girl like herself but she had lost a lot of shame in the real world thanks to her blindness.

The cat did seem more interested now, so it would crane its neck to her hand and begin eating. By the time she’d finished the food Samantha’s hand was empty. “There, see? Really tasty right? Here.” She would offer some more from the pouch the gypsy gave her, just to be sure she’d done it right. The cat would finish that too, mew quietly to the owner of the hand that fed it, jump down from the wall and begin to rub against her leg purring softly. “I-I did it!” She would cheer, giving the cat some attention with a smile. “Check it out Yue Hua!”

---

ID#239525

CD: 9+1 Success! Familiar Tamed.

Edited December 31, 2024 by Scarlet Firefly

[Pollux 0]

Objective fulfilled. New objective: pet the cat.

Yue Hua stumbled out of the brush as soon as she heard Firefly's call. Along the way, she tugged a fruit from a vine and stuffed it in her inventory.

"Good work," she praised, but even though, logically, she knew the system had named the tiny purring creature as Firefly's now, the woman still kept her voice pitched cautiously low, still concerned of scaring it off. It would have made more sense in reality. "On your first try, too. She seems to have taken a liking to you quite easily. Or, he...?"

Yue Hua left it to Firefly to check through her new familiar's status window. She was also happy to simply stand by her for the first few moments as her fellow tracker bonded with her cat. Just the knowledge that it was one of Firefly's first instincts to call her over at her success sent a lovely warmth blooming in her chest.

"Have you thought about a name?"

---

-> GATHERING: 239780: LD 19; +1 Material.

Edited January 6 by Pollux

[Scarlet Firefly 0]

Firefly would reach down and pick her new friend up to hold in her arms, allowing Pollux to pet the small little critter should she wish. A window would popup in front of her, allowing her and her guild-mate the moment check the cat’s gender and a prompt to choose a name for her. “Female, huh?” She would take note, listening to Pollux ask about the name of her new familiar.

All things considered, Firefly didn’t think it would happen so quickly. She felt like she’d just yesterday been inspired to get a cat because of Nyanko. Nyanko was named from Japanese words. She knew Nyan was the sound cats make but she didn’t want to be so derivative to give her a common cat name like Tom. She would inspect her cat, who looked back with her sharp blue eyes and mew quietly as Pollux ran her hand through the greyish fur.

”Um, what about Myst? Like a quiet night where mist and fog makes nightfall look mystic and calm?” She questioned. The cat made no protest to her thoughts, which was enough for her. “Yeah, Myst. I like it.”

[Pollux 0]

She let the cat sniff her fingers before she started to pet it. It seemed curious about the unusual off-yellow color of them, flicking its tongue at the back of her hand. Then it nudged at her more insistently and Yue Hua gently rubbed its head. The cat's eyes squinted shut and it leaned upwards into her touch. "Baby. You're so sweet," she giggled, delighted.

While Yue Hua was cooing at the new familiar, Firefly thought of a name.

"I think it suits her, too."

On the surface level, the cat was silvery-gray. Possibly, it also carried some amount of expectation, like all names did. Yue Hua knew, having always named herself as one half of a pair.

Myst just blinked, adorably, up at its owner. In reality, getting a pet accustomed to a name took repetition. She wasn't familiar with the process in SAO, but if she were to guess, within this quest's specific iteration, simply pronouncing it once against the system interface was enough. Yue Hua gave the newly named cat one last pet, then she gestured over her shoulder, the corners of her lips lifting up into a rare smile. "Right, then. Mission complete. Let's head back into the safe zone before doing anything else. Oh, are you planning on introducing her to the rest of the guild, too?"

---

-> GATHERING: 239914: LD 1; Fail.

Edited January 9 by Pollux

[Scarlet Firefly 0]

While Pollux got herself acquainted with Myst, Firefly thought more on the name. Was Myst a good name? Mist was typically an element of mystery and exploration to her so it made sense in the context of their guild. Though most her inspiration for the name lied with the feline’s coat color. Either way, Firefly would give a nod paired with a smile.

”I hope that everyone enjoys her company. I already am, that’s for sure.” She continued to give her new pet love. “Yeah, I think ‘Star and Bistro would fall in love with her.” 

Walking along side her guild-mate, Firefly would ponder a bit. What would it be like if she was still blind? If she couldn’t see this lovely world for everything it could be?

”Despite the situation, I’m glad to be here in the game with wonderful people like you and the members of the Trackers Alliance. Here I get treated like a real person, not a frail little woman who needs assistance to do just about anything. What might be the smallest little moment for you has been a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life.” Firefly would soon catch herself being a little too emotional. She cleared her throat before speaking back up. “All that is to say, thank you for helping me Pollux.”

[Pollux 0]

Morningstar and Bistro? Yue Hua hummed. She was surprised -- and still not too familiar with either of the mentioned personalities. Not that it was a race, she was just internally scribbling over her miscasting of Firefly as the timid one of the guild. But as she did so, Yue Hua also nodded along confidently at Firefly's assessment, because in her opinion, not even the hardest of hearts could possibly resist a cat.

After a short, comfortable lapse in their conversation, they passed the gates leading back into town and Firefly's voice took on the tone of a confession.

Yue Hua's steps slowed. She found herself unable to meet the girl's gentle blue eyes. She was the last person who would ever question how brief a time it took for Firefly to start saying such things because, possibly, Yue Hua would have in the privacy of her own unconscious mind, too. Would you still say that after I leave? Would I tell any of you at all? She thought of a white notebook, of wishes twice-repeated, and a moment's pause before the unknown. Before she pushed herself forward anyway as Yue Hua accidentally left her a few steps behind. (She might watch her back from now on.) They shared too many things in common that Firefly could never know because she would recognize her in an instant and while Firefly was looking out hopefully at a world full of possibility, Yue Hua was holding the end of a burning thread.

You couldn't imagine how important all of this is to me, too. Yue Hua didn't say. She grinned, lightly nudged the other's shoulder, and said, "Anytime, Firefly."