[OP-F1] The Calm in the Calamity (PM for invite)

[Rui 0]

Gazing down at the cup in front of him, Rui gave a relaxed sigh.

 

He didn't know what it was, but it tasted warm, natural. Through he was hungry, it filled up his belly moderately. Some kind of tea, but then again, Rui had never been a tea person. Is it this good in the real world? He thought to himself, taking another sip.

 

The bustle and chatter of Floor 1's main city could barely be heard through the sturdy wood walls of the tea shop. This particular shop had a small lounge area along with what seemed to be a small bookstore, mostly just bestiaries and other useful resources for new players. Rui thought he might take a look over there, but as soon as he thought of leaving a small female NPC dressed in a short, fluffy dress approached the table. She promptly handed him a small card with some food items typed upon it.

 

"Can I get you anything else, sir?" she chimed in that peaceful NPC way, her tone unaware of the uneasiness stirring in the hearts of all players at this moment.

 

Rui smiled, and raised his hand. "I'd like a few minutes," he said, watching as the waitress returned to her spawn point. He glanced over the menu, giving another sigh before sipping up more warm tea.

[Rusty 0]

Rusty was sitting near the bookcases, indifferent about who the books were made for and what their uses were for. He wanted to read something, bored out of his mind from wandering the first floor. Rusty felt oddly sad today from thinking about how he was lonely a lot of time, even though he knew it was his fault. However, the only thing that was on his mind at the time was the book in front of him, which detailed on ways to succeed in a profession.

[Jynx 0]

I had been going to things like this a lot. Small comfort places I mean. It smelled amazing even from outside I couldn't resist the aroma and the looks of the building so I ventured inside much to Psyche's disappointment. The older teen sighed but followed me inside anyways since we hadn't been together as often as before lately. She instantly headed for the lounge while I stood still to take in the place itself. Psyche plopped down into a chair then leaned back and closed her teal eyes. For a few moments I remained in my spot before sitting down next to her, only a seat away from a male player who looked just about my age. He was sitting closest to the bookshelves and seemed fairly interested in his novel so I decided to hold back the urge to greet him.

 

Psyche flipped the black strands of hair streaked with pink out of her face. She turned towards me with a displeased expression. 

 

This is boring. How can you stand coming in places like here?

 

How about you go order something, eh? Stop bothering me. We can hang out later.

 

The older teen perked up at this and left me alone to choose a book. I scanned the shelves idly and chose a random volume about "best locations to hunt in Aincrad". Psyche had headed over to the only table with at least one spot left open since the others were occupied. There sat an older male with a purple hue to his hair.

 

Yo. Can I sit here?

 

Psyche didn't wait for an answer. Instead she sat herself down in the seat across from him, leaning back casually as if she'd been friends with the stranger all her life. I smiled in her direction and shook my head before switching my focus back to the book in my hands.

 

(OOC: Jynx (Me) = purple, Psyche = pink)

[Rui 0]

Eyes studying the menu, Rui wondered if he should eat something. He had the bad habit of not eating when he was at home, as eating took time away from playing games, exploring worlds, experiencing new things. He was experiencing SAO, but he felt so idle compared to when he played a normal game. His mother always complained about his skinny frame, always ushering him to eat something. The thought began to cross his mind, if how he ate in the game would affect his form in the real world. Would he build bulk, or even muscle? Rui felt unsure, but he had an idea his body would be unaffected. Food in-game was probably just to give the idea of not being hungry.
 
A girl with pink-streaked hair suddenly placed herself across from Rui. He blinked, looking as she spread herself over the seat, like she'd been to the place dozens of times. Like it was her seat. She didn't seem to mean it in a hostile way though, so Rui figured she was just relaxed, or bored.
 
He didn't need to respond, as his absence of action already gave her his response. He simply stirred his tea with a small spoon, though the warm temperature would retain perfectly throughout the item's lifespan. These small details of the game impressed Rui, but also mildly saddened him. It was almost a tease, a world seeming so perfect, yet with its ultimate consequence of death. If only they had made the game truly perfect, Rui thought to himself.

 

Rui noticed the girl look back towards the book area, where another young female and a young male sat reading. She was probably in a party with her, but he was unsure about the boy. His eyes returned to the pink-haired girl, and he smiled. Rui barely found himself the pleasure of company these days, and appreciated the stranger sitting across from him.

 

The waitress returned to the table, smiling with the usual cheery attitude of an NPC. "Have you decided on anything else, sir?" she asked.

