[PP: F2] A date or casual meeting? [Jomei][Complete]

[Opal 0]

Opal shook her head, "I think we just discovered that Jomei here is a downer drunk." she made a weird face at him and then continued, "Everything you do is worth it. You have only one chance to live a life and there is no coming back when you are gone. In Aincrad, we fight to survive. In the real world, we fight to survive. Where it happens does not matter, but what you do with your time. THAT matters and the people you meet. THEY matter. And it will always, always be worth it. Why? Because you put yourself out there to people, you make friends, you have an obligation to them to live, to fight and to survive. So yes, what you are doing is worth it. And you wont be alone, people will have your back, people will trust you. But you also must put your trust in them."

Opal couldn't believe what she just said, "That was definitely the alchy talking there. Even when I am drunk I can be pretty philosophical." she nodded her head in approval. Going back to the conversation with Carmine though, she didn't know how to go about starting that up. From what she gathered, the woman was a heavy thought in his mind, but she didn't seem to care about him. That was kind of sad really, if he felt so passionately for someone...but didn't return the feeling. She felt a little sick about herself. How many times has she done that to people? How many times did they express their grief like he was doing now.  If he would ask, Opal...would do just about anything to help with that pain. 

"I can't speak for Carmine, because I am not that woman. Sounds like you were close with her, but she didn't return the feelings? Is that it? It might be a bad conversation to have when we are both getting drunk off this stuff. We use words we don't mean sometimes...while under the influence. I wish I could say that so many times ago, but there is always the raw truth of the manner, we expose ourselves and talk freely without any voice of reason. If is an enemy...not a friend. We don't know what she is doing, but we can't guess on her feelings either until they tell us. Maybe one day...you'll be lucky enough to ask her and get a truthful answer."

 

[Jomei 0]

Jomei was slightly in shock at what came out of Opal's mouth. That was one of the most wise things he may have ever heard.. and it came from a woman who was as drunk as he was. She was partly right.. everything he would do would be worth it in some way or another... but maybe not in the ways he originally thought. He looked at Opal and blinked, trying to comprehend everything she had just said.. and then he cracked a smile at her. "Well then, remind me to buy you a couple of drinks before asking you any more advice then." he added with a wink. She then went back to Carmine, who was the topic at hand, and tried to summarize her understanding of the situation. From what she got, Jomei had strong feelings for Carmine, but they were not so apparent the other way around. Jomei rotated his cup in circles, causing the drink to stir itself. Looking at the liquid twirl, he gave a half smile.. "Huh.. when you say it like that.. sounds pretty pathetic.." He looked back up to her. "But basically.. yeah. I'll just have to wait for a truthful answer.. if I still want to hear it whenever she comes back that is." He went to take another sip of his ale, but stopped himself. He really was a downer drunk. He looked into Opal's honey colored eyes and smiled, "Thank you, Opal. I really appreciate it." 

[Opal 0]

She leaned over the table and fluffed his hair quickly with the palm of her hand and slid back down in to her seat, "Aww, damn. Don't thank me. I should be the one thanking you. What I had in mind tonight was more than just drinks and nachos. So it was good that you got me out of that typical Opal mindset of mine." she smiled and blushed, he was smiling...at her...her honey colored eyes darted around trying to look at something other than his handsome face. 

"Oh! Yes...well..." she coughed and started to straighten her black inky hair out with her long slender digits, combing through the silky strands and looking around the tavern, she didn't know what else to say at this point and with her fidgeting around in her seat, she accidentally kicked Jomei in the leg as she repositioned herself in the seat.

"[censored]. Sorry...I didn't mean to kick you... Well ya know!! You need to stop smiling at me...!!" the girl wasn't angry, but she blamed him none the less. She twisted her hair with one finger and scrunched up her nose and pouted slightly with a sigh. 

"LAST CALL!" the shop owner seemed to yell out. Opal didn't realize it was so late, well, she did...it was just that, she was having such a great time and all, she didn't really think about the time.

"Mmm...[censored]...I wanted to spend some more time with you. But it sounds like they are closing up soon. Would you mind staying with me for a little longer? I know a neat little spot where the stars shine really brightly in the sky. I mean...it's...nothing romantic or anything...I just...I only have a few days left to enjoy the company I can get before...I am stuck in the mountains.....with an old man." she said pathetically.   

