The worst thing...

[Corvo 0]

Monotony was the most lethal killer in Aincrad.

People could speak for days on the dangers of being unprepared, the unpredictability of boss encounters, Player Killers- not a one of them could hold a candle to the ennui that crept in with every simulated breath. Corvo lamented in silence every time he opened his eyes to see a digital sunrise. It was the only time he was silent anymore. Alone with his thoughts, the sublime desire to simply fade, to wither away instead of missing his family. For the few fleeting moments before he dragged himself out of the inn bed each day, the same morose thoughts plagued him. This day was no different.

The dreams of life outside the fabricated reality left him with a deep longing to reconnect with his loved ones. The people who he'd rebelled against by simply sliding the NerveGear over his head, thinking they would never find out. Foolishly believing as he had that there would be a short escape from the strict rules and overbearing parents, Evan drowned in despair that the Father figure who had given him discipline and taught him respect was no longer there. That the creature this game had debased him into becoming was something his mentor would shun and look upon with contempt was a difficult truth to live with. But that same man had taught him to live in truth.

In that Paradox, he swallowed his self-loathing.

Not today, either.

He stretched out his arms and cracked his neck, sprawling out just before his feet hit the floor. Corvo slid his fingers through the air, summoned his clothes, and mentally prepared himself to face Aincrad. Today he opted for a more casual fit than what he normally wore out into the fields to grind, instead focused more on collecting information and tools to advance, rather than throwing himself at the wall and falling victim to fatigue again. A change of pace, something desperate in hopes of fighting off that same existential dread that seemed to have become routine. The moment he lost hope, he might actually lose the fight. He might actually never get to see them again...

...not today, he reminded himself.

And with that, he slipped out of the inn and into Town, uncharacteristically quiet.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Corvo - Level 9

180/180 HP 36/36 EN

Item Name: - Reaver's Edge
Item Tier: - 1
Item Type: - War Axe
Item Enhancements: - 2 Damage 1 Bleed
Description: - An axe with a serrated edge, guaranteed to leave a wound that will continue to bleed after it strikes.

Name: The King's Lament
Item Type: Cloth Armor
Tier: 1
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: Risky | Risky | Recovery
Description: "Once the loose fitting vest of a great king. When he was killed by his enemies, his spirit would not be laid to rest. That rage and despair linger, fueling the wearer's killer instinct."

Item Name: - Death God's Favor
Item Tier: - Tierless
Item Type: - Trinket
Item Enhancements: - Accuracy 3
Description: - A talisman fashioned in the shape of a skull with a blade driven through it. It emanates a foul aura, said to ensure the lethality of the bearer.

R4 War Axe
R3 Cloth Armor
-[Mod]Athletics

Base Damage: 8  Mitigation: 12 Accuracy: 3 Evasion: 0 Bleed: 12 Risky: 8 Recovery

 

[Kandy 0]

Why oh why.......

'Why do I always have to let people run over me.....' Kandy held her own head in irritation, rubbing her temples. Her face held a look of disgrace by her dilemma.

Just a few minutes ago, she ran into a group of much younger players. They were playing some sort of horrible put together makeshift "baseball" game.  She was approached and while the conversation started off mildly wholesome, it led to a man walking over, taking her helmet, and using it as a "ball".  The helmet flew across the area and into the unknown seemingly endless street trail.

Now, here was Kandy walking around stupidly. She had passed by Corvo back-and-forth a few times now. She was walking pretty quick in order for that to happen. Eventually she passed Corvo where he would be able to see her but this time, now she was anxious as could be. She stood and took a deep breath trying to comprehend that someone could've possibly taken the helmet by now. 

It was so pretty......
 