 

Rui looked over the menu once more. "I'd like a tea for her. Oh, and some muffins, that would be fantastic," Rui spoke, smiling as he handed the NPC his small menu card, watching her run off towards the kitchen and return almost immediately with a big round cup of perfectly temperatured tea. He looked back towards the girl as the cup was placed in front of her, and the NPC left once more.

 

"So how are you enjoying the game?" Rui asked, unsure quite what to say to her. He figured this was the safest kind of question to ask someone, as it didn't intrude on one's personal life, within the game or outside the game. Rui stirred his tea idly, before taking another sip.

[Rusty 0]

After flipping through a few more pages, Rusty decided he had enough of the book he was reading. Putting it back on the shelf where had taken it from, Rusty sat up and looked around the tea shop before finding another player, a girl who looked to be the same age as him, was sitting near him reading a book. Where did she come from? I don't recall anyone in this area when I came in. I should probably let her be. Looking to his left, he saw two players sitting face to face, with hair color that he hadn't seen on most people in-game. Quietly, Rusty put his chin on the table and just observed the ambiance and activities going on throughout the coffee shop.

[Jynx 0]

Psyche raised an eyebrow at the purple-haired stranger who'd already decided to get a drink for her. She took the cup and raised it to her lips to take a quick drink and set the cup back on the table.

 

This game is a piece of sh*t. Death death death. That's all I can think about. It's pretty and whatever but that don't mean anything to me.

 

The older teen replied circling the rem of the cup with a pointer finger. Psyche rested her head against a fist lazily and in a bored fashion. She glanced at me with a look that said "come over here" so I put my book back on the shelf it had resided in and moved to sit in the chair next to my older friend.

 

Before leaving I glanced at the male player sitting next to the bookshelf, who'd also put his novel away, with my brown eyes and smiled in a friendly fashion. Psyche took another drink of her tea and leaned against me as soon as I sat down.

 

Hi. I'm Jynx. What's your username?

 

I spoke to the purple-haired male sitting across from us at the table I recently joined. Psyche rolled her eyes at my friendliness but remained silent staring at the person across from us to see if he'd answer my question.

[Rui 0]

Rui gave a disdainful look as the female gave her brutish response. He sighed. She seemed like she'd be more interesting company, but she said nothing that Rui didn't already believe everyone else would equally say. Death isn't exactly fun, he thought to himself. But there was yet a person he came across who thought of the game a different way. He stirred his tea before lifting it to his lips, sipping lightly as he closed his eyes.

 

After losing himself in the taste of the tea again, he followed the girl's gaze back to the table with her friend. Abandoning the boy it seemed, the female stood, wordlessly placing herself in a chair next to the pink-haired girl. Rui, catching her brown eyes, smiled back just as warmly.

 

"My name here is Rui. It's nice to meet your acquaintance, Jynx." Rui spoke in a calm voice. He appreciated how kind the girl seemed in comparison to her friend, so there was no reason to be cold. His eyes moved to the waitress, who approached now with a plate of assorted berry and nut-flavored muffins. "Ahh, thank you," he spoke kindly to her, thought it likely didn't matter if one responded to the actions of an NPC. He then looked to the girls who sat across from him, turning his hand over towards the plate. "Please, help yourselves. It's on me."

 

Feeling a nudging feeling on his shoulder, Rui glanced over to the boy at the table. Once he caught his eye, he gave a small wave to the open seat next to him, as if offering him to join them. It was of course, his choice.

[Rusty 0]

Rusty watched as the girl got up and went to sit with what appeared to be her friends. On the way there, she offered a friendly smile to him, but Rusty remained as stoic as ever. Sighing, he started fiddling with his thumbs before getting bored of that. His brown eyes glanced up to see a guy from the female player's table motion towards a seat. With nothing better to do, Rusty headed towards the seat. Hopefully, this doesn't end up with someone threatening me or getting pissed off. Sitting down, Rusty looked at the three players with his expression never changing. He didn't know what to say, so he kept quiet, hopefully nobody asked him anything. He didn't feel like conversing today.

[Jynx 0]

R-Really are you sure?

 

I asked Rui who had just decided to let us eat the food he ordered. I hate taking things from people no matter how much I wanted it. My stomach growled as I stared at the food and Psyche waved me on to go ahead and take one.

 

No need to ask he clearly doesn't care.