[Jomei 0]

Jomei chuckled as the woman messed with his orange hair. Despite his hair already being slightly unruly before Opal pushed it around, he still felt the need to fix it. He placed his hand on his face, under the bangs that covered his eye and ran it up and over his head, pushing the bangs out of his face revealing both of his eyes for a change. After a moment, all of his hair fell back into its usual place. "Well I should be thanking you. I mean.. honestly.. my intent was to get those things off of my mind.. But in the end, you ended up giving me good advice anyway." The girl looked away, blushing, which only caused Jomei to smile even more. Usually it was other people that made him blush. He had to admit though.. despite thinking Opal as a great person in general.. he really liked this side of her. The side that is not her 'usual Opal mindset'.. which made him even more excited to see what type of woman would return from her training. 

The girl seemed to get a bit fidgety, running her fingers through her hair and looking around at the rest of the tavern. While positioning herself in her seat, she ended up gently kicking Jomei in the leg, blaming Jomei's smile for it. He chuckled, "Why? Whats wrong with me smiling? What if I want to smile?" he playfully kicked the girl back. 

The man who owned the bar, most likely that guy Jackal, was now yelling out that the bar was closing soon and that they needed to leave. Jomei had nearly forgotten they met up at midnight, and now it had to have been at least two in the morning. Looking down at his almost finished drink, he downed the rest of the ale and placed the glass off to the side. Opal seemed upset that the bar was closing.. but not because of the location, but having to leave Jomei. He could not help but smirk when she asked if he would hang out with her for a little bit longer. "Sure. That sounds nice. Not as nice as hanging out with an old guy for two months though." he winked at her as he stood up from the booth. He stretched his legs to make sure he would be alright walking, and when he was able to do so, he turned back to Opal. "Oh, and the drinks and food are on me." he turned to Jackal and opened up his menu, sending over the amount of col needed to cover their bill.. along with a couple extra as a tip. 

Edited September 17, 2015 by Jomei

[Opal 0]

"Greatly appreciate it, you kids have a safe walk back." Jackal said accepting the Col and waving to them. 

Opal didn't know what to say, she would have gone halvsies with him for the drinks and food, but he didn't leave her much choice in the matter. She sighed and stood up from the table. She didn't take a step forward until she was confident that she could do so without falling flat on her ass or face planting into the ground. Balancing herself on her feet she caught up to Jomei and wrapped one arm around his as they stepped outside. As they did so there was a moderate decrease in the temperature and she shivered a little from the wind that blew over her bare shoulders. She opened her menu quickly and dawned her jacket which had a warming effect on her person, covering up most of her exposed body and tightened it across her chest. 

She looked up to him and smiled, "So that special area...I don't know if you have ever been to it? It's a bit reclusive, like where couples go to be alone. But I go there by myself when I just want to think and look at the stars. It's pretty peaceful and I promise I wont try anything on you. I just want to see the stars with someone else for a change..." she giggled lightly and tugged on his arm for him to follow. 

As they were walking, the wind had rustled over the dark tendrils of her hair flipping it over her face, the woman used a finger to move the inky blackness from her mouth and moved it over her shoulders, "So...thanks for coming out to meet up with me again. I really enjoyed our night together, and I am sorry for that -cough- misunderstanding earlier with the body shots. But I am glad we got over that, and it's good to just have some nice friendly male companions for a change. I think...you are the only guy so far that hasn't made a move on me yet. Well, there have been a few...Hahaha, but you have been ever so the gallant gentlemen. Thanks for keeping my head grounded tonight. Totally not drunk either, go me!" she said whipped her head up to meet his soft eyes.  

 

[Jomei 0]

The man turned around after paying the col to cover his and Opal's tab and waited for her to stand up and situate herself, slightly offering his arm over for her to hold on to. As he got comfortable with her holding onto his arm again, they began to walk towards the door, he gave a slight wave over his shoulder to Jackal as they left. Once outside on the streets of Urbus again, it seemed darker and was also much colder, as it usually would in the early morning. He immediately felt the chill, but it did not bother him. He enjoyed these cool temperatures that reminded him of his home in Ireland. Opal, on the other hand, who only had on her stripy leather top, quickly equipped her jacket which fell into place on her shoulders. The satisfied look on her face must have meant it was doing the job of keeping her warm. 

