Jun 23, 2017 14:31:52 GMT -5
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Jun 22, 2017 19:15:45 GMT -5
Post by catharsis on Jun 22, 2017 19:15:45 GMT -5
 GIVE ME ALL YOUR ENERGY
LOVE ME LIKE AN ENEMY All Catharsis really wanted out of life was a lot of money at little risk, but he honestly had yet to find an arrangement like that in the game. So far, it seemed like he had to compromise; either little risk for gradual gain, or a bit more risk for a chance at getting something really worth settling. Most of the time, it wasn't enough to tempt him. Once in a while, though, Cat started to feel low funded enough to at least give it a shot. That was, if only he could find a stable party member or even two. The wait was killing him faster than the cold was, giving him time he really didn't want for his mind to wander places he was trying to avoid. Thinking about the last couple of dungeon runs was going to be the fastest way for him to lose his resolve. Kneeling down in front of the large tamaskan pet in front of him, Catharsis pulled on one of his gloves until his hand squeezed out of it, resting it against his shoulder with a slight clink of metal hitting metal. Then, he ran hands through the guard dog, the dual sensation of one hand running through fur while the other was still bound in leather pulling him into the present a bit faster than just moping through the trip down memory lane would have. For a moment, the dog leaned forward as if to lick at his face, but Catharsis nearly lost his battle leaning back from the warm gesture. Cute, but not what he was looking for right now. Of course, when Garm perked up and started growling, that did the trick too. The Empath startled a bit, but looked up and around; he knew what that meant. After all, he'd made the dog in the first place.
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Jun 23, 2017 0:27:38 GMT -5
Post by izanami on Jun 23, 2017 0:27:38 GMT -5
This world was a curious one and much more vast than the one she was familiar with, in fact, back in the real world, her life revolved around a single district. Outside of that, she paid no mind to it. Everything she could want was where she had left it and she was determined to find her way back to it. There was no sense of urgency, but at the same time, she couldn't afford to be leisurely in her ways. Her goals were clear and before her, the first obstacle -- the first floor of The Dungeon of The Endless.
The woman let out a soft sigh, approaching her destination with an open mind -- more or less. She was inexperienced when it came to video games (as kids called it). Anything and everything would be a new experience, a new shock to her, but she would adapt as she did in other aspects of her life. A challenge was welcomed so long as it benefited her in some way. She would never turn down an opportunity when presented and as far as she was concerned, the doors of the first floor was exactly that.
"Hmm. Oh my, what do we have here?" Shizuka curled a finger over her lip, a smile gracing her face at the sight. Another player and his pet -- convenient. "You are here to do the dungeon, I presume? I'd be happy to accompany you."
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Jun 23, 2017 0:50:56 GMT -5
Post by catharsis on Jun 23, 2017 0:50:56 GMT -5
GIVE ME ALL YOUR ENERGY
LOVE ME LIKE AN ENEMY "Uh," Catharsis started as he stood, more than a little surprised by the other player, "Yeah, sure." His heart started to race a little less; it was, at least, not the person he'd come to both expect and dread all at once. Slowly, as if to avoid making any sudden moves, he reached for the glove he had left on his shoulder, fitting it over the skin he'd bared right in the cold entrance to the dungeon. He glanced at her. She seemed ... new? It was a weird way to describe someone when they'd all started at basically the same point, and yet she didn't strike him as someone who had been here before now. "Have you done this before?" He asked, glancing down and testing the snugness of the glove. He didn't need to, but something about it helped. Like how eating helped others, he assumed. It kept things normal to check anyway. "If you don't mind my asking?" He added just as quickly, eyes flicking up to avoid looking down from her for too long. It was reflexive, something about her mannerisms drawing out years of training. At least, that had been the word they had used. Garm stood between them, but his tail was wagging now. The pet had done his job and alerted the empath to the presence of the stranger, who now didn't seem to be threatening him. At least, not yet. It was only now that he'd relaxed that he noticed she was a utility, too. He'd done well enough in a quest and even a bounty with another utility, but that was a case by case sort of thing, and never anything he'd tested in a dungeon run before. If he was lucky, maybe he wouldn't have to kite anything. Part of him doubted this before she'd even made any move to answer; since when had he ever been that lucky?
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Jun 23, 2017 1:04:30 GMT -5
Post by izanami on Jun 23, 2017 1:04:30 GMT -5
The woman chuckled, eyes lifting up to look the young man from the top of his red hair to the bottom of his shoes. He looked to be well prepared. She shook her head, her grip on her so-called weapon loosening a bit from the sudden comfort. "I'm afraid not," she admitted with a warm smile. "That's not a problem now, is it?" She would hope not. Even as independent as she was, she did like the sound of cooperating with another. If anything, it looked to be a learning experience and it would be a shame to miss out on something so valuable.