--------------

 Kandy | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 5 | MIT:6 | ACC: 2

 

Spoiler

Name: Kandy True Tier: 1 Level: 1 Paragon Level: 0 HP: 20/20 EN: 20/20 Stats: Damage: 5 Mitigation: 6 Equipped Gear: Weapon/Armor/Trinket:

• Signature Weapon | DMG I

Armor/Trinket:

• Signature Helmet | MIT I

Shield/Armor/Trinket:

•  

Combat Mastery:

•  

Combat Shift:

•  

Familiar Skill:

•  

Custom Skill:

•  

Skills:

• Polearm R1

Extra Skills: Inactive Extra Skills: Addons: Mods: Inactive Mods: Battle Ready Inventory:

• Starter Healing Potions (50 HP) x5

Housing Buffs: Guild Hall Buffs: Scents of the Wild Totem: Wedding Ring: Crafting Profession: Gathering Profession:

 

[Corvo 0]

It wasn't strange to see someone multiple times in a day on the first floor, especially when one considered how many low level players didn't venture out past the walls. What was strange was to see one multiple times in a matter of minutes. The woman was frantic, clearly out of sorts. His mood was more sullen than usual, so he wasn't quite at the point where he'd bark at her just for existing.

Her anxiety was starting to make him anxious. That was the breaking point. Corvo didn't want to feel that kind of empathy toward someone else- and he didn't want to feel uneasy for any reason. The only logical course of action was to-

"Hey."

He reached out, placing a hand on the woman's bicep. Under most circumstances, touching people out of nowhere wasn't his thing; but she seemed lost in a spiral, and pulling her out required something a bit more forceful.

"Are you good?" 

Corvo wouldn't try to maintain his grip if she pulled away from him, but he did exert enough pressure to get her attention. "You're looking a little out of it," 

After a moment, he added, "and its making me antsy."

Corvo looked her over. This woman was someone who didn't seem exceptionally confident. Sheepish might even be a good word. She was different from many of the people he'd seen in Aincrad, unconventional in that she was definitely not Japanese. Then again, he wasn't, either.

Maybe it was the dream, but he was feeling uncharacteristically...

...like his father's son.

"Did you need some help?"

Well, damn. He'd gone and said that, and it wasn't like he could take it back now. He didn't smile, though. He was aware, alert, untrusting.

But not unkind.

Edited January 1 by Corvo

[Kandy 0]

She had seen the man multiple times, but not had dared to look into his face. The woman was so perplexed by her own situation, when he reached out to touch her...she jolted. She stopped but didn't pull away or sink towards him, rather, she was shocked that the man had approached her in the first place.  Seeing him close now....

Hajidere mode activated.

In realization that the man meant her, she gasped in surprise. Wait! Was she really that problematic?

"Oh!" she went again. Her head went down in sadness, "I-I'm sorry....I didn't..."

He was antsy about her behavior too? She thought about....what was she going to do?  Wait? Was she supposed to let him touch her arm? Uh..... He had a big hand!

She didn't make eye contact with him, but said clearly, "Someone took my helmet, used it as a ball in a sport, hit it, and now I don't know where it is."

Her eyes began to attempt to peer at Corvo, despite her head still hanging downward, "Have you seen a black helmet with pointy ears? It's, uh....mine."  Her eyes shifted away from Corvo to his hand on her arm. The woman reached towards his kunckles and poked them very softly, not in a way of uncomfort but rather in some sort of note about his physique. 

"You have a very big hand."

Her statement could be taken in many different ways- sexual, discomfort, timid behavior, annoyance etc.

While many people could take this very many different ways, it was more or less meant not in annoyance from contact but rather in curiousity and comfort. She poked his hand another moment, before stepping away in the case he never let go. Which, probably didn't occur, but.....

"I didn't mean to make you upset," the woman said her head looking towards him now, but not his eyes but mouth and chin. Her voice clearly showed some sort of South African tone to it.  Well, maybe he wouldn't distinctly tell it was actually that country, but her voice rang with some sort of sound from that region. If he were to pick it up....well.
 

[Corvo 0]

His brows knitted together as he watched her expression and body language. "Eh?" Corvo blinked incredulously as the woman stammered and began to apologize. What was all that about? He was just trying to calm her down.

The red-eyed blonde didn't need to be told his bedside manner was abysmal to know it, but he also wasn't overly fond of being reminded. He wore a slight frown as she spoke up.