 

Yeah but I just feel bad. What have I given to him?

 

Just. Eat. It.

 

No.

 

Yes.

 

Psyche picked up a muffin and shoved it in my face so I swatted her hand away in protest and it landed in her lap. We both paused and laughed at the situation. All of this would happen as soon as Rusty sat down. I grabbed the muffin and set it in front of me taking little pieces to eat here and there. Psyche wiped crumbs off her lap before leaning against me again.

 

Who're you?

 

She glared at Rusty and scanned him before returning her gaze to the muffin I was eating. She decided to take bites off it too which annoyed me but I made no expression or even moved. Judging by the smirk on her face I could tell she was set on annoying at least somebody today other than me. I sighed and waved at the newcomer.

 

Oh! Thanks Rui. And I apologize for Psyche in advance I know she can be a pain.

 

The older teen scowled at me and stuck her tongue out before shoving the muffin I was eating in her mouth. She chewed on it and turned her head while doing so to prove she disliked my statement about her. I shrugged and stared ahead at the two male's in front of me.

[Rui 0]

Listening to the chatter going back and forth between the two girls, Rui gave a small smile. They acted close, almost like siblings. It assured him, seeing the light style of interaction, the enjoyment of one person with the other. Like there was more to this game besides death.

 

The smallish male approached the table hesitantly, saying nothing as he joined the gathering. Groups probably aren't his thing, Rui thought to himself. But it was difficult for him to see the kid all alone, across the room. Rui curled his hand and brought the base of the index to his lip. He's here on his own free will, though, he recalled, resting his chin on his extended thumb.

 

His crystalline eyes fell to the plate of muffins, and he suddenly remembered their existence. He took a blueberry one, setting on a small plate in front of himself before smiling to the boy. "This place has wonderful food. The tea is unlike anything you've ever tasted in the real world." It might have sounded like Rui was exaggerating; however, the alluring, exotic tastes of the brew enchanted even him, a person so far beyond enjoying tea in real life. "That's an interesting thing about this game. Our senses feel somehow.. Enhanced. It's sort of like experiencing the world all over again, in a way."

 

After taking a bite of his muffin, Rui lifted his tea to his lips, enjoying the last few sips of the delicious tea. As soon as it ran out, the cup shattered, splintering into a thousand tiny white fragments of data before dissipating into the air. Rui leaned his head back on his hand, giving a small sigh.

 

"Well.. Perfection can't last forever, I suppose."

[Rusty 0]

Rusty couldn't think of an answer and for once he was too tired and melancholic to make a sarcastic remark. "Rusty." Was the answer he gave, but with a volume so low it was almost inaudible. His expression didn't falter as an explanation for the pink-haired girl's rudeness. These people were somewhat friendly, offering him a seat and a nice smile when he was sitting on his own. Rusty's coffee-colored eyes looked around at the three players before returning his eyesight to the blue speckled muffin that had been slightly pushed towards him. He was being offered food. Not wanting to be rude, he simply muttered a small thank you before gazing at the pastry. Maybe somebody else would take, he wasn't in the mood for food. The boy, who's name Rusty had picked up as Rui, had begun enamoring over the delicacies in this game. Even if his actions didn't show it, he was a bit content to have company so he continued listening on.

[Jynx 0]

I slammed both hands on the table and nodded while leaning forward a bit in reaction to Rui's comment.

 

Th-that's how I feel I just couldn't put it into words!

 

After that I leaned back casually again and watched Psyche finally swallow the muffin after many attempts. 

 

Amazing...

 

That was stupid.

 

I muttered under my breath as Psyche nudged me as a signal to calm down a bit and to be quieter. She'd thought my reaction was foolish but I waved her off.

 

Hey Rusty~

 

My attention switched to the boy around my age I hadn't talked to yet. Psyche seemed to have taken a dislike to Rusty so she ignored him completely and grabbed her tea. When Rui's tea shattered upon completion of the drink both of us had found the action hilarious. I was assuming Psyche wanted to see it happen again because she chugged down her tea and smiled as the cup exploded and disappeared.

 

Isn't that entertaining. Some things... they can break so easily.

 

Psyche tilted her head a twirled of piece of pink-black hair in astonishment. As the older teen stared at nothingness I decided to ask a question that had been on my mind. Not to mention Psyche was creepy when she got that way.

 

Rui why so nice? To strangers I mean. We don't even know you and didn't even ask to sit here yet we're together at this table now.