Shizuka moved closer to the entrance just stopping herself from entering it without the man's final answer. As new as she was, she did understand the concept of 'partying', which at first, she had mistaken for an actual party. If the stranger had no other, it would be safer to work together. Drawing from a small amount of past experience, she found parties to be enjoyable if not, useful. She held onto her hope that the male would accept her offer.
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Jun 23, 2017 1:18:05 GMT -5
Post by catharsis on Jun 23, 2017 1:18:05 GMT -5
GIVE ME ALL YOUR ENERGY
LOVE ME LIKE AN ENEMY Something about her screamed that she didn't belong here, in this game, and it left Catharsis more relaxed than he should have been. It was a refreshing change from being surrounded by nerds day in and day out when he tried to find a party, and while part of him nagged that it wouldn't be safe without at least one seasoned defender or attacker, he shook his head. "No," he answered quickly. "I can show you the ropes, if you like."He wanted to mention the problem with their party makeup, but she was already heading towards the dungeon alone. Instead, he shot her a party invite. "It doesn't seem like anyone else is coming today, so it's just us, I guess." He admitted, hugging himself a bit and glancing at her. He couldn't tell if she was equipped for the cold or not, but he trailed a bit closer to her, already assuming she would accept the party invite. "Is your class more healing, or do you have any attacks?" He asked, waiting until she answered to step through. It seemed like his hopes of not having to kite were dashed, if she was new to this. Still, something about her left him less worried than he probably should be. Or maybe it wasn't her proximity at all, but Garm's. Regardless, the end result was the same.
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Jun 23, 2017 1:36:14 GMT -5
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Jun 23, 2017 1:35:50 GMT -5
Post by izanami on Jun 23, 2017 1:35:50 GMT -5
shizuka's face brightened at the man's smart decision leaving his kindness to speak for itself. it was more than she had hoped for and gladly, accepted his offer on guiding her through it. her fortune today looked to be promising already. she stood off to the side of the entrance, allowing him to lead her inside. if he would go, she would follow right behind him without question. unlike her world back home, this one was much more kind to her. she could get used to this and truthfully, she was enjoying the treatment.
"Is your class more healing, or do you have any attacks?"
she shifted in place, unsure of how to answer the player's question in regards to her class. if she had to choose one, it would be a simple comparison. after a moment of thought, it was clear that there was no other to explain it. "it's like shogi," she finally said, eyes drifting up in thought. it was a class that focused on commanding the playing board similarly to the japanese chess game and so, it would have to suffice. even if that meant nothing to him, it was an answer nonetheless.
"you'll see," she added with raised brows.
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Jun 23, 2017 1:58:03 GMT -5
Post by catharsis on Jun 23, 2017 1:58:03 GMT -5
GIVE ME ALL YOUR ENERGY
LOVE ME LIKE AN ENEMY Catharsis had always considered himself to be smart, but after she answered his question he looked at her with pure confusion. The meaning behind the word was lost on him, a cultural barrier clearly standing between them. She said he'd understand soon, and he let the subject drop with a simple nod. He'd just have to settle for seeing her in action and adjusting then, which was fine, he supposed. When he noticed she was waiting for him, he went ahead and set foot through the dungeon first with a, "Right, well, this way then." As soon as he appeared in the cold of the dungeon, he hugged himself again and rubbed his arms to generate some kind of heat. Funnily enough, knowing none of this was real didn't make the cold any easier any of the times he'd come through here. Even his new armor was a bit too thin, which was great literally everywhere else in the summer in Gargantua. He shuddered once, before stepping forward to give some space, Garm trailing after him and alert. He glanced over his shoulder, just to make sure she'd followed. "You going to be okay? It's not going to get any warmer, and after a certain point we won't get the chance to turn back anymore."
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Jun 23, 2017 2:14:59 GMT -5
Post by izanami on Jun 23, 2017 2:14:59 GMT -5
it was like explaining an adult concept to a child just to watch their confusion manifest in silly expressions. shizuka found it endearing to the point of neglecting to clear the confusion away. she reasoned that he would understand in time and as of now, didn't seem to do him any harm. she twirled the handle of her umbrella slightly as she walked behind him, keeping her fingers a bit busy to fill the lack of conversation. it made sense that there wasn't much to talk about while they were walking into the unknown; it didn't stop her from trying to think of a suitable topic. what would interest youth these days? she wondered, a bit bothered by how out of touch she was with this generation.
"You going to be okay? It's not going to get any warmer, and after a certain point we won't get the chance to turn back anymore."
"I appreciate your concern," she answered in a calm tone, "it may be cold, but i have survived worst with far less, mind you." at one point, she was sure that she had spent sometime homeless in the unforgiving winters of japan. this was nothing to her only slightly uncomfortable at best, giving her goosebumps across her skin. the kimono wasn't much, but it was something and layered enough to keep most of the cold out. it was a wonder how she managed to get so far in her life since her starting point. "how about you?" she returned with a hint of curiosity. it looked like he was going to fare well, but she may be wrong.