"Someone took your helmet?" he asked. "You didn't give it to them?"

It seemed like a strange question, but with the way that handling inventoried items worked in SAO, the distinction was surprisingly important. That she wasn't equipped with the item meant that she had willfully parted with that function, and handing it over to someone else... well...

"Can't say as I've seen it, but I'll help you find it."

Used a helmet as a sportsball? God, people were inventive. The ennui really was winning the war for their hearts if people were stealing helmets to toss around. "If'n it's yers," he said flatly, "we'll just take it back. Possession is nine tenths of the law and alla that."

Corvo was really black and white when it came to that kind of thing. He was in the business of taking exactly what he wanted, when he wanted it. And this woman seemed to be struggling with something he was actually good at.

For once.

She mentioned his hand, and how big it was, and Corvo immediately blinked again. Was that some kind of complement? Or... what...? It seemed incredibly outlandish, which given her accent, was actually not that surprising.

Was that some kind of British? Maybe. Somewhere far flung from the Empire, at any rate.

He put both hands up in front of her as she pulled away, both to signal no-harm-no-foul, and to punctuate the next words out of his mouth. "You know what they say about big hands," he smirked.

"Big gloves."

As he let his arms drop back to his sides, Corvo watched her look toward him, but not at him. He wasn't sure what to make of this one. She mentioned that she hadn't meant to make him upset, and his eyes narrowed a bit.

"Everything pisses me off," he told her. "Don't sweat it. You got bigger things to worry about than hurting my feelings."

Corvo made a slight gesture toward her face. "Say, for instance... that helmet of yours."

 

 

Edited January 2 by Corvo

[Kandy 0]

Everything pisses him off..........

"Oh. Well then."

Well, he was helping her right? That meant she hadn't pissed him off too bad. Right? For some reason, despite not knowing this man at all, his view of her became something important to her. This was due to the fact he was assisting her, and well, perhaps a little moody or angry. Well, she wouldn't call this man angry....but it was something of that kind perhaps.  She looked at him for once in his face, her face was....uh....seemingly went from sad to a smile. 

She laughed nervously at him with a slight before sharply turning her back towards him soon after. She began to walk more confidently. She didn't have to look him in the face while they looked.

"I guess, it could be nearby." she commented as they passed some bushes and shrubs on the side of the trail. She paused and her eyes flickered around, only to move forward once again. Then she turned around and travelled a few steps back, much like she was doing before Corvo said anything to her in the first place.  After a moment, she passed by him again and took several more steps forward as a to progress a bit more in her journey of finding the helmet.

"I don't see it."

[Corvo 0]

He kept himself apprised of their surroundings as they went, noting that the woman stayed quite by and large the entire time, opting for speaking only when prudent. He knew plenty of people who struggled with social cues and situations- or at least, he knew one pretty well. She was capable of speaking a great deal better than the person he knew though, and carried herself with a fraction more intent and confidence than him. She smiled at him- that was uncharacteristic of what he'd seen so far, but they had know each other for only a minute or so. He couldn't possibly make an accurate character appraisal with that little time- prejudices notwithstanding, given she was a person (and boy howdy, Corvo wasn't fond of those).

His scowl lessened, if only a bit. His jaw stayed clenched though. It was obvious she was still mostly avoiding eye contact. Then again, he was pretty abrasive, which was not very great for compelling people to engage in healthy interpersonal... well, anything.

When she did speak up, it was to intone that it 'could' be nearby, she 'guessed.' He decidedly frowned at that. "You mean you didn't think to keep it in your sights, if nothing else?" he asked. Was she seriously telling him that someone just up and took her helmet and waltzed off with it and she didn't even protest? Or that she wasn't able, or wasn't given the option? Any way she shook it, Corvo didn't like the sound of that. He sighed audibly. She said that she didn't see it, but they hadn't gone far.

