A Knight to Remember [(dei)theta]

To Reveka's credit, she was maybe sort of kind of handling this well - or, at least, well in the most basic of senses. She wasn't dead, at least. Or insane. Haha. What a dark comfort that was; though many seem to have already adjusted to their life in this video game, there were still so many things that became terrifing now that the utter, implacable reality of them had become apparent. As much as she would have liked to deny reality, continued to deny reality, it was definitely something that was hard to deny. But in the end, what could Reveka do, but play along? But gather her bearings, and do her best?

She always had an air for the dramatic. And maybe that was why she hardly cared as the rain began to make an unwelcome appearance - though it wasn't until she was half soaked and wandering down an alley that she realized she should probably actually do something about that, before she plain just... dies of hypothermia. Of all the stupid ways to die, too. Reveka turned to leave - and then blinked, as someone rushed right past her, a cloth held overhead in an attempt to shield them from the downpour. She turned, following them with her gaze - and almost let them be, before she heard what sounded like the opening of some sort of door, though it was beyond a turn that she hadn't gone down yet. Oh...

Well, if it was like that, why not? Reveka followed, taking a guess at which turn he went down - and being rewarded with a secluded little establishment. Little definitely did describe it - not at all like the tavern she would meet with her friends in. You know, back when things made sense. Reveka lingered in the doorway a moment, frowning - and then was snapped back to attention as the man at the counter distractedly greeted her, with a "Welcome," - he was clearly making something. And maybe it was because of that person who had run right past her before, who had plopped himself on the couch.

People were a difficult affair. Having already arrived, Reveka couldn't just duck out of the interaction without being rude, right? So, she shifted instead, deigning to wring out her clothes a tad, and then shaking her head. "What terrible weather," Theta said, almost conversationally; though a bit gruffly as well, as was her wont. "You would be forgiven for thinking the sky does this on purpose," The knight gave the other player a wide berth, and while Reveka noted the player was called Ruler, Theta didn't notice UI elements, and thus, didn't have any curiosities towards this person's station. Theta glanced around, and then slipped into a chair at the lone table, while she bit back the urge to sigh. Of course, there was weather before everything happened. Duh. It was the most immersive game ever. Yet somehow...

Somehow.

Theta gazed between the man who clearly worked here and the one who didn't - and then, spying a menu, reached for it, thumbing through the pages idly. She kept an eye on the other person - slightly tense, not one hundred percent comfortable. A knight never truly relaxed, after all.

Ruler

To call Theta keen in matters of an interpersonal nature would be a lie. The knight was forged in battle and darkness, the sort that had little care for pleasantries, and usually let situations unfold from the sidelines, a keen eye on her surroundings, but very little else in the way of workability. It was a part of Theta's air, as a knight - unflinching, uncompromising. So, it was with a slightly curious air that she noticed the boy staring, doing little more than quirking an eyebrow before glancing back at the menu in her hands - Reveka had been looking at him herself, though extremely surreptitiously. (Real immersive roleplayers had to get a feel for doing that eventually, after all - you had to juggle scoping out potential partners with actually staying in character, after all.) However, between assessing her company and pretending she was looking at the menu in her hands, she didn't actually have enough time to decide, pushing her hair back out of her face as she glanced up to meet the server's gaze. "Ah, well..." Coffee? Food? With a glance to the other boy, Theta decided quickly. "I suppose I shall have whatever he is having," She might as well. It looked good enough, and she placed her menu on the table, leaning back as she did.

Just, hopefully it wouldn't cost ten million bucks.

The server left, and Theta tilted her head back, looking at the ceiling and trying to make herself relax when the other spoke up - offering an apology. "Hm?" Staring? "I wasn't bothered," She said, truthfully, if a bit flatly, her gaze shifting from the ceiling to her company with a certain slowness that almost said she would rather be looking at the ceiling. But then, a thought came to the knight, and she tilted her head. "I should thank you. I hadn't noticed this establishment was here until you ran past," Theta let out her breath slowly, fixing her posture and training her entire attention on the other person. "What is your name? Are you simply seeking shelter from the rain?" Curiosity, really; little else. She could kill time, and then... maybe she could get in contact with her princess. But then again, Theta didn't want her princess to wander about in the rain looking for this place. Theta would simply have to meet her after the weather passed.