His eyes shifted down to the girl as she spoke about the spot she was bringing him to. It was a a place where the stars seemed to shine much brighter, so most likely it was farther away from the pollution of lights from the city. She also went on to mention that usually couples would go there for their own reasons, but this time, she simply wanted some company with her. Jomei smiled, "I've never heard of a place like that here.. and I've been living here for the past couple of months. Haven't done much exploring within the city.. more outside the walls. Either way, it sounds like an amazing place." The girl then tugged on his arm, leading him in their walk. 

A cool gust of wind blew over the two, tousling each of their hair and causing Jomei's green cloak to gently flow behind him. As he did before, when Opal ruffled his hair with her hand, Jomei fixed his wind blown hair by running his hand through it, pushing the bangs back and letting them fall back into place. He looked over at Opal, seeing she was having the same problem, causing him to smirk. After a moment, Opal thanked Jomei again for spending the night with her and apologized for the 'misunderstanding' of before. He gave the girl a warm smile, "Please, it was my pleasure to come out with you. I really needed someone to take my mind off of all this stress, which you really did just that. And .. I'm the sorry one.. for being the one who misunderstood in the first place." he rubbed the back of his neck and sheepishly chuckled. She mentioned he was one of the few guys she knew that did not try to make a move on her, to which he raised an eyebrow. Opal was a friendly and very pretty woman.. he could see guys trying to do just that, which made him feel bad that she had been in such situations. "Guys really can be assholes.. I've seen it first hand.. Heh, and stopped it of course." he smirked, remembering the time he scared off a couple of pigs by smacking their heads together after cat calling a girl. He felt the girl's eyes looking at him, and he shifted his eyes down to look at her, right into her eyes. He could not help but smile at her.

[Opal 0]

She shook her head, the long tendrils of her inky black hair came rolling down the sides of her face after just pushing them back behind her ear, "No...I was a bit demanding of the situation. I had wanted something to happen tonight and kinda forced my expectations on you. But we are past that now, it's still nice to know you didn't take advantage of my weakness. And yeah, some guys can be assholes...but ya know, I kinda deserve it. There is a lot...I haven't told you about myself that I should feel ashamed of but really am not and not sure why. But I hope to change that about myself cause I really, really need to stop leading guys on. A warm smile, a handsome face, a good body and I fall into lust every time..." she explained but she kept most of it vague. 

She sighed lightly as she led them up a small hill and surely enough there were several people here in the small glade cuddling up with their significant other, showing affection towards one another and just being happy in their company. She looked around, "Well, had I known it was going to be a popular night to watch the stars I would have had something else planned. Mmm...be a sport and at least cuddle with me so we don't look out of place?" she said pulling on his arm and leading him up the hill. She bent her knees and sat down in the grass waiting for him to do the same, she had released the vice grip she had on his arm and then settled beside him just leaning slightly towards his shoulder and resting her head there. 

"If I end up making you uncomfortable, just let me know..." she said starring out in the ocean of stars. Everytime she came here she felt enchanted by the place. The high moon, the twinkling of several stars all around it. 

"It's so beautiful, isn't it? I know its not real...and its all just programmed to look like this. But...ya know, that doesn't really matter does it? If it makes you feel a certain way as it did in the real world, wouldn't it feel just as important as it is now here? That's what I always ask myself when I find the beautiful things here. If it makes me happy to see a flower blooming in real life, and I see one that does the same here. That's the same happiness, so it should be real. The feelings are real, ya know?" asked looking up at him. Her dark eyes followed his very own as he looked up into the stars with her. She gave a low audible sigh.

"If I could freeze a moment of time...this one would be it..." 

[Jomei 0]

"A story for another time." Jomei said with a smile, "Everyone has dark pasts they might not want to tell others.. Especially if they're trying to make a good first impression. But what you did and who you are now are two different things.. What you did back then shaped who you are today. The things we do either make us stronger.. or we learn from the mistakes. So no need to be ashamed of who you are or what you've done. As long as you accept yourself, then you should accept who you once were, even if just as a learning experience." 