"Unfortunately, since they didn't stick around... we're going to have to actually search." He made an attempt to rope in the scathing sarcasm, and only have managed to take a slight edge off the venom. Corvo took a step with his heel and turned to walk backwards in front of her, both hands behind his head. "Anything you remember about the people who took your helmet?" he asked, not exactly more softly than before, but it was obvious he was making an attempt to be tolerable. He couldn't help her if he ran her off with his abominable attitude. "Faces, anything they might have said about where they were going to play? Something that might give us a lead."

[Kandy 0]

He was getting annoyed with her. Damn, she better be careful and not make him walk away.  Kandy decided she'd succumb to his ill behavior just so he wouldn't leave her. After all, this man was providing his time to help her out.  Yes, Kandy did have bad thought processing issues. Not so much anger, like her assistant of the day did.

"Uh." she went again. Damn, he brought up the people who did shit to her helmet? She never did tell them it was just a bunch of kids and a man. Oh no, he was going to think she was fragile. Then again, Kandy was fragile, and she knew that. But she didn't want THIS man to know she was fragile, "I don't want to ask them....."  she saw one of them just a moment ago, but she didn't linger her eyes too long on them.

"It flew a lot more down there I think...." she pointed somewhere in the distance, "Let's just keep walking i guess. I'm not too sure if we should ask these people about it. They all seem about going about their day.  We shouldn't bother them."  

"Can I ask you something?"  Kandy twiddled her thumbs nervously as she walked alongside her helper.

[Corvo 0]

Corvo quirked a brow as she seemed to wage war internally. Her words dammed in her throat and she audibly paused, whether in hesitation or confusion, he couldn't tell. His frown returned. "Huh?"

The woman's inflection, words, and mannerisms were tedious. She was being obtuse- purposefully or otherwise. It felt like she was trying to hide something, or at the very least, not being completely forthcoming with information. That was irritating in its own way, and Corvo had neither the patience nor the decorum to hide how it made him feel.

Had she actually said that? Corvo took a step toward Kandy and got closer, almost in her face. His brow knit and he scrutinized her with a serious expression.

"It's your property," he said flatly. "The gear you wear can literally protect your life. Every item in this game that belongs to you, weapons, armor, potions- those can spell the difference between making it out of this world alive or in a box. Do you not understand that?"

He was uncertain that her sense of self preservation worked at this point. She wanted the item back, which was a good sign- but her willingness to part with it in the first place, combined with her seeming inability to stick up for herself- those things were pretty worrisome. She was really starting to remind him of someone. 

On the off chance she might be able to find information that would get her back her helmet, shouldn't she be able to vaguely inconvenience someone to ask about if they'd seen something? Surely no one would take grave offense to that. The very idea was nonsensical, at least to Corvo. Or was it that she was afraid of confrontation?

Then, she asked him something. Fidgeting with her hands, she had insisted they keep on moving, so in the interest of keeping their conversation productive, he acquiesced as he allowed:

"Sure. Go ahead."

 

 

[Kandy 0]

Kandy was quickly caught off guard from her thoughts about asking a question and soon about the matter at hand about the helmet.  

Kandy yipped as he got in her face.  She was obviously flustered.  She listened to him and managed eye contact as he began to vent on how important it was to keep these things.  She felt her abdomen churn.  Why was he was in her space? As he progressively continued, her face suddenly vanished behind her two hands.  She was shielding his gaze on her.

"Yes....." She started, "I......I understand. Yes sir....." It was muffled but still clearly audible.

Her hands still against her face, she moved some of her fingers around so she could give herself vision. Her pink eyes peeked through at him again.

"I wanted to ask your name...." feeling herself relax again, "Do you want me to call you sir?"  Her hands landed again her sides as she took some steps back from him.
 
 

[Corvo 0]

She was... 

Corvo studied her reactions carefully as she went on the defensive, going so far as to hide her face and retreat behind formalities. Extreme shyness, almost certainly. It was clear she didn't like the absence of space he'd created, but rather than fight back, her response was to placate and become submissive. He pulled back a bit, allowing her a bit more breathing room- though he didn't actually step away.

