LV 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
HP: 150
|
STR: 00
|
|
DEX: 02 (+5)
|
CON: 05 (+5)
|
|
|
ginseng IS
OFFLINE
|
Post by MARTH on Nov 16, 2016 5:42:03 GMT -6
[attr="class","pricklebear1"] | 125/125 HP | STR 00 | DEX 01(+5) | CON 05 |
The downpour continued outside as both boys entered the Inn of Beginnings. Marth stretched his hands above his head before slumping down in a chair. It felt warm inside of the inn and the atmosphere was lively. The streets were mostly empty now because of the downpour but it wasn’t anything that he was worried about. Despite the slightly gloomy atmosphere, it was beautiful outside with the rain covering everything. It was a wonder on how he could feel so cold even when it was just ones and zeroes. “ C’mon, we should head up to my room.” He stood up from the chair that he was sitting in and headed up the staircase to his room door. Opening it up, he walked inside and sat down on the floor while pulling off his shoes and wringing the water out of his shirt. If Ruler came inside he would have looked up at him and grinned. “ Not exactly the ideal thing to happen today, huh?” If someone would have told him that he’d spend a day running through the city looking for kittens, meet up with a friend, and then end the day in his inn room — he’d have shrugged. But this seemed nice enough. “ You can put your shoes over there by the desk.” There was a small desk next to the window, the bed laying adjacent to the door, a dresser and a nightstand. The room was minimalistic as possible though not many items would fit inside and it was temporary.
Ruler[newclass=.pricklebear1]background-color:#fff;height:auto;width:400px;margin: 0 auto;box-shadow: 1px 1px 2px 1px #c0c0c0;border: 10px solid #f9f9f9;font-family:Arial;font-size:11px;padding:24px;text-align:justify;[/newclass]
|
|
LV 3
|
|
|
|
|
HP: 375
|
STR: 0 (+44)
|
|
DEX: 5 (+12)
|
CON: 0 (+55)
|
|
|
n/a IS
OFFLINE
|
Post by Ruler on Nov 16, 2016 10:28:05 GMT -6
Ruler liked rain. And it wasn't in the sense of sitting inside, curled under a warm blanket, watching others out in the rain. He wasn't about schadenfreude.
Ruler liked being outside in the rain. There was something about water falling from the sky that often made him want to spread his arms to the sky, do a jig and sing.
But he'd be caught dead before he'd be singing in the rain alongside someone he knew.
It'd been a while since he'd been in the Inn of Beginnings. Ruler remembered renting a room there the first day, but on his map completion trips of the town, he'd found an NPC house that rented out rooms.
Those were loads better. Good food, nice bath, wonderful bed.
Nonetheless, he wasn't going to comment on others' lodging. It was certainly cheaper here, and if he wasn't making col on the side with crafting, Ruler might've stayed at the inn.
He followed Marth up the flight of stairs and into the room.
So nostalgic.
"I've had worse, though," Ruler replied as he took off his boots. "Well, not here in Aincrad, but..." on the other side.
He considered sitting on the desk, but leaned against the wall instead.
"That quest granny always says it's going to rain, but it's still a little weird when it actually does." |
|
LV 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
HP: 150
|
STR: 00
|
|
DEX: 02 (+5)
|
CON: 05 (+5)
|
|
|
ginseng IS
OFFLINE
|
Post by MARTH on Nov 16, 2016 21:43:06 GMT -6
[attr="class","pricklebear1"] | 150/150 HP | STR 00 | DEX 02 (+5) | CON 05 (+5) |
Marth glanced towards the window as he heard the soft pitter patter of rain against the window pane. Rain was beautiful if not gloomy but the moments after the shower were the best in Marth's opinion. There was something almost magical about it. Turning his attention back to Ruler, he shrugged and sat on the floor nearest to the bed. His clothes would dry soon. They usually did without him even noticing it. " Is it?" He shrugged. " I think it's kind of soothing but unexpected." As were most things that happened in the game up till this point. Wasn't exactly something that he was going to dwell on but the truth was in the pudding, so to speak. " So how has the game been going for you so far?" He leaned back against the sheets as he felt the back of his shirt dry. Crossing his arms behind his head and staring impassively forward, he glanced at the other student. " And did you know that Otsuki-sensei is here?"
Ruler[newclass=.pricklebear1]background-color:#fff;height:auto;width:400px;margin: 0 auto;box-shadow: 1px 1px 2px 1px #c0c0c0;border: 10px solid #f9f9f9;font-family:Arial;font-size:11px;padding:24px;text-align:justify;[/newclass]
|
|
LV 3
|
|
|
|
|
HP: 375
|
STR: 0 (+44)
|
|
DEX: 5 (+12)
|
CON: 0 (+55)
|
|
|
n/a IS
OFFLINE
|
Post by Ruler on Nov 17, 2016 8:55:31 GMT -6
Ruler considered he definitely needed to have a change of clothes. That way he could just change out of cold clothes and into warmer ones, but it'd be a concern for later. Maybe just have a mantle lined with fur, thick enough to hold a lot of water... and unequip it once out of the rain.