"as I understand it, you've been here before, no? did it treat you well? it must have if you're willing to enter again."
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Jun 23, 2017 2:39:01 GMT -5
Post by catharsis on Jun 23, 2017 2:39:01 GMT -5
GIVE ME ALL YOUR ENERGY
LOVE ME LIKE AN ENEMY It wasn't something he could relate to, at least not in the materialistic sense. Technically, Catharsis had been provided for well, even to the point of an overabundance. No one really looked at someone like Cat and thought otherwise. If she said that she was okay, he was quick to accept it and move on. When she asked after him, however, he froze like a deer in headlights. Concern directed towards himself just wasn't the kind of situation he was used to. He had been trying so hard to avoid thinking about it, but she'd brought it up and he was caught between self-preservation of his sanity and not wanting to start off on a lie. It was a lot of little tells, a tighter squeeze on his grip of his own arms, a tucking of his head and a leaning in that wasn't quite meeting her gaze, a strain on his smile. "Well, I mean, I'm still alive, so that means it went well, yeah?"He faltered just as quickly, straightening but still not looking at her. "Some of the bosses here are more brutal than others." He glanced at her almost meekly as he admitted it, grip on himself loosening as he reached with a shaking hand to open his inventory and equip Gungnir. "We shouldn't let our guard down. Had my share of close calls, I guess. But, uh, only way forward is through, right?"
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Jun 23, 2017 2:53:19 GMT -5
Post by izanami on Jun 23, 2017 2:53:19 GMT -5
"yes...I suppose so," she answered gently, easing away from the topic. his reaction was subtle, though familiar to her bringing back memories of her girls. life at the brothel was never easy and she knew it; the job came with risks and rewards with some coming into contact with the former more often. it wasn't uncommon for her girls to put up a strong front for her in order to put her worries to rest. under those circumstances, it became a skill that was necessary to learn and master. picking up on the body languages of others came naturally to her over the years. although, she had no conclusions to draw upon from what catharsis had shown -- well, tried to hide -- it was apparent that there was more to it than he had let on. also, he did not seem keen on sharing. that was fine, she would not pry.
shizuka continued to nod respectfully as he spoke of the bosses and what she could only assume, was based off his own experiences. "i've heard the rumors," she stated, "they say this is the most dangerous area in the game." the woman spinning her opened umbrella again, selected her words with care. "i'm afraid i cannot allow that to intimidate me." she was unsure if that had come off as arrogant, but did not quite care enough to correct it. "after all, i have plans in place and i would like to see them through. what is your reason for doing this if you do not mind this nosy woman asking so carelessly?"
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Jun 23, 2017 3:21:35 GMT -5
Post by catharsis on Jun 23, 2017 3:21:35 GMT -5
GIVE ME ALL YOUR ENERGY
LOVE ME LIKE AN ENEMY She didn't push, which he had been expecting. She was being nice to him, but he was able to dismiss that as them working together for the sake of the dungeon. She needed him to walk her through how it worked, so it made sense to be nice to him. Regardless, it worked. When she didn't push, he relaxed, shoulders easing as he stood a little bit straighter again. "Yeah," He said softly, "It is."A small laugh left him when she said something about not letting it get in her way. "I like your style." He said, pausing when she asked him a question and motioning forward. "Do you mind if we talk and walk?" He asked, going ahead and taking the first couple of steps through the snow. The crunch of it being crushed under his boot was a bit too real. She had plans in place, huh? He turned it over in his mind, but decided against prying. He could already hear the voice in the back of his mind nagging about it being too rude to pry so early. He raised his shoulders in a noncommittal shrug, thumb shifting against the cool metal of the spear in his hand as he moved. "I just want to get home." He said plainly. "Missed a funeral, you know?" There was a chipper tone to his voice, a cheery veneer coating pain rather than outright hiding it, but he wasn't joking and there was no lie as he looked back at her. "Plus, I mean, the loot's not half bad." That was more half joke, half truth, a shift into a level of deflection he was more comfortable with.