A sigh escaped him. There were many ways to handle the situation that were probably better than blowing a gasket and completely tearing into the girl, and he knew it. Hell, he figured she was more likely to pretend to hear what he said and then disregard it after they went their separate ways. He didn't want that.

"It's Corvo," he told her. "But you're free to call me whatever you want, if you like sir better."

God knows he didn't love it, but if it made her more comfortable, then whatever.

"Look, I ain't tryin' to be ugly," Corvo said finally. Though honestly, it was going to come off that way no matter what he said. "It's just, this is some pretty serious shit, y'know? None of us asked for this. This world, it ain't doing us any favors, and if'n you let it, it's liable to kill ya."

He didn't glance her way as he spoke. It wasn't often that he gave out words of wisdom or advice... or really even gave anyone a second thought. He just knew this world was the enemy, and every single person trapped in it with him was at the very least in the same boat.

Damn, I hate it when I have that dream.

That was when she took a few steps away to create distance on her own. He finally glanced back at her at that point. He smirked and let out a quiet 'heh.'

"What should I call you, then?" he asked. "I was leaning toward "Brown Sugar," but I'm in such a good mood, I'll let you decide."

[Kandy 0]

He seemed to approach her slightly less aggressive state  now. It was a serious matter all the same to him but her nervous and timid reactions only seemed to keep him engaged. That was probably a good thing.  Or was it bad?  Probably bad to let men see her like that but she seemed to let alot of people walk on her as well.  Maybe she DID need to take his advice! 

His name was Corvo? Noted.  She nodded and would call him Corvo. He probably didn't like sir.  That probably made him feel old. Right?

"Oh?" It was her turn to give a name.  He was smirking at her and called her Sugar.  Now he was flirting.  It was probably best to keep him in this state.  She didn't want him to get angry and leave her if now he was going to be a bit more friendly.

"You don't have to call me that," she gave a genuine laugh, "Uh....my actual name is Zuri but you can call me Kandy." She seemed less tense and anxious.  After a moment she twiddled her thumbs again.  Another question.

"I don't mean to upset you," she explained her head went down for a matter before she perked back up "Can I ask you why you are helping me?  I don't think I'm the greatest of people to help after all."

"You know," she scratched the back of her head, "I saw one of the people who messed with it a bit back.  We walked past them."

[Corvo 0]

Reaching up to stroke his chin, Corvo assessed the woman carefully. She seemed uncertain, but her speech belied greater care than trepidation. She was walking on eggshells. That made sense. Corvo was a lot, even on his good days. He knew it better than anyone.

Zuri was definitely an eclectic name. He'd never heard it before. He frowned a bit when she told him it was her real name. "Should probably be more careful with sensitive information like your real name," he told her. "Not that people in here are gonna be able to scam you or anything like that, but it's a good rule to get in the habit of in online interactions."

That was a dad rule, harder than anything, he was pressed to abide by it. He'd broken it only a handful of times. He was lucky those played out favorably. Then again, he was here because of those friends, so maybe... not so much.

"Kandy, huh?"

Oh, he could be real funny about that. Didn't seem to be the right move in this scenario, though. "I bet you get a lot of wisecracks about that one, so I'll spare you."

She asked why he was helping, and he raised an eyebrow. "I mean, I can stop helping you if you'd rather. Doesn't hurt my feelings. Kind of outside my usual MO to be nice to anyone, anyway."

Didn't hurt his feelings to admit that, either.

"Guess I'm just tired of this fuckin' game havin' it's way. If'n I can keep it from killin' someone, I aim to get my licks in where I can. Today, I guess, right place, right time?"

Corvo shrugged.

When she admitted that she'd seen someone, they'd passed the person (or persons) up and she'd said nothing, he glanced slowly at her and sighed loudly. "Yeah, kind of figured you'd say that. Didn't figure you'd stray too far from where it went in hopes they'd get bored and you'd get it back. You can't rely on people to be good natured, y'know. God knows I ain't. It's just your lucky day."

He took a step toward her, draped an arm over her shoulder, then leaned in real close. "Now, whaddya say we go take your power back, little lady?"