Would the water seep into his inventory?
"No chairs or floor cushions," Ruler observed. He sat down on the hard floor as well, crossed his legs.
He hoped that in the morning, the grass would smell as fresh as it would've on the other side. That'd be a treat. He always loved the smell of nature after a downpour, though in the city he'd had to find a park.
Here, nature was all around them.
"The game's been... all right for me. I made a small name for myself with crafting," Ruler answered calmly. "I do know Otsuki-sensei's in the game. I met him during one of the quests, though..." He smiled wryly. "I don't think him and uncle get along very well."
He remembered the tense atmosphere that had felt so incredibly oppressive.
"I met a bunch of nice people, like Farmsalot, and Sonic... well, I can't name them all." He supposed even Arashi would fit in there, somewhere... if the guy wasn't so insufferable at times.
"How about you? Met anyone besides Prince?" |
|
LV 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
HP: 150
|
STR: 00
|
|
DEX: 02 (+5)
|
CON: 05 (+5)
|
|
|
ginseng IS
OFFLINE
|
Post by MARTH on Nov 17, 2016 19:45:36 GMT -6
[attr="class","pricklebear1"] | 150/150 HP | STR 00 | DEX 02 (+5) | CON 05 (+5) |
Marth crossed his arms behind his head as he listened to his classmate speak. He snickered as the other gave a disdainful look around the barren room only to sit on the floor just as he had. It wasn't exactly five star or a luxury hotel but the inn was cheap and would keep him dry from the crazed weather outside. Crossing his legs at the ankle and leaning back to look at the roof, he could see a few dark spots from where it was raining. That wasn't good. They really needed to repair this place. " Otsuki-sensei not getting along well with someone," he hummed. " Why am I not surprised?" It was a little reassuring to know that Ruler also had family within the game. They weren't going to stick together under every circumstance but it would bode well if they had other people to hold onto. Connections for what it was worth. His classmate asked about the people that he met and a few names circled about in his head. He scratched his cheek and tried to recall. " I met a few people too and it seems like we have some mutual acquaintances," he said. " Paxilon, Sonic, Kiki, Leviathan, Gran, Comic, Farmsalot to name a few." He looked at Ruler and grinned. " Sadly, I'm not providing a high commodity business like yourself or I'd probably have more friends."
Ruler[newclass=.pricklebear1]background-color:#fff;height:auto;width:400px;margin: 0 auto;box-shadow: 1px 1px 2px 1px #c0c0c0;border: 10px solid #f9f9f9;font-family:Arial;font-size:11px;padding:24px;text-align:justify;[/newclass]
|
|
LV 3
|
|
|
|
|
HP: 375
|
STR: 0 (+44)
|
|
DEX: 5 (+12)
|
CON: 0 (+55)
|
|
|
n/a IS
OFFLINE
|
Post by Ruler on Nov 17, 2016 20:19:58 GMT -6
Ruler made a dismissive gesture and grinned. He hardly liked to think of it as providing a high-commodity business. He was simply providing the necessary equipment to people looking to clear the game, and on the side he managed to make a little col to make up his expenses.
But the names Marth called weren't entirely accurate.
"I haven't met a Kiki," Ruler said. "Not a Gran or Comic either." He tried to remember anyone by those three names, but seriously no one came to mind. Maybe they'd purchased a weapon, but they certainly didn't leave a lasting impression.
"I wouldn't say they're 'friends' necessarily..." Ruler continued, carefully. "Um... more like... acquaintances?"
He hated the word 'friend', because to him it implied a durable covenant to be there for each other in times of need, and to share your pain and worries.
Ruler wouldn't do that to any of his customers. At best, he'd do it with Diz, who wasn't a friend but family, or... maybe Farmsalot, who was really the closest thing to a friend from that list.
More importantly...
"I'm surprised you play games. Didn't take you for the sort. Well, I didn't take Prince for the sort either. Isn't she always surrounded by an army of friends?"
Games, to Ruler, seemed like the playpen of the lonely. |
|
LV 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
HP: 150
|
STR: 00
|
|
DEX: 02 (+5)
|
CON: 05 (+5)
|
|
|
ginseng IS
OFFLINE
|
Post by MARTH on Nov 17, 2016 20:33:41 GMT -6
[attr="class","pricklebear1"] | 150/150 HP | STR 00 | DEX 02 (+5) | CON 05 (+5) |
Marth chuckled lightly and shrugged his shoulders. The people that he met were either by accident or some strange turn of fate. If anyone told him that he would meet such extraordinary people a few months ago, he would've shrugged. Possibiltiies were endless and he was slowly learning to take whatever the game threw at him in stride. It was the best way to stay alive after all. He tilted his head at the differentiation between friendship and acquaintences. " I'm guessing we're acquaintances too," he joked. " Better than nothing at all." Thinking back to Prince, the image of her in his mind was still vivid but he couldn't see anyone else clamoring for the chance to be around her. Her appearance was different than any native and she could've been seen as a foreigner. There was a good chance that some people would hop at the opportunity to be her friend because of that. Boasting and what not. Having a friend that was a foreigner could be beneficial in the end. But she spoke Japanese well and was humble, if not shy. " She might, why, you want to be her friend?" He grinned. " But in all seriousness I'm not sure. She seems pretty down to earth to me, like someone who wants to stay out of the spotlight but keeps being pushed into it."
