[center][h3][color=#FF7F00]Paper Moon[/color][/h3]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/lV5k7n7.png[/img]
[/center]

And that was that.  Everything had been said and done.  The remaining Outlaws were in the midst of their retreat.  The dissolutions had been bested.  CC was most likely cornered and dealt with.  The princess had been saved from the final boss, and was whisked away to her castle by the brave knight.  [color=#FF7F00]”All’s well ends well, as they say.”[/color] Paper Moon took in the silence, feeling the wind gently rush against his face.  He didn’t even feel the need to put on his goggles and seized the moment in its fullest.  They had won, although they did not accomplish their original goal, they felt content with a victory just as substantial.

The epilogue to the epic consisted of small skirmishes between Arms’ forces and leftover dissolutions and Outlaws.  The rogue directed the newbies through the city from his vantage point high in the sky.  Seriously, what were those Outlaws thinking, using these mounts for frontal assaults?  Moon leaned forward and placed his hands on the neck of the dragon.  If it really wanted to, it could perform a barrel roll and fling the boy off in honor of its previous master.  But judging from the fact that the beast maintained its form, it held no ties to the Outlaw Moon had kicked off a while ago.  The creature’s reptilian eyes glance back and met his for a moment.  He was completely engulfed in its detail, an amalgamation of viridescent pigmentation scattered haphazardly surrounding its reptilian pupil.  It then returned its focus to their front.  He took the time to assign the dragon a name and set its return point, which would be his home in the outer regions of the neutral zone.  [color=#FF7F00]”I’ll name you… Fluffy!  Yes, you will be my Fluffy, and I will treat you with a mother’s kindness!”[/color] The mount only gave an irritated grunt as a response, knowing full well that denying was out of its will.  That barrel roll must've seemed pretty alluring right now.

Moon grabbed the reins and steered his mount towards a specific city block designated as everybody’s meeting point.  Upon his descent he spotted every single face he could recount, with the exception of the commander himself, Arms Slave.  The buildings gave the dragon just a wide enough berth to land.  Its wings adjusted themselves to bleat its speed and provide a controlld reconvening with the ground.  The boy eased his body over one side and slid down the dragon’s hide.  He was almost instantly met with hugs and pats on the back as the Strykers and Sweepers revered him.  It was all bittersweet, really.  Not because it was the end.

[color=#FF7F00][i]”Because it was only the beginning.”[/i][/color]

Paper Moon held his fist high to the sky, a sign that they had met victory’s embrace.  Their cheers only increased in intensity, drawing the attention of the city’s denizens residing along that city block.  The coordinator managed to calm down his comrades and cleared his throat. [color=#FF7F00]Well, that wraps things up.  I’m sure you all received adequate EXP for your efforts and are currently having a blast with your new perks.  You all did it.  You kicked some major ass today!”[/color] Before he continued with his address, he opened up his friends list and sent requests to all of the players involved.  His friends list almost instantly increased by twenty-eight, with the only pending being Arms Slave. The group of players remained gave him his undivided attention as silence and suspense played the tango. [color=#FF7F00]”If any of you ever need a helping hand with an annoying mission or just somebody to confide in, give me a holler.  You defended the city that offered you tranquility and far surpassed what was expected of you.  It is known by default that such a feat should be met with equivalent rewards.  Dinner’s on me… and Strawberry Baby!”[/color] 

The players exploded with jubilation once again.  [color=#DC143C]”Wait, what?!”[/color] Moon smiled widely as he wrapped his hand around Strawberry Baby and pulled her close, who was currently glaring daggers at the rogue.  His face felt like it was about to freeze off, but it was totally worth it.  While everybody happily cheered away, he leaned in closer to the mage and dropped his voice to a whisper, [color=#FF7F00]”Notify all Sweepers to report in to their bosses after the party.  I’m sure the higher-ups have already taken notice to what transpired here today, and want first hand accounts.  Outline any necessary precautions.”[/color] She nodded, although she still felt contempt for the boy.  [color=#FF7F00]”I’m leaving the place and scene up to you, Strawberry.  I gotta bounce for a bit.  We’ll split the tab, so your pockets won’t feel that empty.”[/color] Moon paged through his UI and held his finger over the logout button.  [color=#FF7F00]”Oh, right, I almost forgot.”[/color] The girl’s scrunched up expression loosened, leaving him an opening to slip in one last jeer.  [color=#FF7F00]”Bet’cha look like a bookworm IRL~.  Good luck finding me in school tomorrow.  kthxbye.”[/color]

[color=#DC143C]”WHAT THE FU-”[/color]

[center][h3][color=#FF7F00]Shiro Kawabata[/color][/h3]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/EhS31Ss.png[/img]
[/center]

Now he remembered.  Rather than making the walk upstairs which would have taken a grand total of ten seconds, not even, Shiro instead decided to enter DGO at his doorstep.  He could only imagine how his parents would have reacted if they decided to drop by and see him lying right in front of the door.  Beams of the morning sun stretched out through the door’s window and grabbed at the boy, [color=#FF7F00]”Just give me another five minutes mom…”[/color] Shiro said aloud purely for comical effect as he rubbed his eyes and hair.  He rose from the wooden flooring and stretched out, coming to the realization that he hadn’t changed out of his school attire.  [color=#FF7F00]”Jeez, how long was I in there?”[/color] He attempted to soothe the sores that had developed on his body, but when it appeared that it was pointless to do so, he surrendered and set out for his destination.  The door to the empty home quietly shut behind him, and with that the boy departed.

Due to the fact that that it just opened up shop, Shiro had the cafe all to himself.  It probably wasn’t her shift yet, but his mind wasn’t focused on that.  He set his elbows on the table and support his chin with his palms.  On his way to the cafe, he had sent a message to Arms Slave:
[quote][b]To:[/b] Arms Slave
[b]From:[/b] Paper Moon
[b]Subject:[/b] Eeeeeeeeyyy gurl, can I have yo digits?
[color=#FF7F00]“Now that was something I didn't expected to get into when I logged in today!  Anyways, everybody's off partying.  We should meet up at school and stuff.  Y'know, enjoy our youth.  Go stargazing and tell each other our deepest secrets, the whole enchilada!  Just keep an eye out for my awe-inspiring complexion.  But in all seriousness... Well, that's all there is to it.  I'm at a loss right now.  I'll keep you posted about any developments."[/color][/quote]

Critical thinking and lull.  Two things Shiro rarely indulged in, but at the moment, was currently completely engulfed by.  Arms Slave probably felt it too, which is why he decided to never show up.  The two both worked on the same frequencies, so they had probably came to the realization that things just didn’t add up.  An easy victory was usually a flag for an even more challenging hardship in the near future.  Mulling wasn’t his gig, but for now it was the only course of action he could take.  The only thing he could find respite in was the coolly sweet flavor of strawberry and banana in his mouth.

Smoothies really were the best.
[@Lucius Cypher]