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Jun 23, 2017 3:42:59 GMT -5
Post by izanami on Jun 23, 2017 3:42:59 GMT -5
shizuka leaned her head to the side, relieved that the male had visible untensed from the talk earlier. excellent. she moved her head back as she walked over to him. "not at all." now that they were walking side to side through the dungeon, the thought of her following behind like a newborn ducklet was rather embarrassing. she brushed a portion of her hair over her shoulder as she walked with care through the snow, head down and eyes focused on the ground. after a few more steps, she had relented in her attempt to avoid it, trudging through with clear disdain. it was unsettling as the sensation had gripped itself around her ankles, numbing her feet and freezing her legs. terrible.
the fate weaver carried on, facing forward now with a small frown. it hadn't occurred to her earlier having been distracted by the sudden snow, but she was confused. like her style? the woman glanced down at her plain kimono then back up at the Empath briefly. "it's a flaw to think that something so plain is tasteful," she spoke quietly. she would apologize if it would offend him, but she was being truthful. "they say that a man's taste is consistent. that is to say, your taste in women must be poor as well."
shizuka laughed softly to herself just barely audible, a bit amused by the stranger she had become acquainted with. her laughter, however, cut short at the mention of a funeral. "unfortunate." try as she might, shizuka was notorious for her lack of sympathy. it was difficult to feel any for a stranger and even with loved ones, she struggled to understand. a bit too desperate to change topics, she grasped at the mention of loot. "i'd like to obtain some rare items as well; purely for profits. i haven't much interest in collecting, you see?"
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Jun 23, 2017 3:53:37 GMT -5
Post by catharsis on Jun 23, 2017 3:53:37 GMT -5
GIVE ME ALL YOUR ENERGY
LOVE ME LIKE AN ENEMY Catharsis did a double take at the woman's response, eyebrows raising. He let her finish before he let himself laugh. Not too much, but enough. "No, I meant, I like how you think." He said, grinning as he looked over at her. He'd honestly thought of it as older slang, but maybe it was just the cultural barrier again. It was honestly hard for him to pin down. "Still do." He said, voice soft as he glanced ahead. The moment she switched topics, it was nothing short of relief for the both of them. He had no interest in delving any more than he already had; just about everyone had lost someone thus far, or at least seen it happen by now. He wasn't bringing it up to compare notes, and she was kind enough not to chase after the subject. Something about it left him at ease, in a way. The way she had dealt with it felt oddly familiar in a way that was too dulled for him to consider painful. Nostalgic, maybe. No, no, that wasn't quite it. "Maybe we'll get lucky." He grinned, measuring his strides so he didn't leave her behind on his long legs. "That's what I'm banking- hoping for, anyway." He paused when he had to duck as the icy cavern sloped down, not quite tall enough for him. It figured that it would've come up eventually; he'd just have to hope they didn't have to run. He frowned when he heard chittering up ahead, not quite able to recognize it as anything he'd run into before just yet. The problem with liking the woman so much was he was left with very little energy charge. He'd rather conserve whatever he could up until they really needed it if it was at all possible.
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Jun 23, 2017 4:11:14 GMT -5
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Jun 23, 2017 4:10:58 GMT -5
Post by izanami on Jun 23, 2017 4:10:58 GMT -5
"Oh," she replied, "a compliment." The woman wasn't sure how to react, but appreciated it all the same. A compliment was a compliment even if it was lost in translation. It wasn't as if she hadn't heard of slangs, rather, that one was new to her. Style, hm? She made a mental note to keep it's meaning in mind. Shizuka left some silence between them to debate whether or not she should return the sentiments. "I like the way you talk."
Her expression fell the moment she was aware of the slope, letting out a deep sigh. It was wishful, but she wanted to do nothing but walk in a straight path. The nice thought was put to an abrupt end now; how rude. With not even a chance given to make a decision, the sounds of bats had already filled up the air. The sounds were distinct and without a doubt, came from the bottom of the icy slope.
"I don't suppose we have any option? It seems unwise to go this way."
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Jun 23, 2017 4:20:40 GMT -5
Post by catharsis on Jun 23, 2017 4:20:40 GMT -5
GIVE ME ALL YOUR ENERGY
LOVE ME LIKE AN ENEMY It was flattery returned for flattery about as far as he could tell. Still, it lightened his step a little bit. "Huh. Thank you." Was all he said, before they'd gone down a ways towards the tunnel. He paused when the chittering sound echoed, recognizing it now. Ah, the ice bats again. They probably came in a swarm. Had he an energy supply, it'd be easy to subdue their aggro this time around to move on through. The fact was, though, that he didn't. He couldn't afford doing that, so they were left with either having to fight their way through, or figure out a different way. He liked her idea, even if it wasn't fully spoken he could catch onto the threads. Hand over the back of his head, he backed out of the tunnel just as soon as she'd brought it up. "I didn't see another way, but you're right. Better to weigh our options, just in case." Dungeons were a matter of endurance, after all, not experience grind. Even if a battle might help her grow in level, it'd leave him with less to work with for the boss. Running a hand through his hair once he was able to stand fully again, he glanced around to look for any other doors or passageways. There was probably something. It had been a long time since he'd only been faced with one route, even if the alternative wasn't immediately obvious. Sure enough, he saw a different tunnel to the side now that he was looking for it. Pointing, he decided to defer to her judgment this time. "What do you think?" He asked, motioning past her with his hand.
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