Ruler[newclass=.pricklebear1]background-color:#fff;height:auto;width:400px;margin: 0 auto;box-shadow: 1px 1px 2px 1px #c0c0c0;border: 10px solid #f9f9f9;font-family:Arial;font-size:11px;padding:24px;text-align:justify;[/newclass]
|
|
LV 3
|
|
|
|
|
HP: 375
|
STR: 0 (+44)
|
|
DEX: 5 (+12)
|
CON: 0 (+55)
|
|
|
n/a IS
OFFLINE
|
Post by Ruler on Nov 17, 2016 20:59:37 GMT -6
Marth's joke was painfully accurate. Ruler couldn't say he disliked Marth, but when it came to friendship, he felt that wasn't accurate either. Good acquaintances.
How could anyone understand otherwise, anyway? Sometimes he had to wonder at the puzzling things others did, and whether they were really there at all. The rules they operated by were so unlike the rules Ruler operated by, they might as well be aliens.
Ruler thought back to Prince as well. Mousey, was a word he'd use to describe her. Unreliable, too, but maybe that was too harsh. Did he want to be friends with her? Ruler didn't think it'd be possible.
His personality and her personality probably didn't match. Unlike Marth, he wasn't some cool and calming presence. If anything, Ruler thought he was more of a lame presence, the sort no one'd hang out with if it wasn't for his looks.
And he wasn't handsome. Whatever moved Marth to want to hang out with him, Ruler didn't understand.
"Mmm... from what I've seen, she just seems very scared," Ruler said, recalling a quest he'd done with her. "She's strong in-game, but afraid of being hurt? That kind of sense. I don't think she's comfortable around me, so forget being friends."
He wondered what "Prince's like around Marth..." |
|
LV 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
HP: 150
|
STR: 00
|
|
DEX: 02 (+5)
|
CON: 05 (+5)
|
|
|
ginseng IS
OFFLINE
|
Post by MARTH on Nov 18, 2016 22:21:12 GMT -6
[attr="class","pricklebear1"] | 150/150 HP | STR 00 | DEX 02 (+5) | CON 05 (+5) |
" She's the same with me," he said. " But we've only been on two quests together. You probably have a better grasp of her personality." He shrugged with a noncommittal expression. It wasn't much to go off of with only a bit of social interaction and he wasn't going to exactly make up any false perceptions of her without knowing anything else. Thinking back on it, he didn't see Ruler with many people during the school day. It wasn't as though he was unsettling in personality or appearance. He just didn't seem to want to be around other much. Marth heard some say that he was standoffish, others used more choice words, but he didn't listen to them for long. It was the first time that he held such an intimate conversation with his upperclassman outside of anything dealing with math. Marth glanced up at him and tilted his head to the side. " Do you have anyone added to your friends list yet?" Opening up his menu, he sent a friend request to the other player before leaning back again. " I don't want to intrude too much, I know that you might not want to get close to a lot of people but we need each other." He shrugged and smiled slightly. " Survival and all."
Ruler[newclass=.pricklebear1]background-color:#fff;height:auto;width:400px;margin: 0 auto;box-shadow: 1px 1px 2px 1px #c0c0c0;border: 10px solid #f9f9f9;font-family:Arial;font-size:11px;padding:24px;text-align:justify;[/newclass]
|
|
LV 3
|
|
|
|
|
HP: 375
|
STR: 0 (+44)
|
|
DEX: 5 (+12)
|
CON: 0 (+55)
|
|
|
n/a IS
OFFLINE
|
Post by Ruler on Nov 19, 2016 7:03:56 GMT -6
"Huh? Um, y, yeah... I have a bunch of people." Though they called it 'friendlist', Ruler used it to keep track of customers, people he talked to often, people he quested with... It was the only way to easily send messages to people he knew.
Plus, refusing it would probably hurt someone's feelings. Ruler wasn't in it for that.
So he accepted the friend request. He shook his head. "Um, really, it's fine. Can't really be an island in this game."
Aincrad might not have been 'the real world,' but it felt incredibly real to Ruler. The smiles on people's faces when he gave them a good weapon were more radiant and vibrant than the smiles of his classmates had ever been.
"Um... I've been wondering for a while, but... well... How many others from our school have you met?" Counting Prince, then Otsuki-sensei, Marth, Prince and him made four from the same school already.
In a world of ten-thousand, that was almost impressive. |
|