Ruler

"Ruler?" Theta echoed with a raised eyebrow, assessing the boy before her. Instantly, the question of 'what do you rule' came to her lips - it was just the natural question to ask, after all, especially of interest to a knight of yore such as herself. He certainly didn't look as if he ruled a country, but then, books weren't to be judged by covers. (And considering how people appeared to look more like their real life counterparts for comfort, Theta included, perhaps Reveka could give the man some leeway - he likely signed up and made a really burly, impressive looking avatar... and resulted in that. Reveka was glad she didn't make Theta into a boy like she had originally planned.) Theta was somewhat amused by the banter between the newly dubbed Ruler and the server, the slightest of smiles tugging at her lips before she deigned to answer Ruler's question. "You may call me Theta,"

"Might I ask, Ruler, which lands do you rule?" It was just a matter of time before she asked, tilting her head to the side as she tried to discern his response. After all, a prince or... dare Theta even think it, a king doing so far from his kingdom would be absolutely inconceivable, and there was no way that he had a relation to her princess, besides. Theta may have taken an oath to protect the royal family, but still... ... There was a sharp moment where Reveka wondered how silly it was for her to be agonizing over this from the perspective of Theta, as if there was absolutely nothing better she could be doing with her time, as if there was nothing better she could be thinking about - she wondered if this boy thought she was a total freak, considering how he stared. But she swallowed it - or tried to, pushing the feelings back down and trying to keep Theta's barely-readable curiosity upon her face.

"And if you do rule... why are you here, gracing our presence?" Theta blinked, frowned, and then straightened a bit, meeting her company's gaze with a bit of a contrite look - "Not that I mind, of course," It really wasn't her place to question a ruler, after all - but hopefully he would be kind enough to forgive the knight's curiosity.

Ruler

It was really impressive that the NPCS in this world seemed so real. Sometimes, they seemed like fully formed people; it was enough to give Reveka pause, her brow furrowing in slight confusion as the server began to laugh. Theta was confused as well; the 'joke' had been lost on her - glancing between the server and then to 'Ruler' as he spoke. STOP THAT! "Your grace?" Theta asked in return, quietly, her expression turning to one of concern - had she offended him? It actually seemed that she had; though not in the way that the knight had been expecting. He meant... a measuring tool? Confusion was palpable as he continued - clearly believing the knight to have been making fun of him rather than taking him all too seriously. There were several moments where Theta worked, trying to find the proper words to say; and then furrowed her brow, dropping her gaze.

"...I was not making fun of you, your g-" She paused, looking to Ruler for a moment, and correcting herself. "...Ruler," It... was a confusing name, and Theta had no idea why someone would name their child 'Ruler' - even 'Theta' was hardly the knight's real name. That said - she couldn't very well judge. "I apologize for offending you, I wasn't aware that people named their children after measuring tools," Theta honestly sounded contrite, folding her arms in thought as she looked to the ceiling. "It's uncommon where I hail from," She admitted - and then straightened - casting a glance towards the server, and then to Ruler.

"Perchance, is this a common mistake others make?" Theta went out on a limb to ask - a slight smirk tugging at her lips. "Perhaps, Mr. Ruler, you should be honored people so readily mistake you for royalty," If Theta were honest, perhaps she could say he looked the part as well, with a delicacy that screamed having an easy life, and two mismatched eyes - something that perhaps could have been a sign of an exotic lineage. Perhaps, perhaps.

Ruler

Theta's ...half joke, half compliment didn't go over nearly as well as the knight could have hoped. Reveka surreptitiously squeezed her own fingers, her gaze dropping - any other day, and many other days she would have been able to take a sudden hostile response in stride - after all, most of the people in this game didn't really get the concept of roleplay, for whatever reason. It wasn't patronizing at all. Or at least, wasn't intended to be. And that was just that, wasn't it? There were so many things not intended to be the way that they were, but were instead.

Reveka had forgotten about the sandwich she ordered, staring a little emptily at it when it was placed in front of her - only deciding to speak when the man spoke up about a fight. "...I wasn't intending to fight," She said, guiltily. "...Or to patronize you. I'm sorry," And with that, Reveka couldn't help but play with the end of her hair, turning her attentions onto the sandwich rather than her company. It sure was... a sandwich. And for whatever reason, she'd lost most of her appetite, too. So, instead of eating it forthright, she took one of the strips of bacon from it, nibbling on the end.

Did she count as delusional? That was just a mean thing to say, really. Delusional. As if Ruler knew anything about Reveka, how could he say that? How would Theta feel about being called delusional? Hell, Reveka had apologized without even thinking about what Theta would do - and that in itself was enough to make her want to cringe into the floor. It seemed as if an awkward silence had settled into her chest, and Reveka frowned, struggled - before lifting her gaze to the shopkeeper, deigning to ask - "How long have you run this store?" - as if it really mattered any.

Ruler