The girl led Jomei up a small hill, where a bunch of other players in groups of two were sat staring up at the stars. He looked around briefly at the people, but his eyes were drawn to the bright stars above them. Feeling a tug on his arm, Jomei brought his attention back to Opal, and they walked up the rest of the hill. As she sat down on the grass, Jomei did the same. He sat with one leg bent and on the ground, the other one bent and standing upright. He felt a slight blush on his cheeks as Opal gently placed her head on his shoulder, and he titled his head to rest his head on hers.

Jomei let out a scoff when Opal asked him to let her know is she was making him feel uncomfortable, "Well you're doing a pretty good job of not doing that now." he looked over at her and winked, teasing the girl. "Yeah.. it really is beautiful." he was silent as she spoke about the reality of it, despite being all programmed into a game. She had a point... despite them not being real stars.. and everything around them being just lines and lines of code and data.. they were here, alive.. looking at stars. This was going to feel as real as it would in the real world. "You're right... Thank you for that." 

He was looking up at the stars, getting lost in its beauty. He thought he heard Opal softly say something, "Huh? did you say something?"

[Opal 0]

"Hmm? Oh? No...it was nothing Just that this is a perfect moment in time for me, that is all. I don't know when I will be able to look out at the stars again and just marvel at the ominous beauty. But when I get a chance to, I'll know when I look up at the stars...I'll be thinking of you and us on this night. You have made it very special for me." The woman leaned over, her silky lips pursed together as she made a small peck on the side of his face. She looked over to him and smiled and once more rested her head on her shoulder giving a long yawn. 

"I think all that alcohol is finally catching up to me..." she squeezed his arm a bit tighter, "and I don't want this evening to end...but I think we better start heading back. This Princess needs her beauty sleep. I just hope when my training starts that I won't be sleeping on a bed of nails, or in a pit of snakes or something like that. I have had a few silly nightmares of Master Myoga's training sessions and I haven't even started yet," she said laughing with her hand held up to her mouth. Her fingers waved back and forth and she continued to cuddle up towards Jomei for a few more moments before her grip slackened and she stood up.

The raven haired beauty stood up, her long jacket unfurling behind her as she raised her arms upwards to the sky and stretched her limbs. She allowed them to drop back to her side where she yawned a bit more and looked at him with sheepish eyes. 

"You'll be kind enough to escort me back to the teleporter, right?"  

OOC: I'll end it after your next post and get this thing locked for us. :D

Edited September 19, 2015 by Opal

[Jomei 0]

Jomei could not help but smile warmly at Opal when she mentioned how she will think of this nigt with him whenever she looks up at the stars. It really made him feel happy to know that she cared about him. "Honestly, its a beautiful night that I dont think I will forget either" the irishman said, looking up at the stars. He did not even notice Opal leaning in towards him until her lips were already on his cheek. His face flushed a bright red and his eyes widened. The girl then rested her head back on Jomei's shoulder, and he did the same with her head.

It was gwtting quite late, well.. Later than it already was. That and the alcohol was beginning to make the two sleepy. "Yeah. I agree.. I.. Dont want it to end either.." He said softly, almost under his breath but still slightly audible, "but youre right.. We both could use some sleep." After a couple more moments, Opal stood up and Jomei followed. The girl then asked if Jomei would walk her back to the teleporter, to which he nodded with a warm smile, "Of course I will."

 

[Opal 0]

There was casual chit chat as Opal weaved her arm around his as they headed back to the teleporter. She was staying on Floor One as of now as she had an early day the next day to begin. She once more pestered him about staying alive should he be going to the Boss Raid. She walked a little slower the closer they got to the teleporter, she wasn't quite ready to give him up but she knew she had no choice. Poor guy must have been tired as well as she was. She placed her coated arms over his shoulder and leaned in for a final hug holding it just a few more moments longer so that she could enjoy the last moments of the night. She pulled away slowly and backed towards the teleporter crystal. 

"Don't get yourself killed, Jomei...Promise me..." she smiled and placed her digits to her lips and blew him a kiss farewell. She didn't say goodbye, that would have been too hard. She was already getting emotional about the event and she turned back on her feet and teleported away thus ending her night with one of the most noble men she had met in Aincrad. 

Thread Summary:

Opal: +1 SP, +200 Col
Jomei: +1 SP, +200 Col